An Understated Dominance Novel (Dahlia & Dustin) by Marina Vittori updated 2025-26 - An Understated Dominance Chapter 2414

Chapter 2414

Swish, swish, swish…

The poison needles shot through the air with terrifying speed, each aimed precisely at vital points. A single hit promised instant death.

“Hmph! Is this all you’ve got?”

The gray-clothed old man sneered, standing firm as a burst of golden light enveloped him.

Ping! Ping!

The needles ricocheted harmlessly off the golden barrier, unable to pierce through.

“The Golden Light Curse?”

The hunchbacked old man smirked, unfazed by the failed attack. Without hesitation, he waved his hands, releasing another flurry of poison needles.

Swish, swish, swish!

The air filled with a relentless drizzle of needles, raining down on the gray-clothed old man.

“Brothers, attack!”

The hunchbacked old man shouted, commanding his men forward. He knew the guardian of Sacred Wyrm Summit’s forbidden area was no ordinary opponent. Beating him required overwhelming numbers.

“Kill!”

Weapons clashed as the two teams charged. Poisonous insects, darts, and hidden weapons flew through the air, all aimed at the gray-clothed old man.

Greed fueled their assault. The Sacred Wyrm Summit was said to hold treasures beyond imagination—enough to secure wealth for lifetimes. But such riches demanded a heavy price, and these mercenaries were willing to pay it.

The gray-clothed old man’s eyes grew cold as he surveyed the chaos.

“Fools who dare challenge me!”

With a flick of his wrists, he unleashed twin bolts of purple lightning.

Boom!

The blasts struck the frontmost attackers, their bodies scorched and lifeless before they even hit the ground. Flesh burned, blood spilled, and screams echoed through the mountain.

The old man’s thunder magic was devastating, far beyond anything these warriors could withstand. Wave after wave of purple lightning tore through their ranks, rendering their protective energy barriers and enchanted weapons useless.

In minutes, the once-fearsome crowd had been decimated. Charred bodies littered the ground, filling the air with the acrid stench of burnt flesh.

The survivors hesitated, their courage drained. The sheer power of the gray-clothed old man was far greater than they had anticipated.

“How can we fight this monster?” one muttered, trembling.

Another whispered, “It’s suicide. We’ll all die here.”

Fear had overtaken their greed, but the hunchbacked old man wouldn’t allow retreat.

“Cowards!” he barked. “Do you think running will save you? We’ve all taken poison. If we fail, we’re as good as dead!”

His harsh reminder reignited a flicker of resolve. Before the mission, each of them had ingested a deadly toxin provided by the Pantheon. The only cure awaited completion of their task.

“Fight or die—those are your options! Push forward, and victory will be ours!”

Desperation painted their faces, but they raised their weapons again, driven more by fear of their masters than by hope of survival.

“Attack together! Overwhelm him!”

Leading the charge, the hunchbacked old man lunged at the gray-clothed elder. His men followed, a desperate and chaotic assault.

“Fools rushing to their deaths!”

The gray-clothed old man unleashed another barrage of thunder magic.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Purple lightning ripped through the air, tearing apart the attackers with unrelenting ferocity. Their screams dwindled as one by one, they fell.

In mere moments, the battlefield was silent. Charred corpses lay strewn about, a grim testament to the old man’s power.

Only the hunchbacked old man remained standing, battered but alive. He was bloodied and bruised, yet his eyes glinted with dark determination.

“It’s over,” the gray-clothed old man declared coldly. “Surrender now, and I might spare you.”

The hunchbacked old man chuckled, his laughter low and sinister.

“Surrender? Old fool, you’ve sealed your own fate. Do you not understand what you’ve done?”

The gray-clothed elder narrowed his eyes. “Explain yourself.”

“By killing my men, you’ve given me exactly what I needed.”

With a twisted grin, the hunchbacked old man raised his hands. “I practice the Heaven Devouring Demonic Art. The more death and resentment around me, the stronger I become.”

As he spoke, thick black mist began to rise from the corpses surrounding him, swirling toward his open mouth and nostrils.

The gray-clothed old man’s expression darkened.

“You think consuming death will save you?”

The hunchbacked old man’s body trembled violently as the dark mist infused him. His figure began to swell, his muscles bulging unnaturally. His skin turned an eerie shade of black, and his eyes burned with a crimson glow.

“Behold my true power!”

With a final, guttural roar, the transformation was complete. The hunchbacked old man stood before him, his body radiating malevolent energy.

“Now, old man,” he hissed, his voice deep and distorted. “Let’s see who’s truly unworthy of living.”