An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

From the moment Dustin unsheathed his sword, the entire sequence unfolded in an instant. The swift

beheading of the black serpent left everyone in disbelief.

Even after the serpent's head hit the ground, it continued to snarl menacingly, seemingly oblivious to

the gravity of the situation. It only recognized the severity of its decapitation when the truth finally sank

in.

Confusion enveloped the creature as it questioned what had just transpired, trying to comprehend how

this seemingly insignificant human had managed to decapitate it.

The royal family held the black serpent in high esteem. They saw it as a divine being that had spent

centuries cultivating its power, establishing dominance over everything.

Its path was meant to be unimpeded, and all living beings were destined to be its prey. The creature

couldn't comprehend why it now lay lifeless, defeated by the hands of a mere human.

The massive body of the black serpent convulsed a few times before crashing heavily to the ground.

Blood gushed out, swiftly coloring the surrounding area in a vivid red hue, spanning several dozen feet.

"Dead... Is it dead?"

Everyone was frozen, eyes wide with disbelief, as the serpent's head separated from its body. The

shocking sight left them speechless, struggling to make sense of the unexpected turn of events.

Dustin's victory over the black serpent took everyone by surprise, especially since it happened with just

a single stroke of his sword. This formidable creature had proven to be a challenging adversary, even

for Aidan.

Everyone couldn't fathom how a nobody could wield such extraordinary power.

Garrett couldn't believe what he was witnessing. He shook his head in disbelief, trying to process the

shocking truth before him. "No way... This can't be happening. It's just not possible!"

He had always underestimated Dustin, thinking of him as nothing more than a scammer in the martial

world.

Garrett's resentment towards Dustin, fueled by his feelings for Grace, had even led him to contemplate

silencing Dustin for good.

Little did Garrett anticipate that beneath Dustin's unassuming facade lay extraordinary power. A power

that now instilled fear in Garrett's heart.

Bran stood there, completely shocked, his voice trembling. "Wait, did I really see that correctly? The

black serpent is actually dead, and Dustin took it down?"

Just moments ago, Bran had witnessed the black serpent's incredible strength—a force so formidable

that even hundreds of people couldn't make a scratch on it.

Even Aidan, also known as Sandscale, had suffered serious injuries from the serpent's attack. Simply

surviving an encounter with such a terrifying creature was considered fortunate in itself.

Yet, Dustin not only survived but managed to slay it.

Bran found it hard to grasp the fact that a young, unknown young man had single-handedly killed the

fearsome black serpent.

If he hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, he wouldn't believe such an extraordinary event could

occur.

"Wait, seriously? Dustin took down that black serpent, the one even Mr. Ridge struggled with.

"Is he, like, already a grandmaster martial artist?" Yonah exclaimed. His face displayed sheer shock,

with cold sweat trickling down.

Yonah had seen the black serpent seriously injure Aidan, but it met its end at Dustin's hands.

This not only indicated Dustin's strength surpassing Aidan's but also hinted at Dustin having achieved

grandmaster martial artist status.

The idea of a young grandmaster in his early twenties, unparalleled in the entire southwest, was hard

for Yonah to fathom. He wondered, "Who is this guy, damn it?"

Recalling his earlier intention to confront Dustin, Yonah couldn't help but shudder. Had Yonah provoked

Dustin, he might be dead already.

"This brat... he's good at masking his strength." Aidan frowned, his face displaying a serious demeanor.

Moments ago, the black serpent had dealt him a severe injury. He had somewhat underestimated the

enemy, and victory seemed unlikely despite his utmost efforts.

However, Dustin effortlessly defeated the ferocious black serpent with a single sword stroke,

showcasing unparalleled strength. What added to Aidan's sense of intimidation was Dustin's youthful

prowess.

Aidan's realization struck suddenly, and his eyes widened. "Could it be... him?" he muttered.

His pupils narrowed, and his breath quickened as he connected the dots. The sword aura that Dustin

unleashed resembled the one that severed the golden vine the night before.

The revelation hit Aidan like a tidal wave. He pondered the mysterious elder who had aided him the

previous night—was it Dustin all along?

His thoughts spun into chaos, considering the mysterious elder's strength, seemingly at the ultimate

grandmaster level.

Aidan couldn't help but question, "Is Dustin the hidden ultimate grandmaster? But... how is that

possible? He can't be older than 30. What kind of extraordinary being is this?"

Jackson was briefly bewildered, but then he jumped up, his excitement evident. "Oh my god! Dustin is

seriously amazing!"

When Dustin confronted the black serpent, Jackson believed certain death was imminent. To his

surprise, after a few rounds, Dustin managed to defeat the mighty serpent with a single stroke.

The stark contrast between before and after left Jackson momentarily speechless. He mumbled, "If I

had known you were that powerful, I wouldn't have been so worried."

Sophia gasped, her hand instinctively covering her mouth. "A grandmaster... he's a grandmaster

martial artist!"

Her eyes sparkled with surprise, excitement bubbling within. It wasn't just shock or disbelief, but it was

the thrill of discovering a hidden gem.

Dustin's charm and strength had completely enchanted her. She recognized the rarity of such a

combination and felt compelled to seize the opportunity, even if it meant going against the Embersteel

Order.

While the Embersteel Order did have a grandmaster martial artist, he was already in his fifties. In

contrast, Dustin, just over 20, possessed immense promise and limitless potential.

The decision between the two options was glaringly obvious.

Grace smirked, acknowledging. "No wonder he's at the top of the Legendary List. Truly impressive."

She found solace in having such a powerful bodyguard.

At that moment, Dustin stood tall as he brandished his sword with an imposing and majestic presence.

Despite not exuding a formidable aura, he held a powerful and almost mythical presence in everyone's

hearts.

Waving the Celestial Blade to flick off some blood, he then approached Grace and impassively said,

"Task accomplished."

"Great work, everyone," Grace said with a slight smile.

She then directed Teams Five and Six, "Now, let's focus on skinning the black serpent and extracting

its innards efficiently.

"The hide is valuable for crafting resilient armor that can withstand blades and the elements.

"Additionally, the serpent's gallbladder is a potent tonic that enhances cultivation. We can't afford to

waste any part of it."