Chapter 2233 - "Fist of Fury: Dustin vs. Declan"
"The Tiger's Wrath Fist, huh? Well, I know it too!"
Dustin snorted coldly, not drawing his sword but instead raising his fist, condensing profound pure qi, and throwing a punch towards the golden tiger.
"Roar!"
Accompanied by a deafening roar.
A huge white tiger leaped out from Dustin's body, then fiercely pounced towards the golden tiger.
The two tigers were similar in size, both exuding terrifying momentum.
After a brief charge, they collided heavily.
"Boom!"
With a loud noise, the earth shook, and energy overflowed.
White light and golden light simultaneously burst forth, each claiming half of the sky.
Powerful hurricanes swept out from the point of impact, spreading in all directions.
Wherever they passed, everything was destroyed, as if nothing could stand in their way.
The wreckage of the previous battle was directly swept away, leaving the area within a hundred meters smooth as a mirror.
When all the dust settled, everyone looked closely, unable to hide their astonishment.
After the confrontation, both Dustin and Declan stood tall and firm, neither able to overcome the other.
"Isn't that something? Dustin can actually hold his own against Declan?" Ulysses widened his eyes, somewhat incredulous.
Who is Declan? He's one of the eight elders of the World Society, with a status higher than Devon Page, second only to the sect master, Darkbane Moore.
It is rumored that Declan's cultivation has reached the realm of Grandmaster Apex.
Facing such a powerful opponent, Dustin is still able to hold his own, which is truly unbelievable.
"It seems we have underestimated Dustin's strength." Kieran narrowed his eyes, lost in thought.
"If he can fight Declan Layton to a standstill, does that mean Dustin is on the same level as our master?" Ruby was taken aback.
She knew Dustin was formidable, but she hadn't realized he was this powerful.
Truly, without comparison, one cannot perceive the difference.
"Strange, with Dustin's strength, he should be able to make it onto the Heavenly Whiz List. Why isn't his name on the list?" Emerald muttered to herself.
Is Dustin too low-key, or has the Bureau of Celestial Intelligence overlooked something?
"Kid! How do you know the Tiger's Wrath Fist? Who exactly are you?!" Declan's face darkened, his killing intent surging in his eyes.
For the first time, he felt a threat from a young man.
To have such powerful strength in his twenties, what heights will he reach in the future?
If he hadn't offended the other party, he could naturally lower his posture and make friends with him.
But now that they've fought, their relationship can't be reconciled.
Facing such a potential threat, given his style of doing things, he must nip it in the bud.
"I'm just an unknown nobody, naturally not worthy of Elder Declan's attention." Dustin said calmly.
"Kid! This is the last chance I'll give you. As long as you step aside now, I can pretend that nothing happened, I can overlook your previous offense against me, how about it?" Declan squinted.
"Who exactly offended whom? It seems Elder Declan hasn't figured it out yet; besides, this monster isn't something you can control. Leaving it behind will only harm yourself and others." Dustin said expressionlessly.
Declan is only a Grandmaster Apex, while Steelclaw after transformation already possesses the strength of an early Grandmaster.
Once Steelclaw recovers, Declan won't be able to control it at all. By then, blood will surely flow like a river.
"Kid! Don't push your luck!" Declan's eyes flashed with fierceness.
Chapter 2234 - "The Battle Rages On"
"Senior Declan, enough is enough. Don't dig your own grave," Dustin grew impatient.
"Very well! Since you are so ignorant of your own mortality, I'll grant your wish!"
Declan became furious, skipping further talk, and suddenly clapped his palms together, then slowly withdrew.
Within moments, golden light swirled around his palms, swiftly taking form.
In the blink of an eye, a golden greatsword materialized out of thin air.
His technique was so uncanny that it left the onlookers dumbfounded.
Dustin remained silent, with a single hand, he grabbed the sword embedded in the ground, and it immediately flew into his grasp.
"Kid! I'll make you regret your choices!"
Declan raised the sword with one hand, slowly holding it across his chest, then with a sudden step, he shot forward like a cannonball, swinging fiercely towards Dustin's chest.
"Boom!"
A thunderous sound echoed.
The golden sword in Declan's hand suddenly expanded to ten meters in length, like a colossal blade from the heavens, slashing fiercely towards Dustin.
Dustin didn't flinch, lifting his sword to block.
"Clang!"
The clash of sword and blade sent sparks flying, and a terrifying explosion of energy erupted instantly.
The ground beneath Dustin's feet collapsed, shattering into a pit.
Yet, he stood upright, unharmed.
"Let's see how long you can hold on!"
Declan switched to holding the sword with both hands, pressing the blade against Dustin's sword, exerting relentless force downwards.
He attempted to use his formidable cultivation to crush Dustin directly.
"Elder Declan! Show some mercy!"
At that moment, a shout came from afar.
Declan abruptly turned his head to see Devon leading a group of people, rushing towards them.
Among them were some experts from Dragon Tiger Mountain.
"Excellent! Dragon Tiger Mountain's people have finally arrived!" Ulysses's face lit up.
"With Dragon Tiger Mountain overseeing justice, that old man Declan won't be so arrogant!" Ruby said indignantly.
"Something's not right. Declan shows no signs of backing down," Kieran frowned.
"Could he be planning to strike before the people from Dragon Tiger Mountain intervene, directly attempting to kill?" Emerald quickly realized the severity of the situation.
Given Declan's domineering nature, such an action wouldn't be beyond him.
"Die!"
At that moment, Declan's eyes flashed with malice, as the masterful energy within him surged like tidal waves, continuously infusing into the golden sword.
"Buzz!"
The golden sword began to tremble, its surface radiating brilliance.
A terrifying force relentlessly clashed against Dustin's sword, like an avalanche, unceasingly.
Emerald's guess was correct; Declan had already harbored murderous intent, preparing to deal with Dustin completely before Devon Page and his group arrived.
For this, he spared no effort, completely abandoning defense, launching a full-on assault without holding back.
"Heh..."
Facing the ferocious Declan, Dustin smirked coldly, not meeting force with force, but suddenly sidestepped.
"Boom!"
With no obstruction, Declan's golden sword slammed heavily into the ground.
Even the hard rocky surface split open, leaving a two-meter deep, tens of meters long gash.
"Roar!!"
However, just as Declan's golden sword descended, a massive shadow suddenly pounced, knocking him to the ground.
The terrifying force pinned Declan down, unable to rise.
The assailant, a towering Steelclaw in its beast form!
Chapter 2235 - "Golden Blades and Green Goo: A Sticky Situation"
The sudden onslaught of Steelclaw caught Declan completely off guard.
Before he could react, he found himself pinned to the ground.
The strength of the transformed male Steelclaw was astonishing, its claws like dark iron, and Declan, trapped underneath, struggled to break free.
In this dire moment, he had no choice but to use his own golden blade to fend off the relentless swipes of Steelclaw's claws.
"Roar~!!"
Steelclaw continued to roar incessantly.
From its blood-filled maw, greenish liquid oozed incessantly.
This viscous fluid, foul-smelling and sticky, emitted a sizzling sound as it dripped onto Declan's face.
His once unblemished skin began to rapidly decay upon contact with the green liquid.
"Ah~!"
Gritting his teeth, Declan let out a painful howl.
He had never expected Steelclaw, which had just been pierced through the chest, to recover so quickly.
In just a few minutes, the wound had completely healed, which was truly inconceivable!
To make matters worse, the beast now regarded him as a target for attack.
"Beast! Get off me!"
Declan roared, pushing with all his might against Steelclaw before him, using the back of his blade.
However, no matter how hard he pushed, it was to no avail.
The transformed Steelclaw, now at the level of an early Supreme Grandmaster, possessed exceptionally formidable strength.
In a head-on confrontation, Declan was no match.
"Roar~!!"
Steelclaw roared, its claws pressing down on the golden blade.
Its teeth, inches away from Declan's face, drew closer with each passing moment.
With its barbed tongue, it merely grazed Declan's face, tearing away a large chunk of flesh.
It was a horrifying sight to behold.
"I never expected that creature to actually save Master Dustin, truly unpredictable." Ulysses marveled.
"It seems Declan is struggling to hold his ground." Kieran squinted.
"Hmph! That old man enjoys bullying others, so it's only fitting he's ended up like this!" Ruby gloated.
"What a move to shift the attention onto others; it seems Young Master Dustin had this planned from the start." Emerald observed quietly, her eyes filled with admiration.
While others may not have realized it, she had just witnessed it very clearly.
The initial target of Steelclaw's ambush was Dustin.
However, Dustin had been prepared, evading Steelclaw's attack beforehand.
Thus, Steelclaw ended up pouncing on Declan instead.
Now, with both man and beast locked in a struggle, neither was on guard against Dustin.
As long as Dustin wished, he could easily claim both their lives.
"You scoundrel! You're truly despicable! Using this creature against me? Get it off me now!" Declan's face contorted in fury as he yelled repeatedly.
At this moment, he was pinned down by the transformed Steelclaw, unable to move, no matter how hard he struggled.
If this continued, he would inevitably be bitten to death by the creature.
"Elder Declan, you can't blame me for this. It's your own wicked deeds that have brought upon this retribution. This creature is the punishment sent by the heavens." Dustin stood nearby, watching with amusement.
Chapter 2236 - "Farewell, Foolish Elder: Declan's Legacy Consumed"
"Brat! Stop talking nonsense! Quickly kill this monster, and tonight's events, I'll pretend they never happened!" Declan roared in anger.
"Elder Declan's power is unmatched, why would I need to intervene? It would be best if you handled it yourself," Dustin remained unmoved.
Characters like Declan, who held grudges relentlessly, were better off eliminated.
Of course, if he were to take matters into his own hands, it might be troublesome. So, he chose to use another's hand to do the deed.
"Roar~!!"
At this moment, Steelclaw's blood-stained jaws were pressing lower and lower, leaving less than an inch between Declan's face and its mouth.
However, Declan was nearing exhaustion and couldn't hold on until Devon's support arrived.
Continuing like this meant certain death.
Seeing death approaching, the usually proud Declan finally surrendered.
"Young... young brother! I apologize for my offense earlier. As long as you kill this monster, I will greatly reward you afterward!" Declan urgently pleaded.
Previously he commanded, now he begged for help.
"Is that so?" Dustin raised an eyebrow.
"It is, it is!"
Declan's face lit up, thinking Dustin was about to agree, and hurriedly continued, "Young brother, I am an elder of the World Society, with power and influence. As long as you save my life, no matter what you ask for, I will fulfill it!"
"Words are wind, make an oath first," Dustin said calmly.
"Alright, alright... I swear, I will keep my promise, otherwise may heaven strike me down, is that sufficient?" Declan was sweating profusely, hands trembling visibly, clearly at his limit.
"Fist oath, even if you swear, I still don't trust you," Dustin shrugged, showing no intention to intervene.
"Are you kidding me?!" Declan almost spat out blood in anger.
A momentary lapse caused his qi to become chaotic.
Steelclaw's jaws moved another inch forward, directly biting off Declan's nose.
"Ah~!"
Declan screamed in agony, blood covering his face.
"What? You only realize now? Unfortunately, it's too late," Dustin sneered, coldness emanating from his eyes.
Arrogant bullies like him were truly not worth pitying.
"Ah~!!"
Declan roared in defiance, appearing like a madman, "Brat! I will make sure to tear you into a thousand pieces!!"
As he spoke, his arm finally gave out, collapsing.
At the same time, Steelclaw opened its bloodied jaws and forcefully bit down.
With a "crunch," Declan's entire head was swallowed by Steelclaw in one gulp.
Blood gushed from his severed neck.
Silence.
The entire scene suddenly fell silent.
Even Devon and his group, who had just arrived, couldn't help but stop in their tracks.
Each of them stared in disbelief.
None of them had expected that Declan, the formidable elder of the World Society, would die here.
And to die so gruesomely.
His entire head was devoured by the monster, not even leaving behind a complete corpse.
Chapter 2237 - "Fearsome Fur to Human Form: Steelclaw's Shapeshift"
"Dead... dead? How is that possible?!"
"Who would have thought that the esteemed Elder Declan, a prominent figure dominating the martial world, would actually meet his end at the hands of a monster? Truly unthinkable!"
"It's all because Declan was too arrogant and overbearing. Ending up in this situation is just karma."
...
Declan's death triggered a commotion throughout the assembly.
No one anticipated that the imposing figure, a person of great influence in the martial world, would meet such a sudden demise.
Tackled by a ferocious Steelclaw, he lost his head in an instant.
There was no chance for resistance, a truly bizarre turn of events.
"Declan... Elder Declan?"
Devon Page, who had just arrived, stared at the headless corpse in shock.
Regardless of strength or social standing, Declan surpassed him. Within the entire World Society, he was an invaluable member and a pillar of support.
All the disciples participating in the martial arts competition on Dragon Tiger Mountain were under Declan's jurisdiction.
His authority was immense, overshadowing countless others.
However, the once illustrious figure now lay as nothing more than a headless corpse, a sight that evoked lamentation.
"Roar!"
After devouring Declan's head, Steelclaw raised its head, letting out a thunderous roar that shook the heavens and the earth. Many warriors covered their ears, showing signs of pain.
At the Supreme Grandmaster level, even a simple sound wave attack was beyond the resistance of ordinary martial artists.
"Thud!"
Following the roar, Steelclaw's massive body collapsed as if exhausted, fainting on the spot.
Soon after, Steelclaw's size rapidly decreased, and its tough black fur retracted into its body.
Its claws, fangs, facial features, and muscles—all the beastly characteristics disappeared bit by bit.
In just a few breaths, the previously fearsome black-furred creature transformed completely back into a human appearance.
Witnessing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Steelclaw's transformation was truly terrifying.
Incredible speed, formidable strength, astonishing defense, and even a recovery ability that bordered on the inconceivable.
Regenerating a severed limb and healing a shattered heart—truly an invincible monster.
Even top-notch experts like Declan couldn't withstand its attack, let alone others.
Fortunately, the creature had exhausted its strength; otherwise, the casualties might have been much higher.
"Dustin, are you all right?"
After a brief daze, Devon finally led a group forward.
"I'm fine, but your World Society's Elder Declan seems to have encountered an unexpected event," replied Dustin calmly.
Upon hearing this, Devon's mouth twitched, momentarily at a loss for words.
This wasn't just an unexpected event; it was practically a decapitation!
"Hey! You were clearly standing next to Elder Declan when the monster attacked. Why didn't you help?!"
Chapter 2238 - "Moral Coercion and Martial Ethics"
At this moment, a young female disciple of the World Society suddenly questioned.
The female disciple was dressed in white, with a fair amount of grace, but her gaze carried a hint of sharpness.
"Why should I help?"
Dustin shrugged, boldly stating, "Elder Declan was attacked, what does that have to do with me? Why should I risk my life to save him?"
"You..."
The white-clad female disciple was taken aback, forcefully retorting, "You clearly turned a blind eye! As someone of the martial world, you have no sense of chivalry. Aren't you afraid of being ridiculed?"
"You are righteous, you possess chivalry, then why didn't you help just now?" Dustin retorted.
He detested those who engaged in moral coercion.
Clearly doing nothing, only adept at verbal arguments, yet quick to stand on a moral high ground to criticize others.
Truly nauseating.
"I was too far away just now. If I could have arrived in time, I definitely wouldn't have stood idly by like you!" The white-clad female disciple argued firmly.
"Oh? Is that so?" Dustin sneered, "Elder Declan's head is still in that guy's belly. You are so brave, so righteous, why not help Elder Declan retrieve his head and make a complete corpse? How about that?"
"What did you say?" The white-clad female disciple's expression changed.
"What? Didn't hear me clearly? Then let me repeat it."
Dustin pointed at Steelclaw lying on the ground, saying, "This guy ate Elder Declan's head. As a disciple of the World Society, helping your own elder retrieve his head to complete a corpse shouldn't be too much, right?"
Isn't this just moral coercion? I can do it too!
"I..."
The white-clad woman froze, both fearful and hesitant, not daring to approach.
One, feeling disgusted, and two, afraid that Steelclaw might suddenly wake up.
After all, she had just witnessed how ferocious it could be.
This thing could even kill Declan. What if it suddenly woke up from a shock and slaughtered her?
"What? Afraid now? As someone of the martial world, as a disciple of the World Society, can't you even handle such a trivial matter?" Dustin sarcastically remarked.
"Who... who said I'm afraid? Isn't it just digging up a head? What's so great about it!"
Provoked by Dustin's sarcasm, the white-clad female disciple immediately rose to the challenge.
"You're so courageous, then please."
Dustin extended a hand, gesturing for her to proceed, then stepped aside to watch the show.
Devon's group exchanged glances, unsure of what to do.
As disciples of the World Society, helping Elder Declan complete his corpse was indeed justifiable.
However, Steelclaw was only unconscious, not dead. Attempting to dissect it to retrieve the head was undoubtedly risky.
If they accidentally woke up this monster, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Grrr..."
The white-clad female disciple swallowed nervously, then, gripping her sword, cautiously approached Steelclaw.
At this moment, Steelclaw was completely naked, motionless, with only its chest rising and falling, breathing heavily.
"Die!"
The white-clad female disciple gritted her teeth, then suddenly thrust her sword towards Steelclaw's chest.
Before retrieving the head, she had to eliminate this potential threat to ensure everything went smoothly.
, I always wish I could master at least five languages. French is the second official language in Nigeria but hardly anyone can speak it even when we are being taught in elementary sch and junior high sch. I used to speak basic cause I had a best friend who could speak it fluently as she was from a french speaking country. But now I can't even remember the ones she taught me 
,you should be more than happy to die in our hands
