With a scornful look, Ruby retorted, "Hmph! Your feeble words suggest a lack of strength. Is that why you talk like that?"She added, "What's so great about that brat? Is he deserving of your admiration? I doubt Miles would lose to him!""You'll see as it unfolds." Dustin didn't bother explaining or arguing further. After all, it was all about raw strength in these stage duels. The stronger one would win."Hmph! Once Miles takes down that brat, let's see how you defend him!" Ruby exclaimed, frustrated.In a moment like this, everyone should be cheering for Miles, but Dustin not only showed no support but also made sarcastic remarks. It was truly infuriating."Look! They've started!" Dalen's words instantly grabbed everyone's attention.At that moment, Miles had already charged at Marco with his sword. With a flick of his wrist, his sword trembled, creating two blossoming flowers—one on the left and one on the right—thrusting toward Marco's arms.Marco's face remained blank as
"W-What?" Everyone was confused, staring at the unconscious Miles. Their eyes widened in shock because nobody expected this to happen.With just one swift slash, Marco sent Miles flying.Wasn't this too much? Just moments ago, Miles seemed to have the advantage. How did everything change so quickly? What had happened?"Did I... did I really see that? A Sword Union disciple taken down in just one move?""How is that even possible? Aren't Sword Union disciples supposed to be elites? How come they couldn't defend against a single attack?""No way! That brat can't be that strong!"After a short silence, chaos erupted throughout the entire scene.Initially, when Miles challenged Marco, everyone thought victory was assured. There were cheers and shouts of encouragement. However, the outcome was disappointing beyond imagination.The Sword Union disciple, who was highly anticipated, couldn't match up to Marco. It was embarrassing and disgraceful!"Wait, Miles lost? How is that even po
Quincy paused, took a deep breath, and spoke with authority to the gathered crowd. "Our nation has always believed in winning with virtue."If we've decided on a duel, it must be an honorable one-on-one fight. Even if we win, it won't truly be a victory if it's not done fairly!"Upon hearing this, the commotion slowly began to calm. The crowd might disagree, but they understood the importance of fair play in this martial art contest between the two nations."Elder Douglas! You hold the highest status here. We all respect you. Choose a skilled martial artist to teach those two a lesson, and let Dragonmarsh rise in pride!""That's right! We can't take this lightly. We must give it our all this time!"Amidst the clamor, everyone urged Quincy to pick another martial artist for the challenge.Quincy nodded and looked at the crowd. He then thundered, "The opponent is strong, and we shouldn't take them lightly!"He added, "I've got a condition this time: only those who are at the advan
"Y-You—" Ruby's face turned bright red, angered by Laurel and Willow's words. Just as she was about to respond, there was a soft thud.Miles, who had just regained consciousness, collapsed on the ground again.Ruby was startled and shouted, "Miles!" She quickly squatted down and administered medicine, massaging pressure points in a rush.Dustin looked at Miles. Then, he casually flicked his fingers and inserted a silver needle into Miles' body. The mystical pure energy carried by the needle swiftly penetrated Miles' limbs and body, clearing his circulatory pathways.After a few seconds, Miles finally opened his eyes again. Though weak, he seemed to be fine."I didn't expect Mr. Rhys to be a skilled doctor. I'm impressed!" Dalen exclaimed with surprise.It was not easy to accurately hit pressure points to save a person, even though injuring someone with a flying needle wasn't difficult.Dustin casually mentioned, "It's just a small trick, not worth mentioning.""Thank you, Mr. R
Vincent's arrival brought energy to the once-quiet scene. The crowd saw him as a hero, thrilled at the idea that with Vincent in the mix, defeating Marco would be easy."Great! Now that you're here, I can finally relax!" Quincy exclaimed with relief as he watched Vincent step forward. As the guardian of the Celestial Alliance, he was familiar with Vincent's skills.Vincent, at just 25, was already halfway to becoming a grandmaster—a standout talent in the entire Celestial Alliance. Only exceptional individuals like Fenley could match his strength.Vincent declared confidently, "We can't let warriors from Kimboku act recklessly on Sacred Wrym Summit, whether it's morally or logically, in public or private. We, the Celestial Alliance, can't just stand idly by!"He added, "Even if the younger generation may lack experience, we aim to bring glory to our nation and eliminate evil for the world!""Well said! With young talents like you in the Celestial Alliance, our sect is bound to thr
"Great marksmanship!" Quincy was immediately impressed by Vincent's quick and accurate shot.As they said, a person couldn't judge the skill of an elite until they were in action.Compared to Miles, a disciple of the Sword Union, Vincent surpassed him in cultivation, technique, and combat experience by more than tenfold. With a simple shot, Vincent not only possessed astonishing power but also concealed countless variations, making it nearly impossible to defend against.His strength was on par with that of a grandmaster martial artist—a true genius, no doubt.Despite Vincent's aggressive attack, Marco remained cool. Marco drew his Demon sword and slashed forward fiercely. The attack was simple and direct, without any fancy moves.However, as the blade descended, it emitted a brilliant red light, thickening the air around it. It was as if blood was flowing along the path of the Demon sword, creating a mysterious arc in the air. The blade then heavily collided with the silver s
Miles had thought Fenley was the only hero in the Celestial Alliance, but now, another figure appeared—the Spearhawk, Vincent. It was worth mentioning that Vincent was roughly the same age as Miles, but his skills far surpassed Miles. After all, Miles couldn't even withstand a single blow from Marco. Vincent not only held his own against Marco but also appeared to have the upper hand. This was enough to showcase Vincent's formidable skills. "Dustin, who do you think would come out victorious?" Dalen asked as he observed the battle. "Vincent's techniques have undoubtedly reached peak mastery. He also has rich combat experience. If they were at the same level, Vincent has a better chance of winning," Dustin commented. "Hmph! Please, even a blind person could tell," Ruby snorted. Vincent's attacks were so aggressive that Marco couldn't even fight back. Anyone could tell who was the stronger party between them. Dustin shot a glance at Ruby and responded calmly, "Vincent would
A deafening blast echoed through the air. The blood-red curved longsword wielded by the black-armored warrior had severed the silver dragon's head in half. The shockwave generated by their collision swept out in all directions like a tidal wave, blowing up debris in its path.The crowd was forced to retreat by the gusting wind, struggling to keep their eyes open.Moments later, after the chaos subsided, a transformation had already taken place on the battlefield. On the left, Vincent held his silver spear with a solemn expression, his clothes torn. His hand that was gripping his spear trembled slightly.On the right, Marco stood in silence. The eerie red glow of his Demon blade faded as he sheathed it slowly. They stood 30 feet apart, gazing at each other across the field without uttering a word. It seemed as if time had frozen. "What happened? Who won?" The crowd exchanged looks of confusion. That final blow had been too quick for ordinary martial artists to follow. The
"Mr. Rhys, you're so generous," Felicia said. "I don't know how to repay you."She lightly ran her fingers over the smooth surface of the ornate box. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she looked up at Dustin gratefully."It was nothing, Ms. Thorns. Don't mention it," he replied with an indifferent smile. "Besides, this Dracan essence was always destined for Prince Nathaniel. I'm merely delivering it."Felicia smiled earnestly. "What do you want in return? If it's within my power, I'll gladly help."Dustin replied, "I'm not asking for anything. I only hope that if I ever find myself in trouble, Prince Nathaniel will be willing to help me.""I get it now." Felicia nodded.Dustin wasn't asking for treasure, but rather seeking a favor from Nathaniel. With Nathaniel's current status, his favor was more valuable than any treasure.If he ascended the throne and became king, the value of that favor would increase exponentially. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that, even if D
When Dustin heard Felicia's word, his hand briefly hesitated before he placed the chess piece. He smiled and said, "I thought you came to learn chess, but I didn't expect you to be here as a messenger."Felicia gave a light, teasing laugh. "With a mind like yours, how could you not know why I'm here?"She added candidly, "Prince Nathaniel saved my life and welcomed me as an honored guest. It's only right that I repay the favor by helping solve his troubles. I hope that it doesn't bother you.""You're frank and gracious, Ms. Thorns. Why would I take offense?" Dustin replied with a faint smile.He had expected her to start with pleasantries or try to butter him up. So, her bluntness actually caught him off guard."To be honest, Prince Nathaniel has never taken this kind of interest in anyone before," Felicia said as she placed another chess piece on the board. She smiled and continued, "I can tell he truly wants you on his side. And as someone close to him, I'd like to help make
Nathaniel's mansion was huge. It was more like a maze than a home. Even with a detailed layout, Dustin had to stay sharp as he moved through the grounds. After all, blueprints never quite captured the twists and turns of the actual place.Led by a maid, he followed a winding path through the corridors for nearly ten minutes before finally arriving at a guesthouse with a garden.The place was spacious and quiet, filled with birdsong and blooming flowers. It was a secluded spot that was ideal for privacy."Mr. Rhys, you can stay here. If you need anything, just let me know," the maid said. Her gaze was warm with a hint of admiration. She had watched Dustin's performance in the training ground earlier and knew he was an important guest brought in by Nathaniel. If she could catch his attention, it could completely turn her life around.He waved her off and said, "Okay. You can go now. I don't need anyone to attend to me." "Uh… but…" The maid hesitated."Don't worry. I'll explain
The crowd murmured among themselves as they looked at the broken broadsword and the stunned expression on Lycas' face."That strike was insanely fast and dead-on too," someone commented."I never expected General Derin's secret move to be defeated like that. It's unbelievable," another said."I thought General Derin could turn things around for us, but he still lost," a third added.Everyone knew how strong Lycas was. As a fully developed grandmaster with a broadsword, he was supposed to be unstoppable. However, at the critical moment, Dustin's strike shattered his broadsword.Lycas' loss was sudden and almost unbelievable. Some blamed bad luck and thought he could have won if things had gone differently. But those who truly understood what happened knew better.Even with Dustin's movement restricted and Lycas unleashing his strongest technique, he still pierced through the opening with near-impossible timing. That strike wasn't just lucky but masterful. It was a brutal display
Lycas gripped his broadsword with both hands and roared. The sound cracked through the air like a thunderclap.He sidestepped sharply and charged straight at Dustin like a raging bull.The heavy broadsword moved like it weighed nothing in his hands. He swung it with brutal speed. Each arc cut through the air with a sharp, whistling howl, as if it could slice through anything in its path.The broadsword came crashing down on Dustin with bone-crushing force, like a mountain falling from the sky.Lycas threw his full weight into the swing. As the sword descended, the force of the strike stirred up dust from the ground. It sent plumes of dirt in every direction.He knew Dustin was no ordinary opponent. If he wanted a chance to win, he had to make the first move and seize the initiative."Nice form," Dustin said.As Lycas launched a powerful, aggressive attack, Dustin remained calm and unruffled. With effortless grace, he sidestepped without the slightest rush. The broadsword whizz
Bryce knew Dustin was strong, but this was beyond anything he anticipated. Though he had gained the upper hand early on, Bryce still believed his skills matched Dustin's.From his observation, Dustin relied on martial arts techniques and hit-and-run tactics. Plus, he didn't dare to confront Bryce head-on.He had assumed that as long as he found an opening, he could exploit Dustin's weaknesses and defeat him. But when Dustin finally stopped holding back, Bryce realized how wrong he'd been.It turned out Dustin wasn't just playing hit-and-run tactics. Instead, he'd held back the entire time to spare Bryce from an embarrassing defeat.The moment Dustin stopped holding back, Bryce didn't stand a chance. Even without special techniques, Dustin's raw power, speed, and reflexes were enough to crush him.The difference in their abilities was staggering, so much so that no amount of skill could close the gap.And it wasn't just Bryce who was shocked. Except for Nathaniel, who had already
Bryce's request for a fight heated up the atmosphere.Soldiers around the training ground started murmuring among themselves."Lieutenant General Gantz is a legend in our ranks. His combat skills are no joke—he's taken down countless enemies on the battlefield. I haven't seen him in action in years," one young soldier said with awe."Yeah," a veteran agreed. "Lieutenant General Gantz has been through countless battles, and his strength is unmatched. If he steps in, Mr. Rhys might be in for a rough time."After the fight earlier, the soldiers knew firsthand that Dustin was no slouch. Otherwise, he wouldn't have easily defeated the five elite soldiers.But in their minds, no matter how skilled Dustin was, he stood no chance against Bryce.Bryce was a grandmaster not just in rank but in skill, physical strength, and battlefield experience. He was stronger than any expert from the martial world.Nathaniel had once recruited several grandmaster martial artists to spar with them, but
"Your Highness, the soldiers under me are trained solely in killing techniques. If they hurt your guest, things could get ugly," Lycas said.He didn't say it outright, but the message was clear. If Dustin wasn't strong enough, he'd better stay out of the way, or he was just asking for trouble.Bryce didn't say anything, but the look he gave Dustin was full of contempt. How could a pampered young man like Dustin measure up to soldiers who've been through the grind? He figured Dustin was probably some heir from a prominent family who knew Nathaniel and was trying to assert his relevance."You guys are blind to greatness when it's standing right in front of you." Nathaniel chuckled and shook his head. He added, "If any of you manage to land a hit on Mr. Rhys, I'll pay out a thousand gold. But honestly, I doubt any of you have what it takes."At the mention of rewards, the soldiers perked up. Their eyes lit up with excitement. They were practically itching to charge at Dustin and g
During the meal, Nathaniel arranged for two women to accompany Dustin.Throughout history, even the greatest heroes couldn't resist the allure of beautiful women. Sometimes, a woman of extraordinary beauty could be far more enticing than rare treasures or high status.Dustin remained composed. He neither showed any enthusiasm nor did he deliberately reject it.As for the women seated on either side of him, he treated them with polite respect. He enjoyed a drink and the easy conversation with them, but nothing beyond that.However, Nathaniel saw it differently. To him, it seemed that Dustin was unimpressed by the women at his side.Considering Dustin's background, it made sense. A woman of ordinary beauty would never catch his attention. Nathaniel realized he would need to pull out all the stops. Perhaps, it was time to bring out his most prized companion and see how Dustin responded.After the meal, he led Dustin to his mansion's training ground.The midday sun blazed overhead