The following morning, Dustin was deep in meditation and practice. Suddenly, a sharp knock broke his concentration. He opened the door to find Dalen, Miles, Crystal, and Ruby standing outside."Dustin, something happened last night!" Miles exclaimed urgently, barely waiting for the door to open fully.Perplexed, Dustin asked, "What's going on?" He found it unusual to see them all assembled at his doorstep at such an early hour with troubled expressions."Aldric's dead! He was beheaded last night!" Miles burst out, revealing the shocking news. "Aldric?" Dustin was stunned. "The swordsman who dueled me just yesterday?""Yeah, that's the one!" Miles nodded vigorously. "They found his body this morning, headless. It seems like he was taken out with just one clean strike!""One strike?" Dustin raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "But Aldric was no amateur with a sword. Who could have had the skill to kill him so effortlessly?""Well…" Miles hesitated, uncertain how to continue.Dalen int
"If the Bloodfiery Legion wants to talk, sure, I'm open to it. But even if they don't, I'm not backing off," Dustin remarked nonchalantly.He was consistent in his demeanor, whether facing the Bloodfiery Legion, the Sword Union, or the Celestial Alliance. He was indifferent about potentially offending any of them."Dustin, I know you're strong, but remember, there's always someone stronger. You can't just go charging ahead without thinking!" Dalen cautioned, his tone sincere. He continued, "Did you know Kendricks is Aldric's brother? He's ranked eighth on the Legendary List and already at Sacred Wrym Summit. When he learns about his brother's death, he'll definitely seek revenge!"The Legendary List featured individuals of remarkable prowess. Each one was capable of dominating any situation. While Dustin was impressive, Kendricks, ranked eighth on the list, surpassed him. If Kendricks sought vengeance, Dustin's chances of success seem bleak."Yeah, Dustin!" It's better to live
Dustin and a few others exited the tavern after making the decision. They headed straight to the site of the murder. The location where Aldric met his demise lay just a short mile from the tavern. With Dustin and his companions setting a brisk pace, they swiftly arrived at the scene. Surrounding the area, a sizable crowd of onlookers had gathered alongside a group of Bloodfiery Legion disciples working to clear the space. At their helm stood a man dressed in green, his complexion pale and his gaze sharp. Despite appearing around 30 years old, he bore a broken blade on his back with an icy presence. This man was Kendricks, ranked eighth on the Legendary List. He was examining Aldric's body. His expression was inscrutable, yet his eyes revealed a simmering anger. Despite their usual lack of conversation, their bond as siblings from the same guild ran deep. With Aldric's beheading, Kendricks, as the older brother, harbored a profound sense of resentment."Who's responsible for
Kendricks acted swiftly as he issued a clear command. He was determined not to let Aldric's death be in vain. So, he ordered anyone suspected to be questioned without delay. "Get moving!"The Bloodfiery Legion disciples obeyed without hesitation. They charged forward and caused onlookers to scatter in fear."Who dares?" Miles exclaimed.He drew his sword and stepped forward with a fierce shout, "We are disciples of the Sword Union. If you Bloodfiery Legion folks dare to cause trouble, you're challenging the entire Sword Union. Can you handle the consequences?"With those words, the Bloodfiery Legion disciples immediately froze in their tracks. Their apprehension was evident as they looked around. They might disregard ordinary guilds, but the Sword Union held a different status. As one of the three major guilds in Dragonmarsh, its power and reputation far surpassed that of the Bloodfiery Legion. Thus, they wouldn't openly confront the Sword Union unless absolutely necessary."B
"Hey! Are you crazy? We agreed to sort out the trouble, and now you're only making it worse!" Ruby exploded after hearing Dustin's words. They had put a lot of effort into helping Dustin with his problem, but now he seemed completely indifferent. Despite everyone's efforts, he was adamant about not giving in to Kendricks and even seemed prepared to face him directly. Dustin's actions left her feeling frustrated. She also realized that if Kendricks got upset, they wouldn't stand a chance against him."Hey, kid! Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" Kendricks narrowed his eyes with a hint of menace creeping into his gaze. He had expected boldness, but Dustin's audacity caught him off guard."I know who you are. But I want to reiterate that Aldric's death isn't on me, regardless of what you think," Dustin replied calmly, showing no signs of backing down."Okay, fine!" Kendricks suddenly chuckled, his smile sending shivers. He glanced at Crystal and the others as he spoke.
"Anyone who doesn't want to end up six feet under, clear out! Don't blame me if you get caught in the crossfire and push daisies!" With that warning, the Bloodfiery Legion disciples cleared the area, preparing for the impending duel.They were all too familiar with the bone-chilling might of Kendricks. His blade aura alone could claim lives.As shouts erupted, the spectators scattered. Only Dustin and Kendricks stood within 300 feet apart, facing each other.One stood proudly as the eighth-ranked legend, a powerhouse in his own right. The other had recently defeated Marco, a rising star in their domain.Excitement surged as news of the impending duel spread. It even attracted numerous martial artists eager to witness the outcome firsthand."Everyone, what's your take on Dustin's chances against Kendricks's blade?""I'm not so sure! Kendricks is eighth on the Legendary List. He's formidable. If he's daring enough to issue the challenge, he must be confident in his victory!""Yo
Wherever the blade aura passed through, the ground shook as if the air was distorted. A huge pressure began to envelope the entire place.The onlookers could feel the pressure on them. It was as if a huge stone had landed on their shoulders. Those who were weak even had trouble breathing, their legs trembling."What a powerful slash! Was that the power of a person ranked eighth on the Legendary List? That was eye-opening!""That slash was astounding! No one could possibly take that! Dustin's in big trouble!""Poor guy. He shouldn't have offended Kendricks. He's so dead."Everyone was overwhelmed by Kendricks' slash.They could feel the sharpness of the blade aura as well as its tremendous power just by the look of it. Many of them thought that Dustin was as good as dead."Dustin! Show them what you got! You must withstand that pressure!" Dalen gripped his lighter tightly, tensing up. He knew Dustin had high potential, but this was Kendricks, ranked eighth on the Legendary List
The onlookers were astonished by the powerful surge, but they also wondered if Kendricks had successfully taken Dustin down with just one slash.After all, Kendricks was ranked eighth on the Legendary List. He was capable of breaking a mountain with a single slash. It was almost impossible to withstand his slash."Crystal, can you see? How is it? Is Dustin dead?"Ruby tried to take a peek at the battleground while blocking the wind with her hand. Her stomach was in knots.Although she and Dustin were at odds, it didn't mean that she hated him or wanted him dead."I can't see clearly. Let's wait a little longer."Crystal stared into the distance, trying to see what was happening in the dust haze.The crash of the auras was so strong that it caused a massive dust haze within a mile radius. No one could see clearly.A moment later, the dust haze lifted. Everything was back to normal again.The figures on the battleground were visible to the audience again.Kendricks, who stoo