Chapter 2047 by Marina Vittori
An Understated Dominance
âHey! Are you mute? I might have to give you a wake-up slap.â Dalen pretended to be mad, lifting his hand as if he were going to hit Pyro.
Terra stepped in, urging. âDalen, letâs talk it out. Pyro has had enough. Look at his bloody face.â
âWhatâs the fuss about a bloody face? He brought it on himself!â Dalen pushed Terra aside, shouting, âIf he doesnât apologize to Dustin, Iâll break his legs!â
âAlright, thatâs enough. Letâs stop this and grab a bite. We havenât eaten yet,â Dustin interrupted, putting a stop to the commotion.
Although it was an act, Dalen respected Dustin and didnât argue further. â
Dustin, youâre generous. I appreciate that.â
Dalen nodded at Dustin. Then, Dalen glanced at Terra and the others, saying sternly, âThe five of you, take a hike. Donât ruin my chill time with Dustin!â
âDalen, we were tasked this time toâ¦â Terra paused in his words.
âI know what to do. You donât have to remind me. Get lost!â Dalen shot a cold glance at Terra.
Terra was startled and refrained from saying anything. He quickly gestured for the others to leave.
As they exited the tavern, Aqua protested. âTerra! That bastard injured Pyro so badly. Shouldnât we do something about it?â
Typically, only the Evil Quintet from the Shadow Citadel bullied others, and nobody dared to disrespect them like this.
If Dalen hadnât stopped them just now, Aqua would have shown Dustin the power of his Heartrend Grip technique. Terra said calmly, âThat youngster is surprisingly strong for his age. Heâs got some impressive roots for sure.
âLetâs concentrate on the mission and avoid unnecessary problems. We can talk about this again after the Combat Tournament.â
Upon hearing this, the others just nodded. As Shadow Citadel disciples, they knew it was crucial to focus on their tasks. Worrying about revenge would be the least of their concerns since failing the mission meant losing their lives.
Back inside the Tipsy Tavern, Dalen apologized to Dustin, feeling embarrassed. âSorry about their earlier behavior, Dustin. Theyâre a bit rough around the edges. I apologize on their behalf.â
âNo worries, Mr. Shade. You did the right thing. If you hadnât intervened in time, things might have taken a bloody turn today,â Dustin responded with a wry smile.
âDustin, your martial skills are unparalleled. They wouldnât stand a chance against you. Letâs consider this drink an apology,â Dalen said as he raised his glass and downed it in one go.
As the strong liquor went down, Dalenâs originally fair and exotic face quickly flushed with a rosy hue, making him look alluring. Dustin raised an eyebrow, feeling a strange sensation inside him.
Dalenâs complexion was even more appealing than a womanâs. His expressions and smiles were truly captivating. It was easy to be drawn in if a person was not careful.
âDustin, if youâre participating in the Combat Tournament, keep an eye out for a few specific people,â Dalen added, getting straight to the point after finishing his drink.
âOh? Who are they?â Dustin asked.
Dalen shared with a serious tone, âThe Sacred Wyrm Summit is organizing the Combat Tournament, and this time thereâs an age limit.
âThose over 40 canât join, so we wonât be against experienced elites. Our main rivals will be those mentioned in the Legendary List.
âThose who make it to the Legendary List are not just super talented but incredibly strong. Each person on the list is considered a true genius. This yearâs list is powerful, with individuals showing off exceptional skills.
âTake Jude, whoâs number ten on the list. Heâs a master of spear techniques and effortlessly defeated three martial artists from abroad who were grandmasters.
âThen, thereâs Sam, ranked ninth. Heâs from the Dawson Clan and is a super rare talent. He mastered all sorts of hidden weapons when he was only eight.
âBy the time he hit 20, he was a grandmaster. He was awarded the Storm Needles, which can break through internal energy and take out grandmasters.
âAnd Kendricks, whoâs at number eight, has some wild rumors about him. People say heâs a ruthless demon who doesnât think twice about killing.
âWhen he entered the martial world, he single-handedly wiped out three major sects in the north and beheaded three grandmasters. Heâs got quite a reputation.
âSo, weâve got to keep an eye on these three and be careful. I got word that they were seen near Sacred Wrym Summit, and it looks like theyâre planning to participate in the Combat Tournament.â