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An Understated Dominance Chapter 1483
The night had grown darker on the outskirts of South City, inside an old and rustic mansion. Ezra paced restlessly in the living room with his hands clasped behind his back, clearly anxious. To confront Dustin and his gang, he had enlisted a master from the Mystic Arts Order, someone even more powerful than Theodore, although slightly eccentric and unpredictable. This man had a sadistic side, as seen by the three unfortunate women who had left his presence battered and on the verge of death. Ezra didn't tend to show unnecessary sympathy, but appeasing this man with a twisted personality proved to be quite a challenge. The threat to his life loomed large if he accidentally provoked him.The door squeaked open, revealing a thin figure in a black robe with a satisfied grin. In the adjoining room, there was a horrifying scene: a woman bound and bloodied, her life cruelly taken from her.Ezra turned away in shock. The master, Caspian Yuletide, sauntered out, visibly content. Ezra ca
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1484
The bundle had unfurled, revealing a spherical object that rolled out—a severed human head!"Holy crap!" Ezra jumped back, his face turning pale. To his shock, the decapitated head belonged to one of Caspian's disciples."What?" Caspian's face darkened, his gaze turning cold. "Who the hell are you? How dare you kill my disciple? You've got some nerve!""So, you're the sicko who spiked our drinks with those zombie worms?" A figure emerged from the shadows, stopping at the living room doorway. The dim light exposed Dustin's face, surprising Ezra. "Dustin? What are you doing here?!""You guys suck at hiding your tracks, so now, I'm here to settle the score," Dustin said nonchalantly."Settle the score? Who do you think you are? Acting all tough in front of Sir Yuletide? You're digging your own grave!" Ezra spat and quickly hid behind Caspian. "Sir Yuletide! This bastard here is the one I want to deal with!""You killed my disciple, and now you dare to seek revenge? You truly don
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1485
"Mystic Arts Order's flea powder? That's cool." Dustin squinted, quickly catching on—it was clear that Caspian wasn't any average mystic artist but an elite from the Mystic Arts Order."Oh? A mystic artist? No wonder you saw through my moves." Caspian gave Dustin a once-over; his gaze shone with excitement. That surprise attack moments ago would've been tough for a regular martial artist to handle. But Dustin had effortlessly diffused the danger with a slight breath, showcasing his skill."Ah! My face! My handsome face!" Ezra, now poison-free, howled in pain, covering his bloodied face. He roared, "Sir Yuletide! Take him down for me! I want to rip him to shreds!""You're noisy!" Caspian's face darkened, and with a backhand slap, he sent Ezra flying. He was a master at being unpredictable."As fellow mystic artists, why don't you kneel and apologize to me, then become my disciples? What do you say?" Caspian proposed, a sinister smile playing on his lips. His disciple was dead,
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1486
"What?" In the corner, Ezra stood wide-eyed, witnessing the unbelievable scene. The once-revered Caspian, an elite of the Mystic Arts Order, crumbled under a single strike from Dustin. Caspian, someone close to reaching the grandmaster status, was easily overpowered by Dustin. It was unimaginable"What? You're not dead yet?" Dustin raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. Even with just ten percent of the force, that last hit could've taken out anyone below the grandmaster level. The armor took the hit and saved Caspian from getting a chest-sized hole through him.Caspian coughed up blood, and bones seemed to have shattered. Even with the protective armor, his chest crumbled like twigs, and his internal organs were severely damaged."H-How can you be so powerful? Are you a grandmaster?" Caspian questioned, shocked. Caspian's face contorted in fear as he clutched his chest in pain. Despite being halfway to becoming a grandmaster, he was defeated by someone so young as Dustin.
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1487
"Stop right there!" Just as Dustin was about to finish Caspian, a sudden shout cut through the air. At the same time, a projectile shot out of the shadows, a deadly dart aimed right at Dustin's back.Dustin raised an eyebrow, swiftly turned around, and caught the dart with two fingers. Upon taking a closer look, it was a poisoned dart. It emanated a dark aura, sporting the mark written "Mystic". It was an object from Mystic Arts Order!"Who are you? You dare to attack a disciple of the Mystic Arts Order? You've got some nerve!" At this moment, an old woman in black robes emerged from the shadows.The old lady had a weathered appearance, a petite figure that seemed ordinary. But her eyes were exceptionally cold and sharp, like venomous snakes. It instilled fear in anyone who caught her gaze."Madam Beatrix? Madam Beatrix, save me!" Seeing her, Caspian acted like he had just found a lifeline. He stumbled towards her, seeking refuge.Though others might not know, he knew that Bea
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1488
In an instant, Beatrix's arm felt numb, and her heartbeat quickened."What's happening?" She watched her trembling arm in shock. Beatrix was skilled in both mystic and martial arts and had nearly achieved the rank of a grandmaster. But now, she found herself at a disadvantage against Dustin.Just how strong was this kid?"How about now? Still want to stand in my way?" Dustin remained indifferent, hoping to teach her a lesson so she'd back off for certain reasons."You're formidable, young man. I admire that." Beatrix took a deep breath, suppressing the surging blood within. "Unfortunately, you're destined to lose today. Look at your palm; it's turning black, isn't it?""Your poison is useless against me," Dustin shook his head. His body was immune to poisons, especially after breaking through."Useless?" Beatrix sneered. "Young man, you're overestimating yourself and underestimating the Mystic Arts Order! "The toxin we've used is lethal even for grandmasters. Right now, you
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1489
"Abigail?" Dustin stared at the sudden appearance of the white-haired young woman, genuinely surprised. The young woman was his only disciple, Abigail! It was unexpected for them to meet again after so many years, and she had undergone noticeable changes. She had become more beautiful and exuded a profound and mysterious aura; her every move was graceful."Hi Sir, surprised to see me?" She smiled."Kid, it's been so long! Not even a call to say you're well," Dustin said, intentionally keeping a stern face.He lightly tapped Abigail's head with his knuckles, shocking the Mystic Arts Order's high-level members. They couldn't believe their eyes.However, contrary to their expectations, the Grand Sorceress wasn't angry. Instead, she looked a bit guilty. She charmingly said, "Sir, I've been in seclusion. I just came out a few days ago, and things got a bit hectic. I genuinely forgot for a moment."The high-level members of the Mystic Arts Order were dumbfounded. What was going on
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1490
"What? Mentor?!" The room turned into a mess. Beatrix, Caspian, and Ezra stood frozen, shocked by the unexpected revelation. The idea that Dustin and Abigail had a mentor-disciple relationship, especially with the latter being the Grand Sorceress, was beyond what they had expected."How is that possible? How could this guy be connected to the Grand Sorceress of the Mystic Arts Order?" Ezra widened his eyes, his fear evident. He shook uncontrollably. Eleanor claimed that Dustin was just an ordinary guy. How could he have such a powerful backing?"If you're going to take down my mentor, it's like taking me down," Abigail declared coldly, walking forward. Her icy gaze swept across the three, making each of them shudder. "Assassinating the Grand Sorceress of the Mystic Arts Order—do you realize the severity of that crime?""Grand Sorceress, please have mercy! Please have mercy on me!" Caspian quickly bowed, pleading for forgiveness. "Grand Sorceress, I've seen the error of my ways
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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
