The Porsche sped through the road, arriving at Swordgate Peak in Pelens at 10:30 a. m.
Swordgate Peak, located in the southern outskirts of Pelens, was a towering, majestic mountain. Its height approached two thousand meters, piercing the sky like a massive sword aimed at the heavens. The lush greenery of its slopes shimmered with vitality, making it a breathtaking sight.
Xavier Caldwell, when he was alive, often used Swordgate Peak as a metaphor for the unattainable pinnacle Flynn might reach in his lifetime. He would say Flynn could only hope to climb Niarak Mountain, and even that was a stretch.
Now, Swordgate Peak would become the battlefield where Flynn would slay demons.
Beside the mountain, a wide river flowed like a silver dragon, winding its way through the landscape. The water was crystal clear, reflecting the grandeur of Swordgate Peak like a mirror, capturing its towering presence in the shimmering depths.
Though the battle was more than an hour away, over 100, 000 people had already gathered at the base of Swordgate Peak. The crowd was dense, a sea of heads stretching as far as the eye could see.
To the west, the river served as a natural barrier, while the other three directions-north, east, and south-were packed with spectators, forming a semi-circle around the mountain.
The Wallace and Hussain families had dispatched over 3, 000 people to manage the crowd, keeping the majority of them more than five kilometers away from the mountain. Meanwhile, the elite dignitaries from across the nation gathered on Carter Hillridge, located to the north of Swordgate Peak.
Carter Hillridge, at a straight-line distance of two kilometers from the mountain, featured pavilions and winding paths. But even among the elite, there were distinctions.
The middle sections of Carter Hillridge were occupied by wealthy individuals and prominent figures, such as Great Grandmaster Bobby Sheppard. However, billionaires from Niarak weren’t even allowed to set foot on Carter Hillridge. Like the common crowd, they were confined to a distance of five kilometers.
On the summit of Carter Hillridge, within a row of linked pavilions, sat the most influential dignitaries from Slatin and other provinces-figures at the very pinnacle of power. Among them were reclusive superpowerhouses, overseas elites, and representatives of major forces.
Even Paxton couldn’t name all of them.
Vicente Clark, using his aura to scan the area, discovered eighteen Greater Sovereigns gathered at the top. Shockingly, there were even two Semi-Earthly Sovereigns present, individuals on the same level as Dario Bragg.
When Vicente’s gaze met those of the Semi-Earthly Sovereigns, an overwhelming pressure descended upon him, as if the entire world was blanketed in their cold, oppressive stares. He quickly averted his eyes, not daring to look again.
Inwardly, he muttered to himself, “It seems this battle is even more significant than I imagined. To think such top-tier powerhouses would gather here… I feel like I’ve seen those two before…”
Beyond them, there were seven or eight elderly figures exuding the aura of supreme rulers. When Vicente stole a glance at them, he couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath.
Standing behind those elders were Greater Sovereigns, some with one, others with as many as five acting as their guards.
Greater Sovereigns as bodyguards-all of them Adepts.
Any one of them could kill him on the spot. He wouldn’t survive more than three moves. Such treatment was reserved for the heads of top-tier aristocratic families.
Nearby stood Madeline and Wayne, positioned close to the Clark family. They too felt the oppressive atmosphere around them.
While the weight of the gathering terrified them, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of honor.
It was all thanks to Paxton. Without this battle, they would never have had the chance to witness such top-tier dignitaries and cultivators in their lifetimes.
Even Wayne thought so.
He was certain that, if ranked, Paxton would barely make it into the top fifty among the three hundred people on Carter Hillridge. The level of influence this battle had drawn was simply too staggering.
“Nothing’s visible from here!” Ryland Ambrose threw his binoculars to the ground in frustration.
At 800 meters high, their vantage point was decent, but Swordgate Peak’s towering height, dense vegetation, and jagged rocks made it impossible to see the summit clearly.
Vicente Clark chuckled. “Watching from the summit would be ideal for observation, but if Dario Bragg unleashes his full power, the summit will become a disaster zone. Even I wouldn’t survive.”
“If that happens, even this area won’t be safe.”
Ryland Ambrose nodded in agreement, his eyes wide with amazement. “I heard that after Lord Valerian Nox killed Dark Shadow, Dario Bragg became so enraged that he punched a thousand-meter-long mountain range into rubble. I can’t wait to see something like that!”
“That depends on Lord Valerian Nox’s abilities,” Vicente replied with a smile.
Having heard yesterday that Lord Valerian Nox was an Adept Greater Sovereign, Vicente felt a pang of jealousy. Lord Valerian Nox had stolen all the spotlight, and Vicente secretly wished for his downfall. Otherwise, he’d surely lose his spot in the top three of the Dragon Ranking.
As the discussions continued, Layla’s gaze grew dim.
On their way to Carter Hillridge, she had heard endless chatter about the two main figures of the battle. Among the 100, 000 spectators, not a single person believed Lord Valerian Nox would win. The most common topic was how many moves he could withstand before Dario Bragg’s overwhelming power crushed him.
“He’s a remarkable young man. If I had a son like him, I could die content,” someone remarked.
“It’s a pity. He should’ve been like my son-low-key, hiding his talent for ten years, understanding humility…”
Paxton sighed, noticing Layla’s reaction. She remained silent, but her eyes would tremble every time someone predicted Lord Valerian Nox’s death.
Since everyone was convinced of his demise, Paxton figured it wouldn’t hurt to offer some compliments to ease Layla’s despair.
“Indeed. Even if he dies, Lord Valerian Nox’s name will echo across the land. To be so young and dare to face Dario Bragg-just his courage is unmatched!”
“Whose son is he? His parents must be proud!”
“Dying at Dario Bragg’s hands isn’t shameful. In fact, it’s an honor for his family!”
The crowd continued to assess Lord Valerian Nox. Everyone knew he had accepted the challenge. Though they didn’t believe in his victory, they admired his bravery.
Layla, too, respected him. She thought Lord Valerian Nox was a man of responsibility, with an indomitable spirit.
But she didn’t want him to come. She didn’t want to see him fall.
So young and already at such a level-given time, Lord Valerian Nox could become a pillar of Ostrad, standing proudly at the pinnacle of the world. His death would be a loss not just for himself, but for the nation.
But Flynn had already arrived, his demeanor casual and relaxed, as if he were merely sightseeing. There wasn’t a trace of fear on his face-only mild impatience, as though he couldn’t wait to get this over with.
“So many people…” Molly muttered as she drove in from Pelens.
She stopped near the western side of the mountain, separated from Swordgate Peak by the massive river, which spanned over three kilometers at its widest point.
Two kilometers north was a bridge packed with people. Cars couldn’t pass through.
Flynn stood beside the car, his gaze crossing the river to the crowd on the other side. He frowned. “So many came to cheer me on?”
“Cheer you on?” Molly retorted, exasperated. “Don’t flatter yourself. They’re here to watch you die.”
Even after Scarlet repeated Flynn’s confident words from the night before, Molly couldn’t believe he stood a chance. The rumors of Dario Bragg’s horrifying power were endless, painting him as a demon in human form.
Flynn, however, seemed unbothered. He had spent the entire trip scrolling through TikTok, laughing at dancing videos, and hitting the like button repeatedly.
He rubbed his nose and turned to Rose with a mischievous grin. “Dario Bragg is really strong. I don’t have much confidence. Ms. Sharp, how about some encouragement?”
“No need for encouragement. I believe in you,” Rose replied with an eye roll.
Her words were half-serious. Though worried, her time with Flynn had convinced her that he might actually win.
Flynn shrugged, bored, when a familiar figure caught his eye.
“Hmm? Isn’t that Lilia? She’s here to cheer me on too?”
Not far away, Lilia turned her head. Her stunning face twisted with disdain and hatred as she glared at him, gritting her teeth.
“Cheer for you? I’m here to watch you die!”