Chapter 172

Dustin ignored the noise and strode forward. Eight fighters, abandoning all honor and ethics, charged him simultaneously. Each employed a signature martial arts technique targeting different body parts; some aimed for his arms, others his legs. In the blink of an eye, they closed in, their moves coordinated and deadly.

"F*ck off!" Dustin cursed.

Boom!

A force erupted from him like a nuclear blast. Dust and debris swirled violently, howling like a raging beast.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

All eight elite martial artists were blasted away like leaves in a hurricane, flung into the air, blood spurting from their mouths as they crashed to the ground. "What?!"

The crowd was stunned, their faces frozen in disbelief. These eight were Lannopolis's renowned martial artists; their combined strength was considered insurmountable. Yet, before they could even touch Dustin, they were blown away, each suffering severe injuries. How strong was this young man? His power was an enigma, unfathomable to those present.

From his seat of honor, Victor's gaze sharpened. This was far beyond his expectations. He'd assumed, based on a previous video, that the fighters were ninth-grade level. Dustin hadn't moved in that footage, leading Victor to believe he was, at most, an eighth-grade fighter. But today's display shattered those assumptions. The power unleashed placed him firmly among Lannopolis's top-tier fighters—perhaps even an elite among elites. Apart from Victor himself, a sovereign-grade legend, likely no one present could match Dustin in a one-on-one battle.

Bianca stood frozen, a blank expression on her face. It was her first time seeing Dustin fight, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion. 'Is this really the same Dustin I used to know?' she wondered. The man she once considered worthless in the Wyatt family possessed such monstrous power?

Bianca, raised in the prestigious Winter family, was no stranger to prodigies. But this level of talent at this age was unheard of. Even among Central Harbor's most elite forces, Dustin's abilities would mark him as a once-in-a-century genius. Unease tightened her chest.

In the courtyard's center, Dustin scanned the crowd with calm disdain. "I don't have time for this. All of you, come at me together," he said indifferently.

"Arrogant fool!" "You think you're invincible?!"

The elite martial artists erupted in anger. Many stood with clenched fists, but none were eager to make the first move; they didn't want their reputations stained by the shame of ganging up on an opponent. Then, Victor gave a subtle nod.

Whoosh!

The elite martial artists leaped into the courtyard one after another, determined to crush Dustin's arrogance. Some glared and hurled insults, but Dustin didn't give them a chance to finish. In an instant, he blurred into motion, sweeping across the courtyard like a fierce windstorm.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Wherever he passed, elite martial artists crumpled like broken dolls. Their cries of pain filled the air as they lay scattered. There was no contest; his overwhelming power crushed them outright. In less than twenty seconds, it was over. Every elite martial artist who had stepped forward was defeated, some groaning with fractured bones, others clutching bruised faces. They couldn't understand what had happened. No one hurled insults at Dustin anymore.

Victor's face darkened. He looked at Dustin like a predator sizing up its prey. Bianca's face paled in disbelief. How could this be? Even with so many elite martial artists attacking together, Dustin remained unharmed?! She refused to believe it, to accept it.

"I hear Lannopolis's strongest fighter is here today," Dustin said confrontationally, pointing directly at Victor. "Let's see what you've got."