An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2369
Dustin looked closely at the box, checking for any strange markings, before turning to Grace. He asked, “Did you really guess, or can you see what’s inside?”
“Of course, I guessed! I don’t have X-ray vision, so how could I see it?” Grace rolled her eyes.
“Impressive! I’m really amazed.” Dustin gave her a thumbs-up. It was incredible that she could put everything together just from a guess. He felt a little outsmarted by her quick thinking.
“Is it really the enhanced serum in there?” Grace asked, raising an eyebrow. She was surprised her guess was correct.
“Check for yourself.” Dustin opened the box, revealing two vials—one red and one blue.
“Oh? This is an S-class serum from the Hall of Gods. They must think very highly of you.” Grace leaned closer, genuinely surprised.
The Hall of Gods ranked their enhanced serums in five tiers: D, C, B, A, and the highest, S. Each level was ten times more valuable and powerful than the last. Only gods and their top personnel had access to S-class serums.
Getting two S-level vials meant the Hall of Gods really valued Dustin.
“They might value me, but it comes with a price. They just made me drink a vial of poison,” Dustin said with a shrug.
“Poison?” Grace frowned. “What kind? Is there a cure?”
“I’ve already digested it, and there’s nothing left. Remember, my body is immune to all poisons.” He smiled faintly.
Most poisons wouldn’t harm him, except for the ten deadliest ones. His body could break them down quickly, and anything stronger could be removed with his mystical energy.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Grace said, relieved. But then her expression turned serious. “I know what you’re thinking, but I have to…”
Dustin nodded, reassuring Grace, “Don’t worry. I have a plan. I won’t take any unnecessary risks.” Even though he was strong, the Hall of Gods was filled with powerful elites. If anyone discovered his true identity, he could be in serious danger.
Grace looked at him, her expression serious. “As long as you know what you’re doing.” She then changed the subject. “What do you plan to do with these two vials of enhanced serum?”
“I’m giving them to you for research,” Dustin replied earnestly. “The enhanced serums from the Hall of Gods are some of the best in the world. If we can figure out their secrets, it could really help our nation.”
Dustin knew that Dragonmarsh had a long way to go in genetic research compared to the Streuquan countries. He hoped this chance would help them catch up.
“These vials are extremely valuable. Are you sure you want to give them up?” Grace asked, looking concerned. “If you drink them, you could easily win the Combat Tournament.”
Dustin and Glenn were both at the top of the Legendary List, and no one knew who was stronger. Using the serums would certainly increase Dustin’s chances of winning.
Grace wanted him to win, both for the greater good and for her own reasons.
“Drinking the enhanced serum might give me a slight boost, but it won’t change much for me,” Dustin said calmly. “Plus, it could lead to addiction. I won’t let a couple of vials take away my fighting spirit.”
He believed that a martial artist’s journey to strength was slow and steady, with every bit of power earned through hard work and dedication.
Dustin believed in the importance of both physical training and mental strength. They worked together, and neither could be ignored.
On the other hand, the serums created in Streuqua provided quick boosts in strength but came with serious problems. First, gaining power too fast made users dependent on the serum, and they lost their motivation to train. Second, the sudden increase in strength was hard to control. While someone might do fine against an average fighter, facing an expert could reveal their weaknesses and put them in danger.
For Dustin, using the enhanced serum was not an option. He questioned whether someone could truly be called strong if they relied on a serum. After all, if that were the case, Jeremiah would never have been defeated by him.
“Since you’ve made your choice, I won’t say more. Thank you on behalf of Dragonmarsh. If we make a big breakthrough in genetics, we’ll credit you as the hero,” Grace said sincerely.
The Predator they had captured, with its beast-like abilities, and the enhanced serum from the Hall of Gods were both crucial for the research team at Dragonmarsh. If they conducted the research properly, it could save them years of setbacks, which made Dustin’s input vital.
“Don’t make it sound so formal. Just think of it as a small gift from me. And don’t forget me when the rewards come,” he replied with a smile.
Dustin didn’t dream of sacrificing himself for his country, but he felt it was important to contribute in any way he could. Growing up in Dragonmarsh, he couldn’t stand by while outside forces threatened his home. Doing nothing would mean losing all respect for himself.