An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2567

After a full night of relentless assault, Zeus and Hera stood drenched in sweat, gasping for breath. But the moment a crack formed at the top of the golden steeple, their spirits surged.

Zeus let out a sharp laugh. “It’s finally cracking! I was starting to think this thing really was indestructible.”

Since ascending as a royal god of the Hall of Gods, he had never pushed himself this hard. He’d spent the entire night hammering the steeple without rest. The effort had drained him—but at last, it was paying off.

“This thing’s tough. It held out longer than I expected,” Hera said, pausing to catch her breath.

Though she hadn’t exerted quite as much energy as Zeus, she was just as worn out. Still, she could sense that the end was finally near.

“Now’s our chance. Let’s hit it together—everything we’ve got,” Zeus said.

Despite their exhaustion, he knew they couldn’t afford to hold back. Only by shattering the steeple could they finally put an end to this.

“Alright. Let’s finish it.”

Hera drew a deep breath and summoned her strength again. Hundreds of black ice spikes materialized behind her, sharp and charged with energy.

Opposite her, Zeus lifted both arms. Lightning crackled between his palms as glowing spheres swelled with raw power.

Moments later, they launched their combined assault at the golden steeple.

A series of deafening blasts tore through the air, and the steeple trembled violently. Its internal energy had long since been depleted. Now, only its outer shell held it together.

The force of their combined strike deepened the cracks along the surface. Encouraged by the damage, they pressed harder. Ignoring their fatigue, they launched a full-force attack.

They believed that once the steeple collapsed, the monks inside would be helpless. As for Logan, they figured he’d been seriously injured in his last battle with Poseidon and was no longer a threat.

So, without hesitation or fear, they struck again and again.

In the rear courtyard of the ancient temple, Grace sat cross-legged in meditation. Her face was pale, and blood dripped from the corner of her mouth.

The Seven Shards Steeple was bound to her life force. Every fracture in the structure tore through her body as well. She had held on for as long as she could.

But Zeus and Hera were simply too powerful.

Their combined attacks were merciless, and the steeple’s condition worsened with every strike. No matter how strong the divine artifact was, it couldn’t endure the fury of two royal gods.

Now, the tower shook so violently it seemed ready to collapse. Cracks spread lower with every tremor.

Grace coughed up another mouthful of blood. Her lips were drained of color, and she could barely draw breath.

“Dustin… if you’re not done yet, we’re finished,” she whispered.
Panic surged in her chest, but there was nothing more she could do. From the beginning, this battle had never been hers to win. She had done all she could—now, it was in fate’s hands.

“Your Highness, the steeple’s about to collapse! You must get to the hidden chamber—now!”

Several female guards rushed into the courtyard, urging Grace to take cover.

“It’s no use,” Grace said, shaking her head. “Once the steeple falls, no chamber in the world can save me.”

With Zeus’s spiritual power, she knew escape from Embercrest Hill was impossible. A hidden chamber might offer temporary shelter, but it wouldn’t change the end.

If he couldn’t find the one controlling the steeple, he wouldn’t hesitate to level the entire mountain—and for someone like him, it would take little effort.

And when that happened, she wouldn’t be the only one to die. Dustin, still absorbing the Dracan essence, would be buried with her.

But she wasn’t ready to give up. A sliver of hope remained, and she would cling to it with her last breath.

“Your Highness, let us take you out through the back,” one of the female guards pleaded. “We’ll protect you with our lives if we must.”

“I know you mean well, but I can’t leave. If I run, Dustin dies. I have to hold on—just a little longer,” Grace replied.

“Your Highness, with all due respect, his life can’t possibly be more important than yours.”

“You’re wrong,” Grace answered softly. “His life matters far more than mine.”

Her voice was calm, her gaze steady. “The Regal Observatory has read his fate. He carries a great destiny. A single choice from him could change the future of the entire nation.

“If I die, the world won’t shift. But if he dies, Dragonmarsh will lose nearly all its fortune. What follows will be chaos, war, and the suffering of countless lives.”

She looked into the distance and said firmly, “No matter what happens—even if it costs me everything—I must keep him alive.”