An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2386

“What?” Caleb exclaimed, staring at the shattered Soul-Bind talisman. His face changed completely. He hadn’t expected a sword to fall from the sky and ruin his plans at such a crucial moment.

Where did that sword come from? How did he miss it?

Before he could think, the black sword moved again.

With a quiet hum, the sword seemed alive. It twisted in the air and struck the Summit Shift talisman with incredible speed. The talisman burst into a bright yellow explosion, scattering sparks everywhere.

Dustin finally felt the heavy pressure lift. He slowly opened his hand, and the black sword flew around him before landing perfectly in his grip.

“No wonder they call it a legendary Divine Talisman. I’ve finally felt its power today,” he said, gripping the sword with one hand and giving a small smile. But then, his face grew serious.

The Summit Shift talisman hadn’t completely stopped him, but it had slowed him down. He knew he wouldn’t be able to dodge the Soul-Bind talisman.

He had seen the power of the Soul-Bind talisman before. Despite his confidence, he didn’t want to take any chances. That’s why he had drawn his sword—he was ready for a fight.

“Yet, you still managed to counter it,” Caleb said, shaking his head. He put aside his usual calm demeanor, and his expression turned serious.

Even though Dustin didn’t seem to be radiating any strong energy, Caleb felt a deep sense of danger. The pressure on him was unlike anything he had ever felt before.

He had remained calm when facing Sam and the Dawson Clan’s thousand-talon coffer. But now, he felt an unexpected tension, as if he were up against a fierce ancient beast, not just a man.

“Remember, you have another ultimate move—the Eight Trigrams of the Divine Talisman, right?” Dustin said as he slowly raised his sword. “You should use it now while you can.”

Caleb knew there was a big difference between fighting with a sword and without one. He realized he couldn’t counter the Glow Incantation with just punches and kicks in such a short time. However, the Celestial Blade, one of the top ten deadly weapons on the Divine Weapon List, had a natural advantage over the protective shield of internal energy.

“In that case, I won’t hold back,” Caleb declared. He wasted no time and activated his ultimate move. He understood that Dustin was much stronger than Sam.

If he allowed Dustin to attack first, he wouldn’t have time to use the Eight Trigrams of Divine Talisman, and any chance of winning would be lost. With Dustin giving him this window, he had to take it.

“Heaven, Earth, Gale, Thunderstorm, Abyss, Inferno, Peak, Torrent!” Caleb shouted, waving his hands.

Eight brightly colored Divine Talismans shot into the air and spun rapidly. Dust and stones flew everywhere as the wind picked up. A powerful energy surged through the air, crackling with raw force.

“Wow! It’s the Eight Trigrams of Divine Talisman again. Caleb is serious this time,” one spectator exclaimed.

“Caleb defeated Sam, who was ranked ninth on the Legendary List, with this move. Dustin is in real danger now,” another whispered.

“If this move takes him down, he’ll have no regrets,” someone else added.

The crowd pointed and murmured as they watched the eight talismans twirling in the sky. They had already seen the power of the Eight Trigrams of Divine Talisman. Even Sam, who had the Dawson Clan’s sacred weapon, couldn’t withstand it.

as the tension in the air grew, the match was about to begin. Dustin and Caleb faced each other in the ring, both determined to win. They had fought equally in the past, but now Caleb held the powerful Divine Talisman.

When he activated the Eight Trigrams of Divine Talisman, it was clear that he had the upper hand.

Penelope, who had been quiet until now, broke the silence. “Sage Foyer, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Hadley, which is stronger: the Eight Trigrams of Divine Talisman or Dustin’s sword?” Her voice was low and sharp.

Alloy narrowed his eyes and thought carefully. “The sword could be better for a surprise attack. But Dustin has become too confident. He let Caleb use his strongest move, which takes away any advantage his speed might have given him.”

Cyrus spoke up calmly, “That’s not confidence; it’s belief in his skills. Staying calm against the Eight Trigrams shows he trusts his sword. That’s an essential trait for any great swordsman.”

Alloy scoffed, “A true swordsman finishes the fight in one strike. Letting your opponent get ready for their strongest move is just foolish.”

Cyrus shot him a disdainful look. “You don’t understand what it means to be a swordsman. You lack the honor and pride that comes with it. With that attitude, you’ll hit a wall and never improve.”

Alloy smirked. “I guess I just don’t know what it means to be a swordsman since I’m not as good at pretending as you are.”

To him, the ideas of honor and pride were absurd. In the battle ring, the only thing that mattered was who stood victorious. Any tactic was fair as long as it led to a win. Giving an opponent a chance was just asking for trouble.

“It’s starting!”

While Cyrus and Alloy were arguing, the battle ring experienced a sudden shift. Caleb’s Eight Trigrams of Divine Talisman had finally reached its full strength, and its power exploded with even more force than before.