An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2397

“Wait! I surrender!” Abigail said quickly, raising both hands as the sword was just inches from her throat.

She never thought she would win this match. Her goal was to test Dustin’s strength and see how far she had come. But now, it was clear that there was still a big gap between them.

“You did well. In a few years, I might not even be able to keep up with you,” Dustin said with a smile, lowering his Celestial Blade. He meant it; he saw real potential in Abigail.

The dark Phoenix flames she wielded were powerful enough to overcome even his mystical energy. Abigail’s black flames were a threat to any martial artist.

She had only been training in the martial world for about two years and had not yet tapped into the full power of her Phoenix bloodline. But with more practice, she could go far.

“Please, don’t try to comfort me, Sir. I’m not at your level,” Abigail replied, shaking her head.

Her strength came from her Phoenix bloodline, and while she had great potential, she still fell short compared to Dustin, who was a remarkable talent. She knew that as she trained, he would continue to improve as well.

“Sir, the final match is next! You have to give it your all!” Abigail said, pumping her fist in encouragement before stepping off the battle ring. She had given it her best, so there were no regrets about losing.

“Congratulations to Dustin Rhys for winning the second match of the semifinals!” Oron announced.

The crowd erupted in applause and cheers.

Before the match, many had doubted Dustin would win. After all, Abigail was the Grand Sorceress of the Mystic Arts Order, ranked second on the Legendary List, and much stronger than Fenley.

While Dustin had performed well so far, he…

Dustin wasn’t from a well-known guild, so most people were betting on Abigail to win. Despite his impressive strength, he was the underdog. No one expected him to break records and reach the finals, but he did just that. He defeated Abigail, who was ranked second on the Legendary List, and that was when everyone realized how strong he really was.

“I can’t believe Dustin is this strong. He even beat the Grand Sorceress of the Mystic Arts Order,” Ruby said, her surprise evident. She never thought that a stranger she met along the way would make it to the finals.

“We really underestimated him. He must have been hiding his strength all along,” Crystal added, her amazement clear. She had once thought about catching up to him, but now she knew that was impossible. They were just on different levels.

“What a shame! If only Dustin wanted to join the Sword Union, we’d have a real powerhouse,” Miles said with a sigh.

Dalen smirked and quietly said to himself, “Looks like I was right. You really are Logan Rhys.” From their first meeting, he had sensed that Dustin was special. He wasn’t completely sure back then, but now he knew his instincts were correct. Only Logan could have defeated Abigail and made it to the finals.

As the crowd cheered loudly, Dustin walked off the ring, soaking in the applause. Since Fenley had forfeited, Abigail took third place without a fight. Now it was time for the championship match between Dustin and Glenn.

By now, many in the crowd had figured out Dustin’s true identity, and everyone was eager for the final match. During the break, the tension in the air was thick. Abigail always looked for a way to…

To make some quick money, she secretly set up a betting pool, and gamblers quickly rushed to place their bets.

Three minutes before the match started, Alloy, who had left earlier, returned to his seat. Even though Celestial Alliance had lost earlier, he couldn’t miss the final match for the championship.

He was cheering for Dustin, even though the odds were against him—at least there was still some hope. No matter what happened, Alloy planned to recruit Dustin after the match.

He couldn’t let Dustin join the Sword Union or the Mystic Arts Order. If that happened, Celestial Alliance’s chance to rise to the top would be gone for good.

“Mr. Marshall, I didn’t expect to see you again. I thought you’d be too embarrassed to show your face,” Cyrus said with a smirk.

“Winning and losing are just part of the game. There’s no need to make a big deal out of it. We may have lost this time, but there’s always a chance to come back stronger next time,” Alloy replied calmly.

“Next time?” Cyrus scoffed, a mocking smile on his face. “You really think there’ll be a next time? Your prized disciple is filled with doubt now. He might never get over this.”

“Not necessarily,” Alloy said firmly. “Some people only get stronger after facing setbacks. I believe Fenley will catch up to Glenn one day.”

“Keep dreaming,” Cyrus sneered.

“Alright, gentlemen,” Penelope interrupted. “The match is about to begin.”

With that, the two rivals stopped their arguing and focused on the ring.

After a brief break, the final match started.