An Understated Dominance (Dustin Rhys)

Nathaniel approached the vault and quickly knocked a few times on the door. With a deep rumble, the heavy door slowly began to open.

Inside, the treasures were dazzling-emerald pendants glowing with an otherworldly light, a bronze cauldron engraved with mysterious symbols, and tablets shimmering with a strange, eerie glow.

At the center was an ornate box encased in bulletproof glass.

Nathaniel stepped forward, entered the code, and lifted the protective cover. He opened the box lid to reveal another Dracan essence inside.

The orb, about the size of a chicken egg, shimmered faintly. Inside, a stream of dragon-shaped energy swirled continuously.

“This one’s a keeper,” he muttered.

Nathaniel placed the Dracan essence Dustin had given him beside the first one. He couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear.

These orbs were a force capable of defying fate and a power that could turn everything around.

He’d gone to great lengths to get the first one but never imagined he’d find the second so quickly. Clearly, his luck had improved.

Once he had all three Dracan essences, he could set up a formation to harness their power. At that point, he’d be the luckiest man in Dragonmarsh. Then, the throne would be his, and no one would dare to question it.

As he carefully stored the two orbs, he admired them for a while before reluctantly closing the box lid and lowering the protective cover.

Nathaniel walked out of the vault, then returned everything to its proper place.

He had meticulously designed the vault and this hidden chamber. It was guarded by elite fighters and protected with deadly traps and mechanisms. Anyone who tried to break in wouldn’t make it out alive.

and stepped out, Nathaniel sternly reminded the guards

he hummed a tune, clasped his hands behind his back, and returned

fallen completely silent. Aside from a few routine patrols still moving

secluded guesthouse, Dustin suddenly sat up in bed. He was wide

out a finely crafted

spinning a few

but the needle still pointed

works,” he

Dracan essence with a tracking seal, which was nearly impossible for ordinary people

compass, Dustin could pinpoint its exact

“It’s about time.”

the sky. Then, he changed into dark clothes, put on

a seal inside the room as a precaution. If

moved like a shadow and slipped silently through the mansion. Sometimes he leaped on the

had already studied the layout and memorized the patrol routes. He could avoid the danger zones and slip by without raising any

look around and noticed guards were

someone. His only option was to take down

out a stick

fan them. A gentle breeze carried the smoke toward the two guards at

and before they could react, they

was impressed and muttered, “This stuff is really