Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1956
A Black Scorpion Squad member was perched on the tree. He plucked the first revitalberry and reached for the second. Suddenly, his arm spasmed involuntarily in response to the sharp sting. Upon closer inspection, he noticed a red bug on his palm, roughly the size of an ant.The red bug tore through his skin with razor-sharp mandibles and burrowed into his flesh. Panic surged as he tried to swat it away, but his efforts proved futile. In a matter of moments, the red bug had embedded itself deep into his arm, gnawing at his flesh while laying eggs.The intense pain forced the Black Scorpion Squad member to scream, and he fell from the tree. His arm rapidly decayed, swarming with countless red bugs, creating a nightmarish scene."Help! Somebody, please help!" The Black Scorpion Squad member cried out in distress, writhing on the ground. His body seemed to wither before their eyes as if he were turning into a desiccated corpse. In a heartbeat, the once-muscular man transformed i
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1957
After tending to the wounds of the injured members of the Black Scorpion Squad, their combat abilities and mobility were severely impacted due to the loss of their arm. Even simple self-defense became a challenge.Grace surveyed the wounded squad members before turning her gaze to Garrett. "Captain Wilder, should I arrange the return of our injured team members?"Since they had just entered the oasis, she could still assist the wounded in returning. Yet, if they opted to press forward, there would be no turning back."Captain, we're fine! Just lost an arm, no big deal!""Yeah, we've faced worse. This injury means nothing to us.""Captain, trust us. We can pull off the mission without a hitch!"Facing the prospect of returning, the injured members of the Black Scorpion Squad reassured Garrett promptly. They understood that going back meant giving up the treasures the others would obtain in the oasis.Although the mission promised a good reward, dividing it among the team didn
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1958
On the camp's outskirts, two elite squads stood watch with their eyes fixed on the darkness ahead. The distant roars of approaching creatures echoed, accompanied by the rumble of their thunderous run. Everyone in the camp had assembled, prepared to face the unknown threat."Protect Ms. Linsor!" The captain of the royal guard quickly assembled his men when he saw Grace step forward. They formed a protective circle around her as a precaution."Draw your swords!" Excitement and nervous anticipation mixed within Jackson as he directed the disciples of the Embersteel Order to form a defensive stance. While sparring in the martial world was familiar, facing a creature was entirely new and anxiety-inducing."Stay sharp and adapt to the situation," Garrett urged.The Black Scorpion Squad took a strategic position at the back. Despite their diverse skills, their combat strength fell short compared to the Embersteel Order disciples."Making a fuss over nothing." Aidan leaned casually ag
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1959
"Mr. Ridge, since you're determined, I won't insist further," Jackson conceded as his advice went ignored.He knew that revealing these unknown creatures would create chaos once they were taken outside the oasis. However, the outcome remained uncertain.Suddenly, Aidan turned to Grace. "Little Miss, I've got a plan to catch this critter alive. Can I borrow your Dragon Rope?"Despite having enough skills to handle the creature, the real challenge was capturing and taming it. Understanding that regular ropes wouldn't work against such a strong beast, Aidan realized that only the Dragon Rope could do the job."Since you've asked, I won't say no," Grace said. She signaled to the captain of the royal guard to get the Dragon Rope. Once he returned, she handed it to Aidan.Aidan's mood improved as he took the Dragon Rope. "Thank you, I really appreciate it. Remember, if you ever run into any trouble, don't hesitate to reach out to me!" Just as he was about to approach the creature, a
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1960
Dustin smirked at Aidan. "Well, that Dragon Rope of yours seems pretty useless now, huh?"The rope, initially effective in restraining the panther-like creature, proved useless against the formidable brown giant python. In simpler terms, it couldn't even be used on the giant python.Aidan's irritation grew as he spoke, "This devilish creature killed my mount. It must be dealt with." As he prepared to face the brown giant python, an unexpected twist unfolded.Suddenly, a massive shadow swept across the sky, casting everything into darkness. A breathtaking black eagle materialized, its body a marvel of obsidian beauty, and its feathers gleamed like polished steel.When it spread its wings, they stretched over 30 feet, resembling a commercial airplane at a glance. The eagle dove from the sky, reaching an incredible speed and covering several hundred feet in the blink of an eye.As it descended, the gusts of wind caused trees to topple as sand and stones scattered around. The wind
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1961
A minor miscalculation could result in a fatal outcome. The earlier series of struggles vividly illustrated the ruthless nature prevailing in the untamed jungle."Wow, can you believe that giant python got taken down so easily?""Yeah, it was a powerful python, but it ran into its natural predator.""That's pretty scary! If even a strong python can be defeated so quickly, are we in even more danger?"Staring at the wreckage scattered around them, the group felt a mix of shock and unease. The place exuded brutality and danger, leaving them on edge. The fear of becoming prey to the exotic beasts lurking around loomed large, with a high chance of meeting a sudden demise. It finally dawned on them why Ryan had succumbed to madness. Facing such a dangerous and horrifying environment would be daunting for anyone, and it was still early in the night. The looming uncertainty of whether more creatures would emerge in the later hours only added to their apprehension."Looks like thi
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1962
"H-Hey?" the man stammered.His jaw dropped as he watched the man in yellow getting skewered by those vines. In a daze, he stood frozen, unable to grasp the sudden death of someone lively who was just talking moments ago.Rhythmic drips filled the air as the vines hoisted the lifeless body, letting fresh blood spill out and eagerly devour the body. Before their eyes, the once withered vines transformed into a more nourished and glossy look with a faint crimson hue accentuating its surface.As the vines greedily absorbed the fresh blood, the man in yellow underwent a swift and noticeable transformation. His once vital body rapidly withered, leaving behind nothing but a desiccated corpse."Help! Somebody, help! Monsters!"Finally, the other man snapped out of his stupor. He started yelling and desperately tried to escape, not even caring about the weapon he had dropped.As he turned to run, a vine shot up from the ground. Swift as lightning, it speared through the man's head li
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1963
"Hah! These darn vines dare to ambush my comrade. I shall set you ablaze!" The burly man, enraged by the stubborn, still-moving vines, swiftly grabbed a nearby torch. He was ready to set it on fire.Jackson, watching from afar, noticed a looming danger and quickly shouted, "Hey, look behind you!" "What?" Upon heeding the warning, the burly man swiftly turned. A silver vine, gleaming unlike its dull gray counterparts, approached him like a spear. It was thicker, tougher, and faster."Go to hell!" With a quick wrist flip, he swung his steel blade, aiming to cut the silver vine in half.The blade clashed with the silver vine, creating sparks and a loud metal clash. The vine's attack paused, making the burly man stagger back in shock."This is tougher than I expected." His eyelid twitched as he examined his steel blade, noticing a clear nick from his recent strike. Realizing the vine was tougher than his blade, he wondered about its origin and concluded it must be a divine weap
Latest Chapter
Chapter 2462
"Gentlemen, I've done my part and had my tea already. I still have things to take care of, so I'll leave now. Farewell!" Jovian said.When no one responded, he didn't say another word. He nodded respectfully, stood up, and exited the room.When the door opened, Warrick's face darkened, and his hand instinctively moved toward the hilt of his sword. But before he could act, Huxley gently touched his arm and shook his head.Jovian noticed something was off and paused at the doorway before stepping out.Boston, who was standing by the door, let out a quiet sigh of relief as he watched Jovian leave without a scratch. His relief was short-lived, though, when he saw the grim expressions on the faces of the three men inside.It was clear that the meeting hadn't gone well. Fortunately, nothing too serious had happened. Otherwise, Boston would have much explaining to do to both sides."Why did you stop me? That arrogant brat clearly doesn't respect us. He'll think we're pushovers if we don
Chapter 2461
"Gentlemen, you certainly have a refined sense of humor." Jovian took another sip of tea. "But I'm not exactly a brave man. I startle easily, so I'd appreciate it if you kept the jokes to a minimum.""Of course." Huxley smiled and nodded. "Just some lighthearted banter to break the ice. If we've offended you, I apologize on behalf of Mr. Prescott. Please don't take it to heart."Jovian's expression eased slightly at that.Since he had the nerve to attend this trap-laden dinner, he wasn't afraid of a few threats. He wouldn't mind sharing information with them if they were willing to have a proper conversation.But they had tried to strong-arm him. Their words were laced with veiled threats and demands as if he were someone they could push around.Naturally, that didn't sit well with him. He just didn't let it show—for now."There's no need for an apology. If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way," Jovian said flatly. He stood to leave and felt that continuing this conversation w
Chapter 2460
"Well… some things are better left unsaid, but I believe you understand what I'm getting at," Percival said gravely."I'm afraid I don't, Mr. Wentworth. You'll have to forgive my ignorance." Jovian's tone was measured and composed."You…" Percival's expression darkened.Judging by Jovian's demeanor when he first arrived, Percival had assumed that he was someone who knew how to read between the lines. Yet now, he was feigning ignorance, making it clear that he wasn't taking Percival seriously."Enough, Mr. Wentworth. Let me handle this."Warrick took over the conversation and got straight to the point. "Jovian, right? Let's not waste time. We know why you're here. The only question is—what have you found out?""And what kind of information are you referring to, Sir Prescott?" Jovian asked.Warrick slammed a palm onto the table, and his face darkened. "Don't play dumb with me, brat. I don't have time for games. If you don't start talking, don't blame me if I stop showing the Balla
Chapter 2459
After making up his mind, Jovian no longer hesitated. He instructed the driver to make a U-turn and head straight to the meeting place.The meeting location was in a restaurant not far from the castle. It was only a ten-minute drive from where they had turned back.When Jovian and Boston walked inside, they found the place nearly empty. There were no guests in sight, just a few receptionists. It looked like the restaurant had been cleared out just for them."Sir, please follow me. Sir Prescott is waiting for you upstairs," the restaurant owner personally greeted them and led them to a private room on the second floor.Warrick, Huxley, and Percival were leisurely drinking tea inside the room. The three chatted and laughed, but their conversation stopped the moment Jovian and Boston entered. All three turned their attention to Jovian.They were quite curious about him. He had been privately invited by Austin and even stayed for dinner at the castle. It was a privilege none of them h
Chapter 2458
"An outsider? Who is it?" Percival asked urgently. "Could it be that assistant general who came in at noon?"Warrick frowned. "I've looked into that man. No background, no connections—just an old hand in the military. Been around forever, knows the ropes, but has no real pull.""It's not him—it's someone connected to him." Huxley lowered his voice. "Remember what Sir Austin said at noon? When he summoned that assistant general, he specifically mentioned the Ballard family.""The Ballard family?" Percival looked surprised. "You mean the Ballards from Oakvale? Are you saying they've already beaten us to it and met with the prince?""The prince hasn't met with them, but according to my intel, this man, Jovian Ballard, spent two hours chatting with Sir Austin today. They talked and laughed like old acquaintances. Sir Austin even invited him to stay for dinner at the castle." Huxley's face darkened. He continued, "Look, the Ballards sent someone at a time like this. They're obviously
Chapter 2457
After a brief discussion in the meeting room, Austin invited Jovian to tour the West Lucozia castle.The castle was enormous, equipped with imaginable facilities. Unfamiliar visitors could easily get lost in its vastness.Jovian prided himself on being well-traveled, yet as he toured the castle, even he couldn't hide his astonishment. Unlike the ostentatious displays of wealth seen in luxurious estates, this castle could only be described as grand, majestic, and awe-inspiring. Everything in his line of sight conveyed a sense of grandeur and majesty.What stunned Jovian the most was the House of Heroes inside the West Lucozia castle. The structure was nine stories high and looked like an ancient monument.The walls were lined with memorials of fallen soldiers. The place was packed with thousands of tablets, each engraved with the hero's name and a detailed account of their life stories for future generations to honor and remember.The Ballard family had a family tree that record
Chapter 2456
"Your Highness! Please mind your words," Jovian quickly cautioned. He glanced around nervously, as if afraid someone might be eavesdropping.Speculating on Valon's fate in private was an act of grave disrespect. If someone with a hidden agenda spread this information, a ruined reputation would be the least of their concerns—what came after would be far worse."Relax, Mr. Jovian. We're in West Lucozia, not Oakvale. Here, we can say whatever we want without worry." Austin smiled faintly, showing no concern.These were well-known facts, so what was the harm in saying them out loud? Keeping quiet wouldn't change a thing, anyway. What a joke."Ahem… perhaps I was overthinking it." Jovian let out an awkward chuckle. He knew Austin wasn't wrong, but his cautious nature kept him from discussing Valon's affairs too openly."Honestly, a lot of people have been showing up in West Lucozia lately. There's a whole group standing outside right now, and they're all here for the same reason as you
Chapter 2455
Austin smiled brightly as he ushered Jovian into the meeting room with surprising enthusiasm.Jovian looked confused and somewhat unprepared. Before entering, he had already imagined many possible scenarios for their meeting. He had mentally prepared for a range of reactions from Austin—whether he would be ignored, faced with cold indifference, or dealt with arrogance. He was ready for any of those. After all, the rumors about Austin painted him as a "hellraiser" who did whatever he pleased.But, to his surprise, Austin didn't give him any trouble at all. Instead, he was giving him a warm reception, which left him utterly confused.Something felt off. He couldn't make sense of Austin's sudden warmth, and he had no idea what game he was playing."Bring the tea!" After inviting Jovian to sit, Austin gestured for the attendant to serve the tea. The drink was a rare specialty from West Lucozia, a premium elixir tea not sold to the public but reserved for high-ranking officials. Its
Chapter 2454
After stepping into the castle, Boston felt a knot in his stomach. He had been here before, but only for official matters.He was always escorted by guards or attendants, but this time, Austin himself had led him inside. Boston felt both honored and somewhat overwhelmed. Since when had he earned such treatment?Austin had brushed off higher-ranking officials, so why was he showing him so much attention? Was it because his shiny bald head made him stand out? He had no answers, only a growing curiosity as he followed Austin into the meeting room. "Sit." After Austin sat at the head of the table, he raised his hand and gestured for Boston to do the same."No… no need. I'll just stand." Boston smiled awkwardly."Just sit down. Why are you so nervous? I won't bite," Austin said in a dismissive tone. "Y-Yes, Your Highness." Boston didn't dare refuse again and obediently took a seat. He was six feet three inches tall, yet he looked like a startled rabbit. He sat up straight and didn't
