After Dusk Titan wrapped up his introduction, the handsome and pale mixed-race man stepped forward. He said proudly, "I'm Bill Wolfe from Esmington, representing the Coven of Blood Eclipse. They call me the Shadow Prince.""The Shadow Prince of the Coven of Blood Eclipse?" Hank was taken aback.The Coven of Blood Eclipse held unparalleled influence in Esmington. It was second only to the Hall of Gods among Streuquan nations. The coven included three main races—vampires, werewolves, and mystic artists, along with a few uniquely gifted beasts.Among these, vampires held the dominant position. They nearly ruled the entire Esmington. Previously, the Hall of Gods had enlisted the Blood Devil Willem, an earl of the vampire race.Bill was the son of the Shadow Master, the leader of the Coven of Blood Eclipse. The Shadow Master was the king of vampires. His influence was on par with the God King of the Hall of Gods.As the son of the Shadow Master, Bill inherited his father's noble li
Hank felt a chill run down his spine when he glanced at Jeremiah, the man who killed without mercy.Even the formidable Dusk Titan and Shadow Prince showed signs of caution around Jeremiah, and it was clear why. If they were regarded as beasts, then Jeremiah, known as The Dust of Angel, was the ultimate beast.With someone of Jeremiah's caliber involved, the martial artists of Dragonmarsh would likely face an unprecedented calamity."Hank, are you satisfied with these three allies?" Bailey asked, grinning."Satisfied? I'd say more than that! With their support, victory in the Combat Tournament is practically guaranteed!" Hank replied confidently.He used to have doubts because he recognized the exceptional talents of Dragonmarsh. But now, his confidence was on the rise.After all, the Hall of Gods, the Coven of Blood Eclipse, and the Holy Sovereign Church had deployed their strongest elites. They had effectively united forces from several nations to suppress Dragonmarsh. With thi
"Dr. Rhys is right. You really really shouldn't drink," Grace said earnestly. "You're already not thinking straight without alcohol. Who knows what'll happen if you do drink?""Faith, I know I'm wrong. Please talk to him and let me have just one drink." Alicia clung to Grace's arm and pleaded. She craved alcohol so much that even a day without it made her feel restless."Come on, Alicia. Just hang in there for a few more days. Dr. Rhys is doing this for your own good," Aurora said with a smile."What? I still have to endure a few more days!" Alicia's face fell, and she slumped over the table, looking defeated. "How am I supposed to survive without a drink? This is torture!""It's okay. If you can't drink, I'll do it for you," Fenley said with a slight smile. He took her glass and downed it in one gulp."Fenley! You—" Alicia pouted and was on the verge of crying. She felt like everyone around her was ganging up on her."Miss, it's just a drink. Let me buy you one," came a deep, re
Aurora's eyes were icy, and her expression was hostile. Bill had gone from flirting to harassment, and it was making her sick. She wouldn't hesitate to teach him a lesson if he kept pushing."You're not going to be polite, huh?" he sneered. With a menacing grin, he added, "What's the matter? You want to have a long, wild night with me in bed? I'm more than happy to arrange that.""Bastard! You're asking for trouble!" she fumed, grabbing the skewers on the table and throwing them at him. The skewers flew toward his arms from both sides with a sharp whoosh. Aurora was halfway to becoming a grandmaster, so she threw them with bullet-like force.Bill merely sneered and casually waved his hand. A powerful gust of wind surged forth and deflected the skewers. They flew into a pillar 15 feet away and embedded just under an inch deep into the wood."Hmm?" Aurora frowned, and her expression turned serious.She had gone all out in her previous attack and aimed to cripple him as a punis
"Arrogant jerk! How dare a pathetic vampire like you come here and act so boldly? Do you think no one in Dragonmarsh can take you down?" Aurora fumed.Just when she was about to take action, Fenley raised his hand to stop her. He understood that vampire aristocrats were formidable opponents. Given Aurora's current strength, she stood no chance against them."I'm guessing this is your first time in Dragonmarsh, right?" Fenley's voice was calm, but his gaze was icy."So, what if it is?" Bill lifted his chin defiantly."You must be clueless. It seems your elders didn't tell you that once you're in Dragonmarsh, you must keep a low profile, or you might end up dead." Fenley slowly stood up, radiating a murderous intent.As long as the Strequans behaved in Dragonmarsh, they were generally left alone. But Bill's reckless and provocative behavior was like signing his own death warrant."End up dead?" Bill laughed mockingly. "Do you and your little group think you can take me on?""Let's
"Fenley, watch out!" Aurora and Alicia shouted in unison. They were shocked by the sudden turn of events. They hadn't expected Bill to have such a bizarre ability. After being turned into a cloud of scarlet mist with a single punch, he reformed and launched a surprise attack. Defending against such a deadly move the first time would be nearly impossible.Vampire's fangs carried a paralyzing toxin, and bites from aristocratic vampires were even more potent. Even a grandmaster martial artist would struggle to resist a single bite."Pathetic trick!" Fenley didn't bother to turn. He shook his body, and a huge divine shadow briefly flickered behind him. Suddenly, a powerful shockwave erupted. His hair stood on end, and his robe billowed out. The shockwave hurled Bill, who was attacking from behind, several feet away. He slammed into the wall and fell in a daze, looking utterly disheveled."That was a close call!" Aurora and Alicia sighed in relief after seeing what happened. They
"F-Father, you're right. I'm injured and need to rest. Please, let me go." Bill was in so much pain that he immediately begged for mercy.In Strequa, strength reigned supreme. Those who were powerful and had a strong presence earned widespread respect, and their words carried considerable influence. Simply put, they could force a person if "Mr. Wolfe, I take back what I said earlier. You're a smart man." Jeremiah kept a neutral expression and maintained his smile.Bill's eyes twitched in frustration, but he held his tongue and stepped back. He was reluctant to admit defeat against Fenley and believed he could still fight. Yet, he had no choice but to submit to Jeremiah's authority."Father, if Bill can't handle this, let me step in." George suddenly rose from his seat. His massive, towering figure was intimidating.His strength and physical prowess were superior to Bill's. In a direct confrontation, he was like an unstoppable human tank."Why does this guy look like a gorilla?"
"No way! That priest looked ordinary and didn't seem like a threat," Aurora said, puzzled.Given Fenley's skills, he was among the best in Dragonmarsh. So, she figured he had no reason to be afraid of those three Strequans."You can't judge a book by its cover. Among those three, the priest is the strongest. If you ever run into him, avoid him at all costs," Fenley warned earnestly. If he had been alone earlier, he wouldn't have been concerned. But with Aurora and Alicia by his side, he had to be cautious and couldn't fight freely.He knew Jeremiah could distract him if they fought while Bill and George captured the Marshall sisters. With the sisters' lives as leverage, the other party could turn the situation in their favor. So, Fenley decided to let the matter slide for the sisters' safety and stop pursuing the matter."Okay, I understand." Seeing how serious he was, Aurora nodded."Fenley, those people mentioned about competing in the Combat Tournament tomorrow. You might f
"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