At that moment, the man in black wasn't the only one surprised. All the spectators fixated on the first battle ring were also shocked.Nobody had anticipated that Number 6 would wear such heavy armor.The darksteel armor that weighed several thousand pounds was typically used for weight-bearing training. Even for the Divine-level martial artist, wearing it for just ten minutes would be taxing on the body. Even the most skilled martial artists would wear it for only a few hours. Yet, she wore the dark steel armor as if it were nothing. She even wore it into the battle ring to fight.Wasn't her decision to wear this armor during the fight foolish?"You… you've been wearing this while fighting with me?" The man in black couldn't believe his eyes as he pointed at the darksteel armor lying on the ground."Yeah, what about it?" She stretched her neck and hips as she gradually moved her lithe body. Once the armor was removed, she felt much more agile.He couldn't help but ask again, "
The man in black didn't dare to stand his ground. Instead, he swiftly dodged to the side.At that moment, Number 6's halberd nearly grazed his shoulder, but it only left a tear on his clothing. If he had been any slower, he might have lost an arm.She intensified her assault as her speed and strength increased with each strike. Each swing of her blade carried the sound of thunder, which made her attacks unstoppable.On the contrary, he continuously evaded her attacks. Even when he managed to block, his arms were left numb, and he was forced to retreat several steps with each blow. With no opportunity for a counterattack, he had no choice but to focus on defense."Hey, Miles, didn't you say she would lose? Looks like she's gaining momentum and might win." Ruby watched the fight with growing surprise from outside the battle ring.Initially, the man in black seemed to have the upper hand. But once Number 6 removed her outer clothing, she turned the tables. Surprisingly, her relentl
The man in black gracefully accepted his defeat.It was evident that Number 6 outclassed him. However, she allowed him a dignified exit rather than swiftly knocking him off the battle ring.After all, refusing to acknowledge defeat would have been unbecoming."Thank you!" She nodded respectfully.Ultimately, the first battle ring concluded with Number 6 emerging victorious."Dustin, you've got a keen eye. You nail the first match right off the bat. I'm impressed!" Miles exclaimed."It's just luck," Dustin replied nonchalantly. His bet was purely for fun, as the outcome didn't concern him.Miles lamented as he shook his head, "Luck is also a form of skill. I just lacked a bit of it. If Number 28 had been cautious enough and not underestimated their opponent, I might have won the bet." "Miles, it's not that you have bad luck. Your judgment is clearly off," Ruby shot back and rolled her eyes. "You were sure Number 28 would win, so I trusted you, but he lost. Then, you said Number
Naturally, this breakthrough was only achievable for those below the grandmaster level. After all, breaking through to that level demanded not just accumulation but also a significant qualitative leap. Regardless, the celestial stones held an irresistible allure for martial artists below the grandmaster level.Even grandmaster martial artists would envy them. They knew they could exchange celestial stones for other treasures, even if they didn't need them.It wouldn't be an overstatement to call celestial stones the premier currency in the martial world, as they could be exchanged for various treasures.So, Miles and the others were excited when they laid eyes on boxes brimming with celestial stones."I may not have any weapons or tablets now, but I have several boxes of celestial stones. I'll assess the value of the treasures you had bet earlier and then exchange them for celestial stones. How does that sound?" Abigail asked. "Wow, that's awesome!" Miles couldn't contain his e
The news of winning celestial stones sent a wave of excitement through the crowd of martial artists. If they were only mildly interested before, now they were practically buzzing with anticipation.After all, chances to win celestial stones were as rare as finding a four-leaf clover. Plus, the chance to double their earnings was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.There was no way they would let this opportunity slip through their fingers.Furthermore, any lingering doubts disappeared when they saw Dustin and the others win the celestial stones. So, some of the more daring martial artists started to step forward when Abigail beckoned.Despite the Mystic Arts Order's less-than-stellar reputation, the irresistible allure of celestial stones outweighed any reservations. They were ready to take the risk.After all, they were at the Sacred Wrym Summit. Hence, they wondered if anyone from the Mystic Arts Order would be bold enough to stir up trouble over the payout."Can we place the bet
Abigail explained, "The more the merrier, right? I'm just here to amp up the excitement for everyone."After all, betting adds some thrill to the mix. Let's have fun with a few rounds while we watch the tournament matches. Doesn't that sound like a blast?"She was busy counting the treasures handed over by the surrounding martial artists. Despite her pleasant words, she couldn't hide her greedy expression.After all, she was a bookie, not running a charity. There had to be some perks involved, or else why would she be so eager?"I'm just watching your back, kid. I don't want you to lose all those celestial stones you brought along in a bet," Dustin reminded him.In a casino, the odds were always stacked in favor of the house against the players. Even with a slight edge, the house always won as long as there were plenty of betting rounds.So, the casino wasn't sweating bullets about players pocketing some cash, but its biggest concern was an empty house.But with Abigail's bettin
The second round of matches soon began. Fights were underway simultaneously across the eight battle rings.Among the audience sections, Abigail's side was undeniably the liveliest. Nearly a hundred people gathered around a large table, with most of them having already placed their bets.As the matches commenced, the excitement among the spectators eclipsed even that of the contenders in the battle ring.The venue reverberated with cheers and chants, with each successive wave amplifying the intensity.The crowd who had placed their bets passionately cheered for their selected fighters. Their shouts reverberated through the air, echoing at the top of their lungs.As the matches progressed, it became evident that the stakes were much higher than mere entertainment.It was all about personal gain now. Victory promised a hefty haul of celestial stones, while defeat spelled utter loss and disappointment.Given the high stakes involved, it was no surprise that emotions ran so high. As
Gambling was a slippery slope, especially once they tasted victory. For those lacking restraint, it was easy to get sucked in."Congratulations on your wins! Here's your stash of celestial stones." Abigail beamed as she handed over the winnings."I just bet with my darksteel sword and get five celestial stones, right? Can I redeem it?" Ruby asked."Sure." Abigail nodded and motioned for someone to retrieve Ruby's sword, which had been used as a bet earlier."Not so fast!" Miles intervened just as Ruby reached for her sword. "Ruby, hold up. The real action is yet to unfold. "If you redeem now, we'll have less to play with later, meaning fewer wins. Let's stack up some more celestial stones first, then redeem your sword. Sounds good?""Hmm…" Ruby hesitated.He reassured her, "What's the matter? Trust me, betting with me is like finding cash on the sidewalk. Win a few more rounds, and we'll have enough stones to make a breakthrough.""Okay, Miles, I'll go along with your suggesti
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
"This…" Dustin began.He hesitated on purpose and didn't give an immediate answer.Upon seeing him deep in thought, Nathaniel was convinced that Dustin was weighing the pros and cons. He leaned in slightly, his smile widening with anticipation. "You should know how much the Dracan essence means to me," he said. "If I can gather all the essences, it’d be like fate is on my side. My path to the throne would be unstoppable—and when that time comes, your reward will be waiting."As he spoke, his gaze stayed on Dustin as he searched for any sign of hesitation in his expression.Dustin looked up and met his eyes. For a moment, something unreadable flickered in his gaze.He pressed his lips together and spoke slowly. "You're right, Your Highness. But it wasn't easy to find the Dracan essence. I went through quite a few twists and turns. Besides, if I give it to you, it might put me at odds with the other two princes."He paused deliberately and left the rest unsaid. Still, the concern
The next morning, Nathaniel was inside a lavish mansion. He was in his study, flipping through an ancient manuscript. One of his most trusted aides hurried in and lowered his voice, "Your Royal Highness, word just came in. Another trace of Dracan essence has been found."Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and closed the manuscript. "Where?""Our investigation shows it ended up in the hands of Logan Rhys," the aide replied."Logan Rhys?" Nathaniel narrowed his eyes slightly and was surprised by the name.He had tried to win Logan over before and spared no expense, but never received a response. Later, he discovered that Tristan and Matthias had done the same.Fortunately, Logan still hadn't picked a side. He might be holding out for the best offer, but at least he hadn't shut the door on Nathaniel.With the Dracan essence in his hands, Logan had become an even more valuable target. In addition to the West Lucozian monarchy, Logan was an ultimate grandmaster, which made him worth recrui
"Give me a moment to think," Dustin said.Grace's words sent him into deep thought.After all, carrying the fate of Dragonmarsh was no small burden. First, he had to be tough enough to handle it. Then, he needed the resolve to accept what came with it. Once he carried that burden, it meant taking on a heavyweight.He used to act on his own terms and do things as he pleased without worrying too much about the consequences. But once the nation's fate was involved, everything changed.Not that he had many options.Dustin could either hide in Sacred Wrym Summit and hope Arion would protect him, or take a risk and absorb the Dragonmarsh's fate to push through his cultivation's bottleneck. Between the two, he was leaning toward the latter."I can give your plan a shot," Dustin said suddenly. "But we're still missing a piece of the Dracan essence. If we're doing this, we need to find that last one first."Only once all five pieces of Dracan essence were united could he truly wield the