Once the dust settled, a massive crater appeared at the center of the explosion. It was roughly 30 feet in diameter, resembling a dried-up pond. It was a devastating sight. At the edge of the crater, Dustin and Anders locked eyes from a distance.
Dustin was expressionless, his gaze indifferent, still holding Scott’s severed head. Anders had a serious expression, facing a formidable opponent. The two stood in a tense standoff, neither making any sudden moves.
“Wait, did this bastard block Sir Anders earth-shattering strike just now?” someone exclaimed.
“Not only did he block it, but he also looks like he hasn’t suffered any injuries,” another added.
“Wow! Since when did Oakvale have a genius who can go head-to-head with the Veros Warrior? That’s pretty unbelievable!”
As the two contenders battled it out, members of the Moseys looked at each other in surprise. Anders had long been an idol to everyone. In Dragonmarsh, only a few could be compared to him, and each was a top-tier talent.
The only ones that came close were the Spanners’ twins from the Spanner family, Fenley Hudson from the Celestial Alliance, and Glenn Hadley from the Sword Union.
However, no one expected an unknown newcomer to match up to Anders.
“Who are you?” Anders asked in a low voice, his eyes devoid of disdain. Their exchange of blows had left him quietly concerned. He knew Dustin’s strength matched his own. The puzzling part was how this seemingly unremarkable person was so strong.
Was he hiding his identity? Could some influential figure be backing him, carefully cultivating an exceptional talent?
“I’ll let you know who I am in due time. But today, I’m not in the mood to play with you,” Dustin said coldly, making a casual remark before leaving. The severed head in his hand continued to drip blood.
Dustin was well aware of Anders’ influential position, almost on par with a grandmaster in terms of power and strength. Despite not being afraid, Dustin realized killing Anders would bring endless trouble.
While the Moseys might tolerate the loss of a pawn like Scott, Anders’ death would be a different story.
As the Veros Warrior, Anders held a status that the royal family wouldn’t ignore. Hence, it would cause a significant uproar in Oakvale.
Reluctant to engage in a prolonged confrontation, Dustin hoped Anders would be sensible. If push came to shove and turned into a life-or-death situation, Dustin wouldn’t show any mercy.
Seeing Dustin retreat, Anders frowned and clenched his fist. However, in the end, he gave up the idea of attacking.
Their strengths were likely evenly matched, and a head-on clash might result in mutual destruction. Risking so much for a dead pawn wasn’t worth it.
Without a guaranteed victory, he refrained from rash actions. A bald man approached, asking in a hushed tone, “Sir Anders, are you just going to let him go?”
“What do you suggest, then?” Anders swept a cold glance.
“This bastard dares to act recklessly in Jadeleaf Manor and even killed one of the Moseys. If we don’t deal with him now, it’ll be hard to settle our grievances!” the bald man exclaimed indignantly.
“That makes sense.” Anders nodded. ” Alright, I’ll give you a chance to prove yourself. Go and kill him, and I’ll reward you handsomely afterward.”
“What? Me?” The bald man’s face stiffened, and he quickly waved his hands. “Sir… I’m just a civilian with no combat skills. I have no clue about fighting.”
“If you have no clue, then why are you here blabbering? Get lost!”
