An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2559

Neville’s roar brought the soldiers to a standstill. They turned toward their general, whose bloodshot eyes and trembling frame radiated fury. For a brief moment, no one dared utter a word.

They understood his anguish and shared his rage—that was what had caused them to lose control earlier.

But they had to rein it in. Military discipline demanded restraint. No matter how deep their hatred ran, they had to hold back until the order to strike was given.

Yet their silence didn’t mean their fury had faded. If anything, it burned hotter by the second, growing heavier and more volatile as it waited to be unleashed.

Suddenly, the tension was broken by three black sedans speeding toward the compound and stopping at the main gate.

When the soldiers spotted the license plate on the lead vehicle, they instantly stepped aside.

Matthias had arrived.

As the car door swung open, the prince stepped out, trailed by five elderly men in dark suits.

They differed in height and build—tall, short, slender, broad—but all wore matching outfits and radiated an overwhelming aura. None of them made any attempt to hide their presence.

Even standing still, they projected immense pressure, like mountains towering over everyone nearby.

These were the five masters cultivated by the powerful faction supporting Matthias. Four were advanced grandmasters. The fifth, a tall, lean man, had reached the level of ultimate grandmaster.

One ultimate grandmaster, four advanced grandmasters—a force capable of dominating an entire region, no matter where they appeared.

Outside of Sword Union, Celestial Alliance, and Mystic Arts Order, no guild in the country could field so many top-tier experts at once. Even then, Sacred Wyrm Summit was a rare exception.

In terms of military power, Matthias was clearly the strongest among the royal heirs. His confidence in competing for the throne stemmed entirely from the might behind him.

As soon as Matthias stepped out, Neville rushed over, seething with fury.

“Your Highness, Zeus is still inside. He kills a hostage every thirty minutes. Shall we launch the assault now?” he asked.
“A frontal assault would be reckless. Lock down every exit and wait for my command,” Matthias said grimly.

He had already seen the mutilated corpses at the gate. Normally, his temper would’ve driven him to charge in immediately.

But Seamus’ warning echoed in his mind—he had urged Matthias to avoid direct confrontation with Zeus at all costs. Otherwise, he’d sacrifice his elite troops for nothing.

“Mr. Galen Frost,” Matthias said, turning to the tall, lean elder beside him. “To ensure nothing escapes, I need the five of you to erect a formation and seal the entire estate.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Galen nodded and swiftly issued commands to the others. “Finnian and Sylas, take the north and south. Valerius and Corwin, cover east and west. I’ll handle the center. Let’s show those bastards what our formation can do.”

“Understood.”

The four elders responded in unison. In a blur, they shot off in separate directions, halting midair above the estate’s four corners.

Galen didn’t remain idle either. He launched himself high above the estate’s center.

“Begin the formation!”

With a firm shout, the five men formed hand seals simultaneously. Their bodies flared with bursts of blood-red light.

“Rise!”

Once the formation stabilized, they all raised their hands to the sky.

Five beams of crimson energy shot upward and converged about 300 feet above, forming a radiant sphere. It expanded swiftly, reaching nearly 15 feet wide in seconds—and continued growing.

Once the energy stabilized, each master bit his finger, drawing blood, and formed new hand seals. Then, they pointed toward the sphere as one.

“Five Sanguine Elemental Seals—activate!” they declared in unison.

The blood-red sphere exploded in a brilliant burst of light. A translucent crimson barrier surged from its core, spreading outward in all directions.

In less than five seconds, the entire estate was encased in the shimmering red dome. From the outside, it resembled a massive blood-tinted eggshell.

But as the formation completed, the barrier gradually faded from view, as though it had never existed.

That illusion was only surface-deep. At a mere thought from any of the five, the barrier would instantly return. This was their hallmark technique—the Five Sanguine Elemental Seals.

It was both offensive and defensive, and it amplified their abilities. Most crucially, it allowed them to combine and share their cultivation power. No attack weaker than ten times their joint strength could pierce it.

“Your Highness, the formation is set. Proceed without hesitation. As long as the five of us remain standing, no harm will come to you,” Galen’s calm, confident voice echoed from above.

“Thank you,” Matthias said, bowing respectfully to the five elders before stepping into the estate alongside Neville.