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 to remain alert and not to

he hummed a tune, clasped his

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

Dustin suddenly sat up in

into his pocket, pulled out a finely crafted compass, then channeled a trace of true energy into

instantly, the needle lit up with a faint glow. After spinning a few times, it pointed toward the southwest and

to test it, but the needle still pointed to

works,” he muttered with

tracking seal, which was

this compass, Dustin

“It’s about time.”

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

leaving, he placed a seal inside the room as a precaution. If anyone broke in, he’d

slipped silently through the mansion. Sometimes he leaped on the rooftops, and other

patrol routes. He could avoid the danger zones and slip by without raising

found the secluded courtyard. He took a quick look around and

reach the chamber without alerting someone. His only option was to take down the guards at the entrance and

out a stick of intoxicating substance and lit it

into the air, he used his hand to fan them. A gentle breeze carried the smoke toward the two guards at the courtyard

the strange scent, and before they could

and muttered, “This stuff is really