An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2558

Matthias clung to a shred of hope, but his heart sank the moment he learned Ezekiel had no intention of stepping in.

What use was a sachet against Zeus?

They were up against one of the most powerful beings in the world.

Zeus wasn’t just strong—he was an ultimate grandmaster at his peak. He could crush a missile with his bare hands or slice a battleship in two with a single strike.

How could they possibly reason with someone like that?

Cassius noticed the doubt in Matthias’ eyes but chose not to address it. Instead, he smiled and said, “Whether it’s useful or not, Your Highness, you’ll know once you open it.”

Matthias scowled. “Let’s see what makes this sachet so special.”

He unwrapped it quickly and found a red talisman inside. As he pulled it out, his frown deepened.

It was indeed red, but the runes were outlined in golden script. He could barely make out the word Inferno on the front.

“What is this?” Matthias asked, puzzled.

He had never seen anything like it, but the energy radiating from it was unmistakable. This talisman was far from ordinary.

Cassius looked proud—almost smug. “My father spent ten years crafting that Divine Talisman. It’s called the Celestial Inferno,” he said.

“Celestial Inferno?” Matthias echoed, his brow furrowing. Though he considered himself well-read, the name didn’t ring a bell.

“Everyone talks about the talismans from Sacred Wyrm Summit,” Cassius said, “but the truth is, my father’s mastery is on par with the Ancient Sage’s.”

He continued, “I’m not exaggerating. The Celestial Inferno holds the power of my father at full strength. It should be enough to deal with that so-called royal god, Zeus.”

“Incredible,” Matthias said, unable to hide his excitement. “As expected of a rare treasure.”

If the stories were accurate, Ezekiel was already halfway to becoming a terrestrial immortal—just one step below Arion.

If the Celestial Inferno truly embodied his full power, then it was a devastating weapon. It could kill an ultimate grandmaster outright. Even a powerhouse like Zeus would suffer grave injuries.

Matthias had expected to walk away empty-handed, so receiving such a powerful talisman was an unexpected windfall.

“Your Highness, if I may offer a word of caution,” Cassius said. “The Celestial Inferno is no ordinary talisman. It’s one of a kind. Use it wisely.”

“Thank you for the warning,” Matthias replied with a nod. “I won’t use it unless absolutely necessary.”
The Celestial Inferno held immense power and was truly one of a kind. Once activated, it would vanish forever. Treasures of this caliber were meant to be used only as a last resort.

Matthias wasn’t foolish enough to waste it. As for Zeus… he had other plans in mind.

“Your Highness, I know you’re pressed for time, so I won’t keep you. Please send my regards to Sir Mosey and let him know the favor has been repaid,” Cassius said calmly.

“Of course,” Matthias replied with a faint smile before turning to leave.

That night, elite soldiers—fully armed and on edge—formed a tense perimeter outside Matthias’ estate.

At the gate stood Neville, his face contorted with fury. Scattered before him lay over a dozen mangled corpses.

It was Zeus’ handiwork.

Every thirty minutes, he would execute another hostage from inside the estate and fling the body out as a show of dominance. Among the fallen were some of Matthias’ closest friends and family.

No matter how seething with rage he was, Neville couldn’t act without orders. All he could do was stand watch—and endure.

Suddenly, another body flew through the air, landing with a sickening thud after soaring several hundred feet. Bones shattered on impact, and blood sprayed across Neville’s uniform.

Judging by the lavish garments, the victim had been someone important to Matthias. But their face was crushed beyond recognition.

“General Elrod, the Hall of Gods has gone too far. This is a direct insult,” one soldier growled.

“He’s right! A warrior can be slain, but never shamed. Just say the word, and we’ll storm that estate and slaughter every last one of them,” another urged.

“Give the order, General Elrod! Let us take down those Hall of Gods bastards!”

The sight of yet another corpse hurled through the air finally pushed the soldiers to the edge.

One after another, they stepped forward, eyes blazing with fury. They pleaded for permission to fight, desperate to rip the Hall of Gods apart.

“Silence!” Neville thundered. “No one moves without His Highness’ command. Anyone who disobeys dies on the spot.”

The soldiers instantly fell quiet.

Neville’s bloodshot eyes shimmered with unspilled tears. Among the fallen was his wife. When her lifeless body had been flung out like garbage, every fiber of him burned to charge inside and carve Zeus into pieces.

But he was a soldier. Orders were absolute. No matter how deep the pain or how fierce the anger, he had to restrain himself.

He had to wait for Matthias to return and give the command to attack. Only then would he make Zeus pay—in blood—even if it cost him his life.