The crowd murmured among themselves as they looked at the broken broadsword and the stunned expression on Lycas’ face.
“That strike was insanely fast and dead-on too,” someone commented.
“I never expected General Derin’s secret move to be defeated like that. It’s unbelievable,” another said.
“I thought General Derin could turn things around for us, but he still lost,” a third added.
Everyone knew how strong Lycas was. As a fully developed grandmaster with a broadsword, he was supposed to be unstoppable. However, at the critical moment, Dustin’s strike shattered his broadsword.
Lycas’ loss was sudden and almost unbelievable. Some blamed bad luck and thought he could have won if things had gone differently. But those who truly understood what happened knew better.
Even with Dustin’s movement restricted and Lycas unleashing his strongest technique, he still pierced through the opening with near-impossible timing.
That strike wasn’t just lucky but masterful. It was a brutal display of speed and control, and the raw proof of true strength.
Lycas was already gasping for breath, while Dustin looked like he hadn’t even warmed up. And this was after three back-to-back fights.
From beginning to end, he hadn’t even broken a sweat. It was clear he had been holding back the entire time, even against Lycas.
So while Lycas lost, he had no reason to feel humiliated because the expert Nathaniel brought was much stronger than any of them.
Nathaniel was the first to react. He clapped his hands and laughed heartily.
“Logan, your reputation is well-earned. You’ve truly opened our eyes today,” he said.
The rest of the soldiers quickly followed, breaking into applause. Their eyes, once filled with doubt, now showed nothing but admiration.
Dustin had defeated Bryce and Lycas. Even after winning three consecutive fights, he stood calm and unshaken. It was a living testament to his strength.
Though he was around their age, he was already a seasoned grandmaster martial artist. None of the soldiers present had ever seen talent like his before.
Dustin saluted Lycas respectfully. Then, he raised his hand, and the longsword returned to the weapon rack.
“Thank you for the match, General Derin,” he said.
Lycas stepped forward and saluted. “Mr. Rhys, your skill is extraordinary. I accept my defeat without any excuses,” he said.
Others might not have noticed, but he knew exactly how terrifying that last strike had been.
Dustin’s final strike had been so fast he hadn’t even seen it coming. What terrified Lycas even more was how Dustin had spotted the flaw in his technique in a single heartbeat.
Against such a genius expert, all he could do was look up to Dustin.
Nathaniel looked at Lycas and Bryce with a knowing smile. “So, how does it feel?” he asked. “Now you finally understand what it means that there’s always someone stronger, right?”
“You’re right, Your Highness,” Lycas replied earnestly. “We were too full of ourselves and thought we were above everyone because of our cultivation. After facing off against Mr. Rhys earlier, we now realize how much we still have to learn.”
“That’s true,” Bryce chimed in. “Mr. Rhys has shown us just how much we have left to learn. From now on, we’ll work harder and never slack off again.”
Dustin’s skill had won their respect.
Though he won both sparring matches, he held back enough not to make their losses too hard to swallow. This action only made them respect him even more.
“Okay. Continue with your training. I still have some things to discuss with Mr. Rhys, “Nathaniel said.
He didn’t linger in the training ground and quickly led Dustin away.
Once outside, Nathaniel chuckled and asked, “What do you think? My soldiers are impressive, huh?”
Dustin was an ultimate grandmaster.
Nathaniel couldn’t help but feel proud seeing Lycas and Bryce last that long against him.
“They’re the cream of the crop and even better than I anticipated,” Dustin replied with a smile.
Nathaniel laughed and said proudly, “Well, they might not match up to you. But in Oakvale, they’re among the best.”
He had invested a lot of effort into training his elite soldiers, but this team was just the visible part of his strength. He also kept a hidden force that no one knew about in reserve as his secret weapon.
“You have built an impressive foundation, Your Highness. It’s truly admirable,” Dustin said politely.
Nathaniel replied, “This is nothing.
Honestly, what my team needs is someone like you. We need someone who can truly take charge. Only then will it feel like everything’s complete.” His tone was heavy with meaning.
Dustin smiled but didn’t answer directly.
“Of course, I’m not trying to pressure you into making a decision right now. Take your time,” Nathaniel added with a carefree smile. “As they say, it’s not all about the deal. What matters most is that we’ve kept things good between us, no matter how it turns out.”
Dustin nodded. “Of course.”
“You’ve fought three tough battles back-to -back, so you must be exhausted. Go and get some rest,” Nathaniel suggested. He didn’t push the matter any further.
“Mr. Rhys, please come this way,” one of the maids said.
The maid on the left, graceful and discreet, stepped forward to lead him into the inner courtyard.
As Dustin’s figure disappeared down the corridor, Nathaniel narrowed his eyes slightly. He turned to another maid and said quietly, “Inform Felicia to keep Mr. Rhys company.”
The maid’s eyelashes fluttered as she nodded.
Everyone knew Felicia Thorns was Nathaniel’s favorite. They were surprised to hear that he would offer her to Dustin just to win him over.
