"Grand General Rhys, I have only one son. I cannot leave him behind and return to Oakvale alone. I implore you to show mercy!" Eloise bowed deeply.At that crucial moment, she had cast aside all concerns for her pride. The sole focus was on extracting Austin from the raging inferno, a sacrifice she deemed worthwhile even if it meant surrendering her own life."If Your Highness does not wish to return to Oakvale, you can stay here," Julius said indifferently. He went on, "I can find a beautiful place in West Lucozia for both of you to spend the rest of your lives carefree. How about that?""If you become the Prince of West Lucozia, it might not be appropriate for us to stay here. It would be better if you allowed us to return to Oakvale. That way, everyone would be happy," she suggested."There's nothing inappropriate about it. Austin is my nephew," he said with a faint smile.He added, "So, having him assist me in West Lucozia is normal. If he performs well, he might even be r
In West Lucozia, only a few could match Elijah's strength. If Elijah hadn't seized the military insignia last night, Julius wouldn't have been able to advance his forces. Ultimately, the outcome depended on Elijah's choices."Your Highness, the wiser man adapts to circumstances. Grand General Rhys is more suited to be the Prince of West Lucozia than you. Is there a problem with me serving him?" Elijah asked with a faint smile."I thought you were a loyal subject, but you turn out to be a vile person!" Austin accused."The victor becomes the king, and the loser is the enemy. Whether I'm loyal or vile depends on the one who prevails." Elijah shrugged."Even if we lose, I won't let you off easy!" Austin declared. He reached out and effortlessly retrieved the fallen long sword with a swift motion through the air, bringing it back into his hand."You want to continue fighting?" Elijah shook his head, chuckling. "Even if you go all out, it's just a joke to me.""Whether it's a joke o
"Who is this guy? He actually pushed Elijah back. That's impressive!""Having such formidable strength is mind-boggling at such a young age. He'd undoubtedly be a great asset if we could have him on our side!""Don't be so quick to judge. Elijah has yet to show his true strength. The outcome remains uncertain."As the crowd watched the intense confrontation between Dustin and Elijah, they couldn't help but discuss the extraordinary scene. As the top martial artists of West Lucozia, the crowd was familiar with each other's strengths. Hence, they found this mysterious young man intriguing.No one recognized Dustin as if he appeared out of thin air, adding an element of curiosity. Top-notch warriors like him were indeed rare, capable of single-handedly influencing the course of a battle."Austin, where did you find this young expert? I've never seen him before," Eloise asked while supporting her son, looking puzzled."Mom, the time isn't right yet. I can't tell you for now." Austi
After years of relentless training, Elijah's martial prowess had surged. Yet, he never anticipated being overpowered by a younger opponent. It was an utterly embarrassing situation!"This is beyond insolence!" As the situation escalated, he roared in frustration and unleashed a deadly move. Swiftly stepping back and turning, he tightly gripped his spear, launching a fierce counter-strike. His entire being pulsated with formidable energy."Astral Crescent Strike!" Elijah bellowed, the spearhead vibrating intensely. Countless shadows of the spear shot forth like meteors, carrying a devastating force, all aimed at Dustin.The spear shadows distorted the air and shattered the ground, creating a terrifying spectacle.Dustin was undeterred. He humphed and didn't evade. With a swing of the Celestial Blade, a sharp sword aura burst forth, colliding with the myriad spear shadows.A series of explosions echoed. Dustin's sword aura effortlessly crushed all the spear shadows, accurately
"Someone! Take him down!" Julius finally issued a command in the face of Dustin's unrelenting assault. While it would have been best to recruit such a highly skilled individual, Dustin's refusal made him a potential threat that had to be eliminated since there was the risk of him joining the enemy. "Charge!" Everett and Shane both signaled with a wave of their hands. Instantly, hundreds of elite warriors surged toward Dustin. These were the Black Dragon Army's generals who possessed exceptional strength. As they attacked in unison, their combined power exceeded multiple-fold. "Halt!" Suddenly, a black shadow descended from the sky like a shooting star, crashing into the crowd with unparalleled speed.Following the thunderous impact, the ground shattered, and debris scattered. A powerful shockwave emanated from the point of impact, forcing those in its path to stagger back and almost lose their footing. "Who is that?" The crowd looked closely and saw that 50 feet ahead, an
If Julius allowed Albert to continue his speech, it could potentially affect the army's morale. The generals of the Black Dragon Army exchanged hesitant glances.Albert had once been the Grand General of the Black Dragon Army, and his reputation was second only to Prince Rufus. After suppressing the West, he had decided to retire from the frontline. Yet, some of the older generals remembered his illustrious legacy and held great respect for him."What’s the matter? Have you all lost your hearing? Or are you planning to defy orders?" Julius took out the Marshal's military insignia and brandished it high above his head as he spoke. He shouted, "I have the insignia with me! Who dares disobey me?" When the generals saw the military insignia, they no longer hesitated. They swiftly drew their swords and surrounded Albert.However, Albert just stood there with his hands behind his back, projecting an air of indifference and fearlessness. "I'm right here! Who dares make a move?" S
Julius found himself thoroughly unsettled. Despite his meticulous planning and calculated moves, Rufus's return alive was an unforeseen twist he found difficult to accept. In fact, it wasn't Julius alone who was unsettled. Elijah and the other generals were equally stunned, their faces drained of color. The only reason they found the courage to join Julius in his rebellion was due to Rufus' death. They would never have dreamed of committing such treasonous acts if Rufus had been alive. "What a lively day. There's so many familiar faces in the crowd," Rufus remarked as he took his time walking out of the gates. The crowd instinctively made way for him. "Rufus! But you—!" Eloise struggled to find words, her expression a mix of bewilderment and disbelief. She had personally witnessed Rufus being impaled through the chest with a sword and saw him take his last breath. She had even arranged his funeral. She couldn't understand how a dead man could come back to life!"Don't
"Julius, we're family. As long as you put down your sword, I will spare your life.""Why? Why didn't you just die? You're clearly gravely ill and on the brink of death. Why are you still occupying the throne?" Julius gritted his teeth as his eyes turned bloodshot. He looked somewhat frightening. "Julius, I know you all too well. While you're extremely talented in both the literary and martial arts, you lack a compassionate heart. You're also ruthless in your ways. "That is why you are not suited to be the Prince and also the reason you will never be the Prince," Rufus explained bluntly. "Nonsense!"Julius suddenly roared, "You've been the Prince for decades! Once you die, it'll be my turn next! Who else is more fitting than me throughout West Lucozia?" "I've already decided the next-in-line for the throne, and it isn't you." Rufus shook his head."You've decided?" Julius laughed manically.Julius scoffed with arrogance, "Austin is just a childish brat! How can he compare
"How many tricks does this old geezer have?"The impact of the divine talisman explosion left everyone both shocked and enraged. No one had expected that Arion would still manage to unleash such a powerful supreme divine power even after the Glow Incantation was broken and the lightning strikes failed to cause any harm.The impact of the thousands of divine talismans exploding at once was terrifying. Only the strongest fighters—Willem, Bailey, and Batuul—could withstand it. The rest of the group was severely injured. At that moment, they finally realized the terrifying strength of Dragonmarsh's strongest man."Impressive," Willem said, landing smoothly after being thrown back. His withered skin was now covered in cracks, and blood oozed from it.Most of the shockwave from the explosion had hit him directly. Despite his impressive defense, he still took some damage. However, these injuries were nothing to him. His wounds had already healed within a few seconds, as if nothing had hap
Willem's wings, black as night with a metallic sheen, erupted from his back. Fully extended, they stretched over 30 feet. With a gentle flap, a storm of wind and eerie howls swept through the air. The sheer force was intimidating to behold.His appearance had also undergone a drastic transformation. Willem's once-handsome face was now gaunt, his skin wrinkled, and his cheekbones jutted out. Fangs protruded from his mouth, and two sharp horns sprouted from his head. He had grown taller, but his body was unnaturally thin, with his ribs and sternum visible beneath his skin. From a distance, he looked like a towering, monstrous skeleton. It was an unsettling sight that sent a chill down anyone's spine.This was Willem's ultimate form. After the transformation, his speed, strength, defense, and reflexes were greatly enhanced. His thirst for blood grew even more intense, turning him into a bloodthirsty demon.The gods, who had expressed dissatisfaction moments ago, now stood paralyzed
Willem was so fast that, even to a grandmaster, it would appear as though he had teleported, leaving no time to react.Bailey had already drawn Arion's full attention, making Willem's sudden attack almost impossible to counter.When everyone thought his attack was about to succeed, a red divine talisman suddenly shot out and stuck to his forehead just as his fangs were mere inches from Arion's neck.The talisman exploded, releasing a surge of violent energy that blasted Willem over ten yards away. Before he hit the ground, a blazing fireball instantly engulfed him.He screamed as he turned into a human torch. The fire burned fiercely, scorching his flesh and charring his body.The flames clung to him like a curse and were impossible to put out. His blood energy crackled and hissed as the fire burned, and thick black smoke rose from his body.The sight shocked everyone.Just moments ago, Willem had almost succeeded in his ambush, but Arion had been prepared. With a single talisma
Thousands of golden whips lashed out with the force of a storm, and it was impossible to dodge.The group led by Bailey launched their attacks to block and continually struck the golden whips. With each collision, energy erupted, followed by loud booming sounds.Arion stood firm like a mountain. His body was enveloped in golden light as he swung his whips. Even though he was outnumbered, he still held the advantage.Bailey and the others couldn't break through at all. A few slightly weaker gods from the Hall of Gods were forced to retreat with each lash and struggled to withstand the onslaught.At that moment, everyone finally realized the terrifying power of Dragonmarsh's strongest martial artist. Even the attacks evolved from the Glow Incantation were enough to throw them off balance."I don't believe these things can stop me!"Bailey roared as his body began to change. His already large frame grew even bulkier, like a small mountain. His shirt tore as his muscles expanded, and
The sudden turn of events took everyone by surprise. No one had expected Arion to strike so suddenly; he was so fast that they couldn't even see his movement.Even Willem, renowned for his speed, couldn't react in time. One slap had sent him flying—simple, brutal, and unstoppable.At that moment, they finally realized that the seemingly harmless Arion was much more formidable than they had imagined.Willem staggered to his feet and reached up to straighten his twisted neck. His collapsed cheek began to heal at a visible rate. Fortunately for him, vampires possessed extraordinary regenerative abilities. Without it, the slap would have crippled him."You're strong for an old geezer, but it'll take more than that to finish me off," Willem hissed through clenched teeth. The bloodthirst in his eyes was unmistakable as he glared at Arion. If he could drain Arion's blood, his strength would surge to unimaginable heights."Oh? This is interesting." Arion raised an eyebrow with a faint smi
The battle between the Hall of Gods and Sacred Wrym Summit raged with unrelenting intensity. The Hall of Gods had made meticulous preparations for this invasion. Besides recruiting powerful martial artists from around the world, they also distributed valuable enhanced serums to everyone. To counter Sacred Wrym Summit's Stormcraft technique, they developed a special combat suit capable of resisting such attacks. Generally, a divine martial artist struck by Stormcraft would instantly lose their combat ability, but this special suit reduced the effectiveness of the attack by half. Even if struck, they could recover after a brief moment to continue fighting. The defensive capabilities of this gear were nearly flawless.In addition, their greatest strength was the sheer weight of their numbers. They had at least ten thousand people, including hired outlaws, under their command. During the siege, they were densely packed like a swarm of bees.In contrast, Sacred Wrym Summit had only
Willard's ultimate move cleared the battlefield in an instant. The martial artists who had rushed forward were either dead or critically wounded, with no ability to defend themselves."This… How is this possible?" Hank's eyes widened in terror as cold sweat beaded on his forehead.Under the restriction of the sealing formation, even ultimate grandmasters couldn't unleash their full strength. But Willard, with nothing more than a flask of liquor, had managed to tap into a supreme divine power far beyond his cultivation level.Though he was only at the grandmaster level, his move, Infinite Spirit Manifestation, carried the might of an ultimate grandmaster. If he were to use it again, the outcome would be grim for everyone, including himself."Retract!" Willard took a deep breath and the thousands of illusory images that had surged forth earlier instantly retracted into his body. His face turned red and pale as his breath grew heavy and ragged.The toll of using Infinite Spirit Manif
"Take a guess." Willard didn't answer. Instead, he took another sip from his flask.His cultivation had been sealed, but his strength came from the wine in his hand. The wine was refined with valuable herbs and contained dense spiritual energy, which he could absorb and convert into combat power.In short, every sip made him stronger. Even with his cultivation sealed, he could still execute powerful techniques."It's the wine, isn't it?" Garrett's gaze landed on the flask, and a quick realization set in. Willard drank before and after every attack, which hinted at something suspicious."Bingo. But no prize for you." Willard smirked and launched forward with a palm strike aimed at Garrett. Though his strength wasn't at its peak, the attack remained a deadly threat to the already injured Garrett."Mr. Styles, save me." Garrett knew he had no chance of blocking it and cried for help."Go to hell, traitor!" Hank saw the internal commotion unfold and threw a powerful punch at Willard
With a longsword in hand, Dustin plunged into the crowd like a tiger among sheep and cut down his enemies with brutal efficiency.Though he couldn't tap into his mystical energy, his physical strength far outstripped that of an average martial artist. His speed, power, reflexes, and combat skills crushed anyone in his path.Every swing of his blade was precise and targeted the enemy's vital spots with deadly accuracy, which left no room for defense.Under his relentless assault, the assassins were helpless. The air rang with their screams as bodies fell one after another.Unlike the tournament match, Dustin now unleashed his full power in this life-or-death fight. His attacks were becoming more brutal and relentless than ever."This kid's tougher than I thought." Hank frowned as he watched his men struggle.He hadn't expected Dustin to have such formidable combat prowess, even with his sealed cultivation. If an unmatched genius like Dustin couldn't be made an ally, he had to be e