Chapter 20

"The present me doesn't owe anything to anyone in the Wyatt family."

Dustin boldly walked out of the villa. He was closing the door on the past; the future would be dealt with as it came. Lydia watched him leave in silence.

Once Dustin was gone, the Wyatt sisters complained.

"Mother, Dustin has become too arrogant! We can't let him go!" "That's right! Eli is still suffering, and only Dustin can treat him!" "We should lock him up and torture him!"

"Are you trying to teach me how to make decisions?" Lydia asked coldly.

The sisters fell silent. Lydia clapped her hands. A whoosh of air heralded the arrival of a black shadow. A man knelt before her.

"Shadow One, ready for orders!" he said respectfully.

The sisters were shocked. This was a secret they'd only heard about—the Shadows, the Wyatt family's secret force. They'd never seen them before. It seemed this force fell under Lydia's control after their father's death.

"Shadow One, break Dustin's legs. Make sure he can't fight again. Then bring him back to the villa," Lydia said slowly, sipping her tea.

"Understood!"

Shadow One bowed and disappeared.

Dustin wandered through the dark night. He stopped suddenly, his face hardening.

"Come out!" he shouted.

"Impressive! You sensed me through my breathing," someone said calmly.

A figure emerged from the darkness. Dustin raised an eyebrow at the man's attire.

"Lydia must think quite highly of me to send one of the Shadows," he muttered to himself.

Having spent years with his adoptive father, he knew the Shadows' capabilities. His father had intended for Dustin to lead them after his death. However, Dustin had never seen them until now, discovering they were under Lydia's control and acting against his father's wishes. Lydia was clearly resourceful.

"Which Shadow are you?" Dustin asked.

"Shadow One," the man replied casually.

There were nine Shadows, all elite fighters personally trained by Dustin's adoptive father. They were ranked numerically; the higher the number, the more powerful the Shadow. Dustin feared none ranked below six; those above were, according to his father, world-class fighters. He didn't know if they were also under Lydia's control.

"What? My rank doesn't impress you?" Shadow One taunted.

Dustin's face grew serious. "Indeed, it doesn't."

Shadow One stiffened. "Very well. You live up to your name as the patriarch's top student," he said menacingly. "But my mistress ordered me to break your legs, ensuring you can never fight again. Given my strength, there might beaccidents. I might break all your limbs!"

Shadow One attacked, moving like a phantom. His speed far surpassed any normal person, exceeding even the Williams family's Blackguard. He was almost a match for Dustin's Shadow Guard.

He punched Dustin; the force ruffled Dustin's hair. There was a loud explosion. Under his mask, Shadow One was stunned. His fist was inches from Dustin's head, but it stopped. Dustin had him in an iron grip. Shadow One finally broke free, retreating a few paces.

"The Wyatt family underestimated you, Dustin," Shadow One said gravely, admitting Dustin's formidable skills. Perhaps they were evenly matched. Yet, the Wyatt family considered Dustin useless.

"I haven't time for this," Dustin frowned. "Drake, deal with him. If it takes more than three moves, don't bother reporting back."

As Dustin turned to leave, Shadow One lunged forward, but another figure blocked him.

"Who are you?" Shadow One demanded, sensing immense power.

"My Liege's servant," Drake said indifferently.

Shadow One was incredulous. The Shadows served Lydia for specific reasons, but they still held their own power.

"My Liege gave me three moves, but I'll need only one," Drake said impassively.

"You'll regret your arrogance!" Shadow One attacked. He wanted to dispatch Drake quickly and pursue Dustin.

"Die!" Drake spat, delivering an explosive kick. Shadow One, unable to react in time, was sent flying backward, landing twenty feet away, spitting blood. Drake's kick had severely damaged his insides; he was mortally wounded. Drake's power was terrifying.

Shadow One smiled bitterly. This simple mission had become his death sentence. Drake approached, a satisfied look on his face. One strike. He could report to Dustin.

"You're a sovereign-grade fighter… why serve that trash?" Shadow One asked in disbelief. There were few sovereign-grade fighters; they were highly respected. Why would one serve someone like Dustin, a discarded member of the Wyatt family?

"My Liege's abilities surpass mine a hundredfold," Drake said calmly.

Shadow One's eyes widened. Dustin was a hundred times stronger than a sovereign-grade fighter? He couldn't believe it. Shadow One died.

Back at the Wyatt villa, Lydia waited for Shadow One's report. Half an hour, then an hour, then two hours passed. The sisters' legs had gone numb, but Shadow One hadn't returned.

"Mother, something must have happened," Amara said nervously.

Lydia's cool indifference shifted to impatience, then grim determination. Two hours was too long. Something had gone wrong.

"The Shadows are elites, more powerful than the Williams family's Blackguard. Shadow One couldn't have failed against Dustin," Delia said incredulously. The sisters were baffled. Dustin was just a nobody, wasn't he?

Lydia chuckled. "Do you really think Dustin learned nothing from years of serving your father?"