The Dragon Slayer Powder was finally perfected. Zion Watson had informed the master of Greengate of this achievement just the day before. The master, in turn, had promised to arrive in Niarak within three days.
Moreover, the master had vowed to help Zion eliminate Lord Valerian Nox.
Zion felt a newfound lightness, a sense of anticipation brewing within him. Eliminating Lord Valerian Nox, a man barely maintaining his Earthly Sovereign power through medicine, was an easy feat for a Blademaster of Earthly Sovereign rank. It was the sheer terror of the Blademaster’s power-pure, unmatched inner strength that crushed all opposition.
A single strike was invincible.
This particular Blademaster had reportedly subdued two Adept Earthly Sovereigns simultaneously. For Zion Watson, this mysterious guest was the most formidable ally he could ever hope to encounter.
A battle between two Earthly Sovereigns was nothing short of apocalyptic-a clash that could obliterate everything in its path. In the face of such destruction, all living beings were but ants.
This was why Zion Watson swore unwavering loyalty. With such a powerful backer, he would stand undefeated amid endless struggles.
His deep-set eyes gleamed with confidence, and a faint smile curled at his lips. In his view, the fall of Lord Valerian Nox was inevitable.
As he exhaled deeply, Jace Watson came rushing in, phone in hand.
“Dad, look at this!”
Zion took the phone, scanning the messages on the screen carefully. His expression darkened immediately.
Memories of Flynn and the events surrounding him resurfaced, and suddenly, everything became clear.
“No wonder he didn’t act at Harriet’s birthday banquet. He was waiting.”
Zion’s eyes narrowed, a venomous glint flashing within them.
For over twenty years, Greengate had pursued Adrianna relentlessly. Zion knew most of the details behind it all.
It had begun twenty-three years ago, on a snowy night. Greengate’s informants had spotted Adrianna for the first time since the fall of Dragon Seal nine years earlier. She had been carrying a young boy, no older than five, who was burning with fever.
Adrianna had entered a local branch of Nature’s Path Remedies to purchase herbs. Despite wearing a mask, her eyes betrayed her. Greengate operatives had studied a photograph of a twelve-year-old Adrianna countless times.
Even after years of change, those spirited eyes were unmistakable. Adding to their certainty was the scar on her neck, a remnant from the fall of Dragon Seal. These two details confirmed her identity beyond doubt-Adrianna was the daughter of Dragon Seal’s master.
Greengate immediately mobilized. Their operatives across Ostrad converged, hunting Adrianna all the way to the outskirts of Niarak.
For a year, they pursued her tirelessly, but she vanished near Lavender Creek.
On the day of her disappearance, Adrianna had suffered grave injuries-a gash on her thigh so deep that bone was visible.
Convinced she would rest in Niarak, Greengate scoured the area for over a month, searching every corner without success.
Unbeknownst to them, Adrianna had been treated by Grandma Wilcox and had escaped to a rural area near Niarak, where she remained hidden. Greengate had even visited her hiding place twice, but Adrianna had evaded them each time.
Believing she had left Niarak, they expanded their search, which lasted thirteen years.
Throughout this time, Greengate never abandoned their suspicion that Adrianna might still be in Niarak. They continued sending people to search for her in secret.
Finally, ten years ago, they discovered her whereabouts once more.
At the time, Zion Watson’s master had been overseas. Zion hastily gathered a hundred Grandmasters to encircle Adrianna in Niarak, but she escaped once again.
The failure of that operation nearly led to the annihilation of the Hussain family by their enraged master.
Afterward, Adrianna faked her death in an attempt to halt Greengate’s pursuit. But Zion Watson saw through the ruse three days later and informed Greengate that she was likely headed to Haralu Emperorsgate.
From that point on, Zion had no involvement in the subsequent events, which were handled entirely by his master.
Greengate had attempted to trace Adrianna’s son but lost track of him after her staged death. Fortunately for Adrianna, her caution kept the Kaur family’s connection to her hidden.
Luck also played a role-Wild Wilcox kept her mouth shut, only revealing that Adrianna had gone to Haralu Emperorsgate. Additionally, Tessa Watson’s secret efforts to hunt Adrianna prevented any overlap between the two leads.
As a result, Greengate never learned where Adrianna had hidden during those nine years after Dragon Seal’s fall, nor who had helped her.
Otherwise, with Greengate’s ruthlessness, the Kaur family, Grandma Wilcox, Jessica, and Mabel would have been wiped out long ago.
Now that Flynn’s identity was fully exposed, Zion Watson’s eyes burned with icy determination.
It was time to settle accounts.
Everyone who had helped Adrianna and her son must die.
“What was he waiting for?” Jace Watson asked, confused.
“He was waiting for the forces behind his mother’s hunters-specifically, our master.”
“Ha! I suspect he’s been planning against me for a long time now. He likely already knows I’ve been developing Dragon Slayer Powder for our master!”
Zion’s voice rose, his anger erupting in a furious roar.
“He’s been watching the Hussain family!”
With Lord Valerian Nox’s abilities, there was no doubt about it.
“What do we do, Dad? We need to move!” Jace Watson panicked, feeling as if countless eyes were watching him.
“Why panic? Does he think becoming an Earthly Sovereign will allow him to avenge his mother?”
“Relax. Our master won’t act immediately. We’ll play along.”
“When the master arrives in Niarak, Flynn will despair upon realizing he’s facing an Earthly Sovereign Blademaster!”
“He has no idea the kind of terrifying power he’s up against!”
Zion’s confidence and malice were palpable.
Staring at the endless mountain range in the distance, the killing intent in his eyes grew sharper.
After a long silence, he spoke again.
“Flynn is in Slatin now, correct?”
Jace replied, “There’s word that Lord Valerian Nox has arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel in Slatin.”
“Good. Very good.” Zion let out a cold laugh.
“Flynn, you think you’re in control. But when my master slaughters your friends and loved ones, I want to see how you react when the news reaches you in Slatin.”
“I want you to feel the pain of losing your loved ones!”
“What?!” Jace’s face turned pale, his voice trembling with fear.
“Dad, you mean everyone connected to Flynn will die?”
“What’s the matter? Do you pity them?” Zion’s expression darkened.
“Your mother and grandfather died at his hands. How can this grudge go unavenged?”
“No, no!” Jace stammered, waving his hands frantically.
“I just… I just want Katie Wilcox to live…”
He hadn’t had enough of her yet.
“And Harriet-she’s Flynn’s friend, but she’s also my sister, your daughter…”
Zion’s eyes narrowed.
“Katie Wilcox? That lowly woman isn’t worthy of you.”
“Even if you truly like her, once the master arrives, her fate won’t be ours to decide.”
“As for Harriet, she sided with Flynn when she asked him to kill your mother. She’s already chosen to oppose me. Even if the master spares her, I won’t.”
“There’s only one end for those who cross Greengate-death.”