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An Understated Dominance Chapter 1851
"You insolent brat!" Julius glared at Dustin. "Even though we're both ultimate grandmasters, I refuse to believe that a brat like you will defeat me when I have decades of experience!""Since you're so stubborn, don't blame me for disregarding seniority. Please!" With a single outstretched hand, Dustin made a gesture for him to strike first. "Behold my blade!" Without hesitation, Julius propelled forward with a tap of his feet, launching a fierce assault.Julius' swordplay exhibited swiftness and strength, with each strike aiming at vital points with deadly precision. Despite the lack of elaborate techniques, it was highly practical, leaving no vulnerabilities. Julius was blessed with innate talent. With his years of battlefield experience and the integration of various refined sword techniques, Julius could be described as having mastered all schools of martial arts.Having shed all imperfections, he had forged a unique sword technique of his own. His approach was based on sp
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1852
"The princess consort is right. Even though Prince Logan is formidable, he's still too young. The odds are not in his favor when faced with Julius, the cunning, sly fox," Wyatt said thoughtfully.Logan was a genius, but Julius was no ordinary opponent. After more than 20 years of cultivation, it would produce a terrifying gap between them. Hence, it was still uncertain as to who would emerge as the final victor. "I have a different view," Lincon spoke up again."Lincon, do you think Prince Logan has a higher chance of winning?" Tyrus probed. "Yes." Lincon nodded."Prince Rufus has remarkable strategic acumen and wisdom. He must be highly confident of winning this deal since he agreed to this competition. We should trust His Highness' judgment.""Although that's true, there are too many variables in a martial duel, especially between opponents of the same level. A tiny mistake can completely alter the course of the battle. "Until the last moment, no one can predict the outco
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1853
"Of course not." Lincon shook his head and added, "In fact, there's an unwritten rule for the Astonishing World List. High-ranking royal officials are not allowed on the list." "So, is Julius not strong enough to be on the list, or is he not allowed?" Wyatt questioned further. "He's not allowed on the list, and he's not qualified either," Lincoln responded. "That puts my mind at ease." Wyatt breathed a sigh of relief. "If the Astonishing World List is accurate, then Prince Logan must be stronger than Julius. As long as he doesn't underestimate his opponent, he should be able to secure a stable victory," Tyrus analyzed. "That may be true, but we should still exercise caution," Eloise murmured to herself. She felt a mix of emotions witnessing Logan's excellence. On one hand, she hoped for his victory to restore the monarchy's dignity. On the other hand, she harbored concerns.If Logan were to assume the throne, she worried he might follow in Julius' footsteps and take act
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1854
"General Caide, what do you think?" Shane probed, clear hesitation in his voice. Even though he aligned with Julius, he deeply respected Prince Rufus of West Lucozia. If Rufus were dead, he would have readily joined Julius in his rebellion. However, Rufus was alive, altering the dynamics. This forced Shane to contemplate the consequences. It was as Elijah had pointed out. He might dismiss thoughts of self-preservation, but he had to think about his family and friends. "General Gilby, we shouldn't rush into a decision until the final moment. I have faith that Grand General Rhys will emerge victorious in the battle against Logan. "If Grand General Rhys secures victory, we still have a chance for a turnaround." Everett expressed with depth."That's right! Grand General Rhys has unparalleled martial prowess. He'll surely win. How can Logan be a match for Grand General Rhys?" Shane nodded repeatedly."Sir Valor, please stop undermining the military's morale here. We're all in
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1855
"Uncle Julius, my patience has its limits. Will you accept my conditions or not?" Dustin's expression turned icy."You want me to agree to your conditions? Fine, but you must defeat me in a fair fight, or there's no deal!" Julius shouted. West Lucozia valued martial prowess. As a grand general who had fought his way through countless bloody battlefields, he understood the importance of strength. It was a world where respect and reason were reserved for the strong, while the weak had no right to argue."Alright, since you insist on a showdown, I'll fulfill your wish!" Dustin declared loud and clear, "I'm going to strike three times. If you can defend against all three of my attacks, I'll admit defeat!" "You insolent brat! I'm going to teach you a lesson!" Julius, incensed by the apparent disrespect, intensified his attacks. Blades filled the sky, sweeping toward Dustin like a storm. With a light tap of his toes, Dustin lifted off the ground, soaring more than a hundred fee
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1856
Meanwhile, in the pit, Julius was still struggling. The protective armor around him flickered, with cracks rapidly spreading across its surface. Overhead, the colossal black sword vibrated slightly, pressing down on him relentlessly. Julius felt as if an entire mountain was weighing down on him. The immense force caused his hands to tremble and his knees to buckle. Yet, he had no other option but to clench his teeth and endure it. He knew that a strike from the colossal sword above would inevitably lead to his demise. It was only at this moment that Julius realized how strong Logan was. It appeared that Logan had been holding back from the start. Now, with Logan taking the fight seriously, Julius found it exceedingly challenging to withstand the onslaught. "Ah—!" Sensing the imminent threat of death, Julius let out a piercing roar. A surge of energy erupted from within him like a tidal wave, desperately trying to reinforce the protective armor. However, no matter how har
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1857
Dustin slowly raised the Celestial Blade and pointed it straight at Julius. "Second strike, Conquest Breaker!" In the next second, Dustin vanished and turned into a dark silhouette. He became one with his sword as he surged toward Julius with great momentum. Although this strike lacked the imposing aura or bone-chilling presence, its swiftness was unparalleled. Within the blink of an eye, the dark radiance had traversed dozens of feet, materializing right in front of Julius' chest."What?" Julius' eyes widened. With no time to react, he could only instinctively channel his protective energy armor. A resounding explosion echoed as the dark radiance forcefully collided with Julius' protective armor, unleashing a torrent of terrifying energy. The typically indestructible protective armor shattered like glass, offering no resistance. After the armor shattered, the residual force of the dark radiance hammered into Julius' golden armor. The mystical gold-forged armor dented from
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1858
A resonant hum filled the air as the majestic Celestial Blade came to a halt just inches above Julius' head.Julius could vividly feel the icy aura emanating from the blade, sending shivers down his spine and beads of cold sweat trickling down his back. "Withdraw!" Dustin motioned again with his two fingers. In a swift motion, the Celestial Blade transformed into a dark radiance and returned to his grasp. "Uncle Julius, you lost," Dustin commented indifferently. "I can't believe you defeated me." Julius gazed forlornly at his own hands, finding it hard to accept reality. Devoting himself to martial arts since childhood, he never allowed room for slack. His unwavering dedication, coupled with a natural talent for cultivation, propelled him to breakthrough to the level of an ultimate grandmaster by the age of 40. Within West Lucozia, he stood among the elite.He had thought he could secure an easy win with his strong foundation and rich combat experience. However, Logan's thr
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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
Chapter 2521
Austin's expression also turned serious as he saw the doubt in Dustin's eyes. He knew Dustin wouldn't worry over nothing.There were many strange beings in Streuqua, including vampires, werewolves, and the like. These supernatural species were notoriously hard to kill. Even after being decapitated, they weren't necessarily dead.Austin wasn't sure if Poseidon had that kind of ability. After all, the Hall of Gods and its so-called royal gods were still a mystery to most people in West Lucozia.To play it safe, they needed to recover Poisedon's head for their own peace of mind.Out on the water, Jaxon led a team of soldiers and ship crews to comb the sea in search of Poisedon's severed head.At the docks, all eyes turned to Warrick, Mulder, and the others. They had been tied up and were now being dragged before Dustin and Austin one by one.Warrick looked pale, but there was a certain defiance in his eyes. He knew his fate was sealed. After Dustin killed Poseidon, Warrick knew his
