An Understated Dominance Novel (Dahlia & Dustin) by Marina Vittori updated 2025-26 - An Understated Dominance Chapter 2354

An Understated Dominance Chapter 2354 – “Hmph! You’re lucky!” Elder Shade shot a fierce glare at Azalea before putting away his magic blade and leaving the stage.

Though he won, he felt no satisfaction. First, defeating a weaker opponent, especially a woman, brought him no pride. Second, he was injured by her—a humiliation he hadn’t experienced since becoming famous.

Even though it was partly due to the magic talisman, he couldn’t deny that he had lost face.

Missing the chance to retaliate left him frustrated.

Still, he vowed that if he encountered disciples from the Mystic Arts Order again, he would make them pay in blood.

“I declare contestant No. 5 the winner!” Orion Foster announced.

The audience erupted in applause.

Both Azalea’s remarkable performance and Elder Shade’s strength deserved praise.

Most previous matches were deadly, where a single mistake could be fatal. Azalea’s quick surrender when she knew she couldn’t win was rare but wise, saving her life.

“Saint, I’m sorry to disappoint you. I couldn’t put up much of a fight,” Azalea admitted when she returned to her seat.

“Being alive is what matters, not winning or losing,” Abigail smiled. “Elder Shade is ranked eighth on the Legendary list. It’s natural you couldn’t defeat him. My fear was that you might act recklessly and fight to the end. That would have been a real loss. But you did great—you even managed to wound him. It’s no small achievement.”

Abigail cared more for Azalea’s safety than the outcome. Reaching the top eight would be a bonus, but she wouldn’t push it.

Victory and defeat are part of life—something beyond control.

“The sixth match is about to start. Contestants No. 6 and No. 11, please take the stage!” Orion’s voice boomed.

“Hahahaha… Finally, it’s my turn!”

A loud laugh filled the arena.

In a flash, a green figure appeared in mid-air. After hovering for a moment, it vanished and reappeared at the center of the ring.

The audience was stunned.

“What just happened? Was that teleportation?”

“I couldn’t tell—it was too fast.”

“If I’m right, that technique allows the user to cover great distances in a blink. It’s incredibly mysterious!”

The crowd was buzzing with excitement.

This martial arts competition was packed with talent and unique skills. You never knew who would emerge victorious until the last moment.

“Where’s my opponent? Step forward and fight!”

The man in green stood tall in the center, his hair and robes flowing in the wind. His presence was commanding.

“Sorry to keep you waiting!” A voice rang out.

Suddenly, a man dressed in white, as striking as a demon, soared through the air. With a few light steps, he crossed 100 meters and landed gracefully in the ring. It was Briggs Ethier!

“My name is Briggs Ethier, a disciple of Yam Palace. It’s a pleasure.”

Briggs, holding a folding fan, bowed respectfully.

His refined demeanor and handsome features made many in the audience—especially the women—swoon.

Though Briggs wasn’t the strongest fighter, his charm and good looks were unmatched. Even Noemi Marshall, known for her beauty, was impressed. She had never seen a man as striking as him. If she were of another gender, she would have felt overshadowed.

“Briggs Ethier? Never heard of you.”

The man in green looked Briggs up and down, his displeasure evident. He was attractive too, but beside Briggs, he paled in comparison.

“And who are you?” Briggs asked with a smile.

“My name is Jude Leith. I belong to no sect,” the man replied proudly.

“So, you’re Jude Leith, ranked tenth on the Legendary list. Nice to meet you,” Briggs realized.

They had fought briefly before, but the match ended quickly, and Jude hadn’t introduced himself. It seemed intentional.

“So, that’s Jude Leith? He’s been keeping a low profile.”

“Now that the top fighters are here, Jude has no reason to hold back.”

“I’ve heard Jude is skilled in mysterious arts, with techniques ordinary masters can’t handle.”

“Anyone ranked on the Legendary list is bound to be extraordinary.”

The crowd buzzed even louder after learning Jude’s identity.

“Since you know who I am, why are you still standing there? Admit defeat now, so we don’t waste time,” Jude said casually.

His tone wasn’t arrogant, but it left no room for argument.

“It wasn’t easy to get this far. If I surrender now, people will mock me. I owe it to myself to try,” Briggs responded calmly.

“Heh… Do you really think you can beat me? You clearly don’t understand the value of the Legendary List,” Jude sneered.

To Jude, an ordinary genius like Briggs was just setting himself up for failure.