Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
An Understated Dominance Chapter 252
"What? Natasha has been kidnapped?" After the news arrived and Jessica was briefed about the situation, her expression hardened, along with the rest of the people present. "How could that happen? We have dozens of bodyguards. How could Natasha be taken away?" Ruth was in disbelief. "They were too strong. We were no match for them." Stephan mourned. His legs were crippled, and his core was destroyed. He was as good as useless. "Who was it? The audacity to kidnap my daughter!" Jessica was furious. "We're not sure of their true identity, but they left a letter." Stephan signaled his men to give the letter to Jessica. She opened up the letter, and her expression grew dark as she read it. "Mom, what does it say?" Ruth asked impatiently. "It says, before the sun rises, bring the formulation of Immortunol and Dustin to Hummer Villa as ransom." Her tone was almost a growl. "Hummer Villa? Isn't that Edwin's territory?" Ruth frowned. Did this have to do with the Hummer family aga
An Understated Dominance Chapter 253
Suddenly, she clapped. Right on cue, a group of domineering martial artists clad in all-black gear strode in proudly. Taking the lead was a woman with short hair. She had striking features that gave her a cool look. Because of her tight-fitting outfit, her figure appeared exceptionally curvaceous and left an impact. Jennifer said impassively, "This is Isfrid. She leads team five of the Harmon family's shadow guards and is highly skilled. Bring her team with you so you have each other's backs." "Mrs. Harmon, forgive me for my bluntness, but our team is enough to ensure Ms. Harmon's safety. Why do we need to involve outsiders?" Isfrid gave Dustin a contemptuous once over. "Team five is well trained, and our teamwork is unparalleled. Having our members are more than enough to save Ms. Harmon. We can't afford to bring along baggage since it will make the operation riskier. I hope you will reconsider, Mrs. Harmon." "Dustin is a good fighter, and the Hummer family asked for him personall
An Understated Dominance Chapter 254
Coldly, she said, "Wait here, and don't run off. I don't want you to cause us any trouble. Understand?" "They have highly skilled fighters among them. Your men won't be able to handle them," Dustin responded flatly. "Ha! What a joke! I've fought in countless battles, and I've seen it all. A bum like you will never understand how strong we are." Her expression grew colder. "Having confidence is commendable, but don't be too blind. You should always believe there is someone better out there," he reminded. "Shut your nonsense. Just stay here as I told you to. I won't forgive you if you ruin our operation!" she shouted coldly before joining the fray. Dustin didn't say anything more and narrowed his eyes, staring silently at Fletcher. Seated behind him were a few martial artists clad in eccentric clothing. From their breathing patterns, Dustin could tell that they were all the best low-level martial artists, with two of them already considered a high-level martial artist. "So he has b
An Understated Dominance Chapter 255
"How weak." Isfrid wore a disdainful expression as she scanned her surroundings. "Anyone else?" "Interesting …" Leering at her curvaceous figure, Darkwrath licked his lips in excitement. "Hey, pretty lady, let me have a taste of you!" As he spoke, his toes tapped the ground, propelling him forward like a ghostly shadow. His body flickered in and out of existence, making it hard to figure out his movements. Isfrid bellowed, "Die!" With a flick of her sword, two blades that were both swift and deadly danced forward. Just as her attack was about to hit their target, Darkwrath suddenly vanished from thin air. "Hey, pretty lady, where are you looking?" She heard a sinister voice behind her, and her expression changed slightly. Without looking back, she thrust her sword backward. She was fast, but Darkwrath was faster, and her sword sliced through the empty air. Taking advantage of her distraction, Darkwrath grabbed her butt forcefully. Chuckling obscenely, he remarked, "Soft and sup
An Understated Dominance Chapter 256
"It's over. It's all over now …" Looking at the scene before her, Isfrid's face turned ashen, and her expression was full of despair. She had barged in full of confidence, but she didn't expect to encounter Darkwrath here. In terms of raw strength, ultimately, she was the loser. "Allow me." Dustin had somehow ended up beside her. "You?" She frowned. "I'm not even his match. What can you do? Leave immediately! Don't throw your life away like that!" Even though she looked down on him, she didn't wish for him to die in vain. "Hey! I'm talking to you." Seeing his lack of reaction, Isfrid's frustration grew. "This guy is unpredictable. He's also ranked in the top ten of The Hundred Immortals. You're no match for him. I'll buy time for you. Escape while you can! When you get back, ask Mrs. Harmon to send a highly skilled fighter. Go!" She bellowed out her last word. As the leader of team five, naturally, she wouldn't leave her teammates behind and escape on her own. That was why she nee
An Understated Dominance Chapter 257
"Uh … " Isfrid was bewildered at the sight of the head beside her feet. Who would have imagined that the mighty and incomparable Darkwrath would be killed so easily? He was ranked eighth of The Hundred Immortals! He had decapitated the entirety of team five on his own. It was preposterous for him to be killed with one strike of the sword. "What?" Looking at the headless body, Fletcher was taken aback as well. He knew Dustin was strong but didn't realize he was that strong. With just a strike of his sword, he killed Darkwrath, ranked eighth of The Hundred Immortals. It seemed like only Judge, who was ranked third, would be able to suppress his formidable strength. "You … you killed my brother?" Lightwrath finally stood. His pale face appeared ghastly. He allowed his brother to play his game of cat and mouse without intervening since victory was within reach. He didn't expect a highly skilled martial artist to be hidden among them. On top of that, that highly skilled martial artist u
An Understated Dominance Chapter 258
"Mr. Hummer! Something terrible has happened!" Fletcher suddenly rushed in, stumbling in his steps. His disheveled and panicked appearance looked extremely out of place. "What's with the commotion?" Joshua's expression turned cold, and he appeared upset. "Speak up. What's wrong?" "D—Dustin is out here on a killing spree!" Fletcher reported in a whisper. "Oh?" Joshua raised an eyebrow. "He dares barge in here despite knowing it's the lion's den? Is this kiddo really that brave?" "What do we do now, Mr. Hummer?" Fletcher asked anxiously. "What do you mean? Get Darkwrath and Lightwrath to kill him. Don't let him interrupt our party." Joshua waved him away. "Mr. Hummer … he's already killed them both!" Fletcher was somber. "Huh?" Joshua frowned. "When Darkwrath and Lightwrath join forces, even Judge would need to exert his full strength. Is this kiddo that skilled?" "It would have been great if they joined forces, but they were too arrogant and gave him a chance to defeat them," Fl
An Understated Dominance Chapter 259
"Kiddo! I'm giving you two options. Either you kneel before Mr. Hummer or die!" Judge's tone was frosty, and his gaze was stagnant like a pool, calm and impassive. He'd been killing since he was ten and had a body count of hundreds, if not thousands. "I choose death. Come at me if you can." Dustin beckoned him forward with his finger. "How insolent!" Judge's gaze turned increasingly frosty as he launched his spear forward. Like a canon, it shot straight for Dustin's chest. Dustin stood unmoved and grabbed the spear, flinging it back. With a sharp whistle, it shot back out toward Judge with greater speed. Judge sneered and mirrored Dustin's stance, grabbing his own spear. However, as soon as he grabbed hold of it, it was as if he was struck by lightning. He staggered backward, his feet skidding along the ground, leaving deep imprints with each step. "How could this be?" Judge's expression changed, and he exerted his entire strength in an attempt to stop the momentum of his steel sp
Latest Chapter
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
