"Get those bets in, quick! Trust me, put your bet on Number 13, Brandon Swift!""Hey guys, it's time to hit the jackpot! Don't miss this golden opportunity!""Hey, does anyone have treasures to spare? I'll pay you back with interest once I win those celestial stones!"The gamblers clamored. They jostled forward and were eager to place their bets. Anything valuable was thrown into the betting table without a second thought.Soon, the atmosphere crackled with excitement.This round was like hitting the jackpot for the gamblers, so doubling down was a no-brainer."Hey, make some room! We're here first, so let us get our bets in!"As the crowd of gamblers grew denser, chaos broke out.Miles and Ruby were momentarily taken aback and surrounded by eager gamblers. The duo had to push through the crowd to get to the betting table.After all, opportunities like this only came once. Plus, with only a few minutes remaining until the start of the fifth round, they couldn't afford to miss
Carter smirked while looking at the spear thrust toward him. With a swift motion, he faced the attack head-on with his sword.Their weapons collided and created a shockwave of energy.The waves rippled outward like a tide, and it caused their robes to flutter and their hair to stand on end.Both combatants stood firm. They were locked in a tense standoff as neither was willing to back down.Brandon gripped his spear with both hands as he channeled his true energy while he tried to overpower Carter with his strength. But no matter how hard Brandon pushed, Carter held his ground.The spear clashed with the sword, and the two were locked in a fierce struggle.The air crackled with bursts of energy as their weapons strained against each other."Hmm?" Brandon's brow furrowed with surprise.As one of the top ten talents of the Celestial Alliance, he should have easily dominated his opponent in Group C. However, he hadn't anticipated this relatively unknown figure to match him so even
Everyone was stunned as they watched Brandon suddenly collapse to the ground. Their eyes widened in disbelief, and their mouths hung agape.Nobody had anticipated Brandon, a renowned talent of the Celestial Alliance's top ten, to be defeated by an unknown opponent.With his reputation, he should have been dominating Group C. They couldn't understand how he could be defeated so quickly.The spectators began questioning Brandon's ability and wondered if Carter was stronger than him."It's over! We're screwed!""Dammit! What's Brandon doing? How can he lose to a nobody? What a useless bastard!""The top ten talents of the Celestial Alliance? Bullshit!""Fuck you, Brandon! You've really messed me up this time!""Shit! I've lost all my celestial stones!"After a moment of silence, the venue erupted into a chorus of sorrowful cries and frustrated curses.Brandon's defeat dealt a heavy blow to the gamblers who had placed their bets earlier. They faced devastating losses, not just fo
Crystal frowned as she met Miles's intense gaze. "Miles, you should call it quits. If you continue to gamble, it'll only lead you deeper into trouble."Gamblers often found themselves trapped in a cycle of addiction, and they were never content with their winnings.Their insatiable desire for more drove them to risk everything. Hence, it often led them to stray from the right path.At that moment, he appeared to be showing signs of addiction. If left unchecked, it could lead to disaster."Just one more bet, Crystal. I promise. If I win this time, I'll quit for good," Miles pleaded earnestly."Yes, I'm with him. I've even wagered my sword. I need to win it back," Ruby chimed in.Their hopeful eyes bore into Crystal's."Have you considered the consequences if you lose?" she countered."It won't happen, I swear. I'll be cautious this time and only bet when I'm confident. I won't lose again," Miles assured."Yeah, we were led astray before. If we had trusted our instincts, we'd be
Under the night sky of Sacred Wrym Summit, Abigail, well-heeled and in high spirits, had booked the second floor of Heighten Tavern for a celebratory feast.The attendees were Dustin and his companions.After all, making a fortune through unscrupulous means wasn't that honorable. So, it was crucial to keep a low profile."Sir, I'm in a great mood today. We're not leaving until we're all plastered!" Abigail poured the wine and clinked glasses with Dustin before downing it in one gulp.He smiled in response and took a sip."Come on, everyone. Dig in and enjoy! Don't be shy about it." She warmly encouraged Crystal and the others after downing her drink.Dalen smiled and asked, "Ms. Robinson, that smile of yours tells a story. I bet today was a profitable day, right?""Just a small haul and nothing too extravagant," she replied modestly."Ms. Robinson, it seems luck is always on your side. You always manage to turn the tide at the critical moment," Crystal remarked. Her tone seemed
"Troublemaker! I know you're in there, so come out and face the music!"The loud shout echoed through the tavern again. It sent waves of unease rippling through the patrons.Miles and the others instinctively turned their gaze toward Abigail.To them, she was the only one who fit the bill of a troublemaker. But who would dare to be so bold as to challenge the Grand Sorceress of the Mystic Arts Order so openly?"Everyone, please continue enjoying your meal. I'll take care of this." Abigail smiled as she dabbed her mouth with a napkin. Then, she rose from her seat and descended the stairs.Miles and the others exchanged glances and hurried to the window to see what was happening outside.On the street, a burly man surrounded by a gang of 20 to 30 men was shouting threats. They wielded their weapons menacingly as if they were ready for action."Hey, doesn't that man look familiar?" Ruby arched her eyebrow as she recognized the burly man. She had seen him at the Combat Tournament, b
"Don't worry, Luke. Since you hired us, consider your troubles taken care of. We're here to help," one of the Bovens twins reassured him."That's right. You just sit back and watch how we deal with this troublemaker," the other chimed in.The twins bantered back and forth confidently as if victory was already in their bag.Luke glared at Abigail and shouted, "Hey, troublemaker! Did you hear that? If you're wise, surrender now. Otherwise, today will be your last.""Enough with the chatter. Let's get this over with. I've got dinner waiting upstairs," she retorted impatiently."Arrogant fool!""Get ready to face our wrath!"Enraged by her words, the twins quickly grabbed their weapons and charged forward.Their choice of weapons was rather peculiar. One brandished a spear, while the other wielded an iron abacus.The iron abacus beads were released with a flick of the wrist. They shot out like hidden weapons as it rained down on Abigail.Simultaneously, the spear lunged forward l
"Listen here, troublemaker! Don't you dare get cocky! Do you think you can look down on us? Well, mark my words, this time next year, people will gather to remember your death!""Hmph! We've been around the block in this martial world for years. Naturally, we've seen it all. Yet, a mere troublemaker like you strut around like you own the place. You've got no clue what you're up against!""If you know what's good for you, drop to your knees and beg for mercy, or else… we'll kill you!"The Greenfield Gang was shouting and yelling at her. They were all filled with righteous anger. Abigail's contemptuous words had enraged them. Though the title of Grand Sorceress of the Mystic Arts Order might sound imposing, the Greenfield Gang was ruthless. They had stared death in the face and lived to tell the tale, so they were fearless in the face of danger.But their confidence mainly stemmed from her young age. They doubted that someone barely 18 or 19 could have reached such a high level of
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