An Understated Dominance

“Someone is coming. You should hide now.” Dustin’s sharp senses picked up the faint shuffle of footsteps outside the door.

The movement was quiet and deliberate. It was definitely someone skilled.

“Got it.” Grace nodded and quickly gathered the Dracan essences before slipping out the window. She was gone in seconds and vanished without a trace.

Barely three seconds after she left, there was a knock at the door.

“Who is it?” Dustin asked.

“It’s me, Hank.”

A familiar voice called from the other side.

Dustin got up and opened the door. He greeted him with a smile. “Hello, Mr. Styles. Come on in.”

For Hank to show up at this hour meant the Hall of Gods was about to take action.

“Dustin, congratulations on winning the championship. I wanted to offer my congratulations in person.” Hank entered the room and showered Dustin with praise. “I watched your match today, and it was incredible. Defeating Glenn was a pleasant surprise. I knew I wasn’t wrong about you.”

“If it weren’t for your enhanced serum, I never would’ve been able to defeat him,” Dustin replied humbly.

Hank laughed heartily. “Now you see the perks of joining the Hall of Gods, huh?”

He smiled and continued, “With us backing you, fame and fortune are practically guaranteed. Keep doing your part. You’ll enjoy endless wealth and glory for the rest of your life.”

“Of course.” Dustin nodded with a smile.

“Okay. Let’s skip the small talk and get to the point.”

Hank shut the door and windows.

Then, he set up a soundproof barrier before continuing, “I’m here with a mission for you. The God King has decided to launch a surprise attack on Sacred Wyrm Summit tonight.

“You’ve been chosen to lead a squad of elite fighters. Your job is to infiltrate the Forbidden Ground and steal the treasure.”

Given Dustin’s skill, it made sense that he would be leading this mission.

“Infiltrating the Forbidden Ground?” Dustin raised an eyebrow. “I’ve heard it’s full of dangers and guarded by powerful experts. I’m not sure I’m up for the task.”

. “Don’t worry. You’re not alone on this mission. Two other elite squads will be working with you,” Hank replied seriously. “Your job is to deal with the experts inside the forbidden ground. We’ll handle the people outside and ensure your safety.”

“If that’s the case, then there’s no problem. But what exactly are we after?

“Dustin asked curiously.

“You’ll know once you’re inside the forbidden ground,” Hank said with a mysterious smile.

“You still can’t tell me?” Dustin feigned frustration.

“It’s not that I’m not telling you, but I don’t even know myself. The God King has everything planned out. All we need to do is follow orders and complete the mission. As for the rest, it’s best not to ask too many questions. It’s just how things work around here, Dustin. I hope you understand,” Hank said.

“Understood. I’ll do as instructed.” Dustin nodded.

“It’s getting late. Come with me so you can meet your team and get to know them better,” Hank said with a smile.

“Sure. Lead the way, Mr. Styles,” Dustin replied courteously.

Hank didn’t say another word as he led Dustin out quietly. The two moved like shadows through the darkness. In less than ten minutes, they arrived at a secluded courtyard where they had gathered previously.

After entering the gates, they headed to the meeting hall, where Dustin noticed more than a dozen people had already gathered inside.

He recognized most of them from previous encounters. There was the drunkard Wein Sage dressed like a beggar and Garrett, one of the infamous Cosmos Demons, known for his ruthless killings. The rest were all fully developed divine-level martial artists.

Among them, Garrett had a history with Dustin. They had nearly clashed once.

“Alright, everyone. Now that everyone’s here, let me make the introductions.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Hank scanned the room before gesturing toward Dustin. He smiled and said, “This is Mr. Rhys. Some of you may already be familiar with him. From now on, he’ll be your team leader. He will lead tonight’s mission. Got it?”

Before anyone could respond, Zayne, a young man with dreadlocks, scoffed. ”

Mr. Styles, are you serious? This punk looks like he’s just out of high school.

How is he supposed to lead us?

Honestly, I think someone like Mr. Mason or Mr. Lent would be a better fit.

Garrett’s face immediately darkened.

Without a word, he slapped Zayne across the face. “Shut your mouth, bastard!” he shouted.

Zayne staggered back and held his cheek in disbelief. “W-Why’d you hit me, Mr. Mason?”

He had been trying to butter Garrett up, so why had he been slapped? Did he take the wrong approach?

“Are you blind? This is Mr. Rhys-he’s the champion of today’s Combat Tournament and a true ultimate grandmaster. If he’s not qualified to lead us, who the hell is?” Garrett spat as he raged.

He had watched the final of the Combat Tournament and hadn’t expected Dustin-someone who had clashed with him before-to be so strong. Dustin had taken down two top-tier geniuses and claimed the championship.

When Garrett first saw Dustin earlier, he kept his head down and was worried that Dustin might still hold a grudge. But Zayne, oblivious to the situation, had dragged him into trouble. What an idiot.

“What? He’s Dustin Rhys?” Zayne’s eyes widened in fear.

He hadn’t been to the tournament but knew Dustin’s name and impressive record. As the memory of his harsh words hit him, fear took over, and his legs wobbled. His face turned pale as he began apologizing frantically.

It wasn’t that his earlier approach was wrong, but he had hit a wall. He finally realized he was in deep trouble now.