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.

Nathaniel sternly reminded the guards

clasped his hands behind his back,

routine patrols still moving through

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

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

needle lit up with a faint glow. After spinning a few times,

turned the compass to test it, but

works,” he muttered

essence with a tracking seal, which was nearly impossible for

this compass, Dustin could pinpoint its exact

“It’s about time.”

he changed into dark clothes,

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

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

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

took a quick look around and

was no way to reach the chamber without alerting someone. His only option was to

come prepared. He pulled out a stick of intoxicating substance and lit it in the

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

and before they could react, they had already collapsed on

impressed and muttered, “This