"Elder Mason, you think an apology will cut it? Aren't you letting this punk off too easy?""Yeah, just look at Donny. He's coughing up blood. If we let this slide, what'll happen to our reputation?""Elder Mason, this punk deserves punishment. Even if we spare his life, he shouldn't escape justice. In my opinion, we should break his legs first!"Everyone voiced their anger. Their eyes burned with hostility as they glared at Dustin."What's wrong? Don't my words mean anything to you?" The elder raised his head and glanced at everyone. His expression was calm yet commanding.That single glance had the power to silence everyone present. It instilled fear in them that prevented anyone from expressing discontent.After all, the elder was Garrett Mason, the infamous Cosmos Demons. He was a grandmaster martial artist, feared and renowned throughout the land. He was known to be merciless, as he would wipe out entire families at the slightest provocation.Just mentioning his name was
"Kid, you've certainly surprised me with your skills," Garrett admitted as he stood up slowly.He continued, "But that doesn't justify your boldness in my presence with your limited skills." As he spoke, an imposing energy surged from within him. The martial artists felt the air grow heavy, and each breath became a struggle."This grandmaster's strength is no laughing matter! Is this what Elder Mason is capable of?"They couldn't help feeling a mix of awe and apprehension. Just a mere display of power had them rooted in place. After all, that was the might of a grandmaster martial artist.Despite the tension in the air, Dustin stayed composed. His eyes locked on Garrett's with unwavering resolve."You've got talent, kid." Garrett stood with his hands clasped behind his back. He added arrogantly, "I'm willing to offer you another chance. I'll let this incident slide if you swallow your pride and apologize. I might even make an exception and take you under my wing.""What? Take
Garrett struck his palm toward Dustin. A thunderous crash echoed through the room, changing the surrounding area.A white shadow palm surged forward with the force of lightning and pressed on Dustin. Accompanied by the fierce howling wind, everything seemed to warp as it tore through the air.Everyone in the room turned pale with fear. They scattered in all directions to avoid being caught in the chaos. After all, the sheer power of a grandmaster martial artist was enough to kill them with a single blow.Despite Garrett's attack, Dustin didn't flinch. His expression remained composed. But as he prepared to retaliate, a commanding shout interrupted."Stop!"Suddenly, another burst of internal energy materialized into a shadow palm as it shot from the doorway. It narrowly missed Dustin before colliding with Garrett's shadow palm.The impact echoed with a loud crash, unleashing a torrent of terrifying energy. The living room quaked violently as the furniture splintered and drinks sp
When Garrett slammed his hand on the table, the other martial artists stood up and expressed frustration."Mr. Styles, you know there's a code in the martial world. We can tolerate waiting, but leaving Elder Mason waiting like this? That's downright disrespectful.""You're right! It doesn't matter who they are since nobody should keep us waiting like this!""Mr. Styles, this guest's behavior is completely unacceptable. We should just show him the door!"The room was filled with frustration and anger. Garrett's remarks ignited a spark while they had shown patience out of deference to the Hall of Gods. The other martial artists wasted no time in releasing their bottled-up frustration."It's not about disrespecting you, but it's evident that this guest lacks respect for the Hall of Gods," Garret said.He emphasized, "He has kept us waiting well beyond the agreed-upon time. Such arrogance shouldn't be tolerated.""Elder Mason and esteemed guests, I apologize for mishandling this m
The room fell into a sudden hush like time had frozen. Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief at the sight before them.First, they glanced at Lucian, who was seriously injured and spewing blood. Then, their attention shifted to the drunken man swaying unsteadily.Confusion clouded their minds. They had witnessed Lucian delivering a decisive blow directly to the drunkard's face.Yet, why was the drunkard unharmed while Lucian suffered serious injuries?"What the heck just happened? How did Lucian get tossed like that?""It... it must be the drunkard's protective armor energy! Thunderbolt Fist's punch went smack into that armor!""Protection armor energy? Wait, could this beggar be a grandmaster martial artist?"After a brief moment of silence, the room exploded into chaos.No one could have predicted that this disheveled, stinking drunkard would be a formidable adversary.Lucian, alias Thunderbolt Fist, was a legend in the martial world. He was renowned for his bone-crushing blo
"Who the hell are you? Tell us your name!" Garrett's face tensed as he frowned.Despite his attack, the beggar remained unruffled and composed. Not only did the beggar's counterattack neutralize Garrett's strike, but it also sent him stumbling back.Garrett realized the beggar's skill surpassed his. It was hard for him to fathom how someone so unassuming could wield such power."Ah… excellent wine!" The drunkard remained indifferent to Garrett's question and fully engrossed in his drink.Sensing Garrett's mounting frustration, Hank stepped in. "Let's not get worked up, gentlemen."He stood between the two parties with a smile. "You know what they say about a friendly spar can break the ice. After our little tussle earlier, I bet we all better understand each other now. Allow me to make the introductions."With a gesture toward the drunkard, he said, "This gentleman here is the esteemed Mr. Willard Lent. He is also known as the Wein Sage. I'm sure many of you are familiar with his
Hank remained unperturbed when confronted with everyone's apprehension. It was as if he had foreseen their anxieties.Despite his affiliation with the Hall of Gods, his upbringing in Dragonmarsh had endowed him with a profound understanding of the strength of Sacred Wrym Summit.Even the most renowned elites wouldn't dare to challenge the Sacred Wrym Summit.Hank reassured, "Fear not, everyone." Then, he gestured for silence and waited until the room fell quiet before continuing, "I understand your worries. But rest assured, we won't send you into danger unprepared. "Even if we venture into the forbidden ground of Sacred Wrym Summit, we'll take all necessary precautions to minimize risks.""Mr. Styles, what's the Hall of Gods' plan? It's better to be straight with us so we know where we stand," Garrett asked."Yeah, let's have some transparency here. We need to know what we're getting into," the others chimed in.They weren't eager to be sacrificial lambs and charged mindless
"Elder Mason, what do you think?" Hank turned to Garrett as the tension eased."If the Hall of Gods is extending such sincerity, it would be impolite of us to refuse," Garrett replied with a smile.With all these rare treasures being presented, they couldn't possibly refuse such an offer. They knew completing the mission would set them up for a comfortable retirement.Though risky, the potential rewards made it a gamble worth taking. Besides, they would be an unstoppable force with the Cosmos Demons on their side.After all, they never backed down from danger, even when faced with the toughest challenges."Elder Mason, your decisiveness is admirable." Hank smiled and turned to Willard. "Mr. Lent, what about you?""As long as there's good booze, then we've got a deal," Willard slurred with drunken cheer."Perfect! Then, it's settled." Hank perked up with a bright smile."Wait! I've got a question." Dustin, who had been observing quietly, spoke up."Oh? What's on your mind?" Ha
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