An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2569

“A bunch of weaklings like you dare challenge the wrath of a god?” Zeus sneered. “Then die where you stand.”

He raised his hand and conjured a sphere of lightning, then hurled it into the sky. Thunder cracked as bolts of blue lightning rained down on the monks below.

“Leave them alone!” a crisp, clear voice rang out.

In that instant, a golden octagram array appeared above the monks like a giant mirror. It blocked all the lightning bolts before shattering with a deep, echoing crack.

Grace had conjured the array. Though she managed to shield the monks, the effort drained her strength.

“Oh? I didn’t expect to find a master among you,” Zeus remarked, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

Even though that was merely a casual strike, it wasn’t something an ordinary grandmaster could have stopped—especially not someone so young.

“Greetings, Lord Zeus, Lady Hera. I am the Princess of Ariella. What could have provoked such fury? Surely, we can resolve this peacefully.”

Grace stepped forward from the ancient temple gate. Her white dress remained spotless amid the surrounding destruction.

“Princess of Ariella?” Zeus narrowed his eyes slightly. “So that Golden Steeple was your divine artifact?”

“That’s right. It’s bound to my life force,” she said calmly, offering no denial.

He gave a low chuckle. “Impressive. I didn’t expect it to hold us off for so long.”

But the amusement in his voice didn’t reach his eyes. Beneath it simmered a flicker of killing intent.

He had assumed the Golden Steeple was the work of a supreme master from Dragonmarsh—perhaps even an ultimate grandmaster. Never did he imagine that the one who delayed two royal gods would be a young woman.

When did Dragonmarsh start producing so many prodigies?

Logan Rhys—whose limitless potential and defeat of Poseidon already posed a major concern—was enough of a headache. And now, another monster appeared. If someone like Grace was allowed to grow unchecked, she’d become a serious threat.

Sensing his thoughts, Grace said calmly, “The divine artifact bound to my life force has been shattered by the two of you. My cultivation is now severely crippled, and I will never be able to break through again. So there’s no need for concern.”

“She’s clever,” Hera said with a faint smile.

A flicker of interest lit her eyes. If Grace hadn’t been a Dragonmarsh princess, she might have taken her in as a disciple. Talented and sharp-witted female martial artists like her were incredibly rare.

“So what if you’re telling the truth?” Zeus sneered. “Do you really think you have the right to negotiate with us?”
“This isn’t a negotiation. It’s a deal,” Grace said calmly.

She went on, “I know both of you have hit a wall in your cultivation. You haven’t advanced in decades. But I happen to know a technique that could help you tap into divine energy and push beyond your limits.”

At those words, Zeus and Hera froze. Even their expressions shifted as they looked at Grace differently.

That bottleneck had been their greatest frustration for years. Despite countless attempts, nothing had worked. Eventually, they had accepted the possibility that they might remain stuck at their current level forever.

Now, Grace’s words rekindled a spark of hope—especially in Zeus. With his short lifespan, a breakthrough was essential to extend it. It was a chance he could hardly afford to ignore.

Still, neither of them was naive enough to take a stranger’s word at face value. They’d encountered too many similar promises in the past. Every so-called solution had ended in disappointment.

“Why should we trust you?” Zeus asked, narrowing his eyes as he gave Grace a long, sharp look. “Do you actually think we’d follow your lead just because you threw out some bold claims?”

“With your status, how could I even dare deceive you?” Grace responded with a faint smile. “I’m not reckless enough to propose a deal without some confidence. That would be like signing my own death warrant.”

“You have a point,” Zeus admitted, stroking his chin. “So, what’s your condition?”

“Leave Dragonmarsh immediately. Three days from now, I’ll personally show you how to break through,” Grace replied.

“Leave Dragonmarsh?” He sneered. “So, this is about Logan. You’re helping him deal with the crisis and using this offer to drive us away?”

“Yes, I’m doing this for him,” she answered. “But I’m not trying to trick you. I’m offering a genuine deal.”

“You’re honest—I’ll give you that. But I still don’t believe you,” Zeus said, shaking his head.

“Those are the terms. What you do next is entirely up to you,” Grace replied calmly, with neither arrogance nor fear in her tone.

Suddenly, Zeus grinned. “I’ve got a better idea. Want to hear it?”

“Oh? Let’s hear it.”

He let out a dark chuckle. “First, we kill Logan. Then, we capture you. After that, we’ll use every torture