Drake's head fell to the ground with a thud. Everyone was shocked. No one had expected Magnus to pull such a dirty trick.He was smiling and agreeing to an alliance just seconds ago. But now, he had chopped Drake's head off. He was plain evil!"Drake!" After they got over the shock, the Ironfists disciples were angered. Before they could even react, the Skycrane disciples began attacking. Following their shrieks, most of the Ironfists disciples were defeated within seconds. As for the remaining, Magnus and his men surrounded and killed them off. They did not stand a chance against Magnus.The Azure Mist had their guards up when they saw how ruthless the Skycrane disciples were. They pulled their swords out, waiting to see what they would do next."Magnus! I never thought you'd be so despicable to attack someone sneakily!" Nathan's brows furrowed.Skycrane was supposed to be a decent guild. How could Magnus resort to such underhanded tactics? It was shameless!"Haha! What
"Nathan won't hold up for much longer." Dustin could finally hold it in no more.But what was meant as a warning received a lot of retorts from the Azure Mist disciples."That's nonsense! Nathan is extremely skilled, and his swordsmanship is incredible! How could he possibly be defeated?""Exactly! Please look closely! Nathan is winning!""Hmph! Why are you on the opponent's side and belittling Nathan? If you don't know what's happening, keep your nonsense to yourself!"They shouted at Dustin.Everyone could see that Nathan was overpowering Magnus! It wouldn't take much longer for him to win the battle!But not only was Dustin not cheering Nathan on, he was even belittling him? How annoying!"You probably don't know Nathan well, Dustin."Vanessa proudly explained, "Nathan's so skillful that he's considered one of the top three in the younger generation of Lester martial artists. "He's earned himself the nickname of the Little Dragon and has defeated many reputable martial ar
"How is that possible?"Seeing all the disciples of Azure Mist lying on the ground and throwing up blood, Emily and Vanessa exchanged looks of horror.They had been standing at the back of the group, so they had not rushed up in time to help Nathan.What they saw was terrifying. More than ten elite disciples of Azure Mist were sent flying by a single slash of Magnus' sword.His strength was horrifying!"How dare you bunch of trash attempt to challenge me? You're just wasting your efforts!"Magnus pointed at them with his sword. He was looking down on them.He had only engaged in Nathan's challenge for fun. Now that he had his fun, it was time he ended things."As expected of Magnus. His skills are out of this world!""Hah! How dare a second-grade guild go against us? They were asking for it!"The Skycrane disciples laughed among themselves. The treasure was theirs now that they had defeated the Azure Mist."Magnus! Those girls with them are beautiful! "It'd be a pity to ki
"Hey, you! I'll let you live if you can withstand three of my attacks!" Magnus taunted as he lifted his sword."Is that so? I'd like to see how great your skills are." Dustin's expression remained impassive as he went forward calmly."Dustin!" Emily grabbed his wrist. "Magnus is much stronger than us. You can't possibly win against him. You better run for your life!""That's right, Dustin! The guy is terrifying! You're no match for him!" Vanessa tried to persuade him against it, too."Rhys! Stop making things worse! Bring Emily and the rest away from here now! "You can't handle the situation here!" Nathan shouted at him."Exactly! Even Nathan can't win against Magnus! Do you think you can? Run while you can!"The disciples of Azure Mist yelled at him to run away. Though they didn't particularly like him, they didn't wish to see him dead."Don't worry. It's just Magnus. I'm not afraid of him." Dustin was calm like there was nothing to be anxious about. He walked forward.
Everyone was silent when they saw Magnus explode into pieces.They stood there frozen in place with absolute horror on their faces. They looked like they'd seen a ghost. Many of them even wondered if they were dreaming. If this wasn't a dream, how can such a thing happen?That was Magnus, the lead disciple of Skycrane and a genius swordmaster from Yuston. He was strong enough to defeat all the disciples of Azure Mist single-handedly. How could a nobody like Dustin overpower someone of that level?No, he wasn't even overpowered. Dustin's punch shattered him on the spot.Just a single punch from him had shattered both Magnus and his sword. He had been so thoroughly destroyed that nothing remained.Was he even human? He must be a monster!"How—how could this be? Magnus—died?"Looking at all the blood on the ground, the disciples of Skycrane looked defeated. They trembled, and their eyes were filled with shock.It was hard for them to accept that Magnus, a genius swordmaster an
A large crater in the shape of a palm was formed on the ground.The Skycrane disciples were buried in the soil and gravel in the crater. Some of them were severely wounded, while others died on the spot.All it took was one palm strike from him, and almost all the Skycrane disciples were wiped out. It was a truly powerful attack!"Master Chasey!"Upon seeing the elderly person, the Azure Mist disciples' spirits were uplifted. They gathered around eagerly as if they had met their leader.The elderly man was none other than Walter Chasey, the leader of Azure Mist!"Dad! You're here! We almost died!"Vanessa ran up to him with red-rimmed eyes. She looked like she was close to tears."Oh, you! You refused to train when I asked you to. Now you know fear in the face of danger!"Walter stood with his hands behind his back as he lectured Vanessa with a stern expression."Dad! They were too powerful! Even Nathan was no match for them. What could I do?"Vanessa pouted, looking hurt.
With how Walter tried to pick a fight with him, Dustin started running out of patience. It was his choice to choose a mentor and whether or not to learn from him. How could it be forced on someone? Besides, Walter was just halfway to becoming a grandmaster. How could he be qualified to be Dustin's mentor?"Master Chasey, your skills are exceptional. Dustin would never look down on you. Maybe he just needs some time to consider things. "Once he sees just how amazing you are, he'll come to appreciate the offer." Emily quickly tried to smooth things over when she saw things getting ugly."That's right, Dad! The matter of importance now is not getting yourself a disciple. "Let's not get distracted from the treasure," Vanessa tried to change the subject.Though it was a pity, she did not wish to force Dustin into things. It would not be worth it to go overboard and ruin their relationship."I'll give you three days to consider the offer, boy. If you change your mind within three
He had no problem lifting thousands of pounds with his strength. How was it possible that he could not lift a sword?"Try again," Walter urged.Ben didn't dare to hesitate. Taking a deep breath, he clasped both hands tightly on the sword's hilt and pulled it upwards with all his might.His veins popped, and his face flushed. He used all his strength, but the sword did not budge an inch."Master Chasey, this won't work. I can't lift it." Heaving a long sigh, Ben was already drenched in sweat."What a piece of trash. How could you not be able to lift just a sword? Let me do it!"Nathan couldn't take it anymore. He voluntarily walked up and pushed Ben aside. Then, he spat into his palms and rubbed them together.Setting his footing right, he grabbed the sword's hilt and deeply breathed. Mustering up all the true energy he had, he pulled up sharply. The black sword remained unmoving."Damn it! I don't believe this!" Nathan frowned. Unwilling to accept defeat, he tried several mor
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