Chapter 1251 The Mastermind Hunt
*Smack!*
Up in arms, Thaddeus stumbled back, almost toppling over, the handprint on his face clearly visible.
However, in this moment, he dared not harbor any resentment. He quickly turned towards Trent and his crew, shouting, “It’s your fault for causing this mess! What are you standing there for? Release the hostages!”
His words naturally distanced himself from the situation.
“Huh?”
Trent and the Harmons exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of what to do. Although they knew Natasha was kidnapped, they had no idea where she was being held.
Forced to a corner, they turned to Kate, desperately pleading for information. “In… in the secret chamber… they’re in the secret chamber,” she stammered, her neck tucked down as she finally confessed.
“Quick! Let’s rescue them from the secret chamber!” Byron shouted, leading a group of high-ranking officials straight towards the Grant family’s secret room.
This was an excellent opportunity to redeem themselves, and they had to make the most of it.
“You’d better pray that Natasha is unharmed. Otherwise, I’ll make you pay a heavy price,” Dustin said calmly, his cold gaze sweeping over the faces of the Grant and Harmon families.
Frightened and trembling, the group of people felt like their souls had left their bodies.
After a while, Natasha and Ruth were finally rescued. Fortunately, they were unharmed, only remaining unconscious.
Dustin approached Natasha, carefully examining her condition, and once he confirmed she was fine, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He had been biding his time, enduring, all for the safety of Natasha. Now that she was safe, it was time to settle the score.
“Tell me, how do you plan to resolve today’s events?” Dustin asked coldly.
“Didn’t we already release Natasha? What more do you want from us?” Tyler furrowed his brow, his face showing some discomfort.
Until now, he couldn’t accept that a nobody from the past had suddenly risen to a position where they could order him around.
“Kidnap is kidnap, release is release. Do you think that just because you released her, everything will be fine? According to your logic, if I stab you and then pull the knife out, it wouldn’t count as a stabbing, because I pulled it?” Dustin retorted.
“So, what do you want?” Tyler’s complexion grew unpleasant.
“It’s simple, hand over the mastermind. Whoever orchestrated this kidnapping will have to pay the price,” Dustin said, narrowing his eyes slightly.
“Crown Prince! It has nothing to do with us; it was all the Harmon family’s doing. They’re the ones who kidnapped her!” Thaddeus hurriedly began to explain.
“That’s right! It’s all a plot by the Harmon family; they planned everything!” The relatives of the Grant family chimed in, eager to redirect the blame.
Desperate to save themselves, they had to shift all responsibility onto the Harmon family and make sure they were in the clear.
“Was it you guys?” Dustin turned his gaze towards the Harmon family members.
“Well… we…,” Trent and the others exchanged glances, hesitant and uncertain about how to explain themselves.
Though they wanted to deflect blame, they couldn’t immediately find a scapegoat, especially with the Grant family’s watchful eyes on them. It seemed like they had no choice but to accept their fate.
“It seems it really is related to all of you,” Dustin’s gaze grew increasingly piercing. “As fellow kin, blood relatives, how could you all stoop to such a level? Have you no conscience left?”
If it had been the Grant family behind the kidnapping, he might not have been so furious, as the two families had a longstanding enmity.
Chapter 1252 Blame it to Kate
But it was the Harmon family, their own blood kin, who had kidnapped Natasha and caused the death of Hector. The act of harming one’s own flesh and blood was something Dustin simply could not bear!
“Dustin, we know we’ve made a grave mistake. We won’t dare to do it again,” Kate pleaded desperately. “Please spare us, and we promise we’ll never go against Natasha in the future!”
Seeing that things were taking a dire turn, Kate quickly surrendered.
“Is there any point in saying this now?” Dustin said coldly. “You repeatedly used underhanded tactics, schemed for power, and while your past actions were excessive, they hadn’t crossed certain lines. But now, your actions have utterly eroded your humanity and extinguished your conscience. You’re even worse than animals. Why should I grant you forgiveness?”
“No matter what, we’re still Natasha’s family, blood relatives connected by lineage. If something happens to us, she’ll be heartbroken. Since you’re so fond of Natasha, you wouldn’t want to see her in tears, right?” Kate began appealing to Dustin’s emotions.
“Family? Blood relatives? You have the audacity to say that!” Dustin snorted, pointing to Hector’s lifeless body. “Open your dog eyes wide and see who’s lying on the ground! You’ve killed Natasha’s father, and now you have the nerve to talk nonsense here. You’re truly shameless!”
“I…,” Kate was at a loss for words.
Beside her, Trent and the others also hung their heads in shame. While they may not have had murderous intent, Hector’s death was still connected to them.
“Hector’s death must have someone held accountable. Whoever was the mastermind should take their own life as atonement,” Dustin said coldly, pulling a knife from one of his companions and slamming it down in front of the Harmon family members.
“Huh?”
As they looked at the sharp blade, the Harmon family members exchanged confused glances, completely uncertain about what to do.
This was clearly meant to be a warning; whoever confessed would meet their end.
With only one life to spare, who would willingly become the scapegoat?
“What? Not willing to confess?” Dustin’s eyes turned icy, his voice stern. “If none of you dare to admit your guilt, then everyone will die!”
“What?!”
This declaration caused the faces of the Harmon family members to change drastically. This was collective punishment!
If no one will admit the blame, the entire clan would be wiped out. In this situation, someone had to step forward to take the blame.
“What are you waiting for? Afraid to confess?”
Dustin’s gaze grew even colder as he spoke harshly. “If you no one dare to admit the crimes, then everyone will face the consequences!”
“What?!”
With this statement, the Harmon family members began to turn pale. It was a clear ultimatum!
At this critical juncture, most of them turned their eyes toward Kate. In truth, many of them knew that this was Kate’s mess, but due to her status, they hadn’t dared to speak up before.
However, the situation was different now, and with their lives on the line, if they didn’t reveal the truth, they would all suffer.
“What… why are you all looking at me? It wasn’t me who did it!” Feeling the unusual scrutiny around her, Kate erupted in frustration.
Her eyes grew fierce, tinged with a hint of threat.
“Kate, we all know what you did. Admit it already!”
“Yeah! We can’t let your personal actions drag our entire clan down!”
“Kate! If you make a mistake, you must pay the price. Stop trying to dodge it and confess. That’s the best way out for you!”
At this moment, the Harmon family members began to accuse her, launching a barrage of verbal attacks.
Under the threat of death, they could no longer afford to consider family ties.
In an instant, Kate became the target of everyone’s blame.
Chapter 1253 Blame it to Kate’s Dad
“Stop making baseless accusations! I haven’t done anything; I am not involved in this mess!”
Faced with the questioning and accusations of the crowd, Kate became furious, “I warn you, if you dare to slander me again, be prepared for me to fight back!”
In a life-or-death situation, she naturally wouldn’t admit to anything.
Otherwise, she would die in vain.
“Kate! Stop causing trouble, if you don’t confess, none of us will survive!”
“That’s right! It’s clearly your fault, so why are you trying to harm us?”
The emotions of Harmon’s family members became even more agitated.
They didn’t expect Kate to be so shameless, spouting lies with her eyes wide open.
Everyone knew that the situation was already set, and the mastermind behind the scenes could not escape punishment. If she confessed willingly, it could still save the Harmon family.
But Kate not only lacked the resolve to confess but also tried to drag down the entire Harmon family.
She was truly heartless!
“Kate! All the physical evidence points to you; there’s no room for your deception. Confess quickly!” Thaddeus couldn’t help but shout.
He feared that Kate wouldn’t confess, and it would cause trouble for the Grant family.
“Confess, so your family can still survive.” Tyler spoke coldly.
“Tyler, Lord…”
Kate was struck as if by lightning, standing there dumbfounded, finding it hard to believe.
She thought Tyler would stand by her side, but one sentence from him had utterly dashed her hopes.
If even Tyler wouldn’t help her, was she doomed?
“Kate, everyone unanimously believes it’s you. Do you have anything else to say?” Dustin approached slowly, a hint of killing intent in his eyes.
“No… it’s not me… I didn’t… It’s not my fault…”
Kate’s face turned pale, and she shook her head frantically, offering a threefold denial.
But at this moment, her explanations sounded feeble and powerless.
“If it’s not you, then who is it?” Dustin asked from his vantage point.
“It… it…”
Kate’s eyes darted around, seeking help, and finally, she suddenly froze, pointing at Trent and shouting, “It’s my dad! He ordered me to do it; it’s all his fault!”
“Me?”
The accused Trent was left stunned, his face filled with shock.
Just moments ago, he had been contemplating how to free himself from the situation his daughter had put him in, but in the blink of an eye, his daughter was publicly accusing him.
She was placing all the blame on him.
For a moment, he didn’t know how to explain himself.
“So, you’re saying Trent is the true mastermind?” Dustin raised an eyebrow.
“That’s right! It’s my dad! He planned everything; he’s the one who had me kidnap Natasha. I was just a messenger; I didn’t know anything!” Kate kept exonerating herself.
The fear of death had made her forget about family ties; she only hoped to find a scapegoat to shoulder everything.
“Kate…”
Trent tried to say something, but Kate interrupted him, saying, “Dad! Admit it! It’s your doing; it’s your fault. You plotted everything!”
“Don’t try to defend yourself anymore; don’t drag me down. I’m still young, and I really don’t want to die!”
“Dad, please, confess!”
“If you don’t die, I won’t survive!”
As she said these words, she was already sobbing uncontrollably.
Her eyes were filled with supplication and pity.
She knew that in this world, the only person who could help her now was her own father. As long as he was willing to confess and take responsibility for everything, she could stay alive.
Chapter 1254 Harmons in Ruins
Although it was morally reprehensible and despicable, she no longer cared about such things when it came to staying alive.
Right now, she was gambling—gambling on whether her father would be willing to sacrifice his own life for her.
“Kate! Are you even human? To clear your name, you’re actually slandering your own father? You’re truly worse than a beast!”
“That’s right! Your father raised you with all his hard work, and you not only lack gratitude but also dare to frame him? You’re utterly ungrateful!”
“Ungrateful child! You’re truly an ungrateful child!”
At this moment, the members of the Harmon family angrily rebuked her one by one.
Kate’s disloyal and unfilial behavior had completely infuriated the public.
The trouble she had caused was now being placed on her father’s shoulders, and she had lost all trace of humanity.
“Shut up! All of you, shut up!”
Kate, in a fit of anger and desperation, shouted repeatedly. When her gaze once again turned to Trent, it became pitiful, “Dad, you’ve watched me grow up since I was a child, and you’ve always been so kind to me. You surely can’t bear to watch me die, right?”
“You’re already in your twilight years, with only a few years left, but I’m still young, I have a beautiful life ahead of me, and a bright future. I don’t want to die here!”
“Dad, please, confess quickly! If you don’t speak up and confess, your daughter will be doomed!”
Kate’s emotions grew increasingly agitated, her voice getting louder, and she finally became hysterical.
Her once-beautiful face had gradually twisted, and she now appeared exceptionally frenzied.
“Kate, you’re right. I am indeed guilty, and I admit it.”
Seeing his daughter’s distorted face, Trent couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
There was no anger or resentment in his eyes; there was only pity and heartache.
Of course, there was also a sense of helplessness.
At this moment, he deeply regretted his past choices.
He shouldn’t have fought for power, forced his third brother to abdicate, and, even more so, trusted the Grant family.
It was his greed that led him to make the wrong choices, take the wrong path, and ultimately create the current situation.
The Harmon family was now in ruins, and he had to take responsibility for it.
He also had to take responsibility for his third brother’s death.
His daughter had strayed down the wrong path and become insane, and he had to bear the corresponding responsibility.
He was a sinner, an unforgivable sinner.
If his death could save his daughter’s life, he would willingly accept it.
“Listen! Did you all hear that? My dad has confessed! My dad has admitted his guilt!” Kate’s face showed ecstatic joy, as if she had found a lifeline.
“Clan Chief! What are you talking about? Clearly, it’s Kate’s fault. Why are you taking the blame for her?”
“Yeah, Clan Chief! Such a heinous beast, there’s no point in keeping her alive; let her die!”
The members of the Harmon family were indignant and very puzzled.
“That’s enough!”
Trent raised his hand to silence the people, then took a deep breath and calmly said, “I’m the one who has brought the Harmon family to this point. I did things I shouldn’t have done, resulting in irreparable consequences. I’m ashamed of the Harmon family, of my third brother, and of all of you. I… deserve to die.”
Once these words were spoken, everyone was stunned.
After saying this, Trent picked up the long knife on the ground and slash his neck.
He died on the spot!
Chapter 1255 To the Black Prison
As the sharp blade sliced through his neck, a large amount of blood spurted out.
In the next moment, Trent fell to the ground with a resounding “thud,” lifeless.
There was a faint smile of relief on his face.
“Dad?”
Kate stood frozen in place, her mind unable to process what had just happened.
The blood that had sprayed from Trent’s wound had landed on her face, making her already twisted expression appear even more gruesome, like a malevolent spirit.
“Clan Chief!”
“Big Brother!”
The members of the Harmon family exclaimed in shock and sorrow.
They were all close confidants of Trent, and they had prospered and suffered together with him.
Now that Trent had taken his own life, the Harmon family was completely ruined.
“He’s dead, he’s dead… the sinner is dead!”
After a moment of bewilderment, Kate felt a tremendous weight lifted off her shoulders and began shouting frantically, “Dustin! Did you see that? My dad is already dead, the mastermind has committed suicide to atone for his sins, he has paid the price, can we stop now?”
Although she felt some sadness at her father’s death, the predominant emotion was the joy of escaping death.
In her view, as long as her father took the blame for her, she could safely escape punishment.
“Stop now? Do you think it’s just it?” Dustin’s face remained cold and unmoved.
He could naturally see that Trent had sacrificed himself for his daughter.
From a father’s perspective, it was the only thing he could do.
But Dustin had no intention of letting things end so easily.
Every wrong had a perpetrator, and if the root of the problem wasn’t eradicated, there might be trouble in the future.
“Dustin, my dad is already dead, what more do you want?” Kate’s face was tear-stained as she cried.
“Your father may be dead, but you’re still alive. Do you really think you can get away with all the evil deeds you’ve done just because your father confessed?” Dustin’s voice remained cold.
“You… what are you talking about? It was clearly my dad who did it, I didn’t know anything!” Kate was panicking.
“Enough of the act. I know exactly who you are. Pretending to be pitiful in front of me serves no purpose. Now you have two choices: either take your own life to atone for your sins or go to the Black Prison (Azkaban).”
“I don’t want to die! The sinner has already been executed, it’s not my fault! I’m still young, I have a beautiful life ahead of me, you can’t kill me, you can’t!” Kate frantically shook her head.
“If you refuse to take your own life, then you’ll go to the Black Prison.”
Dustin made a hand gesture and said coldly, “Take her to the Black Prison. I want her to spend the rest of her life in darkness!”
“Yes!”
A group of Evil Hall disciples grinned maliciously.
The Black Prison was a nightmare for countless people, and they had a deep understanding of it. If it weren’t for their fortunate encounter with Master Dustin, they might never have gotten out.
“No! I won’t go to the Black Prison! It’s not a place for humans!” Kate began to struggle frantically, crying bitterly. “Dustin! Let me go, please, I know I was wrong, I won’t do it again. As long as you spare me, I’ll serve you for the rest of my life, I’ll be your servant forever! Please!”
“Take her away.”
Dustin remained unmoved and ordered the others to forcefully drag Kate away.
For someone who had lost all sense of conscience and had become insane, the Black Prison was perhaps the best destination.
“No!”
Kate’s desperate voice echoed from a distance, filled with deep resentment and despair.
But this time, there was no one who could help her.
“And as for all of you, none of you are good people.”
After Kate was taken away, Dustin’s gaze turned to the remaining members of the Harmon family.
Chapter 1256 The Bet
“Your Highness, it has nothing to do with us! We didn’t do anything!” The members of the Harmon family were in a panic, bowing and begging for mercy.
“When an avalanche occurs, there is not a single snowflake that is innocent,” Dustin said coldly. “You betrayed your own, collaborated with the enemy, and caused the Harmon family to fall apart, leading to its destruction. Do you dare to say that you did nothing?”
“This…”
The people were instantly speechless.
The Harmon family used to be one of the top noble families in Millsburg, but now they were divided and in decline. These people were indeed difficult to absolve of their responsibility.
If they hadn’t fought for power and wealth with Trent, if there hadn’t been infighting within the family, wouldn’t they have had a better life?
Unfortunately, there were no “ifs” in this world.
“I don’t care about the mistakes you’ve made. When Natasha wakes up, she will deal with you,” Dustin said, not saying much, and waved his hand. “Take them all away and keep them under strict guard!”
“Yes!”
A group of Kirin Gang disciples rushed forward, binding the members of the Harmon family and taking them away.
“Now, it’s your turn.”
After dealing with the Harmon family, Dustin suddenly turned his gaze to the members of the Grant family.
“This time, I want to settle the score once and for all.”
“Your Highness, all of this was done by the Harmon family, it has nothing to do with us!” Thaddeus tried to defend himself.
“You think I’m a fool?” Dustin sneered. “From the very beginning, it was your grandson, Tyler, who was causing trouble. He manipulated and harmed the Harmon family for his own selfish reasons, driving the Harmon family to internal strife, causing their downfall and ruin. His various malicious actions have crossed the line.”
“Ah?”
Thaddeus was taken aback, his voice trembling as he said, “Your Highness, is there some misunderstanding? My grandson has always been law-abiding, how could he possibly do such things?”
“Are you pretending to be ignorant?” Dustin’s gaze was piercing.
“I have no knowledge about it if there’s any, young Lord,” Thaddeus said fearfully. “Now, ask my grandson what he’s done. He should… not have offended Your Highness, right?”
“Grandfather, it’s useless. Even if I deny it, he won’t believe me,” Tyler shook his head, clearly not intending to argue any further.
The father and daughter’s attempt to deceive with a false confession had no effect, even if they exposed everything, in the end, it would be of no avail.
“Oh? You’re clear-headed,” Dustin sneered. “Tyler, for all the things you’ve done behind the scenes, how do you think I should deal with you?”
“Dustin, you’re only relying on the backing of the West Lucozia King’s Mansion,” Tyler raised his head and regained his arrogant demeanor. “If we set aside our backgrounds, I might not necessarily lose to you!”
“Is that so?”
Dustin raised an eyebrow as if he was becoming interested. “Do you think that as long as my last name isn’t Rhys, you can be assured of victory?”
“That’s right!”
Tyler’s head was held high again, and he regained his arrogant demeanor. “Dustin, you’re Kirin, right? The unparalleled genius of the world? Dare you make a bet with me?”
“What kind of bet do you propose?” Dustin seemed to be getting interested.
“According to the rules of the martial world, let’s have an open and fair fight!” Tyler’s eyes shone brightly. “If I win, you must leave this place immediately, and there will be no more investigation into the past. If I lose, you can deal with us as you see fit, whether it’s life or death, no objections!”
Chapter 1257 Tyler’s Secret
“That’s a good bet, but why should I gamble with you?” Dustin said indifferently. “Your life is currently in my hands. What qualifications do you have to gamble with me?”
Upon hearing this, Tyler clenched his teeth and finally said in a deep voice, “I have a treasure map in my possession. It’s the result of my years of searching, and I’m willing to use it to gamble my life!”
If it weren’t for being pushed to a dead end, he would never reveal this secret.
The Harmon family’s treasure map had been divided into three pieces in total. He had obtained one of them by chance, and he also knew some secrets related to it. It was because of this that he had secretly schemed, set up various arrangements, and planned to obtain the remaining piece of the treasure map from the Harmon family.
Unexpectedly, before he could acquire the second map, he had gotten himself into such a big trouble. Now, he could only bet his way out with the map he had.
“So, you also have a treasure map. No wonder you’ve been so persistent,” Dustin nodded thoughtfully. “Alright, I’ll give you a chance to turn the tables, but if you can defeat me, I won’t pursue today’s matters any further. However, if you lose, your entire Grant family will suffer.”
“No problem!” Tyler readily agreed.
“Tyler, don’t be impulsive!” Thaddeus was taken aback and turned pale.
Dustin was a world-famous Kirin, an unparalleled martial genius. Engaging in a martial arts competition with someone of that caliber would be like courting death, wouldn’t it?
“Grandfather, rest assured, I won’t lose!” Tyler said with a serious expression. “There’s a secret I haven’t revealed to the public. In fact, three years ago, I became a Grandmaster. Even when facing Kirin, I can still fight and win!”
“What? A Grandmaster?!”
This revelation shocked the entire audience.
Tyler was not even thirty years old, and at his age, becoming an innate martial artist was already a rare genius. As for reaching the level of a Grandmaster, it was like reaching for the stars and was nearly unattainable.
In the entire Dragonmarsh, Grandmasters under the age of thirty were extremely rare.
In other words, in terms of martial arts accomplishments, Tyler had become one of the top talents in the entire kingdom!
“That’s great! If Tyler is a Grandmaster, then there’s hope for us to win this high-stakes gamble!”
“He’s been hiding his true strength! Truly exceptional!”
“What does it matter if he’s Kirin? He’s just yesterday’s hero. Our Lord Tyler is the real unparalleled genius!”
“Hahaha… there’s hope, we all have hope now!”
At this moment, the members of the Grant family were excited and overjoyed, celebrating as if they had won already.
Before this revelation, they had no idea of Tyler’s true strength.
Little did they expect that he had quietly reached the level of a Grandmaster, making him a tremendous and pleasant surprise.
With such formidable strength, even in the face of the legendary Kirin, they had no reason to doubt.
Moreover, he could become famous with just one battle!
“No wonder you’re so confident. It turns out you have something to rely on,” Dustin said, somewhat surprised.
Setting aside everything else, reaching the level of Grandmaster at such a young age was indeed the mark of an extraordinary talent.
“Dustin, are you afraid now? The renowned Kirin, the future West Lucozia King, do you even have the courage to fight?” Tyler began to provoke.
If Dustin hesitated or backed out, it would be troublesome.
“You don’t need to provoke me with words. I agree to have a duel with you, and I won’t back out. Whether I win or lose will depend entirely on your abilities,” Dustin said indifferently.
Chapter 1258 Life and Death Duel
“Alright! You asked for it!” exclaimed Tyler, a gleam of excitement in his eyes.
This was the only chance they had to turn the tide, and they couldn’t afford to miss it.
“Step back, everyone! Give us some space. If we’re going to fight, don’t get in the way,” proclaimed Thorian firmly, immediately shouting to the people around to clear the area.
Although many years had passed since they last met, Thorian was filled with unwavering confidence when it came to Dustin.
The title of “Kirin” wasn’t just a boast; it was earned through sheer strength.
A decade ago, in the bustling city, talented individuals were abundant, and geniuses were everywhere. It was a fierce competition, and heroes vied for supremacy.
And what happened?
His older brother emerged out of nowhere and single-handedly suppressed all competition, making those so-called geniuses flee in disgrace.
Looking across the entire city, there was hardly a worthy adversary.
Since then, the name Logan had become the nightmare of all the young talents, a name that struck fear into their hearts.
Even the extraordinary individuals in the city were easily subdued. So, what was someone like Tyler, a mere nobody, but a pawn?
Just a stepping stone.
With Thorian’s call, the crowd quickly dispersed, creating ample space for Dustin and Tyler to demonstrate their skills.
This battle determined the life and death of the entire Grant family.
If Tyler won, everyone would be saved. If he lost, it would be a devastating blow to the entire Grant family.
“Tyler, you must win!” Thaddeus watched from afar, clenching his fists nervously.
“Rest assured, Elder Clan Leader. Tyler is already a Grandmaster of martial arts. He can surely turn the tide!” replied someone confidently.
“That’s right! Even if Kirin is impressive, he’s been dormant for ten years. He can’t possibly match Tyler!”
“Tyler is a natural prodigy. No one can compare. In this showdown, victory is certain!”
The members of the Grant family were filled with unwavering confidence.
Since Tyler had taken over as clan leader, he had never disappointed them, and this time would be no different.
At that moment, in the center of the arena, Tyler and Dustin faced each other, their gazes sharp and unyielding, neither giving an inch.
They were of the same age and possessed astonishing talents.
Now, they were openly confronting each other, a highly anticipated duel with suspense hanging in the air.
Everyone was speculating, who would emerge victorious in the end?
Would it be the legendary Kirin, Logan, who had once shaken the world?
Or would it be the hidden, immensely talented General Tyler, with a bright future ahead?
“Dustin! Draw your weapon!” Tyler slowly unsheathed his longsword from his waist, pointing its tip at Dustin’s forehead.
“To deal with you, I don’t need a weapon. Just come at me,” Dustin beckoned casually, his expression as calm as if he didn’t regard his opponent highly at all.
“Do you really think you don’t need a weapon?” Tyler’s face darkened.
In all his years, this was the first time someone had shown such disdain towards him.
“Enough talk. Let’s finish this quickly,” Dustin said impatiently.
“Hmph! Blades and swords have no eyes. Life and death are up to fate. Since you’re so arrogant, don’t blame me!” Tyler’s anger flared, and without another word, he thrust his sword forward.
He intended to make Dustin understand the consequences of underestimating him!
Chapter 1259 The Two-Finger Strike
Tyler’s sword was fast and fierce, like a rainbow piercing the sun. Wherever it passed, a strong wind howled, sand and rocks flew, and even the air seemed to split open.
It was a terrifying sight!
“Such a fast sword! Such a formidable sword aura! Truly deserving of being a Grandmaster!”
“With this strike, even gods and demons would retreat. I wonder how Dustin plans to defend himself!”
“I have a feeling that Tyler will decide the outcome with this one strike!”
Watching Tyler’s astonishing swordplay, the Grant family members were filled with excitement and anticipation. It seemed as if victory was within their grasp.
Even Thaddeus, who had been worried earlier, let out a sigh of relief.
He had been concerned about whether his grandson had truly reached the level of a Grandmaster, but now it was clear that he had.
In fact, Tyler seemed even more powerful than an ordinary Grandmaster.
Things should be stable now.
“Defeat him!”
Tyler roared and his sword’s edge became even sharper as he thrust it toward Dustin’s chest.
“Hmph!”
Dustin didn’t dodge or evade. Faced with the terrifying swordplay, he simply extended two fingers and lightly pinched the sword’s edge.
“Clang!”
Tyler felt the sword’s momentum come to a halt, and all its sharpness was instantly crushed, as if it were an egg crashing against a rock.
It had no resistance at all.
“What?!”
Tyler’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He never expected that his powerful strike would be easily blocked by Dustin, and with just two fingers.
Seeing Dustin’s calm and composed expression, it was as if he hadn’t even used his full strength.
“How can this be? How can he block it?”
“Not only did he block it, but he also did it with his bare hands. It’s truly terrifying!”
“A Grandmaster’s full-powered strike was stopped with just two fingers. What kind of monster is this guy?!”
The onlookers were shocked by the scene before them.
They had expected a peak showdown between two geniuses, but it seemed that the result had already been determined after just a brief exchange.
Using two fingers to catch the sword had already demonstrated that Dustin’s strength far surpassed that of Tyler.
“Why is it like this? Could it be that Tyler is going to lose?”
At this moment, Thaddeus and the other family members were in shock and anxiety.
They had placed all their hopes on Tyler, and if he couldn’t win, disaster would befall them all.
“Tyler, it seems you’re not up to the task,” Dustin said calmly, his gaze filled with disdain.
As he spoke, he flicked his fingers.
“Clang!”
Accompanied by the sound of metal clashing.
Tyler’s sword was directly sent flying more than ten meters away, embedding itself into the ground.
At the same time, under the tremendous impact, Tyler was also sent staggering backward, leaving behind a trail of footprints.
Just a single flick of the finger had made the outcome clear.
“Tyler, you’ve lost,” Dustin said indifferently.
“No! This can’t be! How could I lose to you? I refuse to accept it!” Tyler, who had suffered a blow to his confidence, suddenly went mad.
He took out a pill from his pocket and stuffed it into his mouth without hesitation.
As soon as the pill entered his stomach, his body began to tremble violently.
His meridians inside his body crackled and popped, sounding like beans frying in a pan.
“Bang, bang, bang…”
Tyler’s eyes were filled with bloodshot veins, and his face became contorted, appearing particularly ferocious.
At the same time, his aura surged forth like a tidal wave.
Chapter 1260 The Berserker Pill
Instantly, Tyler’s aura surged, and his strength doubled!
“Oh? Ready to go all out?” Dustin raised an eyebrow, quite surprised.
It was evident that Tyler had just taken some kind of secret elixir, which could significantly enhance his strength in a short period. However, the cost was a depletion of potential and vitality, a risk that should only be taken in life-or-death situations.
“It’s the Berserker Pill! Tyler consumed a Berserker Pill!” A sudden exclamation echoed through the crowd.
“What? The Berserker Pill? Isn’t that a banned substance?”
“Indeed, the Berserker Pill (aka Crazy Blood Pill) can unleash one’s hidden potential, making the user’s strength skyrocket, but the side effects are immense. It not only takes half of one’s life but can also drive the person into madness!”
“My goodness! Is Tyler risking his life? He dares to take the Berserker Pill!”
As they watched Tyler’s transformation, the onlookers couldn’t help but gossip.
Amid the shock, there was also an element of anticipation.
“He’s gambling with his life. Tyler has gone all in!” Thaddeus’s expression grew solemn.
“With the boost from the Berserker Pill, Tyler’s strength is doubled. He can definitely defeat Dustin!”
“Exactly! Even if Dustin has incredible abilities, he won’t be able to withstand Tyler, who’s taken the Berserker Pill!”
The Grant family members regained their confidence and hope.
Though the Berserker Pill was forbidden, it had miraculous effects in turning the tide.
The only drawback was that Tyler would lose half of his life.
Of course, compared to the safety of the entire family, this sacrifice was insignificant.
“Dustin! I admit you’re strong, but today, you will lose!” Tyler’s eyes turned bloodshot, his hair standing on end, and his robe fluttered without wind. His entire body emitted a wild and frenzied aura.
“Is that so? Well, I’d like to see what you’re capable of,” Dustin replied calmly, raising his hand in a gesture that invited Tyler to come at him.
“Dustin! Forcing me to take the Berserker Pill, even in defeat, I have no regrets!” Tyler roared and yanked his sword from the ground, launching another attack.
“Buzz~!”
The longsword in his hand began to hum, and terrifying sword energy surged out in torrents. It swept toward Dustin like a fierce storm.
Wherever the sword energy passed, it crushed everything in its path, unstoppable even against the rocky ground, leaving deep marks behind.
Such tremendous power made even the heavens and earth tremble.
The onlookers were filled with trepidation, feeling as if death was imminent.
“What a terrifying sword strike! There’s probably no one in the world who can withstand it!”
“So what if it’s Kirin? He’s done for now!”
In the face of Tyler’s world-shaking sword strike, the crowd turned pale, their fear palpable.
The Grant family members, on the other hand, were ecstatic, victory within reach.
In their eyes, even if Dustin were exceptionally powerful, he couldn’t possibly withstand this earth-shattering sword strike, especially with Tyler boosted by the Berserker Pill.
“Meet your end!”
Tyler roared madly, completely unrestrained.
“Kiddie toy!.”
Dustin snorted disdainfully, standing his ground and not dodging. When the incoming sword came into contact with him, he unleashed a single punch.
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
The moment they clashed, there were three consecutive explosions.
First, the sword energy shattered.
Second, the precious sword snapped.
Third, Tyler’s arm holding the sword exploded into a mist of blood.
He was sent flying more than ten meters high, suspended briefly, and then crashed down heavily, resembling a tattered sandbag. Blood flowed profusely.
“Grandmaster, eh?!” Dustin showed a contemptuous expression.