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An Understated Dominance Chapter 2244
"Come out! Get out here now!" Brian's fury intensified as he repeatedly missed his target. His eyes blazed with rage as he swung his halberd wildly. Blade aura shot out from his weapon and shredded everything within a 65-foot radius.The Celestial Alliance disciples were terrified and instantly retreated to avoid being caught in the mayhem.Brian had lost control as he attacked indiscriminately and disregarded the potential harm to anyone nearby. Those in close proximity were at serious risk of being hit by mistake."Argh! Show yourself, coward!" he yelled. His eyes were ablaze with fury as his attacks grew more frantic."Young man, you're too sluggish. You can't even discern my true form. How do you expect to challenge me?"Shadowcloak’s laughter echoed all around, shifting in direction and distance, which made it impossible to pinpoint his location. The taunting laughter only fueled Brian's fury and drove him to the brink of madness.Suddenly, Shadowcloak appeared ten yards
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2245
Dustin's method was quick and effective, but the approach was unexpected.Alicia wanted Brian to swiftly regain composure to prevent him from succumbing to exhaustion. She understood that if Brian were incapacitated, no one would be able to confront Shadowcloak.However, she hadn't anticipated Dustin would knock Brian unconscious. While it resolved the immediate issue, it left Alicia pondering the implications."Brian!"After a moment of stunned silence, the Celestial Alliance disciples hurried to lift the unconscious Brian and move him away. Despite their attempts to rouse him by shaking and calling out to him, Brian remained sound asleep."Dr. Rhys, you knocked him out. So, who is going to deal with the assassins now?" Aurora frowned and felt a headache coming on."You only asked me to calm him down quickly. You didn't say that he had to stay conscious." Dustin shrugged."Uh… well, can you wake him up?" Alicia asked."Sure." Dustin nodded."We'd be grateful if you could wake
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2246
"Well, thank you," Dustin replied, annoyed.He had initially come to cure Alicia, but now he had to fight as well. After an exhausting day of hard work with no reward, he felt completely shortchanged."Don't be so grumpy. Show off your heroic side in front of these two beauties. Who knows, you might win their hearts," Grace teased in a low voice."Yeah, right. These two are nothing but trouble. I want no part of it." He rolled his eyes."Hey! What are you two whispering about?" Shadowcloak couldn't stay silent anymore and declared, "I'm giving you two options: surrender now, or I'll kill you.""Kill me? You sure talk big." Dustin stepped forward and stared at him.He continued, "You might be fast, but your strength is laughable. The guy lying there could defeat you easily if he were a bit smarter.""Arrogant brat! What the heck are you talking about?" Shadowcloak snarled."Drop the act. You may fool others, but I can see right through you," Dustin said with a straight face.He
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2247
"What's going on? Did Dr. Rhys just block that strike?""Oh my God! He took the grandmaster's attack head-on without a scratch! This is unbelievable."The Celestial Alliance disciples were in awe and disbelief after witnessing Dustin block the attack like it was nothing. After all, Brian couldn't even defeat Shadowcloak. So, when the alliance's disciples saw Dustin step forward, they didn't hold much hope at first. Some even thought he was walking into a death trap. But they never anticipated that Dustin had such profound cultivation."Faith, could it be that Dr. Rhys is a grandmaster?" Alicia was also surprised by Dustin's skills. Although Grace had mentioned it before, she still had doubts.After all, possessing extraordinary medical skills was already quite rare. Many doctors spend their careers without achieving half of Dustin's expertise.What truly distinguished Dustin was he was knowledgeable in both medical skills and martial arts. Alicia had never encountered a dual-skilled
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2248
"Now it makes sense."Alicia and Aurora nodded.After all the fuss, Shadowcloak was just a fraud. Despite his intimidating facade, he crumbled under pressure, which revealed his cowardice. He could intimidate the vulnerable, but his bravado faltered when confronted with a powerful opponent.The sisters finally understood why he never made a move against Brian earlier. It wasn't due to his supposed strength but rather his weakness and fear of taking action."Kid, this is your last chance. Get down on your knees and surrender. Perhaps I'll spare your life. But if you resist, I'll crush you right now." Shadowcloak's voice thundered with menace.At that instant, his imposing demeanor looked like that of a grandmaster martial artist."Stop your blabbering, and let's fight. I want to see what else you've got up your sleeve." Dustin smirked and eyed him disdainfully.Shadowcloak's performance was impressive, even though his facade had already been exposed. It was easy for those unaware
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2249
What happened? Just moments ago, Shadowcloak was boasting and swaggering with bravado. But now, he scattered like a mouse at the sight of a cat.Everyone was stunned by the sudden turn of events.One moment, he was acting all high and mighty, but the next second, he was hightailing it at unbelievable speed. With several figures darting off, it was hard to tell which one was actually him."Huh?" Dustin was shocked by Shadowcloak's sudden retreat. He thought the man was going to rely on his agility to continue the fight. The quick exit after just two strikes caught Dustin off guard."He's quite cunning." He chuckled and acknowledged Shadowcloack's sharp instincts.His swift departure showed a keen sense of trouble and adaptability without concern for his reputation. He was fortunate to have run away. Otherwise, Dustin would defeat him.Moreover, thriving in the martial world through deceitful means demanded a certain level of skill and cunning tricks."Fine. I'll let you off ton
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2250
"Um… Brian, you were drugged earlier. Thank goodness Dr. Rhys saved you. Otherwise, you might be in grave danger." Alicia quickly spoke up to break the awkward silence."What? He saved me?" Brian looked at Dustin in disbelief. "Are you sure about that? I don't remember any of this.""You lost your senses because you were drugged and almost caused a disaster. If Dr. Rhys hadn't intervened, the consequences would have been unimaginable," she said earnestly."Yes. You should thank Dr. Rhys," Aurora chimed in with a nod. "Hmph! Who asked him to save me? He's just sticking his nose where it doesn't belong!" Brian scoffed and glared at Dustin disdainfully."I'm tired. I'm heading back to my room to rest," he added coldly before leaving.He had looked down on Dustin since meeting him. Hence, it was a blow to his pride when he learned that Dustin had saved him. Naturally, Brian couldn't accept this outcome, and apologizing to Dustin was out of the question."Dr. Rhys, I'm sorry about B
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2251
The following morning, Dustin left his room and went to the villa's garden to appreciate the lush scenery.He and Grace accepted Alicia's invitation to stay at the villa overnight to ensure the sisters' safety after the recent assassination attempt. Plus, Grace wanted to catch up with Alicia. Thankfully, the rest of the night passed without any disturbances.Alicia's condition remained stable. She showed no adverse effects due to her good foundation.Dustin strolled through the garden and noticed the villa's gate opening. A convoy of luxury cars drove in and came to a stop. Then, a group of uniformed Celestial Alliance disciples quickly exited the vehicles.Unlike the regular disciples, these were the elite enforcement team. They were specially selected for their exceptional skills and loyalty.The team was seldom deployed as they were reserved exclusively for dire circumstances at the discretion of the guildmaster and the elders. Their appearance always signaled the seriousness o
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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
