An Understated Dominance

Titus didn’t finish off Aldrian after knocking him out. Instead, he stepped back and looked at Oron.

Oron nodded and quickly announced the match’s result.

The spectators erupted into applause. They had watched the fight closely and saw that Aldrian’s arrogance had led to his defeat.

Instead of focusing on the fight, he flirted with his fans, which left him vulnerable. So, Titus seized the opportunity with relentless aggression.

With their skills evenly matched, gaining the upper hand increased the chances of winning. Titus’ approach was fierce and relentless. He focused solely on delivering powerful punches without worrying about defense, energy consumption, or flashy moves.

Aldrian was forced to retreat and couldn’t find any opportunity to counterattack. By the time he realized his dire situation and tried to use his ultimate move despite his injuries, it was already too late to turn the tide.

At that point, he lacked the momentum and fighting spirit. Although he managed to execute his ultimate move, it wasn’t enough to turn the fight in his favor.

Titus didn’t give Aldrian a chance to showcase his abilities. He powered through it and ended the fight decisively. Though he sustained some minor injuries, they were superficial and easily treated with Haemoplenish and a bandage.

His smart approach was commendable. Every contestant who made it into the top 32 was strong, and any mistake could lead to defeat.

Aldrian’s outcome was a stark reminder to all the contestants that one should never underestimate their opponent, or they might end up in a humiliating defeat.

After the fourth match, the fifth, sixth, and seventh followed in quick succession. The following three matches were closely contested and thrilling, with both sides giving their all. 2

Ultimately, victory came down to who had more tricks and battle experience. Disciples from the major guilds often had the upper hand in this regard.

Once the seventh match concluded, it was time for the eighth.

After the battle ring was cleaned, Oron stepped back onto the ring and announced, “The eighth match is about to begin. Contestants number eight and 25, please come forward.”

A cloud of scarlet mist shot into the air and raced toward the ring. Just before it touched the ground, the mist quickly solidified into a strikingly handsome mixed-race man dressed in a suit with a sinister smile.

He was Bill Wolfe.

“It’s finally my turn.” He spread his arms wide and took a deep breath. “My claws have been itching for a fight, and I need the blood of a Dragonmarsh martial artist to quench my thirst.”

His sinister laughter made everyone frown.

Vampires were powerful and mysterious dark creatures. Those with noble bloodlines, like Bill, were especially dangerous.

While a top expert from the Heavenly Immortals might manage to handle him, an ordinary grandmaster would be at serious risk.

“Hey, kid! What are you waiting for? Get up here and face your doom!” After reveling in his bravado, Bill suddenly pointed in Dustin’s direction.

All eyes turned to Dustin.

“Dr. Rhys, it’s your turn. Be careful,” Alicia warned. “If you can’t hold your ground, surrender quickly. Don’t risk your life.”

Dustin was a young genius with exceptional medicinal and martial arts skills. He was also a consultant for the Celestial Alliance. She didn’t want to see such a valuable talent die.

“Yes, Dr. Rhys. Safety comes first. Winning or losing is secondary,” Aurora added.

Winning or losing was insignificant compared to the potential loss if he met the same fate as Jermaine. For the Celestial Alliance, that would be a huge setback.

“Thank you for your reminder, but I’ve got it covered,” Dustin said with a faint smile. He then stood up and walked toward the battle ring.

If he were facing a Dragonmarsh martial artist, he might show some leniency. However, since his opponent was a lackey of the Hall of Gods, he had no intention of holding back.

“Who is this guy? I don’t remember seeing him before.”

“Since he’s sitting with the Marshall sisters, he must be a new master from the Celestial Alliance.”

“Besides Fenley, who else from the Celestial Alliance is worth calling a master? I bet he’s the son of some Celestial Alliance elder to gain fame at the tournament. Unfortunately for him, he picked the wrong opponent. Whether he can even survive is up in the air.”

Dustin’s entrance sparked a lot of discussion among the spectators.

Anyone who made it to the top 32 was far from ordinary. They were either renowned experts or talented disciples from major guilds, and most were easily recognizable.

But Dustin was different. He was unknown and seemed like a nobody. Yet, he sat with high-ranking Celestial Alliance members, which made his identity challenging to figure out.

Under everyone’s watchful gaze, he calmly stepped onto the battle ring and locked eyes with Bill from a distance.

“Kid, I didn’t expect you to show up. I thought you’d be a coward.” Bill sneered as he sized up Dustin like a prey.

“I can’t stand rabid dogs that bite without reason. Today, I’m going to pull out your fangs and cut your claws, making you regret your foolishness,” Dustin said calmly.

“Okay, foolish Dragonmarsh martial artist. I’m going to show you what fear and despair feel like,” Bill snarled. His eyes were filled with menace.