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An Understated Dominance Chapter 1197
Upon Ronald's command, a waiver was brought forth. Both he and Dustin signed their names on it without a word. A duel in the arena had always been a grave affair of life and death. However, unless there was a deep-seated enmity, the victor would normally show mercy. That was the unspoken code of conduct. However, by signing the waiver, that unspoken code would become void. There would be no room for mercy and no option for surrender. All that lay ahead was a ruthless battle for survival.It was either live or die. No third alternative existed. "Dustin, this is the most foolish thing you've done in your entire life." After signing the contract, Ronald's entire demeanor shifted.Instead of his previous grace, he now exuded an imposing might. A tremendous force seemed to emanate from him, enveloping the entire arena. Following that, the martial artists in the audience felt a sudden heaviness. It was as if an invisible boulder was pressing down on their shoulders. Even thei
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1198
There were differences in strength even among grandmasters. And the gaps between each minor level were challenging to bridge. "Sir Bolts, it seems like you have overestimated this young man." Theodore chuckled and shook his head. "If I'm not mistaken, after Sir Reeds' recent seclusion, his skills have ascended to another level. So he should only need three moves to deal with Dustin.""Oh? Is that so?" Woody raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.Ronald had already attained the status of a grandmaster several years ago. If he had made further progress, he was on the verge of becoming an ultimate grandmaster. If that were the case, the Martial Arts Union would have to reevaluate his value."Dustin, you should never have challenged me. I already offered you a chance back in the Black Forest. But it seems like you're determined to dig a grave for yourself. "No one will be coming to your rescue today!" Ronald continued to advance. His terrifying presence intensified as it surged
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1199
When the dust settled, the audience of martial artists felt a cold shiver run down their backs. They were terrified. The aftermath of that previous collision was terrifying. Had they not been prepared and failed to dodge, they would have been seriously injured. Even with their precautions, the destructive force left them with a lingering unease. "Not bad. You've improved since our encounter in the Black Forest," Ronald said as he placed one hand behind his back. With a faint smile playing on his lips, he looked convinced of his victory. "Unfortunately, you're still going to die today.""Ronald, don't hold back and just bring it on. Otherwise, you won't have another chance." Dustin straightened his posture, his gaze as cold as ever. The attack earlier had allowed Dustin to see through Ronald's limits. As expected, it appeared as if Ronald was on the verge of turning into an ultimate grandmaster. Fortunately, due to time constraints, he hadn't fully broken through yet. Other
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1200
Ronald leaped up high and suspended himself in the air. Under the sunlight, the golden armor that he wore gleamed brilliantly. It caught everyone's attention. "I call this swordplay the Ethereal Slash. I learned it during my three years spent in seclusion. Until today, I have never displayed it in front of others. "It will be your greatest honor today to die by this technique!"Now, watch me!" Ronald's golden sword suddenly shook. He then transformed into a golden streak of light and descended rapidly. His momentum was tremendous, destroying everything in its path. "How fast! What a terrifying swordplay!""Oh my goodness! Is this divine retribution? It's so frightening!""No one can withstand this strike of his when unleashed. At least the young grandmaster will die an honorable death!" Ronald's astounding swordplay sent shockwaves throughout the arena. The martial artists were left in awe. That golden streak of light was as radiant as the sun and left people utterly def
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1201
"Im-Impossible!" Ronald's eyes widened in disbelief as he gazed at his injured body. He never could have imagined that he would be defeated so badly. After all, he had the power of the Infinite Aura Technique and the Ethereal Slash assisting him. Why? Why did it turn out like this? That was his strongest move!Nobody was able to defend against his move, let alone launch a counterattack, in the whole of Balerno! He was supposed to be unparalleled! How? How did Dustin manage to defeat him? Ronald's body trembled, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. Then, his knees gave way. He knelt on the ground, his face ashen. Dustin's terrifying slash had not only severed his arm but a lot of his circulatory pathways were also damaged. At that moment, Ronald's body was in ruins. He had no strength left to continue the fight. Ronald fell to the ground, severely injured. The entire arena fell into a deathly silence. It was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Everyone was stunne
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1202
However, at that moment, that mountain had collapsed. Ronald's legend and glory were completely shattered. "He won! Dustin won! That's amazing!" After being momentarily stunned, Lyn cheered. "As expected of the man I've set my eyes on. He's truly unparalleled!" Josie was thrilled and excited. Her face began to redden.Although she wasn't sure what happened, she was certain Dustin had won. And brilliantly at that! In front of thousands of people, he had defeated the martial arts alliance leader. The one and only Ronald Reeds. From that moment on, he had successfully made a name for himself. He would stand uncontested, leaving everyone in the dust. "Excellent! What a magnificent victory!" Even the shrewd Emery couldn't help applauding the win. Ronald had suppressed him for a whole decade. With Dustin's unexpected victory and a severely injured Ronald's fall from grace, it was a joyous occasion. Finally, he could seize this opportunity to assume the position of alliance
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1203
"Stop!" Just as Dustin was about to kill Ronald, a booming voice yelled. At the same time, an arrow shot out at an incredible speed, carrying tremendous force. With a loud clang, it accurately struck against the Celestial Sword."Hmm?" Dustin's body quivered, stopping his actions. At the same time, he cast a cold gaze below stage. Unbeknownst to him, Woody had already stood up, holding a powerful bow in his hand. He had fired that arrow. "Sir Bolts, what do you mean by this?" Dustin frowned slightly. "Dustin, you have won. Don't overdo it."Woody's expression was cold. "Don't be so eager to burn bridges and make things difficult lest it backfires!""Sir Bolts, our duel was a fight to the death. Only one can emerge alive in the battle ring. That is the rule of the martial world," Dustin said coldly. "The Martial Arts Union establishes the rules of the martial world. I hold the highest position here and wield the ultimate authority!" Woody's tone was extremely overbearing.
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1204
If Ronald died, Theodore would probably be next. "Hmph! With the union backing Ronald, what can that brat do? Even if he's powerful, he still has to listen to orders obediently." Quincey grinned widely. He had believed the Reeds family was on the verge of ruins moments ago. Thankfully, Woody had intervened just in time to save the situation. "What a shame. I was almost there." Emery sighed, shaking his head in regret. Today would have been perfect if Woody hadn't turned the situation around."As expected of the Martial Arts Union. They were able to intimidate Dustin with just a few words." "Haha … Even the most formidable figures had to bow down to the union!" Many of the martial artists in the audience breathed a sigh of relief. Although they couldn't accept Ronald's defeat, the current outcome was far from disastrous. After all, Ronald was safe now. Nobody would be that foolish to go against the union. "Dustin, I must admit that you are strong and skilled. Unfortunat
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Chapter 2530
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
Chapter 2529
"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
Chapter 2528
"Royal gods? And two of them?" Dustin frowned at the news.His battle with Poseidon in West Lucozia had shown him firsthand that the Hall of Gods didn't send weaklings into the field.One royal god had already pushed him to his limit. If two came at him together, winning wasn't even the question. He'd be lucky just to make it out alive."That's right," Grace said solemnly. "The royal gods, Zeus and Hera, have crossed the border. They're even stronger than Poseidon. If they ambush you together, your chances are slim."She knew Dustin was strong, but he was still young. Moreover, Zeus and Hera weren't just anyone. They were world-class powerhouses. Surviving a fight with them would be next to impossible.The Hall of Gods had probably figured out how dangerous Dustin could become. If they had given him a few more years to grow, they might not have been able to stop him."Well, that complicates things." Dustin rested his chin in one hand with a thoughtful expression.Two royal god
Chapter 2527
Soluna Hall had one rule—they wouldn't accept unfamiliar customers. They only served those they knew well or people introduced by someone they trusted. Every transaction required an appointment. Exceptions were made for urgent matters, but those came with an additional fee.When Dustin reached the entrance, two security guards stopped him. After stating his name and being verified by the guards, they let him through.Inside, a female attendant with a pleasant smile greeted him and led him across the main hall straight into the back garden. They passed a small fish pond and stopped in front of a secluded private room."This is Ms. Linsor's private reception area. Mr. Rhys, please come in," the female attendant said with a smile."She's not here?" Dustin asked curiously."She had something come up, but she'll be here soon. Please make yourself comfortable," the attendant said, still smiling."Alright then." He nodded and walked into the room.The room was spacious, with a vintag
Chapter 2526
"You're wrong, Tristan," Matthias said with a meaningful look.He continued, "Sure, I've got the Moseys to back me, but I'm still far from securing the throne. Nathaniel's got strong backing too, and this won't be an easy win. But if you were to support me, I'd say my chances shoot up to 80%."In his eyes, Tristan's support was worth more than the Ballard family.If he could win Tristan over, his odds would jump from 60% to nearly 80%. The only question now was whether Tristan would be willing to shelve his own ambitions and place his bet on Matthias."You know me, Matthias. I've never been one for ambition or glory. This kind of power struggle just isn't for me. I hope you can understand that," Tristan said.After thinking about it thoroughly, he finally turned his brother down. He knew his chances of winning were slim, yet he couldn't let go.Tristan was the eldest legitimate son, the rightful and undisputed heir to the throne. Aside from his poor health, he had no real shortco
Chapter 2525
Tristan, Matthias, and Nathaniel weren't fools. They understood the unspoken message loud and clear.Their purpose for this trip was to take advantage of the opportunity to offer their condolences and win the Ballard family's support. Should it work, all the better. If not, they'd at least make a good impression. The key was that as long as the Ballard family didn't pick a side or turn against them, there was still room to make things work. No need to rush into anything.Tristan spoke first. "You're being too kind, Duke of Lachshire. We've always admired Mr. Jovian's loyalty and courage. We're simply here to pay our respects—nothing more."Matthias added, "That's right. Your family has a lot to deal with right now. Plus, you're not as young as you used to be, so don't wear yourself out over this. We won't take up more of your time today."He gave a respectful nod, then turned to leave."Duke—"Nathaniel opened his mouth to speak, but Tristan interrupted. "That's enough, Nathani
Chapter 2524
"Oh? I didn't expect both of you to be here," Nathaniel said.He was just about to pay his respects when he spotted Tristan and Matthias inside the mourning hall. He gave a respectful nod and said, "Hello, Tristan, Matthias."Truthfully, he wasn't surprised. He had already guessed they would show up.The four ancient houses and the eight great families were all key players he needed on his side. And with the Ballard family still undecided, he wasn't about to miss the chance to make an impression."I heard you left Oakvale on official business. Funny how quickly you came back," Tristan said, his tone laced with meaning."It wasn't anything important. When I heard about Mr. Jovian's passing, I returned immediately. I wanted to pay my respects in person," Nathaniel answered smoothly, without missing a beat.He brushed off Tristan's subtle jab and used the moment to show the Ballard family he was genuinely there to pay his respects."Don't just stand there, Nathaniel. Go pay your re
Chapter 2523
"Your Royal Highness, it's an honor to have you here," Jonathan said.Upon seeing the distinguished guest arrive, he quickly pulled himself together and aside his grief. He led his family to greet Tristan, and they bowed in respect.Before they could finish the gesture, Tristan raised a hand to stop them. "No need for such formalities," he said. "The deceased deserves our respect."He turned to Jovian's portrait, which was displayed in the mourning hall, and sighed deeply.Tristan continued, "Mr. Jovian's untimely passing is truly a great loss to Dragonmarsh. May his soul rest in peace. My condolences to your family during this difficult time."Jonathan's eyes were filled with tears as he bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your kind words. My family is heartbroken over my brother's tragic death."Tristan nodded slightly. His gaze quickly swept across the hall before asking, "I've heard that Duke Lachshire fainted from grief. How is he doing now?"Jonathan
Chapter 2522
The unrest in West Lucozia finally ended with the capture of Warrick.Every official who was his accomplice was thoroughly investigated. Those who needed to be arrested were taken into custody, and those who deserved to be punished were executed.After the purge, more than 300 officials in West Lucozia were removed from their posts. Those guilty were arrested, and those whose crimes were severe were executed.Under Austin's iron-fisted reforms, West Lucozia's government underwent a complete overhaul. Corruption, bribery, and the tangled web of illegal deals were swept away like dust in the wind.The citizens quickly noticed the difference. When they visited government offices, they no longer faced delays, refusals, or demands for bribes.Long-neglected public issues began to move forward, thanks to the organized efforts of newly appointed officials. Things were improving across the board.Instead of fearing the crackdown, the citizens welcomed it. The corrupt officials who had dr
