An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2533

“Your Highness, my soldiers are trained strictly in lethal combat. If they injure your guest, things could turn ugly,” Lycas said.

He didn’t say it outright, but the implication was clear—if Dustin wasn’t strong enough, he should stay out of the way, or he’d be asking for trouble.

Bryce remained silent, but the look he gave Dustin was dripping with disdain.

To him, Dustin looked like a pampered noble—just another privileged heir trying to prove his worth by clinging to someone like Nathaniel. There was no way he could match the grit of battle-hardened soldiers.

“You’re all blind to greatness standing right in front of you.” Nathaniel chuckled and shook his head.

He added, “If any of you manage to land a hit on Mr. Rhys, I’ll reward you with a thousand gold. But honestly, I doubt any of you will manage.”

At the mention of a reward, the soldiers perked up. Their eyes lit with excitement, and they looked ready to charge in and rough Dustin up.

“If that’s your command, I’ll send a few men to test him,” Lycas replied with a nod.

He turned and pointed to five of his strongest elite fighters. “You five—step forward!”

“Yes, sir!”

The five soldiers responded in unison and stepped into the center of the training ground.

Years of brutal training had shaped them into deadly warriors. Their stares were sharp, and their aura radiated danger and determination.

Nathaniel turned to Dustin. “Some of my men are a little full of themselves. Would you mind teaching them a lesson?” he asked with a grin.

“Since you asked, I’m happy to oblige,” Dustin replied with a nod.

Calmly, he stepped forward and faced the five soldiers. With his hands behind his back and a steady gaze, he radiated quiet confidence.

These soldiers were undoubtedly well-trained. But at his current level, even hundreds wouldn’t pose a real challenge—much less five.

“Go all out, and don’t make His Highness look bad,” Lycas ordered.

Though he underestimated Dustin, there was no room for half-measures when pride was on the line.

“Whenever you’re ready,” Dustin said, extending a hand.

“The fight starts now!” Lycas shouted without hesitation.

The five soldiers moved instantly. In a flash, they surrounded Dustin in a tight, coordinated formation.

Two lunged in from the left. One swept low to knock Dustin off balance, while the other launched a powerful punch straight at his face.

On the right, the remaining two soldiers were just as aggressive. One wielded a short baton, spinning it rapidly in a flurry of flashing strikes. His movements effectively blocked Dustin’s path, preventing any chance of dodging to the right.

The other was swift and agile, constantly probing for a weakness in Dustin’s defense.

Dustin remained unfazed as the five men closed in. He slipped to the side, effortlessly avoiding the sweeping kick from the left, then casually raised his left hand to block the incoming punch aimed at his face.

The soldier’s fist struck Dustin’s palm with a jarring thud. It felt like punching solid concrete. Pain shot up his arm, and he let out a low grunt.

At that moment, Dustin spun sharply, delivering a precise kick. His right boot cracked against the wrist of the baton-wielding soldier with a sharp snap.

The baton hit the ground, and the soldier’s face turned pale. Clutching his injured wrist, he staggered backward in pain.

Seeing this, the remaining three soldiers intensified their assault. They coordinated flawlessly, shifting attack angles to overwhelm him.

But Dustin moved like a shadow, gliding effortlessly through their formation. In an instant, he reappeared behind one of them and struck him squarely in the back.

The soldier’s body jolted from the impact and slammed into the ground face-first.

Another soldier saw an opening and lunged forward, but Dustin didn’t back down. Instead, he charged straight at him and launched a punch. It seemed ordinary—but its speed was blinding.

Before the soldier could react, the punch landed squarely on his chest, sending him flying several feet. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he crashed down.

Within seconds, all five elite soldiers were defeated, sprawled across the training ground and unable to continue.

Dustin had intentionally held back. If he hadn’t, those five wouldn’t just be injured—they’d be dead or crippled.

“How is that possible?”

The sudden reversal left the onlookers stunned. The earlier contempt in the soldiers’ eyes had vanished, replaced by awe and deep respect.

Lycas and Bryce were equally shocked. They had never expected that someone who looked so unassuming could possess such overwhelming power. Their best soldiers hadn’t even managed to land a single hit.

“I didn’t expect him to be a real expert,”

Lycas muttered, his brow furrowing as his expression soured.

Bryce, too, looked serious now. His opinion of Dustin had clearly changed.

From the sidelines, Nathaniel offered a faint smile—this was the outcome he had hoped for.

“Logan, that was outstanding.” Nathaniel applauded with genuine praise. “My men have been overconfident lately. After today, I’m sure they’ll be more grounded.”

“You flatter me, Your Highness,” Dustin replied modestly.

He added, “Your soldiers have never faced martial world experts before. They’re skilled, but they lack refined technique. I simply had the edge in experience.”

Though victorious, he made sure to preserve the soldiers’ dignity.

“Mr. Rhys, I owe you an apology for underestimating you earlier,” Bryce said. Then, without warning, he shrugged off his jacket, revealing a powerful, muscular frame.