For the next few days, Dustin occupied himself with investigating James' death. Someone had murdered James and framed him for the former's death. Although he didn't know who the true killer was, he could at least guess their intentions. They wanted to send him a warning, as well as make others turn against him. A stab in the back was always the hardest to anticipate. Dustin had also tried approaching Dahlia several times, but she still refused to see him. He knew that before the real murderer was revealed, there was no way they could peacefully talk to each other.On the third morning, Dustin stood at the edge of the battle ring in Flame Dragon Dojo as he studied the black needle. The needle was forged from dark steel and had been dipped in poison. If the needle managed to prick into a person's skin, it would cause an instant death, which was why James' death had been so sudden.But the question was, "Who did the needle belong to?""Sir …"Right then, Nelson barged into the dojo, ca
In the Doyle family's training grounds."Holy shit! There are so many people!" Ruth was shocked by the amount of people that crowded the vast space. Everywhere she looked, people were talking animatedly. Fortunately, the Doyle family martial artists were keeping everyone in line."Terry is a revered genius. Of course, the spotlight would be on him." Hector smiled."Dad, if he's that strong, does Dustin have a winning chance?" Ruth asked nervously. "It'll be difficult, but not impossible," Hector answered. "Hmph! Serves him right for being so stubborn!" Natasha's words were harsh, but they failed to conceal her worry. She tried to persuade Dustin to surrender multiple times, but Dustin seemed unbothered. "It doesn't matter if he loses. It's more important that he tries. Besides, losing to Terry Doyle isn't humiliating." Hector smiled again. He wasn't interested in the duel. However, Dustin was going to be his son-in-law, so he had to come and support Dustin."Why, fancy seeing you
As it neared the agreed time for their battle, Dustin, Nelson, and several other men walked into the training ground. No matter which direction they looked, people were flocking around every corner.In the middle of the training grounds was a large battle ring. There were only a few seats surrounding the platform, so most people had no choice but to stand. This naturally meant that those who were sitting were not ordinary people, especially those sitting on the east side, where they had the best view of the arena. Upon closer inspection, Dustin saw a few familiar faces, including Hector and his daughters, Paul and Patrick Hill, Claudia, as well as Maggie. Others seemed familiar to him, but he couldn't recall their names. Dustin turned his attention to those on the west side of the arena, where well-known fighters in the martial arts world sat. Many of them were strong individuals who ranked only second to Paul. "Was it necessary to put on such a huge show for a normal competition?"
"Dustin, you should know where you stand. Don't think you're so important just because you've met some high-ranking people before. You're just like salesmen who are always eyeing wealthy people." Zoey jeered.For some reason, there were always people who thought highly of themselves despite being nobodies. "What the fuck are you guys talking about?" Nelson exploded before Dustin had a chance to get angry. If they had been anywhere else, the Flame Dragon Disciples would have killed these people for belittling their leader. "Pfft! You even have bodyguards now? Are you pretending to be a big shot?" Zeke was unfazed, and he was sure that anyone following Dustin wasn't anyone important either."Dustin, you should take good care of your dogs. This isn't a place they can bark." Gordon smirked. "You—""Alright, enough." Adriana tried to calm everyone. "We're here to watch the duel, not to fight.""Fine. Since Adriana is the one asking, we'll forgive those idiotic bastards." Gordon put on a
"Flame Dragon Gang's new leader?" Gordon and his friends glanced at Nelson and Dustin before exchanging looks and then burst out in laughter."Pfft! Excuse me, but did you hit your head or something?" Zoey cackled. "Did you just say that Dustin is the gang leader of Flame Dragon Gang, the new talented individual who challenged Terry Doyle? Well, you might as well say that he's God, then!""Who's this idiot? As if that bastard could possibly be someone as talented as the Flame Dragon Gang's leader." Zeke jeered."How dare you humiliate our leader! You're dead meat!" Nelson was pissed. He started to roll up his sleeves when Dustin raised a hand to stop him. "Forget it. There's no point arguing with these ignorant fools." Dustin's target was Terry, not small fries like them."Yeah, right. Do you think you're so strong?" Zeke smirked. "Didn't you just say that you're the assistant gang leader and he's the leader? Well, if that's the case, why don't I know the two of you?" Gordon qu
The Doyle family members angrily snapped. "Who the hell are you? How dare you make a scene here!"Three of the family's skilled fighters leaped onto the stage, glaring at the challenger. "Hmph, trash like you don't deserve to know my name. Tell Terry Doyle to accept my challenge!" The man in green pointed his spear at them provokingly."Who is this man? He's such a dick.""He must have a death wish to challenge Terry Doyle.""Tsk, I guess his pride matters more than his life."The people in the arena stared at the man and whispered to each other. "Well, if you want to challenge Mr. Terry, you'll have to get through us!" The three fighters from the Doyle family drew their swords and charged toward the man."Since all of you are so eager to die, so be it!" The man in green tightened his grip on his spear and began countering their attacks. His astonishing speed made it hard for the three fighters to defend themselves, and one of them quickly found himself at the mercy of the
"Let's see what you're made of, kid." A burly man wielding a broadsword was the first to jump into the ring. His sword, which weighed well over 200 pounds, looked as light as a feather because of his muscular physique. "Who are you? Do you have a death wish?" The man in green pointed his spear toward the burly man. A look of disdain on his face. "I'm Toby Hunt, leader of Hollowblades!" In a smooth motion, the man slammed the tip of his blade into the ground, a murderous aura enveloping him. "Oh, it's Sir Hunt. No wonder he seemed familiar.""Hollowblades is quite a famous guild, and Sir Hunt is known for his sword skills. I've heard that he's so strong he can even cut boulders apart!""With Sir Hunt around, that guy's dead meat!""Sir Hunt, please teach that arrogant bastard a lesson and protect Balerno martial artists' reputation!"Everyone showed their support for Toby. "Hollowblades? What's that? I've never even heard of that name." The man in green sneered, unfazed by h
If the man had only defeated one opponent, others might have considered it was due to his luck. However, defeating several dozen opponents nonstop could only mean that he was an incredibly powerful individual. Thanks to that, the man finally earned some recognition from the crowd. "Who is this guy? He's so strong!""A man dressed in green and good at using a spear? Don't tell me he's the person who rose to fame in the martial world recently by challenging strong fighters—Verdant Phantom?""What? Verdant Phantom? I heard that even Geoffrey Vaughn, who's in the top twenty of The Heavenly Immortals, lost to him!""He defeated someone as strong as Geoffrey Vaughn? He's a monster!"Everyone was shocked to hear his nickname. After all, the name Verdant Phantom had been gathering attention, especially after the man defeated Geoffrey Vaughn. However, since he never appeared in public, few knew what he looked like. Everyone was surprised to learn that he would show up. They were even
"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