An Understated Dominance Novel (Dahlia & Dustin) by Marina Vittori updated 2025-26 - An Understated Dominance Chapter 2412

Chapter 2412

“Master Ma, we’re trapped in a formation! What should we do?” the burly man asked, glancing around anxiously. The thick fog had erased any sense of direction.

He had assumed that following Dustin’s team would keep them safe, but the moment they entered the forbidden area, the dense fog enveloped them, cutting off their visibility—and Dustin’s group was nowhere to be seen.

“Don’t panic. Keep moving forward; we’ll find a way out,” Master Ma, the hunchbacked elder, replied, his eyes scanning the ground carefully.

He noticed faint footprints—evidence of Dustin’s team having passed through. With a flicker of confidence, he added, “Follow these footprints. They’ll lead us to the others.”

Turning to the rest of the group, the burly man barked, “Stay close! If you fall behind, it’s your loss!”

The group quickly tightened their formation. At this stage, separating from the team could mean death.

With Master Ma leading, the two teams merged and advanced cautiously. Weapons drawn, their eyes darted nervously through the mist, half-expecting a hidden enemy to pounce.

After about half an hour of following the tracks, Master Ma came to an abrupt halt. His brow furrowed. Something felt wrong.

The footprints continued, but they seemed oddly familiar—like they’d been there before. By his calculations, they should have exited the fog by now.

Frowning, he decided to test his theory. Kneeling down, he marked the ground before signaling the group to continue.

They walked for another half hour before Master Ma stopped again. His expression darkened as he stared at the mark he’d made earlier.

“We’ve been walking in circles,” he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration.

The burly man cursed under his breath. “We’ve been going forward this whole time. How did we end up back here?”

Master Ma’s gaze grew sharp as he considered the possibilities. Is the fog tricking our senses? Or is the environment shifting around us?

“This is bad, Master Ma,” the burly man said, his voice uneasy.

“It’s just a small maze. Nothing I can’t handle,” Master Ma replied confidently. He reached into his robe and produced a small black bottle.

Opening the lid, he released two winged black insects that landed in his palm.

“What are those?” the burly man asked, curiosity piqued.

“These are spirit insects I raised specifically for treasure tracking. They can sense the presence of unusual energy. Just follow them, and we’ll find a way out,” Master Ma explained with pride.

“Impressive, Master Ma!” the burly man exclaimed, though inwardly he grumbled, If you had these bugs, why didn’t you use them earlier? We’ve wasted hours.

Master Ma lightly raised his hand, and the insects flew off into the mist, disappearing almost instantly.

“They’re gone!” the burly man said in surprise.

“Relax,” Master Ma said calmly, striding forward. “They’re connected to me. Within ten miles, I can sense their exact location.”

Reassured, the group followed him.

This time, their progress was smooth. After about the time it would take for an incense stick to burn, the dense fog began to thin. Gradually, their surroundings became visible again.

Moments later, they emerged from the fog at the foot of the mountain. Before them stood two towering bronze gates—the entrance to the forbidden area of Sacred Wyrm Summit.

“We made it! We’re out!”

“As expected of Master Ma!”

“Master Ma, with you leading us, success is guaranteed!”

The team erupted into cheers, their earlier anxiety melting away. The oppressive fog had unnerved them, but now they felt hopeful again.

Looking around, the burly man noticed Dustin’s team was nowhere to be seen. “It seems we’re the only ones who made it out.”

“Bad luck for them,” Master Ma said with a smirk. “You don’t expect me to go back for them, do you?”

“Of course not,” the burly man replied, laughing. “If anything, it’s better this way. Fewer people mean a bigger share of the treasure.”

Master Ma nodded approvingly. “Smart thinking. The Sacred Wyrm Summit’s hoard has been accumulating for centuries. Once we get our hands on it, we’ll have enough to live in luxury for eight lifetimes!”

“Hahaha! We’re going to be rich!” the burly man laughed heartily.

“Don’t get too excited yet,” Master Ma cautioned. “Before we can claim the treasure, we need to deal with this gate.” He gestured toward the bronze doors ahead.

The burly man stepped forward confidently. “Leave it to me! A door like this is nothing. Watch—I’ll smash it open with one punch!”

Stripping off his coat to reveal his muscular arms, he approached the gate. The six-meter-high, rune-covered bronze doors loomed before him, ancient and imposing.

Squatting slightly, he inhaled deeply and swung his massive fist toward the gate with all his might.

“Open up!” he roared as his punch connected.