An Understated Dominance Novel (Dahlia & Dustin) by Marina Vittori updated 2025-26 - An Understated Dominance Chapter 2678

Chapter 2678 

“Boom!”

A deep rumble echoed from behind them. The ground quivered, and loose gravel rained down from the walls.

“What was that?!” the captain of the guards shouted, turning toward the narrow crack they had come through.

Before their eyes, the passage sealed itself off. A massive boulder—dark and smooth—had slammed into place, blocking the only exit as if an unseen hand had deliberately trapped them inside.

“No! Our retreat’s been cut off!”

A guard rushed forward and pressed his shoulder against the stone, grunting with effort. It didn’t budge. Even when several joined in, hacking with axes and blades, they only managed to scratch the surface.

“This rock isn’t natural,” someone gasped.

Stevie’s face went pale. “It’s a formation. We’ve been trapped!”

Grace’s stomach dropped. The path behind them was gone, the road ahead unknown. They were like insects sealed inside a jar.

“Calm down,” Logan said firmly, his voice cutting through the panic like steel through silk.

He stepped forward, laid his hand on the cold boulder, and closed his eyes. The energy pulsing through the stone was unmistakable—earth essence intertwined with a sealing array. It was deliberate, and powerful.

“Someone led us here,” he said after a moment. “This formation seals only the entrance. That means there’s another way out. If we were meant to die, the air itself would’ve been poisoned by now.”

His gaze shifted toward the pool in the center of the cave. The clear water shimmered faintly in the dim light.

“Which means,” Logan continued, “the path forward lies beneath the surface.”

He focused his spiritual sense, letting it sink deep into the water. The spring was far deeper than it appeared. After a dozen feet, his perception brushed against something—a concealed passage hidden among rocks and aquatic plants. Water flowed through it, leading into darkness.

“There’s an underwater passage,” he said, standing.

Everyone’s eyes darted to the pool, anxiety and curiosity battling on their faces.

“An underwater road?” Stevie muttered. “Who knows where it leads?”

“I’ll find out,” Logan said simply. “Stay here. If there’s danger, I’ll return immediately.”

He took a deep breath. A faint green aura enveloped his body, isolating him from the cold water. Without hesitation, he dove in, disappearing beneath the rippling surface.

The group waited in silence.

The cave was still, the only sounds the slow drip of water and their own ragged breathing. Every heartbeat stretched the waiting longer.

Finally—after what felt like an eternity—water splashed.

Logan broke the surface and climbed out, his clothes steaming dry under the faint hum of his energy.

“The passage connects to another chamber,” he said. “It’s clear and safe—for now. There’s light at the end. We move, one by one. Stay close, hold your breath, and don’t lose focus.”

No one questioned him. Under his steady tone, their panic subsided enough to move.

One after another, they dove into the cold depths, following the faint glow of Logan’s energy ahead of them.

The passage wasn’t long—barely ten feet. Soon, a silvery light flickered ahead. They pushed forward, breaking through a thin film of water, and emerged gasping into open air.

The sight that greeted them was breathtaking.

They were in a massive natural cavern. Stalactites hung from the ceiling like crystal spears, glowing faintly white and illuminating the entire space in a soft, ethereal light. The air smelled faintly of sandalwood and dew.

The pool here connected to the one they’d just swum through. Around it grew luminous moss and short, strange plants that shimmered faintly with life.

For the first time in a long while, the air felt calm. Clean.

But what drew their attention most was the pile of supplies stacked neatly in a corner.

Several oiled leather bags, sealed tight. Old yet still sharp weapons. And a small box filled with healing pills.

“These… these are human supplies!” Stevie said, stunned.

Grace approached cautiously. The leather was soft and pliant, not decayed. She opened one of the bags—dry rations, perfectly preserved. “They’re not ancient,” she murmured. “Whoever left these was here not too long ago.”

The guards nearly wept from relief. They hurried forward, distributing food and water, savoring the taste of survival.

For them, this find was salvation.

Logan, however, remained silent. His gaze had fixed on the far wall, where faint carvings were etched into the stone.

He stepped closer. The markings weren’t runes, but rough pictographs—simple, human, and deliberate.

They told a story.

Figures—human cultivators—battling monstrous beasts. Discovering this cave. Leaving behind supplies. Then, an arrow carved into the rock pointed toward a narrow gap at the far end of the cavern.

Above the arrow, strange symbols depicted swirling clouds and jagged lightning. Danger.

At the very end of the mural were a few hastily scratched words:

“If you find this place, help yourself to what remains. The road ahead leads to certain peril. Beware the storms—beware the heart of the island. —Iker.”

Grace’s breath caught. “Iker?”

The name struck a chord. Iker—an independent cultivator whose fame had once shaken the world. Eighty years ago, he’d disappeared after venturing into an uncharted secret realm across the sea.

Could this be where he came?

The thought sent a chill through the room. If even a master like Iker had failed to leave this island, what hope did they have?

The newly lifted spirits of the group froze once more, weighed down by that grim realization.

A faint sound drew their eyes toward the marked gap in the rock wall.

From beyond came a low hum—a mix of wind, thunder, and something else.

Logan stared at the passage. His eyes narrowed.

Beyond that narrow path pulsed a strong current of spiritual energy—pure and clean, unmistakably tied to water essence. But mingled with it was something fierce and violent, like lightning barely restrained.

His heart stirred.

“Yaochi…” he murmured softly. “It might be just beyond there.”