An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2528

“Royal gods? And two of them?” Dustin frowned at the news.

His battle with Poseidon in West Lucozia had already proven that the Hall of Gods didn’t send weaklings into the field.

One royal god had pushed him to his absolute limit. If two came after him together, survival would be a miracle—victory wasn’t even on the table.

“That’s right,” Grace said solemnly. “Zeus and Hera have crossed the border. They’re even stronger than Poseidon. If they ambush you together, your chances are close to zero.”

She knew Dustin was powerful, but he was still young.

And Zeus and Hera weren’t just any opponents—they were world-class powerhouses. Facing them head-on would be a near-death sentence.

The Hall of Gods likely realized just how dangerous Dustin could become. Give him a few more years, and even they might not be able to stop him.

“Well, that definitely complicates things.” Dustin rested his chin on one hand, thinking it over.

Two royal gods, both stronger than Poseidon—far beyond what he could currently handle.

“I have two suggestions,” Grace said suddenly. “Want to hear them?”

“Oh?” Dustin raised an eyebrow. “Let’s hear it.”

“First—lay low. Disappear for a while,” she suggested.

As long as Zeus and Hera couldn’t find him, he’d be out of danger.

“Oakvale isn’t tiny, but it’s not exactly a maze either,” Dustin replied. “With the Hall of Gods’ network, even if I hide, they’ll find me eventually.”

The Hall of Gods had eyes everywhere. Their intelligence network was top-tier. Hiding wouldn’t buy him much time.

“You’re right,” Grace agreed with a nod. “It won’t be hard for them to track you down. But if you took refuge at Sacred Wyrm Summit—even if they knew where you were—they wouldn’t dare come close.” She smiled faintly.

With a terrestrial immortal like Arion guarding the summit, not even the Hall of Gods would dare make a move.

The battle at Sacred Wrym Summit had come at a steep cost. Bailey—their newly appointed royal god—and an elite squad drawn from several nations had all been wiped out by Arion alone.

Since then, the Hall of Gods had blacklisted the region, declaring it strictly off-limits. They wouldn’t dare to make the same mistake again.

“Hiding out at the summit might keep me safe, but I can’t stay locked away forever. I’m not going to spend the next few years holed up like a coward,” Dustin said, shaking his head.

“Sacred Wrym Summit is filled with Dracan force. With your talent, you’d need only three to five years to reach a full breakthrough. Once you reach that level, the Hall of Gods will no longer be a threat,” Grace replied.

“Any other options?” Dustin asked, dodging a direct answer.

For him, hiding for years was only acceptable as a last resort. And even if he managed to vanish, what about his friends and family?

If Zeus and Hera couldn’t get to him, they might go after those closest to him instead—and that would be far worse.

Grace seemed to expect his response and didn’t press further. Instead, she got straight to the point.

“The second option is riskier—it involves the Dracan essence,” she said. “I’ve told you before, the Dracan essence is tied to the fate of the nation. Once gathered, it can stabilize the government.

“But more than that, it can dramatically enhance martial cultivation. If you absorb all five sources of Dracan essence, your power would soar. You might even reach the level of a terrestrial immortal.”

“Absorb the Dracan essence?” Dustin’s brow furrowed slightly.

He’d heard of this before, but still had concerns. Would absorbing it destabilize the country? Could it bring disaster to Dragonmarsh?

He wasn’t a saint, but he couldn’t knowingly harm the people.

“You don’t have to worry,” Grace said, sensing his hesitation. “The Dracan essence can’t be refined through normal means. Once you absorb it, Dragonmarsh won’t suffer. In fact, it’ll strengthen your cultivation and greatly boost your fortune. As long as you’re alive, the nation will be fine.”

“So, I’d be carrying the entire nation’s fate on my shoulders?” Dustin asked seriously.

“That’s one way to see it,” she nodded.

“That’s a huge risk,” he said, frowning. “I’m not sure I’m ready for that kind of responsibility.”

“If it were anyone else, I’d say no. But I trust your character. Entrusting the nation’s fate to you is the right decision—for me, for you, and for Dragonmarsh,” Grace said with conviction.

As a disciple of the Regal Observatory and a master of Astral Gazing, she had seen signs that Dustin was destined for greatness. Each step he took shifted the balance of Dragonmarsh’s fate.

When the nation’s destiny became tied to his own, it would empower him in crucial moments. And as he drew on its strength, Dragonmarsh wouldn’t just survive—it would thrive.

In other words, it was a win-win situation. And for both personal and national reasons, she believed it was a risk worth taking.