“Your Highness, the soldiers under me are trained solely in killing techniques. If they hurt your guest, things could get ugly,” Lycas said.
He didn’t say it outright, but the message was clear. If Dustin wasn’t strong enough, he’d better stay out of the way, or he was just asking for trouble.
Bryce didn’t say anything, but the look he gave Dustin was full of contempt.
How could a pampered young man like Dustin measure up to soldiers who’ve been through the grind? He figured Dustin was probably some heir from a prominent family who knew Nathaniel and was trying to assert his relevance.
“You guys are blind to greatness when it’s standing right in front of you.” Nathaniel chuckled and shook his head.
He added, “If any of you manage to land a hit on Mr. Rhys, I’ll pay out a thousand gold. But honestly, I doubt any of you have what it takes.”
At the mention of rewards, the soldiers perked up. Their eyes lit up with excitement. They were practically itching to charge at Dustin and give him a good beating.
“If that’s what Your Highness wants, I’ll send a few men to test him,” Lycas said with a nod.
He then turned and pointed to five of his strongest elite soldiers. “You five-step forward.”
“Yes, sir!”
The five men answered in unison and stepped into the center of the training ground.
Years of brutal training had molded them into hardened fighters. Their eyes were sharp, and their presence was heavy with lethal intent.
Nathaniel turned to Dustin. “Some of my men can be a bit arrogant. Could you do me a favor and teach them a lesson today?” he asked with a smile.
“Since you asked, I’m happy to oblige,” Dustin replied, nodding.
Slowly, he walked forward and stood in front of the five soldiers. He stood with his hands behind his back, calm, but with a quiet intensity in his eyes.
These soldiers were certainly skilled. But at his current level, they wouldn’t be much of a challenge unless thousands were in his way.
“Go all out, and don’t embarrass His Highness,” Lycas ordered.
Though he looked down on Dustin, there was no room for holding back when honor was at stake.
“Whenever you’re ready,” Dustin said as he extended his hand.
“The fight starts now!” Lycas commanded without hesitation.
The five soldiers didn’t hesitate. They quickly moved into position and surrounded Dustin in a well-coordinated formation.
Two charged in from the left. One aimed a low sweep to trip Dustin, while the other jumped up and aimed a powerful punch straight at his face.
On the right, the other two soldiers were just as aggressive. One wielded a short baton and spun it rapidly with flashing strikes. It effectively blocked Dustin’s path and prevented him from dodging to the right.
The other was quick and nimble, looking for any weakness in Dustin’s defense.
Dustin didn’t flinch as the five men closed in. He slipped to the side and avoided the sweeping kick from the left. Then, he casually raised his left hand to block the punch straight at his face.
The soldier felt like he’d just punched a concrete wall. Pain shot up his arm, and he let out a low grunt.
At the same time, Dustin turned sharply and did a spinning kick. His right boot accurately kicked the wrist of the soldier holding the short baton with a sharp crack.
The baton hit the ground, and the soldier’s face went pale as he staggered backward while clutching his injured wrist.
Seeing this, the remaining three soldiers intensified their attack. They coordinated seamlessly while constantly changing their attack angles.
However, Dustin moved like a shadow. He glided effortlessly through their formation. In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind one of the soldiers and swiftly struck his back.
The soldier felt a sudden surge of force. His body lurched forward and slammed to the ground.
Another soldier took the opportunity to strike, but Dustin didn’t retreat. Instead, he charged right at him while throwing a punch. The punch seemed ordinary, but it was delivered with lightning speed.
The soldier didn’t have time to react before the blow landed squarely on his chest. The impact sent him flying backward several feet, blood spitting from his mouth.
In mere seconds, all five elite soldiers were on the ground and unable to continue fighting.
Dustin had deliberately held back his strength. Otherwise, the five soldiers would be dead or disabled.
“How is that possible?”
The sudden turn of events left the soldiers staring in disbelief. The earlier contempt was gone and was replaced with deep respect.
Lycas and Bryce were equally stunned by what they saw. They had never imagined that Dustin, who appeared frail, could possess such terrifying strength. Five of their elite soldiers couldn’t even land a blow against him.
“I didn’t expect him to be an expert,”
Lycas muttered. He frowned, and his expression turned sour.
Bryce, too, wore a serious expression. His impression of Dustin had changed.
From the sidelines, Nathaniel flashed a faint smile. This was the outcome he was aiming for.
“Logan, that was impressive.” Nathaniel applauded and praised him. “My soldiers have been too full of themselves lately.
After today’s lesson, I’m sure they’ll tone it down a lot after this.”
“You flatter me, Your Highness,” Dustin replied humbly.
He added, “These soldiers have never fought experts from the martial world. They’re lacking in technique. I just had the advantage of experience, that’s all.”
Although he’d won, he still believed the soldiers deserved some dignity.
“Mr. Rhys, I owe you an apology for underestimating you earlier,” Bryce said. He suddenly shrugged off his jacket, revealing a solid, muscular frame.
His eyes burned with resolve. “I’d like to test my skills against you. Will you spar with me?”
