Vicente Clark spoke with excitement, a cold smile flashing in his eyes.
Three days ago, he had ascended to the level of Greater Sovereign, and his master had granted him a month of leave.
Vicente was brimming with excitement and anticipation.
For ten years, he had trained in the barren deserts of West Haralu, keeping a low profile.
So low, in fact, that it was as if he had vanished.
Ten years of patience and restraint-all for today.
Even on the plane back to Slatin, he could already imagine his name exploding across the skies of the city.
Even the great families of Eahta would be left breathless, calling him a monster.
And indeed, upon his return to Slatin as a Greater Sovereign, the Dragon Ranking was immediately updated. Countless elites and noble families sent their congratulations.
Some prominent families even began considering marriage proposals.
But the attention he received wasn’t quite what he had envisioned.
Upon inquiry, he learned of a name-Lord Valerian Nox.
This Lord Valerian Nox had recently killed Jack Jenkins in a public battle.
Young, like Vicente, still in his twenties.
But more importantly, tens of thousands had witnessed Lord Valerian Nox’s battle with their own eyes.
The spectacle of one becoming a god in battle was far more impressive than mere rumors of Vicente Clark’s ascension.
Even Layla hadn’t seemed overly impressed when she saw him.
Vicente suspected this had something to do with Lord Valerian Nox.
The glory he had worked so hard for had been stolen by this man!
Initially, Vicente had planned to investigate or even have Layla arrange a meeting with Lord Valerian Nox.
But now? What was the point?
Dario Bragg was going to kill Lord Valerian Nox without question.
To Vicente, Lord Valerian Nox was already a dead man-unworthy of even meeting him.
“But Lord Valerian Nox practically obliterated Jack Jenkins,” Layla said hesitantly, her tone tinged with doubt. “I can’t help but feel his strength surpasses that of a typical Greater Sovereign.”
Her words carried a faint trace of hope, though it was clear she didn’t fully believe them.
Vicente’s expression darkened. His brows furrowed deeply as he looked at Layla.
Could she… possibly be interested in Lord Valerian Nox?
Paxton, noticing the shift in mood, smiled faintly and said, “Layla, you’ve spent years immersed in the world of medicine. It’s understandable that you wouldn’t have much experience with the monstrous cultivators of the martial path.”
“Let me put it this way, there’s very little suspense about the upcoming battle. The only thing worth watching is how many moves Lord Valerian Nox can withstand. Will he even be able to force Dario Bragg to use his ultimate killing technique?”
Layla’s expression stiffened.
Was Dario Bragg truly that powerful?
“Child,” Vicente interjected, “do you know where Albert Werden found Dario Bragg?”
“In the depths of the Arctic,” he continued, his voice heavy with emphasis. “The harshness of that environment doesn’t need much elaboration-temperatures of minus fifty degrees, constant blizzards, and extreme conditions unmatched anywhere else.”
“Even the wind alone in that place would be unbearable for a Lesser Sovereign. And on top of that, there were more than a dozen snowstorm whirlwinds raging at any given moment.”
“But Dario Bragg? He stayed there for six months. Wearing nothing but a single layer of clothing.”
“What?!”
Layla nearly lost her composure.
Minus fifty degrees, wearing only a single layer, and surviving for half a year?
Was that even humanly possible?
Even the body of a Greater Sovereign, burning like a furnace, couldn’t endure such conditions.
Vicente chuckled. “Layla, for someone like Dario Bragg, such feats are child’s play.”
“The real despair comes from what the front-line reports have revealed. According to the Wallace family, who followed him there, Dario Bragg could simultaneously withstand fifteen snowstorm whirlwinds.”
“With just the press of his hands, he could halt the wind and snow across a radius of dozens of kilometers, allowing everyone to see the stars in the sky.”
“And in a single fit of rage, he shattered a glacier over ten kilometers long.”
The room fell silent as Vicente’s words sank in.
Layla wasn’t the only one stunned; even the elite nobles around them felt their scalps tingle with fear.
Fifteen snowstorm whirlwinds?
Single-handed suppression?
Stopping the wind and snow with one motion, revealing the stars?
And breaking a glacier in a fit of rage?
Such power was beyond comprehension.
Dario Bragg had reached a level of strength beneath only the Earthly Sovereign, his abilities standing unrivaled.
It was madness.
Terrifying.
With such overwhelming power, even ten Lord Valerian Noxes wouldn’t stand a chance.
A total annihilation was likely.
Disappointment filled the air.
Everyone had hoped to see a longer fight, but it seemed hopeless.
The moment they clashed, Lord Valerian Nox would be crushed-no chance of survival.
Layla’s heart sank, her gaze darkening.
She had wanted to follow Lord Valerian Nox and had even developed a faint admiration for him.
But now, with everyone convinced he would be utterly defeated, her hopes were dashed.
“No!” she thought suddenly. “I must go to Jade Dragon Mountain and warn Lord Valerian Nox. I can’t let him take this fight! He must not go!”
Her determination solidified. She would leave immediately.
The conversation shifted, becoming dull and predictable. Everyone seemed to know the outcome already, and their interest waned.
The only reason they planned to attend the battle at Pelens was to see how Dario Bragg would toy with and utterly destroy Lord Valerian Nox.
When Vicente casually mentioned The Raven King, however, one of the elite nobles perked up.
“Mr. Clark, I heard that The Raven King’s Titan Holdings recently entered Slatin,” the noble said.
“In just four days, they acquired five major corporations with shocking speed. It was like a whirlwind. Do you know what’s behind this urgency?”
Paxton shook his head. “I looked into it, but Titan Holdings’ representatives were tight-lipped. All they said was that it was a direct order from The Raven King.”
“My guess? It’s likely because Ostrad’s economy has been booming over the past decade, and Titan Holdings wants a piece of the pie.”
“Besides, Titan Holdings has always operated decisively and efficiently. They’re never short on funds, so such aggressive moves aren’t surprising.”
The group marveled at Paxton’s connections.
To be able to meet with a representative of Titan Holdings-a conglomerate with a global reputation and a market value of billions-was no small feat.
Most people could only dream of such access.
“Is it true,” another noble asked, “that the head of Titan Holdings is Lila Duffy, the heir of Haralu’s most powerful family?”
Paxton nodded, and the room erupted with whispers of astonishment.
Even Layla couldn’t hide her surprise.
She had once treated the head of the Duffy family during her travels with her master.
Lila Duffy had left a lasting impression on her-no older than thirty, yet dazzling, radiant, and commanding an unmatched aura.
A beauty that could conquer cities, a blood-red splendor, elegance unmatched, and a presence like a phoenix soaring through the heavens.
Yes, Lila Duffy was the kind of beauty that even Layla had to admit surpassed her own.
Her charm was overwhelming. Even the imposing head of the Duffy family paled in comparison when standing next to her.
But it wasn’t just her beauty that was intimidating. Lila Duffy was known as the “Financial Queen of Haralu,” reigning supreme over the eight provinces.
Her appointment as the head of Titan Holdings was well-deserved.
It was no wonder she had abandoned the vast Duffy family empire in pursuit of something greater as a follower of The Raven King.
And now, with Lila Duffy’s return to Ostrad, Titan Holdings was bound to make waves in the business world.
The commercial landscape of Ostrad was about to be turned upside down.