"Ah!" There were a series of loud cries as the henchmen were caught off-guard, falling to the floor one after another and rolling around in pain. In a blink of an eye, the floor was littered with people. Everyone had a fork or a knife lodged so deeply in their thighs that they couldn't even pull it out."What?" Duncan couldn't help but be startled by the sight.He had carefully handpicked these henchmen. All of them had gone through extensive training and were highly skilled. Typically speaking, a ten-against-one battle would have ended in an overwhelming but predictable victory on one side.Yet, never in his dreams would he have expected that all of his men would have fallen just like that.Were cutleries supposed to be this deadly?"What? That bastard is this strong?" Victoria couldn't help but be shell-shocked by how nonchalant Dustin looked. In her mind, Dustin was just an insignificant small fry.How was he capable of that?"Fuck! Turns out he's had some training. Why did
Seeing Cobalt and Flint stride in, shivers ran down Terrence's spine. "Just who is this bastard? How did he manage to get the Sander father-son duo here?!"These two were renowned top dogs in the martial world. Either one of them could take on a hundred opponents at once. They rarely showed up for anyone; it was definitely no easy feat to have invited these two to a fight."Terrence, who is the Sander father-son duo? Are they very powerful?" Julie asked from the side."Powerful? To the average person, these two are monsters! Especially the one named Cobalt—he's an absolutely terrifying freak. He kills like it's nothing. Countless people have died by their hands!" Terence said solemnly.As one of the backbone members of the Brooks Corporation, he naturally knew a thing or two about the martial world."What? They're that scary?!" Julie shrunk behind Terrence.Although Florence and the others didn't say anything, they maintained their distance, afraid that they might end up as colla
However, comparatively, Dustin's fist was much smaller than Flint's."You're asking for it!" Flint snorted coldly. He exerted more force in his arm, his internal energy surging out from his body.There was a loud explosion as the two men's fists collided with each other.Dustin stood there without budging an inch. Cracks began forming beneath his feet. On the other hand, the moment their fists crashed into each other, Flint let out a grunt. He flew backward, slamming against the wall heavily, leaving a crater in his wake. The arm that he used to throw the punch was dripping with blood, and his bones were shattered. He couldn't move anymore. After two seconds, he finally couldn't hold back anymore and coughed up a mouthful of blood. His body began to crumple slowly, sliding down the wall like wet mud."How is that possible?!" Duncan was stunned by what happened. Although Flint wasn't as strong as Cobalt, he was still ranked thirteen on the Hundred Immortals. However, a figure as p
"Lord Consultant, greetings! I am fighter Cobalt Sander!"Under everyone's gaze, Cobalt got on one knee and saluted Dustin with a face full of respect. He was the Hill family's fighter; in other words, he was a high-ranking guard.Meanwhile, a consultant was completely different—a consultant was second only to the master!Everyone, no matter who, referred to him with the respectful address of "sir" or "lord."One could count on one hand the number of Consultant Badges the Hill family had given out. There were merely a handful of consultants, but each and every one of them was all-powerful figures! If Dustin was able to get a Consultant Badge, then that was sufficient proof of his power and worth!"Er …"Everyone was shocked when Cobalt suddenly got on one knee. They were completely dumbstruck, their faces full of disbelief.That was none other than the famous Master Sander, the second-ranked on the Hundred Immortals! People everywhere worshiped the ground he walked on. Yet,
The fork whizzed through the air like an arrow leaving the bow and went straight through Duncan's arm."Ah!" he screamed, cold sweat pouring down his face."Remember, if this happens again, I won't stop at just an arm," Dustin warned."You … you're ballsy!" Duncan pressed his arm that was bleeding profusely, and ran for his life—his former moments of glory had now turned into a humiliating spectacle."Dustin, what was that thing you took out earlier? Why did that guy get on his knee immediately when he saw it?" Dahlia couldn't help but ask curiously once Duncan was gone.The others didn't utter a word, but they were also bewildered."Oh, two days ago, I saved a patient, and his family gave me a badge. They told me that if I ever got into trouble, this could save my life. I didn't think I'd actually have to use it," Dustin said with a laugh."Huh? That's unbelievably lucky," Dahlia said, slightly surprised. She had almost thought that he was going to end up in deep shit."Hmph,
Dustin was in a dilemma. "Dahlia, you know I'm only average at martial arts. I've never been a Chief Security Officer before. Don't you think I'm not suited for that post?" He was good at fighting and treating illnesses, but he had no experience holding an executive position in a company. It just didn't feel right. "You just need to be good at fighting." Dahlia smiled at him. "You don't need to do anything. You just need to oversee safety matters and, at the same time, protect me from harm.""I …" Dustin didn't know what to say."Hmph! If you don't want to do it, fine." She pulled a long face. "I'll just die a quick death if someone wants to harm me. It's no big deal.""Come on, it's not that serious." His eyes twitched.Dahlia responded, "You're right, it's not that serious. Nicholson Corp. has tens of billions in assets. Of course, I don't need any protection as the newly appointed chairman. It's not like anyone is after their shares. Please just remember to collect my body wh
"Mr. Dustin Rhys.""Who's Dustin Rhys? I've never heard of him. Get lost, and don't be an eyesore!" The guard lambasted. Every day, many people sent gifts to the Hill family. It had already become a regular occurrence for them."But Mr. Rhys instructed me to deliver this to Sir Patrick personally." Edmund was in a hard spot. "Hey, do you not understand what I said? I told you to get lost!" The guard was getting impatient. Edmund was nervous and shrank back in slight fear. "Could you kindly deliver the message at least?" "Who are you to ask me to deliver a message? Get lost before I lose my cool!" The guard's expression was cold. "What's the noise about?" At that moment, a tall, well-built man walked out.The previously upset guard immediately greeted him with a smile. "Mr. Torben, it's nothing. A beggar is being rowdy and wants to pass a gift to Mr. Patrick. I'll get him to leave immediately." "Hold up." Torben raised his hand to stop him and turned his attention toward E
When Dustin returned to Enchanting Villa, it was already dusk, but Edmund was nowhere to be found. Dustin found it suspicious. Typically, Edmund would already have dinner prepared by this time. With how considerate he was, he would even inform Dustin in advance when he had to leave the house. Just as he was wondering about the situation, his phone rang. It was from Abigail. "Dustin! Things are bad. Something happened to my dad!" Dustin could tell she was anxious as soon as she spoke."What happened?" Dustin turned serious. "The hospital just called. They said my dad was beaten up so badly he almost died," Abigail replied.Dustin's brows furrowed slightly. "Edmund treats everyone with kindness. Why would he suddenly be beaten up?" Edmund was always cautious and reserved, and he interacted with people with an apologetic smile on his face. Logically speaking, he wasn't the type to engage in conflicts or make enemies. "I'm not sure about the details. I'm on the way to the hosp
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
"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