All Chapters of An Understated Dominance: Chapter 2651
- Chapter 2660
2739 chapters
Chapter 2651
When the Shardturtle's massive body surfaced, the sound of cracking ice exploded across the snowy plain like thunder. Murky lake water mixed with ice chunks erupted from below and froze into a steep ice slope along the shore. The ice covering its shell gave off a cold, blue-gray glow, with each raised plate looking like carefully carved ice rock. Its edges were sharp enough to slice through the air.Two crimson eyes swiveled around, scanning the panicked crowd on shore. When that gaze settled on Matthias, it held an almost human intelligence as it studied him with cold scrutiny."Fall back!" Neville roared, grabbing Matthias with his lone arm and dragging him backward.Having just survived the fight with the Brineclaw, Neville knew exactly how terrifying these deep-sea creatures could be. The Shardturtle before him was wider than the Surgebreaker's deck, with ice spikes hanging from its shell edges that were over ten feet long. It was clearly no ordinary beast.The soldiers pan
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Chapter 2652
Paying no heed to the Shardturtle, the spiritual stag paced toward Matthias until it stood before him. It then turned, regarded him with eyes of pale blue, and shook its head as if beckoning him to follow.Astonishment and suspicion flashed through his eyes as he murmured, "Is this spiritual stag… actually trying to save me?" The thought seemed absurd, but with the Shardturtle eyeing them like a predator, Matthias had no choice. He could only lead the group toward the stag's direction.The Shardturtle watched their retreating figures. After a brief hesitation, it finally turned and sank into the murky water, disappearing from sight.The spiritual stag led Matthias, Neville, and the others on a halting trek across the vast snowy plain until they finally arrived at the entrance of a hidden cave. The opening was sealed by a thick layer of ice. The stag exhaled a breath of white mist onto the ice, which instantly melted away, revealing the cave's mouth.Inside, the air was warm lik
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Chapter 2653
Matthias's knuckles turned white as his grip tightened on the sword hilt.The footsteps outside the cave grew closer, accompanied by heavy panting and the sharp crunch of ice. It was as if a herd of giant beasts were grinding their way across the snowy plains.Matthias signaled his soldiers to douse the torches. In the sudden darkness, the faint blue glow of the cave's mineral stones stretched the shadows of the 30-odd men into elongated silhouettes across the damp moss.Heavy, labored breaths echoed from the shadows, then several towering figures emerged. Each was at least twice as broad as an ordinary man. Their bodies were covered in long, grayish-white fur, like yarn spun from polar ice.They carried spears tipped with jagged ice crystals that gleamed in the faint light from the cave entrance, casting shifting, cold reflections across the stone walls.The burly yeti in the lead wore a string of ice beads around its neck. Each bead contained a tiny frozen animal bone that tinkl
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Chapter 2654
The cluster of igloos sprawled across the valley like a white honeycomb. Smoke from chimneys curled upward under the heavy gray sky.Matthias followed Barto into the Frostwarden Tribe's settlement. Guided by their host, the group navigated the bustling streets. The ice beneath their feet, polished to a mirror-like sheen by countless footsteps, reflected the gyrfalcon circling overhead. Yetis on either side of their path paused to salute, while children pressed against icy windows to peer out curiously. Their necks were adorned with unique necklaces of animal bone. Some were inlaid with turquoise, others wrapped in dark red resin."This is Frostfang Valley," Leopold said in a low voice. "The tribe has 8,300 yetis, divided into 12 hunting parties." He pointed toward a massive ice carving on a distant cliff. It was a three-eyed sculpture with glowing ice crystals embedded in its eye sockets. He continued, "The highest point is the crystalline citadel, their ritual site. The chieft
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Chapter 2655
Matthias' fingers lightly traced the brocade box. The cool silk beneath his touch did nothing to dry the sweat dampening his palm. He glanced at Leopold, who was drinking with Barto. Leopold threw his head back to chug a large cup of amber liquor. As his Adam's apple bobbed, his gaze flickered, almost imperceptibly, toward the copper pot stashed in the corner of the igloo.Inside was the drugged liquor they had prepared. It was concocted from a poisonous herb native to the snowy plains that emitted a faint, sweet scent. Once mixed into strong alcohol, it was nearly undetectable."Chief Barto, your alcohol tolerance is astounding," Leopold said.He slammed his empty cup onto the table, sending ice chips flying. "This 'Glacier's Kiss' hits like a hammer. Most men would be flat on their backs after three cups, yet here you stand, unshaken. No wonder they call you the Mighty Eagle of Frostwarden."Barto roared with laughter, and his amber eyes crinkled. He gave Matthias a hearty slap
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Chapter 2656
Matthias's eyes narrowed sharply, and he pressed his right hand against the hilt of his sword. His true energy instantly circulated within his body, and his breathing gradually became shallow.Neville and the soldiers immediately shifted into defensive stances. Their unsheathed longswords gleamed cold and sharp in the moonlight. The bitter wind howled through the tunnel's exit, driving sharp flakes of snow against their faces. It stung, but they ignored the discomfort.Barto's eyes were clear and alert, showing no hint of intoxication. Behind them, the yeti warriors stood in solemn silence, their ice crystal spears angled toward the ground. They had clearly been waiting for a long time."Leopold, how dare you betray the tribe!" one of the yeti warriors roared in their native tongue.Leopold's face turned ashen, and he instinctively took a step back. He knew the strength of these elite warriors well, and every one of them was a grandmaster martial artist. If a fight broke out, the
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Chapter 2657
The fierce wind whipped up snow particles like sharp gavels, pelting Matthias' face. He gripped the nearby soldier's arm so tightly that his knuckles went white.His black battle robe was already soaked through with melted snow. The frozen fabric clung to his skin, and the cold penetrated through his pores deep into his bones. He looked up, seeing only vaguely discernible outlines of the men around him amidst the blizzard. The soldier who had been swept away by the wind earlier hadn't even managed to scream for help. He disappeared completely into the blizzard, leaving only traces that were quickly covered by snow."Over here!" Leopold shouted, though his voice was nearly drowned by the howling wind.He pulled out the animal hide package Barto had given him from his coat and clutched it tightly against his chest. With his free hand, he groped for a protruding rock. "There's an ice cave here. We can wait out the storm," he said.A surge of relief washed over Matthias. He quick
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Chapter 2658
Everyone followed Leopold's gaze and saw a massive opening in the ice cliff ahead. The entrance was covered in thick layers of ice, yet a faint glow was visible from within."We're finally here," Matthias said. His eyes lit up with excitement, and he quickened his pace toward the cave.The others followed him to the entrance, which stood about 30 feet high and 20 feet wide. Inside was pitch black, with only distant light visible ahead.Leopold pulled a torch from his bag, lit it, and handed it to Matthias.Matthias took the torch and led the way into the passage. The tunnel was spacious with level ground, and glowing minerals embedded in the walls illuminated the passage.They walked slowly, their footsteps and breathing echoing in the silence. After walking for nearly an hour, the light ahead grew brighter, and they could faintly hear bird calls."We're almost there," Leopold said excitedly.A few minutes later, they finally emerged from the passage and were frozen in awe.Gon
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Chapter 2659
"You give me too much credit, Matthias. If I had any leads, would I be here meeting you by chance?" Nathaniel said with a smile.Then, he changed the subject. "Though your men look tired, their eyes are still bright. You wouldn't happen to have stumbled onto something good, would you?"As he spoke, his gaze studied Matthias carefully, searching for any telltale signs.But Matthias's expression remained unreadable. "We fought through blizzards and harsh weather, nearly losing our lives. That's hardly what I'd call stumbling onto something good," he said evenly."Blizzards and harsh weather?" Nathaniel raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "While Elysium Isle does harbor certain dangers, I've seen nothing but pleasant spring weather here. How could there be any blizzards and harsh weather?""I'm not entirely clear on the details myself. Most likely, it was some kind of pocket dimension, like those described in the ancient manuscripts. If we hadn't stumbled upon an exit by sheer luck, I ne
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Chapter 2660
Black thunder rolled through the lead-gray clouds as the Stormrider pitched like a leaf in the wind, tossed violently by the raging seas. Water mixed with shards of ice flooded the deck, whipped by the gale and striking the soldiers' armor with sharp cracks.Though Tristan was holding onto the mast, his tailored coat soaked through with seawater, he still stood tall. When he looked ahead at the island's outline growing clearer through the storm, his frown suddenly relaxed, and his gaze sharpened with newfound hope."Your Highness, it's Elysium Isle. We've arrived," Milton exclaimed excitedly.Even this shrewd elderly steward couldn't hide his elation. After their long voyage through three sea monster attacks and two occasions when they'd lost their way, the expedition had finally found the legendary island when all hope seemed lost.Elite soldiers rushed to the deck, staring at the distant land bathed in golden light. At last, they broke into the cheers they had held back for so lo
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