Bill was dead.
Dustin’s single attack left nothing but scattered remains. No amount of recovery ability or inherent ability mattered against such overwhelming strength.
When facing a human martial artist, Dustin wouldn’t go for the kill unless there was a deep-seated grudge. He would always leave a way out for his opponent.
But vampires were different. They were enemies by nature, and it was a fight to the death in the battle ring.
Bill’s intentions were hostile as he treated humans as nothing more than pests. Someone like him was better off eliminated sooner rather than later.
When he shouted, “I surrender,” Oron could have intervened and called off the fight. But he deliberately hesitated, almost as if giving Dustin the green light.
After all, neither Jeremiah nor George had shown mercy to the Dragonmarsh martial artists. They even went so far as to torture their opponent’s bodies after they were dead.
As a result, most Dragonmarsh martial artists were fueled by shared anger and wanted to kill those three foreign contestants.
“Good job! You did well!”
“Dustin, you’re amazing! You’re making Dragonmarsh proud!”
“Take that, vampires! You were arrogant, and now you’re nothing but dust! Haha!”
The spectator’s cheers erupted like thunder as Bill was crushed into dust.
After enduring back-to-back losses to foreign contestants, the spectators were frustrated. They felt like outsiders were trampling on them, and anyone with pride would have been outraged. So, Dustin’s victory over Bill provided a much-needed relief.
Dragonmarsh martial artists might compete fiercely in the matches, but when facing a foreign contestant, they set aside their differences and unite. It was all about standing together for the greater good.
“I didn’t expect Bill to die like that. This human martial artist is no ordinary fighter.” George frowned and eyed Dustin with caution.
Anyone who could kill Bill so quickly was not to be underestimated. George realized he was nowhere near Dustin’s level, especially given how effortlessly Dustin had defeated Bill.
“This place is packed with hidden talents. The martial artist here has incredible strength. It looks like winning the tournament won’t be easy. “Jeremiah’s eyes flickered with uncertainty.
He had expected Bill would easily secure a spot in the top eight with his strength. But to his surprise, the vampire was obliterated in the first match. Losing such a powerful ally significantly reduced their chances of winning the tournament.
‘With Bill’s distinctive status, the Coven of Blood Eclipse wouldn’t take his death lightly. They likely ally with the Hall of Gods to confront the Dragonmarsh forces. On the bright side, this could work to their advantage.
“The eighth match is over. Congratulations to contestant number eight for the victory.” Oron quickly announced the result.
The applause from the audience grew even more enthusiastic.
Dustin’s newfound fame attracted the attention of several major guilds, especially the Dragonmarsh Mighty Three. They were engaged in a fierce, strategic competition-openly and behind the scenes-to recruit him.
At that moment, a Celestial Alliance elder stood behind Alloy and whispered, “Mr. Marshall, we’ve completed our investigation.
“The young man’s name is Dustin Rhys. His background is quite mysterious. He was the one who saved Ms. Alicia when she was poisoned and in critical condition. She later offered him a position as our guild’s consultant.
“Impressive! It’s amazing how heroes can come from such a young age.” Alloy’s eyes lit up with delight.
He was thrilled to learn that Dustin had saved his daughter and became a consultant for the Celestial Alliance. It was a fantastic turn of events, and he had gained an extraordinary talent without any effort.
“You two heard that, right? Dustin is already part of the Celestial Alliance, so you might as well give up.” He smiled smugly.
Although he didn’t have sons, his two daughters were capable and surprised him with something unexpected.
Cyrus frowned at Alloy’s smugness and was about to speak when an elder from the Sword Union approached and whispered something in his ear. After listening, Cyrus’s frown eased, and he sneered.
At the same time, Penelope, seated on the right, appeared more composed after hearing her subordinate’s report.
“Mr. Marshall, don’t get too excited. A consultant is just an honorary position without authority or responsibilities. So, he doesn’t count as a member of your guild,” Cyrus said coldly.
“It doesn’t matter. Though Dustin is just a consultant, I’ll promote him to become an elder once the tournament ends. So, this should end any objections you might have, right?” Alloy replied with a sly smile.
“An elder? Hmph! That depends on whether he’s interested.” Cyrus laughed.
He added, “To be honest, Dustin is very close with several Sword Union disciples, to the extent of a life-and- death bond.
“I plan to make him my best student and teach him my guild’s secret techniques. How can you compete with that? Oh, and by the way, Dustin is a swordsman.”
Alloy’s smile slowly faded, and his eyes narrowed. He knew becoming Cyrus’ best student was a dream for any swordsman.
If Cyrus offered Dustin their secret techniques, it could be very tempting. It looked like Cyrus was prepared to put a lot of resources into recruiting Dustin.
