《Level 1 to Infinity: My Bloodline Is the Ultimate Cheat!》 Chapter 1 The Legend in the Dirt Ethan lay motionless on the cold, stained floor of his rundown apartment. The flickering light above barely illuminated the crumbling walls, the suffocating stench of mold mixing with the sharp metallic tang of blood. His blood. His breathing was ragged, his ribs screaming with every shallow inhale. His legs¡ªuseless, broken things, remained twisted at unnatural angles. The phantom ache of lost strength gnawed at him, but it was nothing compared to the agony clawing at his soul. Then came the footsteps. Heavy boots pounded against the floorboards. The door to his apartment had already been shattered, the lock nothing more than twisted metal hanging from splintered wood. A group of men entered, their shadows looming in the dim light. "Finally found you, you crippled rat," one of them sneered. Ethan barely turned his head to look at them. He already knew who sent them. "Zachary," he muttered, voice hoarse from disuse. The name alone earned him a savage kick to the ribs. His body convulsed from the impact, but he refused to give them the satisfaction of a scream. One of the thugs crouched down, grabbing him by the hair and yanking his head up. "Damn, look at you. You used to be a legend. Now you''re just some cripple wasting away in filth." Another laughed. "This is pathetic. I heard you don''t even log into Ethereal anymore. Guess reality hit too hard, huh?" Ethan chuckled weakly, blood staining his lips. "Guess so." The thug snarled and slammed his head against the floor. Stars burst in Ethan''s vision. Then, one of them spotted something on the bed. A battered, outdated VR headset. "Look at this trash," he said, picking it up and turning it over in his hands. "This is what you''ve been reduced to? Playing with scraps?" A cruel idea must''ve crossed his mind, because a wicked grin spread across his face. "Let''s see if your pathetic ass can still escape into a game," he said, jamming the headset onto Ethan''s head with brute force. The device whirred to life. Ethan barely had time to process the humiliation before a system notification flickered into his vision. ¡ª [Quest Update!] You have been transported to your last active location in Ethereal. ¡ª His surroundings dissolved into darkness. ¡ª When Ethan opened his eyes again, he was no longer in his decaying apartment. He was deep underground, swallowed by endless darkness. The cold air was thick with dust, the only sound the faint echo of dripping water somewhere in the distance. The mine. A sharp weight rested in his hand, a pickaxe. His hands, once trembling and weak, now held callouses formed from years of labor, despite being a game character. A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. Three years. He had spent three goddamn years, mining this forsaken place, all for a single objective. Finding the last piece of Titanite. He had long given up. The quest had turned into an endless, mind-numbing task, breaking him more thoroughly than even his enemies in reality. But now, the system had dragged him back. Mocking him. He considered throwing the pickaxe away, but deep inside, something refused to let go. A flicker of stubbornness. "¡­Screw it." Summoning the last thread of motivation, Ethan raised the pickaxe and swung. The metallic clang echoed through the chamber. Over and over, he swung, muscles aching, sweat mixing with the grime on his skin. Each impact sent shards flying, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Then¡ª Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Crack. A distinct sound, different from the usual grinding of stone. Something broke. Ethan''s heart lurched. His hands trembled as he reached down, brushing away the loose debris. And there it was. Aglowing shard of Titanite. A system notification flashed before his eyes. ¡ª Ding¡­ [Congratulations, you''ve discovered a rare item: Titanite!] ¡ª Ethan exhaled shakily, as his eyes brightened at this flash from the system notification. His lips twitched into an exasperated smile. "Three years¡­ Three years of my life, and I''ve finally done it. One thousand shards complete." His eyes gleamed with a mix of exhaustion and anticipation. What kind of reward would he get for this grueling quest? A legendary weapon? A unique Ability? He needed something, just anything that could change his current situation. Whatever it was, he didn''t care. As long as it gave him a way to rise again. ''Avalon Vanguard Guild,'' he though as his expression darkened. I''ll make you regret every betrayal. And then there was Zachary and Ivy, the traitorous pair who had ruined his life. "You''ll pay for what you did. Both of you.'' Yet, as the euphoria threatened to settle in, reality crashed down on him. His real body, back in his apartment, was still being beaten. Pain rippled through him, even here. He could feel every punch, every kick landing on his ribs, his arms, his face. His tormentors were still destroying him. ''I don''t have time.'' He knew what came next. The final step of the quest. With no hesitation, Ethan pulled out a dagger from his inventory. And drove it into his chest. His health plummeted to zero. Darkness consumed him. ¡ª He had expected to wake up in front of the Angel of Resurrection. But there was nothing. Just endless, suffocating blackness. Ethan floated in the void, weightless. The silence was deafening, pressing against his mind. Something was wrong. Then, a system notification flashed. ¡ª [The Final Judgment has begun.] ¡ª A slow realization crawled into his mind. The Titanite¡­ he had completed the quest, but this wasn''t resurrection. This was something more. The darkness around him trembled, like a cocoon beginning to break. Ethan felt something within him shift, something fundamental. Then came the final notification. Ding¡­ [Congratulations! You''ve completed the unique hidden quest: ''The Angel''s Salvation.'' Reward: The thing you desired most.] Ethan''s breath hitched. His eyes locked onto the notification, his body trembling from both exhaustion and pain. "The thing I desire most?" he muttered. What the hell did that even mean? After years of grinding through this brutal quest, he''d expected a weapon, a skill, or something that could help him rise again. But this? What kind of vague reward was this supposed to be? Before he could even begin to comprehend it, a brilliant light erupted around him. A searing, all-consuming heat engulfed his body. It wasn''t like the pain of revival he had grown accustomed to. This was deeper, more primal, like his very soul was being reforged. He screamed, but no sound came out. His vision blurred, the agony reaching its peak until¡ª Nothing. Just an empty, endless darkness as his consciousness faded. ¡ª Ethan woke with a violent gasp. His entire body jerked upright, lungs heaving as if he''d been drowning. Sweat clung to his skin, but beneath it, he felt something else, warmth. Like embers cooling after being doused in water. His pulse pounded in his ears as he blinked rapidly, struggling to adjust. Then, he froze. The damp, mold-ridden ceiling of his rundown apartment was gone. So were the cracked walls, the flickering lightbulb, and, most unsettling of all, the men who had been mutilating him just moments ago. Instead, he was here. A cramped studio dorm. A faint smell of cheap air fresheners. The familiar sight of a battered desk shoved against the wall. A bed, small and worn-out but neat. Ethan''s breath hitched. He knew this place. His fingers clenched the bedsheets as a flood of memories crashed into him. This was his old dorm. The one he had rented in college. The very same place where he had spent his days with Ivy before everything had gone to hell. His hands trembled. His mind reeled. What the hell was happening? Ethan scrambled for the phone on the bedside table. The screen came to life, the date displayed on it was October 9, 2024. "No way¡­" his voice came out in whispers as he shook his head in disbelief. Desperate for a confirmation, he threw open the door and rushed to the next apartment, immediately banging on the door. After a moment, it opened revealing a girl about his age. Her messy hair and puffy eyes made it obvious that she had just woken up "Uh¡­ can I help you?" she asked with a frown. Ethan stared at her as he struggled to suppress his shock. He recognized her. She was a fellow student, someone from his program. "Lyla," he blurted out, the name slipping from his lips before he could even stop himself. She blinked. "How do you know my name?" "It doesn''t matter," Ethan said quickly, waving her question away. "What day is it today? Please, just tell me!" Lyla looked at him like he was insane, but answered anyway. "It''s¡­ October 9, 2024." Before she could say another word Ethan bolted back to his room, slamming the door shut behind him. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he looked at his trembling hands. "I''ve really... gone back in time," he whispered, the reality finally sinking in. His thoughts turned to the quest reward, the cryptic description burned into his mind: ''The thing you desire most.'' A bitter laugh escaped his lips. He had wanted power, a legendary item, a unique skill, something to help him climb back to the top. Instead, he had been granted the one thing he never dared hope for, a second chance. As memories of the past rolled in his mind, his gaze drifted to his legs. His chest tightened. Three years ago, those bastards had crippled him, leaving him with nothing but shattered dreams and burning hatred. Zachary had orchestrated the attack, but with no evidence, the authorities had done nothing. Ethan had barely escaped with his life, fleeing from Ember city to avoid the murderous schemes that kept flying his way. His mind swirled with memories, sharp and raw. October 8th, the day Ivy had ended things with him. The breakup had shattered him, blindsiding him with no warning. By the afternoon of October 9th, desperate and unaware of the betrayal yet to fully unfold, he had gone to Zachary to borrow money. Not knowing that Zachary was the one Ivy dumped him for. Now, things were different. Clenching his fists, Ethan focused on the date again: October 9th, 2024. Tomorrow was the day it all began. Chapter 2 Quite An Unexpected Path By late 2024, the gaming industry had been completely consumed by one name: Aeon Corporation A tech giant that had bulldozed its way to dominance, Aeon acquired every major gaming company worldwide. By then, the world hadn''t seen a new game launch for over six months. Rumors spread like wildfire, Aeon was working on something massive. And they weren''t wrong... Three months ago, on July 6, 2024, Aeon made the announcement that rocked the globe: A fully immersive 100% realistic virtual reality game. The game named Ethereal, was set to launch at midnight on October 10th, 2024.. Skepticism flooded social media and news outlets. Experts questioned the safety of such technology, while others doubted that such an ambitious project could have been developed in just six months. Some even called for governments to ban its release, citing potential risks to mental health and societal stability. But the response from world governments? Silence. By the time Aeon''s unrelenting marketing campaign began, the so called experts had mysteriously quieted down. For three months, advertisements were everywhere: on billboards, streaming platforms, and even augmented reality displays Yet, no one knew anything about the game itself. There were no trailers, no gameplay footage, no backstory, just one cryptic tagline: sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The world you''ve always dreamed of¡­ awaits." Speculation was rampant. Was it a fantasy game? A sci-fi adventure? A survival challenge? Most leaned toward the first option, guessing that a title like Ethereal hinted at a magic-filled, otherworldly experience. But Ethan knew better. He had lived it. This wasn''t just an ordinary game, it was the future. Ethereal wasn''t about casting spells or slaying dragons. It was a brutal survival world, a stage for power struggles, alliances, betrayals, and unimaginable rewards. Ethan clenched his fists as his heart churned with anticipation. He had four years of experience from his past life, he knew the locations of hidden quests, legendary items and shortcuts through dungeons. He knew every exploit every strategy to dominate the game''s economy, and every way to climb to the top. This was his chance to rise again. But there was one massive problem. ''How the hell am I going to get a VR headset?'' Ethan glanced at the clock. In his previous life, right now, hed have been on his way to Zachary''s apartment to borrow money. All for the cheapest, most basic headset that would allow him to log into Ethereal. He winced at the memory. What a joke. The clown was me all along. Checking his pockets, Ethan fished out a crumpled wad of cash. About 8 dollars and fifty cents. He was still $1,491.50 short of even the most affordable headset. His frustration boiled over. Here he was, reborn with all the knowledge and determination he needed to dominate Ethereal, but without the means to even log in. The thought of waiting six months for Aeon''s universal distribution program, when the company would give every citizen a free headset, made his blood run cold. ''I can''t wait that long. The opportunities in the first six months are too critical. I''ll miss out on everything!'' His spiraling thoughts were interrupted by a sharp knock on the door. Knock, knock, knock. Ethan frowned, rising to answer. He opened the door, and froze. Standing in front of him was Lyla, the girl from next door. But it wasn''t even her presence that shocked him, it was what she was holding. A pristine, sleek VR headset. Model 207. Ethan''s breath caught. He remembered this headset. It was the exact one Lyla had gifted him in his previous life. But back then, it had been six months after they''d become close friends. Why was it here now? "Um¡­ hi," Lyla stammered, her face held a deep blush. "I just moved in, so¡­ I thought I''d give you a little gift as a thank you for, uh, welcoming me." Ethan''s mind raced, overlapping memories of the past and present. In his previous life, she had smiled brightly when she handed him the headset and said: "Thanks for looking out for me these past six months, Ethan. This is just my way of saying thanks!" But now? ''Why would she give this to me now, before we''ve even had the chance to know each other'' "Uh¡­Hello?" Lyla waved her hand in front of his face, snapping him back to reality. "Ah! Yes, thank you, Lyla," Ethan said hastily, reaching out to take the headset. Her blush deepened as she handed it over. "Well, I''ll¡­ I''ll let you get back to whatever you were doing. See you around!" And just like that, she spun on her heel and darted back to her apartment as sge closed the door behind her with a soft click. "...." Ethan closed his own door, leaning against it as he stared at the device in his hands. "Did she¡­ always have this headset prepared?" he muttered, his mind racing. "If she did¡­ why did she wait six months to give it to me last time? What was she waiting for?" He shook his head, dismissing the thoughts that ran through his mind. With his current situation, he wasn''t the kind of guy to attract attention from women, let alone gifts like this. ''No sense in overthinking it.'' With trembling hands, Ethan tore open the packaging, his heart was pounding as the headset''s sleek surface graced his view. This was it. He lay back on his creaky bed, the VR headset snug over his face. The countdown to Ethereal''s official launch ticked away in his mind. Ten minutes. He tried to steady his racing thoughts. This was it. His chance to reclaim everything he''d lost. Five¡­ four¡­ three¡­ two¡­ one¡ª Ding¡­ "You''re here, kid." There was no dramatic intro screen. No character creation. No guide NPC to welcome him. Instead, Ethan found himself face-to-face with a ragged old man, his tattered sleves and singed beard giving him the appearance of someone who''d just crawled out of an explosion. "Uh¡­" Ethan blinked. His brain struggled to process what he was seeing. The old man chuckled, a knowing glint in his eye. "Didn''t think you''d be so surprised, considering everything you''ve been through. Then again, you''re the only one who passed the test." "The¡­ test?" Ethan echoed, his stomach knotting with unease. The old man nodded. "That''s right. You''re here because you completed the ''Angel''s Salvation'' quest." Ethan''s breath caught. "Back when I designed that quest, I made sure the activation requirement was no joke. Over 1,000 deaths, within the time limit, of course. And you''re the only player stubborn enough to pull it off. That takes some serious grit." The old man''s tone was casual, as though recounting a mildly interesting story. Ethan, however, was less amused. He remembered the leaderboard from his previous life, where his name sat at the top under Most Deaths¡ª1,389 times. The runner-up? A distant 287. At the time, people had joked about him being a masochist. A few players had even tried to grind deaths to climb the leaderboard, but none lasted long. The pain was too real. Ethereal''s death system didn''t just simulate physical pain; it simulated fear, despair, and the primal terror of dying. It was rumored that the second-place player had gone insane after his 200th death. "So¡­ no one else can trigger this quest, huh?" Ethan muttered. The old man shook his head. "Nope. You''re one of a kind, kid. I know you''ve got questions, but now''s not the time for answers." Ethan frowned but said nothing, sensing there was no point in arguing. The old man continued. "As the only one who passed, you''ve earned the right to three Devine Abilities. But there''s a catch: your class is locked to Druid." "Druid?" Ethan''s skepticism was immediate. In his previous life, Druids had been the laughingstock of the game. Sure, they could shift between six forms, A Bear, Panther, Owl, Tree, Stag, and Human, but every form was outclassed by another profession: The Bear couldn''t tank like a proper shield-wielder. The Panther lacked the versatility of a Rogue. The Owl couldn''t out-damage a Mage. The Tree wasn''t half as effective at healing as a Priest. The Stag? It had no combat abilities whatsoever. The only thing it could do was move fast¡­ and act as a mount for others. And in Human Form, Druids couldn''t use skills from their other forms, rendering them almost useless. The community''s verdict had been unanimous: a Druid could do everything, but none of it well. "Jack of all trades, master of none" was an understatement. Many who chose the class at launch ended up quitting or pivoting to non-combat roles like crafting and gathering. After all, Ethereal didn''t allow players to delete their characters and start over. Now, this strange old man wanted to saddle him with the worst class in the game? Ethan''s gut reaction was pure resistance. "I''m not sure about this¡­" "Relax, kid," the old man said, waving dismissively. "You''re not like the others. As the sole victor of the trial, your Druid class will start with an additional +10 to all attributes." Ethan''s protests faltered. +10 to every stat? That was¡­ absurd. No other class came close to that level of baseline growth. The old man''s tone shifted, growing somber. "You''ll need that edge, trust me. Five years from now, when the Ethereal Cataclysm arrives, the world as you know it will end. This game isn''t just a game, kid. It''s a glimpse into what comes after, a world reborn a millennium after the fall of civilization." Ethan''s head spun. "Wait, what? Are you saying¡ª" The old man cut him off. "You''ll understand in time. For now, just remember: choose Druid. It''s the only way forward." Before Ethan could object, the old man'' ascended through the air, his ragged clothes bubbling in the wind as he disappeared. "...." The world around Ethan dissolved, replaced by a familiar interface and the stirring orchestral music of the Ethereal login screen. "Protect the world, my ass," Ethan muttered, glaring at the character creation screen. "What kind of deception is this? End of the world, my foot. If that means a world as cool as Ethereal, then bring it on!" Ding¡­ [You have selected the class: Druid. Please customize your character''s name.] Ethan''s mind was still reeling from the old man''s words when the system prompt blinked in the corner of his vision. "What the hell? You said I could choose Druid! At least let me pick it myself! What''s with the forced assignment?" Ding¡­ [The character name ''What the Hell? You Said I Could Choose Druid! At Least Let Me Pick It Myself!'' is unavailable. Please try again.] Ethan let out a long sigh, muttering under his breath, "This is just ridiculous." After a moment of thought, he typed in: NotADruid. It felt like his last act of rebellion. Ding¡­ [Character created successfully. Logging into the Northern Frontier Region, Dragonspire. Please wait¡­] Ethan''s lips twitched into a faint smile. The Northern Frontier. Same as his previous life. He knew every nook, cranny, and secret quest in this Region. Ding¡­ [Welcome to Starter Zone 1314.] His eyes lit up. This was it! The same Region where he''d stumbled upon the hidden quest that rewarded him with the mythical Wishbound Relic in his past life, a treasure that had both elevated him to legendary status and ultimately led to his downfall. For a moment, he''d worried he might spawn in a different village. But luck seemed to be on his side. Ding¡­ [Activating Divine Bloodline: King of Elves.] "Bloodline? What the hell happened to the Divine Abilities?" Ethan groaned. He barely had enough money to survive tomorrow, let alone make sense of whatever "bloodline" meant. He opened his inventory, hoping for something useful. Inside, he found three items: a coarse linen shirt, tattered grass sandals, and a wooden staff with a pathetic attack stat of 2. Disappointment flickered across his face. He''d been hoping for three activation scrolls for the promised Divine Abilities, something he could sell for cash and live like a king for at least a month. But it turned out to be something else. With a resigned sigh, Ethan equipped the ragged shirt and sandals. No stats, but at least he wouldn''t be walking around barefoot. He gripped the wooden staff and opened his character stats. --- [NotADruid] Class: Druid Race: Human Level: 1 Faction: Unaligned Bloodline: King of Elves (Divine) Strength: 2 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Increases physical attack. Intelligence: 2 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Increases magical attack and mana capacity. Agility: 2 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Increases attack and movement speed. Stamina: 2 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Increases defense. Vitality: 2 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Increases max health. Physical Attack: 2¨C6 Magical Attack: 2¨C4 Physical Defense: 2¨C4 Magical Defense: 2¨C4 Health: 40 Experience: 0/100 General Skills: Basic Appraisal (Inspect monsters up to 5 levels above your own.) --- Curious, Ethan navigated to the bloodline section, this was a feature he''d never seen in his previous life. --- [Bloodline: King of Elves (Divine)] (Unique) Passive Bonus: +10 Star Growth to all attributes. Bloodline Ability (stacks with player talents): Focus (Divine): Increases skill effectiveness by 50%. Prophecy (Divine): Grants +10 distributable stat points per level. Growth (Divine): Doubles experience gained from quests and monster kills. Description: The peace-loving Elven race has left an indelible mark on every recorded Holy War. Though they cherish tranquility, their valor in battle is unparalleled. --- Chapter 3 Predator Among Prey Ethan stared at the screen in disbelief. The Abilities the old man talked about were related to this Bloodline? And these abilities¡­ they were absurd. Pairing Prophecy with his +10 attribute growth, it meant his potential was off the charts. By the late game, he''d be unstoppable. And Growth? That Ability alone had propelled players to legendary status in his previous life. He recalled the #1 player on the global rankings¡ªa priest class who dominated for four years straight. That guy''s secret? A single Divine growth Ability, which kept him a staggering 20 levels ahead of everyone else. It didn''t matter whether it was one-on-one combat or massive battlefield showdowns; his level advantage crushed all opposition. As for Focus, it had been a cornerstone of the infamous Arcane Mage. That player had used it to devastating effect, turning a single mana bar into enough firepower to annihilate bosses in seconds. Sure, the mage needed perfect conditions to fully unleash his Ability, but when he did? Nothing survived. Now, Ethan had all three Abilities. If he could acquire duplicates of his stats later, the stacking bonuses would make him a walking apocalypse. Suddenly, his resentment over being forced into the Druid class melted away. "First things first," Ethan muttered. He needed to retrace his steps and secure the hidden quest for the Wishbound Relic. This time, though, he wouldn''t let its secrets ruin him. Transforming into his Panther form, a skill that boosted his movement speed by 30%, he shifted into a sleek, dark feline. His fur was pitch-black, almost blending into the shadows. He grinned, as his feline ears twitched. "Time to rewrite history." Ethan''s sudden transformation startled everyone around him. The sight of his predatory figure even caused oneyoung woman to let out a surprised yelp. Testing his new limbs, Ethan groaned. Walking on all fours wasn''t exactly comfortable, and he felt the awkward sway of his unfamiliar form. His first few steps felt clumsy, out of sync, earning him a few puzzled looks. "Wait, why is there a druid in the Starter Zone?" "Yeah, isn''t that some kind of system glitch?" The murmurs started, whispers spreading among the crowd as they pointed at him. Ethan ignored them, striding past with his tail swishing. He left the crowded village, thankful he had chosen the druid class. He remembered how, in his past life, it had taken him over thirty minutes just to push through the throng of players clogging the village exit. Now, in his panther form, he He made a point of slipping beneath the crowd as scandalized yelps followed him. This life seemed to be starting quite eventfully. Outside the Starter Zone, chaos reigned. The sight of countless players crowding around low-level monsters was overwhelming. The moment a Level 1 larva respawned, a swarm of players descended on it, tearing it apart before it could even twitch. For most of them, this was their first foray into a fully immersive VR world, with its 100% realism. The visceral thrill and adrenaline rush of the experience were enough to hook anyone. Ethan couldn''t help but recall his own first experience in the game. Like them, he''d wasted ten fruitless minutes competing for scraps before finally heading deeper into the forest in desperation. But not this time. This time, he had the advantage of foresight. He knew the Starter Village was just the prologue to a much larger event. At 1:00 AM, the system would initiate a cataclysmic event: the Ethereal Cataclysm. The world would be reshaped, and every player would be transported ten thousand years into the future, to a newly-formed planet called Gemini. Gemini was the result of a catastrophic collision between Earth''s twin, Luna, and an advanced tech world known as Azure. Rather than obliterating one another, the two planets had fused into a figure-eight-shaped superworld. The aftermath left one half, Azure, bathed in eternal light, while the other, Terra, remained shrouded in perpetual darkness. Survivors of the Cataclysm were sent to Azure, assigned to the Survivor Faction. Those who died during the event were resurrected on Terra, forced into the Carnage Faction. After the prologue, players should have had the freedom to choose their factions upon creating new characters. But the system''s forced allocation had caused an uproar. Protests flooded Aeon Corporation''s forums, with players demanding the right to pick their sides. Aeon''s response was blunt: "This is the world''s only 100% immersive VR game. There won''t be another. Play it or don''t¡ªit''s up to you." Ethan''s lips twisted in a faint smile at the memory. During his last life, an NPC had once said that the Cataclysm event was a prediction of real-world events five years into the future. He''d laughed it off then, and even now, the idea seemed absurd. Sure, he had been reborn, but attributing the in-game occurrence to the real world, that was a leap he wasn''t ready to make. Leaving the noisy crowds behind, Ethan ventured toward a more secluded area where wild boars roamed. By now, most players had already claimed the easier hunting zones. "Damn that old man," he muttered under his breath. Being held up by an NPC earlier had cost him precious time. Even the Level 3 zones were swarming with players now. Reaching the outer fringes of the forest, Ethan silently prayed. Please don''t let anyone have found it yet. In his previous life, he''d stumbled into this area by accident after failing to secure any kills near the village. When the Cataclysm struck, he''d fallen into a hollow tree, triggering a hidden quest. The incident not only saved him from the apocalyptic chaos but also ensured his transfer to the Survivor Faction on Azure. Now, standing at the entrance to the forest''s Level 5 zone, Ethan eyed the three wolves blocking his path. Their names glowed red, a warning that these were aggressive creatures. The hollow tree lay just beyond them. Back then, the Cataclysm had wiped out all monsters, allowing him to stumble into the tree unchallenged. But now, with twenty minutes remaining until the event, those wolves were a very real obstacle. And with only 40 HP, Ethan didn''t fancy his odds. He grimaced, tightening his resolve. "Screw it." Transforming into his panther form, Ethan crouched low. We''re both predators here. Maybe they won''t notice me. Maybe. The wolves noticed. The moment Ethan moved, the three wolves snarled, leaping toward him in unison. This was it. Timing was everything. At the last second, Ethan kicked off with his hind legs, curling his body into a tight ball. He rolled under the wolves in one fluid motion, slipping beneath their snapping jaws and clawed paws. The wolves landed with a thud, growling as they turned to look for their prey. But their sharp eyes found no trace of the oversized black cat that had just barrel-rolled past them. By then, Ethan was already lying in a crumpled heap at the bottom of the hollow tree, groaning in pain. In his last life, this fall had left him with a miserable 3 HP. This time, his panther form''s passive ability to reduce fall damage had helped, but he still lost a third of his health. His dramatic roll to dodge the wolves had nearly snapped his spine. He massaged his aching back, cursing under his breath. Sure, the pain in Ethereal was only 20% of what you''d feel in real life, but it was still enough to leave him gasping and unable to stand for a good few moments. --- Ding¡­ [You''ve discovered the Burial Site of the Master Blacksmith Ryan. Hidden quest: The Wishbound Relic triggered. Accept?] "Accept!" Ethan said without hesitation. This was the whole reason he''d come here. --- Quest Name: The Wishbound Relic Quest Objective: Retrieve the relic of Master Blacksmith Ryan from the depths of the cave. Rewards: Experience: +600 EXP Item: Wishbound Relic --- Before Ethan could celebrate, a startled scream echoed from above. A cascade of dirt and loose rocks tumbled down, followed by a pudgy figure crashing into the tree hollow. "Crap!" Ethan rolled to the side just in time to avoid being flattened. ''That was close,'' he thought, his heart racing. Someone else had made it here already! Still, Ethan wasn''t worried. Hidden quests in Ethereal were unique, no one else could trigger this one now that he had claimed it. Shifting back into his panther form, he activated his only skill: Pounce and Rend. The player, still sprawled on the ground, barely had time to react. -3 HP A tiny damage number floated above the stranger''s head. His health dropped to zero, and his body disintegrated into a flash of white light. --- Ding¡­ [You''ve killed player "LuckIsASkill." Sin Value +1.] --- Ethan smirked at the irony of the guy''s username. "Luck is a skill, that''s quite right. If you hadn''t run into me, maybe this relic would''ve been yours. In Ethereal, killing another player from your faction increased your Sin Value. At 5 points or higher, you''d become red-named, marking you as a criminal. Red-named players faced harsher penalties upon death, including the loss of all their equipped items. Fortunately, one point wasn''t enough to cause trouble, and Ethan figured he could clear it later by grinding monsters. He grabbed a red health potion the player had dropped and made a dash deeper into the cave. Two minutes later, Ethan emerged from the hollow tree, clutching his prize: sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. --- Wishbound Relic Description: A legendary item forged by the daughter of Master Blacksmith Ryan, who sacrificed her flesh and blood to create it. Effect: Enhances any equipment. Adds a fixed 50% success rate to all equipment upgrades. Removes all gold costs during upgrades. Prevents equipment destruction upon failure. Prevents downgrade penalties upon failure. Guarantees success after three failed attempts. Durability: Infinite. Restrictions: Cannot be traded, stored, or destroyed. Drops upon death. --- Anyone who had ever played a game with an upgrade system knew how infuriatingly random it could be. In Ethereal, equipment upgrades maxed out at +30, with bonus attributes added at every tenth level. The problem? Each failed attempt reset the equipment''s level back to zero. Stories of players losing their fortunes chasing the elusive +30 were legendary. Ethan couldn''t help but grin as he stared at the box shaped relic in his inventory. ''This little box just turned me into a god of upgrades.'' He glanced at the time. Only a few minutes remained before the system broadcasted a global alert, instructing players to find shelter. During the Cataclysm, the only safe places were within the Starter Village or designated shelters like this tree hollow. Ethan had no intention of leaving. In his previous life, hiding here had saved him, allowing him to be transported to Azure as a Survivor. Opening his settings menu, he enabled the game''s auto-play feature, letting his character remain logged in while he took a break. He wasn''t about to risk logging out; too many players in the past had tried to outsmart the system, only to wake up assigned to the Carnage Faction. With a satisfied sigh, Ethan removed his VR headset and leaned back, the image of the relic still etched in his mind. Chapter 4 The First Step to Dominance Ethan left his room and knocked on the door next to his. After a moment, the door cracked open, revealing Lyla in a pink tank top and shorts. "Ethan?" she asked, blinking sleepily. Ethan cleared his throat, trying not to notice how casual her attire was. "Uh, yeah. Listen, are you playing Ethereal too? If so, make sure you stay in the Starter Village. If you''re already outside, get back immediately. Whatever happens, don''t log out." Ethan remembered how she had confided in him months after they became friends, saying she had been assigned to the Carnage Faction. She hated the constant gloom of that side and rarely logged in. She''d never shared her in-game ID, due to communication restrictions between factions. That was why Ethan had come to warn her directly. "Oh? Why is that?" Lyla asked, opening the door fully, curiosity lighting up her face. "Just trust me, okay? It''s important. By the way, what''s your in-game ID?" "Alright¡­ It''s Moonbeam," she said with a shrug. "Got it. I''ll send you a friend request soon." With a quick wave, Ethan turned to leave. But as he took a step toward his apartment, something clicked in his mind. "Wait¡ª''Moonbeam''?!" He spun around, but Lyla had already shut her door. Could it really be her? Even as Ethan slipped on his VR headset to log back into the game, he couldn''t shake the thought. Was Lyla truly Moonbeam? In his previous life, he''d encountered a player named Moonbeam while hunting monsters in the wilderness. She had been assigned the same quest as him, and her archer skills far outpaced his rogue abilities. Frustrated, he''d considered attacking her to steal the kills, but before he could act, she had sent him a party invite. That moment had led to a friendship that turned into an unforgettable story. But why had she hidden her identity from him back then? His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden notification. --- Ding! [System Alert: The Cataclysm is imminent. Seek shelter immediately. Countdown: 1 minute.] [System Alert: Starter Experience ending. All levels will reset to 0 as the official expansion begins. Countdown: 1 minute.] [System Alert: Experience multiplier during Starter Experience is 15x. The multiplier will return to normal in the official expansion.] --- Ethan shook his head, jolted from his thoughts by the constant stream of system notifications. Ding, ding, ding¡­ The World Chat exploded with messages: "What''s going on?" "They''re dropping an expansion just an hour after launch?!" "Are you kidding me? I''m already Level 4, and now you''re resetting me?!" "Didn''t you morons read? It''s called the Starter Experience!" "Hah, serves you right! Thank goodness I haven''t even started farming yet!" The chat devolved into chaos, filled with complaints, laughter, and taunts. Ethan muted the World Chat and took a deep breath. --- The countdown hit zero, and the world went dark. When the screen brightened again, a deafening alarm blared in Ethan''s ears. "Warning! Warning! Aircraft crash imminent. Parachute deployment required in 1 minute¡­" All around him, other players rushed toward the rear hatch of the aircraft, jumping one by one. Ethan shook his head. "Yeah, not falling for that again." In his past life, he''d learned the truth about this spawn point. The "imminent crash" never actually happened. The plane would just keep flying on an endless loop. In fact, a famous post from the forums told the story of a player who had fallen asleep on autopilot and woken up hours later, still onboard. Ignoring the frantic crowd, Ethan pushed his way forward to the cockpit. There, he found the dead pilot slumped over the controls. "Just an NPC," Ethan muttered, pulling the pilot out of the seat. He rummaged through the corpse''s belongings, taking anything useful. If the system had allowed it, he''d have stripped him down to his boxers. This was another rare discovery Ethan had learned about in his previous life: looting the pilot''s gear. The equipment was on par with Level 5 items, but that wasn''t the real prize. The pilot''s wristwatch was a key item for unlocking a critical hidden quest later on. Satisfied with his haul, Ethan grabbed a parachute and headed for the hatch. He calculated the plane''s trajectory carefully before leaping into the sky. His target was the true Starter Safe Zone: Evercrest Town. The last time, Ethan had panicked during the alarm and jumped at random, only to land miles away. It had taken him three hours of running to reach the town. This time, he was determined not to waste time. The town was essential to activating key systems in the game: quest hubs, monster spawns, and even level progression. As the silhouette of Evercrest Town grew larger below, Ethan timed his descent. When he was 100 meters from the ground, he deployed his parachute, gliding smoothly toward his destination. "I guess I''m about to be the first ever Panther to attempt sky diving." Ethan shifted into his panther form mid-air causing the parachute to deactivate. With a resounding thud, he hit the ground, the passive skill Feline Grace activating to reduce fall damage by 80%. Even so, his health bar plummeted, leaving him with barely 10% remaining. If he''d been any other class, falling 100 meters without parachute would''ve resulted in instant death. --- Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. System Announcement: [Player "NotADruid" is the first to arrive at the Safe Zone: Evercrest Town.] System Announcement: [The 1314 Starter Zone Bounty Board is now active. Players can pick up quests from the Task Hall in Evercrest Town.] --- Ethan''s destination was clear: the Task Hall. Unlike old-school games with linear quest chains, Ethereal centralized all NPC bounty tasks on a shared board in the town. But there was a catch¡ªbounty tasks had a daily limit. If you were late, you''d have to settle for scraps, like farming monster drops for resource collection. Worse, by the time you returned with the materials, the NPC might''ve already met their quota, making all your efforts worthless. --- Ding! [System Notification: Achievement Unlocked ¨C "Discoverer of Evercrest Town." As the first player to reach Evercrest Town, you gain +200 NPC Affinity within the town and +200 Reputation with Humanity.] --- This was the reward Ethan had been aiming for. NPC affinity was one of the hardest stats to grind. Without high affinity, even knowing how to trigger hidden quests was useless¡ªNPCs wouldn''t even give you the option. After accepting 20 high-priority tasks from the bounty board¡ªthe maximum his quest log could hold, Ethan was ready to head out. --- He sprinted out of the gate toward his first destination: the abandoned power plant. This location was key. It allowed him to complete four tasks at once. All the quests he''d selected were clustered in nearby areas, maximizing efficiency. As he approached the plant, two Level 2 guard dogs prowled the entrance. With a quick flick, Ethan cast Basic Appraisal. --- [Corrupted Hound] Type: Common Level: 2 Physical Attack: 10 Physical Defense: 2 Magic Defense: 2 Health: 30 Abilities: Rend: Slashes the target with claws, causing a bleeding effect that deals 10% of attack damage per second for 8 seconds. Description: A hound corrupted by dark energy, wild and aggressive. It attacks any living being within its sight. --- There was no getting past these dogs without taking them down. Ethan glanced at his own stats. With the pilot''s gear equipped, his physical defense was now at an impressive 12. The hounds'' attacks wouldn''t even scratch him¡ªthey''d only deal the minimum damage of 1 HP per hit. Confident, Ethan lunged at the first hound. --- Shred! Shred! -16! -14! The first hound let out a dying howl, collapsing into a puff of digital smoke. --- Ding! [You''ve killed "Corrupted Hound." Gained 4 EXP (including +2 EXP from Divine Ability).] --- Ethan paused, momentarily stunned by the damage he''d dealt. "Wait¡­ why is my attack so high?" The second hound lunged at him, breaking his train of thought. Ethan rolled to the side, dodging its claws with practiced ease. --- Shred! -16! Shred! System Notification: [Insufficient Energy. Skill use unavailable.] --- Ethan cursed under his breath. The Shred ability cost 40 energy per use, and his energy had dropped to 5, slowly regenerating at a rate of 10 per second. Forced to rely on basic attacks, Ethan swiped at the hound with his claws. -4! Ducking and weaving, he avoided the hound''s attacks while chipping away at its health with regular strikes. Years of experience as a rogue in his past life had honed his reflexes, making dodging second nature. After a few more claw swipes, the second hound collapsed with a faint whimper, awarding another 4 EXP. Ethan scooped up the loot: 2 copper coins and a chunk of raw meat. He opened his skill menu to review Shred. --- [Shred] Effect: Deals 200% physical damage. --- Combined with his Divine Ability, Focus, which increased skill effectiveness by 50%, the total damage skyrocketed to 300%. "That explains why I one-shot a Level 2 monster," Ethan muttered, a faint smirk playing on his lips. The power of his Divine Ability was already becoming evident. Excitement stirred in his chest as he imagined how much further he could grow. Chapter 5 Loot and Luck The factory grounds were swarming with low-level monsters, their glowing yellow names marking them as Level 1. None of them met the requirements for Ethan''s current quest. Guided by his memories of the past, he headed straight to the entrance of the underground facility. Blocking the way was a massive rat, its bloated body wedged in the corridor like an oversized trash can. [Giant Rat] Type: Rare (Unique) Level: 3 Physical Attack: 25 Physical Defense: 10 Magic Defense: 5 Health: 300 Skills: 1. Gnaw ¨C Bites the target, dealing 200% physical damage three times. 2. Charge ¨C Dashes forward, dealing 100% physical damage to all enemies in its path and stunning them for 3 seconds. Description: This rare gatekeeper monster blocks access to the underground plant. It won''t attack unless provoked. Its forelimbs are weak and nearly useless, but its sheer body mass and powerful jaws make it a formidable opponent. Ethan grimaced as he sized up the rodent, its bulk reminiscent of a compact car. In his previous life, this creature had already been defeated by the time he arrived. He''d heard stories of players being obliterated by its relentless gnawing attacks. After scouting the surroundings, Ethan found a collapsed section of the building nearby. Among the debris, two slabs of reinforced concrete formed a narrow triangular gap, just wide enough for one person to squeeze through. Crawling inside, he noted the passage grew tighter as it went. "Perfect. I can escape through this in my panther form," he muttered, crawling out the other sid With his plan in place, Ethan circled behind the enormous rat. Staring at its shiny fur and twitching tail, he couldn''t help but feel small in comparison. "Alright, big guy. Let''s dance." Ethan lunged forward, slashing at the rat with his claws. Shred. -8 HP! The beast squealed in pain, its massive head snapping around to locate its attacker. Wasting no time, Ethan bolted. His passive skill, Panther''s Agility, increased his movement speed by 30%, giving him just enough of an edge to dodge the rats relentless charges. Each time it prepared to charge, its back legs dug furiously at the ground, which was a clear warning Ethan had learned to recognize. Other classes would''ve been crushed into paste by now. But for Ethan, evasion was second nature to him After leading the beast through a series of twists and turns, Ethan finally maneuvered it toward the gap he had scouted earlier. The rat''s hind legs scraped against the ground, signaling another incoming charge. This time, Ethan didn''t dodge. Instead, he dove headfirst into the narrow crevice. The rat followed, its bulk slamming into the debris. The ground trembled, and the concrete slabs above groaned ominously. Finally, the rat''s charge came to an abrupt halt. Its enormous front teeth hovered mere inches from Ethan''s face, but it was well and truly stuck. Exhaling a shaky breath, Ethan locked eyes with the rat''s bloodshot gaze. It hissed and snapped its jaws, but its stubby forelimbs were useless in this position. Backing out of the crevice, Ethan circled around to the trapped rat''s exposed rear. "Time for payback." He launched a flurry of attacks: Shred, Swipe, Shred, Swipe. -8 HP, -1 HP, Miss, -1 HP¡­ The damage numbers floated above the beast''s head. They were pitifully small, but consistent. Occasionally, the rat''s health would tick upward as it regenerated, but the overall trend was in Ethan''s favor. Despite the repetitive nature of his strikes, Ethan''s mind began to wander. He pondered his next steps. Should he go after Zachary alone, or build a team to back him up? Revenge was tempting, but for now, leveling up took priority. At Level 15, he could access the main city map and join other players from other regions. Until then, he''d have to make do with solo grinding. But grinding in the usual spots? No, that would be a waste of his second chance. His memories were filled with forgotten glitches and terrain exploits. He could outsmart bosses and rare monsters that others would struggle to defeat. And¡­ there was Lyla. She''d make an excellent partner, especially with her ranged abilities. A grin spread across Ethan''s face as he opened his friend list and searched for her username: ''Moonbeam''. As soon as her profile popped up, he sent her a friend request. [You have become friends with Moonbeam. Communication is now possible] Surprisingly, it didn''t take more than a second for her to accept. "Lyla, which starter Zone are you in?" Ethan sent her a message. "I''m in Zone 1370! What about you, Ethan?" Ethan frowned. Different Regions meant they couldn''t team up until Level 15 when players could leave their zones. "I''m in Zone 1314. I was hoping to help you level up, but I guess that''ll have to wait. Get to Level 15 quickly, and we''ll meet up in the main city." "Alright! I''ll do my best!" "Good. See you then." Closing the chat, Ethan turned his attention back to the massive rat he''d trapped earlier. Thirty minutes of relentless attacks later, the beast let out one final squeal before collapsing in a heap. Ding... [System Alert: You''ve slain [Giant Rat]. Overlevel kill bonus: +200% EXP. Gained 1200 EXP (including 300 bonus EXP and 600 EXP from Divine Ability multiplier).] Ethan checked his stats. He''d jumped straight to Level 3, sitting at 8% progress. Rare monsters truly lived up to their reputation for rewarding massive experience points. Even better, his Divine Ability doubled his kill rewards. This was a indeed game-changer for rapid leveling. With the rat dead, its enormous body shrank to the size of an ordinary rodent. Ethan rummaged through the loot it dropped, pulling out a few items: Two Silver Coins Reinforcement Gem Pouch (Medium) Bronze Appraisal Scroll Random Teleportation Scroll Two-Handed Hammer (Unidentified) The silver coins alone were a treasure at this stage of the game. But the standout was the Random Teleportation Scroll. It was a lifesaver in dangerous situation Random Teleportation Scrolls had an abysmal drop rate, usually crafted by high-level Inscription Masters with even lower success rates. In the game''s later stages, desperate players paid absurd amounts of gold for these one-time-use items. Ethan recalled a time when a single scroll sold for over 8000 gold at auction which was a small fortune, even by late-game standards. Turning to the warhammer, Ethan inspected its stats: Heavy Warhammer Grade: Bronze (Unidentified) Ethan''s eyebrows rose. Bronze-grade equipment was a rare find in the early game. In the world of Ethereal, gear was divided into several grades: Common, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Dark Gold, Artifact, Legendary, and Set Gear. By the time he was reborn four years into the game''s lifespan, most players were still wearing Common Iron gear. Anything above Bronze required appraisal to unlock its hidden attributes. Fortunately, he had picked up a Bronze Appraisal Scroll. Without hesitation, Ethan used it on the warhammer. Ding... The Heavy Warhammer glowed. [Heavy Warhammer (Bronze)] Required Level: 3 Attack: 12¨C16 Special Attribute: Has a chance to deal +7% bonus damage per attack. Usable by: Warrior, Paladin, Druid. Ethan''s lips curled into a smile. A weapon with bonus damage was considered top-tier at this level. It might not have the highest base attack, but its attribute made it far more valuable. Excited, he opened the reinforcement gem pouch and extracted seven reinforcement stones. He reached into his inventory for the item that had been his curse and salvation in his past life: the Wishbound Relic. The relic hummed with energy as Ethan began reinforcing the warhammer. Each attempt consumed one reinforcement stone, accompanied by the mechanical whir of the relic and a cheerful chime. Ding... [Congratulations! Your Heavy Warhammer (Bronze)] has been reinforced to +1.] Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ding... [Congratulations! Your Heavy Warhammer (Bronze)] has been reinforced to +2.] ¡­ Ding... [Congratulations! Your Heavy Warhammer (Bronze)] has been reinforced to +7.] Ethan couldn''t help but laugh, basking in the thrill of success. There was nothing quite like the rush of a successful gear upgrade. It was a joy only gamers could understand. With the last of his reinforcement stones used, Ethan examined the final stats of his upgraded weapon: [Heavy Warhammer +7 (Bronze)] Attack: 20¨C27 Holding the warhammer in his hands, Ethan felt like a new man. His base attack had skyrocketed from 2¨C6 to 20¨C31. Druids, known for their adaptability, automatically adjusted their attack stats depending on their current weapon and form. While long spears were the preferred choice for their accuracy bonuses, this warhammer would do nicely for now. Ethan grinned, gripping the weapon tightly. "Alright, let''s see if any monster can stand up to this." If one strike didn''t finish them off, two certainly would. ___ Author: Support me by adding to your library, commenting and voting. More chapters incoming~ Chapter 6 A Rogues Deadly Game Ethan opened his stats panel, excitement coursing through him. It was time to allocate his free stat points In his previous life, he had played as a rogue. The druid''s panther form shared some similarities, and this time, he planned to fully commit to it. As for his stat distribution, he''d already worked out the details. Normal players earned 5 points per level to allocate freely. But with his unique Divine Ability, he got 15 points per level. His plan was to invest 5 points into Strength and 10 into Agility. It was a surefire path to dominance. But the moment he opened the panel, his hopes were shattered. Ding¡­ [Player has activated automatic stat allocation: Strength 20%, Intelligence 20%, Agility 20%, Stamina 20%, Vitality 20%. Once set, this cannot be reversed. Confirm?] Ethan froze, staring at the message. He knew what this was, a system feature that locked players into a pre-determined growth path. It saved the trouble of manual allocation but robbed players of flexibility. Nobody used it because late-game situations often demanded precise adjustments, like increasing Strength to meet equipment requirements. "No¡­ No, no, no¡ª" Ding¡­ [Configuration set!] "Are you kidding me?!" Ethan yelled, his frustration boiling over. There was no doubt in his mind, this was the work of that old man who had forced his class selection earlier. Now the bastard had locked his stat distribution too! Tears of frustration welled in Ethan''s eyes as he cursed silently. The old man''s interference felt like a cruel joke. Meanwhile, somewhere in an unknown location, the old man swigged from his flask, chuckling. "Good thing I stepped in. If I''d let that brat mess with his stats, all my effort picking him out would''ve been wasted." Back in the game, Ethan sighed and reopened his panel. He began calculating. The average player had a Strength growth of 12 stars, translating to 1.2 points per level and could be stacked up to a maximum of 6 attack points. With the combination of his Abilities, even with balanced stat distribution, Ethan''s Strength gain still matched the bonus of building a single stat. Plus, his distributed stats granted him versatility others couldn''t match. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Relieved, Ethan felt his confidence returning. Sure, he might not excel in any particular area, but his well-rounded build could unlock strategies others couldn''t even dream of. With renewed determination, Ethan entered the underground power plant. Panther Form! Stealth! At Level 3, he had automatically unlocked the skill Stealth, which let him blend into the shadows in his panther form. The first floor teemed with Level 1-2 Corrupted Spiders. None could withstand his Shred attack. Before long, Ethan grew bored of even using skills and started swiping them away with basic strikes. An hour later, Ethan reached the second floor entrance. His experience bar now read 78% to Level 4. "This is way too slow," he muttered, frowning. If other players heard him complain, they''d probably lose their minds. With a glance at his quest log, he saw a full list of 20 active missions. Grinding monsters alone was inefficient; completing these tasks would speed things up. But as Ethan stepped into the second floor, a sudden chill ran down his spine. Years of being hunted had honed his instincts, and they screamed one word now: danger. A rogue. Acting on instinct, Ethan shifted into stealth and leaped onto a cracked concrete wall nearby. His panther form landed silently as he scanned the area. A figure appeared where he''d just stood, dagger poised for a sneak attack. The rogue hesitated for a split second before vanishing back into stealth. "It''s him," Ethan thought, his gaze darkening. Although the person had vanished quickly, Ethan had caught a glimpse of his face making it quite unmistakable. This was Shadowstrike. In his previous life, Shadowstrike had been his greatest adversary during his peak. Known for his ruthless efficiency, he was a feared name in both the game and the real world, a mercenary who took on any job for the right price. Ethan clenched his fists, memories of their rivalry flashing through his mind. In that life, Ethan had risen to fame thanks to the Wishbound Relic and a set of +30 legendary gear, earning the title of Rogue God. Shadowstrike, on the other hand, had carved his legacy as the God of Assassins through skill alone. In Ethan''s previous life, Zachary had hired Shadowstrike for an exorbitant fee, relentlessly sending him to hunt Ethan down. At first, they were evenly matched. But as time went on, Ethan''s equipment lagged behind due to his Wishbound Relic being stolen, engineered by none other than his supposed friend, Zachary. Without top-tier gear to match his level, Ethan started losing battles. Shadowstrike eventually cornered him at a resurrection point, repeatedly killing him and causing his low-level +30 gear to drop piece by piece. Stripped of his power, Ethan was reduced to Level 1 and forced back to the Novice Village, humiliated. That grudge from his past life? This time, Ethan intended to settle it. As memories flooded his mind, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. His instincts screamed. "Damn!" he cursed inwardly. Shadowstrike materialized behind him, striking with precision. Cheap Shot. Ethan''s panther form shook, the blow knocking him out of stealth. [Cheap Shot: A stealth skill that paralyzes a non-combat target for 1 minute. Any damage will awaken the target. Usable only on one target at a time.] Ethan couldn''t help but laugh bitterly. When he had jumped onto the cement wall earlier, he had kicked up a faint puff of dust. That tiny clue had been enough for Shadowstrike to track him. "I see¡­" Ethan muttered. "Even in the early game, you''re still terrifyingly sharp." Locked in paralysis, Ethan could do nothing but wait as the seconds ticked down. He braced himself for Shadowstrike''s follow-up skill. Ambush would stun him for another 15 seconds, but Ethan wasn''t worried. Shadowstrike was only Level 2 and had no hig grade skills. With Ethan''s 160 HP and 20 Defense, there was no way he could be killed in one strike. Fifteen seconds of stun? Ethan could live with that. Once it wore off, he''d end this. Seconds crawled by, and yet¡­ nothing. No follow-up. Shadowstrike didn''t attack. "Wait¡­ did he leave?" Ethan thought, his mind racing. "For the love of¡ªhit me already! One hit breaks the paralysis!" Ethan had done this himself countless times as a Rogue in his past life. Walk by, hit someone with Cheap Shot, and then leave them paralyzed. Unless they had a skill to break control, the poor victim was stuck for the full duration. Cheap Shot was one of the most obnoxious Rogue skills. It could only be used in stealth and couldn''t target players already in combat. Once hit, a victim either had to wait it out or rely on rare countermeasures to break free. However, most players wouldn''t waste those valuable skills on such an inconvenience. Ethan grimaced as the seconds stretched on. Rogues could stack paralysis with a "three-strike stun combo": Cheap Shot, followed by Ambush, and ending with a second Cheap Shot. The fourth attempt would fail due to immunity, but the first three strikes alone could immobilize someone for up to 1 minute and 45 seconds. It was maddening. Now, paralyzed in place, Ethan had a new realization on just how annoying Rogues could be. "Rogues," he thought bitterly, "are such bastards." --- Three seconds remained. Ethan silently counted down, preparing to launch into stealth the moment the effect ended. 3¡­ 2¡­ Ding! [You have been hit by Shadowstrike''s Cheap Shot. Paralyzed for 30 seconds (reduced from 1 minute due to diminished effects).] "What the¡ª?!" Ethan growled, rage bubbling up. He readied himself for combat, muscles tensing for retaliation. This wasn''t the Shadowstrike he remembered. The legendary God of Assassins who never hesitated, who killed decisively and without remorse, was playing a disturbingly petty game. Ethan couldn''t believe it. The Shadowstrike he had known was famous for a legendary assassination. This was an event that had cemented his reputation across the game. --- The incident took place at a certain point in his previous life. At that time, the reigning guild leader of the Blade Syndicate, Marcus Skeiner, was celebrating a recent victory. Known as the Warrior King, Marcus was a shield wielding tank with defenses so high that Rogues wouldn''t dare approach him. Marcus had been grinding monsters with his new girlfriend, flanked by 300 guild members guarding their farming grounds. Whether he was genuinely leveling up or just showing off was anyone''s guess. Shadowstrike had slipped past every layer of security, bypassing three rings of guild members. When he reached Marcus, his ambush was swift and brutal, a flawless chain of stuns and critical hits. Starting with Ambush, then following up with Kidney Strike, Sap, and Shadow Meld, Shadowstrike unleashed a perfect flurry of crowd control and burst damage. It was rumoured that Marcus was not even able to react. He was slowly whittled down over 50 excruciating seconds. Even his top-tier shield couldn''t save him. That assassination became the stuff of legends. Shadowstrike earned the title of "God of Assassins," and his reputation only grew as he systematically eliminated other high-profile players. But here, in this timeline? The man Ethan faced was still inexperienced. Shadowstrike hadn''t yet become the infamous killer of Ethan''s past life. A smirk tugged at Ethan''s lips. "You''re still a rookie," he muttered. "This time, I''m putting an end to your reign before it even starts." Chapter 7 Justice Served The second Cheap Shot''s stun duration was winding down. But Ethan, who had been bracing for his opponent''s next move, was caught completely off guard. Just as the stun was about to wear off, Bam¡ª A third strike connected squarely to his head. This one was Ambush, and lasted 15 seconds. Gone was the smug satisfaction Ethan had once felt when he''d toyed with others like this in his previous life. Back then, he''d relished the thrill, the sneaky delight of outplaying his prey. Now? He was seething. Furious. ''Damn it, old man! Why didn''t you let me pick the Rogue class?'' Right now, he''d gladly take anything else over this humiliation, being controlled for nearly two full minutes without a chance to fight back was torture. ''So this is what it feels like, he thought bitterly. Karma''s a cruel Bitch!'' The third stun finally wore off. The moment he regained control, Ethan activated Stealth and jumped down from the wall he had been perched on. Sure enough, his guess was right. Shadowstrike was just toying with him. Low-level Rogues without advanced abilities rarely risked a head-on confrontation, they''d get obliterated without even a chance to escape. Ethan gritted his teeth. ''Shadowstrike, just you wait.'' He crouched in the shadows, scanning the area with his sharp eyes. His mind raced. He needed an anti control skill or an item to counter stealth, anything to level the playing field. Replaying the earlier encounter, Ethan recalled Shadowstrike''s initial move. It was clear now. Thiis wasn''t just toying. Shadowstrike had been baiting him, trying to make him drop his guard. Fighting against stealth classes without proper countermeasures was a nightmare. You could never tell if they had left or were still circling you, waiting to strike. When two stealth classes crossed paths, it became a game of patience. The first one to reveal themselves, whether attacking or farming mobs, would almost always end up dead. Ten minutes passed. Ethan moved cautiously, his form blending seamlessly with the terrain. This was a trick he''d mastered in his previous life, a chameleon-like movement technique that drastically reduced the chances of being discovered while in stealth. ''No way a rookie, even with his level of talent , could outmatch four years of experience,'' Ethan thought. A plan began to form in his mind. His gaze locked onto a single blade of grass swaying gently in the breeze. With a determined glint in his eye, Ethan extended a claw and brushed it lightly. Then he retreated silently, crouching low. Just as he settled into position, he felt it, a faint ripple in the air beside him. Gotcha. Ethan sprang forward, claws lashing out in a swift Shred. --- Ding... [You have been attacked by player ''Shadowstrike.''] Ding... [You have slain player ''Shadowstrike.'' This has been evaluated as a counterattack and will not increase your Sin Value.] --- Through his fading dizziness, Ethan caught a glimpse of Shadowstrike''s stunned expression before he crumpled to the ground and vanished into a lifeless heap. "What a monster¡­" Ethan murmured, both impressed and rattled. Shadowstrike''s precision was terrifying. Ethan had only managed to preemptively attack because he''d guessed Shadowstrike''s position based on the subtle movements near the grass. But as soon as Ethan moved, Shadowstrike had reacted with lightning speed, countering with Ambush. The result? Ethan landed his Shred a fraction of a second before Shadowstrike''s Ambush took effect. The timing difference was little, barely 0.1 seconds. But to Ethan, it was clear. He would have lost this exchange. Sure, Shadowstrike was dead, but in terms of technique and reaction speed, the guy had bested him. In his past life, Ethan knew he wouldn''t have been able to retaliate like that in such a short time. Shadowstrike''s mastery was leagues ahead of anything he''d faced before. As Ethan watched the corpse dissolve into a flash of white light. He knew exactly where Shadowstrike would chose to respawn. In Ethereal, players could either revive at a designated spawn point or opt to "corpse-run" back to their body. --- Revive Mechanics: 1. Spawn Point Revival: Corpse disappears as white light. Penalties: Weakness debuff (1 hour) and -1 level. 2. Corpse Revival: Corpse becomes a skeleton. Penalties: Start with 50% HP and lose 20% of current XP. --- Corpse revival had lighter penalties, but few players wanted to risk playing the game in that form. Ethan bent down, picking up a glowing item near Shadowstrike''s former position. A ring. A grin tugged at the corners of his lips. Since the system had flagged Shadowstrike as the aggressor, his name had turned gray. Gray-name players dropped one guaranteed piece of gear upon death. This ring could be valuable. Just as he thought his expression widened "Could it be...?" He quickly examined its stats: --- [Ring of True Sight] Grade: Common [Upgradeable] Attack: 2¨C5 Attribute 1: Increases the chance of detecting stealth. Attribute 2 (Locked): Activates the True Sight skill, revealing invisible entities within a 10-foot radius for 10 seconds. (Unlocks at Bronze tier.) --- Ethan''s jaw nearly dropped. This was the ring. The one Shadowstrike had used to make a name for himself in Ethan''s previous life. Rumor had it, Shadowstrike upgraded it all the way to Dark Gold tier, where its detection range expanded to 100 feet, and its duration stretched to five full minutes. Ethan had fallen victim to this ring countless times. Nicknamed the Rogue''s Bane, its reputation was well-deserved. Now, holding it in his hands, Ethan couldn''t help but grin. ''Talk about justice. Looks like the tables have turned. This time, I''m hunting you.'' The frustration from being humiliated earlier was all but forgotten. Although the ring was only Common grade, accessories were incredibly rare drops in Ethereal. Anything in this category, no matter its stats, was considered special. ''What dumb luck did Shadowstrike have to stumble across this?'' Ethan wondered. Slipping the Ring of True Sight onto his finger, Ethan made his way toward the quest zone. --- Two hours later, Ethan completed all four of the area''s quests. It hadn''t been easy. One of the kill quests demanded an absurd number of monsters to be slain, something most players tackled in groups. Ethan, however, had gone at it solo. Even with his high attack power, it was slow, methodical work, picking off enemies one by one. When he finally resurfaced from the underground hunting zone, the area above was bustling with players grinding for experience. Most were around Level 2 by now. Ethan, on the other hand, was already Level 4 with 54% experience toward his next level. Looking at the completed quests in his log, he knew turning them in would push him to Level 5. Transforming into his panther form, Ethan sprinted back toward the surface, moving like a blur. His speed and agility immediately drew the attention of the surrounding players. "Wait¡­ what''s a druid doing here?" one whispered. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I thought druids weren''t supposed to show up until after the Starter Zone?" another added. Ethan ignored the murmurs. Ideally, he''d stay in stealth to avoid attention, but stealth reduced movement speed by 50%. Even with his panther form''s 30% speed boost, it wasn''t worth the tradeoff. --- As soon as Ethan reached the surface, a sharp scream cut through the air. Looking up, he spotted the source: a newly spawned Level 5 Corrupted Rat Commander. It must''ve been triggered by the area''s monster kill count reaching its threshold. This was a system that spawned minor bosses in certain regions. A girl in beginner gear lay pinned beneath the rat''s massive claws. Her health bar was plummeting, and after one more bite, it was down to a sliver, barely 10%. "Help me!" she cried, struggling to break free. Her strength was too low, her level also too low to escape the boss''s grasp. "Don''t worry, I''ll save you!" The shout came from a young man wielding a sword and shield. He charged forward with reckless abandon, clearly intending to play the hero. "Eat this, you filthy rat!" he yelled, activating his taunt ability. Ethan winced at the cringe worthy battle cry. This guy clearly had to be some sort of simp who only watched anime all day. Wether things didn''t go as planned or this guy was just too stupid, Ethan couldn''t tell. The rat commander turned, releasing the girl and charged at the aspiring hero with terrifying speed. Its fangs sank into his neck with a sickening crunch. --- -30, -4, -4, -4¡­ --- The rat''s bite triggered a Bleed effect, draining his health rapidly. "Argh!" the would-be savior screamed as his body crumpled to the ground, lifeless. The rat turned its attention back to the injured girl, who was desperately trying to crawl away. --- Around them, other players began to panic. "It''s a Level 5 commander!" someone shouted, after using their basic appraisal skill. "If a tank like that guy got one-shotted, what chance do we have?" Despite their murmured concerns, no one stepped forward to help. Sure, the girl was attractive, but she was still a stranger. Why risk their hard-earned experience for someone they didn''t even know? At Level 2, death meant losing 20% of their XP, which was essentially an hour of grinding wasted. None of them were willing to make that sacrifice. As the rat commander lunged at the girl, its sharp claws ready to strike, a shadow streaked across the battlefield. Ethan, still in his panther form, leaped into the fray with lightning speed. Chapter 8 First-Kill Rewards The young girl stared at the charging figure of the black panther, Her hands trembled with fear, and the beginner healing potion she''d been clutching fell to the ground. Hugging her knees, she crouched down and began sobbing uncontrollably. Ethan, seeing this scene, couldn''t believe his eyes. She''d actually been scared into tears just from seeing his panther form. She obviously knew that this was just a virtual reality game, if she was this scared then why venture into the games in the first place? His panther form leapt gracefully over her, landing squarely between her and the hulking Corrupted Rat Commander. For a second, the onlookers froze in stunned silence. Then, a wave of murmurs broke out as they noticed the name tag hovering above the panther. They instantly realised he was no ordinary beast but a druid. "Why is there a druid here? Did someone cross over from another zone?" "No clue. Didn''t think druids were even a thing in the Starter Zone!" "Wait, I''ve seen guy before. Isn''t he the person who made it to Evercrest Town first?" "Pfft, what''s he trying to do? Play the hero?" Dozens of players turned their attention to Ethan, fully expecting him to be obliterated in a matter of seconds. But when they looked back, the black panther was gone. "Wait¡­ where''d he go?" someone muttered. Their question was answered a heartbeat later. A massive red critical damage number floated above the Corrupted Rat Commander''s head. -234 Over a fifth of its health bar vanished in an instant. "Holy crap! Did anyone else see that?!" "That wasn''t a bug, was it? His normal damage has to be over 150 for that crit to hit so hard!" "Are we seriously watching this?" Amid their shock, Ethan reappeared behind the rat commander, his claws flashing. He stayed glued to its blind spot, moving effortlessly in response to its attempts to turn. The rat was massive, about the size of a bison, while Ethan''s sleek panther form was much smaller in comparison, as he darted around like a shadow. To the onlookers, it was a bizarre, almost comical scene. It reminded them of a certain cat and mouse cartoon they had all watched while growing up. With precise timing, Ethan unleashed a flurry of attacks: Shred, Swipe, Shred. -164, -43, -159, -47, -46 The damage piled up, chipping away at the boss''s 2,000 HP pool. Thankfully, the rat''s defenses were low, typical for monsters in the Starter Zone. But Ethan knew better than to test its offensive power. One wrong move could end the fight instantly. Instead, he relied on his superior speed, weaving through the chaos like a predator toying with its prey. The crowd''s initial shock turned to awe. They couldn''t take their eyes off the spectacle. Finally, with one last lunge, Ethan''s claws raked across the rat''s chest. The giant beast let out a deafening screech before collapsing to the ground. Ding¡­ [Congratulations! You have achieved the world''s first kill of a Level 5 Boss: Corrupted Rat Commander.] [System Announcement: Your achievement will be broadcast globally. Do you wish to hide your character name?] "Hide it," Ethan muttered, barely pausing to catch his breath. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The next second, he snatched up the glowing treasure chest the boss had dropped. Activating Stealth, he melted into the shadows and disappeared without a trace. Moments later, the announcement rang out across the entire server: [Global Announcement: Anonymous Player from Zone 1314 has achieved the first kill of a Commander-tier Boss: Corrupted Rat Commander. Rewards will be sent via in-game mail.] As the players in the area stared at the boss''s lifeless body, more notifications rolled in for regional and Zone-first achievements. Each announcement came with a corresponding in-game mail, now neatly stacked in Ethan''s inbox. Ethan could hardly contain his excitement. First-kill rewards were known to be quite generous, typically including skill books and coins. He quickly opened his mailbox and started with the Starter Zone First Kill reward: 10 silver coins. In Ethereal, gold was a scarce and valuable commodity. Most monsters dropped a single copper coin only occasionally, and everything in the game from gear to repairs, crafting, upgrades, required gold. Having 10 silver coins during the early game was a small fortune. Ethan had rarely seen more than a few silver coins drop even when fighting high-level monsters in his previous life at level 120. But when he opened the next reward, the silver coins seemed like pocket change. Regional First Kill Reward: 1 gold coin. National First Kill Reward: 10 gold coins. Global First Kill Reward: 100 gold coins and skill book Savage Bite. Ethan stared at his inventory, his heart racing. "I''m rich¡­ fucking rich!" he exclaimed, nearly hopping in place with excitement. "Forget feeding, I can literally live like a King!" Memories of the first days of Ethereal''s launch flooded back. In the Eastern Frontier Region, Starter Zone 1 had become infamous when a wealthy player began buying up gold coins. At one point, the price of a single silver coin had skyrocketed to 1,000 credits. Ethan glanced at the total in his inventory: 111 gold coins and 13 silver coins. The urge to cross the border into the East Region''s Starter Zone 1 burned in his chest. But reality quickly doused his ambition. The borders between Starter Zones were guarded by Level 30 elite monsters. Not even his current panther form could help him overcome such a massive gap in strength. Stealth wouldn''t help either; the level disparity was too great, and monsters of that level would spot him immediately if he got too close. Earning real-world currency from the game was tempting, but it wasn''t officially enabled until six months after launch. Until then, players had to trade through third-party brokers, rely on player-to-player trust, or meet in person to exchange money. In his previous life, Ethan had worked with a reliable middleman in Starter Zone 1314. They''d done several transactions, and the guy''s reputation was solid. Opening his friends list, Ethan typed in a username: "Trusty007" A while later, a system notification popped up: [Friend Request Accepted. Communication now Available.] Ethan immediately opened the chat and sent a message: "Hey, you buying gold? Got some available. Name your price." After a brief pause, the reply came back: "Whoa, is that you, Anonymous?" Ethan blinked, confused. "You know me?" "Of course, I do! Even though you hid your name on the announcements, everyone in Starter Zone 1314 knows who you are. A solo kill on a Level 5 Boss? Unbelievable!" Ethan frowned as he read the message. He hadn''t considered the dozens of players who had witnessed his fight against the Corrupted Rat Commander. Even with the anonymity provided by the global announcement, his identity was obvious to anyone in the area. Instead of feeling proud, a sense of unease crept over him. In his last life, his fame had been a double-edged sword, drawing the attention of Zachary and his schemes. This time, he would have to tread more carefully. Before Ethan could respond, another message popped up: "Current rate is 60 per copper coin. How much are you selling? If you''ve got a lot, I can bump up the price for you." Ethan''s eyes lit up. Day-one rates were always high. He knew that within two weeks, prices would stabilize to around 30 per copper coin, at least in most zones. East Region Starter Village 1 was an exception due to its wealthy buyers. "100 gold coins. Can you handle it?" Ethan typed, debating whether to hold onto some of his earnings but ultimately deciding against it. The funds would be better spent on a VR pod, which he''d desperately need later in the game. There was a long pause. Ethan shrugged, unconcerned. If this broker couldn''t buy the full amount, he could always sell the gold directly to other players for an even better rate. While waiting for a reply, he began making his way toward Evercrest Town, the first settlement outside the Starter Zone. As he walked, a thought struck him. He still hadn''t checked the skill book from his Global First Kill Reward. Opening his inventory, Ethan navigated to the rewards tab and selected the glowing icon of the skill book. A grin spread across his face as he inspected the details. ___ Author: Support me by adding to your library, commenting and voting. More chapters incoming~ Chapter 9 Trade Completion. Ethan happily scanned the skill information, but it only took a moment for his expression to suddenly change, a sense of dread settled in his gut. [Skill Book: Savage Bite] Class Restriction: Druid Level Requirement: 5 Description: A finishing move that consumes stored energy in stars to deal massive damage. At 1 star: 100%-200% physical damage. For every additional star: +10%-50% damage increase. (Damage scales with mastery and proficiency.) Activation: Requires biting motion to trigger. When Ethan saw the activation method, he almost hurled the book away in frustration. This was exactly what he feared. In Ethereal, aside from the basic skills given at the start, every other skill required specific gestures or motions to activate. Mastering the precision of these actions was the only way to unlock a skill''s full potential. But using his mouth? Seriously? He pictured the hideous, pus-covered zombies that roamed the world of Ethereal, each exuding a putrid stench. The thought of biting one of those abominations almost made him throw up. Once again, he cursed that shitty old man who was most definitely responsible for handing him this skill book. Still, as a Druid, this was the only direct damage-dealing finishing move available to him. With no better option, he gritted his teeth and reluctantly learned the skill. "Whether I actually use it¡­ that''s a problem for future me," Ethan muttered. A sharp chime interrupted his thoughts. Ding¡­ [Your friend ''Trusty007'' is requesting a video call. Accept?] "Accept." A familiar face popped up on the floating holographic screen, bald, chubby, and wearing a grin that could only be described as shady. "The legend himself! Did you really mean 100 gold? Not 100 copper?" Trusty007 blurted as soon as the call connected, disbelief written all over his face. Ethan smiled. He wasn''t surprised by the reaction. On the first day of the game, 100 gold coins was an outrageous amount of money. He had initially planned to keep most of his gold, but the necessity of buying a VR pod for his real-world safety left him no choice. Selling all his coins was the only way to afford the high-end equipment he needed. "100 copper? Sure, why not just round it up to one silver?," Ethan replied sarcastically. Trusty''s eyes lit up. "If it''s not too much trouble, could you meet me in Evercrest Town to finalize the deal? I just want to confirm it in person." Ethan shrugged. He was heading back to town anyway. They quickly agreed on a meeting spot and ended the call. Upon arriving in Evercrest, Ethan immediately hid his character name and shifted into human form before heading to the Task Hall. He turned in four completed quests, boosting his experience bar to 41% of Level 5. Then, without hesitation, he abandoned the remaining 16 tasks in his log. He''d had enough for now.. It was time to focus on completing his Owl Form transformation quest, which was crucial to executing his next plan, which was to use terrain advantage to power-level. The town''s main street was bustling with activity. Players crowded every corner, hawking wares and shouting over each other to advertise their goods. Ethan scanned the stalls and sighed. Most of the items were low-level trash; common gear and basic potions that were almost practically useless. However, a few vendors were selling reinforcement stones, and Ethan quickly bought up their entire stock. Nineteen stones for three silver coins. At this early stage of the game, it was a massive investment, but he didn''t hesitate. As he moved toward the quieter end of the street, A familiar voice caught Ethan''s attention. "Extra loots for sale! Come take a look, all at affordable prices." He turned toward the source and saw a warrior class player squatting by the roadside, lazily scanning passerbys. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But even in that brief period, he couldn''t help noticing that whenever a woman walked by, the gaze of this person lingered a bit longer than usual. Ethan''s heart clenched. The name Skyblade flashed in his mind¡ªa name etched deeply into his memories. In his previous life, Skyblade had been one of his closest allies in Ethereal. After Ethan had been killed and forced back to the Starter Zone, Skyblade and the rest of their group had stayed with him for over three months, grinding together in a remote valley to help him recover. When Zachary''s guild started targeting Ethan relentlessly, most of his friends had given up fighting and transitioned into crafting professions to stay safe in the cities. Skyblade, however, had stuck by him to the bitter end. He had even risked his life to help Ethan escape from the city when Zachary''s men came after him in the real world. If not for Skyblade, Ethan¡ªa legless cripple at the time, wouldn''t have survived. Ethan''s chest tightened as he considered walking over to greet him. But he stopped himself. His path to revenge would inevitably lead to a showdown with Zachary, and anyone close to him would be caught in the crossfire. Skyblade didn''t deserve that. Better to leave things as they were. Let fate decide. "May this life be kinder to you, my friend." Ethan pushed down the wave of emotion and continued through the bustling streets, eventually arriving at a dimly lit tavern. The interior was shabby and poorly maintained. A frail old man sat behind the counter near the entrance, leafing through a yellowed book. The hall was filled with mismatched tables and chairs, while a narrow hallway at the back led to several private booths. This tavern was a system-designated "safe zone." Players could rent the private booths with coins, and once inside, no one could eavesdrop on their conversations. Few players came here unless they had sensitive matters to discuss. Most preferred to spend their time on quests or trading, not loitering in a rundown bar. Ethan made his way to the booth he''d arranged to meet Trusty007. Before he could knock, the door opened, revealing the grinning face of the bald, portly man. "Ah, Legend! Great to see you! Come on in!" Trusty beamed, ushering Ethan inside. Ethan wasted no time, sending a trade request as soon as he sat down. He typed 100 into the gold amount field and waited for the transaction to process. When it closed, he asked, "So? Can you handle it?" Trusty was silent for a moment, his face scrunched in thought. "Could we maybe do half payment up front? Or even meet in person to finalize the deal?" Ethan shook his head. "No. Full payment first. We can do smaller, repeated trades if you''re worried, but no meetups." Meeting in person was out of the question. It was a waste of time and, more importantly, a security risk. He had learned that lesson the hard way in his previous life. Trusty hesitated but eventually relented. "Alright, send me your account info." Ethan forwarded his account details, trying to keep calm. The transaction would net him $180,000 , a massive sum by anyone''s standards. Ding¡­ [Incoming transaction: $180,000 received.] The notification mirrored his connected bank, which made Ethan''s eyes widen slightly. He turned to Trusty, who was smiling smugly. "Aren''t you afraid I''ll just take the money and run?" Ethan asked, half-joking. Trusty chuckled. "Legend, I know you''re not just some random player. Taking down a boss solo on the first day and earning this much gold? You''re someone I want to work with long-term. Consider this an investment in trust." He paused, then added with a sly grin, "Of course, this booth has a built-in recording system. If you run, I''ll make sure the footage gets out. Your reputation would be ruined, but if that doesn''t bother you, I guess it''s no big deal." Ethan smirked, initiating the trade to transfer the 100 gold coins to Trusty. "Since you trust me so much, let me return the favor with a bit of advice: Don''t hoard those coins. Sell them now while the price is high. Believe me or don''t, it''s up to you." With that, he stood and left the booth without looking back. Trusty sat there, momentarily stunned. He had planned to stockpile the gold and sell it later when the market spiked. But Ethan''s words sparked a sense of unease. After a moment of deliberation, Trusty pulled out a communication device and began dialing several contacts. Ethan, meanwhile, was practically giddy as he walked out of the tavern, humming a cheerful tune. A glance at the in-game clock showed it was already 6:00 a.m. In two hours, the servers would go offline for maintenance. Chapter 10 The Night Owls Request The developers of Ethereal had a unique vision: to seamlessly integrate the game into players'' daily lives without disrupting their work or sleep schedules. As a result, the game''s servers operated only from 6:00 PM to 8:00 AM. This clever time restriction ensured that no one had an unfair advantage by playing 24/7. Players started their in-game day simultaneously, creating a more balanced playing field. It also prevented professional farming studios from dominating the game economy, preserving the integrity of Ethereal''s economic balance. Eventually, Ethereal transcended being just a game. The developers connected its in-game currency directly to real-world economies, making it an integral part of everyday life. From young children to elderly individuals, everyone could immerse themselves in the virtual world Ethereal provided. It became a global phenomenon. Within just a few years, the virtual economy''s total spending exceeded the combined global expenditure in the real world by five times. The rise of this "super consumer base" gave birth to countless new service industries inside Ethereal. For many, it became a perfect blend of work and leisure. Players could relax, hang out with friends, and relieve stress, all within the game. This system also allowed people with challenging financial situations to make money after their day jobs, becoming professional players and earning supplemental income. For Ethan, the $180,000 he had just earned, It was the critical first step to solving his immediate survival concerns, ensuring food, safety, and stability in his new life. With two hours left before the servers went offline, Ethan decided to tackle a key mission to unlock his Owl Form. He made his way to an engineering shop in the city, spending 50 silver coins on a glider. He remembered overhearing a druid mention this as a vital tool for completing the mission, something that would significantly reduce its difficulty. Of course, no one would have dared to buy such an expensive item during the game''s early days. Spending 50 silver coins was considered outrageous. "Spirits of nature, drifting through the void, heed my call. Let me transcend the boundaries of space. Guide me to the cradle of life, Teleport: Forest of Nature." Finding an isolated corner, Ethan chanted the spell. [Teleport: Forest of Nature] was an innate skill granted to all druids upon character creation. It served as both a safe haven and a hub for druid-exclusive missions. The spell transported players to the Forest of Nature, and when cast inside the forest, it would return them to the spot they''d originally teleported from. The casting time was ten seconds, easily disrupted by external interference. Unlike the war-torn lands outside, the Forest of Nature was untouched, a serene sanctuary brimming with life. A powerful magic barrier, said to have been cast by the Lunar Goddess during the Ethereal Cataclysm, protected it. Only druids could enter the forest by using the teleportation spell. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan''s first glimpse of the forest left him awestruck. The lake at the center was vast, its surface shimmering like a sky full of stars reflected in the moonlight. Fittingly, it was called Lunar Lake, a name steeped in legend. Behind him, the architecture of the druids'' buildings blended harmoniously with the natural surroundings, exuding a quiet yet untamed energy. Ding¡­ [System Notification: You have discovered the Forest of Nature.] The system''s chime pulled Ethan out of his reverie. The beauty of this place was almost surreal, but there was no time to lose. He steadied himself, scanning his surroundings. His eyes locked onto a distant campfire, where there was a large, lumbering figure. In front of Ethan stood an NPC with a bizarre appearance, a creature with a large body covered in feathers, the head of an owl, and a single antler sprouting from its skull. It swayed side to side, its plump body jiggling as it danced. Above its head floated a dark gold exclamation mark, signaling a quest. Ethan froze, staring at the NPC''s comically chubby and endearing figure. "So¡­ this is what my future form is supposed to look like?" he thought, suppressing a groan. Cute? Sure. But with that much weight? It would agility even be possible? With a sigh, he approached the dancing NPC. As he got closer, Ethan''s feet paused with shock. The creature wasn''t just dancing, it was singing. Infact the tone made it sound more like a rap. "Curse those thieves, those Crowlings, who stole my feathers away, now even in dreams, the cold wind makes me sway. Brave adventurer from beyond this land, will you lend me a helping hand?" Ethan blinked, staring at the NPC, his thoughts barely holding together. A plump looking hybrid-like owl was rapping? This game''s developers had some wild imaginations. "Uh¡­ sure, I''ll help!" he said reluctantly. Ding¡­ [Quest Accepted: The Night Owl''s Request] [Quest: The Night Owl''s Request] Objective: Retrieve the Night Owl''s tail feather (0/1). Location: Crowling Nest, atop the southern mountain in the Forest of Nature. Description: The Night Owl once ventured beyond the sanctuary of the Forest of Nature, curious about the outside world. While listening to the whispers of countless souls, he noticed that some voices were impossible to understand. After many attempts to connect with these mysterious voices, he realized they belonged to the Crowlings. "...." At loss for words, Ethan began his trek southward. He skirted the edge of Lunar Lake and crossed a forest before reaching the barrier that marked the forest''s boundary. Through the shimmering barrier, he saw towering mountains rising in the distance. Passing through the magic shield, he noticed another barrier ahead. He knew that beyond it lay the Crowling Nest. Ding¡­ [System Notification: You have entered the Trial Grounds: Crowling God Anzu''s Nest. All equipment enhancements are disabled.] [Note: Monsters in the Trial Grounds adjust their stats to match the player''s level, with a maximum level of 6.] This was exactly why Ethan hadn''t bothered to enhance his gear yet. He''d heard about this quest in his previous life, inside the Crowling Nest, all enhancements became useless. The scenery shifted drastically. Unlike the vibrant Forest of Nature, the land here was steeped in darkness. The sky, ground, trees, and grass, all were shaded in varying hues of deep purple. The monotony strained Ethan''s eyes. Pressing forward, he soon spotted a lone Crowling Warrior patrolling the area. The Crowlings, true to their name, resembled humanoid crows. They walked upright, their skeletal limbs resembling the talons of chickens. Ethan cast Basic Appraisal to gather information: --- [Crowling Warrior] Level Range: 1-6 Attack: 5-30 Health: 60-360 Defense: 5-30 Skill: Frenzy (Increases attack speed by 200% upon activation). Description: The bloodthirsty and frenzied followers of the Crow God, they attack anything in their sight, sparing only their own kind. --- Keeping his movements quiet, Ethan crept closer to the Crowling Warrior, transforming into his panther form. When he was within striking range, he leapt into the air, aiming for the creature''s head. In Ethereal, headshots increase The chances of critical hits, dealing bonus damage. Ethan''s attack landed cleanly, slashing across the Crowling''s face. -82! It wasn''t a critical hit, but the damage still knocked off nearly a third of the creature''s health. The Crowling let out a sharp screech, its claws glowing red as it activated Frenzy. Its movements became erratic and fast as it lunged at Ethan. Ethan sidestepped just in time, narrowly avoiding the frenzied attack. ___ Author: Support me by adding to your library, commenting and voting. More chapters incoming~ Chapter 11 Heavens Dawn The Crowling Warrior activated its Frenzy ability, and its dual blades whirred through the air as it relentlessly chased Ethan. Ethan leapt into the air, twisting mid-flight as he clawed and raked at the creature. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. -82! -35! He landed with a sharp spin, whipping his tail across the warrior''s face. -123! (Critical Hit!) The Crowling Warrior howled in agony before collapsing in a heap. Ethan bent down to pick up a bronze coin before slipping into stealth and stalking his next target. In his past life, Ethan had heard that the quest item required for the Owl Form had a 1 in 500 drop rate. He''d have to eliminate countless Crowlings before completing this task. Luck might see him through the next kill, or it could take all night, especially with today''s game session about to end. At least the Crowlings provided decent experience points. This one had just given him 120 XP, likely thanks to the system''s scaling mechanics. With no competition for mobs here, farming experience was unexpectedly peaceful. After taking down several Crowlings, the quest item still refused to drop. Ethan continued deeper into the Crowling Nest, determined to see it through. Just as he closed in on his next target, chaos erupted deeper in the nest. Ethan turned toward the noise, spotting a sleek, pink panther bolting in his direction. Hot on its heels was a Crowling Warrior, while two Crowling Spellcasters trailed slightly farther behind, flinging instant-cast spells at the fleeing panther. ''A Druid? And¡­ a female?'' The sight caught Ethan off guard. The panther darted past him, unintentionally dragging his target along with it. Though the Druid''s control was decent, she appeared panicked. While the melee warrior couldn''t catch her, the spellcasters were relentless with their bombardments. If she hadn''t pulled Ethan''s target, she might''ve whittled down the pursuing warrior already. But with two Frenzied Crowling Warriors now chasing her, she was losing ground fast. Her health bar dropped to a third, and Ethan made a snap decision. Druids had to stick together, after all. Slipping behind one of the spellcasters, he unleashed two ferocious slashes. -95! -135! (Critical Hit!) The Crowling Spellcaster barely clung to life, proving how much softer it was compared to the warriors. Ethan finished it off with a well-placed swipe. The creature fell to the ground without dropping so much as a feather. Meanwhile, the pink panther hesitated for a moment upon noticing Ethan. That slight pause nearly cost her as the warriors closed in, slicing her health bar dangerously low. She quickly turned and resumed running. But this time, she wasn''t heading for the nest''s exit. Instead, she began circling around Ethan. Ethan nodded approvingly. This time, he hadn''t saved the wrong person. If she had kept running for the exit, the monsters would''ve reset and headed back to their original positions, with Ethan becoming their next target. But by keeping the warriors engaged on her wjile she circled him, she ensured Ethan could deal with the mobs one by one without attracting their aggro. Smart. She wasn''t selfish. If she''d been the type to prioritize her own survival over everything else, she''d have led the mobs out, reset them, and left Ethan to fend for himself. Instead, she was trying to ensure they could both come out of this alive. Ethan assessed the situation. The spellcasters were still the bigger threat, especially with their relentless spells. Darting toward the second spellcaster, Ethan lunged, his jaws closing on its neck in a bite. He''d built up five energy stars from his previous kills, perfect for testing the power of Savage Bite. At least these mobs weren''t as revolting as the pus-covered Corrupted Zombies outside the nest. Ding! [Savage Bite¡ªAverage Completion! +2 Proficiency!] -89! "...." Ethan cursed under his breath. The damage wasn''t much better than his Shred skill, but considering it was his first attempt with Savage Bite, and only an average completion, it wasn''t too bad. Skill completions were ranked: Poor, Average, Good, Perfect, and Extreme. Extreme completions could del up to double the skill''s maximum damage. In the later stages of the game, professional players chased after Extreme completions. Hitting an Extreme 20% of the time was enough to earn a spot among the legends. Unlike beginner skills, learned and unlocked abilities came with levels, maxing out at Level 20. Each level significantly boosted a skill''s base damage, but the experience required to level them up was astronomical. In his previous life, Ethan''s Level 120 Rogue had only managed to bring his highest skill to Level 6. Dispatching the Crowling Spellcaster with two quick Shreds, Ethan bent down to collect a bronze coin. He turned just in time to meet the charging pink panther. As they passed each other, Ethan''s energy had just regenerated to 40 points. A perfectly timed Shred struck the critically injured Crowling Warrior, finishing it off instantly. Under the stunned gaze of the panther, Ethan followed up with a claw attack. -69! (Critical Hit!) The other Crowling Warrior roared in anger and redirected its aggression toward Ethan. "Why are you staring? Help out!" Ethan barked at the panther. He was out of energy and had taken a quarter of his health in damage while fighting off the mobs. While he wasn''t afraid of the Frenzied warrior, he wasn''t going to do all the heavy lifting while she just watched. "Oh!" came a soft, almost timid response. The panther circled him hesitantly. Ethan kept the monster busy, letting her get in a few hits. Her attacks, however, were laughably weak compared to his. Shred: -36! Claw: -17! That was her maximum damage? Ethan couldn''t take it anymore. He rushed forward, unleashing another Savage Bite. [Completion: Average.] With a sigh, Ethan followed up with two Shreds, finally bringing the Crowling Warrior down. With a faint clatter, the monster dropped a skill book, a bronze coin, and a reinforcement stone. Ethan blinked in surprise, this was a jackpot by the standards of low level mobs. Under her gaze, he bent down to scoop up the loot. The skill book, Rake, immediately caught his attention. It was exactly what he needed: a strong opener. Outside of stealth, Rake inflicted a bleeding effect. When used in stealth, it added a 5-second stun on top of the bleeding. It easily outclassed the Rogue''s Cheap Shot, which provided only a stun without any damage. The panther remained silent, simply watching him. Ethan felt a twinge of guilt. He activated the item-sharing feature and gestured toward her. "How do you want to split it? Your call," he offered. She hesitated for a moment before transforming into her human form. "I don''t need anything," she said softly. "Thanks for saving me. My name''s Haven''s Dawn." Ethan froze at the name, memories from his past life flooding back. She was the only Druid to ever achieve the title of a legendary player. Not because of raw skill, but because she was the only one stubborn enough to keep playing the class until it became viable. Her fame had come during a nation-wide war, where she had unleashed a skill called Forbidden: Rebirth. Druids were largely overlooked in the late game, with their only redeeming feature being the Tree Form''s ability, Rebirth, the game''s only skill capable of reviving players mid-combat. Haven''s Dawn, through some extraordinary encounter, had unlocked the forbidden version of this skill. During that war, when Dragonspire was on the brink of total collapse, she resurrected every fallen ally within a 3-kilometer radius. The battle had turned from a certain loss to an overwhelming victory. The cost? She lost 20 levels, and the skill had a staggering 180-day cooldown. Now, standing before this future legend, Ethan felt a surge of excitement. But what shocked him even more was her appearance. Apart from her deep brown skin, she was just a young girl¡ª12 or 13 at most. His mind raced. If he could build a good relationship with her now, would she become an invaluable ally in the future? And suddenly, a new thought took root: What if he could recruit all the future legends before they became overpowered? Chapter 12 Insane Luck "I''m NotADruid," Ethan said absentmindedly, his mind still wandering in thoughts. "Huh?" Haven''s Dawn tilted her head, her wide eyes filled with curiosity. "Oh! Uh, I mean, that''s my username, NotADruid." Ethan stammered, realizing how strange it sounded out loud. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, regretting his choice. ''Probably gives people the wrong idea, huh?'' Haven''s Dawn giggled, her cheeks dimpling. "Then why''d you pick the Druid class?" "Well¡­ it''s a long story." Ethan quickly changed the subject, not eager to disclose the system had assigned it to him without choice. "Anyway, what are you doing out here grinding monsters? What level are you?" He''d been dying to ask since he''d seen her. Surely no one else could already be Level 5 like him. "I''m Level 3! I got curious and used the skill Teleport: Forest of Nature to come here. It was so pretty, I just wandered around and started leveling up," she explained with a proud smile. Ethan let out a small sigh of relief. "Makes sense," he murmured. "What about you? Why are you here?" she asked, her gaze shining with admiration. Ethan''s attacks were so powerful, it was hard to believe he wasn''t already a seasoned player. "I''m doing the Owl Form quest," he replied casually. "But honestly, the monsters here are pretty tough. You should head back to the Starter Zone to level up." He was right. Most players wouldn''t last long in an area like this, let alone manage to hit Level 3. Still, she was a future legend, her talent and grit were already clear. "I was about to head back!" she admitted, looking sheepish. "But my Teleport: Forest of Nature skill doesn''t work here. I need to head back to the barrier before I can use it again." Ethan opened his skill menu to check. Sure enough, the ability was grayed out in this area. Seeing him pause, Haven''s Dawn hesitated before asking timidly, "Plesse¡­ can you help me level up?" Ethan blinked. He wasn''t exactly thrilled about the idea, but the hopeful look on her face made him cave. "Fine," he said, sighing. "But once I finish my quest, I''m leaving." "Deal! I''ll send you a party invite!" she said cheerfully, practically bouncing. Ding! [System Notification: Haven''s Dawn has invited you to join her party.] Ding! [System Notification: Haven''s Dawn has sent you a friend request.] Ethan accepted both. He was curious about her, this future Legend. Plus, teaming up with a Level 3 player would reduce his experience gains, but it also meant the monsters'' levels would scale down, making things easier. As soon as they teamed up, the nearby monsters adjusted to Level 4. While Haven''s Dawn struggled to deal significant damage, Ethan''s attacks more than made up for it. "So, NotADruid, what item do you need for your quest?" Haven''s Dawn asked as she followed him, her steps quick and eager. "I need a Night Owl Feather," Ethan replied offhandedly, still focused on hunting. A few minutes later, after taking down a Crowling Guardian, Haven''s Dawn came running up to him with a large feather in her hands. It was nearly the size of a pig''s ear. "Is this it?" she asked innocently. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan took it, raising an eyebrow as the system notification popped up. Ding! [Item Discovered: Night Owl Feather. You may now proceed to the Crowling Nest at the mountaintop to summon the Crowling Chief. Reduce its health to 30% to activate the next stage of your quest.] It was exactly what he needed. Ethan smirked and held the feather up. "Erm, if I take this feather, I''ll finish my quest and leave. You sure you want to hand it over?" Haven''s Dawn froze, her face falling as she fidgeted nervously. It was obvious she hadn''t considered this possibility. But after a moment, she took a deep breath and said, "Alright¡­ let''s head back to the Forest of Nature together, then!" Chuckling, Ethan gently pressed the feather back into her hands. "Relax, I''m just messing with you. Keep it. You''ll need it for your own quest when you hit Level 5." Haven''s Dawn looked down at the feather in her hand, then glanced at Ethan, who had already turned back to continue hunting. Her lips curved into a smile, dimples forming on her cheeks. A second later, her form shimmered as she transformed into a pink panther, pouncing forward to assist him. With the Rake skill now unlocked, combat felt smoother for Ethan. He''d start with Rake, stunning the monsters for 5 seconds. The bleed damage varied depending on the skill''s completion, but in these short battles, it hardly mattered. To his surprise, Haven''s Dawn also had Rake in her arsenal. Ethan couldn''t help feeling a pang of envy. Some people were just born with an insane amount of luck. As the clock approached 7:50 AM, Ethan realized they had been grinding for over an hour, and yet the quest item he needed still hadn''t dropped. He even debated asking Haven''s Dawn for her feather so he could just complete the quest and move on. After taking down two more monsters, Ethan gestured toward a relatively safe spot nearby. "Let''s call it a day. The servers are about to shut down. We can log back in at 6 PM." "Servers are shutting down? Why?" Haven''s Dawn asked, clearly puzzled. "I''ve got insider info," Ethan said with a smirk, trying to to sound convincing. "The game runs from 6 PM to 8 AM daily. Probably to make sure people don''t neglect their jobs or schoolwork." "Oh¡­ that makes sense. I guess I''ll log off, then. I''ve got homework to finish anyway. See you at 6 PM, Big bro!" With a cheerful wave, she vanished, logging off without hesitation. Ethan blinked, slightly taken aback. "You trust me that easily?" he muttered to himself before disconnecting as well. --- Unknown to Ethan, Haven''s Dawn logged back in at 7:59 AM, just before the servers closed. Ding! [System Notification: The server will shut down shortly. Reopening at 6:00 PM. Countdown: 42 seconds.] Smiling, she whispered to herself, "NotADruid isn''t some creepy liar. Seems he''s a good person!" With that, she logged out again." --- Outside the game, Ethan removed his VR headset and stretched, cracking his neck. He grabbed his outdated, beat-up phone and checked his notifications. His eyes sparkled as he read the latest bank message. "Ha ha ha! Oh boy!" Ethan chuckled, counting the zeroes on his balance like a child discovering a treasure. Knock, knock, knock. The knocking pulled him from his glee. Ethan froze. He didn''t need to guess¡ªit was Lyla. After all, only two people knew where he lived. One was Ivy, his ex, and she definitely wouldn''t be visiting. The other was Lyla, his next-door neighbor. The thought of Lyla made him pause. In his past life, Lyla had stuck by him as "Moonbeam," her in-game username. She had been his constant companion, loyal but also full of secrets. But then there were¡­ those moments. Memories from the game flickered in his mind, moments where they had crossed some certain lines beyond friendship. It had been in the game, sure, but they''d happened more than once. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door. Lyla stood there, wearing a cream-colored tracksuit and a high ponytail. Her fresh face was free of makeup, her skin glowing with youthful vibrancy. She was effortlessly beautiful. For a moment, Ethan froze. The image of Lyla overlapped with Moonbeam''s avatar in his mind. Ethereal''s character customization altered appearances a little, but the inherent beauty of both faces shone through. The two images blurred together, and for a brief, dangerous second, Ethan had the urge to pull her into his arms. "Hey, Ethan," she said, dimples appearing as she smiled. "Wanna grab breakfast together?" "Uh¡­" Ethan scrambled to collect his thoughts. "Sure¡­ I just need to get ready." "Great! Hurry up¡ªI''m starving!" she chirped, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. She plopped down on his bed, completely unfazed by the cluttered room. "Uh¡­ Lyla, I need to change," Ethan said, gesturing to his basketball tank top and baggy shorts. Pfft, what''s the big deal? We''re just grabbing breakfast downstairs. Go brush your teeth and wash your face. You''ll be fine," she said dismissively, making no move to leave. Instead, she leaned back and grabbed a corner of his crumpled blanket, giving it a playful tug as if to make more room for herself on the messy bed. She tossed it to the side carelessly and sat cross-legged, clearly signaling that she had no intention of going anywhere until he was ready. "...." ___ Author: Twelve chapters in. Please drop a review of what you think of the story so far. Don''t forget to leave some power stones. Chapter 13 Ive Been Reborn The smell of fried pastries wafted through the air as Ethan bit savagely into a breakfast roll, releasing all his pent-up hunger unto the unsuspecting food. Across from him, Lyla sipped her porridge in small, delicate mouthfuls. Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched Ethan''s intense expression. Occasionally, when their gazes met, she''d stick her tongue out playfully, eliciting a strange mix of awkwardness and warmth from him. Around them, people glanced curiously at the mismatched pair, Ethan''s bedraggled appearance clashing starkly with Lyla''s polished demeanor. Murmurs buzzed, speculating on their relationship. Ethan had never felt this self-conscious in his life. As soon as he polished off his last bite, he practically bolted out of the shop, eager to escape the weight of those prying eyes. To his dismay, Lyla slipped her arm through his as they walked. "Ethan, doesn''t this feel familiar somehow?" Her unexpected closeness made his heart skip a beat, though the sudden, hostile stares from nearby men quickly dampened the moment. "Uh..." Ethan stammered, unsure of how to respond. Lyla scrutinized him for a moment before letting go of his arm. "I''m heading to the library, see you later!" She hopped a few steps backward, waving cheerfully as she left. "Oh, by the way, my name''s Lyla Silverwood. Silverwood, like the trees that shine in the moonlight!" "Lyla Silverwood" Ethan murmured. In his past life, he''d only known her as Lyla, never her full name. Yet, the name tugged at a corner of his memory, teasing him with familiarity he couldn''t quite place. As Lyla disappeared into the distance, she turned back to wave one last time. Ethan returned the gesture, silently wishing her to stay safe. This life¡­ seemed to be going pretty amazing. For the first time in years, Ethan allowed himself a small smile. --- Ethan hailed a cab, not caring about his rumpled appearance, and headed straight to Aeon Corporation''s flagship store. The staff there didn''t bat an eye at his unkempt look, treating him with unyielding professionalism. One employee eagerly guided him through their inventory, explaining the features and price points of each VR capsule. When Ethan inquired about a high-safety model, he was led to the second floor''s premium showroom. The most basic capsules started at $30,000 and offered full-immersion VR with only moderate operational sensitivity. Take, for instance, the one Lyla had given him, the Model 207 headset. It wasn''t entry-level, but it was far from top-tier. Priced at $1,500, its sensitivity maxed out at a mere 68%. In comparison, even the cheapest gaming capsules boasted an impressive 92% sensitivity. Elite players didn''t just rely on skill, they needed top-of-the-line equipment to compete. After careful consideration, Ethan settled on the Model XVI-701 capsule. Its features were staggering. Constructed from specialized alloys, the capsule could withstand water pressure at depths of 3,000 meters. Its shock absorption system was so advanced that a fall from a hundred-story building wouldn''t cause fatal injuries to its occupant. The door? Made of blast-proof glass, rumored to withstand explosive charges. It came equipped with an independent power supply capable of running for a week during outages, an automated oxygen system to counter gas attacks, and thirty-two surveillance cameras to record external threats. The built-in GPS ensured its location could always be tracked. In essence, the capsule was less of a gaming accessory and more of a personal fortress. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Most importantly, it eliminated the delay between disconnecting from the game and logging off, a feature that had cost Ethan dearly in his previous life. Back then, he had been attacked in reality while still online, leaving his character vulnerable during the mandatory 20-second logout period. The result? His death in-game and the loss of a priceless artifact. The price of this fortress-like capsule was equally staggering: $168,000. Ethan''s bank balance, standing at $180,000, would be all but wiped out. Though slightly dissatisfied with the operational sensitivity¡ªstill capped at 92%¡ªhe consoled himself with the knowledge that it could be upgraded later. Aeon Corporation even offered a generous trade-in policy, allowing older models to be exchanged for 80% of their original value toward a new purchase. Ethan''s lips curled into a determined grin as he proceeds with the purchase. This time, nothing would stand in his way. Aeon Corporation''s customer service was stellar, far better than that of any global tech giant he''d dealt with before. Still, the sting of spending $168,000 lingered¡­ The sales associate politely asked for a delivery address, and Ethan froze. The Model XVI-701 capsule measured over 11 feet in length, 6.5 feet in width, and nearly 6 feet in height. His current Studio apartment barely fit his bed, let alone a massive VR capsule. "Uh... I''ll confirm the address later," Ethan said awkwardly. "Of course, sir," the associate replied with a practiced smile. "Just notify us whenever you''re ready. We offer 24/7 delivery and installation services. Once you confirm, we''ll have it at your doorstep within two hours." Leaving Aeon''s flagship store, Ethan sighed. There was no way around it, he needed to find a bigger place. Buying property was out of the question with only $12,000 left in his account, so he''d have to rent. But¡­ did he really want to move away from his neighbor, Lyla? In his past life, their relationship had grown complicated. Despite never officially dating, they''d shared more than just simple moments. Moving felt like giving up on rekindling that connection. After some hesitation, Ethan pulled out his phone and dialed Lyla''s number. "Hello?" "Lyla, it''s me." "Ethan? How did you get my number?" "Uh¡­" Ethan realized too late that they hadn''t exchanged numbers yet in this timeline. "That''s not important. Are you busy right now? I need to discuss something with you." "I just got to campus," Lyla replied. "I was going to study with a classmate, but I can let her know something came up." "No need to cancel. Just meet me at the west gate in half an hour." "Alright, see you there." --- Ten minutes later, Ethan arrived at the west gate by cab, only to find Lyla already waiting for him. She had clearly come straight after their call, a fact that made Ethan feel slightly guilty. He''d told her thirty minutes, but she was here early. "Ethan," she teased the moment he stepped out of the car, "you''ve had a crush on me for ages, haven''t you?" "Wha¡ª?" Ethan stumbled, caught completely off guard. "Either that, or you''re a stalker. How else would you know my name and my phone number?" Ethan opened his mouth to respond but faltered. He hadn''t thought this through at all, and now Lyla was jumping to conclusions. Before he could explain, her expression shifted to a pout. "I can''t believe this!" she said, voice trembling. "You just broke up with Ivy two days ago, and now you''re already after me?" Ethan panicked. This misunderstanding had snowballed out of control. But¡­ "Wait," he said, narrowing his eyes. "How do you know I broke up with Ivy two days ago? And how do you know her name?" Lyla froze, a flash of guilt crossing her face. She turned her head sharply, refusing to meet his gaze. "That''s¡­ not important," she muttered. Ethan chuckled, her reaction was oddly endearing. "Not important, huh? Alright, fine. But if I told you I''ve been reborn, would you believe me?" The words escaped his mouth before he could stop himself. He didn''t know why, but he couldn''t bring himself to lie to her. Even so, his heart raced as he waited for her response, fearing she''d think he was crazy. Lyla turned to face him, her eyes searching his. "Uh¡­ to be precise, I regressed back in time," Ethan clarified nervously. "Do you¡­ believe me?" Lyla stared at him for a long moment, her gaze unwavering. Finally, she tilted her head. "Huh?" Then, after a pause, she shook her head. But to his surprise, she eventually nodded. ___ Author: I know, I know. Ethan just casually spilled his deepest, darkest secret to Lyla, and you''re probably thinking, ''No! It''s too soon!'' But trust me on this one, dear reader. Ethan and Lyla''s story goes way back, their connection runs deeper than you might realize at this point. So keep reading, you''ll understand why. Chapter 14 I Trust You Ethan studied Lyla as she nodded vigorously. Despite her repeated nods, he found it hard to believe. "Really?" he asked, narrowing his eyes. "Really! I believe you" Lyla responded, full of conviction. Ethan couldn''t help but give her a skeptical look, his expression bordering on disbelief. ''How can anyone take that seriously?'' After a moment, Ethan gave up on the thought. "Alright," he sighed, "I''ll treat you to lunch later." But Lyla had a different idea. "Let''s grab some snacks and go hiking instead. We can discuss while we''re up there." Ethan chuckled, a bit exasperated. He knew her too well, he could sense what she was up to. She claimed to believe him, but this was clearly a test. The hike was mostly silent, with Lyla unusually quiet. She only spoke when Ethan started a conversation, otherwise staring blankly out the car window. When they reached Hawthorne Ridge, Lyla took the lead, heading up the trail. She wandered further and further off the beaten path, eventually leaving the designated tourist area altogether. "Lyla," Ethan called out, "you sure we''re heading the right way?" "Almost there," she insisted stubbornly, pressing on. Ethan shook his head but followed. Eventually, they reached the entrance of a hidden cave, concealed behind a thick wall of shrubs. Lyla stopped abruptly, her face glistening with sweat, her breath heavy. Watching her, Ethan felt a wave of emotions, an unexplainable mix of fondness and concern. "Ethan," Lyla said softly, pointing to the cave. "Does this place seem familiar to you?" Ethan stared at the overgrown entrance, his brow furrowed in confusion. "No¡­ Should it?" But something about the way she had called his name tugged at him. Noticing his expression, Lyla sat down on a boulder near the cave entrance. "Ethan, let me tell you a story." Ethan sat opposite her, intrigued. "Alright, I''m listening." "Fourteen years ago, a little boy and a little girl met in this very cave. He was six, and she was five. They had both been kidnapped and brought here by traffickers¡­" Lyla trailed off, studying Ethan''s face closely. Her words hit Ethan like a freight train. His heart pounded as fragmented memories rushed to the surface. He shot to his feet, staring wildly at the cave. Then, turning back to Lyla, he found her standing, tears streaming down her face. "You remember, don''t you?" she whispered, her voice trembling as she ran to him, burying her face in his chest. "You¡­ You''re Ellie," Ethan stammered, his voice breaking. "You''re Ellie¡­" Lyla nodded vigorously, sobbing into his shirt. The memories were now crystal clear. Fourteen years ago, he''d been yanked from a van, his head covered, and the first person he''d seen was a girl about his age. She had been crying endlessly, her wailing relentless. Frustrated, he''d snapped at her, "If you keep crying, I won''t take you with me when I escape!" To his surprise, she had stopped instantly. "You can really get us out of here?" she had asked. "Do you trust me?" he''d replied. "I trust you." For a week, they''d been trapped together, their hope dwindling with each passing day. Then, on a stormy night, he''d managed to cut through the ropes binding his hands with a sharp stone. He''d freed her legs just as the guard discovered them. They''d fled into the woods, but two children could never outrun an adult. When the guard closed in, Ethan had made a desperate suggestion. "We have to jump." Without hesitation, the girl had said, "I trust you. Let''s jump." Ethan had tied her arms around his neck and, just as the guard reached out to grab them, hurled them both off the cliff. The incline had broken their fall, but iraculously, they had survived. The guard, however, wasn''t as lucky. Slipping as he tried to follow, he had plunged straight to the bottom. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When Ethan had slid down the cliff, using his body as a shield, they''d landed right on top of the guard, cushioning their fall slightly. When the two of them woke up, they were already in the hospital. The doctors said the trafficker had died from the fall, and his accomplices had all been arrested. Three months later, they were discharged. Ethan had stayed at Ellie''s house for a week after being released, but then he''d insisted on returning to the orphanage. Ellie''s family, being wealthy, had wanted to adopt him. But Ethan had refused, clinging to the faint hope that his parents, the ones who had abandoned him, might still come back for him. On the morning of his departure, Ellie''s mother asked if there was one thing she could do for him. His request? A proper breakfast, a feast of freshly fried pastries. And so, dressed in his worn-out clothes, he sat opposite Ellie, as they ate together in a restaurant. When it was time to say goodbye, Ellie had waved at him from the sidewalk while Ethan sat in her family''s car. He could barely make out her voice over the hum of the engine. "Ethan, you have to remember me! My name is Ellie¡ªlike the letters E-L-L-I-E! When I grow up, I''ll¡­" The car had pulled away, cutting her words off. --- Now, standing at the edge of the same cliff, Lyla clung to Ethan''s arm, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "This was the spot, wasn''t it?" she asked. Ethan peered down, his head spinning slightly. "Looks like it," he muttered. "No way I''d jump now, though." Lyla laughed softly. "Do you know? I come here every year. Oh, by the way, let me see your scars." Ethan raised a brow, turning his head to look at her. She smiled back, eyes sparkling with mischief. After hesitating, Ethan sighed and turned around. Lyla gently pulled up his basketball jersey, revealing his back. Her breath caught. His skin was crisscrossed with scars, running from his shoulder blades down to his lower back. Lyla''s cold fingertips traced one of the deeper scars along his spine. Tears welled up in her eyes again. "Does it still hurt?" she whispered, her fingers sliding lower. Ethan tensed, clearing his throat. "No¡­ Doesn''t hurt at all. In fact it''s like a protective layer now. Once, someone hit me with a metal pipe during a fight, and I barely felt a thing!" As her fingers grazed his lower back, Ethan spun around quickly, pulling his shirt down. "Alright, enough of that," he said, grinning. Lyla laughed, swatting him lightly on the arm. "Look at you, acting so tough!" Her gaze wandered back to the cliff. "So¡­ I guess you''ll be fine if you jump again?" she asked, pointing down. Ethan took one look and shook his head. "Not a chance." "But you jumped back then, even with me on your back. How did you manage that?" Ethan shrugged, thinking for a moment. "I don''t know. It doesn''t matter, does it? We survived." Lyla pouted, clearly unimpressed with his answer. "What do you mean it doesn''t matter? Do you know how much I trusted you back then? And now you''re saying it wasn''t important?" Seeing her anger about to explode, Ethan turned and ran, playfully laughing as Lyla chased after him, fists swinging. After a while, Ethan spun around and caught her hands. "Hey, back then, as I was leaving, you shouted something to me. You said, ''When I grow up, I''ll¡­'' What were you going to say? I couldn''t hear over the car engine." Lyla''s face turned red as she yanked her hands free. "I''m not telling you!" she shouted, bolting ahead. Ethan stood there, watching her retreating figure. For the first time in what felt like forever, the shadows clouding his heart lifted. A small smile played on his lips. Softly, he murmured, "Doesn''t matter what you said, Lyla. You''re not getting away from me this time. Not in this life." His thoughts wandered back to her in the game, always by his side, never abandoning him. Determined, Ethan clenched his fists. This time, he wouldn''t let her down. Chapter 15 Lylas Surprise The two of them returned to the tourist area and found a patch of grass. Lyla spread out a weatherproof mat while Ethan sat beside her, his gaze distant. Under Lyla''s persistent questions, Ethan finally began recounting his experiences from his previous life, the betrayals, the regrets, and even his connection to Lyla in the game. However, he carefully avoided the part about their... complicated in-game relationship. As Ethan spoke, he noticed tears welling in Lyla''s eyes. Her usual bright demeanor dimmed as she listened intently. Worried that he''d gone too far, he shifted to sharing only the funny and lighthearted moments from his past life. When he finished, he asked cautiously, "Do you still believe me?" Lyla smiled through her tears, her response as firm as always. "Of course I believe you." As their conversation wound down, Ethan mentioned his plan to move into a bigger apartment soon. Lyla grew uncharacteristically quiet, then stood abruptly, pulling Ethan up with her. "Let''s go," she said, starting to pack up their things in a hurry. Confused, Ethan allowed himself to be dragged along. Lyla led him out of the park and into the city streets. Her behavior was secretive, almost mischievous, as if she were planning a surprise. Eventually, they arrived at Eastwood Manor, an upscale gated community. The area was lined with pristine townhouses and luxurious two-story villas, with only three high-rise towers breaking the symmetry. Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Don''t tell me¡­ you own a place here?" Lyla grinned slyly. "You''re smarter than you look." "...." Stopping in front of a villa, Lyla scanned her eye on the biometric lock. The door clicked open with a satisfying sound, and she pushed Ethan inside. "Well? Is it big enough for you?" she asked, her tone playfully smug as she spread her arms wide. Ethan gawked. The interior was spacious, modern, and downright extravagant. "You own a house like this, yet you live in a cramped Studio apartment?" Lyla rolled her eyes. "Mind your own business." "Heh, say no more, I get it," Ethan said, smirking knowingly. "Hmph!" Lyla''s face flushed, and she turned on her heel, stomping up the stairs. Ethan followed her to the second floor, where she flung open a door. A wave of pink hit him like a truck. The entire room was bathed in shades of blush, from the walls to the furniture. Even the VR gaming capsule in the corner glowed in a custom rose gold finish. Ethan''s jaw dropped. "No way¡­ That''s an SUP-R-006! Are you kidding me?!" The SUP-R series was the pinnacle of VR technology, boasting a responsiveness rate of 99.8%. The base model alone cost nearly $5.1 million, but the "R" variant was a custom version, meaning the price tag was likely astronomical. Ethan glanced around the villa, estimating its size and luxury. With about 7,500 square feet of living space at $1,500 per square foot, plus this gaming capsule, the total cost easily surpassed $7.5 million. His mind reeled at the thought. Lyla fidgeted under his stare, her cheeks a shade of red. "My dad prepared all of this for me. I wasn''t planning to move in, but since you''re looking for a new place, why don''t we both stay here instead?" Ethan hesitated. A part of him, a small, prideful part, felt uncomfortable. Was he really about to live off someone else''s generosity? Sensing his internal conflict, Lyla tugged him toward another room across the hall. She opened the door with a flourish. The room was just as elegant, though it lacked a gaming capsule. "This one''s for you!" she said brightly. "Dad had it prepared in case you ever came around. He wasn''t sure when, or if¡ªyou''d show up, so he didn''t install a gaming capsule yet." "For¡­ me?" Ethan blinked, momentarily stunned. He didn''t even register the rest of her explanation. "Yes, for you," Lyla said, pushing him gently into the room. "Go on, take a look." Following Lyla''s instructions, Ethan stepped into the room. The sight before him froze him in place. The walls were covered with photographs, pictures of him in a hospital bed, moments from his recovery, childhood snapshots of him and Lyla playing together, and even one of him eating at a corner diner. Tears pricked the corners of Ethan''s eyes before sliding down his cheeks. "Ethan¡­" A voice broke the silence. Ethan spun around to see a holographic projection flicker to life. A familiar figure appeared, though the years had left visible lines etched into his face. He looked older and wearier than the man Ethan remembered. "I always knew Lyla would bring you to this room someday," the man said, his voice warm but slightly choked with emotion. "She''s sacrificed a lot for you. Take care of her. And when you have time, come visit us in the capital. Your aunt and I would love to see you." The message was brief, but it struck Ethan straight to his core, pulling at the most fragile part of his heart. "Crying already? How embarrassing!" Lyla teased, clutching his arm and making a silly face. Before he could respond, she let go and walked toward the door, calling over her shoulder, "It''s up to you whether we move in!" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan wiped his eyes and smiled faintly. "Alright, fine. Let''s move in together. But isn''t this place a bit far from school?" Before Lyla could respond, she turned and tossed a set of keys at him. Ethan caught them, confused. "From now on, you''re my personal driver. And no other girls are allowed in the car!" Ethan stared at the car keys in his hand, shaking his head with a wry smile. Clearly, Lyla had prepared everything in advance. What could he possibly say to that? By the afternoon, Ethan had arranged for his VR gaming capsule to be delivered and installed in his new room. As the workers finished setting it up, Lyla looked it over and snickered. "Wow, look at you, a big spender. $168,000 for a gaming capsule? And it''s a reinforced, explosion-proof model too? Are you that worried someone''s out to get you?" Ethan rolled his eyes and shot back, "$168,000 wouldn''t even cover the scrap materials for your custom model!" "That wasn''t even my money!" she countered, pinching his waist playfully with her fingers. Ethan chuckled. He was beginning to notice how different Lyla''s personality was in this timeline. In his previous life, she had always maintained a certain distance from him, like a delicate barrier that he couldn''t quite cross. After his escape from Ember City, they''d lost touch entirely. It wasn''t until the recent conversation, that she''d confessed the turning point in this life. The moment he knocked on her door that day and called her name, she''d assumed he remembered their childhood. It had stirred something within her, sparking her curiosity and breaking down her walls. That was the reason why she had given him the VR headset. And then, when he had called her and said those word; "Do you believe me?" That had been the final push. It shattered whatever defenses she had left, and she decided to reveal her true identity to him. --- By the time they finished moving in and unpacking, it was already 5 PM. After dinner, only a few minutes remained until Ethereal''s servers went live. Ethan spent the afternoon briefing Lyla on hidden quests and bug exploits he remembered from the Starter Zone. "Just focus on getting to level 15 as fast as you can," he advised. "That''s the minimum level needed to leave the Starter Zone. Once you''re there, we''ll meet up in the main City." As Ethan climbed into his gaming capsule, a wave of contentment washed over him. The plush padding and ergonomic design were pure luxury. "Damn, this feels amazing. Worth every penny," he murmured, a grin spreading across his face. The system voice chimed. "Ding¡­ [The game will begin in 30 seconds. Please wait."] The familiar sound and the whirlwind of events earlier that day filled Ethan with renewed anticipation. This life was already shaping up to be something incredible. When the countdown hit zero, Ethan entered the game, his vision adjusting to the vibrant virtual world around him. As he flexed his fingers and moved, he marveled at the smooth responsiveness. At 92% sensitivity, the controls were leagues beyond the 68% responsiveness of his old headset. "Big bro, you''re right on time." A soft voice broke his concentration. Ethan turned to see Haven''s Dawn had logged in as well. Chapter 16 The Wraithbinder After over three hours of grinding monsters, Ethan finally reached 98% experience for Level 5 when the quest item dropped. Nearby, Heaven''s Dawn had also climbed to Level 4 and was close to Level 5. However, judging by her experience bar, she''d have to grind here until the next morning to level up. Ethan had grown fond of the cheerful girl, and he didn''t mind sharing some combat tips with her. But his time was precious. After saying a quick goodbye, he set off alone, heading toward the top of the Crowling Nest to complete his next quest. --- Stealthily weaving through the increasingly dense clusters of Crowlings, Ethan noticed a new challenge: Crowling Scouts equipped with the enhanced perception of True Sight. If avoiding them wasn''t an option, he''d engage and dispatch them swiftly before continuing. An hour later, he arrived at the altar atop the nest. The mountaintop was eerily silent, devoid of monsters. Ethan moved quickly, lighting the four braziers surrounding the altar. He realized the Night Owl Feather from his inventory wasn''t just a collectible, it worked as a makeshift fan to stoke the flames. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Caw... caw... Who dares disturb my slumber?" A shadowy figure materialized in the altar''s center, semi-transparent and ominous. It wielded a staff adorned with a skeletal head. The voice growled, "Intruder, you have no place here. I shall tear you to shreds!" Ethan cast Basic Appraisal to assess the new enemy. [Shadow of the Crowling Chief] Level: 10 Attack: 0 Defense: 0 Health: 1,500 Skill: Summon Crowlings (120-second chant or instant cast when health drops below 30%; summons 50¨C200 Crowlings randomly). Description: The Crowling Chief sleeps in the Void Realm, preaching its doctrine through soul projections. Though its projection has no attack power, it can summon devoted followers to fight on its behalf. --- Ding... [Follow-up Quest Triggered: Reduce the Crowling Chief HP to 30% and escape to the Druid Camp in the Forest of Nature under the pursuit of the Crowling Army.] Ethan pondered the possibilities. What if killing the Crowling Chief''s projection triggered a rare hidden quest? No one in his previous life had mentioned it, likely because it seemed impossible. Back then, players could barely survive the onslaught of summoned Crowlings, which triggered as soon as the boss dropped below 30% HP. The best they could do was flee. Even high-level Druids who returned for the quest found themselves handicapped. Entering the nest automatically scaled them down to Level 6, with all equipment stats reduced to Common Iron gear. For them, the challenge was even harder than for low-level players. Ethan calculated carefully. At 30% health, or 500 HP, he''d store enough energy for two Shreds followed by a five-star Savage Bite. This combo could kill the boss in two seconds. The key was positioning. If the summoned Crowlings couldn''t fully surround him, he might have a chance. Ethan methodically attacked using Rake, gauging the boss''s health. At 50%, he ensured his energy bar was maxed out with five energy stars. -56, -48, -105... Without any defense, even normal critical strikes dealt over 100 damage. Finally, the Crowling Chief''s health hit 513 HP. Ethan followed with one last Rake. Critical Hit: -101! The Crowling Chief shrieked, now at just 412 HP. Its shadowy body flared with crimson particles as it raised its skeletal staff. "Arise, my faithful! Fight for me, and eternal life shall be yours!" A dark mist erupted from the altar, signaling the summoning ritual. Fwoosh! ¡ª The once-purple sky dimmed further, casting an ominous shadow over the land. The ground began to glow with countless violet circles, each one pulsing as shadowy figures emerged from within. Ethan''s quick scan confirmed it, there were over a hundred of them. "Damn it¡­ no choice." He launched into action. Savage Bite ¨C [Completion: Good] -145! Shred, Shred, Savage Bite ¨C [Completion: Good] -98, -102, -65! His final Savage Bite, rushed and only two-star quality, still landed a solid blow. -65! Two seconds had passed. The summoned Crowling Soldiers were already closing in. The Crowling Chief health dropped to just 2 points. Ethan gritted his teeth and struck with a basic Rake. Critical Hit: -2 (Overkill: 43) The Crowling Chief let out a guttural cry, its voice echoing across the nest. "Cursed Druid! I''ll remember your scent. Wait for my revenge!" Ding... [System Notification] A system message appeared, but Ethan didn''t have time to read it. Grabbing a glowing item from the ground, he turned and bolted. --- Instead of running back the way he came, where the soldiers had already formed an impenetrable wall, Ethan sprinted toward the cliff behind him. This route wasn''t safe either, as Crowling Soldiers were scattered across it, but he''d mapped out a path earlier with a small gap in their formation. Even so, these soldiers moved faster than typical monsters. If he started at the same time as them, their superior speed would catch him in seconds. Dodging a pair of scythe-like blades swung by one soldier, Ethan made it to the edge and leaped without hesitation. Another cliff jump for survival. How coincidental. --- With the ground still a dizzying 300 meters below, Ethan pulled out the glider he had purchased earlier for 50 silver coins. The makeshift wings caught the wind, and he adjusted his course, gliding toward the Forest of Nature. Below him, the barrier of the Crowling Nest loomed. Once he crossed it, he''d enter the Druid Camp''s sanctuary. Seconds later, he passed through the shimmering boundary, then another. At last, he touched down safely beside Lunar Lake, his heart pounding. He had done it. He had slain the Shadow of the Crowling Chief, a feat that eluded countless Druids in his previous life. --- Panting, Ethan opened his inventory to inspect the item he had grabbed. [Wraithbinder''s Staff] Tier: Dark Gold Level Requirement: None Attribute Requirement: 800 Intelligence Magic Attack: 800¨C1200 Bonus: +800 Intelligence Attached Skills: Necromantic Revival: Resurrect slain creatures with 70% of their original combat power. Duration: 3 hours. Limit: 10 undead. Revived creatures do not count against summon limits. Cannot revive players but can destroy their corpses, forcing them to respawn at a graveyard. Life Drain: Absorbs 15% of damage dealt as health. Cataclysm: Summons a meteor shower, stunning all targets within a 50x50 meter radius for 3 seconds. The impact area burns for 30 seconds, dealing 5% max health damage per second. Damage is reduced by 40% for elite monsters, 55% for rare creatures, and 70% for bosses. Cooldown: 6 hours. Cast time: 3 minutes. Faction Restriction: Survivor Faction Class Restriction: Warlock --- Ethan blinked in disbelief. A Dark Gold-tier staff. Its stats rivaled Legendary items. Of course, there was a catch: the Intelligence requirement. Even a pure Intelligence build Warlock wouldn''t be able to wield it before Level 130 unless they had learned several passive stat-boosting skills. He couldn''t believe his luck. Slaying a Level 10 quest monster had dropped such a high-grade weapon. But as he finally checked the system notification, any trace of joy vanished from his face. His expression froze, and he muttered under his breath. "Damn it¡­ I brought this on myself!" Chapter 17 Night Owls Abilities Ethan stared at the system notification, his expression devoid of any excitement. [Congratulations! You''ve slain the clone of Anzu, Crowling God (Pseudo-Divine Lv. 200) that was growing followers in Ethereal. Anzu now holds a grudge against you and may appear at random intervals to hunt you down. Brave warrior, grow stronger quickly! Good luck!] "Congratulations, my ass," Ethan muttered, his tone dripping with bitterness. "Level 200? A pseudo-divine boss hunting me? What kind of chance do I have against that?" He sighed, a mix of frustration and disbelief clouding his thoughts. In his last life, people had hunted him relentlessly. Now, in this life, he was cursed to be chased by monsters too. What had he done to deserve this? --- Somewhere in an unknown expanse of Ethereal, an area that seemed devoid of any life, a familiar old man lounged in midair, one leg lazily crossed over the other. The scruffy man who had once appeared before Ethan chuckled to himself. "Heh, serves you right, kid. You got too cocky. No use regretting now. Just pray Anzu only shows up inside Ethereal¡­ and not¡ª" His laugh turned into a wheeze of delight. "Oh, this is going to be fun." --- Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan dragged his sour mood to the druid camp. From a distance, he spotted the Night Owl. This plump, ridiculous creature was still at it, swaying its hips while single its own offbeat rap. "...." Ethan''s eyebrow twitched as he fought the urge to vent his anger by delivering it a sharp kick. "Yo, yo¡­ Thanks, traveler from another world," the Night Owl crooned. "You brought me my feather, oh-so-pretty. May Mother Earth guide¡ªerr, bless you! Here''s your well-deserved reward!" Ding¡­ [Congratulations! You''ve completed the ''Druid Transformation'' quest. You can now shift into Night Owl Form!] Ethan checked his skill tab, noticing three forms unlocked: Human Form, Panther Form, and now Night Owl Form. Human Form: Cannot use any skills. Removes movement restrictions upon transformation. Panther Form: Transforms into a panther, increasing attack speed by 20% and converting attacks to Physical (Wild) damage. Boosts physical crit chance for allies within a 100-meter radius by 5%. Panther-exclusive skills only. Immune to polymorph effects. Removes all movement restrictions upon transformation. Night Owl Form: Transforms into a Night Owl, increasing defense by 36% and converting attacks to Magical damage. Boosts magical crit chance for allies within a 100-meter radius by 5%. Owl-exclusive skills only. Immune to polymorph effects. Removes all movement restrictions upon transformation. Switching into the Night Owl form, Ethan gave himself a quick glance. Only one description came to mind: A fluffy, feathered meatball¡­ Before him hovered a balance bar, its center marked by a symbol of pale blue and yellow. On the left was a moon icon, and on the right, a sun icon. Ethan glanced at his newly unlocked skills, all five neatly categorized: Moonfire and Sunburn: Instant-cast debuff spells. Lunar Beam and Solar Flare: Direct damage spells. Wingbeat: A utility skill. --- Solar Strike: Summons a sunbeam to deal astral damage in a 3x3 meter area. Damage ranges from 1%-150%-80% depending on the balance bar''s position. Cast time: 2 seconds. The closer the bar is to the sun icon, the higher the damage. Centering the bar deals maximum damage. Lunar Beam: Channels moon energy to deal astral damage. Damage ranges from 80%-200%-1%. Cast time: 1 second. The closer the bar is to the moon icon, the higher the damage. Centering the bar deals maximum damage. Ethan sighed, staring at his unwieldy new form. Balancing between moon and sun energies was going to be a nightmare. Wingbeat: Despite your pudgy form preventing you from actual flight, this skill allows you to slow your descent, gliding through the air. However, you cannot change direction mid-glide, and any attack will interrupt the skill. If used while stationary, it can also trigger an adorable animation! "The fuck¡­" Ethan almost choked when he read the description. Gliding with zero control? Interrupted by the faintest touch? This was less a skill and more of a glorified cuteness mode, perfectly in line with his current chubby and mock-inducing appearance. The thought of being gawked at by other players made his skin crawl. Still, the Night Owl form had one standout feature: despite being a ranged magic class, it didn''t consume mana. Instead, everything revolved around managing the balance bar. For Ethan, this was a huge advantage, especially since he planned to exploit bugs and level up faster than anyone else. No other class had the same sustainability. Even archers needed to spend money on arrows, but a Druid''s Night Owls skills required no consumables at all. Sure, the base damage of his skills was lower, but when exploiting high-level monsters, raw damage hardly mattered, every attack was forced to chip away at their health bit by bit. With a chant, Ethan activated the teleportation spell and returned to Evercrest Town. Once there, he oriented himself, shifted into Panther Form, and used Stealth to navigate the bustling town streets. He moved swiftly, eventually reaching the bank. His target: depositing the Wraithbinder''s Staff. This staff had cost him dearly, earning the wrath of a pseudo-divine boss was no joke. Losing such a rare weapon due to carelessness was simply not an option. Moreover, now wasn''t the time to sell it. The market wasn''t ready. Most players had barely scratched the surface of Ethereal''s mechanics. If he sold it now, he''d only get a fraction of its true value. Only Ethan knew how absurdly rare Dark Gold gear drops were, especially one with three exceptional skills. --- Life Drain: Drastically improves Warlocks'' sustainability. Many Warlock skills require health sacrifices to cast, including powerful Multi-target abilities like Hellfire, which burns their own health to unleash devastating area damage. Necromantic Revival: A summoning skill of immense power. Cataclysm: A skill so overpowered it bordered on ridiculous. Without fire resistance, being hit at the center of this skill caused a 3-second stun and inflicted 15% burn damage over time. By the time you recovered and managed to run 50 meters away, chances were you''d already died. --- This weapon was a game-changer. Selling it wasn''t just unthinkable, it could also fall into the hands of rival players, turning it into a liability. Ethan wasn''t about to hand his enemies that kind of advantage. After securing the Wraithbinder''s Staff in the bank, Ethan organized his inventory. That''s when he noticed something: a treasure chest he''d completely forgotten about. After a moment''s thought, he recalled where it had come from, the Level 5 Boss he''d killed earlier. With all the first-kill rewards flooding his system at the time, he must have overlooked it. Pulling it out, Ethan''s eyes lit up. It was a Silver Chest, and it was locked. Locked chests often contained high-quality loot, and this one being Silver-tier only increased his anticipation. In Ethereal, treasure chests were as rare as they were valuable. Like gear, they came in tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Dark Gold. Dark Gold chests had a chance of containing divine abilities or legendary equipment. Ethan wasted no time. He sprinted to a nearby NPC vendor to purchase a key. Back in his previous life, he''d opened a few chests like this while playing as a rogue, lockpicking had been second nature back then. Now? He just needed a key and a bit of luck. Chapter 18 A More Tankier Build Ethan winced as he glanced at the NPC shop''s price list for keys. He''d painstakingly memorized the locations of high-tier treasure chests during his past life as a rougue. But now, it seemed those dreams would have to wait¡­ Bronze Key: 1 silver coin. Silver Key: 1 gold coin. Gold Key: 100 gold coins. Dark Gold Key: 10,000 gold coins. "Absolute robbery," he muttered. Who in their right mind would buy these keys this early in the game? Nobody, that''s who. By the time the in-game economy stabilized and rogues leveled up their lockpicking skills, these overpriced keys would become useless. He sighed, though he had to admit: treasure hunting was one of the few perks for rogues, whose solo leveling pace was painfully slow. Finding and unlocking treasure chests in the wild was a lucrative perk, with experience points awarded for successful unlocks. He vividly remembered opening a Dark Gold Chest at level 109 in his previous life. The reward? An entire level''s worth of experience points, plus some extra. But that was a naturally spawning chest. These lootable chests didn''t grant XP, just items. Ethan sighed and shelled out 1 gold coin for a Silver Key, $1,800 in real-world currency. "Better not be junk," he muttered, eyeing the progress bar on the chest. 1%... 20%... 50%¡­ "Come on, don''t screw me over," he whispered, literally clasping his hands together. "C''mon, old man, give me something good!" Ding! [Lockpicking successful!] Excited, Ethan threw the chest open and reached inside, his heart pounding. After rummaging for what felt like an eternity, his hand finally grasped an item, a bracelet. Ethan''s eyes lit up. Jewelry! Even the worst piece of jewelry was worth at least a gold coin. --- [Blazing Bracelet] Quality: Gold-tier (Upgradeable) Level Requirement: Level 5 Base Defense: 18¨C32 Effect: Increases physical and magical defense by 10%. Set Bonus (1/3): Equipping the Blazing Bracelet, Blazing Ring, and Blazing Necklace activates the skill [Blazing Defense]. Skill Description (Blazing Defense): Grants immunity to death once, reduces damage by 20% for 8 seconds, and fully restores health. (Cooldown: 3 days) --- Ethan grinned as he examined the item. A set piece! Though the bracelet''s base stats were underwhelming for now, its scaling potential was immense. As his other gear improved, its defensive boost would grow exponentially. And if he managed to complete the set? A life-saving skill like Blazing Defense could be invaluable. "This thing''s practically endgame gear," he murmured, slipping the bracelet onto his wrist. He pulled out his prized possession, the Wishbound Relic, along with a small pile of reinforcement stones, 19 he''d bought earlier and 14 more he''d looted during the Crowling Nest raid with Heaven''s Dawn. It had been their first boss clear, so the drop rate was exceptionally high. Ethan had claimed only the reinforcement stones from the loot, leaving the rest, including a rare skill book for Tree Form, to Heaven''s Dawn. He wasn''t interested in splitting hairs over loot disputes, his focus was on fortifying his gear. First, he strengthened his weapon up to +10, activating a rare attribute: Omni +2. --- Omni: For every point gained: +1% to all damage and healing. -0.5% damage taken. --- Satisfied, Ethan used the remaining 30 stones to reinforce the Scorching Bracelet to +30. Normally, players focused on attack early-game to speed up leveling, but Ethan had chosen a tankier path. Given the level suppression mechanics that happened frequently, any extra attack power would barely make a dent anyway. The results spoke for themselves. After reaching +30, the bracelet''s defense jumped to a staggering 54¨C96, boosting Ethan''s overall defense to 152¡ªmore than enough to tank hits even in higher-level zones. By now, Ethan was practically untouchable in the Starter Zone. Save for dungeon monsters and boss-level creatures, nothing could even scratch his defenses. With everything else prepared, he made his way to a blacksmith shop and spent another gold coin to purchase ten repair hammers, practically an investment . Each hammer could be used 30 times, more than enough for his immediate needs. Leaving the shop, Ethan activated Stealth, his figure fading into near-invisibility. While the skill slightly reduced his movement speed, it ensured no one could track where he was headed. The monsters surrounding the town ranged from levels 1 to 10, with difficulty increasing the farther one ventured. Players would eventually hit level 10 and face their first dungeon, which was a milestone in Ethereal. Dungeons offered better experience rates than open-world grinding, alongside a rating system. The higher the team''s performance rating, the more bonus XP awarded, which was evenly distributed among party members upon clearing the dungeon. Ethan skirted through several grinding zones, each teeming with players fighting over every respawning monster. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The overcrowding was typical during the game''s early days and one of the main reasons leveling up felt so slow. With more players than monsters, progress ground to a frustrating halt. As he reached the level 4 grinding zone, he noticed the crowds thinning slightly. Few players had reached level 4 at this stage, so this area was less chaotic. Most of the players here operated in small teams of four or five, standard party sizes, as the game capped party limits at six players. For larger-scale gameplay, players could form raid groups: five parties made a squad, and ten squads created a full raid team of up to 300 players. However, the larger the group, the thinner the XP split per kill. While raids had the advantage of clearing large areas and monopolizing mobs, they weren''t practical at this early stage. Right now, most groups were just grateful to have a few teammates. Coordinated grinding with strangers often led to problems, players freeloading for XP, arguments over loot distribution, or even betrayal, with party members killing each other to steal valuable items. Ethan carefully moved through the grinding zones, observing the various player dynamics. Melee classes like Paladins, Warriors, and Rogues darted between the mobs, drawing aggro, while ranged classes like Mages and archers unleashed constant barrages. Priests, meanwhile, mostly hung back, tossing out the occasional weak damage spell. Despite their low damage output and lack of healing abilities early on, Priests were highly sought after. Everyone knew how indispensable they''d become later on. Having a Priest in your corner now could mean the difference between life and death later, when their healing and buffs became critical to surviving dungeons. Ethan stayed low and quiet, moving through the grinding zones with practiced precision. He could have taken the safer main roads, where no monsters spawned, but that route would''ve added unnecessary distance. A straight line was faster, even if it meant slipping through active combat areas. When he reached the level 5 Corrupted Bear zone, he was surprised to see other players there. Opening the level leaderboard, he confirmed his position at the top, at Level 5 and 98% XP. The second-place player, Birdsoar, was still level 4 with only 7% XP progress. The name didn''t ring any bells from Ethan''s previous life, which struck him as odd. A name that distinctive wasn''t the kind you''d forget. The two groups grinding in the Corrupted Bear zone appeared to be around level 4. For them to be tackling level 5 monsters meant their gear had to be above average. But something else caught Ethan''s attention: the two groups weren''t fighting monsters. They were arguing. Ethan shook his head, stifling a laugh. "Seriously? The entire level 5 zone is massive, and they''re fighting over territory? What a bunch of clowns." Curiosity got the better of him. He crept closer, stopping about 10 meters away, a distance he considered safe. While his level advantage meant he could approach undetected, experience had taught him to always keep a buffer zone in case things went sideways. Once he got closer, the reason for their tension became clear. ___ Author: Eighteen chapters in. Please drop a review of what you think of the story so far. Don''t forget to leave some power stones. Chapter 19 Avenging Skyblade The two groups stood facing each other: one with five members, the other with four. The leader of the smaller group was fuming with anger. "Birdsoar, you bunch of shameless bastards! Was it really worth kicking us out of the party and killing Skyblade over a lousy bronze-grade bracer?!" Across from him, a bald man with a red coloured name smirked, casually swinging a massive greatsword that glimmered with a faint white mist. "Lousy? Really, Slashblade? With that garbage gear of yours, you still dare talk down on a bronze bracer? Let me correct you, though: killing him wasn''t just about the bracer. I''ve had my eyes on his silver-grade greatsword for a long time. If he hadn''t gone red-named, I wouldn''t have had the chance!" Slashblade''s face turned beet red with rage. "He went red because he racked up the most kills while we were fighting over leveling spots! How else do you think we leveled up to 4 so quickly?!" A mocking laugh erupted from the other side as one of Birdsoar''s mages spoke, winking at his teammates. "Wow, they''re dumber than I thought. Of course, we left the weakest members for him to kill so he''d go red! That way, we''d have a chance to make his gear drop. Hahaha!" The five-man group chatted freely, not even bothering to lower their voices as if Slashblade and his team didn''t exist. "You¡­ you all¡­" Slashblade stammered, too enraged to form words. Watching from the shadows, Ethan pieced together the situation. It seemed to be a classic case of betrayal over loot. What caught his attention, however, was the name Birdsoar. He''d just seen it ranked on the leaderboard moments ago and now stumbled upon this scene. ''Wait¡ªdid they say the dead guy was Skyblade?'' Ethan''s eyes narrowed as he glanced at the corpse on the ground. A cold, menacing air surrounded him. "Enough of this crap. Get lost already!" the bald man barked. "You trash think we actually wanted you in our party? You were just slowing down our grind!" "Yeah, don''t make us wipe the floor with you. At worst, we''ll rack up a couple more red-names and spend a day or two avoiding town," another chimed in smugly. Slashblade looked at his team, desperation in his eyes. "We should retreat, Slashblade. We can''t win this fight," suggested a nervous mage behind him. The archer nodded immediately. "Skyblade told us to leave anyway. Forget the gear, it''s not worth it. If we all die here, they''ll just camp our corpses, and we won''t even get a chance to respawn!" Slashblade''s gaze shifted to the team''s paladin, who didn''t hesitate. The paladin stepped forward, drawing his massive sword. "Let''s go down swinging, Slashblade." With a heavy heart, Slashblade nodded and glanced at the rogue lingering at the back of their party. But the rogue avoided his gaze, took two steps back, and vanished into stealth. Ding¡­ [System Notice: Leafshade has left your party.] Slashblade chuckled bitterly. Betrayal at its finest. As the archer and mage also quit the group and fled toward safer territory, Slashblade turned to the paladin beside him. "Looks like it''s just you, me, and Skyblade now. Let''s join him, we''ll start over if we have to." The paladin smirked, his grip tightening on his sword. "No big deal. We''ve never backed down in real life; why should a game be any different? Pull out your best gear. Who knows? We might take a couple of them down with us." Before the two could make their final stand, chaos erupted on the other side. "Damn it¡ªwe''ve got a rogue!" Ethan''s approach had almost been perfect. Even with a level advantage, Birdsoar had sensed him the moment he got within two meters. ''So, the guy had perception-boosting gear, huh?'' If not, then this guy was undeniably skilled. Yet in his previous life, Ethan hadn''t heard of anyone like this. Before Birdsoar could finish his sentence, Ethan pounced. In a blur, he tackled the rogue behind Birdsoar, the one whose body had just started fading into stealth. The surprise attack broke the rogue''s concealment instantly. Rake! The rogue staggered, stunned for five seconds, as blood began to flow steadily from his wounds. Leaving the immobilized rogue behind, Ethan spun on his heels, lunging at the mage standing nearby. Shred! -243! Instant kill! Grabbing the helmet that fell from the mage''s corpse, Ethan bolted straight toward the shield tank. In less than two seconds, Birdsoar''s group had one man dead and another incapacitated. The rogue, meanwhile, was as good as dead. With no priests in their party, and even if they had one, none at this level would have access to healing spells, there was no saving him. The Rake effect drained a sixth of his health every second. Even if he survived the stun and chugged the strongest healing potion available, all he''d achieve was delaying the inevitable. Rake''s bleed lasted for 18 seconds. To their credit, the rest of Birdsoar''s team reacted quickly. The warlock ducked behind the shield tank, summoning two imps with a wave of his hand. Then he began channeling Destruction Bolt, while the imps launched their Firebolts. Birdsoar charged forward, intent on intercepting Ethan. Ethan glanced at him with disdain. If he wanted to, Ethan could kill Birdsoar with a single Shred. But where was the satisfaction in that? No, Birdsoar wouldn''t get off that easily. Killing him just once wouldn''t suffice as revenge for Skyblade. Hunting him down until he was reduced to Level 0 would take too much time, but¡­ Torture? That sounded about right. Ethan''s lips curled into a sinister smile. First, he''d deal with the other players. Once Birdsoar''s lackeys were gone, Ethan would finish him off without giving his teammates a chance to pick up his dropped gear. Birdsoar''s greatsword gleamed with a silvery glow, it must have been the one that had dropped from Skyblade. With a powerful leap, Birdsoar raised the massive weapon high above his head, aiming a crushing downward strike at Ethan. The blade whistled through the air, closing in on Ethan''s panther form. Just as the sword was about to connect, Ethan''s body compressed. His 1.5-meter frame seemed to fold in on itself as his back arched, his paws pulled in tight, and his chest pressed against his belly. Ethan didn''t know Birdsoar''s exact attack power, but he doubted it could penetrate his defense. Still, there was no need to reveal too much too soon. In Ethereal, ranged attacks had auto-tracking mechanics that required either well-timed rolls or obstacles to avoid. Melee strikes, however, could be evaded with precise movement, something martial artists, fighters, or anyone with combat experience had a natural edge in. For Ethan, who had spent years being hunted in his past life, this kind of attack was child''s play. Birdsoar''s move was akin to a toddler swinging a wooden sword at him. The panther''s flexibility made such evasive maneuvers almost effortless. Birdsoar''s blade struck nothing but air. He froze for a moment, stunned by the bizarre motion. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''What kind of move was that? How did he dodge that?'' By the time Birdsoar turned around, Ethan was already within three meters of the shield tank. Birdsoar gritted his teeth and chased after him, unwilling to let Ethan escape. He wasn''t too worried, though. The shield tank was the best-equipped member of their team. Unlike the rogue and mage, the tank wouldn''t fall to a sneak attack. If Ethan engaged the tank head-on, one well-placed shield bash would knock him back. And the warlock''s Destruction Bolt was almost ready to fire. Once that happened, Ethan would be dead for sure. As Ethan closed the gap to the tank, the two imps fired their Firebolts. Twin projectiles streaked toward him, their fiery trails converging in a deadly crossfire. Just before impact, Ethan''s hind legs kicked off the ground, launching him forward in a burst of speed. Panther''s Agility! The flames exploded behind him with a deafening roar, sending shockwaves through the air. "Damn it! Slashblade, let''s help him!" shouted the Paladin from behind. Chapter 20 The Price of Arrogance Slashblade froze mid-step, staring at the whirlwind of motion ahead. Ethan, in his panther form, barreled toward the Shield Tank like a storm. The Shield Tank smirked, confident in his plan. Ethan would undoubtedly eat a Shield Bash, get knocked back, and become an easy target for Birdsoar and the others charging in from behind. It was an sharp strategy, or so they thought. They didn''t understand the mechanics of Shield Bash. The knockback effect didn''t just trigger automatically; it depended on the relative strength of the attacker and defender. If the target''s strength surpassed the Shield Tank''s, the knockback wouldn''t even activate. Ethan, of course, knew this. His forced stat allocation balanced growth points across all attributes, and with his Bloodline effect, it still gave him power equivalent to a player specializing solely in strength. Meanwhile, Shield Tanks prioritized endurance and vitality over raw power, strength was an afterthought at best. BANG! As Ethan approached, his rolling form extended, snapping back into panther shape. His momentum carried him headfirst into the bottom edge of the Shield Tank''s shield. "Ow¡­ damn, that hurt," Ethan muttered, gritting his teeth through the pain. The impact wasn''t just brute force, it was precision. His aim forced the shield upward, wrenching the Shield Tank''s arm high and exposing his vulnerable chest. The Shield Tank reacted quickly, swinging his one-handed sword in a desperate counterattack. But Ethan''s panther form granted him a 20% attack speed bonus. He was faster, much faster. Shred! -193! The hit didn''t finish the Tank off, he was a blood-soaked juggernaut of durability. But his health bar now hovered precariously low. Without hesitation, Ethan followed up with Rake, slashing the Tank across the chest before deftly dodging the retaliatory swing. Leaving the groaning Tank behind, Ethan lunged for the Warlock standing just beyond him. The Warlock''s face drained of color as he watched Ethan tear through his team in just seven seconds. His spellcasting faltered, and his Destruction Bolt fizzled mid-chant. Panic consumed him as he stumbled back, desperately trying to escape. Ethan wasn''t about to give him the chance. Pouncing mid-air, he pinned the Warlock to the ground, sinking his fangs into the back of his neck. Savage Bite! -262! (Critical Hit!) The Warlock dissolved into a lifeless corpse, his summoned Imps vanishing into thin air. "Damn, broke and useless," Ethan grumbled, glaring at the Warlock''s empty loot drop. The Warlock''s death triggered chaos. Moments later, the bloodied Shield Tank and the Rogue, despite downing a slow-regen potion and an instant-heal potion, collapsed in quick succession. Birdsoar, the final opponent, froze. Realizing he was outnumbered, he turned to flee. But just as he pivoted, a Judgement skill slammed into him, staggering his retreat. Slashblade and the nearby Paladin cut off his escape. Ethan grabbed the discarded shield left behind by the Tank and leapt into action. Slipping behind Birdsoar, he unleashed another Rake, carving a deep gash into his back. Blood poured from the wound as Birdsoar yelped in pain, hastily chugging a slow-regen potion. "You can kill me now," Birdsoar spat, glaring at Ethan and the rest, "but mark my words, when we''re out of the Starter Zone, you''ll regret this. None of you will survive!" -34, +16, -32, +16¡­ His health continued to decline, his bravado slowly draining along with it. Yet, even on the brink, he couldn''t help but issue empty threats. "Hey, give him a heal. Don''t let him die so soon," Ethan said, glancing at Slashblade. Before Ethan had collided with the Shield Tank earlier, he had noticed Slashblade holding a staff, a faint glow of white light gathering in his hands, the telltale sign of Basic Heal. When Ethan had emerged unscathed, Slashblade had canceled the spell mid-cast. Slashblade hesitated for a moment before nodding and casting Basic Heal on Birdsoar. Birdsoar''s health bar shot back to full instantly. Early-game Priests were absurdly powerful, one spell was all it took to restore a nearly dead tank. Seeing his health restored, Birdsoar smirked mockingly. "Oh, youre actually a Priest, huh? You hid it quite well. Well, lucky for you, you''requite smart." He gestured toward Ethan with forced confidence, masking his unease. "Still, your little trick doesn''t change the facts. That gear you just picked up, it''s worth more than you know. Hand it over and let''s forget about this whole mess with our dignity intact." Ethan chuckled, "You think we''re negotiating? His panther form twisted his grin into something chilling, his fangs glinting with a bloodthirsty light. Birdsoar flinched. "Uh¡­ on second thought, you can keep it. Consider it a gift!" He began inching backward, clearly preparing to bolt. Too late. Ethan surged forward, a streak of black lightning, tackling Birdsoar to the ground. Two swift Rake attacks slashed deep into his face, carving an "X" across his features as blood sprayed violently. Birdsoar''s screams filled the air, interspersed with curses and threats. Ethan wasn''t finished. He kept slashing. Rake. Rake. Even though the bleed effect didn''t stack, the scars did. His claws shredded Birdsoar''s chest, leaving crisscrossing wounds so deep that chunks of flesh began to peel away. "Hey, uh, I''m running low on mana!" Slashblade voice called out hesitantly, his forehead glistening with sweat. Nearby, the Paladin was crouched, his face etched with obvious shock. Slashblade continued tossing Basic Heals on Birdsoar, terrified that if Ethan wasn''t satisfied, he might turn on them next. He didn''t want to find out how far Ethan''s sadism extended. "Keep it up, I''m almost done." Ethan said, not even glancing back. Slashblade reluctantly pulled out a mana potion, grimacing as he downed it. In the early game, mana potions cost 5 silver apiece, an outrageous price. This one had dropped from a kill earlier, and Slashblade would have never spent the money otherwise. Ethan swapped out his weapon, replacing his +10 Bronze-tier Heavy Warhammer with a basic starter mace. Though it dealt less damage, the pain it inflicted was no less severe. He aimed a vicious swipe at Birdsoar''s most sensitive region. A piercing shriek, ten times louder than before, tore through the area. Players nearby stopped what they were doing, glancing toward the source of the noise, but the dense underbrush concealed the carnage. Ethan struck again and again until Birdsoar''s screams ceased entirely. A 20-second countdown timer appeared above his head, forced logout. "Guess he called for help," Ethan muttered, realizing someone had forcibly removed Birdsoar''s VR headset in the real world. If Birdsoar had been using a high-end VR capsule, he would have logged out instantly, escaping with his gear intact. "That wasn''t enough," Ethan grumbled, quickly executing two Shred attacks to finish Birdsoar off. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a final gasp, Birdsoar''s body crumpled into white light. Clatter. His gear spilled across the ground, a glittering pile of loot. Chapter 21 The Swamp Leviathan Ethan knelt over the pile of loot on the ground, rummaging through it casually until his fingers brushed a ring. He inspected it briefly, confirming it was a perception-boosting accessory. No wonder Birdsoar had managed to locate him earlier. Sliding the ring onto his finger, Ethan tossed the shield from the loot pile to the side. "Tell Skyblade to switch to a Shield Tank," he said bluntly, his tone leaving no room for debate. He remembered how, in his previous life, Skyblade had regretted choosing the Weapon Master class. Toward the late game, Skyblade had been envious of Shield Tanks who could stand on the frontline, leading entire raid parties. Unfortunately, the stat allocation system didn''t allow for a reset. Even if a player''s level dropped back to one, their stat points would slowly revert to the previous build over time. Ethan glanced at the corpses of Birdsoar and his party, now dissolved into white light. They had likely respawned at the nearest revival point in the city. Seeing no immediate threats to the rest of Slashblade''s group, Ethan activated Stealth and slipped into the shadows, continuing toward his destination. Meanwhile, Slashblade and the Paladin were left standing amidst the scattered loot, momentarily stunned. "All he took was a ring?" the Paladin muttered, surprised. "And he just tossed out a shield, telling Skyblade to switch classes. Is he¡­ advising us?" Slashblade added. The duo exchanged puzzled glances. Was this person insane? Or just too rich to care about such valuable loot? Either way, his earlier behavior, mercilessly slaughtering Birdsoar''s team, hinted at something darker. A lunatic, perhaps. Whatever the case, Slashblade knew one thing for certain: they had hit the jackpot. Not only could they recover Skyblade''s losses, but they could even turn a tidy profit from the surplus gear. As Slashblade began gathering the scattered items, a thought crossed his mind. The brothers he had to care for, the families of his fallen comrades¡ªthey all depended on him. Money wasn''t just important; it was everything. Ethan, on the other hand, was nearing his target coordinates. He checked the minimap to confirm. "This is the place." Standing at the base of a winding mountain trail, Ethan deactivated Stealth and broke into a sprint, his speed pushed to its limit. The trail climbed steeply, zigzagging toward the summit. It wasn''t long before he reached the edge of a cliff. Below lay a vast swamp, with crumbling high-rises draped in vines visible in the distance. This had once been a bustling metropolis, reduced to a decaying wasteland. The swamp itself had been the city''s sewage treatment facility. The mountain he now stood upon was a former landfill site, thrust skyward during the planetary collision that reshaped the world. Ethan recalled learning these details from a map description added in a later update. As he walked along the cliff''s edge, scanning the swamp below, his gaze locked onto a metallic pole resembling a lightning rod. Stopping beneath it, he muttered to himself, "This is the spot. Last time, I fell here and died." Shifting into his panther form, Ethan adjusted his stance carefully. He backed up a few steps, measuring the distance before leaping off the edge. This wasn''t a reckless act. Twenty meters below the cliff was a small ledge, just half a meter wide. He had discovered it in his past life when a pursuer''s attack sent him tumbling to his death. To his surprise, the ledge overlooked the hunting grounds of a hidden boss. Beneath that ledge lay the hunting grounds of the Swamp Leviathan, the ultimate boss of the starter zone. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Swamp Leviathan was a Level 20 boss, a treasure trove for new players. It dropped silver-tier weapons usable by any class and with no level restrictions. Despite their low entry requirements, these weapons boasted attributes equivalent to genuine Level 20 silver-tier equipment, making them a dream for early-game players. Better yet, the Leviathan''s loot included weapons with guaranteed fixed damage bonuses, a rarity. Players often wore these weapons well beyond Level 20, as their performance rivaled even Level 80 common iron gear or Level 60 bronze-tier gear. But there was a catch. The Swamp Leviathan only respawned when the servers rebooted, meaning players had one shot per day to claim its loot. Apart from weapons, it also dropped rare skill books, a treasure trove for anyone lucky enough to land a kill. In his previous life, the Swamp Leviathan had been one of the most sought-after bosses. Even in the late game, high-level players camped its spawn point, as it was the only silver-tier weapon that could be acquired with relative ease. Many casual players kept these weapons well past Level 100 due to their versatility. The area around the Leviathan had been a chaotic warzone. Players killed each other relentlessly, leaving the swamp littered with bodies and gear. The situation became so bad that Aeon Corporation had eventually patched the game, barring players over Level 15 from returning to the starter zones. Even after that, low-level players fought tooth and nail for the Leviathan. Every spawn resulted in dozens of deaths, and the collected loot often surpassed the value of the boss''s weapon. Each day, one lucky victor would walk away with a fortune. But killing the Swamp Leviathan wasn''t the hardest part. Nor was fending off competing players. The real challenge was reaching it. The swamp below was filled with Level 15 Lesser Crocodiles, passive creatures that posed no immediate threat unless disturbed. However, their sheer numbers were a nightmare. Step on one by accident, and it would let out a roar, alerting every crocodile within a 10x10-meter radius. A single misstep could awaken hundreds of them, resulting in a gruesome and immediate death. To make matters worse, any player killed in the swamp had their body classified as "destroyed." Resurrection at the nearest graveyard was the only option, which came with a level drop and a debilitating weakened status. It effectively removed them from the competition for the boss. Ethan''s body descended rapidly, his eyes fixed on the narrow outcropping below. As he approached, he switched to his owl form and activated Wingbeat, using it to steady his glide. Pressing himself against the cliff face, he managed to avoid drifting too far off course. With his heart pounding, Ethan landed on the ledge with a soft thud. He exhaled deeply in relief. If his jump had been even slightly off, he would''ve plummeted directly onto the Leviathan''s back¡ªa guaranteed death sentence. Finally, his feet touched solid ground. Relief washed over him. The ledge''s position was perfect, hidden from view unless someone stood directly on it. From here, he could see the Swamp Leviathan below, slumbering in the shallow swamp. Ethan''s lips curled into a smirk. This discovery had been his alone in his past life. By the time others found it, he''d already profited enough to move on to higher-level zones. The massive creature lay coiled in its muddy lair, its thick scales glinting faintly. With a health pool of over 40,000, it was no pushover. Ethan checked his spell rotation. With all his available spells, he could deal fixed damage per second, regardless of the target''s defense. Combined with Ethereal''s guarantee that spells always hit their target, it would take hours to whittle the boss down, but it was doable. Ethan glanced at the in-game clock. It was just past midnight. Seven hours remained before the server shutdown, more than enough time for the kill. Ethan cast his first spell, Moonfire, followed by Sunburn. The effects stacked immediately, and he began spamming Lunar Beam. The Swamp Leviathan roared, its body shaking as it rose, locking its gaze on Ethan. It lunged toward him, massive limbs creating tremors with each step. But the ledge was out of reach. It tried to climb the cliff, standing on its hind legs to roar in frustration. Even at full height, it was still meters below Ethan. Completely unfazed, Ethan continued casting Lunar Beam repeatedly. He didn''t bother keeping track of his balance bar, which shifted between lunar and solar energy. Every cast inflicted at least one point of damage, regardless of alignment, so he saw no need to overthink it. Minutes passed. Then Ethan noticed something strange¡ªhis mana bar had dipped slightly. "Huh?" He paused mid-cast and switched to Solar Flare. His mana stopped decreasing. Testing further, Ethan realized the issue: when the Balance Meter tipped toward lunar energy, casting lunar spells consumed mana. But when balanced or leaning solar, they were free. Understanding dawned. The Balance Meter wasn''t just for show; it was a core mechanic for sustain. By keeping both energies equal, he could avoid draining his mana entirely. Adjusting his rotation, Ethan recalculated his kill time. With Solar Flare taking 1.5 seconds per cast instead of one, he worried he might run out of time. But as long as he kept his balance, he''d make it. Chapter 22 A Womans Beauty Doesnt Matter Ethan checked the timer. He calculated quickly and sighed with relief, it should be enough. The last thing he wanted was to get booted offline mid-battle when the game''s mandatory rest period hit. That would be a waste. Although bosses didn''t regenerate health overnight, leaving the job half-finished would mean losing an entire refresh cycle. If he finished the kill today, tomorrow''s server reset would spawn a fresh one. Ethan kept hammering away, mindlessly grinding through the same repetitive motions. Thankfully, he was using the system''s free beginner skills. If he had to chant spells and trace hand gestures for every cast, he''d have gone insane. Bored out of his mind, Ethan opened his friend list and sent a video call request to Lyla. The screen flickered, and her familiar face appeared. Her attention was elsewhere, though, her focus entirely on the game. Ethan couldn''t help but stare, momentarily distracted by her profile. Lyla had chosen the Elf race. The pointed ears suited her delicate, sweet features, giving her an ethereal beauty that made her character look like it had stepped out of a fairytale. Curiosity got the better of him. "Lyla, what are you up to?" "I''m leveling up, duh. Whew, finally killed it!" Lyla spun around to face him, dimples flashing as she grinned. Ethan caught a glimpse of her surroundings. She was grinding in a Level 5 area. "Wait, you didn''t go to that spot I told you about?" Lyla launched another volley of arrows before replying, her hands busy. "I did! Took down that Wolf King, Hossman. It took two hours! So boring. And it drained my wallet, I''m nearly out of money for arrows!" Ethan sighed. Not everyone could tolerate the soul-crushing grind. He could hardly blame her. After all, here he was, wasting time on a video call instead of focusing. "What level are you now? Did it drop anything good?" Ethan asked, knowing that Hossman, a Level 5 leader-tier boss, had a guaranteed first-kill drop. "I''m almost Level 6. The kill boosted me by two and a half levels! Oh, and check this out!" Lyla held up a silver bow shimmering faintly under the in-game sunlight. Its elegant, wing-like design curved into a graceful arc. Ethan whistled. "A Silver weapon for your class? Damn, you''re lucky." He wasn''t exaggerating either. For a beginner, managing to solo a leader-tier boss, even with guidance, was impressive. His praise made Lyla''s cheeks turn red, and she shot him a playful glare. The teasing look sent Ethan''s heart racing. He quickly covered it with a joke. "Alright, back to it! Don''t go shooting random teammates again." "Ethan! I only misfired because you distracted me!" she hissed in a whisper, glancing nervously at her party. Her earlier accidental shot had drawn some good-natured grumbling from one of them. Ethan couldn''t stop laughing. "Sure, sure. Jealous of their beauty, weren''t you? That might have been deliberate!" "Hmph, I''m ending the call!" Lyla cut him off with a mock glare before shutting down the video call. Smirking, Ethan turned back to his own grind. With Lyla close to Level 6, he couldn''t afford to slack off. His XP bar sat at 98% toward Level 5. He opened the leaderboard. His name still topped the charts, with the second-place player trailing at Level 4 with 70% progress. Of course, these rankings were only temporary, limited to the Starter Zone. The leaderboard would expand to regional statistics once the first player left the zone, eventually unlocking a national ranking system after the first major faction war. Ethan eyed the names below his own. None rang a bell. From what he remembered, Zone 1314 hadn''t produced any standout players in his previous life. Ding¡­ [You have a new friend request. Please check] A system notification popped up. Curious, he opened it. It was a friend request from Skyblade. Ethan hesitated for a moment before accepting. He wasn''t exactly surprised. Being the only Druid in Zone 1314 made it pretty obvious who he was. A message followed almost immediately: Skyblade: "Hey! Um¡­ Legend. Why''d you tell me to switch to a Shield Tank?" Ethan winced at the title. Legend. Everyone had called him that during his first life, at least in the early days. Later, most people couldn''t wait to see him fail. Ethan replied curtly: "Follow your instincts." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It wasn''t like he had a personal vendetta against Skyblade playing something else. In his previous life, he''d just gotten tired of hearing Skyblade complain nonstop and had offhandedly suggested the change. "Alright, I''ll do it. Shield Tank it is," Skyblade replied. Ethan was about to suggest that Skyblade think it over more carefully when another message popped up. Skyblade: "Um, we''re setting up a guild. Wanna join?" The words hit Ethan like d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Skyblade had said the exact same thing to him in his past life. Back then, Ethan had been a rogue, and their initial encounter hadn''t exactly been friendly. Skyblade had been flirting shamelessly with a girl who looked¡­ less than appealing. Ethan, thoroughly disgusted, had almost punched him. Somehow, that had evolved into Skyblade tagging along and dragging Ethan into his guild plans. The timing had been different, though. Last time, this hadn''t happened until most players reached Level 10. Why the sudden rush this time? And back then, Skyblade''s crew didn''t include Slashblade either. Was his rebirth already causing ripple effects? After a moment''s thought, Ethan replied: "Fine. But the guild name can''t be Avalon Vanguard, and I''m the leader. Also, are you about to ask me for money?" Skyblade froze when he read the message. "Leo, what''s up? Did the guy say yes?" asked Williams, the Paladin in their group, jabbing Skyblade''s side. Slashblade leaned over, equally curious. Without a word, Skyblade shared Ethan''s response in their party chat. For a moment, all three stared blankly at the screen. Just minutes ago, they''d been brainstorming their guild name and settled on Avalon Vanguard. They had marched straight to the Guild Registration Hall, only to discover it cost five gold coins to register a guild. Pooling their funds had left them with less than one gold coin. That was when Williams had suggested sending Skyblade to sweet-talk Ethan into joining them. At first, Skyblade had refused outright. But then Slashblade, with a threathning expression, leaned in and said, "You''ll go, or I''ll have my sister come and deal with you personally." Skyblade froze. He didn''t need the reminder of just how terrifying Slashblade''s sister could be. Sure, her curves were impossible to ignore, generous in all the right places, but everything else about her made him want to bolt. Built like a tank and radiating an aura of sheer dominance, she was more than just intimidating; she was suffocating. To Skyblade, beauty was a fleeting distraction, easily erased when the lights went out. But curves? Curves had staying power. They had a certain utility, an undeniable allure that transcended fear. Yet even his steadfast motto felt shaky when it came to her. Chapter 23 Renegade Alliance The three men stared at Ethan''s message, speechless for a solid minute. It was Williams who finally broke the silence, slapping Slashblade lightly on the shoulder and exclaiming, "Did I just see wrong?!" Slashblade nodded solemnly. "You saw it right." "Holy crap, he''s not just a pro, Is he a goddamn deity or something?" Williams shouted, his shock bubbling over. "Must''ve been dumb luck," Skyblade muttered, finally snapping out of his stupor. "Why don''t you try getting lucky like that?" Slashblade shot back. Ding¡­ [You have received new message.] Just as the group was scrambling for what to do next, Skyblade noticed a system notification pop up. The message read: "Let''s call it the Renegade Alliance." Attached to it were five gold coins. Sender: NotADruid. "...." --- Ethan smirked as he sent off the message, then refocused on his grinding. The massive swamp leviathan bellowed in frustration, slamming its head into the rocky walls of the ridge. It was down to half health now, but it was already 3:45 a.m. Ethan''s bloodshot eyes betrayed how long he had been at this, mindlessly repeating the same attack pattern like a machine. Finally, at 7:30 a.m., the leviathan let out a deafening death cry. Its body collapsed, belly-up, lifeless. Ding¡­ [You have slain the Swamp Leviathan. Overlevel kill bonus: 3000% experience boost. You have earned 124,000 XP (Base XP: 2,000; Overlevel Bonus: 60,000; Ability Growth Bonus: 62,000).] A cascade of golden light enveloped Ethan, signaling five consecutive level-ups. He was now level 10, with 78% of the experience bar already filled. Ding¡­ [Global announcement: Congratulations on achieving the world''s first kill of a level 20 field boss: Swamp Leviathan. Would you like to hide your character name?] "Hide it," Ethan confirmed without hesitation. More notifications followed in rapid succession, each carrying a reward he had long anticipated. As the leviathan''s massive corpse dissolved into faint light, it left behind a shimmering staff, two skill books, and several reinforcement stones. Ethan hovered down gracefully using Wingbeat, avoiding the swamp''s waters. "No lesser crocodiles in sight, good." He didn''t want to risk stepping on one. Landing near the loot, Ethan quickly swept it up: a silver-tier staff, two skill books (Precision Block and Rapidfire Barrage), fourteen reinforcement stones, and 1 gold, 52 silver coins. Not bad. Even though the skill books weren''t useful for him, Precision Block would be perfect for Skyblade''s shield class, and Rapidfire Barrage? That was going straight to Lyla. It was an advanced skill book with an abysmally low drop rate. In his last life, even players above level 100 who specialized in the Archer class rarely got their hands on it. If this book were sold after the game opened up its currency exchange system in the future, it could easily fetch $150,000. Right now, it was worth even more. But for Lyla, the woman he had sworn to protect? This amount meant nothing. Ethan shook his head at the thought of his past self. Back then, he had barely managed to scrape by. Even during his time at the top, all he''d cared about was the game itself, completely oblivious to the potential for profit. By the time he tried to make real money, it was too late, he''d already fallen from grace. Snapping back to the present, Ethan opened his inventory and attached Precision Block to a message for Skyblade. As for Rapidfire Barrage, he''d deliver it to Lyla in person after leaving the Starter Zone. The in-game message system only worked within the Starter Zone, a convenience that didn''t exist in the main game. No cross-zone mail. No exceptions. "Ah, thanks, Legend!" Skyblade sent him a quick message, brimming with gratitude. Ethan chuckled to himself but didn''t bother replying. He guessed the messages he had sent earlier had completely shocked them, making them think he was some sort of psychic who could for tell the future. With a grin, he opened his inbox to claim the First Kill rewards. As expected, the notifications didn''t disappoint. [System Notification: First Kill Rewards Claimed] Starter Zone First Kill: 3 Silver Coins Regional First Kill: 3 Gold Coins National First Kill: 30 Gold Coins Global First Kill: 300 Gold Coins The total was three times the reward of the Level 5 Boss. But beyond the gold, there were no extra items this time. It seemed bonus loot from First Kills was randomized. Ethan''s eyes practically sparkled as he stared at the hefty 333 gold coins. He could almost feel the weight of it in his hands. "I wonder if Trusty007 can handle this much," he mused. That guy was likely still struggling to offload the 100 gold Ethan sold him earlier. Hardly anyone in the Starter Zone had enough to spend at this stage of the game. But Ethan decided to hang on to the coins for now. "Who knows when I might need it?" he reasoned. Even if it devalued, it was better to be prepared, especially with the expenses of maintaining a guild. Next, he pulled out the Wishbound Relic and upgraded the new silver-tier weapon straight to +14. [Primal Warstaff +14] Grade: Silver Required Level: None Attack: 182¨C247 (Base: 76¨C103, Enhancement: +106¨C144) Special Attribute: Adds True Damage equal to Player Level ¡Á 2 per hit. Enhancement (Level 10 Bonus): Mastery +2 Faction Restriction: Survivor Class Restriction: Mage, Warlock, Priest, Druid Holding the weapon in his hand, Ethan''s confidence surged. Its damage potential, paired with its true damage attribute, would skyrocket his efficiency. Even if it couldn''t bypass the defense of tougher monsters, the added true damage alone would let him farm at twenty times his current speed. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At Level 10, the bonus was already 20 true damage per attack. In three more days, Ethan was determined to break out of the Starter Zone. In his past life, the fastest player had managed the feat in eleven days. This time, Ethan was set on smashing that record. With a glance at the clock, he saw only ten minutes left until the server shut down. Ethan returned to the cliff where he''d discovered the hidden platform. Jumping with precision, he landed exactly where he intended. Thanks to his earlier attempt, he nailed it on the first try. "This spot will do." He logged out. Ethan emerged from the VR capsule and wandered to Lyla''s room. The soft hum of the machine confirmed she was still logged in. Without disturbing her, he headed downstairs, washed up, and stepped outside the villa. For reasons he couldn''t explain, he felt a sudden urge to jog. Ethan began with a slow pace around the villa complex, gradually speeding up. To his astonishment, he didn''t feel the slightest fatigue, even after several laps. "What the¡­ Since when do I have this kind of stamina?" he wondered. After college, he had become a recluse, a "professional shut-in." Running even a single lap in the past would have left him gasping for air. He pushed himself to go faster, running like the wind until the twelfth lap, when his energy finally waned. Slowing to a stop, Ethan took deep breaths of the crisp evening air. His body''s transformation stunned him. He could barely remember the last time he''d felt this alive. "How is this possible?" he murmured, baffled. But as the realization set in, a small smile tugged at his lips. No matter the reason, being able to run, truly run, felt incredible. For a moment, memories of his past life flooded his mind. The endless nights confined to a wheelchair after losing his legs above the knees. The days spent disconnected from hope, dreading the moments outside the game. Never again, Ethan vowed. That life was gone forever. Chapter 24 Global Frenzy Ethan took a break to catch his breath when his phone buzzed. Pulling it from his pocket, the caller ID showed Lyla. He smiled, answering with a relaxed tone. "Where''d you disappear to?" Lyla''s voice rang out on the other end. "What, worried I ran away?" Ethan teased, starting his walk back toward the villa. "Hmph, breakfast''s ready. Come eat if you want!" Lyla snapped back playfully before hanging up. Back at the villa, the dining table was laden with a perfectly plated breakfast. After eating with Lyla and enjoying her company, the rest of the day melted into an endless spree of wandering through shops. By the time the game servers were set to open in the evening, Ethan was already feeling the weight of exhaustion. Collapsing into his VR capsule, he exhaled deeply. "Shopping all day¡­ I swear, why do women never get tired of it?" --- Once logged back in, he was still standing on the swamp platform, where the Swamp Leviathan had just respawned. Without hesitation, Ethan threw two spells at the creature. -1! -20! He felt the satisfying effect of True Damage first hand, enhancing the spells. This caused a wide grin to appear on his face. Ding... [You''ve defeated the Swamp Leviathan. Bonus for over-level combat: +1500% EXP gain! Reward: 64,000 EXP (Base: 2,000; Over-Level Bonus: 30,000; Unique Talent Growth Bonus: 32,000).] A vibrant glow enveloped Ethan as two golden rings of light lifted him to Level 12, with 1% progress on his next bar. "Yesterday, my damage peaked at 180 per minute," Ethan mused. "Today, it''s soaring over 3,700 in the same timeframe." However, the smaller level gap meant less bonus EXP for overlevel kills. Still, this time it took less than 20 minutes to take down the Swamp Leviathan, a massive improvement in efficiency. Using the Wingbeat skill to descend, Ethan collected a silver-tier one-handed sword, a gold coin, and eleven reinforcement stones from the fallen beast. While druids could wield a wide variety of weapons, items like one-handed swords, hammers, bows, crossbows, and shields were incompatible with the class. Without hesitation, Ethan used all eleven reinforcement stones, upgrading his staff to +25. He took a moment to check his current stats: --- [[NotADruid] Class: Druid Race: Human Level: 12 Faction: Survivor Bloodline: King of Elves (Divine) Strength: 60 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Enhances physical attack. Intelligence: 60 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Increases magical attack and mana pool. Agility: 60 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Improves attack speed, movement speed, and energy recovery. Stamina: 60 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Boosts defense. Vitality: 60 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Expands health capacity. Enhanced Stats: Omni +2, Mastery +4, Critical +4, Haste +3 Attack Power: 330¨C491 Defense: 126¨C228 Health: 1,200 Free Stat Points: 0 Experience: 1,211 / 44,000 Skills: Basic Appraisal: Analyze monsters up to 5 levels higher. Equipment: Weapon: Primal Warstaff (Leviathan) +25 Bracelet: Blazing Bracelet +30 Rings: Ring of True Sight, Ring of Detection Helmet: Pilot''s Hood Chest: Pilot''s Vest Pants: Pilot''s Leather Pants Gloves: Pilot''s Gloves Boots: Pilot''s Boots The slots for shoulders, wrists, belt, and necklace were still empty. Ethan couldn''t help but feel a swell of pride. "Most players my level would be lucky to deal even a quarter of my damage." Enhanced attributes in the game became accessible after upgrading bronze-tier or higher gear to +10, +20, or +30. Bronze gear provided +1, silver +2, and so on. For instance, Omni, which had gotten when he hit +10 for the bracelet. Critical Hits were straightforward, each point increased crit chance by 0.3%. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Haste was split into physical and magical bonuses. One point added a 0.3% boost to attack speed for physical classes or casting speed for magic users. Mastery was a bit more complex, especially for druids, since it changed based on forms: Panther Form: +1% to Bleed and finishing move damage for every point. Owl Form: +1% to Astral damage. As for the other forms, Ethan didn''t know yet. In his previous life, druids were so rare that few players even managed to equip reinforced gear. Ethan could already start the quest to unlock Bear Form, but he decided not to waste time. Getting out of the Starter Zone as soon as possible was his priority; that''s where the real game began. Shifting into his druid form, Ethan sprinted forward. With his Agility stat, his base movement speed in human form was already at 106%. After transforming into Panther Form, it surged to 136%, making him absurdly fast. Most players received a 0.1% speed boost for every two Agility points. Thanks to Ethan''s divine growth, each point of his Agility provided a 0.1% boost. Ethan''s goal was simple: claim the first kills on both the Level 10 and Level 15 Starter Zone bosses. The gold rewards were nothing to scoff at. When He arrived at the Spectral Wolf''s Level 15 spawn zone, a system message popped up. [Incoming message from Skyblade.] "Hey, is that you at the top of the rankings?" Ethan had hidden his character name, but the leaderboard in Zone 1314 showed a Level 12 player at the top. The second-place player was barely Level 5. Speculation exploded in the global chat. Even Skyblade wasn''t entirely sure it was Ethan. He wasn''t the only one wondering. The situation was causing ripples not just in Zone 1314 but worldwide. An eighth-level European player, a paladin from the Survivor Faction, posted: "What? Someone''s already Level 12? How''s that even possible?" A seventh-level Japanese player with twin blades from the Carnage Faction chimed in: "No way I''m losing to a bunch of noobs. Must be some kind of cheat or perhaps, a bug..." A Korean Necromancer at Level 7, also Carnage Faction, confidently declared: "That player? Probably one of us. Koreans always dominate at this. They''re definitely grinding out of Dragonspire." Meanwhile, a hulking shield tank, Survivor Faction, muttered in a heavy accent before typing: "Hey, whoever you are, you''re sitting on some kind of trick for leveling. Don''t keep it to yourself, spill it." ¡ª Dragonspire, Starter Zone 1 A ninth-level archer had just brought down a massive Level 12 Savage Bear. Checking his private messages, he muttered, "Interesting," before preparing to kite his next target. His strategy was simple, stay mobile and out of melee range while whittling down enemies. Though his damage numbers were low, often single digits, his arrows inflicted bonus True Damage and applied various debuffs like slow effects. Had Ethan been there to witness this, he would have cursed the extravagance. Archers were known to be the fastest solo leveling class, but only for those with money. High-tier arrows with additional True Damage and debuff effects came at a steep price. Even the most basic enhancement arrows cost 5 silver coins per barrel, each containing 1,000 arrows, but their damage was mediocre. This archer''s attacks, however, packed an additional 100 True Damage per shot. While not the best on the market, such arrows still cost at least 5 gold coin per barrel. Every shot cost roughly 5 copper coins¡ªthat''s $9 in USD per shot. It was as if the player were burning cash for fun. This particular individual had single-handedly driven the gold-to-silver exchange rate in Dragonspire''s Eastern Zone Starter Area to a jaw-dropping $1,000 for a single silver coin. This was the infamous legend known as Feather. In Ethan''s previous life, a pretty reknown group of people had mocked his methods, spreading rumours that he was a Pay-to-Win Pin Cushion. The insult was short-lived, Feather had tracked down his critics, hunting and forcing them back to the starter zone. This had caused everyone to revere him as the God of Arrows. Chapter 25 Into the Fray. Just as Ethan was about to respond to Skyblade''s message, his interface chimed with a cascade of notifications. He opened his friends list and nearly groaned at the sight. His friend request inbox had exploded. Without hesitation, Ethan toggled on the auto-decline friend requests function and wiped the slate clean. By now, he had long set his privacy settings to block private messages from anyone who wasn''t already on his friends list. Denied a direct way to contact him, these people resorted to flooding him with friend requests instead. Most of them were players from Zone 1314. They must have guessed the mysterious leaderboard ranker was him and were trying to confirm it. Ethan sighed and opened the rankings panel, switching his visibility setting to hidden. This action caused a huge reaction from the world chat. [Anonymous]: "Hey, that Level 12 guy just disappeared from the list!" [Anonymous]: "Yeah, what''s happening? You think he exploited some glitch and got banned?" [Anonymous]: "Serves him right for showing off! Ban him for eternity!" [Anonymous]: "I''m telling you, it''s that druid guy! He must''ve glitched his way into the starter zone!" Reading the world chat made Ethan roll his eyes. "Idiots," he muttered to himself. "You don''t even realize that hiding from the rankings is a privilege reserved for top players. That''s what we call staying low-profile." After handling the notifications, Ethan couldn''t be bothered to reply to Skyblade. Instead, he focused on the spectral wolf in front of him, Basic Appraisal. --- [Corrupted Spectral Wolf] Class: Common Level: 15 HP: 2400 Attack: 68¨C118 Defense: 59¨C98 Ability: Swift Stride (Increases movement speed by 70% for 10 seconds. Cooldown: 1 minute.) Description: A relentless minion of the dark world. No prey escapes its pursuit. --- Ethan frowned, recalling that the Wolf King also had the Swift Stride skill. He had originally planned to kite the boss using speed, wearing it down slowly. That tactic might not work here. He''d have to reconsider. Well, while he was here, he might as well grind. These spectral wolves may have been three levels above him, boosting their defense by 1.5 times, but his almost 500 attack power was more than enough to break through. As for their attacks? It was quite laughable. A three-level gap might triple their critical hit rate, but Ethereal''s crit multiplier was only 1.5x. Even at their best, they couldn''t scratch his defenses. With a predatory grin, Ethan muttered, "Let''s go big." In an instant, his form shifted into that of a panther. Without hesitation, he lunged straight into the pack of spectral wolves. The wolves exploded into a frenzy. Howls filled the night as the pack descended upon him. He glanced back to see a swarm of over ten wolves hot on his heels, some activating Swift Stride to snap at him relentlessly. Their bites barely grazed his 1,200 HP, chipping away tiny slivers at a time, utterly insignificant. Ethan darted left and right, controlling the group''s positioning. Then, shifting again into his owl form, he unleashed Sunburn into the heart of the pack. A vibrant 3x3 zone of burning flames engulfed the spectral wolves, applying a Burn Debuff. --- [Sunburn]: Deals burn damage equal to 35% of player attack power every second for 26 seconds. --- A cascade of damage floated above the wolves: -31, -24, -31, -24¡­ With each tick, an additional true damage of 24 points stacked on. In his owl form, Ethan''s defensive stats rose by 36%, making him untouchable. The only downside? Casting spells left him stationary. He gritted his teeth and stood his ground, layering Lunar Beam on each wolf. Switching back to panther form, he dashed through the pack, raking them with Rend to stack true damage. Unfortunately, Rend consumed 35 energy per cast, draining him after only three uses. Frustrated, Ethan abandoned the move. Thirty seconds later, the pack lay scattered across the ground, defeated. A flood of +300 XP notifications filled his interface. Checking his health, Ethan noted he''d lost over 400 points. Despite his high defense, sheer numbers still wore him down, ticking away ten points per second from minor hits. Ethan frowned, realizing the train-pulling method wasn''t efficient against Corrupted Spectral Wolves. Their high movement speed made it hard to gather them into a proper group for grinding. He''d need to find slower monsters to execute this strategy effectively. He scavenged the fallen wolves, pocketing a handful of single copper coins and tattered pelts. Though he had over 300 gold in his inventory, a huge fortune, it felt wrong to leave behind even small gains. A man who knows the value of every penny is a wise man. Every coin counts. While rummaging through one of the larger wolf corpses, something caught his eye, a book. A grin spread across his face. Skill books were rare, with drop rates of only 0.01% from common monsters. And yet, here it was: --- [Skill Book: Bramble Bind] Effect: Summons thorny vines under an enemy, rooting them in place and dealing damage equal to 10% of the player''s attack per second. Lasts 10 seconds. Cooldown: 1 minute. Notes: PvP: Affected players can destroy vines by attacking them. Vine HP equals 10% of the player''s max HP. Vulnerable to fire magic, which ignores durability and destroys vines instantly. Class: Druid (Owl Form specialization required) Level Requirement: 10 Cast Type: 1 chant syllable + 1 hand gesture --- S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan''s grin widened. This is exactly what I needed! Only moments ago, he''d been worrying about how to take on the Wolf King. Now, this skill offered a solution. With its near-instant cast time, it was a perfect counter for the boss''s speed. He didn''t hesitate, one click and the skill was learned. Switching to Stealth, Ethan crept toward the hill''s center. Soon, he arrived at the Wolf King''s hunting grounds. Surveying the area, his brow furrowed. The terrain was too cramped, with Corrupted Spectral Wolves roaming on all sides. Fighting the boss would inevitably draw the others'' attention, making the battle nearly impossible. He''d have to clear out the small fry first. Four directions. Four groups. Ten minutes of grueling work. Eventually, he carved out a safe zone. During the process, Ethan tested his new skill and quickly realized a key detail: timing was everything. Bramble Bind had to be cast the moment the Wolf King activated its Swift Stride; otherwise, the boss''s enhanced speed would make dodging easy. Taking a deep breath, Ethan positioned himself 40 meters from the Wolf King, his max casting range. For the first time across two lifetimes, he''d attempt a solo fight against a commander-tier boss without exploiting terrain. Earlier, he''d used Basic Appraisal to check its stats. The Wolf King had 34,800 HP, over 600 attack, and a moderate 200 defense. ''This is going to be interesting.'' Ethan initiated the fight with Sunburn and Lunar Beam, casting both back-to-back. --- -1, -24! --- The Wolf King howled, taking two powerful strides toward Ethan before pausing, its hind legs bending in preparation for a leap. Now! Ethan''s hand moved swiftly. Bramble Bind! Thorny vines erupted from the ground, ensnaring the Wolf King''s paws just as the characteristic whirlwind of Swift Stride began to swirl around it. The boss struggled, growling furiously, but the vines held firm, preventing it from moving even an inch. Ten seconds passed. As the vines dissolved, the Swift Stride effect also faded, leaving the Wolf King to charge forward at its default speed. Though still fast, Ethan''s panther form had a slight edge. He kited the beast in wide circles, forcing it to chase him hopelessly while repeatedly. When safe, he shifted into his owl form to reapply debuffs before switching back to panther form to stay ahead. The Wolf King growked angrily, unable to navigate the terrain or cut him off directly. It was nothing more than a hulking mass of fur and frustration, endlessly eating Ethan''s dust. Ethan kept one eye on the Bramble Bind cooldown, knowing it was identical to the boss''s Swift Stride cooldown. As soon as the skill came off cooldown, he cast it again without hesitation. Timing would determine the success of this hunt. Chapter 26 Power-levelling The Group Forty minutes later, the Spectral Wolf King crashed to the ground, lifeless, its massive frame stirring up a cloud of dust. Four server-first kill notifications lit up the sky, but as usual, Ethan opted to stay anonymous. The experience points rewarded were just 12,000 in total. Quite disappointing, considering the risk. In Ethereal, experience gained from defeating monsters increased exponentially with level gaps. If a monster''s level exceeded a player''s by up to five levels, the system granted 100% bonus XP per additional level. From six to ten levels higher, the bonus jumped to 200%. Beyond ten levels? A staggering 300%. That''s why, when Ethan, at Level 5, took down the Level 20 Swamp Leviathan, he raked in an astonishing 3,000% XP bonus. For context, regular field monsters granted experience equal to ten times their level. Elite monsters offered fifty times their level, while Boss monsters rewarded a hundred times. Dungeon monsters, however, provided ten times the XP of their field counterparts but came with challenges that no average team could overcome without flawless teamwork. Despite the XP potential, solo grinding or dungeon diving was an option only for the most skilled or reckless players. The majority had to team up, dividing the spoils. The result? Experience gains so thin they were barely worth the effort. Ethan surveyed the loot scattered across the ground, feeling his excitement quickly fade. Nothing extraordinary. Not even a single silver-tiered item. All he got were a few Reinforcement Stones and a bronze-tiered belt that needed appraisal. Unlike high-tier items like the Blazing Bracelet, or the Primal Warstaff he''d looted from the Swamp Leviathan, lower-quality gear required appraisal. Without it, the items couldn''t even be equipped. Unfortunately, Ethan couldn''t return to town to appraise the belt. Right now, being a red-named player, he was barred from city gates, risking capture and imprisonment by the town guards until his Sin Value dropped to zero, a time sink he couldn''t afford. Not that it mattered. With his loot secured, Ethan moved on, setting his sights on the next target: the Level 10 Berserk Bear. Just as he was about to head out, a loud ding interrupted his thoughts. [Global Announcement: Player ''Feather'' has achieved the first kill of the Level 10 Boss ''Berserk Bear'' in the Eastern Sector of Dragonspire! Rewards will be distributed via inbox shortly.] Ethan froze, his heart sinking. Then another ding followed, this time, a national announcement. Looking up at the glowing text, Ethan groaned. He should''ve prioritized the lower-level Boss. Now, at least 100 gold coins worth of rewards had slipped through his fingers. "Feather, huh?" Ethan muttered, suppressing a pang of annoyance. "That Archer seems as good as ever even in this life. Guess the god of arrows lives up to his title." The system announcement''s wording made one thing clear: Feather had taken down the Berserk Bear solo. Team efforts had different phrasing, and Ethan knew it. Still grumbling over the missed opportunity, Ethan sprinted toward the Berserk Bear''s spawn point. The Boss''s stats flashed across his vision. It wasn''t much of a threat to him now. At Level 12, he had a two-level advantage over the Boss, giving him the edge. Without hesitation, he launched into battle. Minutes later, the Berserk Bear crumpled under Ethan''s relentless assault, netting him a regional first-kill bonus and over ten gold coins. Among the loot was a bronze-tiered cloak, visually striking but still unappraised. With two Bosses down, Ethan focused on strengthening his weapon. Using Reinforcement Stones from both battles, he pushed his weapon to +30. His attack power surged past 500, and his Mastery stat gained two points. At Level 12 with 41% XP progress, Ethan knew he''d soon outgrow the Starter Zone. But first, he needed to grind enough to leave at the earliest opportunity. The Starter Dungeon required a ten-player team to bypass its intricate traps and mechanisms, and soloing it was impossible, even for him. If Feather could solo a Level 10 Boss, Ethan needed to reach the main city before him to claim the rewards waiting there. Time was of the essence. Ethan turned his attention to grinding. Pulling groups of Corrupted Bears using a train strategy, he lured small clusters toward him. Despite his attacks, the monsters frequently fled mid-combat, causing him to lose progress. To keep them engaged, Ethan allowed himself to take a few hits, ensuring they stayed in combat. The process was slow and grueling. After a few waves, he had to pause, catching his breath and recovering health before continuing. After finishing off the current wave of Corrupted Bears, Ethan opened his friend list and sent a message to Skyblade: "Get Slashblade and that Paladin guy. Meet me in the Level 12 monster zone. I''ll power-level you guys." He included his coordinates and told them to follow the main road until they reached the outer edges of the area, where he''d come to fetch them. With their pitiful Level 4 stats, those three couldn''t survive a single swipe from the Berserk Bear, let alone fend off the Corrupted Bears. The trio, thrilled by Ethan''s offer, scrambled to make their way to him. While waiting, Ethan kept busy farming more monsters. Over an hour later, a notification popped up from Skyblade: [We''re here.] Ethan walked out to meet them, and as expected, Skyblade looked as proud as ever. He strutted over, carrying a shield on his back and a single-handed sword at his hip. Looking at him, Ethan felt a flicker of regret about advising Skyblade to switch to a Shield Tank build. With that attitude, he''d probably cause chaos during any dungeon raid. "Hey, um, Legend!" Skyblade greeted him with a cheeky grin. Ethan ignored him and patted Slashblade on the shoulder. "Let''s go. With your heals, I''ll be fine. You two can head back." "What?! Skyblade and Williams blurted out in unison, their faces a mix of disbelief and indignation. "Uh¡­" Slashblade hesitated, caught off guard. Ethan burst into laughter. "Relax, I''m just messing with you. You two aren''t totally useless, you''ll help pull mobs." With a smirk, he sent out team invites. [Ding¡­ Slashblade has joined the party!] [Ding¡­ Skyblade has joined the party!] [Ding¡­ SeraphWarrior has joined the party!] It was only now that Ethan noticed Williams''s in-game name: SeraphWarrior. He froze for a moment. SeraphWarrior wasn''t just any player, he was a legend. Though he didn''t rise to prominence in the early days of Ethereal, he became a big name during the Great National War event. Along with Heaven''s Dawn, he was one of the elite players who had cemented their place in history. Ethan studied him curiously. Back then, during the game''s late phase, Ethan had been reduced to scavenging abandoned mines, hunting for Titanite to survive in the real world. He''d never heard Skyblade mention either Slashblade or SeraphWarrior. Did something happen to their group later? Pushing aside his doubts, Ethan led the group down the cleared path into the Corrupted Bear spawning grounds. He assigned Skyblade and SeraphWarrior to pull mobs, while Slashblade stayed close to Ethan as a mobile health reserve, healing him as needed. Surprisingly, the two lower-level players made excellent lures. From a distance, the monsters spotted them immediately, charging in packs toward the group. When the mobs entered Ethan''s attack range, he unleashed Sunburn, pulling their aggro toward himself. With the threat neutralized, the two players went off to pull more monsters. At first, Skyblade and SeraphWarrior screamed for help, their panicked cries echoing across the battlefield. But once the first wave of monsters fell, and the XP notifications started flooding their screens, their terror turned to delight. With the 700% bonus for level-gap kills, each player earned 378 XP per monster, a massive boost that skyrocketed their progress bars. For Ethan, the gains were very little. Solo, he would''ve earned 240 XP per kill. With a party, his share dropped to 108 XP. Still, the team bonus, 20% extra XP per additional party member, helped soften the blow. Without it, his losses would''ve been even greater. As the rest reveled in their rapid leveling, Ethan smirked. At least they were getting their fill. ___ Author: S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Twenty six chapters in. Please drop a review of what you think of the story so far. Don''t forget to leave some power stones. Chapter 27 Dominating the Starter Zone Experience gain had slightly decreased, but their efficiency had skyrocketed. As soon as the monsters entered Ethan''s attack range, they were instantly scorched by Sunburn. Most didn''t even make it halfway before they were reduced to ashes by his devastating damage output. With the massive over-level experience bonuses, the three of them hit Level 5 in just two minutes. The jump from Level 4 to 5 only required 2,720 experience points, after all. The monsters never got close enough to harm Ethan, and Slashblade, who was originally supposed to play a key role, ended up being mostly useless. Seeing that he wasn''t needed, Slashblade began clearing the battlefield and collecting loot. Eventually, he even started helping to lure monsters, but his slower speed as a healer made it a risky endeavor. At Ethan''s suggestion, Slashblade reluctantly returned to cleanup duty, occasionally venturing out to lure monsters when it was safe. Half an hour later, the group had reached Level 7. Their progress was nothing short of remarkable, and even Ethan felt a twinge of envy. If only someone could power-level him this quickly. But at Level 7, their speed began to slow. The over-level bonus had dropped to 400%, giving only 216 experience points per monster, while the experience needed for the next level had risen to 11,200 points. Still, it wasn''t too bad, just about fifty more monsters to go. However, Ethan noticed the number of monsters they were pulling had started to dwindle. It seemed they had nearly cleared the area. He proposed they switch locations and start pushing toward a higher-level zone. With his overwhelming damage output, not taking on higher-level monsters felt like a waste. Skyblade and the others had no objections. After experiencing the thrill of rapid leveling, they were more than willing to follow Ethan''s lead. After confirming their direction, the group advanced cautiously. Skyblade and SeraphWarrior moved ahead to lure monsters back to Ethan, who would obliterate them. Once an area was cleared, they pushed forward toward the next wave of enemies. By the time they reached the Level 13 monster zone, the entire group had hit Level 8, while Ethan''s experience bar was 80% of the way to Level 13. It was then that the in-game global chat exploded. Three Level 8 players had taken the top three spots on the leaderboard, sparking widespread attention. MadMarksman (Archer - Male): "Check the leaderboard! These three are leveling like crazy!" sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. SunnyPiglet (Paladin - Female): "I know, right? I was partying with them earlier, they were only Level 4 then!" ChillMage (Warlock - Male): "Is this another bug? Someone, please tell me the trick!" SharpVantage (Rogue - Male): "They''re probably getting banned any second now." ¡ª Ethan and his party ignored the chatter entirely. By now, they had moved into the Level 14 Corrupted Spider zone. The spiders here were highly social, clustering in dense groups, making them perfect for their grinding strategy. The group decided to settle down and focus their efforts in the area. Ethan still benefited from the over-level bonuses, and with his Divine Abilities doubling his experience gains, his leveling speed surged further. Finally, Slashblade found a role for himself, occasionally healing Ethan when needed and continuing his battlefield cleanup. Four hours later¡­ "My inventory''s full again," Slashblade complained. "Same here," Skyblade added. "Don''t look at me," SeraphWarrior chimed in over the party chat. "I maxed out my bag during our first run back in town!" "I''m running out of inventory space too. How about we call it a day? The servers are shutting down in less than an hour anyway," Ethan said, glancing at the clock. It was already past 7 PM. "Aw, come on. Let''s grind until the very last second!" Skyblade protested, clearly addicted to the fast-paced leveling. By now, all three of them had hit Level 10, while Ethan had just reached Level 14. On the Zone 1314 leaderboard, the trio was dominating, four levels ahead of the fourth-place player. Ethan chuckled. "Keep dreaming. Everyone back to town!" Despite Skyblade''s reluctance to use his free teleport stone, Slashblade and SeraphWarrior cheerfully bid Ethan farewell and teleported back to town. Before they logged off, Ethan reminded them in the party chat, "Sort out the valuable loot in your inventory. Keep what you need and sell or trade the rest. Also, buy large-slot backpacks! Tomorrow, I''ll grind with you for one more day. After that, I''m leaving the Starter Zone." Ethan glanced at his freshly filled experience bar. Reaching Level 15 would require a hefty 65,520 experience points, but he felt confident. Taking out his once-per-day free teleport stone, Ethan activated it. The red name above his character, due to hours of monster grinding, had already disappeared. Back in the safety of Evercrest Town, the real-world sun had risen, but within Ethereal, it was sunset. The dim glow of streetlights reflected off the cement walls of the town''s buildings, casting long shadows. The streets were bustling as always. "Top-tier Level 1 Common Iron weapons! Perfect for all classes! 2 copper coins each, better than starter gear!" a Level 3 rogue shouted near the spawn area, drawing a crowd of new players to his makeshift stall. Newcomers, who started with 2 copper coins in seed money, often bought these weapons to get a slight advantage early on. They didn''t realize that the same Level 1 weapons were sold at the blacksmith shop on the north side of town for just 1 copper coin, a quick five-minute jog away. Ethan smirked as he passed by. People like this rogue existed everywhere, not exactly scammers, but opportunists. At least they saved you the trip. Pushing through the bustling streets, Ethan made his way to the Guild Hall. Earlier, when he met up with Skyblade and the others, they had sent him an invite to the newly created guild, and Slashblade had transferred the Guild Leader position to him. Since starter guilds didn''t have permanent bases, all administrative tasks had to be handled at the Guild Hall. The first thing Ethan did was painfully shell out 10 gold to unlock the first page of the guild''s shared vault. He deposited his unused equipment into the vault. The system automatically assessed the items'' attributes and assigned a contribution cost for guild members to claim them. Next, Ethan set up a dynamic contribution system for currency donations. The Ethereal AI would adjust the exchange rate based on the fluctuating market value of gold coins. Though Ethan didn''t know exactly how the system calculated it, it was impressively accurate. Finally, he configured the guild vault to allow item donations in exchange for contribution points. The system would automatically evaluate the gear''s attributes and assign appropriate rewards to encourage members to participate. Chapter 28 Taking The Bear Form Quest In Ethereal, it wasn''t as simple as throwing money around to get the gear you wanted. The best equipment was usually hoarded by elite guilds for their own members, rarely making it to the open market. When something did pop up for sale, it was often low-grade gear with absurd price tags, far beyond what the average player could afford. That''s where the Guild Vault System came into play. It was designed to address these problems perfectly. Players could earn contribution points for completing guild tasks, such as dungeon raids or quest objectives, and use those points to exchange for gear. The system evaluated the gear''s attributes and assigned a fair point value, ensuring absolute equity. Of course, there were limits. Any item withdrawn from the guild vault carried a unique tag, permanently linking it to the guild. If you left the guild, the system would reclaim the item, and the contribution points spent on it would not be refunded. This system prevented malicious players from exploiting the guild by grabbing cheap gear and flipping it on the market for profit. For those with legitimate reasons to leave the guild, the higher-ups could approve their departure. In such cases, the system would reclaim their items but compensate them with gold equivalent to their contribution, deducted directly from the guild''s coffers. However, players with strong loyalty to the guild rarely left, though exceptions existed. Rival guilds were always eager to poach skilled members. After finalizing the vault setup, Ethan reluctantly spent 100 gold coins to upgrade the guild to Level 2. A Level 1 guild could only accommodate 100 members, but at Level 2, the capacity increased to 1,000. During this early stage of the game, guilds could only upgrade to Level 2. Advancing to Level 3 required establishing a guild base, plus an exorbitant expansion fee of 1,000 gold. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not that it mattered. Ethan didn''t have a base, or anywhere near that kind of amount. A thousand gold? That was $1,800,000 in real-world currency! With everything set up, Ethan sent a message to Skyblade and Slashblade, telling them they could start recruiting. Given their current fame on the leaderboards, it wouldn''t be hard to attract players. After all, for every 10 copper coins a guild member earned in the field, the guild''s vault automatically gained 1 copper. Sure, members received only a negligible boost to their contribution points from this system, but it was a win-win situation. The more members they had, the more funds the guild could collect. Ethan had no intention of footing the massive guild upgrade costs on his own. As for vetting recruits? That could wait. It was too early in the game to judge anyone''s character. However, Ethan did send a list of player names to Skyblade and Slashblade, warning them to keep these people out of the guild at all costs. Those names belonged to infamous scammers and cheaters from Ethan''s previous life, players who had earned a reputation for being absolute scum. Topping the list were Zachary (game ID: Overlord) and Ivy (game ID: Nightfall). With everything settled, Ethan glanced at the timer. Only 40 minutes left until the servers shut down for the day. Chanting a teleportation spell, he prepared to return to the Forest of Nature to complete his Bear Form quest. His body shimmered and reappeared on the shores of Lunar Lake. The breathtaking view and crisp, fresh air helped clear his mind after hours of grinding monsters. But time was running out. He didn''t linger to admire the scenery, heading straight to the camp to find the NPC who issued the Bear Form transformation quest. As he searched, Ethan prayed he wouldn''t encounter another eccentric NPC like the one from before. That guy, in Owl Form, had started rapping at him with a voice that souded like nails on a chalkboard. If the performance had been remotely decent, Ethan might have let it slide, but it wasn''t. It was pure noise pollution. Thankfully, the Bear Form druid turned out to be more grounded. After asking around, Ethan finally located the NPC, a bear-shaped druid dozing in a cave. The glowing golden exclamation mark above its head confirmed its identity. Ethan approached but didn''t disturb its sleep. Instead, he waited quietly, stealing nervous glances at the clock. Only 20 minutes remained until the servers went offline. This quest was something Ethan had overheard about in his previous life, a rare hidden event. If he woke the Bear Druid directly, it would issue the standard transformation quest: gather a few items, complete the task, and unlock Bear Form. But if he waited patiently for the druid to wake up on its own, he''d unlock a different quest, one that awarded a rare title, Dreamwalker. As Ethan anxiously watched the seconds tick by, he tried to recall where he''d first heard about this hidden quest. The details eluded him, but a nagging instinct told him this was the right approach. "Greetings, outsider." The deep rumble of a voice startled him. With just two minutes left before the servers shut down, the massive bear rolled over and stood up, towering above him. "Honored Bear Druid," Ethan began, carefully enunciating the quest activation phrase, "I''ve come to take on the Bear Form quest." The druid turned to face him, its golden eyes gleaming. "You have waited without disturbing my rest, unlike so many others. Because of this, I have finally seen my dreams clearly. My kin, a distant group of druids have been calling to me, appearing in my dreams. I do not understand why. Will you enter my dreamscape and uncover the truth?" Ethan nodded without hesitation. "It would be my honor, Druid. How should I proceed?" The druid scratched at the ground thoughtfully. "Return tomorrow. I will seek out the Elder Tree to craft a Dream Potion for you." As the server timer ticked down to mere seconds, Ethan grinned wryly. The timing was too perfect to be coincidence, definitely a system design. He bid the Bear Druid farewell and logged out directly from the same spot, ensuring he could resume the quest as soon as he logged back in. --- After freshening up, Ethan left his room and noticed that Lyla''s door was already open. Then it hit him, it was Monday. School was in session, and she''d mentioned yesterday that she had a class during the second period. Glancing at the clock, he cursed. 8:05 AM. He bolted downstairs, just in time to see Lyla emerging from the open kitchen, balancing two white porcelain plates. On each plate: toast, milk, and ham. "Uh¡­ Miss Silverwood, don''t tell me this is the only thing you know how to make. At least throw in a fried egg!" Ethan teased. He wasn''t a fan of this kind of breakfast, he much preferred something hearty, like a breakfast burrito. Hearing his comment, Lyla''s cheeks flushed red as she shot him a sharp glare. Realizing he''d put his foot in his mouth, Ethan gave a sheepish laugh and quickly took the plate from her. For someone as pampered as Lyla, who likely hadn''t cooked a day in her life, making breakfast at all was already impressive. He couldn''t really complain. "Hey Ethie, I heard you disappeared from the leaderboard," Lyla said as she sat down across from him. "Don''t tell me the system actually booted you?" Ethan choked slightly, not at the question itself but at how quickly her tone had shifted. She''d started out calling him Ethan, and now suddenly it was Ethie. The abrupt change made the hair on his arms stand on end. "What''s wrong?" Lyla asked, noticing his discomfort. "Could you¡­ not call me that?" Ethan said, clearly uneasy. "Why not? That''s what I called you when we were kids! If you hadn''t insisted on going back to the orphanage, my parents would''ve adopted you, and you''d be my brother for real," she said, matter-of-factly. Ethan was at a loss for words. How was he supposed to argue with that? "Fine, fine," he relented. "Anyway, I''m not off the leaderboards. I''m just hidden, only the top rankers get that privilege." Chapter 29 Focus Of Envy "Oh!" Ethan wasn''t sure if Lyla was responding to the fact that he agreed he could have been her brother, or to his commentary about the game. Either way, she lowered her head to continue eating, her eyes glinting briefly with a sly amusement. After finishing breakfast, the two of them hopped into the car to head for school. Ethan, who had earned his driver''s license long ago, had once worked part-time as a designated driver to cover his tuition and living expenses. When they reached the garage and the metal door rolled up, Ethan froze in place, his jaw dropping in disbelief. The colossal beast of a vehicle that greeted him left Ethan rubbing his eyes, convinced he was seeing things. His mind dug for an explanation before the name hit him: the "Predator Beast X." This thing was billed as "the world''s most unstoppable vehicle," capable of plowing through obstacles with ridiculous ease. Its armor was resilient enough to withstand an RPG blast, its undercarriage tough enough to endure the force of a 15-pound explosive, and its tires, even if punctured by 50-caliber rounds, could still manage another 30 miles without issue. "This¡­ this is your car?" Ethan stammered, his face plastered with disbelief. The image of Lyla driving this monster was impossible to reconcile in his head. "Yep! Cool, huh?" Lyla beamed, practically glowing with pride. "I saw it on TV once and thought it looked badass, so I casually mentioned it to my dad. I didn''t think he''d actually get me one as a gift for coming to Harmony City for college!" "You''re sure it''s street-legal?" Ethan asked skeptically. As far as he knew, vehicles like this weren''t sold stateside, they were the kind of thing you''d only see in war-torn regions. He doubted this was something you could just casually drive down the street. "Why wouldn''t it be? I''ve driven it plenty of times!" Lyla replied, her tone puzzled by his doubt. "Well¡­ fair enough. Forget I asked. Your dad''s something else, huh!" Ethan muttered. If this thing was on the road, her dad must''ve pulled some serious strings. He climbed into the driver''s seat, only to find that the interior was¡­ disturbingly girly. Pink seat covers, floral air fresheners, and a plush unicorn hanging from the rearview mirror. As he prepared to start the engine, he noticed Lyla still standing outside, pouting with puffed cheeks and glaring at him. Ethan instantly realized he''d said something wrong again. Leaning out of the window, he quickly corrected himself. "Our dad is amazing! Now get in the car, my dear sister!" Her frown melted into a bright grin as she hopped into the passenger seat. The engine roared to life with a thunderous growl, though the sound was impressively muted once the doors and windows were sealed. It wasn''t completely silent, but it was quiet enough to feel comfortable. Ethan glanced at the speedometer, 240 mph. That couldn''t be right. The manufacturer specs for this thing capped out at 120 mph, didn''t they? It clicked. Not only had Lyla''s dad pulled strings to legalize this tank of a vehicle, but he''d also had it modified. The Predator Beast X rumbled onto the streets, attracting every set of eyes. At over 20 feet long, nearly 9 feet wide, and standing 8.7 feet tall, this beast didn''t belong on city roads. "What the hell is that?" "Looks like a military vehicle¡­ but it''s got civilian plates?" "Must be some rich kid showing off." "Man, karma''s gonna strike this dude fast." "This thing''s insane! I wish my old man buy me one too!" Even the most aggressive SUVs on the road seemed to shrink back, hurriedly clearing a path for the rolling behemoth. Traffic cops stood dumbfounded, frantically checking their systems to confirm the vehicle''s legality. Soon, they arrived near the campus. Lyla suggested parking in the lot closest to the school, not wanting to attract too much attention. Ethan couldn''t help but smirk. ''You? Not wanting to attract attention? Sure. Your dad gave you a tank just because you thought it was cool.'' He shook his head, amused. It''s just a ride to school, not an invasion. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It took several laps around the parking lot before Ethan finally found a spot. Well, not exactly a spot, more like three spots. The Predator Beast X ate up every inch of space, leaving the lot manager staring slack-jawed as Ethan and Lyla casually strolled away. The two entered the university campus, laughing and chatting as they made their way to Lyla''s lecture hall. As they got closer to the building, Ethan noticed people staring and whispering as they passed. "Hey, is that girl from our department?" "Don''t you know her? She transferred in about a month ago." "She''s gorgeous! Easily rivals Ivy in looks." "Pfft, you must be out of the loop. Ivy''s just a department queen. This freshman, Lyla Silverwood, is dominating the campus forums. She''s giving even Miss Hawthorne a run for her money!" "Wait, Celeste Hawthorne? The Ice Queen of the whole campus?" "Shh! Keep your voice down. Do you want to attract trouble?" "Uh¡­ but who''s the guy? Is he her boyfriend?" Their whispered gossip reached Ethan''s ears loud and clear, startling him. Since when had his hearing become so sharp? Now that he thought about it, his stamina had also been off the charts lately. It all seemed to trace back to moving into the villa and using the VR capsule. Ethan turned toward the group of whisperers and shot a knowing smile at the one who''d asked if he was Lyla''s boyfriend. "D-Did he just smile at me? Did you guys see that? You think he heard us talking?" "Get real. There''s no way he could hear us from that far. Anyway, what level are you at now?" one of them asked, shifting the topic to Ethereal as Ethan and Lyla walked closer. "I''m Level 5. You guys should be around the same, right? I heard the class rep hit Level 6 already, crazy, huh?" said a bespectacled student in a striped gray shirt, speaking louder this time. Ethan and Lyla exchanged a glance, stifling their amusement. Lyla''s thoughts danced with pride. ''They have no idea. The first player in the world to hit Level 14 just walked past them. And I''m already at Level 8, all thanks to him.'' Her dimples deepened as a small, smug smile lit up her face. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around Ethan''s and walked past the group, radiating confidence. The students stared after them, frozen in stunned silence. Ethan wasn''t the type to keep a low profile. In his past life, his arrogance had drawn plenty of attention, eventually leading to his fall from grace. This time around, he''d learned to be more cautious and protective of himself. But stirring up a little envy now and then? That was still fair game. Besides, he wasn''t exactly complaining about the way Lyla pressed herself against his arm. Whether she was doing it on purpose or not, Ethan couldn''t tell, and honestly, he didn''t care to find out. "I''ll walk you to your classroom," Ethan offered. "Don''t you have class?" Lyla asked, tilting her head. "Do I look like the type to pick morning classes?" Ethan replied with a smirk. "Good point. Someone like you would definitely load up on afternoon classes, game all night, and sleep until noon," Lyla teased, feigning a look of disgust. "Oh yeah? What about you?" Ethan shot back, putting on an exaggeratedly menacing expression. "You''re one to talk. Have you ever signed up for a first-period class? Aren''t you the queen of sleeping in?" With that, he wrapped an arm around her waist, his hand accidentally slipping towards her lower abdomen. Lyla stiffened for a moment but didn''t pull away. Instead, she playfully swatted his hand away with a mock glare. "Bro, that''s called beauty sleep, thank you very much!" Ethan shivered at her calling him Bro, goosebumps prickling his skin. He couldn''t decide whether he loved it or hated it. Lyla noticed his flustered expression and burst out laughing. "Come on, aren''t you supposed to walk me to class? We''re gonna be late if you keep stalling!" Chapter 30 Sweet Revenge The two strolled along the lakeside path, heading toward the School of Finance building. It was like every other department building on campus, modern, well-equipped, and bustling with activity. What set these buildings apart, however, were the training rooms on every floor, a mandatory addition made nationwide the year prior. Physical fitness and combat training had become a compulsory subject for all college students, surpassing even the most theoretical cultural courses in importance. Inside the classroom Lyla was heading to, Ethan peeked through the window. His brow lifted. Sure enough, the rumors were true, this department was packed with women. Out of a class of forty students, only three were male. Ethan couldn''t help but wonder: did those guys end up adapting to the estrogen-heavy environment, or did it eventually turn them into cross-dressing divas? He chuckled to himself, though a pang of bitter nostalgia hit him. His ex-girlfriend, Ivy, had been the campus "queen" in this department. Not once had she let him accompany her to class, making this his first time seeing the "paradise" she used to describe. But as Lyla waved goodbye and walked into the room, the charm of the place dimmed. The other women paled in comparison to Lyla''s graceful elegance, like a rare orchid amidst ordinary blooms. Yet Ethan knew better than to be fooled by appearances. Lyla wasn''t just some harmless girl-next-door type. He''d seen the truth in his last life. Three thugs had burst into his old apartment, pinning him down and shattering his legs. But Lyla had been there too, and she''d snapped. One slap cracked a thug''s skull. One punch left an arm bent at an insane angle. One kick shattered a kneecap. In the end, the three assailants walked away worse off than Ethan himself. And then there was him, a failure at combat training, barely passing his freshman year. Now a sophomore, he still wasn''t sure how to scrape through this year''s classes. His problem? He''d grown up malnourished, his body never properly developing. Sure, it wasn''t immediately obvious from his height, but inside? He was weak. Even Celeste Hawthorne, the cold and merciless senior who served as the combat class assistant, didn''t have the heart to go hard on him. Her verdict? "Hopeless." Desperate, Ethan had once sought advice from a local holistic doctor. The old man''s diagnosis still rang in his ears: "Congenital malnourishment, compounded by years of neglect. Exercise lightly or risk permanent damage." He shook his head, banishing the thoughts. If weakness defined his past, it wouldn''t dictate his future. Ethan wandered out of the finance building, found a shady bench by the lake, and sat. His classes didn''t start until the afternoon, so he figured he''d wait for Lyla to finish her lecture and grab lunch together. The campus was picturesque, with a sprawling lake at its center. Teaching buildings circled the water, while lush gardens lined its shores. Rows of willow trees swayed gently in the breeze, their reflection rippling across the lake''s surface. At the lake''s heart lay an island covered in peach trees. Every spring, the blossoms filled the air with their sweet fragrance, earning the spot its nickname, Peach Blossom Island. Everything looked just as he remembered, yet it all felt different now. His rebirth had altered more than just the timeline; it had fractured the nostalgia that clung to this place. As he rested on the bench, the quiet serenity of campus life began to lull him to sleep. --- Ethan didn''t know how much time had passed when a sudden kick jolted him awake. Blinking, he looked up, half-expecting to see Lyla. Instead, his stomach dropped. "Ivy?" The familiar face froze him in place, stirring a mix of disbelief and resentment. Memories he''d tried to bury surged to the surface, and Ethan shot to his feet. Before he could speak, Ivy''s sharp voice cut him down. "We''re done, Ethan! Why are you here? Stalking me won''t change anything!" She jabbed a finger at him, her expression twisted with disdain. "Do yourself a favor and disappear. Now!" Ethan''s hands trembled as he fought the urge to retaliate. Logic told him to let it go, to rise above the pettiness. But another part of him wanted to lash out, to make her pay. If it hadn''t been for her spilling his address to Zachary, he wouldn''t have ended up living like a stray dog. Nearby whispers reached his ears: "Wait, that''s Ivy''s ex?" "No way! I thought she was dating Zachary now?" The whispers from the crowd grew louder. "Hey, wasn''t that guy always hanging out with Zachary? Weren''t they, like, best friends?" "Oh, yeah! Now that you mention it¡­" "Wow, this is some juicy gossip. The student council president, Zachary, picking up his own buddy''s leftovers? Talk about scandalous." The murmurs clearly reached Ivy''s ears as her face stiffened. Ethan stood silently, watching her expression shift between anger and embarrassment. She''d always kept their relationship hidden, even when they''d dated for a year. No one had known except Zachary. At that moment, a sleek sports car pulled up nearby. It idled for a moment, the low hum of its engine drawing everyone''s attention, before driving off without anyone getting out. Ethan''s eyes narrowed. He knew exactly who was in that car, Zachary. Ivy must''ve realized it too. Her face paled, then darkened, and she pointed at Ethan, her voice trembling with fury. "You¡ª" Before she could finish, someone bumped into her from behind, sending her stumbling. Her sunglasses fell to the ground, and she nearly lost her balance. "Oh no! I''m so sorry, ma''am!" A cheerful, apologetic voice rang out. Ivy''s anger flared as she spun to face the intruder. But before she could unleash her fury, her face froze in shock. A young woman, stunning, radiant, and easily outshining Ivy in every way, was now holding Ethan''s arm, their fingers interlocked as if they''d done it countless times before. "Who are you¡ª?" Ivy''s voice faltered. It was Lyla. "Bro, why''s this lady screaming?" Lyla''s sweet smile was laced with playful innocence. She clung tighter to Ethan''s arm, dimples forming on her cheeks as she looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. Ethan''s anger melted in an instant, replaced by amusement. The way she held his arm¡­ tickled him. "She''s your sister?" Ivy asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Yes." "No!" Ethan and Lyla spoke at the same time. Lyla grinned mischievously and tilted her head. "Ma''am, are you feeling okay? Do you really think siblings act like this?" she teased, snuggling even closer to Ethan. Ethan froze as he felt her pressing against him. His arm, caught between her, told him all he needed to know, Lyla had Ivy beat in more ways than one. Ivy''s face turned pale, then flushed red with frustration. Ethan had seen enough. "Let''s go grab lunch, Lyla." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Sure, Ethie!" Lyla chirped, tugging on Ethan''s arm as they turned to leave. But as Ethan stepped forward, a loud crunch echoed under his foot. Everyone''s eyes turned to the ground. Ivy''s sunglasses, now in two shattered pieces, lay beneath his shoe. "Oh no!" Lyla gasped, quickly crouching down to pick them up. She examined the broken frames, feigning curiosity. "Wow, these are LessThanHuman glasses! Ma''am, I didn''t expect you to have such good taste. But¡­ why are they different from the pair Ethie bought me?" Ethan blinked. ''When did I ever buy her sunglasses?'' But he couldn''t ruin her act now. Lyla reached into her small bag as if to grab something, continuing her charade. Chapter 31 Humiliation Pulling out a pair of sunglasses identical to the broken one in her hands, Lyla held it up in front of Ethan with a mischievous grin. "Hey, Ethie, check this out. This one has a serial number engraved on the screw, but hers doesn''t. Weird, huh?" Ethan instantly understood her meaning. This wasn''t just a casual observation, this was a verbal slap in the face, delivered with precision. Every time Ivy tried to speak, Lyla cut her off with playful jabs, each sharper than the last. "Ma''am, I''m so sorry. How about I just give you these instead?" Lyla offered the sunglasses in her hand, her tone sweet and apologetic as she held them out. Ivy hesitated, momentarily caught off guard, and instinctively reached for the glasses. But just as Ivy''s fingers brushed the frame, Lyla yanked them back and declared, "Wait, no. These were a gift from Ethie. How about we compensate you instead?" With that, she reached into Ethan''s pocket. Ethan assumed she was grabbing his phone to transfer the money and was about to tell her it was in the other pocket, but before he could, Lyla pulled out a thick wad of cash. His jaw dropped. Not only was it a bundle of neatly folded hundred-dollar bills, but there were smaller denominations and even a single dime tucked under the yellow leather strap binding the stack together. Ethan blinked, stunned. When did he start carrying that kind of money? Lyla turned back to Ivy, holding up the cash with a grin. "Ma''am, I have no idea what your knockoff glasses are worth, but let''s compensate you at the price of the real deal. Here''s $1,357.20. The original store don''t give discounts, so you''ll need every bit of it." Before Ivy could respond, Lyla tossed the bundle with unerring accuracy. It smacked Ivy square in the face before falling to the ground. The crowd fell silent. The buzzing murmurs of onlookers were replaced by a stunned hush. Jaws dropped, and eyes widened as everyone stared at Ivy, her face bright red with embarrassment and now sporting a crisp red mark from the impact. If Lyla''s earlier words were a slap to Ivy''s pride, this was a full-on knockout. Lyla tilted her head, pretending to notice something amiss. "Oh, Ma''am, what happened to your nose?" The spectators, who had been holding their breath, turned their gazes to Ivy''s face. About to explode with rage, Ivy froze at the question. Her hand shot up to her nose as she reflexively touched it. Then, without another word, she spun on her heel and bolted. But not before everyone saw it, her nose was crooked. No blood, just bent at an odd angle. The realization hit the crowd all at once: her nose was probably fake. "Ma''am, wait!" Lyla called after her, feigning concern. "You forgot your money! Those fake sunglasses aren''t expensive, but fixing your nose? That''s gotta cost quite a lot!" The crowd erupted in laughter, though a few onlookers shook their heads at the sheer audacity. Ivy stumbled as she fled, her unsteady steps betraying her humiliation. Ethan could only gape at the scene. Was this¡­ was this Lyla''s true nature? A devil in disguise? "Ethan, hurry and help me! I lost a dime!" Lyla crouched down, waving the money at Ethan as she sifted through the scattered bills. Ethan stepped forward, about to tell her to forget it, when a low, magnetic voice cut through the noise. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Looking for this?" Ethan turned, his body stiffening as his eyes landed on the speaker. No way. It''s her. "Thank you, miss!" Lyla stood, taking the dime from the woman''s slender fingers with a bright smile. The woman arched a brow, the corner of her mouth curving upward. "I thought you were going to call me Ma''am too." Around them, the crowd gasped in unison. "She smiled!" "No way. Am I dreaming?" "Ow! Why''d you pinch me?!" As the murmurs grew louder, the woman turned and cast a single sweeping glance at the crowd. The noise ceased instantly, and the onlookers scattered like startled birds. Some in the crowd shielded their faces with whatever they could find, hoping she wouldn''t notice them. Lyla saw the reactions and turned to the woman beside her with a bright smile. "Miss Hawthorne, how could someone as stunning as you ever be called Ma''am?" Celeste Hawthorne, with her usual icy demeanor, ignored the comment. Instead, she shifted the subject. "So, you''re the new transfer, Lyla Silverwood. Judging by that little stunt earlier, you''ve clearly had some training." "Training? Oh, no, no! That was just a lucky throw!" Lyla stammered, her nerves showing as she faced Celeste. After all, the rumors about this so-called "Ice Queen" were no joke. Celeste''s lips curved into a faint smirk as she saw through Lyla''s unease. "You''ve skipped all the combat classes this month. Don''t miss the next one." Then, her gaze flicked to Ethan. "And you, Ethan¡­ eat more vitamins or something. Wouldn''t want all this effort to go to waste." She shot a meaningful glance at Lyla, her tone dripping with insinuation, before walking away. Ethan, who had been staring at the sky, trying to remain uninvolved, was left utterly speechless. "What does she mean by ''waste''?" Lyla asked curiously, tilting her head at Ethan. "Uh¡­ nothing! Don''t worry about it! Ethan quickly waved it off, desperate to change the subject. "Let''s grab some food, I''m starving!" Still puzzled, Lyla followed Ethan as they made their way to the campus dining hall, her face full of questions. --- After finishing their meal, Ethan headed off to class, while Lyla had plans to meet her friends for a study session. When Ethan stepped into the classroom, he was immediately greeted by a chorus of howls and laughter. "Ethan, you little shit." boomed a towering figure who threw an arm around his shoulders. It was Rowan Kane, his dorm mate and the so called "leader" of their group. Back when they''d first arrived on campus, Rowan had looked out for him. "What happened?" Ethan asked, genuinely confused. "Don''t play dumb," Rowan said, laughing. "Everyone knows by now. Ex-girlfriend? Queen of the finance department. Current girl? Top candidate for campus beauty queen." A skinny, bespectacled guy joined in, smirking. "Seriously, Ethan. Two god tier girls? How''d you pull that off?" This was Greg, another dorm mate. Despite his quiet, studious demeanor, he was infamous for his dry sense of humor. "Ah¡­" Ethan thought. So word really had spread. It hadn''t taken long for today''s drama to circulate across campus. "Hey, Third Bro, come on. Share your secrets with us!" chimed in JJ, the youngest in their dorm, who had taken to calling Ethan "Third Bro" based on his dorm rank. "Yeah, spill it, Ethan!" The others joined in, voices overlapping as they closed in. Ethan, a software engineering major, looked around the room. It was a classic case of wolves circling in a land of scraps. In their department, eligible women were few and far between. And most weren''t exactly what you''d call desirable. Before Ethan could even attempt an answer, a voice thundered from the front of the room. "Quiet down! This is a university, not a marketplace" The balding professor at the podium glared at them, his white shirt straining against a considerable belly. "If you''re not seated in the next sixty seconds, you''ll all be marked absent!" The classroom fell into chaos as everyone scrambled to their seats. Ethan glanced at the professor, trying to place the man''s face. After all these years, he couldn''t quite remember who this was, but like everyone else, he quickly found a seat before the man''s patience ran out. --- The afternoon dragged on painfully. Bored out of his mind, Ethan found himself missing the freedom of his previous life. Eventually, exhaustion took over. He dozed off, sleeping through both back-to-back classes in the same room. Thankfully, both classes were in the same room, sparing him the indignity of being left behind in his deep sleep. --- That evening, Ethan and Lyla went out for a lavish dinner. Full and satisfied, they returned home in the sleek Predator Beast X, their car gleaming under the streetlights as they pulled up to the villa. After a round of playful bickering, the two retreated to their respective rooms. The clock ticked closer to midnight, the highly anticipated server resumption time of Ethereal. Settling into his VR capsule, Ethan took a deep breath. Time to enter the game. Chapter 32 The Dreamwalkers Trial Ethan logged into the game and immediately sent a message to Skyblade and the others, asking them to grind levels on their own for a while, he had a task to handle first. But there was no reply. Curious, Ethan opened the guild system to check on things, and the sheer number of players online surprised him. Over 400 members were currently active, with new ones logging in every minute. He scanned the guild roster: 700 members in total. "How is that even possible?" Ethan muttered, recalling that just yesterday, when he''d set up the guild system and told Skyblade they could start recruiting, there were only 40 minutes left before the servers shut down. Ethan hadn''t paid much attention to the guild after that, as he was busy tracking down the Bear Druid. But in just 40 minutes, they''d recruited 700 people? That was insane. What Ethan didn''t realize was that his reputation in Zone 1314 had skyrocketed. Even though his level was hidden in the guild, he was already a well-known figure in the Starter Zone. Coupled with the fact that the top three players on the leaderboard were in his guild, the draw was irresistible. Add in the 10% experience bonus from their Level 2 guild, and recruitment had practically taken care of itself. "Ah, brave one, you''ve arrived!" As Ethan scanned through the guild stats, he reached the depths of the Beast''s Den and found himself face-to-face with the towering Bear Druid. This time, the massive creature wasn''t asleep but greeted him with a deep, resonant voice. "Honored Bear Druid, what can I do to help you?" Ethan asked respectfully. "Brave one, we must drink the Dream Potion together," the Bear Druid rumbled, gesturing to the glowing vial on the nearby table. "Our souls will enter my dreamscape, where the real trial begins. From there, you''re on your own." "Let''s get started," Ethan said, eager to begin. As soon as the potion touched his lips, darkness enveloped him. --- A faint light pierced the black void, slowly growing until the entire world was bathed in a dense, hazy mist. The eerie silence felt suffocating, and all system interfaces had disappeared. For a moment, it was as if he''d returned to the real world. Ethan started walking, but no matter how far he went, nothing changed. The oppressive mist bore down on him, his chest tightening as though a heavy stone rested on it. He tried shouting but found himself voiceless. The fog''s oppressive weight gnawed at him, leaving only a faint, inexplicable pull to guide his steps. Trusting that unseen force, Ethan pressed forward, though the mist seemed endless. Without his usual Panther form or any game mechanics to rely on, he could only trudge forward as a human. At first, he moved cautiously, expecting danger to leap out at any moment. Eventually, he broke into a run, hoping speed might carry him through. Time stretched on, but the scenery never changed. Exhausted and aimless, Ethan slowed to a crawl, his resolve fading. His hair grew long, trailing past his waist. His clothes withered, his shoes disintegrated, and yet he trudged on, barefoot. Eons seemed to pass. His youthful features gave way to an emaciated, hunched figure with skeletal hands. His body, once full of strength and vigor, became frail and stooped. He screamed for the system to let him log out, but the interface remained silent. He hoped the server would shut down and forcibly kick him out, but that too was a futile dream. Despair clawed at him. He had been reborn to rewrite his life, to right the wrongs of the past. He wanted to make up for what he owed Lyla, the girl who had always been by his side. He wanted revenge against Zachary and Ivy, the ones who betrayed him so cruelly. But now, the fog stretched endlessly, hope flickering like a candle about to go out. Looking at his withered hands, Ethan touched his gaunt face and thought bitterly, ''Even if I escape, what kind of world will I return to? Will everything I knew be gone?'' The weight of his despair broke him. He collapsed onto the cold ground, his body trembling as his consciousness slipped away. --- Ding¡­ [System Alert: Congratulations on completing the Dreamwalker''s Trial. Completion rate: 536%. Surpassed the 1,000-year trial benchmark! Reward: Soul Power increased by 5.36x! Bonus Reward: Level +1.] Ethan, who had lost consciousness moments before, was jolted awake by the familiar chime of the system notification. When he opened his eyes, he found himself back in the Beast''s Den. The Bear Druid was standing tall, stretching as though a great burden had been lifted. "Thank you, brave one. Your efforts have shattered the fog, allowing me to receive the guidance of the Druid ancestors." Ethan blinked, still disoriented. To him, it felt like eons had passed, he''d aged, grown weak, and even perished in that endless haze. The Bear Druid continued speaking, but Ethan, overwhelmed by the memories of his ordeal, couldn''t respond right away. Eventually, the Bear Druid''s words began to make sense. It seemed that when they drank the Dream Potion, both their souls entered the dreamscape, amplified by a shared increase in Soul Power. However, Ethan hadn''t appeared in the Bear Druid''s dream. Instead, the Druid had connected with a far-off realm, the ancestral homeland of the Druids, a place known as the Dreamwood Grove. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Bear Druid explained that the Forest of Nature, where they now stood, was not the origin of the Druids as they once believed. Thousands of years ago, during the Cataclysm, the connection between the Forest of Nature and the Dreamwood Grove had been severed. This disruption left the Druids in the Forest of Nature isolated, their power waning over time. The Dreamwood Grove had never stopped trying to reestablish contact. But they were facing their own crisis: several demigods had disappeared, leaving only one ancient Bear Demigod, Ursar, to maintain the link. Ursar''s weakened bloodline could barely reach the Bear Druid, who lacked the pure soul strength required to connect properly. Every previous attempt had failed. Ethan listened, his thoughts racing. When he glanced at the system clock, it was only 1:00 a.m, barely five hours had passed. So this is what they mean by a dream that spans a millennium. He glanced at the trial''s completion rate, 536%. A test meant to last 1,000 years had stretched into 5,360 years for him. But what exactly was "Soul Power"? Neither in this life nor the last could he recall encountering anything like it. While Ethan pondered the reward, the Bear Druid''s explanation came to a close. "Brave one, will you accept the role of emissary between the Dreamwood Grove and the Forest of Nature?" --- Ding¡­ [System Alert: Do you accept the Bear Druid''s request? Upon acceptance, your skill "Teleport: Forest of Nature" will be replaced with "Teleport: Dreamwood Grove," granting you access to learn directly from the Grand Druids of the ancestral homeland!] "I accept!" Ethan said without hesitation. After enduring 5,000 years of despair and hopeless wandering, he wasn''t about to pass up the opportunity to grow stronger. For him, this was more than a mission, it was a renewal of his resolve to live, to reconnect with those he loved, and to gain the strength to change his fate. --- Ding¡­ [System Alert: Task complete! Reward: Skills "Transform: Bear Form" and "Teleport: Dreamwood Grove." Additional reward: Title "Dreamwalker."] --- Skill Unlocked: Transform: Bear Form Description: Assume the form of a mighty bear. Dodge Chance: Increased by Agility boost. Defense: +300%. Stamina: +350%. Immune to polymorph effects. Unlocks exclusive bear-form skills. Additional Effect: Removes all polymorph and movement restrictions on the caster upon transformation. Chapter 33 First Level 15 Player [Title: Dreamwalker] Attributes: All Druid NPCs'' Favorability: +300. Dark creatures targeted by your attacks: -8% attributes. Panther Form: Energy consumption reduced by 10%. Bear Form: Healing received increased by 10%. Owl Form: Attack range increased by 10%. Tree Form: Mana consumption reduced by 10%. Description: As the chosen envoy of the Druids, their loyalty to you is unwavering! The stats were insane. Just the 8% reduction to Dark creatures'' stats alone was a game-changer. Given how most Carnage Faction players were aligned with Dark creatures, this perk was a direct counter. Add the other boosts, and this title felt like a gift straight from the heavens, providing an all-around upgrade to the Druid class. And that favorability bonus? It wasn''t trivial, NPC relationships capped at 1,000 points, and this title handed over 300 points for free. Essentially, every Druid NPC he encountered would start off respecting him. Still, Ethan wasn''t grinding favorability just yet. He had bigger priorities, getting to the Main City. It was the gateway to better quests, gear, and growth opportunities. Sure, favorability mattered, but it could be farmed later. Missing out on early-game rewards locked behind level requirements? Now that was a mistake you couldn''t undo. He opened the guild chat. The usual chatter filled the channel, voices buzzing with excitement. It had only been five hours in the real world since Ethan''s Soul Journey, but for him, it felt like he had lived over 5,000 years. Seeing their conversations now gave him a sense of surreal detachment, as if he were watching a distant echo of his past. Switching to his private messages, he noticed a note from Skyblade: "Boss, handle your stuff first. We''re taking some of the newbies to tackle a Level 5 boss today." S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan nodded to himself. Skyblade was as dependable as ever, just like in his last life. Even though they had reached Level 10, their gear was still lacking. Taking on a Level 5 boss would be challenging but manageable. He didn''t bother offering advice. They''d appreciate their success more if they earned it through struggle. Finally, he opened his friends list and noticed Moonbeam still online. Ethan hesitated before initiating a video call. It rang for a long time with no answer. He figured Lyla was busy fighting or handling quests, so he was about to end the call when it connected. The moment her screen appeared, Ethan froze. Lyla''s in-game name was glowing dark red, indicating a severe Sin Value. How many players did she have to kill to reach that level? "What''s going on? Why are you flagged?" Ethan asked urgently. Lyla was running, firing occasional shots over her shoulder. She spared him a glance before replying. "Some psychos showed up at the training grounds near the Starter Zone. They started slaughtering everyone in sight. My team got wiped, and they came after me too. I''ve taken out over twenty of them, but now I''m almost out of arrows with added damage effects. What should I do?" "Who are they?" Ethan pressed, alarmed. "They''re from a guild called Unity Hall. At first, it was just one woman leading a team of thirty, killing anyone they saw in the Level 6 zones. But when players started fighting back, they brought reinforcements, around a hundred members. Now they''re massacring everyone." Unity Hall? A woman leading the charge? Could it be... "Was the leader a Priest named Nightfall?" Ethan asked carefully. Lyla froze mid-step, then glanced at him in shock. "Yeah. How did you know? Do you know her?" Ethan sighed, a wry smile creeping onto his face. Of all the people he could run into, it had to be her. Fate really had a twisted sense of humor. "Lyla, I''m sending you coordinates. Go there immediately and make sure no one follows you. Stay hidden and wait for me." He sent her the location of an old hideout he had once used while being hunted. It was well-concealed and defensible, with multiple escape routes. As long as she wasn''t tailed, it was the perfect place to lay low. "Got it, I''m heading there now. But, Ethan, are you already Level 15? Can you come help right away? And who the hell is Nightfall? How do you even know someone that psychotic?" Ethan hesitated for a moment before responding. "You know her too, Lyla. And trust me, her psychopathy might have something to do with you." "Wait, what?!" Lyla stared at him in shock. Ethan chuckled bitterly before nodding. Her expression turned from confusion to realization in an instant. "No way¡­ Is it Ivy?" His smile tightened as he nodded. He reminded her to stay cautious and to notify him once she reached the safehouse. Then he ended the call, ignoring the stunned look on her face. Afterward, Ethan opened his private messaging interface and sent a quick note to Skyblade. "Skyblade, I''m leaving the Starter Zone. You''re in charge for now. Keep leveling up, though, reach Level 15 as soon as possible so we can regroup at the Main City." Skyblade''s response came swiftly: "Don''t worry, Boss. We''ve got this. Everything''s under control here." Ethan didn''t doubt it. Their guild, the only Level 2 guild in Zone 1314, had already reached its member cap of 1,000 players. In fact, demand for spots was so high that players were willing to pay for a membership slot. They were unquestionably the dominant force in the area. Ethan''s message was more a formality than anything else. In his last life, Skyblade had almost single-handedly built their guild into a powerhouse. By the time they reached Harmony City, it had become one of the most recognized guilds, even taking down rivals like Unity Hall. Unfortunately, the guild''s success had attracted unwanted attention. Back then, Zachary had used underhanded methods to inject large sums of money into the guild during a round of financing. By the time Ethan realized what was happening, it was too late. Zachary had seized control, rebranding the guild as Overlord. This time, Ethan wasn''t going to let history repeat itself. No outside investments. He would build the guild with his own two hands. Determined, Ethan cast a teleportation spell, leaving the Forest of Nature and returning to Zone 1314. --- Ding¡­ [Global Announcement: The world''s first Level 15 Survivor Faction player has emerged. The new expansion, "Conquest of the Main City," is now live!] The announcement blazed across the skies of every Starter Zone. Players everywhere stopped what they were doing to stare up in awe. Ding¡­ [System Notification: Congratulations on becoming the first Level 15 player. You now have the privilege to post one global message, anonymously or under your real name. Would you like to use this privilege now?] Ethan considered it. Messages like these didn''t come cheap later in the game. Posting a national message would cost a million gold coins; global ones were priced at ten million. In the end, he decided against it. It was too early to draw attention. Better to keep a low profile for now. Ding¡­ [System Notification: You have reached Level 15. You are now eligible to leave the Starter Zone. Beyond lies a greater world. Good luck, brave warrior!] The familiar prompt echoed in his ears as Ethan made his way to the teleportation platform. It was deserted, unsurprising, since only Level 15 players could use it, and he was the only one currently. As the platform lit up, dazzling light engulfed him. Moments later, the glow faded, and Ethan found himself in Harmony City. He exhaled slowly, taking in the sprawling metropolis. He wasn''t a stranger to this place. In his past life, he''d been here countless times, fleeing from pursuers and being forcibly teleported back to the Starter Zone when he dropped below Level 15. The cycle had repeated more times than he cared to remember. But this time was different. Chapter 34 Arrival in Harmony Harmony City, one of the three primary strongholds in the Northern Frontier Region, sat atop the sprawling Gornath Hills. Despite being labeled as "hills," the terrain was more like a series of elevated knolls. Ten thousand years of renewal after the Cataclysm had allowed the planet to recover, leaving only the Starter Zones as haunting remnants of the devastation. A green canopy blanketed the hills, its serene appearance concealing countless dangers beneath. Within Harmony, rows of grand buildings showcased a regal, old-world charm. These rare architectural designs, steeped in history, were distinguished by their warm golden-red hues. At the city''s northernmost edge stood a towering spire of pure white, surrounded by nine colossal statues, each hundreds of feet tall. The statues depicted the ultimate champions of the Survivor Faction, nine legendary heroes hailed as the protectors of Azure. The spire and its statues were iconic features of every Survivor stronghold, symbols of resilience and hope. Harmony''s strategic location on the Gornath Hills made it a bustling hub, equipped with countless teleportation points connecting to cities, towns, and villages across the continent. A simple payment and the utterance of a destination allowed for instant travel. --- Ding¡­ [System Notice: Congratulations! You are the first player in the world to reach a main city. Reward: +200 Reputation Points for all main cities. Additionally, you have earned a top-tier land deed for this city.] Ding¡­ [System Notice: You are the first to reach Harmony City. Reward: +200 Reputation Points for Harmony City.] Ding¡­ [System Notice: As the world''s first player and a Level-2 Guild Leader to arrive at a main city, you are awarded a guild estate.] Ding¡­ [System Notice: The City Lord has summoned you. Please proceed to the Town Hall to receive your reward personally.] Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan smirked at the notifications. He had rushed to reach the city for these rewards, but the City Lord''s personal summons was a pleasant surprise. The streets of Harmony were eerily quiet. Apart from the patrolling NPC guards, there wasn''t a single soul in sight. Each guard was an elite soldier above Level 120, a reminder of the city''s fortified status. Standing in the heart of the city near the teleportation array, destined to become the busiest area in the future, Ethan made his way north toward the towering spire. This was where the Town Hall resided. At the spire''s entrance, the guards didn''t challenge him. His impressive 400 Reputation Points ensured they treated him with courtesy. One of the guards stepped forward and offered to escort him inside. Ethan followed the guard through the towering spire''s grand entrance. Almost immediately, a figure in gleaming gold armor approached, a commanding presence. Ethan instinctively cast his Basic Appraisal skill. Only the NPC''s level 210, appeared, while the rest of the details were obscured by question marks. His name, however, was visible: Roland Carter, Captain of Harmony''s First Guard Squadron (Elite) "Honored traveler," Roland greeted with a polite nod. "The City Lord is expecting you. Please, follow me." Reputation Points were a marvelous thing. In his previous life, Ethan had never managed to accumulate this much, even after years of effort. Naturally, he had never received such VIP treatment. The guard captain led Ethan into a vast hall. At its center, a holographic projection of Harmony''s terrain glowed faintly. Standing before it was an elderly man in simple, unassuming clothes. Ethan glanced at the name hovering above the man''s head, which revealed his identity: Gregor Darnell, City Lord of Harmony (Demigod) Seeing the name, Ethan struggled to suppress a laugh. Gregor''s name sounded strangely mundane for someone of his stature. But the title Demigod left him speechless. He hadn''t expected the leader of a Level-5 city to possess such immense power. Curious, Ethan cast another appraisal skill. It failed. Gregor turned to face him, a knowing smile on his lips. "Young man, though age has taken its toll on me, the divine aura of a demigod still protects me. Perhaps you should reconsider using such basic tricks on someone like me." Ethan scratched his head awkwardly. "Apologies, City Lord. I was merely curious as to why someone of your caliber would lead a humble city like this." Gregor chuckled heartily. "Ah, youth. You''re bold enough to ask an old man about his regrets. Are you not afraid I might revoke your reward?" For a fleeting moment, cold light flashed in Gregor''s weary eyes. Behind Ethan, Roland instinctively placed a hand on the hilt of his blade. Ethan thought to himself, When did NPCs start acting this lifelike? His memories of them were nothing but mechanical responses and scripted dialogue. Despite his thoughts, Ethan bowed slightly and said, "Lord Gregor, your rebuke is deserved. My ignorance led to offense." As he spoke, he observed the City Lord''s reaction carefully. While Gregor''s tone carried the weight of authority, Ethan wasn''t too concerned. The system''s reward didn''t technically require the City Lord''s involvement, which meant the summons likely had more to do with triggering a hidden event. Lowering his posture might yield an unexpected opportunity. Gregor let out a hearty laugh. "A sharp tongue and a flexible will, traits that promise great achievements. If only I had such patience in my youth, perhaps I wouldn''t have been ousted from Central Dominion." Ethan caught a glimpse of Captain Roland easing his grip on the hilt of his blade. Straightening his posture, Ethan grinned and replied, "You flatter me, Lord Gregor. Truthfully, I''m just afraid of dying!" Gregor chuckled again, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Come, lad. Pick a plot of land as your reward," he said, gesturing toward the holographic map in the center of the hall. Ethan stepped forward eagerly. He had meticulously studied the city''s prime locations in his past life and already knew where to stake his claim. The teleportation hub and the surrounding properties were destined to become the city''s busiest and most valuable areas. Three plots encircled the hub in a triangular formation, and Ethan had his eye on one of them. Pointing to the plot closest to the hub, Ethan declared, "I''ll take this one." Gregor''s eyes gleamed with a sharpness that belied his age. "A fine choice, young man. This is the most coveted golden zone in all of Harmony, valued at 1,200 gold. You''ve got an eye for opportunity!" Though the official price of land wasn''t exorbitant, the city''s main source of income came from future taxes, 1% of daily revenue paid to the City Administration. Feigning confidence, Ethan replied, "Is the Lord unwilling to part with it?" Internally, however, he was uncertain. The system may have promised him a land deed, but the specifics of which plot remained at Gregor''s discretion. After all, in his previous life, the first player to reach Harmony had settled for a plot near the southern gate rather than in the prime location. Instead of answering, Gregor pointed to two adjacent plots near the teleportation hub. "What do you think of these two instead?" Ethan frowned slightly, confused. "Are you asking me to choose between these two?" The alternate plots, while smaller than the one Ethan had chosen, were still prime real estate. In his original plan, Ethan intended to purchase these plots after accumulating enough gold, as they were priced at 750 gold each. Gregor leaned back slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "If you can accomplish a task for me, I''ll give you both plots as well." ''Here it comes, a hidden event!'' Ethan''s excitement surged. Two prime plots worth 750 gold each were no small reward. At current market rates, their combined value was close to $3 million in USD, and their future value would skyrocket at least fiftyfold. "What task would you have me undertake, Lord Gregor?" Ethan asked, his eyes alight with interest. Gregor''s smile widened. "Do you know of the two other main cities north of Harmony? I want you to travel there, purchase the golden properties in those cities, and transfer the ownership to me." Ethan''s mind raced as he processed the implications. This old fox wasn''t just ambitious; he was looking to control the economic lifelines of the entire region! He recalled a similar mission from his past life. A player had once taken on a similar land-transfer task, only to suffer severe consequences. Their Reputation Points in the targeted cities had plummeted by 300, leaving them a pariah. While they avoided imprisonment or execution, they couldn''t walk the streets without harassment. NPCs refused to sell goods or provide quests, and shop prices were inflated by 30%. It was a miserable existence. Chapter 35 Guild War That guy in his previous life eventually had no choice but to scrape by in a different region. Now that Ethan had earned the full 400 Reputation Points in Harmony city, he could easily be the first to reach the other two major cities. There was even a bonus of additional Reputation Points for being the first to arrive. However, a single misstep could result in a huge setback, possibly even dropping his standing to zero. The value of the two golden properties up for grabs was undeniable. But with his current resources, Ethan believed he could secure enough funds soon enough. All he had to do was act before the other players started leaving the Starter Zone. Glancing at the leaderboard, Ethan noted that the top-ranked players in the Northern Frontier Region were only at Level 11. Gaining those last four levels wasn''t easy, the experience required was exponentially higher than for previous levels. Given his situation, Ethan decided against taking on the task. Setting aside the potential loss of Reputation Points, he simply didn''t have the funds to purchase golden properties in two major cities. Just as Ethan was about to decline, the city lord, spoke again. "Young man, don''t worry about the funding. I''ll personally cover all costs. Additionally, as a token of gratitude, I''ll give you something I acquired during my younger days." Gregor paused for a moment, then added with a sly smile, "In return, I''ll allow you to use the property deeds, but I want fifty percent of all pure profits from your operations. Does that sound fair?" Ethan accepted the item Gregor handed him. It was thin and delicate, practically weightless. Looking closer, he realized it was a mask. [Disguise Mask] Effect: Allows the wearer to mimic the appearance of any player. Durability: 12/100 uses. Usage: Press onto the face. Special Item ¨C Does not occupy any equipment slot. Upon seeing the item''s description, Ethan''s mind immediately began crafting a plan. Dropping his initial intent to refuse, he raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Five percent." Gregor froze, his expression incredulous. After a moment of stunned silence, he finally responded, "Forty-five percent. I''m fronting all the money, and all you have to do is manage the shops." Ethan leaned forward, his grin widening. "Once you secure the golden property deeds for Springhaven and Blackridge, I want exclusive use of the Harmony city deeds around the teleportation hub. I''ll accept giving you ten percent of the net profits from the shops in the other two cities, but you''ll cover fifty percent of any future upgrade costs." Gregor stared at Ethan as though he''d grown another head. "Do you realize how ridiculous you sound? In ten days, others might arrive at the main stronghold. By then, you''ll be lucky to keep even a fraction of this deal. This is your chance, don''t blow it." S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan shrugged. "Then I won''t take the task. No big deal." The sheer audacity of Ethan''s counteroffer left Gregor speechless. Players rarely dared to haggle with an NPC of his calibre, and certainly not with this level of confidence. After a long pause, Gregor''s face turned red. "I''ll cover ten percent of future upgrade costs and take twenty percent of the profits." "Ten percent profits for Springhaven and Blackridge," Ethan countered, his tone calm but firm. "Fifteen percent." Ethan leaned back, crossing his arms. "You know what? I''ve changed my mind, five percent." Gregor''s hands clenched into fists as his breathing turned heavy. After several tense moments, he finally exhaled sharply. "Fine¡­ Ten percent it is." Before Gregor could finish, Ethan waved his hand, summoning the system''s contract interface. The transparent screen floated between them as Ethan gestured toward it. "Here''s a recording of our conversation. Let''s seal the deal, Lord Darnell." Gregor reluctantly reviewed the recording, his jaw tightening as he played back Ethan''s words: "Once you secure the golden property deeds for Springhaven and Blackridge¡­" Gregor shut the recording off before it could aggravate him further. Grabbing the system''s quill, he sighed heavily and signed his name. Ethan chuckled as he added his own signature, a subtle spark gleaming in his eyes. --- Ding¡­ [Contract Activated: Gregor Darnell, City Lord of Harmony Stronghold, has commissioned Ethan to purchase golden property deeds in Springhaven and Blackridge. Upon successful completion, Ethan will be rewarded with the 2nd and 3rd golden property deeds near Harmony Stronghold''s teleportation hub. Additionally, Ethan is granted free access to properties in Springhaven and Blackridge and Gregor Darnell will receive 5% of their pure profits. City Lord Gregor will also cover 10% of all future shop upgrade costs under Ethan''s name. Any violation of this contract will result in punishment by the system.] Ding¡­ [System Notification: You have accepted the task: "Gregor Darnell''s Commission." Received: 20,000 Gold Coins. If the task fails, the gold will automatically be deducted.] "What?!" Gregor''s voice exploded in fury. "Ten percent of all shop upgrades?! When did I agree to cover all of them?!" His face turned so red that even the creases on his skin seemed to smooth out. "And¡­ didn''t we agree 10% net profit renumeration?" Ethan gave a casual shrug, feigning innocence. "I did try to warn you to review the recording carefully. You were the one who insisted you were the one who proceeded without double-check. As for the clause about net profit¡­ well, I may have mentioned 5%, and you didn''t object." Gregor''s glare could have melted steel, and Ethan wisely decided to change the subject. "Lord Darnell, about Property Deed #1 and the Guild Base I''ve selected, could you finalize the paperwork for me?" "Hmph! Handle it yourself! Go to the Property Office and Guild Hall!" Gregor barked before dismissing Ethan with a wave of his hand. Captain Roland stepped forward, motioning for Ethan to follow. "This way, please." And just like that, Ethan was escorted out of the Town Hall. --- Outside, Ethan chuckled as he reviewed the stamped contract in his system interface. "Trying to play word games with me? Not a chance, Gregor. You''re just a digital NPC, don''t mess with a real-life hustler." Still, he couldn''t shake the nagging feeling that something was off. The NPCs in this timeline felt unnervingly lifelike compared to his previous run. He hurried to the Property Office to finalize the deed transfer, then visited the Guild Hall to claim the best-positioned guild base available, an advantage reserved for top-level players like him. After securing the base, Ethan checked his inventory. The system had deposited 20,485 gold coins. Smirking, he thought, ''Borrowing a little shouldn''t hurt, right?'' Ethan strolled to the Guild Upgrade Desk and confidently submitted an application to upgrade his guild. Ding! [Insufficient funds. Upgrade denied.] "Damn it!" Ethan muttered under his breath. Apparently, Gregor''s 20,000 gold was locked for property purchases only. Frustrated but undeterred, Ethan turned his attention to another opportunity. He approached an NPC administrator. "Is it possible to apply for a guild war right now?" The NPC bowed slightly. "Honored leader of Renegade Alliance, although we are currently in a ceasefire period, your guild is the first in this region to reach Level 2. As such, you are entitled to one free declaration of war, bypassing the ceasefire restrictions. Would you like to use this privilege now?" Ethan''s eyes lit up. "Absolutely! I''m glad I asked. If I''d just marched into Lyla''s Starter Zone for revenge, I''d have ended up flagged with a black-level Sin Value." He grimaced at the thought of the endless grind to clear such a stain, which would delay his quest and give others a chance to claim the rewards. Still, there was no way Ethan would let his enemies off the hook for bullying Lyla. "No one messes with my girl," he muttered under his breath. "Time to settle the score." "Proceed with the war declaration," Ethan instructed. "Understood. Please specify the target guild and your declaration message. You may also set a start time. Note: the free declaration grants a twelve-hour conflict window. Extending the duration will require additional payment." Ethan smirked. Twelve hours was more than enough. He filled out the form, submitted it, and sprinted to the teleportation hub. Since city regulations prohibited the use of magic or transformation skills within its borders, Ethan had to travel in his human form. Chapter 36 Rally the Troops Teleporting to Zone 1370 from Zone 1314 had cost Ethan 10 gold coins, essentially daylight robbery. The amount, equivalent to $18,000, made his heart ache. But for Lyla, it was worth every cent. Or so Ethan told himself as he tried to justify the expense. As the teleportation effect faded, Ethan immediately sent Lyla a video call request. She picked up quickly, her expression serious but calm. He checked her location, she was already at the designated hiding spot. "How''s it going on your end?" Ethan asked. "I''m fine," Lyla replied. "But my classmates told me those guys are still camping on the main road outside the town. They''re killing any players trying to leave to level up. It''s disgusting!" "Good to hear you''re safe. Stay put, I''m coming to get you," Ethan said firmly. The hiding spot wasn''t far from the small town. Thanks to his Stag Form, which required no quest to unlock, Ethan had activated it back when he hit Level 15. With a +200% movement speed boost, added to his base 107%, Ethan''s Stag Form allowed him to blitz across the terrain at an incredible 214% speed. In just ten minutes, he reached the location. This was their first in-game meeting since the reset. Seeing Lyla''s spirited outfit, identical to how she looked in his past life, hit Ethan with a wave of nostalgia. Switching back to human form, Ethan strode forward and pulled Lyla into a fierce hug. It was the release of 5,000 years of yearning and suppressed emotion. During those endless years in the dreamworld, Lyla had been his emotional anchor. Even at the bitter end, his final wish had been to hold her one last time. "Ethan?" Lyla''s voice trembled as she pushed lightly against his chest. "What''s gotten into you?" Her startled expression reminded Ethan of a frightened doe. Embarrassed, he let go and laughed it off. "Nothing important. It''s all in the past now." Seeing his reddened eyes, Lyla hesitated before stepping closer and gently hugging his arm. "Whatever it is, I''ll always be here for you." "Ha! Come on, I''m supposed to be rescuing you! Why does it feel like you''re the one comforting me?" Ethan teased, brushing the moment aside. "Is that so?" Lyla said with a playful smirk. She made a face at him, the same mischievous expression she''d worn as a child. "Hey, who was the crybaby back then, huh?" Ethan muttered under his breath. But under Lyla''s glare, he quickly added, "Never mind that, let''s get moving. You up for some real action?" "What kind of action?" Lyla asked, intrigued. "You''ll see," Ethan said with a sly grin, sending her a party invite. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moments later, a system notification appeared in the skies above. --- System Announcement [Guild War Declaration: Zone 1314''s Renegade Alliance declares war on Zone 1370''s Unity Hall. Kills will not increase Sin Value. Duration: 12 hours.] Declaration: ''Unity Hall will drown in blood. Quit your guild and you''ll be spared. Stay, and none will survive!'' ¨C Declaration by Guild Leader: NotADruid --- The announcement echoed in every player''s ears. Blood-red letters stretched across the skies, visible no matter where anyone was in the game. --- Player Reactions in Zone 1370 [Anonymous]: "Finally, someone''s standing up for us! Get the popcorn ready!" [Anonymous]: "But how are they even getting here?" [Anonymous]: "No idea. Maybe they''re just bluffing?" --- Ethan smirked as he glanced at the sky. His bloodthirsty grin sent a chill down Lyla''s spine. "How many do we have coming?" Ethan asked in a private message to Skyblade. On the way to Zone 1370, Ethan had already contacted Skyblade, Slashblade, and SeraphWarrior, instructing them to rally the guild. "Nearly the entire guild," Skyblade replied enthusiastically. "We''ve got 963 members total, and aside from about 20 offline, everyone else is grouped into three major parties. The rest formed smaller teams to squeeze in." "Good. Keep track of everyone who participates. After this, each member gets 10 contribution points. Anyone who dies in battle will receive an additional 5 silver coins as compensation," Ethan instructed. "Ten contribution points? Isn''t that a bit much?" Skyblade asked hesitantly. "It''s worth it," Ethan replied. "This is our first battle, we need to make a statement." Ethan''s mind burned with a dual purpose: defending Lyla and crushing his enemies, Zachary and Ivy. This first clash wasn''t just about pride, it was about erasing Unity Hall before they could even grow roots in the Starter Zone. Skyblade relayed Ethan''s orders to the Renegade Alliance, word for word. The guild''s chat system was in chaos, excitement mingling with confusion. [Anonymous]: "Guild leader is a legend! Bloodbath Unity Hall!" [Anonymous]: "But¡­ how are we supposed to cross zones?" [Anonymous]: "Yeah, what''s the plan?" "Quiet!" Skyblade barked. "Boss has it all figured out. Just wait for his signal!" Ethan pulled out a scroll from his inventory, a special reward he''d received after initiating the guild war. Since this was the first guild war in the entire game, the system had granted him a one-time-use item: the Guildwide Summoning Scroll. Initially, Ethan had planned to charge in solo, but the scroll came with a time limit. If unused within 12 hours, it would vanish. This wasn''t something he could waste. Guildwide Summoning Scrolls were almost mythical in the later stages of the game, capable of turning the tide of entire wars. And this one was even more unique, allowing the summoning of his entire guild to his location. When Ethan had first seen it, he''d considered skipping the guild war altogether and using it to teleport everyone to the Main City instead. Unfortunately, the scroll''s usage was restricted to Zone 1370, forcing him to revise his plan. --- Meanwhile, in Unity Hall''s camp, chaos reigned. When the war declaration popped up, panic spread like wildfire. Unity Hall''s leaders, Overlord and Nightfall, scrambled to organize their members. With over 700 players, they were a decent mid-tier guild. However, their membership fees, a steep 5 silver coins, meant most joined purely for the experience bonuses, not loyalty. Like most guilds at this stage, Unity Hall lacked cohesion. The high cost of forming a guild meant they''d prioritized financial stability over trust or unity. Only players with deeper pockets could afford to join, ensuring a stronger roster but weaker bonds. Thirty minutes later, Zone 1370 was eerily quiet. The initial tension among Unity Hall members gave way to skepticism. [Anonymous]: "They''re just bluffing. Nothing''s happening." [Anonymous]: "Exactly. I''m heading out to grind levels." Another thirty minutes passed, and even Overlord and Nightfall began to relax. Eventually, they disbanded the raid groups, convinced the Renegade Alliance wasn''t coming. --- "Boss, our scouts in the town report that Unity Hall has disbanded their groups. Most of their members are heading out," Slashblade informed Ethan. "Good," Ethan replied. "Tell the scouts to stay vigilant and be ready to act." Turning to SeraphWarrior, Ethan asked, "Are the rogues in position at the resurrection points?" SeraphWarrior checked his messages. "All set. In the Level 1¨C7 zones, as per your coordinates. At least ten rogues stationed at each location." "Perfect. Skyblade, rally the main force with me. Slashblade, give the signal for the scouts in the town to move!" Shifting into Stag Form, Ethan called out, "Lyla, hop on!" The Stag Form allowed him to carry one passenger. Lyla hesitated for a moment before nodding and climbing onto his back. As Ethan sprinted forward, Lyla clung to him, still in shock. She couldn''t fathom how Ethan had summoned so many players from outside their zone. Gazing down at the glowing stag beneath her, she couldn''t help but smile, a rare, soft expression of happiness lighting up her face. --- Back in the town, the spectators who''d gathered to watch the chaos began to disperse, losing interest. Outside the walls, on the only road leading to the leveling area, Nightfall and over a hundred red-named players continued ambushing anyone trying to leave. Trapped players inside the town fumed, grinding their teeth in frustration. On the walls, a group of bored onlookers scanned the horizon. Suddenly, one of them shouted, "Hey, what''s that?" Chapter 37 Strategic Clash As the shout echoed through the streets, a lone figure caught everyone''s attention. A female elf, specializing as an archer, rode swiftly down the road on the back of a massive stag. Her name glowed a sinister dark red above her head, marking her as a known killer. Her speed was impressive, and within moments, she had entered the semicircular formation of over a hundred members led by Nightfall. She stopped abruptly about a hundred meters away, her piercing gaze scanning her enemies. Most of Nightfall''s group bore red names themselves, a clear indicator of their own bloody deeds. However, from Ethan''s perspective, they were nothing but walking treasures. Their gear, especially Nightfall''s, gleamed with an otherworldly brilliance. Her weapon and robes radiated a white, shimmering aura that spoke of high-tier craftsmanship. "Well, if it isn''t the little runaway who made me chase her halfway across the map," Nightfall sneered, her voice dripping with mockery as she turned to Lyla. "What''s wrong, sweetheart? Decided running wasn''t worth it and came back to surrender?" Lyla didn''t bother responding. Instead, she gave Nightfall a dismissive glance, her lips curling in slight disdain. Nightfall raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Riding a stag, are we? Seems like you''ve had a bit of luck lately. How about this, I''ll let you live if you hand over that pretty mount of yours. Deal?" Ethan rolled his eyes. "She really thinks I''m a mount," he muttered under his breath. "Not that she hasn''t ridden me before¡­ wait!" He shook off the intrusive thought and quickly glanced at Lyla, relieved to see she hadn''t noticed. "Move!" Ethan ordered in the guild chat. A sudden commotion erupted from the direction of the nearby town. In an orderly and disciplined fashion, 53 shield tanks marched out, their formation tight and precise. Those with tower shields planted them firmly into the ground, creating a defensive wall. Others with smaller round shields raised them overhead, forming a protective canopy for their comrades. The shield wall was positioned perfectly at the town''s only gate, with the soldiers'' boots safely within the neutral zone and their shields extending just beyond its boundaries. Ethan smirked at their flawless execution. "Not bad. All I gave them was the coordinates, and they nailed it." Nightfall noticed the movement and raised a curious eyebrow but quickly dismissed it with a sneer. "Impressive. You''ve got something up your sleeve. But what can these walking slabs of beef really do? Bludgeon us with their shields?" She laughed mockingly. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Boss Lady, something feels off," murmured a sniper standing beside her, his tone cautious. "What''s off? That pitiful bunch of tin cans? Give me a break," Nightfall snapped, glaring at him. The sniper hesitated but wisely kept quiet, not wanting to provoke her further. Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by the sound of thunderous footsteps approaching from the horizon. The players on the walls turned their heads, their eyes widening as a massive force came into view. A group of over two hundred players, a mix of all classes, sprinted toward Lyla''s position with unwavering determination. Before the onlookers could process what was happening, the reinforcements stopped behind Lyla in a unified line. In the midst of the chaos, Lyla calmly dismounted, stowing away her stag. The crowd failed to notice Ethan vanishing into stealth mode in that brief moment. The sniper''s unease grew, his eyes locking onto the insignias on the newcomers'' chests. The words "Renegade Alliance" burned into his mind. Now he understood the nagging feeling from earlier. When the shield tanks had first appeared, their swift and efficient formation was suspicious. But now, with the arrival of the Alliance reinforcements, it all made sense. "Close ranks! Protect Boss Lady! Send word to the guild leader, we need backup now! The Renegade Alliance is here!" the sniper ordered, his voice firm despite the growing tension. Despite being outnumbered, Nightfall''s team showed little fear. Each of the 100-plus players was a guild elite, all at level 7, equipped with at least one piece of silver gear and three pieces of bronze. By contrast, the Renegade Alliance''s reinforcements were a mixed bag, their levels ranging from 4 to 5. Many of them wore patched-up gear, with several still clad in the basic novice attire. Under the sniper''s orders, Nightfall''s team began tightening their formation, retracting the wide semicircle they had formed earlier to trap players attempting to leave the town. Meanwhile, Lyla raised a silver-tipped arrow, nocking it against her gleaming bowstring. Her target? Nightfall herself. Nightfall''s confident smirk faltered for a moment before she regained her composure. Glancing at the 100-meter gap between them, she scoffed. "Too far. She''s out of range," Nightfall muttered, letting her guard down again. But Lyla just smiled sweetly. With deliberate precision, she raised her bow higher and loosed the arrow. On the town walls, a few onlookers leaned in, confused. "What''s she doing?" one player asked. "Looks like a¡­ long shot?" another replied hesitantly. Before they could finish speculating, a loud explosion echoed across the battlefield as the arrow burst into a brilliant, fiery detonation at its peak. "Attack!" From the left flank, a shield tank charged forward, using nearby animals as targets to continuously activate his Charge skill and build momentum. From the right, a knight gripped a massive greatsword in reverse, sprinting full tilt toward Nightfall''s forces. Each of them was followed by over a hundred warriors and knights, their armor gleaming as they advanced with frightening coordination. Though most of these reinforcements were below level 6, their equipment was leagues ahead of the ragged attire worn by the irregulars pushing forward from the center. Leading the charge were Skyblade and SeraphWarrior, both at level 10. Their intimidating presence was unmistakable. Behind SeraphWarrior''s group of knights, two priests trailed closely, one of them a burly man, Slashblade, while the other was an unfamiliar yet striking woman. Similarly, three priests supported Skyblade''s group of warriors, a man and two women Ethan didn''t recognize. These five priests were the guild''s only players capable of casting beginner healing spells. Meanwhile, Lyla''s force of over 200 pressed forward as well, albeit without a full-on charge. Nightfall''s team, under the sniper''s calm yet urgent command, adjusted their formation further, shielding Nightfall in the center. As the pressure from the frontal assault increased, they began retreating slowly toward the town, careful not to cross the 10-meter boundary that would trigger the town''s automated guards to attack them. The sniper carefully calculated the distance of the advancing flanks. "All ranged units, prepare to fire! Target the flanks as soon as they''re in range. Focus fire on those melee fighters, blast them down!" On the walls, the spectators were nearly vibrating with excitement, craning their necks to take in every detail of the impending clash. "It''s about to go down!" someone shouted. "Look! The ranged units from Unity Hall are setting up!" another exclaimed. "Think those warriors and knights will even make it to the front lines?" "Hard to say. Unity Hall''s gear is way better, but the Renegade Alliance has numbers. And then there''s Lyla''s militia pushing from the center. It''s going to be a bloodbath!" The chatter was abruptly interrupted by a sharp command. "Fire!" The startled spectators flinched as a wave of spells, arrows, and cannon blasts erupted from their midst. Dozens of players, all bearing the insignia of the Renegade Alliance, had secretly positioned themselves among the wall''s defenders. Now they unleashed a devastating barrage of attacks. Their targets? The heart of Nightfall''s formation. At this distance, it shouldn''t have been possible to land a single hit. Even the players casting spells doubted their attacks would connect, expecting their projectiles to fizzle harmlessly into the air. But the strikes landed flawlessly, blasting into Nightfall''s tightly packed team with devastating precision. Chapter 38 Devastation The group of players watched as their attacks landed on the enemy. A realization dawned on them, elevated positions significantly boosted their range. "Damn," one of them muttered, watching their leader coordinate the chaos below. "The Guildmaster''s always thinking ahead. That''s why he''s number one on the leaderboard." The group''s confidence in Ethan swelled. Energized, they attacked with reckless abandon, flinging skills and projectiles as if they were free. Below, their enemies scrambled. Despite being well-geared, the opposing side couldn''t withstand the focused assault from over fifty ranged classes. Within seconds, ten players were down, their fallen bodies scattering loot across the battlefield. A few nearby teammates rushed forward to claim the spoils, but the items vanished into thin air. "Shit, they''ve got a rogue clearing the battlefield!" someone shouted from Nightfall''s squad. The sniper cursed under his breath. "Priests who can cast Holy Light, scatter illumination spells now! We''ll flush out that rogue!" "There''s¡­ there''s no one left!" a panicked player stammered. "The priests are all dead¡­ except for her!" He gestured toward Nightfall. "Damn!" the sniper thought bitterly. They were entirely at the mercy of the enemy now. His only hope was that the Guildmaster would arrive soon. Surveying the chaos, the sniper barked orders. "Shift formation! Head further from the town walls!" Waiting for reinforcements was pointless. Without priests, there was no way to sustain the fight. Their only option was to leverage their higher levels and gear to break through and regroup. Nightfall, caught in the middle of the chaos, hesitated. As the group pivoted toward Lyla''s position, the rising tension was palpable. Clutching her longbow, Lyla''s hands trembled slightly. She was nervous, anyone would be. But she had a job to do, one Ethan had entrusted to her: gauge the enemy''s range and lead the counteroffensive. As the only Level 8 sniper in their group, she was the only one with the Hawk''s Eye ability. Hawk''s Eye was a passive skill exclusive to snipers and marksmen, capable of gauging target distance and boosting skill accuracy. At higher levels, it even increased range. Narrowing her eyes, Lyla gauged the distance. Ninety meters¡­ eighty¡­ seventy-five¡­ Now! "All snipers and marksmen, fire upward at a thirty-five-degree angle! Use normal attacks, suppressive fire! Keep going, no breaks!" she commanded. "Mages and warlocks, forty-degree angle! Use low-damage instant-cast spells and follow up with AoEs once they''re in range. Target their front line!" Her voice trembled slightly, whether from fear or excitement, even she wasn''t sure. As Lyla''s orders spread through the group, the enemy squad closed to seventy meters, their tight formation faltering under the rain of arrows and spells. At first, the attacks only did minor damage, with single-digit numbers floating above the enemy''s heads. Yet the relentless hail of projectiles forced the advancing players to pause, stumbling as stray hits threw off their rhythm. The enemy sniper noticed the weakened impact and shouted, "They''re using weak attacks! Push through! Their damage is negligible!" Focused entirely on breaking through, the enemy squad didn''t notice the warriors and paladins closing in from both flanks. Pressing forward, they ignored the volleys of arrows, even as they struggled to maintain formation. Players hit less often surged ahead, while those struck repeatedly lagged behind. Their once-cohesive formation stretched, round and tight at first, into a fragile, elongated oval. Another ten meters forward, and then it hit. A barrage of instant-cast spells rained down. Fireballs, Ice Spikes, Shadow Bolts, and even Holy Smite spells exploded among them. Though still low in damage, the impact was devastating. Ice Spikes left a layer of frost on anyone hit, slowing their movement by 20%. "Dispel the slow effects!" the enemy sniper shouted to Nightfall. "Focus on clearing the path!" Caught off guard, Nightfall glared at him, irritation flashing across her face. ''You dare yell at me? Just wait till the Guildmaster hears about this¡­'' The Sniper had no idea that his efforts to protect Nightfall were earning him nothing but her resentment. He quickly scanned the surroundings. The enemy flanking them was still 90 yards away, while the ragtag group ahead was less than 60 yards. If they reached the group before being surrounded, they could punch through with ease. With those low-level, poorly-geared players, it''ll take less than five seconds to carve a path out, he thought confidently. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the front of their formation, several teammates had already lost a sixth of their health but didn''t care. They kept charging, heads down, rage simmering beneath the surface. Initially, they had tried mimicking the enemy''s volley technique, launching a few attacks of their own. But their accuracy was terrible. Even when two or three skills found their way toward the enemy, the group scattered like startled birds, avoiding all damage. Many of them were big names in the real world, wealthy professionals or seasoned players. Their high-end gear and ability to pay the 5-silver membership fee for the guild made that clear. Truth be told, they hadn''t wanted to waste time slaughtering low-level players today. But promises of lucrative rewards had convinced them to come. Now, being pinned down and hammered mercilessly, their pride was wounded. All they wanted was to close the gap and smash their opponents to pieces. "55 yards¡­ 50¡­ 40¡­" The first few ranged players in the formation raised their staves, preparing to cast as soon as they were in range. But before they could unleash their spells, the enemy beat them to it. Boom! A coordinated barrage of area-of-effect attacks descended upon them. Over a hundred players unleashed their skills simultaneously, drowning the front line in explosions and elemental chaos. Mages hurled Explosive Fireballs and Blizzards. Warlocks rained down Meteor Showers. Sharpshooters fired Cannon Bombs. Archers let loose a devastating Arrow Storm. From a distance, the overlapping magic created a dazzling sphere of light, vibrant and chaotic. But for the 20 players caught in the onslaught, there was no time to admire the spectacle. Agonizing pain wracked their bodies as the spells hit. Screams echoed as they tried to turn back, only to find themselves pinned to the ground by the sheer impact of the magic. Hundreds of spells continued to rain down, many dealing persistent damage. Each tick of forced 1-point health loss piled up rapidly. In less than five seconds, the 20 players were obliterated, their bodies dissolving into glowing loot scattered across the battlefield. "Keep the AoE pressure up! Blanket the gear with spells! No one stops until I say so!" Moonbeam barked through gritted teeth, firing another Arrow Storm. The sight of top-tier equipment littering the ground made everyone drool with greed. "Go grab the loot!" Nightfall shouted. "Don''t¡ª" the Sniper began, but his warning came too late. A dozen players charged into the glowing sphere of magic, only to suffer the same fate as those before them. Their health bars plummeted, and within seconds, they joined the pile of corpses. Nightfall, preparing to snap at the Sniper for questioning her command, froze mid-thought as she watched the carnage unfold. "What¡­ what do we do now?" she stammered, momentarily stunned. The Sniper''s attention snapped to the warriors and paladins closing in from both sides. The delay had cost them dearly, the enemy was now only 30 yards away. ''It''s over,'' he thought grimly. Trying to circle around the magical killing field was no longer an option. They simply didn''t have the time. And just as he feared, their doom was imminent. Boom! Two unstoppable waves of enemies collided with their formation, smashing into them with devastating force. Chapter 39 Tactical Genius As the Knights and Warriors encircled their targets, Ethan''s voice rang out on the guild''s command channel, "Focus fire! Kill the ones without red names first!" It was the first time anyone in the guild had ever heard him speak. A brief silence followed before comprehension hit. He wasn''t leaving them with even a single scrap! Through the lingering haze of magical light, they could see the loot scattered across the ground. All of it was their spoils of war, treasures they''d soon be able to exchange for guild contribution points. Like predators in a frenzy, the guild members charged at the players without red names, slashing and stabbing with ruthless precision. Their prey barely had time to react before falling, dismembered under the flurry of blades. Within mere moments, over twenty players lay dead, their bodies fading into flashes of white light. The Sniper who had been coordinating their enemy''s counterattack was now paralyzed with fear. ''Who is commanding this group?'' he thought. ''Could it be that girl¡ªthe one with the sharp eyes and deadly aim?'' But he quickly dismissed the idea. ''She''s nervous herself, clearly struggling to stay composed. There''s no way she''s orchestrating this chaos.'' His mind reeled as he recalled the sequence of events. First, the shield tanks had sealed off the town gates, locking his team in. Then, their flanking ambush had been countered, and their healers systematically assassinated. Even now, rogue players scoured the battlefield, ensuring no survivors could escape with the loot. Their movements were coordinated, methodical, and ruthless. Each step of their strategy was a calculated blow, leaving him scrambling for answers. The Sniper clenched his fists. The shield tanks at the gates, they weren''t even moving! What were they planning? "ThreeShot!" a teammate shouted. "The guild leader''s sending reinforcements, over 200 players are on their way!" ThreeShot, was the nickname of the Sniper, taken from his in-game name: OnlyThreeShots. He snapped out of his thoughts, his lips curling in frustration. "Two hundred? We won''t last another minute!" he barked back. "Tell him to bring body bags instead!" "The guild leader said most of our players wouldn''t come back after waiting over an hour earlier. They think the enemy''s bluffing!" "Damn it!" ThreeShot cursed, his frustration boiling over. But there was no time for regret. Just then, two figures broke through the defensive line: Skyblade and SeraphWarrior. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A chill ran down ThreeShot''s spine. He was a long-range fighter, and now, two melee specialists were closing in fast. With no room to maneuver, he was a sitting duck. SeraphWarrior struck first, unleashing a barrage of Judgment and Shock skills that left ThreeShot staggered and retreating. Before he could recover, Skyblade charged forward, triggering a stun effect and following up with a powerful shield bash. ThreeShot hit the ground hard, dazed and helpless. SeraphWarrior wasted no time, raising his greatsword high and bringing it down in a devastating arc. Pinned and unable to dodge, ThreeShot could only watch as the blade descended. A flash of cold steel, and his head was severed cleanly from his shoulders. The system notification rang out: [Critical hit! Weak point assassination triggered. Target eliminated.] Even with half his health remaining, the critical hit left no chance for survival. This rare system feature, a weak point fatality, was nearly impossible to execute, but the duo''s flawless coordination made it happen. [Achievement Unlocked: Decapitation] Skyblade and SeraphWarrior exchanged brief nods before moving on to their next targets. With ThreeShot eliminated, the enemy forces descended into chaos. In under a minute, their 200-strong force had been reduced to fewer than 80 players, who were swiftly wiped out by Ethan''s 300-man army. The battlefield was strewn with loot, yet no one dared pick up a single item. It was Ethan''s decree: all gear would be added to the guild vault for redistribution through contribution points. No exceptions. At first, not everyone was eager to follow Ethan''s orders. But after this battle, their doubts had been erased. Under normal circumstances, going up against an enemy armed with Silver and Bronze-tiered gear would''ve been a death sentence. Simply surviving would''ve been a miracle, let alone wiping out the entire opposing force. Yet, somehow, they had not only survived but crushed their foes with minimal casualties. It was all thanks to Ethan''s meticulous strategy. As Ethan stepped out of stealth and joined the crowd, Lyla led the group of ranged fighters over. Every single person was buzzing with excitement, their adrenaline still coursing from the victory. The moment they saw Ethan, they greeted him with a unified cheer: "BOSS!" Skyblade, ever the joker, grinned and called out to Lyla, "Hey there, First Lady of the guild!" Lyla blushed deeply but didn''t respond, her eyes darting anywhere but at Skyblade. Ethan smirked and shot Skyblade an approving look. Skyblade tilted his head in return, grinning smugly as if to say, ''I''ve got your back, boss.'' "Skyblade," Ethan ordered, "organize the battlefield. Have some of the members carry the loot back to town. It all goes into the guild vault." He turned to the other direction. "Slashblade, tally the casualties. Give each fallen player five silver coins as compensation." Then he addressed SeraphWarrior and Lyla: "You two, come with me to clean up the stragglers. Their elite forces are down, what''s left won''t be a threat." Ethan rattled off commands with precision, each one sending the group into motion. Skyblade, however, couldn''t resist. "Why not let First Lady handle the loot sorting? I want to get out there and crush some enemies!" He flashed a toothy grin at Lyla, who ignored him completely. Ethan raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with amusement. "Sure, go ahead, if you can convince SeraphWarrior to trade position with you." SeraphWarrior didn''t miss a beat, interjecting smoothly, "Skyblade, quit whining and get to work. Unless, of course, you want Slashblade''s sister paying you a visit tomorrow?" Skyblade''s bravado faltered, and he straightened up. "Ugh, not this again. Can''t you come up with a better threat? And for the record, it''s Slashblade''s sister, not yours. Who says she''ll even listen to you?" Ignoring him entirely, SeraphWarrior turned and walked away. Just then, Slashblade appeared, clapping Skyblade on the shoulder. "By the way, my sister says she''s looking forward to seeing you." Skyblade groaned, muttering under his breath as he turned and left to count the casualties, leaving Skyblade spluttering behind him. The banter among Ethan''s team was lighthearted, but over at Unity Hall''s camp, the atmosphere was grim. "Guild Leader, we''ve been wiped out!" "Help us! There''s a group of rogues camping the graveyard, we can''t even revive!" "Damn it, I''ve been killed twice now! I''m down to Level 5!" "Yeah, why does every death drop a full level, and why do we keep reviving at the graveyard without a choice?" "Let''s quit the guild! The rogues keep shouting they''ll let us go if we leave!" The Unity Hall guild chat was in utter chaos. Notifications of members quitting flooded the system. Zachary, known in the game as Overlord, guild leader of Unity Hall. He sat in stunned silence, helpless as over a hundred players, everyone wiped out by Ethan''s team, left the guild in quick succession. Chapter 40 The Fall Of Unity Hall Unity Hall was in chaos. Over a hundred elite members had been wiped out, and forced to quit the guild. Overlord led a group of over two hundred toward the outskirts of the small town, but cracks were already forming within his ranks. Members were silently leaving the group one by one, and his attempts to stabilize morale fell flat. Who could blame them? A team of over a hundred top players, many around Level 7 or 8, had been utterly crushed. Some had even been ambushed and killed at the graveyard, losing at least three levels each. For the second-string members left in the group, hope was a luxury they couldn''t afford. With just over two hundred players, how could they possibly win this fight? Most decided to wait and see, or even quit the guild entirely to protect their gear and experience. A few of them even found reasons to celebrate. With the elites out of the picture, players like them might suddenly find themselves at the top of Zone 1370''s food chain. As the group approached the outskirts of town, their numbers shrank instead of growing. By the time they reached the town gates, only 183 players remained. Then Overlord caught sight of the enemy: a wall of shield tanks from the Renegade Alliance, standing guard at the town''s entrance. Unity Hall''s guild chat exploded with activity. Scattered players leveling up in the wilderness were under attack from Renegade Alliance. Every ambusher from Renegade Alliance shouted the same thing before striking: "Quit Unity Hall, and we won''t kill you!" Not that they ever gave their victims a chance to leave the guild. They attacked on sight. Once a player was killed, their ghost was automatically resurrected at the nearby graveyard. But there, rouges would be waiting in ambush, delivering another swift death. Normally, players in ghost form could talk to the Angel of Resurrection or return to their corpse to revive. But this time, neither option worked. Ethan knew exactly why. In a guild war, the system altered the mechanics. Players without a guild base would revive at the nearest respawn point. Meanwhile, guilds with bases saw their players resurrected directly at their headquarters. In this case, Unity Hall had no base in Zone 1370. Their respawns were stuck in the nearby graveyard. Renegade Alliance''s strategic advantage was obvious, and Ethan couldn''t help but smirk at his handiwork. According to Slashblade''s tally, Renegade Alliance had suffered 37 casualties. Their opponents'' equipment was solid; if not for Ethan''s careful planning, this battle might''ve turned out very differently. Even so, Renegade Alliance had taken some losses, 37 players out of over 300 during the final push. Guild war deaths came with heavy penalties: losing a level and, for non-red-named players, one piece of equipment. Unity Hall had suffered catastrophic losses. In contrast, Renegade Alliance was thriving, using battles to fuel its growth. When Overlord''s group was just a few hundred meters from the town, they were forced to change direction. They split up to respond to distress calls from members in nearby leveling areas. But it was a futile effort; by the time they arrived, Renegade Alliance had already vanished. This success was largely thanks to Ethan. Using his experience from a past life and an uncanny understanding of the map, he tracked Overlord''s group and predicted their movements with pinpoint accuracy. Normally, rogue skills like Stealth significantly reduced movement speed before being upgraded. For most players, that meant stealth wasn''t a viable option for reconnaissance. But Ethan, with his refined techniques and cheatlike abilities could maintain 83.5% of his speed while staying hidden, just enough to tail the enemy. One fight after another, and Unity Hall''s players were ready to call it quits. They began teleporting back to town en masse. Some tried logging out, hoping to escape the relentless ambushes. But the system informed them that logging out was disabled during guild wars. They''d have to wait until the game entered its sleep phase at 8 a.m. Some Unity Hall players were fortunate; their free teleport stones weren''t on cooldown, allowing them to return safely to the town''s sanctuary. Others weren''t so lucky. Without teleport stones, they could only run toward the town on foot. Even members of Overlord''s own team began deserting him. Some used their teleport stones, while others fled in the direction of the town. In the end, only his most loyal supporters stayed. The group had dwindled to fewer than fifty. "Boss, we should retreat too," one of Overlord''s personal bodyguards suggested. "Retreat? Where exactly do you think we''re going to run? Those shield tanks at the gate aren''t just decorations," Overlord snapped. His eyes glinted coldly. "And what about that ''NotADruid''? Any updates?" "We looked into it, but nothing came up. Aeon Corporation''s security protocols are impenetrable," the bodyguard admitted. "Impenetrable? What else?" Overlord pressed. "Well¡­ we couldn''t even locate their headquarters. All we know is that their regional offices are scattered across different countries, and those are just manufacturing facilities for VR headsets and capsules." "Impressive," Overlord muttered, a mix of frustration and admiration in his voice. "Keep digging. Report to me the moment you find something." --- At the gates of the town, a large crowd of Unity Hall players had gathered. They kept their distance, standing about seventy meters from the entrance. Fear was written across their faces. Earlier, they had watched a group of guildmates attempt to break through the shield wall that Renegade Alliance had formed at the gate. Despite the combined force of dozens of players, the shield wall barely trembled. Moments later, a barrage of magic, arrows, and cannon fire from the town walls obliterated them. As the dust settled, a gap opened in the shield wall, and a single shield tank sauntered out. After casually looting the corpses, he turned toward the Unity Hall players and mockingly gestured for them to come closer. Then, without a word, he retreated behind the shields, and the wall closed again. In the crowd, ThreeShot, watched the scene unfold. He was now a Level 3 player, having quit the guild after being repeatedly killed and losing five levels. "Well played," he muttered to himself. "It''s all deliberate¡­ their leader must be a genius tactician. That top-ranked druid player, if it''s him, then it''s no wonder." Shaking his head in frustration, he started walking toward the town gates. At least he''d managed to keep some of his gear intact, having avoided the penalties of being red-named. "Hey, isn''t that ThreeShot, our former vice-leader?" "Yeah, it''s him. But he''s left the guild!" "What''s he doing now? Walking to his death?" The whispers grew louder as ThreeShot approached the shield wall, coming within three meters. Suddenly, a gap opened in the wall. Without hesitation, he stepped through. "Wait, did you see that? He went in!" "Is he a spy for the enemy guild?" "Doesn''t look like it¡ªhe''s barely Level 3 now." The murmurs of the Unity Hall players grew into a frenzy. Seeing ThreeShot''s safe passage, a handful of sharp-witted players bolted toward the town while quickly quitting the guild. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, these players were allowed through the gates without incident. Realization dawned. One by one, players began quitting Unity Hall and running toward Evercrest Town. Not all attempts were successful. Some opportunists tried to play smart by removing their guild badges and hiding their player names, hoping to sneak through unnoticed. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But they were wrong. While regular players couldn''t see their names, members of Renegade Alliance could. These disguised players were mercilessly cut down at the gates. "Why don''t we just kill them all? It''s free money, after all," a mage named RadiantJester grumbled from his position on the town wall, standing beside Ethan. Chapter 41 Heartstrings "These are just regular players, no good loot on them," Ethan remarked. "The others should be in position by now, right?" "Yeah, Ryan and Slashblade are ready over there," RadiantJester replied. "But the enemy hasn''t made a move yet. No idea what they''re waiting for." Ethan frowned. Could they have already given up? He opened the guild chat and confirmed the situation with Skyblade. Then, his expression hardened. "It''s time. The enemy has been forcibly logged out, but during a guild war, their in-game avatars remain online. Tell the rogues stationed at their respawn points to keep killing them until they''re down to Level 1. After that, keep going until their gear stops dropping." Originally, Ethan had been brainstorming ways to turn the entire enemy guild red-named. Now, there was no need. Under Ethan''s leadership, this guild war had become a near-flawless victory. With minimal losses, Renegade Alliance had decimated Unity Hall''s leadership and top players. The fallout was immediate. Dozens of players quit Unity Hall, leaving the guild in disarray. Their reputation, already tarnished by bullying local players, turned public sentiment fully against them. In the days to come, Unity Hall would face relentless revenge from the entire Zone 1370 player base. Without their core members, Overlord''s Unity Hall was on the brink of collapse. It might survive, but only after the players moved out of the starter zone, where they could attempt to rebuild. Seeing that his presence was no longer needed, Ethan bid farewell to Lyla and her group of rowdy friends. Amid their playful teasing, he stepped onto the teleportation array in the starter zone and returned to Harmony City. Little did Ethan know, the guild war had become a global sensation. A player had uploaded video footage to Aeon Corporation''s official forums, specifically in the player discussion section. Within minutes, the post had over a million views, and the count continued to climb. The comments section exploded. Some cheered, saying Unity Hall deserved its fate. Others praised Renegade Alliance as righteous avengers. Still, others argued that not all Unity Hall players were at fault, accusing Renegade Alliance of going too far. The debate quickly escalated. Insults were hurled, and the conversation spiraled into personal attacks and even regional prejudice. Aeon Corporation was eventually forced to intervene, locking the thread to prevent further chaos. Ethan, oblivious to the online uproar, had transformed into his stag form and was galloping down the main road leading north to Springhaven. Originally, his plan was simple: return to Harmony City from the starter zone, spend some money to teleport to the two other cities, buy the plots of land he needed, and return to complete his quest. What he hadn''t expected was this: Ding! [System Notification: "Teleportation to Springhaven is currently unavailable!"] He stared at the message, cursing under his breath. Was the teleportation array genuinely out of service, or was the city lord, Gregor Darnell, deliberately making things difficult for him? In his stag form, it would take him six hours of running to reach Springhaven. From there, it was another ten-hour trek to Blackridge. If the teleportation arrays in Blackridge were also unusable, he''d waste nearly three days just traveling. The thought was infuriating, especially since the second-ranked player on the leaderboard had already hit Level 9. He had no idea what the top players in other regions were doing. But one thing was certain: in his previous life, that archer, Feather had left the starter zone in just ten days. If Ethan couldn''t use teleportation, he might only barely make it back before Feather left the zone. With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Ethan continued his long run until the game''s scheduled shutdown forced him offline. --- After logging out, Ethan wasted no time. He went straight to Lyla''s room and knocked on her door. Today, she hadn''t logged off early, no doubt because the guild war had been exhilarating for her. His guess was spot on. When Lyla opened the door, she launched into an excited recap, talking about how precise her commands had been, how flawlessly she''d timed everything, and so on. They sat at the dining table near the floor-to-ceiling windows, enjoying breakfast. Ethan listened to her storytelling, a faint smile on his face. After enduring five thousand years of solitude in the dream world, this peaceful reality was nothing short of beautiful. Ethan couldn''t help but recall a moment from his previous life, a drunken night in the game with Moonbeam that had changed everything. Now, as he watched Lyla standing before him in nothing but a silk camisole, bathed in the golden glow of morning sunlight, those memories surged forward. The light caressed her face and shoulders, making her skin shimmer with an almost ethereal softness. Every detail¡ªher lashes, the smooth curve of her neck, the faint flush on her cheeks, seemed impossibly perfect. Ethan''s chest tightened, a heat stirring within him. Beneath his gaze, Lyla seemed to sense his thoughts. Flustered, she grabbed a piece of bread from her plate and stuffed it into her mouth. "I''m done eating," she mumbled, rising to take her plate to the open-plan kitchen. As she passed by him, Ethan reached out and caught her wrist. Lyla froze, her breath hitching, unsure of what to do. Without a word, Ethan gently took the plate from her hand, setting it back on the table. Then, with a firm tug, he pulled her into his arms. Last night in the game, holding Lyla had been a starkly different experience, her armor was an obstacle. Now, it was the opposite. Her warmth, her softness¡ªit was intoxicating. In his embrace, Lyla felt a reassuring strength that went beyond physicality. She had already made her choice to be with him. She wouldn''t have sacrificed so much or moved to Harmony City to find him otherwise. For years, she had quietly followed Ethan''s life, never stepping forward, though her feelings had grown deeper with every passing moment. But this time was different. This was her chance, one she''d fought hard to have. Ethan''s hold on her tightened. A part of him wanted nothing more than to claim her entirely. Yet, he also knew it wasn''t the right time, not yet. Lyla shifted slightly in his arms, her gaze soft and uncertain. Ethan sighed inwardly. He knew if he made a move now, she wouldn''t resist. The realization quickened his heartbeat. Were they already more than just friends? Were they finally¡­ something more? "Lyla¡­" Ethan murmured near her ear. "Yeah?" she whispered back, her voice barely audible. With a sudden motion, Ethan lifted her off her feet and set her on the dining table. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lyla gasped, wrapping her arms around his neck, her legs instinctively tightening around his waist. The faint floral scent of her hair filled Ethan''s senses as he held her close. In her mind, Lyla''s thoughts raced. Was he really going to¡ª? She let out a soft sound, her entire body trembling, unable to muster the strength to move. Ethan''s mind flashed back to his past life. How had she felt then, during those moments they had sex in the game? Surely, she had known it was him. She must have. He had told her his in-game ID, hadn''t he? Looking at her now, vulnerable and trusting in his arms, Ethan ran his hand slowly along her back, feeling her shiver beneath his touch. He leaned in, his voice low and steady in her ear. "Should we¡­ take this¡­ further?" Chapter 42 Deceptive Moves Ethan''s hand glided over the silky fabric of Lyla''s nightgown, tracing up to her neck. His fingers tangled gently in her hair. "We¡­ we''re going to be late¡­ for class!" he teased, his other hand landing a playful smack on her rounded curve. "Mmm¡­" Lyla felt the heat of his touch and the warmth of his breath brushing against her ear. Her body shivered, caught between pleasure and nervous anticipation. She squirmed in his arms, desperately trying to ground herself. But when the tension inside her finally broke, she trembled violently, her voice escaping in a soft, melodic gasp. Her strength left her completely. Even her arms, which had been tightly wrapped around Ethan, slackened as she slipped downward, boneless and flushed. Ethan froze, startled by her sensitivity. Moments later, Lyla''s face burned red as a wave of embarrassment overwhelmed her. She pushed him away, flustered. "I¡­ I''m going to freshen up!" she stammered before hurriedly making her way upstairs. But as she reached the staircase, her shaky legs betrayed her, nearly causing her to stumble. She gripped the banister tightly, not daring to look back at Ethan, and fled up the spiral staircase as though running for her life. Watching her retreating figure, Ethan glanced at the edge of the dining table, which for some reason now had a dark patch, as though something had spilled there. "I didn''t even do anything," he muttered to himself, though his thoughts betrayed him. Images of the moment replayed in his mind, tempting and vivid. Upstairs, he could only imagine what Lyla was doing behind the closed door. A short while later, Lyla returned, her expression a mix of awkwardness and determination. Ethan had already tidied up and was waiting for her. When their eyes met, her cheeks flushed again, and she shot him a glare. "Hurry up, we''re going to be late for class!" Despite her tone, her embarrassment was clear, and her face grew even redder as she spoke. Ethan, simply rubbed his nose and avoided teasing her further. He opened the door, and the two of them stepped out of the villa, one after the other. --- At school, it was another boring day for Ethan. The buzz around campus was all about last night''s guild war. Ethan, the mastermind behind it all, listened quietly as a bystander, smiling but offering no comments. --- That evening, Ethan logged back into the game and spent five hours traveling on foot. At last, he reached Springhaven. The moment he stepped into the city, a system notification popped up. Ding! [System Notification: You are the first player to reach Springhaven. Reputation with Springhaven +200.] Ding! [Zone Announcement: Player **** is the first to reach Springhaven. All city functions are now unlocked.] Smiling to himself, Ethan immediately equipped the Disguise Mask that Gregor Darnell had given him. Ding! [Disguise functionality activated. Please select your disguise type: Player, NPC, or Monster.] "Player," Ethan chose. Ding! [Player disguise confirmed. Please select a player name to copy.] "Overlord," Ethan said with a mischievous grin. Ding! [Copy successful. Disguise Mask usage -1. Remaining uses: 11. Duration: 3 hours.] [During the disguise duration, you cannot access the original player''s assets, equipment, or items. Any items obtained during this period can be traded or transferred. However, all items acquired during this time will transfer to the original player when the disguise ends.] As the notification faded, white mist enveloped Ethan''s body. When it cleared, he raised his hand to inspect himself. Sure enough, his appearance had changed to that of Overlord, complete with a mage''s robes. Even his displayed name matched. Satisfied with the disguise, Ethan hurried toward the Property Office, his heart racing. Halfway there, a realization struck him like a lightning bolt. The system prompt had said the disguise only lasted three hours. That wasn''t enough time to make it back to Harmony City. If he didn''t adjust his plan, he''d be handing Overlord a free fortune! Cursing under his breath, Ethan turned back and made a beeline for the teleportation hub. Reaching the array, he activated the control panel and tested his options. The teleportation array to Blackridge was still unavailable, but the option to return to Harmony City had finally opened. It seemed Gregor Darnell wasn''t sabotaging him after all. It was likely that the main city hadn''t been fully activated yet, which explained the restricted teleportation. With Harmony City now accessible, Ethan felt a wave of relief. He wouldn''t have to reveal his real identity to complete his schemes. If worst came to worst, he could abandon this region entirely. Still, missing the chance to frustrate Overlord gnawed at him. Shaking off the thought, Ethan made his way back to the Property Office. Without wasting time, he approached the receptionist and began selecting plots of land. By the end, he''d spent a staggering 9,980 gold to purchase 14 prime locations in Springhaven. Meanwhile, far away in Zone 1370''s starter village, Overlord''s system notifications were going wild. Ding! [Congratulations! You have purchased Plot #1 in Springhaven¡­] Ding! [Congratulations! You have purchased Plot #2 in Springhaven¡­] At first, Overlord was bewildered. But as the messages continued to roll in, each detailing the acquisition of valuable land under his name, his confusion turned to elation. A veteran gamer, he understood the massive potential of in-game real estate. Properties bought cheaply from the system could skyrocket in value, sometimes increasing a hundredfold, mirroring real-world real estate trends. After being utterly humiliated by Renegade Alliance the previous day, his guild shattered, his loyal followers beaten back to Level 1, and his equipment stripped, he had been on the verge of a breakdown. But now? This unexpected fortune felt like a lifeline. With so much prime land under his control, Overlord was already imagining his triumphant return to power. He saw himself rising above his past defeats, absorbing smaller guilds, and building a sprawling empire. He even entertained the thought of breaking free from the financial backer who had been manipulating him for years. With enough resources, he could finally forge his own path. His renewed energy was evident to his subordinates, who watched in shock as he dove headfirst into monster packs, fighting with an intensity they had never seen before. "What''s gotten into the boss?" one muttered. "He usually hangs back to leech experience¡­" --- Twenty minutes later, Ethan exited the Property Office and headed straight for the teleportation hub. The trip back to Harmony City cost him a hefty 20 gold. Were it not for his substantial savings, he might''ve been forced to abandon this entire scheme. Once in Harmony City, Ethan approached the Town Hall, though he worried about how to meet the City Lord. Ordinary players couldn''t simply stroll into such places without a specific quest. Attempting to force their way in would result in being executed by the guards and tossed into the dungeon. To his surprise, the Captain of the Guard, Roland Carter, was stationed at the entrance. The moment Roland spotted Ethan, now disguised as Overlord, he wasted no time escorting him inside. Apparently, Gregor Darnell had left orders: for the next ten days, any player who came to the Town Hall was to be granted immediate access to meet him. Ethan realized this arrangement was designed specifically for his task. With no other players expected to show up during this window, Gregor had cleared the path to ensure Ethan could complete his objective without interference. Still, the undercurrents of NPC politics intrigued him. What exactly was Gregor gaining from this maneuver? S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once in Gregor''s office, Ethan didn''t waste words. Using his Overlord disguise, he handed over the deeds to the land he''d purchased in Springhaven. Gregor accepted the documents without much ceremony. He barely spoke, likely avoiding drawing the system''s attention. After finalizing the transfer, Ethan removed the Disguise Mask. Ding! [Congratulations! You have completed Part 1 of "Gregor Darnell''s Request." Reputation with Gregor Darnell +150. Current Reputation: 0.] Hearing the notification, Ethan chuckled. "So I started in the negatives with him, huh?" Despite completing the task, Gregor''s demeanor shifted. His previously lifelike interactions gave way to a cold, mechanical presence. It was as if the system had reasserted control over him, dampening his humanity. Chapter 43 A Costly Endeavor Ethan exited the Town Hall, hesitating at the steep teleportation costs. He briefly debated walking to Blackridge, but the only route passed through Springhaven. Clenching his teeth, he reluctantly spent 20 gold coins to return to Springhaven. From there, he resumed his journey on foot. As Ethan trekked through the sprawling roads, someone else was facing his own storm of emotions. Zachary had logged out of the game. Inside his room, chaos reigned¡ªevery item lay shattered across the floor. Even his high-tech VR capsule had been bashed nearly out of shape by the relentless blows of a baseball bat. The reason for his tantrum? Simple. While Ethan, bearing Zachary''s name in-game, continually transferred land titles to new owners, the system notifications flooded in. By the end, not only had Zachary lost every land deed he owned, but his reputation in Springhaven had plummeted by 4,200 points. Although he had no clue what a city''s reputation stat affected, he knew it couldn''t be good. His initial joy had soured into bitterness. The rollercoaster of emotions left Zachary unhinged. After venting his fury on the furniture, Zachary sank into a chair, his eyes glowing with venomous hatred. His thoughts spun. There was only one person capable of reaching the main city to pull off this betrayal. He pulled out his phone, hesitated, then dialed a number. On the other end, a voice answered in a clipped foreign accent: "Who are you looking for?" Switching to fluent Japanese, Zachary responded, "I need you to find someone for me..." Unbeknownst to Ethan, his rebirth had accelerated certain events, nudging them beyond his control. --- Running tirelessly, Ethan made his way closer to Blackridge before the game''s servers went offline. The following day at school, life remained uneventful. Even Lyla, who had always been unusually friendly toward him, now maintained a distant, almost hesitant demeanor after recent events. Whenever Ethan''s gaze landed on her, she froze as if caught mid-step. The tension was enough to make Ethan wonder if he had gone too far. Yet every time he saw Lyla, the image of wet stains on the dining table flashed in his mind, bringing back a tide of emotions. Still, he couldn''t figure out what he''d done. After all, he hadn''t really done anything... right? When night fell, Ethan logged back into the game, finally making it to Blackridge after over an hour of travel. Claiming the reputation rewards tied to his real name, Ethan once again donned his Disguise Mask. This time, he chose to mimic the username "Nightfall." As the white mist faded, Ethan glanced down. His brows furrowed as he noticed two... large additions to his chest. He took a tentative step, immediately feeling off balance, leaning forward slightly. Struggling to adjust, he had a sudden thought. Glancing around to ensure no one was nearby, Ethan carefully slipped a hand into his waistband. "Whew¡­ still here!" he muttered in relief. A strange mix of emotions surfaced, relief followed by a pang of disappointment. Shaking his head, Ethan instinctively reached for his newly "enhanced" chest, giving it a light squeeze. "Huh, didn''t feel this big before," he mused. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Quickly shaking off the moment, Ethan confirmed once more that no one was around before briskly heading to Blackridge''s Property Office. After wrapping up the paperwork, he spent nearly all the 20,000 gold coins gifted by Lord Gregor, leaving only three coins to his name. Satisfied, he strutted toward the teleportation hub, spending a staggering 53 gold coins to return to Harmony City. The farther the distance, the steeper the teleportation fees. By late-game, such expenses were a luxury few players could afford. Many would rather endure grueling treks than burn their savings on teleportation. Back in Harmony City, Ethan checked his inventory. Only 95 gold coins remained, and three of those were task-restricted coins from Lord Gregor, meaning they couldn''t be spent freely. Ethan sighed deeply. "Making money''s hard. Spending it? That''s way too easy." The recent guild battle had been costly. He had spent a small fortune compensating his fallen comrades. Sure, Unity Hall had been completely crippled, and their looted equipment, once converted, would undoubtedly yield a hefty profit. But the repeated teleportation fees alone had eaten through most of the earnings. Although Ethan had secured usage rights for multiple properties, turning them into a source of income required time. Other players would need to reach the main city, develop the economy, and create demand. Until then, the land would sit idle. If he wanted to make money now, he''d need to think of something himself. "What can I do to make money without halting my progress?" Ethan muttered, racking his brain for ideas. He thought long and hard. Unfortunately, every idea required other players to arrive in the main city first. No choice. He''d just have to focus on leveling up for now. Ethan returned to the Town Hall, where he met with Lord Gregor to complete his task. His favourability with Gregor increased by another 300 points, and Ethan noticed a subtle change in the city lord''s demeanor, his tone was warmer, though still mechanical. Gone was the spirited, human-like debate they''d had a few days ago. Puzzled but unwilling to linger on it, Ethan left the Town Hall. As he prepared to search for a life-skills trainer, a video call notification flashed across his screen. It was Leo, known in-game as Skyblade. "Boss! We''re stuck in the dungeon. Help us out!" Leo blurted the moment Ethan accepted the call, his face a mix of urgency and frustration. "You guys went to clear the Murky Swamp?" Ethan asked, raising a brow. "Yeah. The three of us took a bunch of level 10 guildmates to tackle it. We''ve been at it all night, and we still can''t finish!" Leo groaned. The Murky Swamp was the first dungeon in the Starter Zone and the only one available there. The dungeon had five difficulty modes: Easy, Normal, Hard, Expert, and Hell. The harder the difficulty, the better the loot and experience rewards. However, it also required tighter teamwork, better coordination, and higher-quality gear. The Easy mode could be run endlessly, but its loot drop rate was comparable to the wilds, offering only marginally higher experience. Still, completing it awarded bonus experience upon clearing. Normal mode allowed one run per day, resetting after the server rebooted the following day. Hard mode could only be cleared once per week, resetting every Monday at 6:00 PM. Expert mode refreshed monthly, unlocking on the first day of each month. Hell mode was unique. It had a strict time limit and required a flawless five-star completion rating to earn rewards. The guaranteed reward? A piece of gold-tier equipment. Achieving a five-star rating, however, was incredibly difficult. While beating the time limit wasn''t too challenging, earning maximum stars required perfection, flawless execution and attention to every detail. Even in the late game, when teams returned to clear low-level dungeons, achieving a perfect score on Hell mode was rare. For many top-tier groups, managing it once in ten attempts was considered impressive. This was the reality of dungeon mechanics in the world of Ethereal. As for how to achieve a five-star rating? Ethan knew all the tricks. He was confident that with a disciplined team that followed his commands to the letter, earning five stars in Hell mode wouldn''t be an issue. But dungeons were only as strong as their weakest link. A team''s success depended on its players'' skill levels, execution, and overall awareness. Ethan couldn''t help but shake his head when Leo admitted they were running the Easy mode of Murky Swamp. "How many people do you have? And what are their levels?" Ethan asked after a moment of thought. Leo sighed. "It''s me, SeraphWarrior, and Slashblade, we''re all level 11 now. The rest are 27 guild members who just hit level 10." Chapter 44 The Plan for Profit Ethan frowned as he read Skyblade''s message. "What''s the breakdown of classes and numbers?" Skyblade quickly responded: "Thirty people in total¡ªthree Shield Tanks, three Greatsword Warriors, two Dual-Blade Rogues, three Paladins, five Priests, two Assassins, five Archers, five Mages, and two Warlocks." He also sent Ethan the full team composition for review. "Out of your Shield Tanks, who has the highest health and defense?" Ethan asked. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "That''d be me," Skyblade replied confidently. "In defensive stance, my health is 1,108, and my defense is 792. The other two just hit level 10 and upgraded their gear through the guild, so their health is around 980, and defense is in the 500s." Shield Tanks in their defensive stance didn''t have the raw health boost that Druids gained from their Bear Form, but their defense multiplier¡ª480%, along with shield blocks and other mechanics, made them reliable main tanks in dungeons. "Here''s what you should do: split into two teams. With your health and defense stats, you can tank this dungeon solo without needing an off-tank. If it gets too rough, have SeraphWarrior equip a shield and switch to defensive aura to cover you now and then. The other two tanks meet the defense and health thresholds, so they''re fine as backups," Ethan explained. "Why split into two teams? Wouldn''t more players mean clearing faster?" Skyblade sounded confused. "Most dungeons in Ethereal scale dynamically. The more players you bring, the higher the monsters'' health and defense. If some of your damage dealers can''t output enough to compensate for the increased stats, you''ll actually clear slower, or worse, fail," Ethan said bluntly. This was something most players didn''t know yet, as they were still stuck in the mindset of older games. "Alright, we''ll give it a shot. Any other tips or tricks for the dungeon?" Skyblade asked, his tone more trusting now. "You''re doing Easy mode. There''s no need for fancy tactics, just brute force your way through. Easy and Normal modes allow 12 to 30 players. For the smoothest and fastest run, stick with 18 players. That''s the sweet spot for minimal scaling at this difficulty," Ethan explained. "Really? We''ve wiped so many times already. If we fail again, someone''s going to drop back to level 9," Skyblade muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. And there it was, the real reason for his urgency. "Don''t worry. You can''t lose a level in dungeons. Once your experience hits zero, it won''t drop any further," Ethan replied, rolling his eyes at Skyblade''s panic. In Ethereal, dungeon deaths didn''t cost gear or levels, but each death deducted 5% of a player''s experience. If their experience hit zero, it couldn''t drop further, ensuring players didn''t get locked out of dungeons due to level requirements. That''s why most teams started dungeons immediately after leveling up. With minimal experience to lose, deaths didn''t sting as much. Still, repeated deaths could add up to significant losses if players weren''t careful. Shutting off the chat, a sudden idea struck Ethan. "Wait a minute¡­" If Skyblade and his crew were already clearing the Murky Swamp, then other players had to be attempting it too. While Easy mode was little more than an XP farm with negligible loot, Normal mode presented a bit of a challenge. Hard and Expert modes required well-coordinated teams. As for Hell mode? At this level, beating the timer was a pipe dream, let alone earning a five-star rating and claiming the top-tier rewards. But that gave Ethan an idea, what if he sold dungeon strategies? He already had all the dungeon mechanics and boss patterns mapped out in his head. That kind of information could be converted into gold, lots of gold. The idea lit a spark in Ethan''s mind. However, the details of how to implement it still needed work. After all, there was no way for him to directly broadcast his strategy to players scattered across so many Starter Zones. If he wanted to profit, he had to act fast. The early rush of dungeon activity was the prime window, before players figured out the strategies themselves and devalued his knowledge. There was another problem: once he sold even a single copy, it could spread quickly. While in-game confidentiality contracts existed, nothing stopped players from sharing strategies in the real world. Pondering his options, Ethan recalled someone who might be the key: Trusty007. Ethan knew Trusty007 wasn''t just an individual but the face of a well-organized team. They had operatives stationed in multiple Starter Zones, managing gold transactions and other services. If anyone could help him advertise dungeon strategies across a wide range of players, it was them. Without hesitation, Ethan opened his friend list and sent a message to Trusty007: "Got a business proposal. Lots of profit potential. Message me if you''re interested." With that handled, Ethan made his way to the life-skills trainers. He approached the Herbalism Trainer and paid five copper coins to learn Basic Herbalism, which allowed him to gather low-level herbs. As he walked past the Mining Trainer, a booming voice called out: "Come on, learn Mining! A guaranteed gold mine! No investment, high returns! The perfect path to wealth and success!" Ethan didn''t even glance his way. "Screw that," he thought. "I mined for three years in my past life, and where did that get me? Stuck in a pitch-black cave, barely scraping by on instant noodles." With two secondary skill slots still open, Ethan pondered his options. He wasn''t planning to invest too much time in secondary professions, Herbalism was already a practical choice for harvesting rare herbs in the wild. The rest of the professions required dedicated practice and, often, sacrificing combat time to make progress. After some thought, Ethan spent another five copper coins to learn Skinning, which allowed him to harvest pelts from defeated beasts, a decent way to earn extra income. Naturally, he also picked up Leatherworking, figuring it would pair well with Skinning. He knew the locations of two valuable leather armor blueprints, one for mid-game gear and another for powerful late-game armor. Satisfied with his new skills, Ethan glanced at his inventory. There, tucked away, was the pilot''s watch he had looted from the wrecked plane back in the Starter Zone. "Guess it''s time to wrap up this little side quest," he murmured. Teleporting to Cogden Village cost just one copper coin, teleports within Harmony City''s jurisdiction were relatively cheap. Cogden Village was nestled in the Gornath Hills, a modest area just outside the Starter Zone. After leaving behind the futuristic remnants of the crash site, everything here felt old-fashioned and primitive. NPCs lived in simple, earthen homes with a rustic, pastoral vibe that reminded Ethan of something out of a frontier town. The place was quiet now, but Ethan knew it wouldn''t stay that way for long. The monsters surrounding the village ranged from levels 15 to 20. For newly freed players leaving the Starter Zone, this was the first proper leveling area. Before long, players from across the Northern Frontier Region who had chosen Harmony City as their first main hub would flock here. Ethan could still remember the crowds from his previous life¡ªstreets packed with players forming parties, the constant chatter, and the palpable excitement of exploring new territory. Just walking through the village felt like wading through a bustling marketplace. Chapter 45 Into the Plaguelands Ethan wandered around the quiet village, relying on his memory to navigate. After several minutes, he finally found what he was looking for, a dilapidated shack. The place looked barely functional, with broken windows and a door that seemed to hang by a thread, just sturdy enough to block out the wind and rain. "This should be it," Ethan muttered, stepping inside. In the small courtyard, he spotted a young girl, no older than 11 or 12, sitting on the porch. She rested her chin in her hands, her gaze fixed on the sky. "That''s her," Ethan confirmed to himself. Walking closer, he said, "Hey there, little one. Still waiting for the plane today?" The girl''s eyes lit up as she heard him, her face bright with curiosity. "You know about planes too?" Ethan smiled. Her reaction sparked a bit of confidence in him, this was how the side quest was supposed to begin, though he couldn''t help feeling nervous. After all, in his past life, he hadn''t completed this quest personally. "Of course I do," Ethan replied. "I''ve even flown on one myself!" The girl shot up to her feet, her excitement palpable. "Really? My dad''s a pilot! He promised he''d come back one day in his plane to pick me up. But nobody in the village believes me. They all say planes don''t exist." Ethan pulled out the pilot''s watch from his inventory and held it out to her. "Planes are real," he said gently. "Your dad''s just really busy right now. Thousands of people need to ride his plane every day. But he knows how much you miss him, so he asked me to bring this watch to you." Ethan''s approach was drastically different from the original path taken by the person who had completed this quest in his past life. That player had told the girl the harsh truth, that her father had died. After accepting the watch, the girl had given that player a silver-tier bracer she''d found in the forest. Later, when the game developers released a detailed guide for this quest, it revealed an alternate route: conceal the pilot''s death and leave the girl with hope for the future. Choosing this path would unlock a follow-up quest. The player who had taken the harsher approach had regretted it bitterly after seeing the guide. The girl took the watch eagerly, her eyes brimming with excitement. "It''s really my dad''s! Look, my name is engraved on the back. Thank you so much, big bro. I haven''t heard from my dad in over a year, and I''ve missed him so much. Here, take this as a thank-you! I found it in the forest while playing with my friends." Ding¡­ [System Notification: You''ve received an item: Sorenth''s Token.] Ding¡­ [System Notification: With Sorenth''s Token, travel to the Plaguelands and find Archmage Sorenth to unlock the next quest!] sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Smiling, Ethan bid the girl farewell. The Plaguelands, a level 40 zone. Fortunately, there was a small town there with a teleportation hub he could use. As Ethan made his way to the teleportation point, a private message popped up in his chat. It was from Trusty007. "Got a good business opportunity? Let''s hear it!" "Murky Swamp dungeon strategy," Ethan replied. He hadn''t expected a fast response, but Trusty007 immediately sent a video call request. Accepting the call, Ethan was met with a polite greeting from Trusty007, who then got straight to the point. "Strategies can be tricky to sell. They''re a one-time purchase, and once someone leaks it, it spreads like wildfire," Trusty007 said, his tone matter-of-fact. "I know," Ethan replied, grinning. "That''s why I came to you, to handle the operation." "Oh?" Trusty007''s eyes gleamed with interest. "Looks like you already have a plan. Let''s hear it." "It''s not a complicated idea," Ethan began. "I think my reputation, and the notoriety of Renegade Alliance, should still carry some weight, right?" He paused, letting his words settle. Trusty007 chuckled. "Some weight? That''s an understatement, Sir NotADruid" Ethan smirked. "Good. Here''s the plan: using my name, announce the sale of a guide for the Expert mode of the Murky Swamp dungeon in every Starter Zone you can cover. Include all lower difficulty guides as a bonus. "As for the price, I''m setting it at two gold coins per copy. Start taking payments the moment you release the announcement. After three days, distribute the guide to everyone who''s paid." Trusty007 thought it over, his expression intrigued. "That actually sounds doable." The two struck a deal and signed an in-game authorization contract. This way, Trusty007''s team could present proof that they were officially licensed to sell the guide under Ethan''s name. With the arrangements in place, Ethan let the matter go. It wasn''t his concern how many copies sold or how far it spread, any income would be a welcome bonus at this point. Arriving at the teleportation hub, Ethan paid ten silver coins to travel to a small town in the Plaguelands. The teleportation array lit up with dazzling colors. When the flash subsided, Ethan found himself in a withered forest. Towering trees stretched high into the gray skies, their branches holding a network of rickety treehouses. Years of rain and wind had left the structures barely standing. The town in the Plaguelands was a forsaken, desolate place. Long ago, it had served as a quarantine zone for those suffering from incurable infectious diseases. The treehouses had been their homes, and over time, the sick had become the region''s permanent inhabitants. Now, the place was nearly abandoned. A hunched NPC dressed in tattered burlap, with a longbow slung across his back, glared at Ethan. The figure radiated an unsettling, dangerous aura. Ethan quickly lowered his head and walked away, understanding the unspoken rule here. The locals considered themselves cursed and punished by the gods, eternally suffering from their afflictions. Strangers were unwelcome, and even the wrong glance could provoke a violent response. The NPC who had glared at Ethan might not have looked impressive, but he was a level 40 elite. In fact, none of the NPCs here were below level 40, making the town an extremely dangerous place for Ethan. Armed with memories from his past life, Ethan moved cautiously, knowing how to avoid drawing attention. Various NPCs passed by as Ethan navigated the town, always keeping his head down and his posture humble. He maintained a steady pace, carefully slipping past the eerie inhabitants until he finally made it out of the town. Exhaling in relief, Ethan activated his transformation ability: Deer Form. His body shifted, becoming sleeker and more agile. Without wasting time, he sprinted down the forest path. The trees in the Plaguelands were unhealthy shades of ashen gray, their skeletal branches tightly packed together. The dense canopy blocked nearly all light, save for a few dim beams that slipped through the claw-like gaps in the branches. On the forest floor, these beams formed fragmented, ominous patterns. The oppressive atmosphere was suffocating, with twisted roots and overgrown thickets creating a labyrinth of decay. The monsters here were no joke, with most being level 35 or higher. Ethan remained hyper-focused, his ears tuned to the faintest sound. As he neared the monster respawn zone, Ethan switch to panther from and entered stealth mode, his movements becoming virtually undetectable. Outside the Plaguelands, the world of Ethereal was bright and sunny. But here, the perpetual gloom turned the forest into an eerie twilight. The faint shafts of light only served to deepen the sense of dread, casting shadows that danced like specters on the ground. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional creak of branches in the wind. To Ethan, none of this was overwhelming. He had endured over five thousand years of trials in the dreamscape, this was nothing in comparison. Then, a faint rustling sound reached his ears. He froze, focusing on the noise coming from nearby. Chapter 46 The River of Blood Ethan froze, halting mid-step as the faint rustling reached his ears. He glanced toward the sound, peering through the gaps between the gnarled tree trunks. A massive scorpion, monstrous and menacing, emerged from the shadows, its dark-gray body blending seamlessly with the ashen soil. Its enormous stinger glimmered with a faint blue hue, exuding a lethal aura. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If not for the noise it made, Ethan might never have noticed it. Remaining in his Panther Form, Ethan crouched low. He didn''t dare make a move. The creature was a Deathstalker Scorpion, a fast and deadly predator. Not even his enhanced agility in Panther Form could guarantee an escape. Its venom-coated stinger inflicted a fatal poison, one that would persist until death unless treated with a rare antidote. It was no wonder that even level 40 players avoided farming monsters in this area. These scorpions sensed prey through vibrations in the ground. One wrong step, and they''d deliver a swift and fatal strike. Ethan''s gaze lingered on the forest floor, knowing countless other Deathstalkers could be lying in wait beneath the dirt. When the scorpion finally burrowed into the soil and disappeared, Ethan exhaled quietly and slipped away, careful not to disturb the earth beneath his feet. As he ventured deeper into the forest, the beaten path disappeared entirely. The dense undergrowth grew thicker, forcing him to slow his pace. "Almost there," Ethan muttered, checking the coordinates. The closer he got to his destination, the more vigilant he became. After pushing through a cluster of thorny brambles, he emerged into a small clearing. At its center stood an ancient altar, and beside it, a lean figure busied himself with some mysterious tasks. Ethan deactivated his stealth and approached cautiously. The name above the NPC''s head glowed faintly in his vision: Archmage Sorenth. As Ethan drew closer, Sorenth fixed him with a sharp, hostile glare. Ethan quickly retrieved the token from his inventory, holding it out as an offering. The archmage''s expression shifted from hostility to curiosity. "The scent of a healthy mortal... You come from beyond the Plaguelands. Tell me, how did you come by my token?" Ethan let out a breath of relief, grateful that Sorenth hadn''t attacked him on sight. This NPC was a level 55 elite, one blow from him would have been instant death. Still, Ethan couldn''t tell the truth. Admitting he''d received the token from a little girl wouldn''t sit well in this situation. Drawing on his past-life knowledge of the questline, Ethan said, "Honored Archmage Sorenth, this was passed down to me by my ancestors." "Oh? A descendant of the people from Cogden Village, are you?" Sorenth''s voice was cold and emotionless. "You''ve journeyed far, bearing my token. Do you wish to enter the Necrotic Domain and undertake its trial?" Ding¡­ [System Notification: Do you accept the trial of the Necrotic Domain?] "Uh¡­ yes!" Ethan replied, answering both the system prompt and Sorenth''s question. He hesitated briefly. This didn''t align with the quest guide he remembered from his past life. Back then, the quest simply required returning the token to Sorenth to receive a reward: a golden-tier item called the Boots of the Dead, which came with a speed-boosting skill. Most side quests were straightforward, find an item, return it, and get your reward. It was rare for them to involve combat or trials. Those that did, however, always offered exceptional rewards. "Have I triggered an alternate questline?" Ethan wondered, his mind racing. Sorenth handed the token back to Ethan. Its weathered, rust-covered surface was now pristine, transformed into a silver medallion. [Sorenth''s Emblem] Effect: Protects the wearer from the corrupting miasma of the Necrotic Domain. Slot: Chest Description: A unique item that doesn''t occupy equipment slots. Seeing Ethan equip the emblem, Sorenth raised his staff and waved it toward the altar. Chanting in an ancient, indecipherable language, he conjured a swirling rift of violet and black energy. The portal stabilized at the altar''s center, crackling ominously. "Enter," Sorenth commanded. Ethan glanced at the swirling portal, then back at Sorenth. "When I return, will I come back here?" Sorenth grinned at Ethan''s question, revealing a mouthful of jagged, razor-sharp teeth. "I can only open the entrance. As for how you return? That''s entirely up to you." "What?" Ethan froze in shock. This wasn''t part of the plan. Before he could decide whether to step through the portal, a powerful force yanked him forward. Sorenth''s bony hand gripped Ethan''s shoulder and hurled him into the rift without hesitation. "The ritual has begun. Without a sacrifice, the backlash will destroy me. My master, take solace in the emblem and absorb the essence of death¡­" Sorenth muttered to himself. Ethan, of course, heard none of this. He was swallowed whole by the darkness, a vast void stretching endlessly in all directions. Time and space ceased to exist. Floating aimlessly, Ethan felt as though he''d been trapped inside the maw of some incomprehensible creature. The weightlessness was disorienting. He flailed his limbs, attempting to propel himself in any direction, but no matter how hard he tried, he remained suspended in the same spot. "So, this is the Necrotic Domain?" Ethan wondered, his voice lost in the silence. "Is this going to be like the Dreamscape Trial all over again?" As he struggled to orient himself, a faint glow appeared ahead. A portal began to materialize, its edges forming a narrow crack that allowed a single beam of light to pierce the darkness. In this void, the light was blindingly bright. Before Ethan could react, an invisible force pulled him forward, dragging him through the portal and into the unknown. On the other side, he found himself standing on a massive floating bridge. What stunned him even more was the sight of countless NPCs wandering aimlessly across the bridge. Their movements were slow, their expressions vacant, and their eyes hollow. Before Ethan could fully process the scene, something bumped into him from behind. He turned to see another NPC, shuffling forward from the still-active portal. The NPC that had collided with him stopped abruptly, staring at him with lifeless, unfocused eyes. The eerie gaze sent a shiver down Ethan''s spine. Without thinking, he sidestepped, allowing the NPC to continue its journey. Freed of the obstruction, the NPC resumed walking, joining the throng of others heading toward the bridge. The procession was surreal. Humans, beasts, and monstrous hybrids of the two marched in a steady line. Their vacant expressions and mechanical movements made them resemble mindless automatons. Ethan hesitated, but curiosity got the better of him. He followed the crowd, keeping a cautious distance. As he reached the edge of the bridge, he glanced downward. Beneath the bridge lay a vast abyss, and within it flowed a river of red liquid. The stench of iron and decay hit him like a wave. "Is¡­ that blood?" Ethan whispered, recoiling a step. The abyss seemed endless, and the river below churned with crimson fluid, its surface thick and sluggish. A river of blood, stretching into the depths of the unknown. Looking ahead, Ethan''s gaze fell on a sign at the bridge''s entrance, etched with three ominous words in deep red: Blood Abyss Bridge. On the far side of the bridge stood a towering figure, clad in strange, tattered robes. He wielded a long, pitch-black chain, the end of which held a massive anchor. Even from a distance, Ethan could feel the sharp, menacing aura radiating from the weapon. The figure swung the chain with terrifying precision, cutting down the NPCs that reached him. But the mindless NPCs showed no fear. Even as those ahead fell, the others continued to march forward, indifferent to their fate. Chapter 47 Red-haired Woman Ethan crouched behind a massive boulder at the edge of Blood Abyss Bridge, his sharp eyes scanning the chaos beyond. The towering figure on the other side continued his rampage, tearing through the NPCs without mercy. Yet, even with its relentless slaughter, a few managed to slip by, crossing the bridge and disappearing into the misty expanse ahead. After a while, Ethan sighed. Staying hidden wasn''t going to solve anything. Just as he debated whether to make a run for it, the sound of creaking echoed behind him. A faint movement drew his attention to the massive iron gates far behind. A red-haired woman stepped through the gap, her fiery hair catching the dim light like a flicker of flame. Ethan''s heart skipped. She was tall, easily a head taller than him, and her slitted pupils, reminiscent of a lizard''s, glowed faintly in the shadows. Unlike the others, she didn''t seem mindless. No, this one was sharp, focused. The moment the woman appeared, a wave of heat rolled over the area, making Ethan instinctively tense. Her eyes scanned the surroundings briefly before locking onto the bridge. Without hesitation, she began walking forward, her expression calm but deliberate. When her gaze landed on the rampaging brute, her slitted pupils flashed red. A faint beam of light shot from her eyes, crossing the bridge and landing squarely on the figure. Ethan froze. "That''s¡­ some kind of scanning ability, isn''t it?" The brute, oblivious to the beam, continued his carnage as if nothing had happened. But the red-haired woman''s expression shifted, a flicker of unease crossing her face. She hesitated for a moment before slipping into the crowd of NPCs, blending in seamlessly. As she reached the bridge''s edge, her eyes swept the area, and landed directly on Ethan. Ethan''s breath hitched. How? He was in stealth, carefully hidden behind the stone boulder, with only his head peeking out. For a second, the woman seemed puzzled. Then, she turned to face him directly. Panic shot through Ethan. ''Did she see me?'' He immediately cast Appraisal on her, hoping to get some information. --- Name: ??? Level: ??? Attack: ??? Defense: ??? --- Nothing. Not even her name. Ethan frowned. Normally, even if an appraisal failed, the target''s name would still appear. But this¡­ this was completely blank. The woman''s brow furrowed slightly, as if sensing something. She muttered a series of guttural sounds, her eyes flashing red again. This time, a beam of light shot toward Ethan. In an instant, his stealth shattered. He was completely exposed. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She pointed directly at him, barking something unintelligible in her strange language. "Uh¡­ you speak English?" Ethan asked hesitantly. The red-haired woman tilted her head, clearly not understanding. In the next instant, she closed the distance between them with alarming speed, her hand darting toward him. Ethan barely managed to sidestep. Her hand grasped at empty air, but she didn''t stop. She kept lunging for him, relentless. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" Ethan shouted, dodging again. He retaliated with Rake, following it up with Shred. Both skills connected, but there was no reaction. No health bar drop. No bleed effect. Nothing. She didn''t even flinch. Ethan''s attacks, with over 500 damage output, hadn''t scratched her. Not even the system''s forced damage reduction worked. "What kind of monster are you?" he muttered, narrowly avoiding another grab. Every time she reached for him, it was always the same target, his tail. "That''s it! You''re insane!" Ethan growled, transforming into his human form mid-dodge. "Stop trying to grab my tail, you¡­" The woman abruptly halted her pursuit. Her lizard-like eyes flicked to something behind him, her expression shifting slightly. She barked another string of incomprehensible sounds, pointing toward Ethan with growing frustration. From her gestures, Ethan guessed she was demanding something. Does she think I''m hiding something? When Ethan didn''t respond, her face twisted into a scowl. Flames erupted in her hand, blazing violently as she hurled a fireball at him without warning. The instant the fire ignited, Ethan''s instincts screamed at him. Danger. The kind of danger that, in his previous life, had always been followed by death. Without hesitation, he transformed into Bear Form, charging toward the far end of the bridge where a cluster of NPCs huddled. BOOM! The fireball exploded where Ethan had stood just moments ago, leaving behind a charred, smoldering patch of stone. Despite the solid construction of the bridge, the impact was enough to make it tremble slightly. Ethan glanced back mid-charge, his heart pounding. If that had hit him directly, he wouldn''t have survived. Not even a chance. "What the hell is she?" he muttered under his breath, pushing himself to run faster. Ethan''s charge ended with a sharp stop, his massive bear form slamming into an NPC, pinning it in place. The path he''d carved was littered with chaos, NPCs scattered like bowling pins, some unfortunate enough to be knocked clean off the bridge. They plunged into the River of Blood below, where the surging crimson torrent swallowed them instantly. The red-haired woman narrowed her glowing eyes as her fireball missed its mark. Without hesitation, she conjured flames in both hands, hurling them toward the bridge in twin arcs. "Shit!" Ethan cursed. "This is a wooden bridge! One hit and this whole thing will go up in flames!" Without wasting a second, he transformed into Panther Form, leaping into the air. His paws landed on the shoulders of crowded NPCs as he darted across their heads, weaving through the chaotic mass. BOOM! BOOM! The fireballs detonated behind him, engulfing dozens of NPCs in an instant. Ethan braced himself for the sight of flames consuming the bridge, but to his surprise, the wooden planks remained intact, not even a scorch mark. His eyes widened. "What the¡­? This wood''s incredible!" If he could rip a few of these planks off and give them to that master blacksmith, he could forge some fire-immune gear! The thought lingered briefly before reality smacked him back into focus. The red-haired woman had spotted him again. This time, her form shifted into that of a black panther, looking sleek and dangerous, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she sprinted toward him. Surprised, ethan leapt ahead, landing nimbly atop a cluster of NPCs. He glanced back to see her attempt to jump, only to be pressed back down as though an invisible force restrained her. She hissed in frustration, her claws tearing at the air. So, there''s an anti-airfield here, Ethan thought. He had noticed the faint barrier earlier, it was close enough to his back that he could practically feel its edge. The woman, unable to leap after him, pushed through the throng of NPCs instead. Perched on an NPC''s shoulder, Ethan muttered under his breath, "Just what does she want, why does she keep chasing me?" The commotion drew the attention of the tall brute on the far side of the bridge. The creature turned, his blank, bloodthirsty gaze locking onto the chaos. Slowly, the brute began moving across the bridge toward them, slaughtering NPCs in his path with wide sweeps of his massive chain spear. Ethan''s chest tightened as the brute''s gaze flickered between him and the red-haired woman. The brute''s expression shifted, it was the look of a predator who''d just found new prey. Ethan gritted his teeth, weighing his odds. Trapped between two lethal enemies, he forced himself to remain calm. He took a deep breath and made his decision. He ran. Turning on his heel, he bolted toward the brute, using the crowd of NPCs as cover. Behind him, the woman pursued relentlessly, while ahead, the brute''s chain spear twirled menacingly. The distance between them shrank with every second. When the brute was just ten meters away, he swung his weapon. The chain, impossibly short just moments before, extended in an instant, snaking through the air like a living thing. Ethan''s heart stopped as the massive hook at the end of the chain shot toward him. Every instinct screamed at him to move. His fur stood on end, and his body stiffened in terror. At the last moment, Ethan dove headfirst into the crowd of NPCs, disappearing among them. The chain hook, now hurtling toward the red-haired woman, changed course. Ethan''s careful positioning had perfectly aligned his two enemies. The woman''s focus had been locked on Ethan, her claws outstretched to grab his tail. When he suddenly vanished into the crowd, her expression froze in surprise. It was too late. The brute''s chain weapon closed the distance in a heartbeat. The woman reacted quickly, crossing her arms as a fiery red shield materialized in front of her. BANG! BOOM! The hook smashed into the shield with a deafening impact. The shield cracked, then shattered in a fiery explosion. The resulting shockwave blasted everything in a ten-meter radius into oblivion. NPCs close to the blast were reduced to ash, while those farther away were thrown into the air. Some landed back on the bridge, battered but alive; others weren''t so lucky, plunging into the River of Blood below. The red-haired woman stood her ground despite the devastating impact. Though her shield was destroyed, she didn''t move an inch, her feet planted firmly on the bridge. The brute reeled in his chain weapon, the weapon glinting faintly as glowing runes danced along its length. Ethan, hiding among the NPCs, stole a glance at the two figures. "What the hell have I gotten myself into¡­" Chapter 48 The Underworld Ethan didn''t bother paying attention to the battle between the two figures¡ªit wasn''t something he could interfere with. Keeping low, he crawled forward under the cover of the chaos, inching closer to the bridge on the other side. A quick glance at his skill cooldowns showed Charge would be ready in three seconds. As the timer hit zero, he shifted. Bear Form. He charged again, targeting the farthest NPC within range. Swoosh. The massive form of his bear avatar became a blur as it bolted across the bridge, landing on the opposite side. But just as his paws hit the ground¡ª BOOM! A fiery explosion blasted Ethan off his feet, the force sending his hulking form flying through the air. -3,549! A massive damage number floated above his head. Ethan''s health had plummeted, leaving him with just 201 HP. His heart raced as he realized how close he had come to death. If it hadn''t been for the additional health and defense Bear Form provided, boosting his health to 3,750, he would''ve been one-shot. The bridge was now eerily empty, all the wandering NPCs obliterated into fine powder. A gray mist lingered in the air, casting a ghostly haze over the area. The bridge itself, however, remained intact, swaying violently for a moment before settling into stillness. At the center of the bridge stood the fiery red-haired woman, her left arm now completely gone. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In contrast, the hulking man, remained unscathed. The only sign of damage was the dimming glow of the chains and massive hook he wielded. Ethan noticed something strange. As the NPCs disintegrated, the gray mist that remained was flowing toward the man''s weapon, as if being absorbed. Unbeknownst to Ethan, the emblem on his chest was also drawing in the mist, though the effect was subtle, nearly imperceptible. The red-haired woman was in bad shape. After taking that hit, she turned and bolted, heading straight for the massive doors they had entered through. But just as she reached the threshold, the monstrous man''s chains extended once more, surging forward like a serpent. With a sickening thud, the hook pierced through her body just as she was about to escape. Her scream was bloodcurdling, and in an instant, her body withered away, collapsing into a gray vapor that the hook devoured greedily. The man retracted his chain, turning his gaze toward Ethan. "Oh, hell no," Ethan muttered, turning on his heel. He broke into a full sprint, knowing full well he didn''t stand a chance against something that had crushed the red-haired woman so easily. He made it across the bridge, where the wandering NPCs were noticeably fewer. Shifting into Stag Form, he galloped away as fast as his legs could carry him. As he ran, thoughts raced through his mind. What kind of trial was this? There were no quest prompts, no objectives to follow. Aside from those two absurdly strong figures, all he''d encountered were Level 1 NPCs. Earlier, he had done some tests by taking out a couple of NPCs, but there were no quest updates or rewards. Using his Appraisal skill, he learned they were all Level 1, though their health varied. Those with higher HP left behind thicker clouds of gray mist when killed. The lack of clarity left Ethan frustrated, but he had no choice but to press on. As he pushed forward, weaving past the NPCs, he found himself at the edge of a pitch-black lake. The water was thick and inky, like liquid tar, hiding whatever lay beneath its surface. Ethan studied the scene. A series of floating logs stretched across the lake, forming a precarious path to the other side. But he hesitated. The NPCs attempting to cross were frequently attacked by silver-scaled fish that leapt from the water. Walking closer to the shore, Ethan crouched and inspected the lake. The moment one of the fish dragged an NPC into the water, the dark liquid didn''t simply swallow them whole. It corroded them. Dissolved them. The NPCs opened their mouths in silent screams, their agony palpable, though no sound escaped. A shiver ran down Ethan''s spine as he backed away from the water''s edge. After observing the silver fish for a while, he realized their attacks weren''t particularly strong. Even the defenseless Level 1 NPCs weren''t killed outright. The fish''s true goal was clear, they aimed to knock their prey into the lake. The real danger wasn''t the silver-scaled fish leaping from the water, it was the tiny black ones beneath the surface. When NPCs fell in, they were instantly swarmed. At first, Ethan assumed the lake water itself was corrosive. But after closer observation, he realized it was these black fish, each no bigger than a fingernail, that devoured the NPCs. The black water and the black fish blended together, making them nearly impossible to notice at first glance. But once Ethan spotted them, the sheer density of the swarm sent a shudder down his spine. Anyone with a fear of clusters would have passed out on the spot. Unlike the aimless NPCs, Ethan wasn''t about to let himself get knocked into the water by the silver-scaled fish. Deciding to take the initiative, he shifted into Panther Form and leapt onto the first floating log. His movements were agile, a series of quick leaps and dodges as he navigated the unstable path. Several times, the silver fish lunged at him, but he managed to evade every attack. Midway across, curiosity got the better of him. He slashed at one of the fish, sinking his claws into its body. -1,632! No critical hit. The fish lost about one percent of its health. That meant it had nearly 160,000 HP. The lack of defense surprised him, but before he could finish the creature off, it disappeared back into the water, leaving him no chance to land another hit. Ethan sighed in frustration, wondering how much experience he would have gained from killing one of them. With that much health, its level was bound to be high. The thought of taking one down was tantalizing. As he lingered on the log, several NPCs arrived behind him. They wandered aimlessly, bumping into one another and making the log wobble dangerously. Cursing under his breath, Ethan jumped to the next log. The NPCs he left behind weren''t as lucky. Splash. Splash. Splash. One by one, they tumbled into the water. Ethan glanced back and gave a sheepish shrug before turning away. But the silver-scaled fish weren''t done with him. A cluster of them darted toward him, their attacks growing more relentless. Oddly enough, the NPCs behind him weren''t targeted anymore. "These little bastards hold grudges? What are you, bees?" Ethan muttered under his breath, dodging another strike. Not daring to slow down, he quickened his pace, his panther form darting from log to log with precision. Finally, he reached the stone platform on the other side of the lake. Carved into the stone was an ominous message: "Path of Souls." Ethan frowned, muttering the words aloud. Despite the eerie symbols not resembling any language he knew, he somehow understood them. Necrotic Domain, Blood Abyss Bridge, Path of Souls. "Is this¡­ the Underworld?" Ethan wondered. The world of Ethereal seemed to have thought of everything. Looking back at the wandering NPCs, a thought struck him. Were these the souls of the dead, their spirits drawn to the Underworld? And if he kept moving forward¡­ would he reach some version of the Gates of the hell? And beyond that¡­ His imagination ran wild. At this point, Ethan hardly cared about the trial itself. The curiosity gnawed at him, pulling him forward. Oddly enough, he realized that, apart from the mindless NPCs, this Underworld wasn''t as dangerous as it seemed. The terrifying demons, ghostly guards, and nightmarish creatures from mythology were nowhere to be seen. Then he thought back to the hulking figure from the Blood Abyss Bridge, the one with the massive hook and chains. He resembled the grim reaper spoken of in legends, the ones tasked with dragging souls into the afterlife. Chapter 49 Ethereal Bloom Curiosity burning, Ethan continued down the lone path, the terrain growing stranger with each step. While he was wandering, marveling at the sights, he remained blissfully unaware that, somewhere deep within the world of Ethereal, chaos was brewing. The ragged old man, the NPC he had encountered when he started the game, was searching for him with frantic desperation. "Where did that kid go? Where the hell did he run off to?" A glowing interface hovered in front of the old man, its projection shifting rapidly as his hands manipulated it. Ethereal''s map flickered like a slideshow, zooming in and out across different regions. Finally, with an exasperated gesture, the old man brought up an image, Ethan lying unconscious inside his VR capsule. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "He''s in deep sleep, fully immersed in the game. But why can''t I sense his soul energy anymore?" The old man, usually laid-back and carefree, now wore a grave expression. Gripping the flask strapped to his waist, he muttered, "Damn it. I take one little nap, and I lose track of him." He scowled. "It took me thousands of years to find a soul as uniquely flawed as his, and now he''s gone?" With another flick of his hand, the interface paused on a region Ethan had passed through earlier: the Plaguelands. Zooming in further, the old man focused on a altar within the Plaguewood Forest. The area was eerily calm, long abandoned by its once formidable guardian, Archmage Sorenth. The old man vanished in a flash and reappeared at the altar. "This is his energy¡­ and traces of the Underworld too." His eyes narrowed. "Could it be¡­" --- Meanwhile, Ethan entered a narrow valley, the ground beneath his feet glowing with a deep crimson hue. As he moved forward, he realized why, the valley was filled with an endless sea of blood-red flowers, their petals spreading in intricate, radiant patterns. Fascinated, Ethan reached out to touch one of the blossoms. Ding! [You''ve discovered a rare herb: Ethereal Bloom. Would you like to use Harvesting?] "Yes!" Ethan said without hesitation. Ding! [Harvest successful. You''ve obtained Ethereal Bloom.] Ding! [You''ve gained 50 experience points!] The notification startled Ethan. Opening his inventory, he inspected the flower: Ethereal Bloom: Rarity: Rare Properties: Adds additional effects when used in alchemy. Effects are unspecified. Can also be consumed to increase soul energy. Description: The Ethereal Bloom is a flower that blooms at the end of all seasons, thriving where life meets oblivion. It takes a thousand years to bloom and another thousand to wither, never meeting its own leaves. Ethan was overjoyed, not because of the flowers properties, which he barely understood, but because harvesting it gave experience points. Normally, gathering herbs outside the game''s wild zones didn''t offer any XP rewards. "I''m so glad I leveled up my Herbology skill while working on that land acquisition quest. Otherwise, I wouldn''t be able to harvest this!" Thanks to his diligence, his harvesting skill had reached a level where rare herbs like this could be collected. If he hadn''t leveled it, all this experience would''ve gone to waste. Looking across the endless sea of Ethereal Blooms, Ethan felt like he''d struck gold. "Man, it''s great being a Druid. Other classes take 2.5 seconds to harvest a flower. I can do it in one." One flower. Another flower. And another. +50 XP¡­ +50 XP¡­ +50 XP¡­ Ethan dove into the field, relentlessly harvesting blooms, the experience rolling in far faster than fighting monsters ever could. As his XP bar climbed steadily, his inventory began filling up with flowers. Ding! [Your inventory is full. Unable to harvest more items!] Annoyed, Ethan opened his bag to see the problem. Each of his four 12-slot bags was crammed with random junk from monster drops, but the majority of the space was taken up by Ethereal Blooms. Packed into stacks of 20, the flowers filled every slot. Checking his XP bar, he grinned. Level 15: 83,742/156,800 XP. In just a short time, he''d gained over 80,000 XP. Ethan had never found leveling up so easy. Gazing at the endless field of Ethereal Blooms ahead, his excitement was beyond words. He began to wonder, could he just keep going until he hit Level 100? Maybe Level 200? Or even higher? This time, he took a closer look at the bloom''s properties and noticed something interesting, it could be consumed directly, boosting soul energy. He wasn''t entirely sure what "soul energy" did, but he remembered it being a reward in the Dream Trial. Even now, its purpose remained a mystery. "Well, it can''t hurt," Ethan muttered, pulling one of the blooms from his inventory. He popped it into his mouth, chewing absentmindedly. To his surprise, it dissolved instantly, leaving no flavor behind. Without hesitation, he began a rhythm of harvesting and eating, figuring it was better to consume them than leave them unused. Ding! [Congratulations! You''ve reached Level 16.] Ethan did some quick math. He had eaten at least 1,500 blooms by now and was relieved to find that he didn''t feel even slightly full. With his worries put to rest, he returned to his harvesting and snacking routine. Ding! [Congratulations! You''ve reached Level 17.] Ding! [Congratulations! You''ve reached Level 18.] ¡­ Ding! [Congratulations! You''ve reached Level 21.] He had no idea how much time had passed. The constant system notifications had dulled his excitement into monotony. "What the hell are you doing?" The voice caught him off guard. "Harvesting flowers," Ethan replied instinctively, not bothering to look up. A moment later, he froze. Slowly standing, he scanned the area, but there was no one in sight. Was he hallucinating? "You fool, you''ve been harvesting flowers in the Underworld! Don''t you value your life?" Just as Ethan bent down to continue, the voice came again, sharp and furious. His eyes widened. That voice¡­ "Old man? What, are you here to cause trouble again?" Ethan snapped, annoyance bubbling to the surface. "First, you force me into this class, then you mess with my stat allocation, and now you''re interrupting my leveling? Seriously, find someone else to bother!" In the swirling chaos of Ethereal, the old man stared blankly, momentarily stunned by Ethan''s outburst. He took a deep breath to steady his patience. It had been eons since anyone dared speak to him like this. Still, he knew Ethan''s personality too well, this kid thrived on defiance. Push too hard, and he''d dig in like a stubborn mule. "Well, uh, listen, I intervened those last two times to keep you from screwing up your progression. But¡­" "But what?" Ethan interrupted, glaring at the empty air. "Spit it out. I''ve got flowers to pick and levels to grind." The old man sighed audibly, deciding to get straight to the point. "Do you even know how long you''ve been in the Underworld?" Pausing, Ethan shoved another Ethereal Bloom into his mouth. He glanced at the in-game clock and mumbled, "The timer hasn''t moved. How should I know?" "You''ve been here for three days," the old man said, keeping his tone calm. "Did you know that?" "Three days? So what?" Ethan muttered, waving him off. The old man''s voice grew sharper. "You have four days left. If you don''t leave by then, your body in the real world will be sent to the mortuary." Ethan froze mid-chew. "What the hell? You''re joking, right?" he asked, his voice unsteady as a sinking feeling crept over him. Chapter 50 Gates Of The Underworld Hearing the old man''s words, Ethan glanced at his level: 21. Experience: 3,661,650/3,808,000. From memory, he calculated that leveling from 15 to 21 required roughly 5.2 million experience points. Adding in the 3.6 million already in his experience pool, he realized he''d accumulated close to 9 million experience points in total. With his Gathering skill casting at one-second intervals, he earned 3,000 experience points per minute, or 180,000 per hour. That meant he''d been here for at least 50 hours. Of course, gathering wasn''t a constant process; there were interruptions. The old man had said he''d been here for three days. That was probably accurate. Which meant he hadn''t logged out in three days. "So¡­ you''re saying my body in the real world is¡­" Ethan hesitated, asking the question he dreaded. "Yes," the old man confirmed. "On Earth?" Ethan pressed. "Yes." "Uh¡­ so what now? How do I get out?" Ethan could already imagine Lyla panicking if he''d been stuck in the game for three whole days. "Getting worried now, are we?" the old man sneered. "Y-yeah¡­ Sir, please, just pull me out already!" Ethan pleaded, nodding vigorously. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hmph. Too late for that," the old man huffed. "The Underworld operates under its own rules. I can''t break them. I''m just here to let you know, you''ve got four days left. After that, even if you log out, your body will be beyond saving. Not even I can bring you back then." The old man''s tone softened for a moment, as if giving a final warning. "And remember, kid, my name is Morzan. Don''t forget it!" "Uh¡­ okay. But what am I supposed to do?" Ethan didn''t dare provoke the old man further. "Retrace your steps. Leave the Underworld through the main gate, and make your way to the Plaguelands. From there, I can pull you out¡­" Morzan''s voice began to break up, cutting in and out. "Don''t¡­ go¡­ forward¡­ to the Throne Hall¡­ just¡­" His voice faded entirely. Ethan caught the gist: retrace his steps. But that meant going past that creepy figure wielding that chain weapon. Not exactly an easy task. As if on cue, Morzan''s voice flickered back to life for one last message. "Oh, one more thing! Don''t forget¡­ that emblem on your chest¡­ throw it away before you leave¡­" Ethan frowned. "And what if the death aura here corrupts me?" "Such lies! Forget¡­ Just¡­ Never¡­" Morzan''s voice trailed off completely this time. Four days, huh? Ethan thought to himself, glancing at the endless field of glowing flowers he''d been harvesting. He''d barely scratched the surface of this place. Gritting his teeth, he bent down to gather more. If Morzan had seen this, he would''ve flown into a rage, cursing Ethan for his priorities. Another system notification chimed as Ethan reached Level 22. His bag was now stuffed full of Ethereal Blooms. Finally, he stood up, gazing back at the way he''d come. Then he turned toward the distant end of the canyon. At its farthest edge, a massive curtain of water stretched from sky to ground. He''d been gathering here for so long, he''d always wondered what lay beyond that waterfall. Ethan''s eyes flickered with indecision. Heading back without exploring further seemed like a waste. The canyon was surrounded by towering cliffs that vanished into the sky. The only notable feature was that mysterious waterfall, which seemed to hang impossibly in mid-air. I''ve got four days. Might as well take a look. It''s only half a day''s journey back anyway. Shifting into Stag Form, Ethan dashed through the field of flowers, racing toward the waterfall at full speed. As he approached, the massive water curtain grew even more imposing. Up close, its sheer size was breathtaking. The moment he reached its base, the water unexpectedly parted, creating a narrow gap just wide enough for him to pass through. Ethan peered beyond the gap and saw a vertical staircase of clouds leading downward. Should I go? What if I can''t come back? Ethan hesitated, stepping back. As he retreated, the gap in the waterfall closed. Curious, he stepped forward again, and the gap reopened, like an automatic door. After some deliberation, he remembered Morzan''s fragmented warning. "Don''t go forward¡­ Throne Hall¡­" Could this be an alternate exit? If Morzan had known Ethan was interpreting his words this way, he''d have berated himself for even planting the idea. Morzan had been trying to warn Ethan. His actual words had been: "Don''t go forward! If you enter the Throne Hall, you''ll be thrown into the Cycle of reincarnation. You might even come out as an animal in your next life." Ethan ignored his doubts and began descending the cloud staircase. When he reached the bottom, he was shocked to see that the waterfall here flowed upward, defying all logic in a surreal loop. By all reasoning, he should''ve been underground by now. Yet the area was brightly lit, with no discernible source of light. The entire world emitted a faint golden glow, as if the light existed naturally within the space. Looking up, Ethan saw not soil or rock but a sky, a hazy yellow expanse, reminiscent of a sandstorm. At the end of the path stood a massive fortress gate. The towering structure reached into the sky, its walls seemingly endless. Inscribed on the gate were five massive words. They weren''t written in English, yet Ethan understood them clearly: "The Gates of the Underworld." The fortress was colossal, connecting the sky and the earth. Its walls extended beyond the horizon, cutting across the entire world. As Ethan approached, he noticed the gate itself was slightly ajar. Unlike most gates, which opened outward, this one opened inward. The iron doors, dark as midnight, were held together with massive rivets, each larger than Ethan could fathom. Standing before the gate, Ethan realized how insignificant he was, like an ant before a mountain. Beyond the doors lay pitch-black darkness, dividing the glowing world from a void of mystery. There were no demons or wandering spirits, just the eerie contrast between the two realms. In the distance, Ethan noticed two figures entering the darkness, but they were too far away to make out. ''One step through the Gates of the Underworld, and the living don''t return,'' Ethan recalled a saying from folklore. "Damn it, Morzan. You better not be messing with me," he thought nervously. Morzan, in some corner of Ethereal: "Ah, this boy! Didn''t you even listen properly? You''ll get yourself killed with that reckless attitude!" Ethan took a step forward¡ª "Ahhh!" Suddenly, he was falling. When he finally hit the ground, he stood up and looked around in confusion. "Wait¡­ is this¡­ the Gates of the Underworld?" Ethan mumbled. Hadn''t he just gone inside? Rubbing his head, Ethan noticed something in his hand: a jet-black pendant, smooth and unadorned, resembling a piece of polished obsidian. Where did this come from? he wondered. I just walked through the gate. How did I end up back outside? No matter how hard he tried, Ethan couldn''t recall what had happened beyond the gate. It was as if a piece of his memory had been erased. But he did remember one thing vividly: a gentle voice telling him, You don''t have enough time. You need to leave. The warmth in that voice was unlike anything Ethan had ever experienced before. "What¡­ what was that?" he murmured, utterly baffled. Yet, despite his confusion, the voice was crystal clear in his mind. Shaking off the lingering thoughts, Ethan stepped forward again. He was determined to reenter the Gates of the Underworld and recover his missing memories. Chapter 51 The Path to Strength Meanwhile, within the towering fortress inside the Gates of the Underworld... At the topmost platform, overlooking the grand gates, stood a figure clad entirely in ornate black armor. The figure''s body was completely hidden beneath the metal, save for two sharp eyes peeking through the helmet''s visor. "What a foolish child," a voice that sounded neither male nor female murmured. Just as Ethan''s foot was about to graze the barrier, the armored figure raised a hand with a casual flick. Boom! Ethan''s body jolted violently before being launched into the air. He soared backward, the world around him a blur. The misty staircase, the fields of Ethereal Blooms, the black lake, the Blood Abyss, all of it zipped past him as he hurtled uncontrollably. He shot through the shimmering gap in the waterfall, the very one he had entered through. Then, all went dark. --- Ember City General Hospital, ICU Ethan lay motionless in the intensive care unit, his body unnaturally still, connected to an array of machines. Outside the glass window, Lyla stood vigil, exhaustion etched into her pale face. For three days and nights, she hadn''t slept. She simply remained there, staring at Ethan''s lifeless body through the windowpane. "Miss Silverwood," a young nurse approached her, holding a clipboard. "The head physician wanted me to inform you¡­ Mr. Carter''s body functions have almost completely shut down. There''s minimal brain activity, and his heartbeat is barely detectable. At most¡­ he has one day left." The nurse hesitated before handing Lyla the clipboard. "We need your signature here." Lyla''s trembling fingers took the clipboard. Her eyes blurred with tears as she read the bold header: Critical Condition Notification. Her chest tightened. She''d cried so much over the past few days that she thought she had no tears left. But seeing those words, fresh streams began flowing down her cheeks. She stared at the signature line, pen hovering over the paper. Her hand shook so violently that the pen pierced through the page. She couldn''t bring herself to sign. A single teardrop fell, landing on the paper with a soft plop. Taking a deep, shaky breath, she steadied her hand. Just as the pen began tracing the first stroke of her name, a loud, droning noise pierced the air. "Beeeeep¡ª" The machines in the ICU began blaring alarms, their red lights flashing urgently. "Call the doctors! Hurry!" Lyla shouted, shoving the clipboard into the nurse''s hands before rushing to the window, her face pressed against the glass. Inside, chaos erupted. Every monitor in the room flashed red, the heart rate monitor displaying a flat green line. The doctors arrived quickly. Too quickly, it seemed, as they exited just as fast. Lyla turned to the lead physician, her tear-streaked face brimming with desperate hope. But the man shook his head solemnly. Inside, the medical staff began shutting down the equipment. The flatlined monitors were turned off, one by one. Ethan''s body was covered with a white sheet, signaling the end. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You can go in and say your goodbyes," the lead doctor said softly before turning to leave. But as he did, a series of shrill screams erupted from inside the ICU. "Ah¡ª! Ahhh¡ª!" Everyone froze. Lyla clamped a hand over her mouth, her wide eyes glued to the scene before her. Then, without hesitation, she burst through the door, rushing inside. "What¡­ how is this possible?" the doctor stammered, rushing back in behind her. Ethan sat upright, dazed, his upper body exposed as the white sheet fell away. His eyes, once lifeless, now gleamed with renewed clarity. As Lyla threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably, his gaze softened. Slowly, he reached up and stroked her hair. "Don''t cry," he murmured. "See? I''m fine now." "You scared me! You scared me to death!" Lyla cried, burying her face into his chest before fainting from sheer exhaustion. Ethan blinked, startled. Before he could react, the lead doctor stepped forward and quickly checked on her condition. "She''s fine, just passed out. Poor girl hasn''t slept or eaten for days," the doctor said, shaking his head. "Get her on a bed, hook up a nutrient IV, and let her rest properly." The nurses hurried to follow his instructions, gently taking Lyla from Ethan''s arms. "Mr. Carter," the doctor said, turning back to him with a look that made Ethan shudder. His gaze was unsettling, like a starving man eyeing a steak. "Uh¡­ is something wrong?" Ethan asked warily, feeling an inexplicable urge to cover his chest. "We need to run some tests," the doctor replied, his tone far too eager. --- Three days later, Ethan was finally "released" from the hospital. Yes, released. In those three days, the doctors had poked, prodded, scanned, and examined him to within an inch of his life. They seemed ready to cut him open and study him under a microscope. In the end, the results were baffling: not only was Ethan perfectly healthy, but his physical condition was comparable to that of a world-class athlete in their prime. He walked out of the hospital with a clean bill of health, but not without a newfound appreciation for the word freedom. Lyla was still weak from the ordeal of the past few days. Her body was fragile, her steps unsteady, and she clung tightly to Ethan''s arm as they made their way back to the villa. She hadn''t let go of him even once. "I''ll take you to your room so you can rest," Ethan said gently, glancing at her pale face. "Okay," Lyla murmured softly. Once she was settled in her room, Ethan ensured she was comfortable. The doctors had been clear, she needed proper rest and nourishment to recover fully. With Lyla resting, Ethan finally had some time to himself. It was just past noon, and he still had the entire afternoon before he could log back into Ethereal. His mind drifted back to Morzan''s cryptic words just after he was hurled out of the Gates of the Underworld: "Your soul has grown too strong because of the Ethereal Blooms. Your body, however, hasn''t kept up. Strengthen it, or the imbalance will cost you." Ethan had learned a lot from that brief conversation. The currents of energy from the VR capsule had been gradually enhancing his physical body. Still, Morzan had warned that the process wasn''t enough. Ethan needed to bridge the gap between his powerful soul and his mortal body through rigorous physical training. Determined, Ethan hopped into the car and drove to a fitness equipment store, returning with bags full of gear and supplies. He wasted no time setting up a makeshift training area in the villa''s spacious living room. He strapped a ten-kilogram weight vest to his torso, feeling the immediate strain on his legs. "Let''s see how far I can push this," he muttered. Hands clasped behind his head, Ethan lowered himself into a squat, then rose slowly. One¡­ two¡­ ten¡­ twenty¡­ By the time he completed fifty squats, there wasn''t even a hint of fatigue. Frowning, he grabbed four additional weights, increasing the load to fifty kilograms. One¡­ two¡­ ten¡­ At twenty, his legs trembled under the strain. Sweat poured down his face, his breaths coming in short, ragged bursts. Grabbing a nutrition shake from his earlier purchase, Ethan downed it in one go, resting for a few minutes. The fatigue quickly faded, replaced by a renewed sense of energy. "Again," he said to himself, lowering into another round of squats. Despite the grueling effort, Ethan found himself impressed by his stamina and strength. Not long ago, the so-called "Ice Queen," Celeste Hawthorne, had written him off as worthless, a title he now intended to erase entirely. In his past life, he had suffered alone, powerless and abandoned. But this life was different. He had Lyla by his side, a happiness he had never known before. He would protect it at all costs, both in the real world and in Ethereal. And then there was the Underworld. The strange warmth in that voice still lingered in his mind. It was unlike anything he''d ever felt before, filling a void he hadn''t realized existed. He had to uncover the truth, about the voice, about what had happened in the Underworld, and about the powers Morzan hinted at. "Strength is the only way forward," Morzan had said. In that brief return to Ethereal earlier, Morzan had revealed another unsettling truth: the game was far more than just a virtual escape. Hidden forces, powerful individuals, and secret factions operated in both the game and the real world, and they would stop at nothing to exploit its resources. If Ethan wanted to survive, he had to grow stronger. Otherwise, he and those he cared about would be nothing more than stepping stones for others. "One¡­ two¡­ three¡­" In the living room, Ethan''s labored breathing echoed with each rep. To him, this wasn''t just physical training, it was a battle of will. It was why he had been able to complete the grueling quest, ''The Angel''s Salvation,'' in the first place. The monotony of repetitive movements didn''t bother him. He had always had resilience. Before, he lacked talent. But now? Now he had both. "Eighty¡­ ninety¡­ one hundred¡­" Sweat dripped onto the floor. His legs screamed in protest, every muscle burning. Yet his powerful soul kept him moving, its strength bolstering his will. "One hundred and ninety¡­ two hundred!" With a guttural roar, Ethan''s legs gave out, and he crashed onto the floor with a loud thud. He lay there, gasping for breath, staring at the ceiling as his heart pounded in his chest. Chapter 52 Strange Pendant Bang! Ethan''s door flew open with a crash, startling him out of his haze. At the doorway stood Lyla, her face pale but filled with alarm. She spotted him sprawled on the floor and immediately rushed to his side. "Ethan! What''s wrong?" she asked, panicked. Wincing through the pain, Ethan forced himself to sit up. "I''m fine¡­ just overdid it with the workout." Lyla''s gaze swept over the room, taking in the assortment of fitness equipment strewn about. She exhaled deeply, holding back tears, and punched Ethan square in the chest. "Ow!" he gasped, clutching his ribs. For someone still recovering, her punch carried enough force to knock the wind out of him. If she had been at full strength, Ethan was certain she could''ve broken a few bones. It always surprised him how much power Lyla could pack into her tiny frame. He knew she was capable, but he never imagined how intense her training must''ve been. What Ethan didn''t know was that after he left her behind as a child, Lyla had immersed herself in learning combat and self-defense, eventually undergoing systematic training to become the formidable woman she was now. Noticing his grimace, Lyla softened. Realizing she''d gone too far, she quickly helped him to his feet. After some rest and another round of nutrient shakes, Ethan''s strength began to recover. But his stomach growled loudly, nutrient shakes weren''t exactly filling. Neither of them felt like cooking, so they opted for the ultimate solution: ordering a home delivery. By the time they finished their meal, it was evening, and the game servers were about to go online. Lyla wasn''t thrilled about Ethan logging back in so soon. "Are you sure this is a good idea? You just recovered," she said, crossing her arms. "I''ll be fine, I promise," Ethan said, coaxing her with reassurances until she finally relented. As he prepared to enter his game capsule, a thought struck him. He turned to Lyla with a puzzled expression. "Hey, Lyla, how did you even get my game pod open in the first place? It''s supposed to be fully locked and blast-proof." "At first, I couldn''t," she admitted. "But then¡­ I don''t know. I just touched it, and it opened on its own." Ethan frowned, pondering her response. Could this have been Morzan''s doing? It was the only explanation that made sense. --- Back in Ethereal: Ding! [System Notification: Offline XP bonus has accumulated to 98.8% of your current level. Bonus will automatically apply when killing monsters. Offline time: 9 days, 18 hours, 23 minutes.] Ethan froze. Nine days? It hit him: his time in the Underworld had counted as being offline in Ethereal. Then he remembered the Ethereal Blooms he''d been harvesting. Opening his character panel, he exhaled in relief. His levels were intact, and his bag was still full of Ethereal Blooms. But then he remembered something else, the black pendant. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He searched through his equipment and inventory but came up empty. It wasn''t there. Frowning, Ethan logged out of the game and went straight to Lyla''s room, knocking on her door. "What''s up?" she asked, opening the door slightly. "Did you see a black pendant anywhere?" Ethan asked. "Uh¡­ well¡­" Lyla hesitated, her face betraying guilt. Ethan raised a brow but gestured for her to take her time. "It''s fine. Just tell me." Sighing, Lyla muttered, "Alright, fine." She lowered her head, tugged at her collar, to reveal the pendant nestled just beneath her shirt. "It''s here. Take it," she said, pouting slightly as her cheeks turned pink. Ethan''s jaw dropped. "Wait¡­ you mean it''s¡­ there? And I have to¡­?" "What are you gawking at? I can''t get it off on my own. Just take it already!" Lyla snapped, her blush deepening. Ethan couldn''t help but laugh internally at her command. This situation felt absurdly awkward yet amusing. "Well, if you insist¡­" he said, suppressing a smirk as he reached out. His hand touched nothing but her soft boobs. Lyla shuddered and let out a soft gasp. "Ah! You pervert! Ethan, you jerk!" she yelped, recoiling in surprise. WHAM! Before Ethan could react, Lyla delivered a kick that literally sent him flying out of her room. He crashed into the hallway wall, sliding to the floor with a groan. Ethan sat up, rubbing his back with a wry grin. "She''s got a mean kick, I''ll give her that." He sat stunned for a moment before snapping to his feet and charging back to Lyla''s door. His frustration boiled over as he shouted, "Didn''t you tell me to grab it myself? Why''d you kick me?" "I didn''t!" Lyla said, her voice trembling with hurt. "What do you mean you didn''t? You literally told me to grab it, and the next thing I know, I''m flying across the hallway!" Ethan retorted, his anger mounting. He was getting tired of her recent habit of hitting him, and the fact that he couldn''t fight back. "I said I didn''t kick you!" Lyla shot back, her voice cracking as her eyes filled with tears. "Why are you yelling at me?" Ethan froze. Seeing her reaction, he realized he might''ve gone too far. Taking a deep breath, he lowered his voice. "Okay, okay¡­ I''m sorry. If it wasn''t you, then what, did I just launch myself out the door?" He hadn''t meant to snap at her. After all, getting flung into the hallway for no apparent reason had left him rattled. "It wasn''t me," Lyla said again, her voice soft. "It was¡­ it was this!" She stepped closer to him, pointing at her chest. Ethan blinked, his brain short-circuiting as his gaze inadvertently shifted to the area she was gesturing toward. For a brief moment, he was struck dumb. Wait, what is happening right now? She was close enough that he could see every detail of her flushed face, and his mind began to spiral. "Lyla¡­" he stammered, his voice shaky. "If you''re trying to¡­ uh¡­ make a point, you don''t have to¡ª" "Not that! Look here!" Lyla snapped, her cheeks practically glowing as she pointed to a spot just above her collarbone. "Wait, what?" Ethan''s focus shifted to where she was pointing. "That pendant of yours!" she said, exasperated. "The black one you had when you woke up. It flew onto me, and now I can''t get it off!" Ethan frowned, suddenly serious. "It flew onto you? What are you talking about?" Lyla sighed. "Right after you woke up, I came in to talk to you. The pendant was on your chest, and before I could even say a word, it flew right onto me! I passed out, and when I woke up, it was here," she explained, tapping the spot again. "It even changed, it''s white now. But no matter how much I try, I can''t take it off." Ethan''s eyes narrowed as he processed her words. He hadn''t noticed any pendant on him when he woke up, let alone one that could fly. Yet Lyla''s expression was too genuine for him to dismiss. "Wait," he said, stepping closer. "Are you sure it''s still there?" "Of course I''m sure! Here, see for yourself," Lyla replied, pointing to the spot again. Cautiously, Ethan reached out and ran his fingers over the area she indicated. He felt nothing but her soft skin. No pendant, no texture, nothing. "Uh, Lyla¡­ I don''t see or feel anything," he said, his brow furrowed. "What? How is that possible?!" Lyla looked genuinely surprised. She glanced down at her chest, frowning as if she could still see or sense the object. Ethan thought back to Morzan''s warnings and the supernatural nature of the Underworld. He sighed, realizing there might be forces at play far beyond his comprehension. "Well, if it''s invisible to me but harmless to you, and it can apparently protect you¡­ I guess it''s fine for you to keep it," he said finally. Lyla fiddled with the invisible object, her fingers gripping at something Ethan couldn''t see. She tugged at it a few times before giving up. "Alright," Ethan said, turning to leave. "Stop messing with it, though. It''s not going anywhere. I''m heading back to my room." "Fine, but seriously, what is this thing?" Lyla called after him. Ethan paused at the door, shaking his head. "I don''t know either." He shut her door and returned to his room, Sliding into his game pod. Chapter 53 A Surprise Windfall Back in the VR capsule, Ethan brought his hand to his nose and sniffed. A sweet, floral scent lingered, one that carried a hint of feminine allure. A grin spread across his face before he finally logged back into the game. "Loading¡­ Entering the game¡­" The progress bar finished, but Ethan''s screen remained black, his vision still adjusting. His thoughts drifted back to the two figures he had gripped earlier, their presence like twin roses swaying in the breeze, delicate, tempting, utterly captivating. The tantalizing feel was enough to incite any man''s desire. A rapid series of chimes pulled him out of his daze. "What the¡ªwho''s blowing up my inbox like this?" Ethan opened his inbox and scrolled through the flood of messages. They were all from Skyblade. The first read: "Boss, where''ve you been? It''s been ten days since you logged in, and you dropped out as soon as you came on earlier!" The second: "Boss, if you don''t show up soon, we''re all gonna get wiped out." And the third: "You''re back? Finally! We''re at coordinates: 32465.59872.6551. Hurry, we need backup!" Ethan typed back a quick reply: "You guys already left the Starter Zone?" The message had barely sent when Skyblade''s response popped up almost instantly: "The three of us hit level 15 already. We''ve got over 300 guild members in Harmony City now. Boss, you have to come! We''re getting boxed in by Marcus Skeiner and his crew!" Hearing that name, Ethan''s expression darkened. Marcus Skeiner, the infamous leader of the Blade Syndicate, Harmony City''s number one guild in his previous life. Blade Syndicate had its roots in an old MMO game, but whatever respect it once commanded had long since withered. These days, Blade Syndicate was nothing more than a band of toxic, glory-chasing idiots who thrived on griefing others. By the time they migrated to Ethereal, they were nothing more than a band of troublemakers who thrived on ruining everyone else''s experience. Their signature move? Ganking low-level players en masse and running away the moment the tide turned against them. If outnumbered, they''d flee without hesitation. If a boss fight required teamwork, they''d scatter like headless flies. They''d exploit bugs, cheat the system, and leave behind a trail of chaos and misery. Despite their incompetence, they somehow managed to recruit thousands of like-minded trolls into one guild. Ethan could never understand it. One or two dimwits? Sure, that was par for the course. But to gather thousands of them in one place, all with the same abysmal level of skill? That was a feat of collective idiocy unmatched in gaming history. Ethan vividly remembered his own encounter with them during his past life. It was in the Starter Zone. A Blade Syndicate squad had joined his party for a raid on the Murky Swamp. They spent an entire night trying, and failing to defeat the Ancient Tree King, the dungeon''s most basic boss. By the time dawn broke, their party leader, in sheer frustration, rage-quit the raid, leaving the rest of them stranded. The memories were humiliating. Ethan could still hear the leader''s shouts: "Position to the left! What the hell are you doing spinning in circles?!" "Hold your ground at the choke point! Why are you hiding behind the healers?!" "STOP running into the group with an exploding debuff!" It was less of a raid party and more of a synchronized display of collective idiocy. And yet, somehow, this clown fiesta persisted. But Marcus Skeiner wasn''t their only problem. Ethan remembered another guild, Judgment. Initially, they were rivals to Blade Syndicate, but it didn''t take long for them to fold. Judgment quickly devolved into glorified snitches, leaking the coordinates of their own guild players to Blade Syndicate for favors. Back then, they were infamous for being traitors, mercenaries for hire with no sense of honor. Ethan couldn''t help but smirk as he thought about the nickname they earned: The Backstabbers. In Ethereal, the reason Blade Syndicate managed to dominate Harmony City as its top guild wasn''t due to skill or strategy, it was because they had numbers. And numbers came from money. Lots of it. The kind of guild full of rich idiots who spent their way to the top. Ethan had long suspected that Blade Syndicate had backing from some shadowy corporate group. Perhaps even Zachary and his crew. The thought made his jaw tighten as he sprinted toward the coordinates Skyblade had sent him, memories of his past life bubbling to the surface. "Survivor Faction has to deal with Blade Syndicate here," he mused. "I wonder if the Carnage Faction has its own version?" He wouldn''t have known in his past life. Back then, his latter days were spent toiling away in an abandoned mine, and he didn''t even gain the qualification to participate in cross-faction wars. This time around, Ethan had logged back in right outside Harmony City''s gates, which made his journey to the teleportation hub quick and efficient. Skyblade''s coordinates pointed to a spot near Cogden Village, a small outpost where Ethan vaguely remembered delivering a side quest to a young NPC girl. The village bordered a hunting zone filled with Level 15-20 monsters, perfect for grinding after leaving the Starter Zone. Just as Ethan arrived at the teleportation hub, a flickering envelope icon above the mailbox nearby caught his eye. Mail? Who''s sending me mail? Curiosity piqued, Ethan veered off course and opened the mailbox. To his surprise, the sender was Trusty007. For a moment, he froze, memories snapping into focus. Right, he had worked out a deal with Trusty before venturing into the Necrotic Domain. Worried that something might go wrong, Ethan had given him a detailed guide for delivering it. Guess it worked out after all. Excitement thrummed through Ethan''s veins as he opened the mail. Ding¡­ [System Alert: You''ve received 14,256 gold coins.] "What the¡ª?!" Ethan stared at the number, dumbfounded. That much gold?! Attached to the mail was a note from Trusty007: --- "Big Boss, we''ve hit the jackpot! This is the total revenue from selling your guide across 2,000 Starter Zones in the Northern Frontier Region. We sold 7,129 copies in total. One of those was to Skyblade from Renegade Alliance, but I didn''t charge him since, you know, he''s one of yours. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That leaves 7,128 paid copies, bringing in 14,256 gold coins. I''ve also sold guides in other regions where gold couldn''t be transferred, so I converted it to cash and deposited it into your bank account. We sold 3,562 copies there, at the current rate of $1,800 per gold coin. Total cash transfer: $12,823,200. This is the most profitable deal we''ve ever done! If you''ve got another guide in the works, let me know, there''s already demand for the next copy!" --- Ethan nearly jumped for joy as he finished reading. Fourteen thousand gold and over 12 million in cash?! If he sold off the gold at market rates, he''d have nearly $40million total in his account! All this from a single dungeon guide for a Starter Zone. He couldn''t help but smile at Trusty''s enthusiasm. It was clear the guy had made some decent amount himself, though Ethan didn''t bother wondering how much Trusty charged per guide. He had only asked for two gold per copy and wasn''t about to get greedy. With a spring in his step, Ethan walked onto the teleportation platform and selected Cogden Village as his destination. The cost of one copper for the teleport barely registered, it was a drop in the ocean now. Chapter 54 The Fight for Survival As Ethan traveled through the winding forest paths, he kept asking Skyblade for details. It turned out that right after they had left the Starter Zone, they encountered members of the Blade Syndicate. Ethan had been offline for days, and his level had stagnated at 15, gradually slipping down the leaderboard. Blade Syndicate, seeing members of the Renegade Alliance, couldn''t resist mocking them. "Your guild leader''s lost his edge! Without exploiting bugs, he''s just a washed-up nobody!" they jeered, their taunts escalating into direct confrontation. At first, it was only verbal abuse, but soon enough, Blade Syndicate resorted to sneak attacks. They targeted isolated members of the guild, especially those returning from supply runs. A few unfortunate members were ambushed and taken down. Skyblade, furious, rallied dozens of guild members to retaliate against Blade Syndicate''s force of over a hundred players. Predictably, their players, relying more on sheer numbers than skill, were no match for the coordinated assault. While Renegade Alliance suffered minor losses, the fight ended in a decisive victory with over a hundred Blade Syndicate members wiped out. And so, the war began. Over the past two days, fights of various sizes erupted countless times. The relentless attacks had severely slowed Renegade Alliance''s progress. Many members had not only failed to level up after leaving the Starter Zone but had even dropped back to level 14, forcing them to retreat to the zone for protection. Although players at level 15 benefitted from the Starter Zone''s protection system, which revived them directly at the graveyard without losing a level, the weakness penalty that followed each death wasted precious time. Worse, if a player died more than ten times, the protection system ceased to function. Some members had already hit that limit. Being targeted by such persistent harassment was frustrating, significantly hindering the guild''s growth. Ethan''s prolonged absence didn''t help either, prompting some members to quit the guild. While leaving incurred steep penalties losing contribution points and guild-issued gear, players retained their levels and could continue progressing, albeit more slowly, with basic iron-tier equipment. Hearing Skyblade''s recounting, Ethan frowned. Was Blade Syndicate targeting them because he had drawn too much attention to the guild? In his memory, Blade Syndicate''s players were obnoxious, but they had never focused on any particular group. Their usual behavior was forming large groups to bully low-level players or ganging up on lone targets. They rarely confronted guilds or organized groups head-on. If met with resistance, they scattered like cowards, looking for easier prey. This current strategy was completely out of character for them. Ethan opened the leaderboard, scanning the rankings. Blade Syndicate was now a level-four guild, sitting firmly at the top of the regional leaderboard. Advancing a guild to level three required obtaining a guild base, something money alone couldn''t buy. It required a guild team to clear dungeons and accumulate points, which could then be exchanged for a basic guild base in the main city. With Blade Syndicate''s usual incompetence, there was no way they could have achieved this through their own efforts. In his past life, they had always hired professional players to join their guild temporarily and earn the required points for them. Each time their guild base was upgraded, it followed the same pay-to-win formula. Leveling a guild from two to three also cost 1,000 gold, expanding its capacity to 5,000 members. Reaching level four required 5,000 gold and expanded the capacity to 10,000 members. In the early stages of the game, 6,000 gold was no small sum. Converted to real-world currency, it equaled a staggering $10.8 million. Ethan found it hard to believe that Marcus Skeiner, the leader of Blade Syndicate, could afford such an amount on his own. In his past life, rumors had circulated that while Marcus had some wealth in the real world, he was far from rich enough to casually throw millions into upgrading a guild. As they approached the outskirts of the battlefield, Skyblade updated Ethan on the situation. Marcus himself had brought over 1,500 members to surround their force of barely 200 players. Those 200 represented Renegade Alliance''s strongest players, the core group that had managed to reach the main city after days of relentless battles. They were the veterans of Zone 1370 battle and had followed Skyblade, Slashblade, and SeraphWarrior through the treacherous Murky Swamp dungeon, earning gear and experience that set them apart from the average player. Currently, the typical player level hovered between 13 and 14, but this elite group had leveled up significantly faster. Despite their numerical disadvantage, the 200 Renegade Alliance members had managed to evade a full encirclement thanks to the poor coordination of Blade Syndicate''s players. Under Skyblade''s leadership, they had been weaving through enemy forces, launching counterattacks, and breaking out of traps. Still, the overwhelming numbers were taking their toll. The day before, the battles raged until the game servers shut down, leaving the Alliance''s forces severely weakened. If things continued like this, it was only a matter of time before they were completely surrounded and wiped out. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even SeraphWarrior, who had always been a resilient fighter, had died 11 times. He had barely enough experience left to avoid dropping a level after another death. If he fell again, he''d be forced to return to the Starter Zone to grind back to level 15 before he could rejoin the fight. As they pressed onward, Ethan noticed groups of players from other guilds and some unaffiliated rogues lurking nearby. Their stealth abilities, due to their lower levels, were entirely ineffective against Ethan''s sharp eyes. Most of them were inching toward the battlefield, recording videos for their own entertainment. But the oddest sight was a group of players led by a striking woman holding a microphone purchased from the in-game store. She appeared to be live streaming. "Everyone, look! Past the forest behind me is Larson Basin, where Renegade Alliance''s elite forces are reportedly trapped. This is a battle of overwhelming odds, who will emerge victorious? Rumors suggest that the Renegade Alliance leader, once a dominant figure on the leaderboard, hasn''t logged in for ten days due to a real-life tragedy. Without his leadership, can they achieve the same glory they did during the Zone 1370 battle? Follow me as we witness the action unfold. This is WCC News bringing you live coverage from the world of Ethereal. I''m your host, Trina Starr!" Ethan couldn''t help but curse under his breath as he passed by. "Real-life tragedy? You wish. Your whole family wishes!" He nearly burst out laughing when he heard the ridiculous name she used for her channel. WCC? Why not just call it WC? And her name, Trina Starr, sounded so forced it was almost comical. Still, her broadcast revealed one crucial piece of information: Larson Basin. Skyblade and the others, clearly disoriented from the constant battles, had no idea where they were. They had been relaying coordinates to Ethan without realizing their exact location. But now that Ethan had heard it, his memory of the terrain came flooding back. His eyes gleamed with a sudden idea. Ethan sent a message to Skyblade, urging them to hold their ground and avoid getting fully surrounded. He also forwarded them a set of coordinates, instructing them to make their way toward that location. "Blade Syndicate," Ethan muttered, a sharp grin spreading across his face. "You want to play the numbers game? Fine. Let''s see who has more fun." Chapter 55 Only Five People Needed Larson Basin was a peculiar region. Apart from a small plain at its very center, the rest of it was densely forested, making it a natural labyrinth. This was precisely why Skyblade and his crew had avoided being completely surrounded all this time. Ethan could already predict Blade Syndicate''s plan. Their forces were likely scattered across the basin, stationed like a spiderweb, ready to catch any stray members of Renegade Alliance. If any squad or camp was discovered, reinforcements from all directions would rush to that point, creating the illusion of an inescapable siege. Skyblade and his men were likely darting through the basin in panic, changing direction constantly to evade capture, falling deeper into Blade Syndicate''s trap. It was a clever tactic, send small teams to stall the Renegades, then overwhelm them as more reinforcements arrived. But the basin was vast, and while Blade Syndicate had over 1,500 players deployed, spreading them out had thinned their defenses. They underestimated the 200 members of the Renegade Alliance. Ethan figured Marcus Skeiner, the leader of Blade Syndicate, was already mobilizing additional reinforcements. Once those reinforcements arrived, Skyblade and the others would be in serious trouble. Ethan had already encountered multiple Blade Syndicate scouts on his way here, undoubtedly part of Marcus''s backup. The coordinates Ethan sent to Skyblade marked an area near a cliff¡ªa natural dead-end within the basin. The location was perfect; it was deep in the basin, surrounded by sheer rock walls on one side, making it the only truly inescapable spot. Unlike the other directions, which had gradual slopes and forest paths leading out, this place was a deadlock. No sane strategist would station their troops there. As Ethan made his way toward the cliff, passing several ambush points hidden within the forest, his theory proved accurate. The closer he got to the cliff, the fewer Syndicate players he encountered. Eventually, there were none at all¡ªnot even a single scout. When he finally reached the area, he spotted some sentries hidden among the trees. To his relief, they weren''t Syndicate players, they were Renegades. It seemed Skyblade''s team had made it. Ethan smirked. Skyblade knew what he was doing after all. Placing sentries here was a smart move, given how dangerous the situation was. Surviving this long against such overwhelming numbers was no small feat. In his past life, Skyblade had spent years working alongside Ethan, but his potential had been wasted under poor leadership. Stepping out of the forest, Ethan found himself in a small clearing. In the middle of it, a modest pond shimmered under the dim sunlight, its surface still and reflective. Beyond the pond was the cliff face, imposing and unscalable. Over 200 Renegade members were camped near the water, their presence filling the air with tension. Ethan exited Stealth Mode, returning to his human form, and stepped into their line of sight. The reaction was instantaneous. Weapons were drawn in perfect unison. The sheer intensity of their collective glare hit Ethan like a wave. The air seemed to buzz with an almost tangible killing intent, a focused energy that was overwhelming. Ethan froze for a moment, genuinely impressed. This group of 200 fighters had managed to form a unified aura, a rare phenomenon in large-scale battles. In the late stages of the game, only the most disciplined warbands could achieve this level of synchronization. And here they were, already showing glimpses of such potential. This was the foundation of a true battle-hardened force. With their presence, the Renegade Alliance could mold new recruits into disciplined warriors, creating an army capable of holding its own against the world''s strongest guilds. On any battlefield, a group like this would crush an equally equipped and numbered enemy force lacking such cohesion. The moment the first charge landed, an unorganized squad would collapse like sand under a tidal wave. Snapping out of his thoughts, Ethan smiled and stepped forward. The tension eased as the group recognized him. Their faces lit up with excitement. Even though Ethan rarely showed up, his leadership was the heart of the Renegade Alliance. His decisive actions during the legendary Battle of Zone 1370 had solidified his reputation. To these players, Ethan was their anchor. The crowd restrained themselves, but the guild chat was alive with chatter. "Guild leader is here!" "Finally! I thought you were never coming back, Boss!" "Guild leader, we missed you!" "Now that you''re here, let''s tear Blade Syndicate apart!" Dozens of excited messages poured in, each one brimming with enthusiasm. "Quiet down! Let''s see what the boss has planned first," Skyblade typed in the chat. The guild channel fell silent instantly. It was clear Skyblade''s authority within the group was second only to Ethan''s. Ethan typed a few words of thanks in the guild chat, short and polite, without mentioning any specifics about his battle plans. He couldn''t assume every guild member was trustworthy. There could easily be spies, either Blade Syndicate operatives or agents from rival guilds. Identifying them was impossible for now. Instead, he created a private chat group with Skyblade, Slashblade, and SeraphWarrior. The three exchanged glances, quickly realizing the importance of this private conversation. "Do we have a trustworthy warlock in our ranks?" Ethan asked bluntly. Slashblade paused for a moment before pointing to a boy among the group, looking no older than fifteen or sixteen. In the private chat, Slashblade wrote: "His name is Meatball. He joined on the first day we founded the guild. He''s been with us ever since, leveling up, running dungeons, always reliable. I''d trust him." First day? Ethan nodded in approval. It was unlikely for a guild mole to have been planted that early, especially a teenager. Such a young recruit wouldn''t normally be chosen for a spie. "Ask him if he''s learned the Aquatic Breathing skill," Ethan instructed. After a moment, Slashblade replied, "He has." "Good. Disband your party and have him leave his, too. I''ll invite you all into mine," Ethan said. Skyblade and the others gave their orders in the group, then disbanded their party. Ethan quickly sent invitations to Skyblade, Slashblade, SeraphWarrior, and Meatball, forming a five-man team. "We also need an archer with the Swift Stride skill. Someone reliable," Ethan added. SeraphWarrior hesitated before speaking in the private chat: "That''s tough. Swift Stride is a Level 15 skill, and the drop rate for the skill book is ridiculously low. We''ve been getting harassed by those Blade Syndicate idiots nonstop, so we haven''t been able to grind enough monsters for it." Ethan frowned but wasn''t surprised. Skills above Level 15 were notoriously rare, and under their current circumstances, finding someone with the ability was a long shot. Realizing the party would remain one member short, Ethan decided to move forward regardless. "You''ve been here for over 20 minutes, right? That should mean everyone''s out of combat now. Have the rest of the team use Return Stones to teleport back to the city. Tell them to unequip their guild crests and hide their usernames. Once that''s done, have them regroup at the basin''s outskirts and wait for further instructions," Ethan ordered Skyblade. "What? Just like that?" SeraphWarrior blurted out, clearly shocked. "What will the others think?" Before Ethan could answer, Skyblade had already followed the order, sending a message to the guild chat. The chat immediately exploded. "Guild leader, we''ve been holed up here for days, fighting nonstop, and now you want us to retreat?" "Yeah, let''s just go all in. We''re not afraid of dying. Worst-case scenario, we respawn at the starter zone!" "What the hell? I thought the Guild Leader was supposed to lead us to victory. Turns out he''s just a coward." The notifications came rapidly after that: Ding... Ding... Ding. Several players left the guild in protest. Ethan stared at the messages silently. After a moment, the guild chat calmed as no more players quit. Then he typed a simple sentence: "This fight only requires the five of us." Silence. The guild chat fell completely still. Eight words, yet they carried a weight that stunned everyone. Some players wondered if they had misread it. Two hundred players had spent days struggling to survive, failing to break free from the Syndicate''s pursuit, and now their Guild Leader claimed that five people would be enough? Then it hit them. The combat disengagement timer. In Ethereal, players locked in PvP combat had to avoid any hostile actions for over 20 minutes to be considered out of combat. The realization dawned on them: the Guild Leader''s plan had worked. By directing them to this coordinate and stalling for time, he''d ensured that everyone was no longer under combat restrictions. They could now safely use their Return Stones. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He hadn''t just said those words to sound cool. With nothing more than a single coordinate, he had freed them all. As this sank in, the expressions of the remaining players began to shift. The anger and frustration faded, replaced by awe and admiration. They looked at Ethan with a new fire in their eyes. Chapter 56 Secret Passage In no time, the remaining guild members activated their Return Stones and disappeared from the area. After two days of continuous combat, they had long passed the cooldown period for using the stones. Now, only Ethan and his four companions remained by the pond. Ethan glanced at the group, taking note of their varied expressions: Skyblade looked positively thrilled, his excitement practically bursting out of him. Clearly, Ethan''s earlier words: "This fight only requires the five of us." had ignited a fire in him. Ethan knew him too well. Skyblade was the kind of hot-blooded youth who could be roused to action with just one sentence. Slashblade maintained his usual stony demeanor, unreadable as ever. If he had any strong opinions about their suicidal-sounding mission, he didn''t show it. SeraphWarrior, however, wore his doubts on his face. He clearly found the idea of five players taking on fifteen hundred hard to swallow. Then there was Meatball, the youngest of the group. His round face showed a mix of fear and exhilaration. He was clearly nervous but also thrilled to be chosen by Ethan for this mission. Ethan chuckled when his eyes landed on Meatball. The kid was a warlock class, but he was nothing like the typical image people associated with the class. Most people expected warlocks to have a sinister air, tall, thin, draped in dark, ominous robes, their outfits often featuring deep red or black tones. They were portrayed with oversized hoods, and an aura of mystery and dread. The Warlock players in the game had a similar intimidating vibe, most players leaned into the stereotype, mimicking the style. But Meatball? He was the complete opposite. Chubby and fair-skinned, he gave more of a younger brother vibe than a dark sorcerer. To top it off, he wore black-rimmed glasses, frames only, no lenses, adding to his harmless appearance. And then there was his outfit. Instead of the usual warlock attire, his gear had been transmogged into something absurdly wholesome. Transmogrification was a premium feature in the game, allowing players to alter their gear''s appearance to suit their tastes. But it wasn''t cheap. First, you needed to buy outfit templates, which were essentially virtual "skins" sold at absurd prices in the in-game clothing store. Clearly, Meatball came from money. Ethan could only sum him up in five words: "Chubby kid in black glasses." Ethan let out a small laugh. "Alright, it''s just us now. Let''s get started." "How are we doing this, Boss? Just say the word!" Skyblade said, practically vibrating with anticipation. Ethan shot him a pointed look. "First off, you need to follow orders. No charging in without thinking." He directed the remark at Skyblade specifically. Ethan knew him all too well, once the fighting started, Skyblade had a bad habit of losing his head and going full berserk. "Got it, got it!" Skyblade nodded enthusiastically. Ethan continued, "We''re going to be racking up a lot of red names after this. It''ll be a long time before we can safely return to any city..." "Doesn''t matter!" Skyblade interrupted. "We''ll have the guild supply us in the field. Who needs cities anyway?" Ethan ignored him and turned to Slashblade. "If Skyblade interrupts me one more time, feel free to invite your sister to hang out with him tomorrow." Slashblade nodded without hesitation. "Understood." Skyblade opened his mouth, but whatever he was about to say died in his throat. Ethan smirked at the sight and addressed the group. "Alright, no need to be nervous. Meatball, your job is to apply Aquatic Breathing to everyone but me. Slashblade, you focus on healing and dispelling debuffs, especially anything that slows or roots us. The rest of you, stay close to me. I assume you know how to swing a weapon?" The group nodded, but the mention of Aquatic Breathing left them puzzled. They couldn''t figure out why a water-breathing buff would be relevant to a fight. Still, Meatball quickly cast the spell on the team, blue runes circling each member as the buff activated. When he turned to Ethan to apply it to him, Ethan waved him off. "I don''t need it," Ethan said, before leaping into the pond without another word. "Follow me!" he shouted back. The group exchanged confused looks. What was this? Wasn''t this supposed to be a fight? Why were they suddenly going for a swim? Hesitantly, they followed him into the water. [Aquatic Breathing: Grants the ability to breathe underwater, increases swimming speed by 20%. Duration: 20 minutes.] As they submerged, they looked around but couldn''t spot Ethan. Instead, a seal circled them. "Follow me," Ethan''s voice came through the party chat. The group finally realized, the seal was Ethan. At Level 20, Ethan''s skill [Transform: Stag Form] had automatically upgraded to [Transform: Travel Form]. [Transform: Travel Form: On land: Transform into a stag, capable of carrying one passenger. Movement speed increased by 200%. In water: Transform into a seal. Swimming speed equals or exceeds base movement speed. In flying zones: Transform into an eagle. Flight speed increased by 500%.] Travel Form was one of the perks of being a druid. Even before the game introduced mounts, druids could enjoy enhanced mobility for free. While other players had to spend gold to learn riding skills and buy mounts, druids could transform and outrun most ground mounts without spending a dime. And this wasn''t limited to just land. With forms for land, sea, and air, druids had unparalleled versatility. For regular players, entering the water reduced movement speed to 40%. Even with the Aquatic Breathing buff, it only increased to 60%. But Ethan''s swimming speed, boosted by Travel Form, remained at 110%, meaning he had to frequently stop and wait for the others to catch up. About 30 meters underwater, Ethan paused by a cave entrance. "This way. Follow me," he directed through the party chat. The group entered the underwater cavern, the narrow path forcing them to swim single file. They encountered countless branching paths along the way, but Ethan scouted ahead at every turn, returning to guide them down the correct route. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After nearly ten minutes of navigating the labyrinthine tunnels, they finally emerged into another pond, breaking through a new exit. Ethan gestured for them to wait. Without explaining, he submerged again and swam toward the surface alone. At about three meters from the waterline, he activated [Transform: Panther Form] and entered Stealth Mode before slowly ascending further. The moment he reverted from Panther Form, the game''s breathing timer appeared¡ªa countdown bar indicating how long he could stay underwater without air. Just as the timer reached halfway, Ethan broke through the surface. As soon as his head emerged, he spotted a small campsite near the water''s edge. About fifty players were stationed there. "It''s been almost half an hour. Where the hell are those Renegade Alliance guys?" one player asked irritably. "How should I know?" another snapped. "They probably used their Return Stones already. Combat cooldown expired over twenty minutes ago. If I were them, I''d have done the same," said a player with a bit of common sense. "Exactly. I don''t get why the Guild Leader has us sitting around here. Let''s just go find some low-level players to kill. Way more fun," another chimed in, clearly annoyed. Ethan silently observed the camp. The composition of the group was telling, most of them were priests, with only a few damage-dealers standing guard. Priests, with their slower movement speed, weren''t suited for mobile operations. Their presence here likely meant this was a support unit, stationed to respond to orders and provide backup when needed. Ethan began clearing the area of potential threats, starting with a few rogues lurking in stealth. He even dealt with two druids in panther Form, their stealth rendered useless against him. Thanks to several pieces of gear that enhanced his stealth detection, Ethan could easily spot their faint outlines within five meters. Even without the gear, his level advantage¡ªseven levels higher, meant their stealth was practically ineffective against him. Meanwhile, the rest of his team had crept up just below the water''s surface, hovering less than ten centimeters beneath. Pressed against the pond''s edge, they waited for Ethan''s signal. Even Meatball had summoned his Demonic Guardian, the towering creature poised for action, awaiting orders. Once Ethan confirmed all hidden threats had been eliminated, he typed a single word in the party chat: "Attack." Chapter 57 Wiped in Three Minutes Four figures sprang into action instantly. Skyblade led the charge, closing the distance to the group gathered by the shore in the blink of an eye. With a shield bash, he floored one of the players in the crowd, following up with a flurry of attacks: Heroic Strike, Death Blow, and Colossus Smash. Each hit landed cleanly, carving away half the warrior''s health in mere seconds. The group had been laughing and exchanging gists, blissfully unaware of the storm about to descend on them. "Whoa, look at DumbAce getting pounded!" someone jeered. "Serves him right. He probably hit on another guildie''s girlfriend!" another chimed in, their tone laced with mockery. But as Skyblade''s relentless assault reduced DumbAce''s health to dangerous levels, one of them finally noticed something was off. "Wait a second... That''s Skyblade from Renegade Alliance!" The name alone was enough to shake them out of their stupor. They immediately drew their weapons in a panic, but it was too late. Skyblade stomped his foot with a thundering roar, unleashing Thunder Stomp, which shook the ground. Lightning crackled outward, immobilizing everyone nearby with a three-second stun. And then it appeared, a towering Demonic Guardian wielding dual greatswords. With an inhuman roar, it charged into the stunned crowd, its devastating Blade Storm sweeping through them. The Demonic Guardian spun in place, its blades carving through flesh and armor with terrifying precision. Players caught within its four-meter reach could only watch helplessly as their health bars plummeted. "Damn it!" Skyblade spat, landing an execution skill on DumbAce that instantly reduced him to zero health. He dropped to the ground, crouching just in time to avoid the spinning blades, the Demonic Guardian''s whirlwind attack slicing through the air above him. Cold sweat ran down Skyblade''s back. If he had hesitated even for a moment, he would have been shredded like minced meat. Not far off, SeraphWarrior had paused mid-charge. Turning to glance behind him, he shouted, "Meatball! Get that damn demon under control before it wipes us all out!" S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the shoreline, Meatball, true to his name, bore the appearance of a bloated chicken as he replied through the team chat, "I can''t! I can only command it to attack or retreat. The rest depends on its AI, it''s above my control level! You''ve got to get out of there yourself!" "You¡­" Skyblade began, but before he could finish, SeraphWarrior had already plunged into the fray on the opposite side of the field. Shockwave. Judgement. Leaping Strike. One enemy fell, then another, as SeraphWarrior''s massive greatsword delivered merciless justice. Skyblade gritted his teeth, remembering their earlier wager about who would rack up the most kills. He quickly crawled out of the Demonic Guardian''s Blade Storm range, intent on reclaiming his lead. But just as he prepared to charge, he realized that Meatball''s demon had already stolen six kills in its opening strike. He cursed under his breath. "I''m the vice-leader! How the hell am I being overshadowed by that oversized kid?" Meanwhile, SeraphWarrior had already downed three more enemies, and even Slashblade had managed to snipe one with a combination of Smite and Curse of Agony. Skyblade''s patience snapped. He lunged forward with a Charge, following up with Heroic Strike as he barreled into the melee. His sword glinted with a savage red light as he cleaved through a mage, sending the unfortunate caster flying backward. Without missing a beat, Skyblade chased after the mage''s crumpling form. Death Blow activated, his one-handed sword glowing fiercely as it struck the target mid-air. The mage collapsed on impact, their body dissolving into light. Skyblade turned toward his next victim, his eyes blazing with ruthless determination. Gone was the carefree, joking player they all knew. Skyblade tore through six, seven enemies in quick succession. His skill rotation was seamless, not a single interruption breaking the flow. He didn''t even bother with basic attacks; every move was calculated to perfection, his cooldown management a masterclass in efficiency. SeraphWarrior was no slouch either. With Crusader Strike, Shockwave, Judgement, and his signature Executioner''s Cleave, he carved through the enemy ranks like a hot knife through butter. Executioner''s Cleave had been his favorite move since their first raid on Zone 1370, where he fell in love with its brutal finality. By chaining the stagger effects of Shockwave and Judgement, each lasting only fractions of a second, he created an opening to land decapitating blows on his enemies. Granted, this trick worked best against poorly equipped opponents. Most of the players here were cloth-wearing classes, easy prey for his blade. Once players started donning full armor sets later in the game, this flashy move would lose its effectiveness. But for now, against newbie players in starter gear? Executioner''s Cleave was a guaranteed one-shot kill. Spells rained down around them, explosions of fire and lightning erupting in bursts of chaos. Yet neither Skyblade nor SeraphWarrior flinched. With their guild''s number one healer, Slashblade, watching their backs, they had nothing to fear. As guild officers, their gear was among the best Renegade Alliance had to offer. Even Meatball, the Warlock, sported high-tier gear thanks to his habit of donating money in exchange for contribution points. Against this weak rabble of Blade Syndicate who were mostly priests, it was a massacre. In moments, over twenty Syndicate players were downed, their bodies scattered across the battlefield. Panic erupted among the survivors. The few priests who hadn''t been killed outright turned and ran, shouting warnings as they fled. "Enemies!" "It''s Renegade Alliance! We can''t win this¡ªRUN!" The camp descended into chaos. At first, Blade Syndicate had fought back, landing enough hits to chip away at the attackers'' health. But with Slashblade''s healing keeping their team alive, and the Syndicate players too busy scrambling to defend themselves, the resistance quickly fell apart. Now, most of them were focused solely on running. Ethan, having shifted into Panther Form, darted around the camp like a predator herding prey. Moving at blinding speed, he intercepted anyone trying to escape, killing them with a single Savage Bite. The sight of one of their own being instantly killed caused even more chaos among the fleeing players. Those in the back had no idea what was happening up front, leading to panicked shoving and collisions. Skyblade and the rest of the team became wolves among a flock of panicked sheep, cutting down anyone in their path. By the end of the battle, Blade Syndicate''s players were completely annihilated. Not a single one dared attempt a corpse revival, too afraid that Renegade Alliance would camp their bodies. Instead, they respawned at the graveyard, enduring the experience reduction penalty as they waited for the killers to leave. It had taken less than three minutes for fifty-seven Syndicate players to be wiped out. The five victors regrouped, their names glowing bright red from the Sin Value they''d accumulated. The bloodthirst in their eyes betrayed how much they''d enjoyed the fight. "Slashblade, did you record it?" Skyblade asked, glancing at the priest, who had stayed back to maintain a full view of the battlefield. "Yeah, I got the whole thing¡­ But¡­" Slashblade trailed off, throwing a sheepish look at Skyblade. Skyblade cut in quickly. "Uh¡­ Boss, when you post the video, could you maybe¡­ blur the part where I was crawling on the ground? Just, you know, for¡­em, image sake." The group burst into laughter. Everyone knew Ethan planned to post the video online. Skyblade, knowing he couldn''t stop him, could only plead for some dignity. "Sure, no problem," Ethan replied with a grin. "Slashblade, send me the video." Chapter 58 Words vs. Deeds "Blade Syndicate, I don''t care who''s backing you. If you want to play, let''s play big." Ethan opened the official Ethereal forums. Normally, two guilds butting heads was nothing unusual. But this time, things were different. The leader of Renegade Alliance, known as NotADruid, had been dominating the leaderboards since the game''s launch. First kills? He''d claimed nearly all of them. And now, the newly crowned top guild in the Northern Frontier, Blade Syndicate, had decided to pick a fight. It wasn''t just any fight, it was a full-blown guild war. The forums buzzed with chatter. Blade Syndicate''s leader, Marcus Skeiner, had posted a taunting video earlier. It showed off his team''s flashy combat skills, capped with a challenge. The post exploded with comments, holding the top spot on the forum. Ethan clicked the Create Post button. His title was simple and bold: "Renegade Alliance doesn''t rely on numbers. To crush Blade Syndicate, five are enough." He attached a video, followed by a single caption: "Timestamp: 21:43. Kills: 57." Initially, the post was drowned in the flood of forum activity. Barely anyone noticed it. But ten minutes later, curiosity prevailed. It resurfaced, drawing attention for one reason: the poster''s name¡ªNotADruid. That name carried weight. It was the rookie legend everyone had been talking about. The video started with Skyblade charging into battle. His back was turned, but the intensity was palpable. Then came the carnage. A Warlock''s summoned Demonic Guardian unleashed a Blade Storm, cutting down six enemies in seconds. The Shield Tank flowed effortlessly through combat, each skill landing with pinpoint precision, every enemy move preempted. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A Paladin''s basic strikes drove foes into disarray, capitalizing on milliseconds of stagger to deliver devastating executions. The screen flared red as decapitated heads rolled, blood spraying like fireworks. And then there was the black panther. Its every strike was a kill, its damage numbers absurdly high. It appeared and vanished like a shadow, spreading panic in the opposing ranks. In contrast, Blade Syndicate''s players were chaos incarnate. They shoved, scrambled, and collapsed like a herd of panicked sheep. The difference in skill was striking. A particular highlight was the Warlock in glasses, a plump and very young figure. His summoning skills were overwhelming. One Demonic Guardian, two Void Lords, three Succubi, four Hellhounds, and ten Imps. His summons were a literal demon army. But he wasn''t just a summoner. His Destruction Bolt reduced health bars to slivers. Though its casting time left him vulnerable, the power behind it was unmatched. This was the strength of Renegade Alliance. Among the chaos, Ethan stood out in his understated way. Unlike the others, he wasn''t flashy. He didn''t need to be. His panther form tore through enemies like a whirlwind, his kills precise and methodical. No one escaped. And yet, anyone with an eye for combat could tell: this fight''s pace was dictated by the panther. It exploited fear, scattering Blade Syndicate''s formation until they were herded together like cattle. When the dust settled, Blade Syndicate''s 57 players were wiped out in under three minutes, a feat unheard of in Ethereal''s early stages, where gear wasn''t strong enough to dominate so completely. At the center of it all was Ethan, the panther. NotADruid. It seemed to hint at another battle on the horizon. Their five-man performance wasn''t over yet. And then there was the title of Ethan''s post: "Renegade Alliance doesn''t rely on numbers. To crush Blade Syndicate, five are enough." A single sentence, arrogant, bold, and brimming with confidence. It stirred something in people, making their blood pump faster. In no time, Ethan''s post and Marcus Skeiner''s earlier taunt became the hottest topics on the Ethereal forums. Players abandoned their quests and rushed back to safe zones just to refresh the thread, desperate to see how things would end. Ethan''s post wasn''t just a declaration. It was a slap in the face to Blade Syndicate, whose reputation relied on overwhelming numbers. It was like saying: "You like ganging up on smaller groups, huh? Fine. We''ll leave just five of us to deal with you." Everyone knew how this started. Blade Syndicate had picked the fight, killing Renegade Alliance players unprovoked. Skyblade led a counterattack with a few dozen players, wiping out over a hundred from Blade Syndicate. Humiliated, Blade Syndicate retaliated. They rallied over 1,500 members to hunt down Renegade Alliance''s 200. The odds seemed impossible, and many expected a swift end to the fight. But it didn''t end. The battle raged for an entire day. Renegade Alliance lost a few dozen players, but no one knew how many Blade Syndicate had lost in return. While Renegade Alliance members fought and dodged pursuit, Blade Syndicate filled the forums with boasts. They even started spreading rumors about Ethan. The stories were absurd: NotADruid had supposedly been hospitalized after being caught with another man''s wife. Some claimed he''d been hit by a car. The insults and curses were endless. Newer players still stuck in Starter Zones tried to defend Renegade Alliance on the forums, but they were drowned out by Blade Syndicate''s constant trolling. It was impossible to argue with them, these people didn''t think before they spoke. They''d say anything, no matter how ridiculous. Ironically, it was Blade Syndicate''s hate-filled replies that pushed Ethan''s post to the top of the forums. Ethan read through the comments, a cold smile tugging at his lips. ''Keep talking. You''ll be eating your words soon enough.'' The post reignited Renegade Alliance''s morale. They cheered. Even if Ethan did nothing else after this, they wouldn''t blame him. As for those who had left the guild, regret began to creep in. They reached out to old teammates, hoping to smooth things over and rejoin. But the replies they got were far from welcoming. "Piss off!" one particularly fiery former member shot back through a private chat. --- Ethan and his team were already back underwater, navigating through the submerged caves. Ten minutes later, they surfaced in another pond, emerging near a larger camp. As before, Ethan went ahead to eliminate the sentries while Skyblade and the others prepared for the assault. This time, the camp was far larger than the previous one. The enemies weren''t just weak Priest-class players. The camp was packed with 129 enemies, with 34 sentries alone. The numbers were overwhelming. Even with Skyblade''s well-equipped team, they couldn''t ignore such a massive gap. Chapter 59 God Of Slaughter Ethan couldn''t repeat his previous battle tactic of picking off stragglers from the edges of the fight. This time, to protect his team, he stepped onto the battlefield, targeting anyone who posed a threat. Five minutes later, the chaos was over. Out of 129 enemies, only 11 escaped. Skyblade took down 13. SeraphWarrior eliminated 15. Slashblade snatched three kills. And Meatball surprisingly managed to rack up 24 kills, second only to Ethan himself. Ethan, however, was in a league of his own, slaying a staggering 63 players from the Carnage Faction. His sharp gaze lingered briefly on Meatball, impressed by his performance despite his unassuming appearance. Afterward, Ethan updated his forum post, adding a new video beneath the one he had uploaded earlier. He appended a single sentence: "Time: 22:07. Total kills: 118. Blade Syndicate, show your proof, or your words are nothing but a joke." The forum exploded. As they had expected, this fight wasn''t over. Earlier, after Ethan''s first video, Marcus Skeiner had edited his own post, boasting about taking down 58 members of Renegade Alliance. The implication was clear, he wanted to overshadow Ethan''s achievement. Forum replies poured in, demanding Marcus upload proof. Ethan''s update made his stance equally clear: no proof, no bragging rights. After finishing his post, Ethan glanced at his teammates. Slashblade and the others were busy looting the battlefield, so he joined in, aiming to wrap up quickly and move to the next location. But then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed movement. From the nearby woods, another squad of over 70 Blade Syndicate players emerged, heading straight for them. This was a backup unit, stationed closest to the camp. They had assumed the original 100-plus players stationed here could hold their ground for a while. But as they stepped out of the trees and onto the open plains near the pond, they froze, stunned. This wasn''t what they had expected. It had only been five minutes since they received the distress call. And yet, the camp had been annihilated. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The only players left on the battlefield were five from the Renegade Alliance, calmly gathering loot. Their names floated above them, written in a blood-red hue so dark it seemed almost black. The sight was chilling, like a nightmare made real. Ethan moved instantly. Before the enemy could react, he activated Stealth, charging toward the group with blinding speed. If not for his Stealth ability, they would have seen what looked like a streak of black lightning. By the time Ethan reappeared, he was already in their midst. Rake! Blood sprayed across the faces of nearby players. The Priest Ethan ambushed clutched his throat, collapsing lifelessly to the ground. Ethan had learned something during these battles: every skill had hidden techniques that could amplify its effectiveness. In his previous life, he had played as a Rogue, mastering the intricacies of the class''s abilities. But this time, the system, or rather, that nosy old man from had forced him into the Druid class. At first, he thought his Rogue tricks wouldn''t apply to a Druid. But after several fights, Ethan discovered that wasn''t entirely true. Take Rake, for example. When used in Stealth, the skill caused both a stun and a bleed effect. Officially, it wasn''t supposed to deal any direct damage. However, during an earlier fight, Ethan instinctively treated it like a Rogue''s throat-slitting skill. To his surprise, the results were incredible. When he raked his claws across his opponent''s neck, it caused direct damage. A critical hit, no less. Unfortunately, these enemies were so poorly geared that they couldn''t withstand even a single attack. It made it impossible for Ethan to gauge the upper limits of his critical damage potential. Most of these players had between 360 and 400 HP. As damage-dealing classes, they rarely invested stat points into Stamina, relying instead on the two attribute points granted per level to boost their stats. At Level 15, that left them with only about 30 Stamina. And with a standard growth rate of 12 HP per Stamina point, their health pools were laughably small. Ethan, on the other hand, was on a completely different level. Thanks to the Divine Bloodline he''d acquired at the start, his growth rate was 20 HP per Stamina point. His durability was leagues above theirs. After his ambush on the first Priest ended in an instant kill, Ethan faded into Stealth again before anyone could react. Reappearing beside a second Priest, he unleashed a brutal swipe. Squelch. Blood sprayed like a fountain as Ethan''s claws tore through the Priest''s chest, splitting it open with terrifying force. The group of over 70 players froze in horror. This Druid wasn''t just strong, he was downright savage. One moment, Ethan had been dozens of meters away. The next, he was in their midst, delivering two attacks that instantly killed two of their Priests. The first kill was shocking enough, with the Priest''s throat torn open. But the second? It was a scene of pure carnage. The Priest''s chest had been ripped apart, blood drenching everyone nearby. The metallic stench of it filled the air, making their stomachs churn. And then there was Ethan''s red name, glowing ominously above his head, a sign of just how many players he had killed. The fear was palpable. The group instinctively began retreating, shuffling backward as they hurled desperate attacks in Ethan''s direction. A flurry of spells shot toward him, their glowing streaks of light exploding on contact. Boom! Boom! Boom! -1¡­ -1¡­ -1¡­ The damage notifications floated mockingly above Ethan''s head. He was seven levels above them, with multiple pieces of gear enhanced to +30. Their attacks barely scratched him, reduced to the minimum forced damage. Ethan charged headlong into the crowd, ignoring the onslaught of spells and arrows. Like a ferocious panther tearing through a helpless flock, he slaughtered them without mercy. Wherever he passed, players scattered like leaves in the wind, desperate to escape. Due to his Panther Form, Ethan''s movement speed had soared to 140%. There was no way they could outrun him. Ding¡­ [System Notification: Kills have reached 100. You''ve earned the unique achievement title: ''God of Slaughter''!] Ethan''s heart skipped a beat. God of Slaughter? Was this the same title from his previous life? Still in the thick of combat, he quickly brought up the title details. [Title: God of Slaughter (Unique)] Hidden Attribute: Grants freedom to fight with your body, no longer limited by skill constraints. (If the player has already ascended, this attribute increases physical control by 50%.) Description: The mantle of a God of Slaughter demands exceptional Soul Power to wield. Ethan frowned. In his past life, this title hadn''t offered any attributes. What had changed? "Exceptional Soul Power," he muttered. Could it be that the previous titleholder hadn''t had enough Soul Power to unlock its hidden potential? It made sense. Perhaps the Soul Power he had accumulated in this life had finally found its use here. As he pieced it together, Ethan couldn''t help but grin. With this title, his freedom in combat would skyrocket, effectively giving him abilities that should only be available post-ascension. Normally, to gain such combat freedom, players needed to ascend to advanced classes. For example, a Rogue would need to become a Shadow Dancer, freeing their skills from rigid activation requirements and granting the ability to chain moves fluidly, or even create custom combos. But ascension wasn''t easy. Players had to pass multiple trials and complete a Divine-level quest to earn the system''s recognition. And that wasn''t the worst of it. The final step required collecting rare materials, with varying levels of difficulty. The harder the difficulty, the more resources were needed. Of course, that brought another factor into play: wealth. If you were broke? Fine. You could settle for the easiest ascension route. But taking the easiest path meant your post-ascension attributes and rewards would pale in comparison to those who could afford the higher difficulties. Chapter 60 Predators Dance What came after a Druid''s advancement? Ethan had no idea. In his past life, across four years, he had never once heard of a successful Druid class transition. Shrugging off the thought, he equipped his God of Slaughter title and flexed his Panther Form, moving with effortless agility. He shifted between different stances, testing the limits of his body, weaving in and out of movement seamlessly. At one point, he even started messing around. Fighting with moves that shouldn''t even count as attacks. Like now¡ª With a casual flick of his tail, he whipped a player''s legs out from under them. The guy crashed to the ground hard, and somehow took damage. Ethan blinked. ''Wait. That worked?'' Sure, it wasn''t much, but that was just a tail swipe! Chuckling, he finished the poor bastard off with two basic claw strikes. Then, leaping into the air, he landed directly on another player''s shoulders, his hind legs locking around their neck. Before they could react, his claws flashed¡­ Throat slit. The moment he hit the ground, he kicked off with his back legs, sending another enemy flying as they tried to run. His movements were fluid, perfectly instinctual. A true hunter at work. And Ethan? He was feeling himself. But to Slashblade and the others watching? It looked like something else entirely. "That¡­ that''s a Druid?" Skyblade stared, his brain struggling to comprehend what he was seeing. Even Slashblade, normally unshakable, wore an expression of pure disbelief. "Slash, you recording this?" asked SeraphWarrior, eyes locked on the action. "Of course I am," Slashblade muttered. SeraphWarrior exhaled in relief. "Good. Because this is the moment Boss shuts everyone up." People had always mocked him. Called him a bug abuser, a player with zero real skill, relying only on exploits. Now? ''Let''s see what they had to say after this.'' Meanwhile, Meatball practically had stars in his eyes. It was Pure admiration. "¡­Should we help?" Skyblade asked, gripping his weapon. Slashblade scoffed. "Help? Are you blind? Look at him. Boss is having the time of his life." Besides¡ª There were barely any enemies left. And the fact that Slashblade just casually called Ethan ''boss''? Yeah. Skyblade and SeraphWarrior definitely noticed. He wasn''t the type to casually refer to anyone with such honorifics. They exchanged knowing glances, but before either could comment, Slashblade scratched his nose. "What''re you two looking at? Just enjoy the damn show¡ªoh, nice combo! Smooth. Real smooth." And yeah, their attention did snap back to the fight. Because Ethan had switched things up again. Now, he wasn''t just relying on Panther Form. The last remaining Blade Syndicate player had gotten a head start, sprinting away. Ethan transformed mid-run. Night Owl Form. With a flick of his feather, he cast Bramble Bind. He preemptively cast it half a meter in front of the fleeing target. The moment they stepped on it, the vines snapped tight. This guy was smarter than the others. Instead of panicking, he immediately drew his sword and started hacking at the brambles. But Ethan had already shifted back to Panther Form, rapidly closing the distance. And the second the vines were destroyed¡ª Bear Form. The guy barely had time to process it before Ethan charged. Boom! The force of the impact pinned them in place. [Charge] activated! Target immobilized. +15 Rage. Now for the finisher. Swipe. [Maul] activated! The massive bear rose onto its hind legs. Ethan brought both paws down, directly on the player''s skull, bursting his head like a rotten fruit. Blood splattered across his furred chest, streaks of red and yellow painting the coarse hair. He exhaled. Yeah. That felt right. As he suspected, none of his bear skills mentioned dealing direct damage. But if you knew what you were doing? You didn''t need a damage number to kill someone. Just likeSeraphWarrior, who loved decapitating people, Ethan had his own style. And right now? He was just getting started. Ethan was getting the hang of it. And it showed. His excitement was barely contained as he moved effortlessly through the chaos. Minutes later¡ª He edited his third post on the game''s official forums. This time, he added a new video beneath the previous one. With a simple caption: Time: 22:29. Kills: 78 S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And the Renegade Alliance Five were still going. The numbers kept rising, and every time Ethan updated the post with another kill count and another video. The entire player base was left in shock. "Renegade Alliance¡­ these guys are insane." Was this even real? Players couldn''t forget how Renegade Alliance had declared war the moment they left the Starter Zone. Their first guild battle igniting a server-wide conflict. But after that? Things had been quiet.Until now. Until Blade Syndicate made the mistake of mocking them, assuming Renegade Alliance had gone soft after their guild master disappeared for ten whole days. And then, today happened. The moment NotADruid, the most-renowned rising star of the game, came back online¡­ He was already level 22. Instantly reclaiming the #1 spot on the level leaderboard. The rumors of cheating spread again, people accused him of using exploits, hacks, hidden mechanics. But then, the videos dropped. And suddenly, the entire forum fell silent. No one spoke. Because what they saw, was something they had never imagined possible A Druid¡­ using what looked like martial arts. A one-man slaughterhouse. People were already blown away when they saw SeraphWarrior''s clean executions in the first video, his flawless decapitations leaving enemies crumpled before they even realized what happened. But then they saw Ethan. And the conversation ended. Because no one could say shit anymore. Meanwhile, Marcus Skeiner was losing his mind. He had taken bribes to slow down Renegade Alliance, confident that Ethan''s 10-day absence had made him irrelevant. In his head, even if Ethan came back, he''d be so far behind that he wouldn''t matter anymore. But reality? Not only was Ethan still on top, he had a 7-level lead over Blade Syndicate''s strongest players. There was a very real chance that, at this moment, Ethan was the highest-leveled player in the world. And that wasn''t even the worst part. Marcus Skeiner couldn''t understand how Ethan''s damage and defense were this high. What kind of gear did he have?! What kind of build was this?! Of course, what Marcus Skeiner didn''t know, was that Ethan''s armor wasn''t even fully equipped. His ridiculous stats came from a few +30 enhanced pieces, nothing more. And now, the five of them had turned this entire war upside down. The moment Ethan posted those videos to the official forums, marcus Skeiner had lost control of the narrative. He had gone from hunter to hunted. And now? He was stuck. If he attacked, he wouldn''t even know where to find them. If he retreated, the humiliation would be permanent. Renegade Alliance would never let him live it down. His entire guild would be labeled as the 1,500-man army that got chased away by just five players. His entire career would be finished. There was only one way forward. Find them. Kill them. Erase this humiliation. Marcus Skeiner clenched his jaw. He issued the order. "Lock down the entire Larson Basin. No one gets in or out." His 7,000 guild members, all called to one place. "I don''t care how strong they are. I don''t care what tricks they pull. With this many people, we''ll turn the whole damn map upside down if we have to. They can''t hide forever. " Meanwhile¡ª Ethan and his team kept striking. With every ambush, the kill count soared. By the time Ethan updated the forums again, the number had reached 570. An entire third of Blade Syndicate''s reported participants had been wiped out. By five players. And the craziest part? Out of those 570 kills, Ethan alone was responsible for over 400. Back at the Starter Zone¡ª The Renegade Alliance recruits were losing their minds. Someone shouted in the guild chat¡ª "What the hell are we doing just standing here?! Guild leader is out there fighting for us, and we''re just sitting here like cowards?!" Another voice cut in¡ª "We have over 200 people there! What are they waiting for? A personal invitation?!" "You guys seriously call yourselves part of this guild?! Guild leader is out there getting revenge for all of us, and you''re just gonna sit here and watch?!" More and more voices joined in. Soon, the entire chat was filled with outraged messages. Chapter 61 Five Vs Seven Thousand The morale of Renegade Alliance players was at an all-time low. Particularly those in the starter zones, they couldn''t even bear to visit the forums. Occasionally, a few hotheads would try to counter the mocking posts from Blade Syndicate, only to be drowned in insults and ridicule. Even out in the wild while leveling up, they were constantly mocked. "Look, it''s one of those Renegade Alliance guys. Thought they were hotshots, huh? Now they''re just Blade Syndicate''s chew toys!" "Yeah, their guild leader hasn''t even logged in for ten days. Guess he''s abandoned them!" "More like he''s too scared to show his face." The constant jeers left Renegade Alliance players unable to lift their heads in pride. They suppressed their frustration, but the absence of their guild leader made it impossible to stay optimistic. Many began losing hope. That was until Ethan''s first video was released. For the first time in days, the players felt their hearts swell with emotion, some even had tears in their eyes. Their leader was back. Many players who had fought in the legendary Battle of Zone 1370 still held deep feelings for Renegade Alliance. They didn''t want to see their guild become the server''s laughingstock. They only wished they could level up faster and fight alongside their comrades. After watching Ethan''s video, their spirits ignited. Slashblade even posted a guild-wide message, explaining that Blade Syndicate had set a trap in the Larson Basin and that Ethan had decided to face them with just five players instead of risking the entire guild. But even with Slashblade''s message, chaos erupted in the guild chat. The 200 players stationed outside Larson Basin, awaiting orders, clamored to charge back in and fight alongside their leader. Some tried to reason with them, but Ethan and his team had no time to manage the chaos. That''s when Lyla spoke up. "Everyone, calm down. The guild leader ordered you to withdraw because he doesn''t want you to die needlessly. He left us behind for a reason. If you go back in now, you''ll only mess up his plan. Stick to the leader''s orders. Players in the starter zones, focus on leveling up. If the guild leader needs you, he''ll call for you!" Her words silenced the uproar, though many players felt a newfound admiration for her. Still, Lyla wasn''t immune to their enthusiasm. The sheer passion of the guild members moved her deeply. But she knew Ethan well, he always had a plan. It wasn''t her place to stir things up. "Yes, miss! We''ll listen!" "Understood, boss lady! I''m heading back to level up now!" "No worries, we won''t disrupt the plan!" "Where are you, boss lady? Want to grind in the Murky Swamp with us?" The entire guild was well aware of Ethan and Lyla''s relationship. With her taking charge, no one dared disobey. By this time, the Northern Frontier''s three main cities had been activated, and the barrier between starter zones 1 to 2000 had been lifted. For a fee, players could now teleport between starter zones. Lyla had already teleported to Zone 1314, Renegade Alliance''s main base of operations. Everything was more convenient there, especially since many of her close friends had also joined the guild. As for the players who had crossed into Zone 1370 for the earlier war, they''d been sent back to their original zones by the system when their group teleport scrolls expired. Now at Level 10, Lyla saw that the guild chat had quieted down. She gathered her friends to run dungeons and level up. What seemed like a simple guild war had captured the attention of countless players. Many couldn''t resist checking the forums for updates every few minutes. For Renegade Alliance members, it was almost obsessive. After killing just one monster, they''d refresh the homepage to check on the battle''s progress. They all wanted to know: would Ethan and his team be defeated and forced to respawn? Or would they really manage to destroy Blade Syndicate? Even if Ethan and his team lost, it would still be an honorable defeat. Five players taking on 500? That alone was an unimaginable feat. Under Ethan''s forum post, countless players left comments, many expressing their desire to join Renegade Alliance. "Who wouldn''t want a leader like this?" they wrote. "When you''re bullied, your leader steps up, slaughtering hundreds for you! Isn''t that the kind of leader everyone wants?" --- On the outskirts of Larson Basin, Marcus Skeiner was restless. Annoyed, he grabbed the waist of a female player nearby, eliciting a coquettish gasp from her. Reports kept flooding in about guild members being ambushed and killed. Each notification stoked his irritation. "How many are there?" Marcus snapped. "From what the survivors said¡­ only five." "Five? Five of them killed over 500 of you? And you couldn''t even fall a single one? Useless idiots!" Marcus roared, wishing the number his scouts reported was anything but five. He angrily opened the forums, watching the videos in disbelief. He recognized Skyblade and SeraphWarrior immediately. That black panther? Definitely NotADruid. The one recording? Slashblade, no doubt. As for the chubby guy with glasses, Marcus didn''t know him, but judging by his absurd damage output, he was geared to the teeth. Where did Renegade Alliance even find players like this? Marcus thought. Their equipment was top-tier, their skills practically professional. He glanced at his own guild. Sure, they had numbers, but aside from himself, they didn''t have a single skilled player. If Ethan knew what Marcus was thinking, he''d probably die laughing. Marcus? Skilled? The only place he could claim being a skilled professional was his dreams. --- As Blade Syndicate players flooded Larson Basin, Ethan''s team faced increasingly difficult challenges. Every encounter involved no fewer than 200 enemies, and reinforcements arrived within minutes. In the basin''s depths, Ethan and his team barely had time to grab loot before reinforcements, nearly 400 strong, closed in. "Retreat!" Ethan ordered. They dove into the water, abandoning any hope of looting. Finally, Blade Syndicate figured out where they were emerging from. When Marcus heard the news, he was ecstatic. "Finally, we''ve got them!" He ordered his entire guild to converge on the waterhole within Larson Basin. Everyone who hadn''t been respawned back to the starter zones, and even those who had died once, were summoned back. Slowly but surely, the 7,000 members of Blade Syndicate mobilized. They thought they were moving efficiently, but in reality, these 7,000 headless chickens couldn''t even find the nearest waterhole. Marcus, however, reveled in the feeling of controlling such a massive force. One command from him and thousands swiftly obeyed. Grinning, he pulled the female player closer, his fingers exploring the opening of her dress as he fondled her plump breasts. "Ah¡­ Careful, not so rough." she cooed, her voice carrying an odd accent. "Hah! Let''s see where you run now!" Marcus sneered, convinced of his victory as his grip tightened. Meanwhile, Ethan''s kill count updates continued to roll in on the forums. "Time: 01:12 ¨C 587 kills." "Time: 01:25 ¨C 592 kills." "Time: 01:47 ¨C 601 kills." Although the numbers weren''t as dramatic as before, the steady rise in Blade Syndicate casualties left players stunned. And despite everything, Ethan''s team still hadn''t been wiped out. Around this time, a new post hit the forums, quickly climbing to the top of the trending list: "Ethereal WCC Livestream: Renegade Alliance vs. Blade Syndicate ¨C 5 vs. 7,439. Who will win? Watch now!" Players clicked on it in disbelief. Weren''t there only 1,500 players before? How did it grow to 7,000? The link led to a livestream, not a replay. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 62 A Desperate Decision The first thing the livestream audience saw was a gorgeous woman holding a microphone. "Hello, everyone! I''m Trina Starr, and standing next to me is a member of Blade Syndicate. Let''s hear what he has to say!" The camera panned to a flashy-looking young man, who struck a pose he probably thought was cool. "Hey, everyone! I''m DumbAce. I can say with absolute confidence that we deployed 7,439 players into the basin. Aside from the 398 still grinding levels in the Starter Zone, the rest are all here." Trina raised an eyebrow at his words. "So, Renegade Alliance only has five players, but you sent in 7,439? Isn''t that a little¡­ embarrassing?" "Embarrassing? Not at all!" DumbAce puffed out his chest. "We have the numbers, we have the strength, what''s there to be ashamed of? Our leader, Marcus Skeiner, always says, Crushing the weak is our pride, and overwhelming force is our greatest asset!''" Trina smiled knowingly. "Interesting. But I heard you''ve already lost over 500 players." DumbAce scoffed. "So what? Losers die. That''s just how it is." "Oh?" Trina''s smirk widened. "But isn''t it true that you were the first one Skyblade took out?" "Yeah, so what? I suck. Big deal!" DumbAce said without a hint of shame. "Even our guild leader, Marcus Skeiner, is a total noob. He''s died more times grinding in the Starter Zone than anyone else!" At that exact moment, Marcus Skeiner was watching the livestream. His face darkened as he heard DumbAce''s words. "Kick that idiot out of the guild!" he roared. Before DumbAce could say another word, the Blade Syndicate logo vanished from under his character''s name. DumbAce froze in shock. Trina smoothly took back the microphone, pushing him out of the frame. Facing the camera, she flashed a professional grin. "Looks like Blade Syndicate just lost one more member. Let''s continue." The broadcast team packed up their gear and left, while DumbAce stood there in the wind, completely lost. As time passed, Ethan''s kill count grew steadily. The numbers weren''t massive, but each one sent ripples of fear through Blade Syndicate. Their casualties kept piling up, while Ethan''s team of five remained completely untouched. Everyone watching was in awe. Five players had pushed a seven-thousand-strong guild to the brink. This wasn''t just impressive, it was legendary. The Blade Syndicate players were terrified. Their nerves were stretched to the breaking point. They had no idea when Ethan and his team would strike next. They were like ghosts in the water. Every time they emerged, another handful of Syndicate members died before anyone could react. Then, before a counterattack could even land, they were gone. At one point, in sheer frustration, Marcus Skeiner gave the order: "Chase them into the water!" That decision alone cost him over a hundred more players. Most drowned. Even with Warlocks in the group, Aquatic Breathing wasn''t a widespread skill, most Warlocks never even bothered learning it because it was almost practically useless. If only a small squad went in after them, they might as well have thrown themselves into a meat grinder. And then there was the cavern system. Ethan and his team moved like they knew every twist and turn, vanishing into tunnels before their pursuers could catch up. Players who followed them in got lost, unable to find their way back out. In the end, most had no choice but to commit suicide and revive back in town. Marcus Skeiner was on the verge of losing his mind. "How the hell do they know these caves so well?! What kind of bullshit is this?!" He clenched his fists, staring at the ever-growing list of casualties. If this went on any longer, Ethan and his team would rack up an even higher kill count. They refused to fight fair. They never stuck around long enough to be overwhelmed. Just that one mistake, sending players into the water, had already pushed Ethan''s kill count past seven hundred. If they reached a thousand¡­ The title of The Thousand Slayer would be carved into Ethereal''s history. And that would make Ethan a legend. Meanwhile, Blade Syndicate would become nothing more than a laughingstock. And if that happened¡­ Marcus Skeiner knew his guild wouldn''t survive. No matter how many promises that person made him, none of it would matter if he lost his footing in Ethereal. If things kept going this way, he might have no choice but to pull out. At least he had done what was asked of him, right? Marcus Skeiner clenched his jaw, feeling increasingly uncertain. But what he didn''t know was that at that very moment, Zachary wasn''t even in the game. He was busy venting his frustration on Ivy. "Trash. Trash. TRASH! You Blade Syndicate morons are all useless¡ª" Three seconds later, he climbed off her, completely ignoring the resentment in Ivy''s eyes as he slipped into his VR capsule. Beneath the surface of a secluded pool, Ethan and his four teammates were taking a short break. He had been keeping up with the WCC news reports. Over seven thousand players now? ''Good.'' The real show was about to begin. "You see this tunnel?" Ethan gestured at an underwater passage at the very edge of the basin. "Follow it straight. Don''t take any turns, no matter what. It leads outside the basin." After leading them to the most remote exit point, he sent a message to the team chat. "What about you?" Skyblade asked. Ethan smirked. "Just sit back and enjoy the show. You guys get out of here, or you''ll end up dead, too." With that, he kicked his seal-like body into motion, slicing through the water toward the surface. Skyblade exchanged glances with the others before silently following Ethan''s instructions, vanishing into the cavern system. Now alone, Ethan moved fast. The moment he hit land, he changed to panther from and activated Stealth. The Blade Syndicate players never even noticed him slipping past their encirclement. Ducking low, he moved in a straight line toward the heart of the basin. The highest-level monsters here barely reached level 20, not nearly strong enough to detect him. In theory, staying underwater would have been faster. But the cave tunnels weren''t straight; the winding paths would slow him down. So, he stuck to land. Thirty minutes later, Ethan reached the basin''s center, where the largest lake sprawled out before him. Without hesitation, he leaped in and shifted forms. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Transform: Seal Form. He plunged deep, descending for over ten minutes before finally reaching the lakebed. Pressing close to the bottom, he scanned his surroundings. Eventually, near the center, he spotted what he was looking for¡ªan underwater spring. A powerful current surged upward from its depths. Gritting his teeth, Ethan fought against the force, diving straight into the source. The pressure was immense, but after a grueling struggle, he felt his body suddenly lighten. He had arrived. A hidden chamber beneath the lake. And despite being deep underwater¡­ There was no water inside. Ethan stepped forward, glancing around. The space was small, but something about it defied logic, water flowed up the walls, running along the stone as if gravity itself had been flipped. At the top, the streams merged at the very spring he had just come through, then funneled back into the lake above. It was a bizarre, otherworldly sight. As he exited the spring, he realized he was suspended in midair, thirty meters above the ground. Transform: Night Owl Form. Wingbeat! A round-bodied bird flapped its stubby wings and slowly drifted to the chamber floor. The moment his feet touched down, his eyes landed on a Silver-Tiered treasure chest lying right at his feet. Ethan let out a quiet sigh. ''If only I were a Rogue¡­'' This place was rumored to be filled with treasure chests, some of them containing rare artifacts, and at least one holding a Pseudo-Divine Chest. But right now, all he could do was look. The entire underground labyrinth was eerily silent. Shifting into Panther Form, Ethan stalked forward, weaving through the corridors. Every time he stepped into a new chamber, more treasure chests came into view. One gold. Two gold. One dark gold. Two dark gold¡­ He tried to force himself to ignore them, but he couldn''t help counting as he passed. ''Once gold prices drop, I swear I''m coming back here with a bag full of keys.'' Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he came to a stop in front of the Pseudo-Divine Chest. His breath hitched. Chapter 63 Frostbound Legacy This chest guaranteed a Dark Gold-tier item. If lucky, maybe even a Legendary treasure. And yet, Ethan couldn''t open it. He ran his fingers over the prismatic glow of the chest, reluctant to step away. But there was no choice. He''d have to come back later. Ethan moved through another passageway, the air turning sharp with biting cold. He was getting close. Stepping out of the tunnel, he entered a vast chamber. The ground stretched before him, nearly encased in ice. Right at the passage''s entrance, a crimson orb floated in midair, radiating heat that clashed violently against the surrounding frost. Without it, the entire space would have been a frozen tomb. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Below the orb, a circular hole had melted into the ice, where water trickled into an unseen abyss. And in the heart of the chamber, floating above the frozen ground, was a translucent blue longbow. Its entire form shimmered like sculpted ice, a weapon of exquisite craftsmanship. The bow''s graceful arc gleamed under the dim light, its body etched with ancient, intricate runes. A name hovered above it. [Frostbound Reverie] Near the entrance, opposite the bow, was the crimson orb. [Infernal Core] A Legendary weapon and a Divine-tier material. Legendary gear exceeded even Divine-tier equipment in significance. Though the stats might be similar, only weapons and armor once wielded, were granted the title of Legendary. And Frostbound Reverie? It had belonged to The Winter Queen. Once, she had ruled over her own dominion, carrying the solemn duty of maintaining the Cycle of Renewal. It was her sacred mission, to guide the souls of fallen nature spirits, long-forgotten demigods, and the wild gods of old back into the mortal realm. Her domain, Azure Expanse, was revered as a sanctuary, the final resting place for all departed spirits of nature. Unlike the underworlds of other realms, there was no suffering here, only peace. Then came the catastrophe. When Terra and Azure collided, Terra was cast into eternal darkness. Azure Expanse was shattered. With no choice, the Winter Queen led her people and her beloved companion to Azure, seeking refuge. But safety was an illusion. For a thousand years, they waged war against the abyssal horrors that spilled forth from the wreckage of Terra. They carved out a place for themselves on Azure, finally earning a fragile peace. But war was never the true threat. It was humanity. With no more external enemies, Azure''s native inhabitants turned their gaze inward¡ªtoward the Queen and her kind. Their fascination with the Queen''s eternal life soon twisted into an obsession. Scholars and warlords alike sought to uncover the secret of immortality by dissecting her people. And when mere study failed, they took the next step. Using forbidden sorcery, technology, and the remains of eldritch creatures, humanity created a being of unfathomable destruction¡ª [The Infernal Tyrant] They drove the monstrosity into the Queen''s domain, its flames scorching everything in its path. The inhabitants of Azure Expanse perished in droves. The Queen, already weakened by centuries of war, fought back with the last of her strength. With one final arrow, she slew the Infernal Tyrant, and vanished into nothingness. But her companion, driven mad with grief, became a beast of calamity. It unleashed a toxic flood, drowning every last human within a thousand miles. Just as terror reached its peak, the floodwaters mysteriously receded. From that day on, no one dared set foot in the ruined lands. Millennia passed. The world changed. And now, deep beneath the earth, Ethan stood within those very ruins. The Infernal Core before him? The last remnant of the Tyrant''s destruction. And that beautiful bow? The final legacy of the Winter Queen. In his past life, the game''s lore had described this place with a single, haunting line: "Though she perished, the Winter Queen could not bear to let her companion wreak havoc upon the world. With the last of her strength, she sealed it beneath the earth, using the power of Frostbound Reverie." The Infernal Core contained boundless fire toxicity. While it partially weakened the freezing seal, it also neutralized the poison in the water, creating a bizarre, self-sustaining cycle. Two divine artifacts, neither interfering with the other, yet together providing an endless water source. At his current level, Ethan had no way of claiming either. Getting too close to either relic would result in instant, devastating death. But he already had a plan. Transform: Night Owl Form. Wingbeat! When used on the ground, Wingbeat allowed him to hover in place or adjust his movement midair. Perfect for avoiding the lethal frost coating the floor. Skill Activation: Tempest! [Tempest] ¨C Summon wind energy, creating a violent gust that repels enemies within a 5-meter radius, knocking them back 1-10 meters and stunning them for 6 seconds. Usable in any form except human. Cooldown: 30 seconds. A Druid ability, automatically unlocked at level 20. Ethan aimed at the Infernal Core and unleashed Tempest. The crimson orb trembled, then nudged ever so slightly inward. His heart pounded. It moved! Keeping his hovering stance, he waited for the cooldown to reset, then cast Tempest again. Little by little, the Infernal Core drifted closer to Frostbound Reverie. As they neared, their opposing energies clashed, one red, one white, forming a glowing barrier where heat and frost collided. Steam erupted, quickly filling the entire chamber with a dense fog. Ethan kept at it, maintaining his aerial maneuvering while carefully adjusting the relics'' positions. Finally, the gap between them shrank to just 1.5 meters. He flapped his wings, cautiously approaching the narrow space between them. The residual heat from the Infernal Core counterbalanced the frost from Frostbound Reverie. For the first time, the temperature was stable. Safe enough for him to move freely. But Ethan didn''t rush to grab them. Claiming both at once was risky. If he miscalculated¡ªif he touched either artifact at the wrong moment, he''d be obliterated on the spot. So he tested the waters. Edging closer to the Infernal Core, he monitored his health. The initial contact inflicted minimal damage, but the closer he got, the worse it became, eventually hitting 800+ HP per tick when he was just 2 meters away. He gulped down a Medium grade Instant Recovery Potion and a Medium grade Gradual Regen Potion, restoring his HP to full. Then he repeated the process with Frostbound Reverie. At 2 meters away, the damage spiked to 1,200+ HP per tick. Another potion. Another retreat. Two test runs. Over 30 gold burned in potions alone. But being overprepared was a habit from his past life, one that had saved him more times than he could count. At this point, he only had one High-Grade Instant Recovery Potion and two Medium Gradual Regen Potions left. His current max HP? 2,200. But in Bear Form? That shot up to 5,500. More importantly, he''d heard a rumor in his past life. During transformation, there was a 0.1-second invulnerability window. Was it true? He had no idea. But there was no time for doubt. Positioning himself at the neutral zone between the relics, Ethan took a deep breath. The moment he grabbed them, he''d take a direct hit. No way around it. But with 5,500 HP and a 2.5-meter reach, he just needed to touch them both. ''If I die but manage to store them in my inventory¡ªit''s worth it.'' Items in his bag wouldn''t drop on death. At worst, he''d lose the Wishbound Relic, but he could always come back and retrieve it. Besides, the water''s toxicity? He could deal with that. He had plenty of antidotes. And right now, he had money to burn. Ethan clenched his jaw. No turning back now. Transform: Bear Form! Chapter 64 The Awakening Two opposing forces struck Ethan from both sides¡ª Boom! His Bear Form nearly collapsed under the pressure, his massive frame feeling like it was about to be crushed. -3,289! -2,192! Collect! Ding¡­ [System Notification: You have obtained Frostbound Reverie x1.] Ding¡­ [System Notification: You have obtained Infernal Core x1.] At the same time, two massive damage values floated above Ethan''s head. His health bar vanished in an instant. For a brief moment, he swore his soul was about to float away with those numbers. He had expected to die for this, sure, but actually seeing his HP plummet like that? His heart nearly gave out. When his vision stabilized, he saw a single number remaining. 19 HP. Nineteen. His stomach dropped. Without hesitation, Ethan pulled out his High-Grade Instant Recovery Potion. A single bottle of this stuff cost 50 gold in stores. Did he care? Not even a little. He chugged it down instantly. Beneath his feet, the once-lethal frost had melted into ordinary ice¡ªharmless, but rapidly turning into water. The water level was rising fast. No hesitation. Transform: Panther Form! He bolted. Only an idiot would stay here. Something else was still lurking below. Just as Ethan dashed into the Hidden Chamber, a deafening boom erupted behind him, followed by a scream of pure rage. "You wretched humans! I''ll tear you apart!" Ethan did not look back. Nope. Instead, he sprinted even faster, heading straight for the exit. Behind him, the sound of rushing water roared through the tunnels, closing in. The flood surged violently, slamming into the chamber walls with terrifying force. Thank god he ran early. If he had hesitated for even a second, he''d be part of that flood. Because the Winter Queen''s companion wasn''t just a pet. It was a dragon. A monstrous, dual-element beast of water and poison, her most trusted steed. But after her death, it had succumbed to corruption, transforming into an unstoppable nightmare. For ten thousand years, it had been locked away. But now, It was free. And it was furious. Ethan barely had time to process this as he reached the entry chamber, spotting a stone outcrop near the wall. He dove for cover just as the first wave of floodwater slammed into the room. BOOM! The impact shook the entire chamber. If he hadn''t found shelter? He''d be nothing but a splat mark on the wall. As the first surge passed, Ethan felt cold water engulf him. He immediately transformed. Transform: Seal Form! Kicking off, he swam upward, breaking through the turbulent current. As he surfaced, he caught sight of his escape route, the underground spring where all this water was pouring out. All he had to do was wait for the water level to rise high enough¡ªthen slip through. Within seconds, the rising flood had carried him toward the ceiling. From 20 meters below the top, to 3 meters in just two breaths. And then¡ª Ethan saw it. A dark green haze swirling into the water. Poison. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The entire water supply was being contaminated. His instincts screamed at him¡ªMOVE. He had only about ten meters before the toxin reached him. And only half a meter before hitting the ceiling. Ethan exhaled sharply, diving for momentum before launching straight up. Swoosh! He broke through the surface, shooting into the spring''s opening. Ethan swam upward, pushing against the flow. The same force that had slowed him earlier now aided his escape. His small Seal Form rocketed through the narrow passage like a torpedo, reaching the lakebed above. But just as he emerged, a massive force exploded from below. Before he could react, he was launched upward. The sheer momentum hurled him toward the lake''s surface, his body completely out of control. And at that exact moment¡ª The players from Blade Syndicate, still searching for him above, felt the ground begin to quake. The ground trembled violently. For a moment, it felt like an earthquake. Players panicked. "Wait, earthquakes exist in this game?!" Then, they saw it. A massive pillar of water erupted from the center of the basin, shooting straight into the sky, nearly a kilometer high. Moments later, every pool of water in the basin followed suit, geysers bursting upward like synchronized fountains. The sight was breathtaking and terrifying. "What the hell is that?!" It wasn''t just Blade Syndicate that was stunned. The sheer size of the central water column made it visible from miles away. Every player in the region stopped what they were doing, their only thought¡ªWhat just happened? Meanwhile¡­ At the very top of that kilometer-high water column¡ª Ethan. When the pressure launched him into the air, he continued rising another hundred meters before reaching the peak of his ascent. The moment he felt gravity kick in¡ª Transform: Night Owl Form! Wingbeat! ''God, I love this skill.'' At first, he had dismissed it as a cute little flapping move, but it had saved his life so many times. There was no way in hell he was falling straight back down into that poison-infested water. Below, the once-clear water had turned murky green, a lethal mix of toxicity and death. And Ethan? He had zero antidotes left. No resistance potions. No purification spells. One dip in that water, and he was done. So, he made a different choice¡­ Glide. With controlled movements, he maneuvered away from the poisoned basin, smoothly drifting toward the outer edge. From his aerial vantage point, he could see everything. Players scattering in terror, their tiny figures frantically sprinting for their lives. Some made it. Most didn''t. The poison spread too fast. As he activated Wingbeat, Ethan also activated his recording function. Every second of this massacre was captured. Slowly descending, he reached the outer perimeter of the basin. Here, the terrain was higher, meaning the poison hadn''t reached it yet. Now just under 100 meters from the ground, he surveyed the scene below. And that''s when he saw them. A group of over 400 Blade Syndicate players, gathered around a makeshift command platform. On it, a single man, surrounded by women. Ethan narrowed his eyes. ''Son of a bitch.'' The bastard who had been commanding the hunt for him, Sitting comfortably, enjoying himself, while his guild was dying in agony. Ethan clenched his jaw. That man? Marcus Skeiner, the guild master of Blade Syndicate. Marcus Skeiner''s gaze remained locked on the basin, his expression twisting in horror. Seven thousand of his guild members, drowning, poisoned, dying. He watched their desperate struggles, their bodies floating to the surface one by one. A total wipeout. Where had this water even come from?! And why the hell was it poisoned?! Panic clawed at his mind. ''How the hell am I supposed to recover from this?!'' Seven thousand deaths, each member losing one level and one piece of equipment. How was he supposed to compensate that?! First thought? He won''t pay them back. Second thought? If he didn''t, they''ll riot. Even with all the bribes he''d taken, it wasn''t enough to cover the losses. His legs gave out, and he collapsed into his chair. Then¡ª "Look! Up there!" A player pointed toward the sky. A fat bird was descending slowly toward the cliffs. All eyes turned. Marcus Skeiner followed their gaze¡ª And saw Ethan. Ethan landed on a high ridge, standing above them all. With 400 Blade Syndicate players watching, he shifted back to human form. He raised his hand, and pointed directly at Marcus Skeiner. Then¡ª Thumbs down. A slow, deliberate motion. Before he ran his finger across his throat. A declaration of war. And a promise. ''This fight ends here.'' Silence prevailed. Then¡ª "That''s Renegade Alliance''s guild leader!" The words hit Marcus Skeiner like a slap to the face. His rage boiled over. "KILL HIM!" His face contorted with fury, veins bulging as he screamed. Did that bastard actually think that he could take him on? With 400 people against him?! ''You arrogant son of a¡ª!'' "GO!" The Blade Syndicate players charged toward Ethan, only to blink in confusion. Because, he was gone. One second he was there, the next? The ridge was empty. "Protect Guild leader! Priests, use Illumination! Find him!" One of Marcus Skeiner subordinates snapped into action. Immediately, the remaining players rushed to form a protective circle around him. Chapter 65 Unbreakable? Think Again Everyone had lost sight of Ethan. In his panther form, he moved like a black phantom, vanishing without a trace. The priests in the area cast Radiant Illumination, bathing the platform and its surroundings in light with no blind spots. Still, there was no sign of him. Where was he? "Knights with True Sight skills, find him for me!" Marcus Skeiner bellowed from the platform. Among the 400 players present, only three knights possessed the skill. At Marcus'' command, their eyes glimmered with a golden glow, scanning the area. They looked around, their gazes sharp and focused, but even with True Sight, Ethan remained undetected. Normally, such a skill should reveal someone in stealth, or at least leave a trace. Unless Ethan''s stealth level vastly exceeded their detection range. While the knights were focused on the front, one of them suddenly turned his head. A faint shadow, like a wisp of lightning, darted through the air. "There he is!" the knight shouted. Everyone spun around. This time, Ethan, caught in the golden light of True Sight, appeared as a blurred, almost transparent figure. How was he so fast? A hundred meters in just six or seven seconds? That kind of speed was unheard of. In Ethereal, the standard running speed was 9 meters per second, meaning 100 meters should take at least 12 seconds, especially since stealth reduced movement speed by 50%. How was Ethan this quick? But Ethan''s panther form gave him a 140% movement speed boost, and even in stealth, he retained 90% of that speed. Additionally, as someone who had spent his past life constantly running for survival, Ethan''s inventory was always stocked with essential escape tools. He had three Speed Scrolls, worth ten gold coins each, which granted a 60% movement speed boost. He even carried two Size Reduction Scrolls, a rarely used item that halved his size for better mobility. In Ethereal, once player-run shops opened, the system stopped selling certain items. Essentials like these scrolls would either disappear or be sold at exorbitant prices by players. Back then, a scroll that cost ten gold coins early on could fetch thousands, or even tens of thousands of gold later, depending on demand and material costs. If the system hadn''t imposed purchase limits, Ethan might''ve stockpiled scrolls just to resell them at a higher price later. As Marcus'' squad moved sluggishly to execute their anti-stealth strategy, Ethan activated a Speed Scroll. Before their skills could even begin to take effect, Ethan had already slipped behind their formation with ease. Though the priests'' Radiant Illumination eventually covered every angle, their casting was staggered, leaving brief gaps. Ethan weaved through them with quick leaps and rolls, reaching the platform below. By the time the knights activated True Sight, Ethan was already standing on the platform. Now, only a few scantily-clad women stood between Ethan and Marcus. In black panther form, he grinned, his sharp teeth gleaming like polished ivory under the light, exuding a predatory, bloodthirsty aura. The women screamed in unison, scrambling down from the platform in terror. Players from Marcus'' guild surged forward to defend their leader, but collided with the fleeing women. Chaos erupted as both groups tangled together, tumbling to the ground. In the confusion, some players "accidentally" tripped, falling onto the women and seizing the opportunity to grope them, sparking another round of panicked shrieks. Meanwhile, Marcus raised his shield, unfazed by the chaos below. "The so-called Newbie King,'' huh? I''ve heard your attack power''s impressive. Let''s see if you can break through my defense!" Ethan didn''t bother responding. Without a word, he vanished into stealth again. In the split second it took Marcus to brace his shield, Ethan reappeared behind him. Rake! Marcus froze, stunned, and a Bleed effect began draining his health. Ethan prepared to follow up with Shred. But Marcus twitched, recovering slightly, and spun around with a sudden shield bash. ''So, he has a crowd-control removal skill,'' Ethan thought. Not that it was surprising. As the leader of Blade Syndicate, Marcus Skeiner would obviously have access to the best resources. Without them, he''d never have earned the title of Harmony City''s top guild master. Ethan shifted into bear form, gaining 10 Rage upon transformation. He cast Maul! A skill requiring 10 Rage points. The massive bear reared up, slamming one paw against Marcus'' shield with explosive force. BAM! Marcus stumbled back three steps. Meanwhile, Ethan''s bear form barely wavered. -31, -44! In just one second of combat, Marcus had only taken bleed damage from Ethan''s Rake and the True Damage effect on Ethan''s weapon. Seeing the damage numbers, Ethan thought grimly, His defense is insanely high. Without my Divine Ability [Focus], I might not have been able to break through at all. The moment Marcus took his first step back, Ethan shifted into owl form. Without missing a beat, he unleashed two debuff spells in quick succession: Sunburn and Moonfire. -31, -44! -1, -44! -1, -44! Three sets of damage numbers hovered over Marcus'' head. As Marcus took his third step back, Ethan shifted back into panther form, darting to his side. Shred! Marcus steadied himself and swung his shield into position just in time. Clang! The sound of metal rang out as the shield successfully blocked Ethan''s attack. -1, -44! The shield reduced incoming damage by 30%, leaving Ethan frustrated. His attack power was close to 600, and with Shred and his Divine Talent bonuses, his skill damage was tripled, amounting to roughly 1,800. Yet Marcus'' shield reduced it to nearly nothing, forcing a measly one-point deduction alongside bleed damage. ''This guy''s defense is ridiculous. He''s the perfect example of a tank, a shield warrior with insane gear. Looks like I need an upgrade soon,'' Ethan thought. This was the first time in this life that he hadn''t instantly taken down an opponent. Even as he analyzed the situation, Ethan brushed past Marcus, only to whip around mid-motion. His tail lashed out, striking Marcus'' ankle. It wasn''t a skill, just a move Ethan improvised, aided by his unique God of Slaughter title. The tail swipe threw Marcus off balance, and before he could recover, Ethan''s panther form darted behind him. With a powerful kick from his hind legs, Ethan sent Marcus'' staggering body into the air. Ethan flipped back, his claws gleaming. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shred! His claws raked down Marcus'' back, a perfect, clean hit. There was no shield to block, no parry, no evasion. -546, -44! Two massive damage numbers appeared above Marcus, followed by ongoing debuff effects and the consistent drain from True Damage. Marcus'' health bar dropped by one-sixth in an instant. The realization hit Ethan like a freight train: This guy has close to 4,000 HP! "Priests, heal me!" Marcus roared into the guild''s command channel. "Boss, you''re on the platform, and it''s blocking our line of sight. We can''t reach you," a priest replied. At that moment, the priest''s hands weren''t on his staff, they were busy wandering over one of the fallen women. "Damn it! What are you all doing down there? Get up here and kill him already!" Marcus bellowed in frustration. Ethan''s 500+ damage burst, coupled with his relentless maneuvers, had pushed him to the brink. "Uh¡­" The Blade Syndicate players, who were still busy groping and molesting the women below, finally seemed to realise that their leader was in serious trouble. Chapter 66 The Fall of Blade Syndicate The players from Blade Syndicate reluctantly pulled themselves away from the women and rushed back toward the platform. During the brief moment Marcus Skeiner was still in mid-air, Ethan followed up with three Shred attacks to his back. The last Shred was a critical hit. -989! A red critical damage number floated above Marcus. By the time Marcus hit the ground, his health had dropped to a quarter, just over 1,000 points. Clutching a potion in his hand, he was about to chug it down. Ethan noticed the priests rushing up from below and the potion in Marcus'' hand. He calculated quickly: ''If he drinks that potion and holds out until the priests reach him, killing him will be nearly impossible. High-defense shield warriors with elite gear are a nightmare to deal with.'' The decision took only a moment. Ethan shifted into bear form. Slam! The bear form''s crowd-control skill stunned Marcus for three seconds, enough time to end this. ''There''s no way he has a second crowd-control removal skill,'' Ethan thought. Bam! Just as he expected, Marcus was stunned on the spot. His hand, holding the potion, froze just a centimeter from his lips. ''This is it¡­ It''s over. Time to die,'' Ethan thought grimly. Shifting back into panther form, he used a Five-Star Savage Bite. Ethan adjusted his angle carefully, aiming for the middle of Marcus'' throat. Crunch! -2698! (including 1458 overkill damage). Completion: Perfect. With a loud clang, Marcus'' shield fell from his hand, crashing to the ground. Ethan snatched the shield up, activated stealth, and leapt off the platform. His passive ability, Panther''s Grace, triggered, allowing him to land without taking any damage. By the time Blade Syndicate''s players crowded onto the platform, Ethan had already disappeared. All that remained was Marcus'' lifeless body. Marcus, now in his ghostly form, was furiously screaming in the guild chat. Meanwhile, Ethan opened the guild chat for Renegade Alliance and sent a single message: "Attack!" He had already contacted Skyblade and the others while descending from the platform, instructing them to gather their forces and close in. Now, over 200 Renegade Alliance players had formed a circle around the area. With Marcus dead, the battle was as good as over. The remaining 400 Blade Syndicate players were left to the guild. Ethan figured they could use this as a chance to vent their pent-up frustrations. As the Blade Syndicate players reached the platform and stood frozen in shock, a deafening battle cry echoed from the distance. Over 200 Renegade Alliance players charged in with unrelenting ferocity, like a blade piercing through the enemy formation, tearing their lines apart. While the numbers, 400 versus 200, might have been close enough for a fair fight, the events leading up to this had already broken the Blade Syndicate''s morale. First, their 7,000-strong force had been wiped out. Then, their leader Marcus was killed in a one-on-one duel. With their leader gone and their spirits crushed, the Blade Syndicate players had no will to fight. Despite outnumbering their opponents two-to-one, their only thought was to run. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In a matter of thirty seconds, the battle turned into a one-sided slaughter. The 400 remaining Blade Syndicate players were wiped out. Ethan climbed back onto the platform, beckoning Skyblade, Slashblade, SeraphWarrior, and Meatball to join him. "Let''s take a group photo," Ethan suggested. "Hell yeah!" Skyblade said enthusiastically. "Everyone, put on your guild emblems and turn off your character names. Line up for a group shot!" Ethan shouted to the players below. A few minutes later, Ethan''s post went live. The first video was a top-down view of the battlefield, showing Ethan''s tactical movements. The caption read: "Time: 05:25 ¨C Blade Syndicate, 7,000+ players annihilated!" The second clip was from Ethan''s perspective, featuring his duel with Marcus Skeiner. The caption read: "Time: 05:31 ¨C Marcus Skeiner defeated!" The final video showed 200 Renegade Alliance players massacring 400 Blade Syndicate members. The caption read: "Time: 05:33 ¨C Blade Syndicate, 400+ players obliterated!" The final image in Ethan''s post was the group photo. The five of them stood at the edge of the platform, their names glowing a sinister black-red, like congealed blood, as they flashed harmless-looking smiles. Below them, over 200 Renegade Alliance players raised their weapons, roaring in unison. Their mouths clearly formed a single word: "Kill!" After Ethan updated the official forums, players across the server learned the shocking truth: the toxic water that had flooded the entire basin and wiped out 7,000 Blade Syndicate players? That was all his doing. A single act of mass destruction. Terrifying. Then there was his duel with Marcus Skeiner. His fluid, precise movements and masterful control had left everyone in awe. Who would dare claim now that the title of Newbie King was just a fluke or the result of exploiting bugs and cheats? Such flawless combos and lightning-fast reactions, how many could even come close to matching him? And yet, some were equally stunned that Marcus had managed to survive several rounds against Ethan''s relentless assault. Adding fuel to the frenzy, the WCC live stream had captured the entire battle between Ethan and Marcus from start to finish, in high-definition panoramic glory. While most players were still glued to their screens, replaying the videos in shock, Ethan stood silently at the edge of the high ground, staring at the now-still waters below. Something''s not right¡­ This isn''t how it happened in my previous life. In his past life, the player who triggered the event with the two divine artifacts had been a Level 180 rogue. Back then, the toxic water had spread far beyond the basin, covering over ten kilometers. It was then that a terrifying dual-element dragon had descended, annihilating countless villages and towns. That event had forced countless top-tier guilds to mobilize tens of thousands of players. After suffering massive losses, they''d finally managed to bring down the dragon. But now? This time, it was eerily quiet. The toxic water had stopped rising. And the water¡­ Ethan squinted. Its color was clear, crystalline. The toxins were gone. Ethan inspected the scene more closely, trying to figure out what was different. Could it be¡­? His thoughts were interrupted by Skyblade, who stood beside him, enthusiastically recounting his past exploits to the team, talking endlessly without pause. Suddenly, Ethan lifted his leg and kicked him. "What you don''t understand is, back then, I¡ªwhoa!" Skyblade''s story was cut short as he tumbled off the platform. Splash! The abrupt kick sent Skyblade spinning uncontrollably into the water below. Everyone froze. Wasn''t this water supposed to be toxic? Falling in meant certain death! Ethan casually called out, "Hey, how''s the water? Still poisonous?" Skyblade surfaced, coughing and sputtering. The moment his head popped above the surface, he heard Ethan''s question. "It''s¡­ it''s not toxic!" he blurted out, stunned. Then, shouting furiously, he added, "Who the hell kicked me in?!" Skyblade hadn''t even seen Ethan''s kick coming. Now, still flailing in the water, he yelled in frustration. Ethan ignored him, scanning the horizon. The massive boss dragon he''d expected still hadn''t appeared. Could it have gotten lost? Or maybe it didn''t spawn at all? Ethan wondered, his brow furrowed. The players around him stared, dumbfounded. Was this really the same guild leader known for his cold precision and deadly efficiency? The silent killer who left no survivors? "Split into teams and assign a warlock with the Aquatic Breathing skill to each group! Start looting the water for gear!" Ethan shouted, his eyes sparkling with excitement at the thought of all the equipment waiting below. Hearing this, the Renegade Alliance players snapped out of their stupor. After a second''s hesitation, excitement spread like wildfire. Teams formed quickly, diving into the water. Some warlocks, lacking the skill, rushed back to the city to purchase Aquatic Breathing spellbooks and learn the skill on the spot. The guild''s players worked like a well-oiled machine. Red-named players were tasked with diving and retrieving the gear, while those without red names shuttled the recovered equipment back to the city. Ethan assigned Slashblade and two other trustworthy players as temporary officers. Their job was to oversee the transportation of the looted gear to the guild vault. As for Ethan and the other red-named players, they couldn''t risk entering the city. At first, Ethan worried that Blade Syndicate might retaliate. But after some time passed, he noticed that their players had completely disappeared, no sign of them anywhere. Relaxing, he handed the high-tier shield Marcus had dropped to Skyblade. Now, free of immediate threats, Ethan decided it was time to find a good spot to grind mobs and clear his red name status. Chapter 67 High School Flashback Ethan lingered for a while longer, his eyes scanning the area. No sign of Blade Syndicate, not even a scout. Everything was already in place, with Skyblade and the others handling things. Ethan didn''t need to concern himself further. He left the area alone, planning to find a spot to farm monsters and grind out some experience. More importantly, he needed to clear his red-named status. Opening his stats panel, his eyes locked on the Sin Value section, which now displayed a glaring "Max!" "What the hell does that even mean?" Ethan muttered, baffled. Was it maxed out? How long would it take to clear this? For a brief moment, despair crept into his heart. He glanced at the time, it was already past six in the morning. Frustrated by the thought of grinding for hours, Ethan logged out of the game. It was time to work out anyway. Leaving the villa, Ethan began jogging down the quiet streets of Eastwood Manor. It didn''t take long before he spotted a gym just a few blocks away. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, he noticed a surprising number of people already working out, even this early in the morning. By 2024, fitness had become a national trend in America. For the past three years, practically everyone had embraced exercise as part of their daily lives. High schools had added physical training to their curriculum, and by the time students graduated, physical fitness scores carried significant weight in college admissions. In universities, martial arts and combat techniques were mandatory courses, carrying more credit weight than academic subjects. Without passing these courses, you couldn''t even graduate. This boom in fitness culture had turned gyms, martial arts schools, and combat academies into thriving businesses. Ten years ago, gyms were rare, and combat schools were practically nonexistent in urban areas. But now, almost every neighborhood had multiple gyms competing for members, and at least one martial arts or combat studio on every street. With advances in technology reducing work hours, people had more free time, and hitting the gym became the go-to pastime. Knowing a few combat moves wasn''t just trendy, it earned you respect. For young men, showing off some martial skills made socializing, especially with women, much easier. And for those looking to meet someone, gyms were often filled with stunningly fit individuals, making them ideal spots. In his previous life, Ethan never had the chance to set foot in such places. Although they were widespread, memberships were ridiculously expensive. Before Ethereal''s launch, he had been a struggling orphan, barely able to scrape together two meals a day. His frail body had always held him back in school fitness courses, let alone in high-end gyms where he would''ve been out of place and humiliated. When Ethereal launched, he had a brief taste of glory. But within six months, it all crumbled. His legs were taken from him in a cruel betrayal, plunging him into a deeper abyss. Self-care became a daily struggle, and by the time of his rebirth, he had survived solely by earning a meager living through Ethereal. Now, standing in front of the gym, Ethan paused, realization dawning. He hadn''t tested his strength in ages. Approaching the gym entrance, he noticed a small sign taped to the door: "For Sale." He shrugged it off. For sale didn''t mean closed. He pushed open the door and stepped inside. The interior was impressive, with state-of-the-art equipment neatly arranged. It was far better equipped than anything he''d seen at his old school. "Two hours, please," Ethan said, pulling out a hundred dollars and placing it on the front counter. He hadn''t even glanced at the person behind the desk, his eyes busy taking in the gym''s impressive layout. "Ethan?" Hearing someone call his name, he turned toward the counter, his brow furrowing. The woman standing there stared at him with a mix of surprise and smugness. For a moment, Ethan couldn''t place her. But then, recognition flickered in his mind. "Jade Taylor?" Ethan ventured hesitantly, unsure. The heavy makeup made it difficult to be certain, but the face seemed familiar. Her exaggerated expression morphed into a teasing smirk. "Oh, so now you''re pretending we just happened to bump into each other?" she sneered, crossing her arms and leaning forward. Jade Taylor, Ethan''s old high school classmate. She had always been somewhat attractive, with smooth cheeks, long eyeliner flicking up at the corners, and delicately arched brows. Her eyes, in particular, were mesmerizing. If she didn''t speak and people didn''t know her true nature, many would be captivated by her at first glance. Back in high school, she was even called the school''s second-most beautiful girl. But adding Ethan''s previous life to his current one, he was now effectively five years older than her. His perspective had naturally shifted. If it came to makeup, Jade didn''t hold a candle to Ivy. And without makeup, she was leagues away from Lyla. Lyla was effortlessly stunning, the kind of beauty who could outshine everyone even in a massive university. Compared to her, the title of ''second most beautiful girl'' in a small high school seemed utterly insignificant. After high school, Ethan had heard Jade didn''t go to college but jumped straight into the workforce. It wasn''t surprising, given her behavior during high school. She had spent most of her time hanging out with thugs, skipping class, or outright ditching school. Getting into college would''ve been a pipe dream for her. The only reason she even graduated high school was because her family had money. Rumor had it her parents had bribed the principal to keep her enrolled. But right before the college entrance exams, her family went bankrupt. After that, she disappeared from school entirely. "I said, give me two hours," Ethan repeated, his tone cold as his eyes flicked over Jade. He hadn''t expected to find her working here, of all places. He genuinely disliked her. Ethan rarely hated people outright, but Jade might have been the exception. Even Zachary and Ivy, he didn''t hate them; he resented them. But Jade? She was different. That hatred stemmed from something that happened years ago, during his first year of high school. At the time, Ethan had developed a crush on a quiet, studious Asian girl named Rainie Chen. There was something about her reserved demeanor that reminded him of Lyla. Like any teenager with a newfound infatuation, Ethan had written a love letter. But before he could summon the courage to give it to her, the letter, tucked away in his desk, somehow ended up in Jade''s hands. The timing was painfully ironic, Jade had been sitting a row behind Rainie in class, and someone had mistakenly assumed the letter was meant for her, despite the fact that Ethan had started it with, "Rain¡­" which he felt was quite a poetic opening, as it matched Rainie''s name. Jade, however, took the letter and went around telling everyone that Ethan had a crush on her. Worse, she made a huge scene, publicly "rejecting" him in the most humiliating way possible. She had mocked him relentlessly, calling him a parentless stray and saying he was like a dog, biting more than he could chew. That incident left a scar on Ethan, one he carried through all three years of high school. He couldn''t shake the embarrassment, and it showed in his grades, which remained mediocre throughout. Thankfully, Ethan still managed to scrape into college. Jade, however, vanished after their graduation. Ethan had tried to find her a few times, but not out of any sense of closure. It was because she had stolen something precious from him. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A bracelet, a simple one that Ethan always carried. It had been too small for his wrist, so he usually kept it in his pocket. One day, he left his jacket in the classroom to use the bathroom. When he returned, the bracelet was gone. Some classmates said they''d seen Jade rummaging through his things. Chapter 68 Resurgence That bracelet¡­ Ethan hadn''t thought about it in years. Lyla had given it to him during their time in the hospital together. He''d been six years old then and had treated it as his most cherished possession ever since. But today, seeing Jade Taylor again, the memory of the bracelet resurfaced, sharp and unexpected. After reuniting with Lyla, she hadn''t mentioned it, perhaps because she''d forgotten about it entirely. --- "Ethan, I heard you were looking for me after graduation? What for? Still can''t let go after all these years?" Jade''s voice was sharp, each word slicing through the air. "I told you back in high school, don''t waste your time chasing after me. Just look at you, a broke loser trying to hit the gym. Where''d you even scrounge up the money for this? Found it in a trash can?" She scoffed, ignoring the crumpled bills Ethan had placed on the counter. Her questions came rapid-fire, giving him no chance to respond. At that moment, another girl approached, tugging at Jade''s arm. She whispered something quickly, her tone more cautious. "Jade, who is this? No matter who he is, he''s still a customer. Maybe tone it down a bit?" The girl then turned to Ethan, offering him a polite smile. Picking up the sweaty, slightly damp cash he''d placed on the counter, she hesitated briefly, her gaze flicking to him with mild curiosity. Ethan had stuffed the money into his pocket before running here, the dampness a mix of sweat and nerves. Though he''d worn a small belt bag during his jog, old habits had him instinctively reach for his pants pocket. "Quinn!" Jade hissed, grabbing the girl''s arm to stop her. Her intent was clear¡ªdon''t process his payment. Quinn patted Jade''s shoulder dismissively. "Relax, will you?" With practiced efficiency, she swiped a card through the reader, entered a few details on the computer, and handed a gym access card to Ethan. "You''ve got two hours. Enjoy your time here." Ethan accepted the card with a smile. "Thanks." Jade opened her mouth, clearly ready to say something else, but Ethan was already walking away. Her words died in her throat, and she could only glare at his back. Seconds later, she muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Ethan to hear, "An orphan, a stray without a family, acting like he belongs here. What a joke¡­" Those words¡­ the same cutting remarks she''d made years ago in front of everyone. Ethan felt a flicker of anger. The old him, hot-headed and impulsive, would have stormed back to confront her, maybe even slap her across the face. But he wasn''t that teenager anymore. Four years of hardship had tempered him. He turned back toward the counter, his expression calm as he addressed Quinn. "Excuse me. Is your manager here?" Quinn froze for a moment, thinking Ethan was about to lodge a complaint against Jade. She immediately tried to diffuse the situation. "Sir, I''m sorry. Jade usually isn''t like this¡­" Ethan raised a hand, cutting her off. "Don''t worry. I''m not here to complain." Quinn hesitated, then glanced at Jade with a sigh before picking up the desk intercom. Moments later, a muscular man descended from the upstairs office. His well-defined physique hinted at years of dedicated training, making Ethan painfully aware of his own scrawny build. He felt out of place standing there, with his thin arms and legs. The man approached, his steps confident. "Good evening, sir. I''m Todd. Is there something I can help you with?" Todd exchanged a quick glance with Quinn, who subtly gestured toward Ethan. Understanding the situation, Todd turned his full attention to the young man. Ethan nodded toward the notice board near the entrance. "I saw the sign by the door. You''re looking to sell this place? What''s your asking price?" Ethan''s words left everyone stunned. Jade was the first to recover, scoffing loudly. "What''s this loser talking about? He''s going to buy the whole gym? Yeah, right. What a joke." Her voice carried across the room, loud enough for Ethan and the manager to hear. Todd, the manager, shot her a warning glance but didn''t say anything. He could tell there was some tension between Ethan and Jade. His gaze lingered on Ethan for a moment before he spoke. "The asking price is $2,100,000. That includes six months of remaining rent." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan didn''t hesitate. "I''ll take it. Do you have the paperwork ready?" "What?" Todd froze, staring at Ethan like he hadn''t heard him correctly. For three months, that notice had been pinned on the door, ignored by everyone. He''d almost given up on finding a buyer, already preparing to shut the gym down when the lease ended. His plan had been to sell off the equipment and dive full-time into Ethereal. The location wasn''t ideal, too far from the bustling city center. When he first opened, Todd had expected the nearby affluent neighborhoods to provide a steady stream of high-paying clients. Things had been promising, at least until Ethereal launched. As Todd predicted, the game''s release had drained foot traffic. He''d seen it coming, but even he hadn''t expected the drop to be so severe. Now, with Ethan suddenly offering to buy the place, Todd couldn''t help but feel overjoyed. "The contract''s at a law office just down the street. I''ll call them right now." Ethan nodded. "Sounds good." Jade, meanwhile, looked like she''d been hit over the head. Her expression twisted with disbelief. There was no way Ethan could afford to buy the gym. She clung to that thought, determined to see him humiliated. "Fine, let''s see how far you can take this act," she muttered under her breath. "When the lawyers show up, I''ll watch you squirm." While Todd stepped aside to make the call, Ethan wandered deeper into the gym. Todd quickly followed, not wanting to leave him unsupervised. Quinn, who''d been quietly observing, leaned toward Jade. "What''s wrong with you today? You''re just looking for trouble, aren''t you?" Jade rolled her eyes. "Trouble? Please. He''s just putting on a show. Let''s see how he makes a fool of himself later." Quinn sighed, shaking her head in exasperation. "You''re impossible." At that moment, a red-haired man strolled up to the counter. Without asking, he reached over and grabbed a bottle of water from behind the bar, twisting it open and taking a long drink. "Who''s that guy?" he asked, jerking his chin in Ethan''s direction. "Just an old classmate," Jade replied, her tone dripping with disdain. "He used to write me love letters in high school. I turned him down, obviously." The red-haired man burst out laughing. "A lovesick puppy, huh? Look at him, skinny arms, legs like twigs. I could knock him out with one punch. Unlike him, I''ve got the stamina, baby. What do you say, Jade? Come over tonight, I''ve got a king-sized bed waiting for us." As he spoke, his hand disappeared behind the counter, out of sight. Jade squealed and swatted at him, half-heartedly trying to push him away. "Stop it, Len! We''re in the gym, it''s the middle of the day!" she protested, her voice high-pitched and teasing. "Seriously, quit messing around!" From across the room, Ethan caught every word and every giggle. His sharp hearing picked up the whispered exchange, and he felt nothing but contempt. ''Stupid.'' He turned his attention to the grip strength tester in front of him. Wrapping his hand around the handle, he squeezed slowly, increasing the pressure. The mechanical arm began to tremble, bending under the force of his grip. Chapter 69 Testing Limits The mechanical arm of the grip strength tester creaked as Ethan steadily increased the pressure. Numbers on the display began to climb rapidly. 66 pounds¡­ 110 pounds¡­ 154 pounds¡­ He''d already surpassed the strength of an average person, but Ethan wasn''t done yet. He continued to exert force, pushing the mechanical arm further. 198 pounds¡­ 243 pounds¡­ 330 pounds¡­ Finally, with a sharp exhale, Ethan released the handle. The display froze at an impressive 346 pounds. Right then, Todd walked over, catching sight of the number. His eyebrows rose as he glanced at Ethan, a mix of surprise and curiosity crossing his face. Not bad, Todd thought to himself. His own record was 370 pounds. But this scrawny-looking kid? With barely any visible muscle? How on Earth had he managed that? Ethan stared at the display, equally astonished. He remembered his grip strength from before, barely 105 pounds, the lower end of average. Now, he''d added over 200 pounds to that. How could he not feel a rush of excitement? Still, he kept his expression neutral as Todd approached, walking calmly to the squat rack. Without hesitation, he slid the barbell onto his shoulders and began a deep squat. The display lit up, numbers climbing steadily. 198 pounds¡­ 220 pounds¡­ The weight increased, but Ethan showed no signs of strain. "This is insane," Todd muttered, his eyes glued to the display. 330 pounds¡­ 385 pounds¡­ Ethan''s lean frame seemed completely unfazed, despite lifting several times his own body weight. For an average person, attempting to squat even close to this much without proper conditioning would be a death wish. But Ethan? He wasn''t even breaking a sweat. Finally, the numbers stopped at 458 pounds. Ethan straightened up, his face slightly flushed but otherwise composed. Suppressing the surge of exhilaration, he thought to himself, ''My body really has changed. This isn''t just a minor improvement.'' In recent years, fitness culture had exploded worldwide, with records reaching impossible heights. Ethan had seen videos of professional athletes squatting over 2,200 pounds. Compared to them, his achievement wasn''t groundbreaking. But for someone who, until recently, could barely squat 44 pounds? A tenfold increase in strength was incredible. Time to test his punching power. Ethan moved to the punching machine, settling into a proper stance. He stepped forward, fist crashing into the target. Bam! 196 pounds. He frowned, something feeling off. The punch didn''t land quite right. Lowering his head, he closed his eyes, recalling a specific moment from the game. The bear form in Ethereal¡­ the way it executed its attack during the clash with Marcus Skeiner. The bear''s technique relied on¡­ Ethan adjusted his stance, mimicking the bear''s movement. This time, his punch came from his core, the motion fluid yet powerful. Boom! The punching machine let out a series of warning beeps, its sensors overloaded. Every head in the gym turned toward the sound, including Jade, Len, and Quinn at the front desk. "Holy shit," Len blurted, staring in disbelief. "How is that even possible?" Jade muttered, her eyes wide with shock. Quinn, on the other hand, gasped, her hands covering her mouth. As for Todd? Standing right behind Ethan, his jaw hung open, practically touching the floor. 492 pounds. The number flashed on the screen, breaking the machine''s previous record by a mile. No wonder it had started blaring. Todd vaguely remembered the old record¡ª246 pounds, set by some rich client who rarely cared about fitness. Their gym''s clientele, after all, was mostly wealthy people who prioritized luxury over physical performance. Ethan''s punch strength wasn''t just impressive, it was terrifying. Even in a professional boxing gym, it would place him among the top contenders. But he didn''t stop there. He moved from machine to machine, testing his abilities. A leg press? 690 pounds. Record broken. Reaction speed? The machine''s hardest difficulty? Cleared effortlessly. Record broken. Sprinting? 100 meters in 8.78 seconds. Record broken. That was faster than the world''s top sprinters. Ethan stared at the sprint results, his mind reeling. How was he this fast? From start to full speed, it took him less than four seconds, something that brought to mind nature''s fastest predator: the cheetah. Jade Taylor watched him silently, her emotions a whirlwind. This wasn''t the Ethan she remembered. To her, Ethan had always been that frail, awkward boy, a gust of wind away from toppling over. Back in school, she used to pick on him relentlessly. And when she''d discovered those love letters he''d written her, it only made her bullying worse. The more humiliated he looked, the happier she felt. Before moving away, she''d even stolen something precious from him just for the thrill of it. Now, seeing him shatter record after record, Jade felt an unsettling discomfort in her chest. "This guy¡­ he''s scary," Len muttered, his voice trembling as he stared at Ethan. He glanced sideways at Jade, edging slightly away from her. ''Better keep my distance from Jade,''Len thought. ''If she''s crossed this guy in the past, the last thing I need is for him to drag me into it.'' Len''s eyes flickered with hesitation. Ethan mentioned buying this gym, should he warn Leon about it? Leon had been eyeing the place for months, waiting for the price to drop. With that thought, Len slowly crept toward the door, slipping out unnoticed. Meanwhile, Ethan had tested almost every piece of equipment in the gym. The reaction speed tester was particularly frustrating, it wasn''t advanced enough to truly push his limits. In combat, reaction speed could determine everything. No matter how strong or powerful your punches were, if your reactions lagged behind, you''d never land a hit. Even in Ethereal, reflexes were critical. Reaction speed and mental agility were the defining traits separating professional players from casual ones. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By now, every pair of eyes in the gym was locked on Ethan. People whispered among themselves, wondering who this impossibly strong and fast man could be. In the center of the gym, a raised boxing ring caught Ethan''s attention. Two massive men stood atop it, their muscles bulging like overinflated balloons. Both were over six feet tall, their thick, chiseled frames radiating raw power. Ethan''s lips curled into a faint smile. He felt a sudden urge to test himself against them. For years, he''d dreaded combat training in school. Every session had been a nightmare, an opportunity for him to embarrass himself in front of his classmates. He would always hide in the back, avoiding the instructors'' attention. Everything changed when the infamous Ice Queen, Celeste Hawthorne, became their assistant instructor. Unlike the previous coaches, who used Ethan as their personal punching bag to "teach lessons," Celeste never singled him out or mocked him. Ethan still remembered the day she became the assistant. One clean kick had sent the previous instructor to the hospital. After that, Celeste took over all their classes. Though technically an assistant, she was the only one left to train them. Strangely enough, Ethan didn''t fear her the way others did. If anything, he felt a sliver of gratitude toward her. She never humiliated him, never used him as a scapegoat. For once, he could attend class without the anxiety of becoming a public spectacle. Back in the present, Ethan''s grin widened as he called out to the two men in the ring. "Hey! Want to play a round?" This was a first for him. Never before had he willingly wanted to step into a ring. Chapter 70 Deal Sealed The two muscle-bound men in the ring exchanged uneasy glances. The one in blue boxing shorts immediately climbed down and waved his hands. "Nope, I''m out. Not doing this!" The other, wearing red athletic pants, quickly followed suit, pulling off his gloves with a nervous laugh. "Yeah, same here. I''ll pass!" They weren''t idiots. A guy with over 490 pounds of punch force and leg power exceeding 680 pounds? That was pro-level. If this guy so much as grazed them, they''d probably be laid up in a hospital bed for months. Ethan sighed, disappointed. He''d been looking forward to testing himself. Still, there was always the combat training class later in the afternoon. He could find someone there to spar with. Just then, Todd approached. "Uh¡­ sir, the lawyer is here with the paperwork." "Call me Ethan," he said with a smile. "Sure thing, Ethan. Let''s go sign the contract," Todd replied, leading him toward the front desk. Ethan chuckled quietly. Being called sir, felt a bit too¡­ Instead,he would rather be referred to by his name. Back at the desk, a lawyer stood waiting, his professional demeanor betraying none of the awkwardness in the room. Todd gestured toward the staircase. "We can go upstairs to finalize everything¡ª" "No need," Ethan interrupted. "We can do it here." He couldn''t help but feel a pang of regret. ''What am I doing spending $2,100,000 on a gym I don''t even have time to run?'' Still, backing out now wasn''t an option. No way he was giving Jade Taylor the satisfaction of watching him fail. The lawyer handed Ethan the transfer contract. Flipping through the dense, jargon-filled pages, Ethan''s eyes glazed over. He had no patience for legalese. Shrugging, he grabbed the pen. Under the lawyer''s guidance, he scrawled his name and pressed his fingerprint onto the document. Todd signed his own copy, and they swapped papers, signing again where needed. Once both contracts were complete, the lawyer spoke. "This is the preliminary agreement. Mr. Todd, you''ll receive the payment now, and please issue a receipt for Mr. Ethan. We''ll handle all the formalities for the transfer, including the licenses and other documentation." Behind the desk, Jade perked up at the mention of payment. ''Let''s see you try to fake your way out of this one,'' she thought smugly. Under her watchful eye, Ethan pulled out his ID card from his belt bag. By 2024, all transactions were streamlined into a single system. ID cards doubled as bank cards, making payments seamless. Todd retrieved his own ID, and the lawyer placed both cards into a compact portable terminal. After Ethan entered his password, a pleasant chime rang out. "Transaction successful. Amount transferred: $2,100,000." The machine''s confirmation message echoed through the gym. Todd''s phone buzzed almost immediately. Checking the notification, he broke into a grin, shaking Ethan''s hand enthusiastically. "Ethan, the gym''s officially yours now. Oh, by the way, you play Ethereal, don''t you? I''m planning to go full-time as a pro gamer after this. Business is just too stressful. My in-game name''s LuckIsASkill. What about you?" "Hm? Ethan froze, his hand still in Todd''s grip. LuckIsASkill? Wasn''t that the guy he''d killed on Ethereal''s launch day? The one who he''d stumbled across near that hollow tree when he went for the Wishbound Relic? Ethan gave Todd a strange look. Suddenly, spending $2,100,000 on the gym didn''t feel so painful. In this life, Ethan had taken the opportunity that might have originally belonged to Todd. Giving it back now felt like a fair trade, an act of karmic balance. "Alright, I''ll add you later," Ethan said casually, avoiding mentioning his in-game username in front of everyone. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Jade at the counter. Her face was frozen in shock, tinged with regret. ''Regret all you want now, it''s too late.'' Ethan turned to the lawyer and asked, "According to the contracts you drafted for this gym and its employees, if I fire her, what''s the cost?" He pointed directly at Jade. The lawyer, who had handled all the gym''s legal agreements, glanced at her before replying. Jade''s temper flared the moment she realized what Ethan meant. "You can''t just fire me! You''ll have to compensate me!" The lawyer nodded. "She''s right. Unless an employee has caused significant damage to the business, firing them will require compensation. In this case, you''d owe her six months'' salary." Ethan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "What if she resigns on her own?" "If she resigns voluntarily, as per the contract, she needs to give one month''s notice. After that, you''d pay her for the month she worked and the one month''s salary you''re holding as a deposit¡ª$8,000 total." The lawyer pulled a copy of the employment contract from his bag, showing it to Ethan. "What?" Ethan blinked in surprise. "Her monthly salary is $4,000? For a front desk worker?" The lawyer nodded. "Yes, that''s correct." Ethan raised an eyebrow and asked, "What happens if she quits without notice?" "In that case, per the contract, you''d keep the one-month deposit. Additionally, you could file a labor arbitration claim for damages caused by her sudden departure. As for the damages¡­" The lawyer paused, clearly catching on to Ethan''s intent. "Well, the amount would depend on what you claim, though¡­" "Though what?" Ethan prompted, curious. The lawyer sighed. "Most employers wouldn''t go that far. Usually, they just keep the deposit and let it go at that." Ethan smirked. "Well, that''s not happening here. If she leaves without notice, file the claim. I''ll back it up." The lawyer hesitated but ultimately nodded. "Understood. Just contact me if that happens." Jade''s face turned pale as she listened. The lawyer''s explanation and Ethan''s response left her speechless. She opened her mouth to shout, "I quit!" but the words caught in her throat. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her confidence crumbled as reality set in. Tears almost welled up in her eyes, and she pointed at Ethan, trembling, but no words came out. Ethan didn''t even spare her a glance. "How long is her contract?" he asked the lawyer. The lawyer flipped through his files. "Six months remaining." Jade finally broke down, slumping over the counter in tears. Ethan, unaffected, nodded calmly. Her sobs didn''t stir even the slightest hint of sympathy in him. At that moment, a janitor stepped out of the restroom with a mop in hand. Chapter 71 A Debt of the Past Ethan blinked in surprise. The girl who had just walked out was small, even younger than Lyla by a few years. "Uh..." He didn''t know her name, so he simply gestured for her to come closer. "You, switch clothes with her. From now on, you''ll be working at the front desk," Ethan said, before turning to Jade. "And you¡­ what was your name again? Oh, right¡ªJade Taylor. You''ll be in charge of cleaning from now on." The young girl looked at Ethan, then turned to Todd with a questioning gaze. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but Todd spoke first. "Ethan, she''s only here temporarily. She comes in the morning and evening to clean, but the rest of the time, she''s in school." "Yeah," the young girl quickly added. "I''m a senior in high school. I can''t work full-time." Ethan shrugged. "Fine. Then you handle cleaning outside. As for Jade, she''s on permanent restroom duty. No need for her to come out. Just seeing her annoys me." His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. Jade stiffened, looking as if she wanted to protest. But before she could speak, Ethan continued. "By the way, if you want to quit, now''s the time to say it. I''ll approve it immediately. But if you do, you still have to finish out the month. Otherwise, feel free to take it up with labor arbitration." The onlookers exchanged glances. This was brutal. Jade was seriously out of luck. Even if she quit now, she was stuck scrubbing toilets for another month. Ethan turned to the lawyer. "There''s nothing in her contract that specifies what job she has to do here, right?" "Correct." "Which means if I assign her to a task and she refuses, I can fire her without paying severance?" "That''s right." "And if she insults me, I can fire her on the spot, no compensation needed?" At that moment, Ethan caught Jade out of the corner of his eye. She had just stood up, face red with anger, her hand raised as if about to point at him and let loose a string of curses. "Yes," the lawyer answered. "If she verbally attacks you, not only can you fire her, but you''d also have grounds to sue for defamation." The lawyer''s tone was professional, but his face was twitching like he was trying to hold back laughter. "Good to know. Thanks. If I need anything else, I''ll have someone call you." Ethan gave the lawyer a polite nod. "Sure," the lawyer said before making a quick exit. If he stayed any longer, he was sure he''d suffocate trying not to laugh. This Ethan guy was a real piece of work. What he didn''t know was that, to Ethan, Jade wasn''t just some random employee. She was the reason his high school years had been a nightmare. Three years of misery. Three years of humiliation. All because of her. Now, she stood there, trembling with rage, finger still raised, but no words came out. The spectators were speechless. This guy bought an entire business just to mess with someone? Over a severance payout he clearly didn''t even need? If she annoyed him so much, why not just fire her outright? Why go through all this trouble? What they didn''t understand was that Ethan had endured three years of torment because of her. One month? That was nothing. "I¡­ I quit!" Jade spat through gritted teeth. "Great. Approved. Restroom''s that way." Ethan''s expression didn''t change. Jade slammed her hand onto the counter with a loud thud. Ethan didn''t let up. "Got a problem?" "N-No," she stammered, suddenly unsure of herself. Her bravado faded as she walked toward the restrooms, silent tears sliding down her face. She couldn''t afford to break her contract. Even if Ethan didn''t drag her to labor court, he could slap her with a bogus lawsuit and take away two months'' worth of pay. And payday was only a few days away. She had credit card bills, impending loan payments. She had fought hard for this high-paying job. And somehow, she had ended up working for him. Years of scraping by in the real world had hardened her. She had thought she wasn''t that naive high school girl anymore. So why, the moment she saw Ethan again, had she fallen right back into the same cycle? She had no idea. She had run into plenty of old classmates over the years, but none of them ever made her feel this way. But every time Jade saw Ethan, she couldn''t help herself. She had to mock him. Insult him. Look down on him. It was a habit. A compulsion. As she walked, she tried to push the thoughts away. Just endure it for a month. In the meantime, I''ll find another job. But then¡ª "Wait." Ethan''s voice rang out just as she reached the restroom door. Jade clenched her fists, an unexplainable irritation bubbling up inside her. She turned around, scowling. "What now?" "Give me back what you took," Ethan said coolly. "Do that, and I might let you walk away right now. With your full paycheck." Jade frowned. "What are you talking about?" Ethan raised his arm and tapped his wrist. Her expression shifted. The furrow in her brow smoothed out. "You''re serious?" S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan''s heart skipped. So she really does have it. And judging by her reaction, she might even know where it is. "Yes," he confirmed. "Give it back, and I''ll settle your pay right now." Jade hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I''ll go look for it." "You can find it?" Ethan pressed. "I think so," she muttered. "Good. I''m coming with you." Without waiting for a response, he walked straight out of the gym. Jade hesitated, but after a brief pause, she followed. The crowd was left staring, dumbfounded, as the two disappeared around the corner. What the hell just happened? What was so important that Ethan, who had been dead set on making Jade''s life miserable, was suddenly willing to let her go? Nobody could have guessed. Because the item in question wasn''t some priceless artifact or rare collectible. It was just a cheap, childish bracelet. Fate was a strange thing. All these years, Jade had barely thought about it. Back then, she had snatched it from Ethan and tossed it into a box filled with random trinkets. When her family lost everything, the bank seized nearly all their belongings. The only thing she managed to take with her was that box. --- An hour later, Ethan and Jade returned to the gym. The moment they stepped inside, Ethan spotted Todd downstairs and called out, "Settle her paycheck." Todd raised an eyebrow. "Actually, I was just about to talk to you about something. We should go over the handover process." "Handover¡­?" Ethan blinked. He had completely forgotten about that part. The realization hit, he had absolutely no clue how to run this place. Seeing his blank expression, Todd smirked. "If you don''t want to manage it yourself, you could always hire someone to do it for you." Hire someone? Who? Ethan ran through a mental list of people he knew¡­ and came up with nothing. His social circle was tiny. He had always been a homebody, barely interacting with anyone outside of school. Other than a handful of classmates, he didn''t really know anyone. ''Crap.'' Just as he was starting to stress, a lady passed by, leading a tray of customers. It was Quinn. Ethan''s eyes lit up. "Hey, Quinn!" he called out. She turned, looking confused. "Yeah?" "Go over the handover process with Todd. You''re the new manager now." Quinn froze. Todd barely managed to keep a straight face. ''Ethan really just does whatever he wants, huh?'' "Wait, what?" Quinn stammered. "Yeah, you''re in charge now. Here." Ethan grabbed a napkin, scribbled his number on it, and handed it to her. "Call me if something major happens. Otherwise, just run the place however you see fit. I don''t care if it makes money, just don''t let it go under." "I¡­ uh¡­" Quinn took the napkin, still looking stunned and unable to figure out what to say next¡­ Chapter 72 Reckoning Todd, Quinn, and Jade stood at the entrance of the gym, watching Ethan leave with a noticeable spring in his step. He seemed to be in a good mood. Todd tilted his head thoughtfully. "Ethan''s unbelievable. Who throws out two million just like that?" Hearing Todd''s comment, Quinn made a silent vow. ''I''ll make sure to handle this gym better than ever for him,'' she resolved internally. Jade, on the other hand, stood quietly, a swirl of emotions she couldn''t quite pin down settling deep within her chest. By the time Ethan returned to the villa, it was already past eleven. Pulling out his phone, he was surprised to see that Lyla hadn''t called him. "That girl, she''s oddly considerate, never one to check in unnecessarily," he mused with a grin. But there was one text waiting for him, from her. "Hey, went to school on my own this morning. When you get back, stay put and rest, alright?" Ethan chuckled at her words, but they served as a timely reminder. "Oh right¡­ I have combat training class this afternoon!" Excitement surged in his chest. Ever since the morning''s performance test, he had been itching to get back into action. Tossing his things together, he prepared to head to campus. For the first time in ages, Ethan felt a burning eagerness for class. Heading to the garage, he stared at the sleek Predator X, but ultimately shook his head. "Too flashy. Better keep things low-key," he muttered to himself. Taking the bus instead, Ethan endured a nearly two-hour trip to school. By the time he arrived at the east entrance, his phone clocked in just three minutes before class began. Today''s session was across campus at the west entrance''s training hall. Ethan gulped nervously. Memories of Celeste Hawthorne flashed vividly through his mind. Her strict attitude towards late students could turn even grown men to jelly. "Not happening today," he muttered, breaking into a sprint. A snarky voice from a fellow student nearly stopped him in his tracks as he passed. "What''s the rush, man? Chasing your next life?" ''Chasing my life? Try managing yours,'' Ethan thought grimly but didn''t waste time responding aloud. He tore ahead, leaving the stunned student behind. The east gate to the west gate wasn''t exactly a straight shot. The school''s large central lake meant Ethan had to circle halfway around it, adding an extra distance to his dash. Plus, the training hall was on the third floor of the building. Huffing and puffing, he launched himself into the room just as the class bell rang. Ethan silently thanked his morning stamina test for preparing him, but even so, his lungs burned, and sweat poured off him as he leaned against the doorway to catch his breath. "Pfft, look who made it, our resident slacker," a nasal voice jeered from the back of the room. "Heard you were laid up in the hospital. Feeling strong enough now?" Ignoring the insult, Ethan wiped his brow and took his place. His calm composure, however, didn''t seem to sit well with Celeste Hawthorne, who was watching from her position. Her lips pursed in displeasure, clearly unimpressed by his refusal to engage with the heckling. Her eyes narrowed. ''That''s it? If it were me, I''d send anyone talking like that straight to the infirmary,'' her expression seemed to say. Standing in the center of the training room, Celeste''s voice broke through the low hum of the room. "Alright, everyone''s here. The usual warmup to start, followed by open sparring. Then, as always, I''ll offer individual guidance." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A collective groan filled the room. "What? Again? Didn''t you guide us last class?" "Yeah, you used to only give guidance once a month. Are we starting a new weekly schedule or something?" The scathing glare Celeste shot them was enough to shut everyone up. Like cockroaches scattering under a spotlight, the students immediately split up, diligently diving into their warmup exercises. Ethan picked a corner of the training hall and slumped down into a seat. Warming up was the last thing on his mind. After a grueling workout at the gym earlier that morning, plus a mad long distance sprint to class, he figured he''d done more than enough to get his blood pumping. From his quiet corner, Ethan surveyed his bustling classmates. On the far side of the room, Celeste Hawthorne was doing her warm-up stretches near the wall. For the first time, Ethan allowed himself to really observe her. It hit him then: this was the woman who, for two years straight, had topped the campus ''most beautiful'' rankings, until Lyla arrived, of course. Her figure was flawless. Tight, athletic, yet feminine in all the right places. She had the kind of face that could launch a thousand bad decisions, and her toned waist emphasized her lean, graceful build. But it was her legs, long, straight, smooth, and almost unnaturally perfect¡ªthat really caught Ethan''s eye. ''What on earth does she eat to look like that?'' he thought absently. He watched her move with fluidity and grace, every stretch highlighting her incredible flexibility. At one point, as she bent particularly low, Ethan found his thoughts drifting. Then her eyes locked onto his. A chill ran down Ethan''s spine as a wave of palpable hostility radiated from her direction. Instinctively, he broke eye contact, pretending to focus on the blank wall behind her. ''Jeez,'' he thought, his pulse still racing. ''How are her senses that sharp? All I did was look at her for a few seconds!'' As Ethan diverted his gaze, an annoying and eerily familiar voice broke his train of thought. "Ethan, care to spar with me? I''ve been working on some new moves and thought I''d give you some guidance since you''ve been out of class for a bit." The voice belonged to Trent, one of Ethan''s least favorite people. He had served as an assistant instructor under the previous coach before Celeste had taken over, and back then, his favorite pastime had been making Ethan''s life miserable. Hearing the challenge, Ethan''s expression darkened briefly before returning to his usual neutral smile. ''Oh, sure, if it''s a beating you''re after, I''ll be happy to oblige. It''s about time I settled this anyway.'' His thoughts were laced with venom. The anger from past humiliations flared in Ethan''s chest as he remembered Trent''s past torment. Once, during their first year, Trent had goaded Ethan into a fight in front of the entire class. The result? Ethan was battered to the ground, his face stomped on, forced to surrender amidst jeers and laughter. For weeks afterward, the shame had kept Ethan from showing his face in class. Since Celeste''s arrival, Trent had toned down his antics. After all, she had literally hospitalized their previous coach during her takeover. Still, Trent had never stopped searching for opportunities to pick on Ethan. ''If you''re so eager, I''m more than happy to take out the trash,'' Ethan thought grimly, a flash of menace flickering in his eyes. Despite his resolve, he kept his tone light. "Nah, let''s not. You know I''m not much of a match for you," he said with a sheepish smile. His refusal disappointed the classmates who''d been watching, anticipating a spectacle. But Ethan had a rule on his side: one of the first decrees Celeste had implemented in her classes was that no one could be forced into a sparring match. This alone had been enough to make her Ethan''s hero. Still, Trent felt unease creep into his chest as he looked into Ethan''s eyes. For a moment, he thought he saw something sharp, dangerous even, but when he looked again, Ethan''s expression was as relaxed and unassuming as ever. Shaking off the momentary doubt, Trent continued to push. "Hey, it''s just practice. No hard feelings either way, right? If you''re rusty, I can help get you back on track. I won''t go too hard, promise." Before Ethan could respond, another voice chimed in, a shrill, grating sound that he instantly recognized as Liam, Trent''s loyal lackey. "Yeah, Ethan, come on! It''s been days since you''ve had a proper workout. Do you really want Celeste herself to have to baby you?" Liam added with an oily chuckle, hoping to rile Ethan up. The sight of Liam, a wiry guy who always hovered around Trent like an overeager puppy, made Ethan''s blood boil. He could hardly count the number of times Liam had piled onto Trent''s harassment. Together, the pair had been a thorn in his side since his first day on campus. Just as Ethan was preparing another polite refusal, a group of five other students strode over, interrupting the tension. "How about we keep things fair?" one of them suggested with a smirk. "If you''re dead set on sparring, Trent, we''re happy to jump in too. It''s only fair someone''s got Ethan''s back, right?" Chapter 73 No Holding Back The people who just stepped out were none other than Ethan''s college dormmates. Seeing them, a warmth spread through his chest. They knew full well they weren''t a match for Trent, yet they still showed up to back him up. "And who the hell do you five think you are? Trent''s just trying to give Ethan some guidance. Why don''t you all go chill somewhere else?" Ethan had been worried that Trent would actually clash with his five dorm mates, because if that happened, there''d be no easy way to deal with the guy afterward. But right in cue, Liam stepped forward and ran his mouth. "Liam''s right. None of us can beat Trent, so no matter who steps up, we''ll just lose. I might as well be his punching bag and help him get some practice in." Ethan spoke without hesitation. "Ethan¡­" Rowan grabbed his arm. "It''s fine, big guy," Ethan interrupted. "Trent said he just wants to give me some guidance, right?" "Yeah, yeah, we''ll keep it light." Trent put on a magnanimous act, but a glint of malice flashed through his eyes. ''You little punk, I''m going to humiliate you again. Damn it, both your ex and your current girl¡­ What a waste on someone like you.'' If Ethan knew that this whole grudge started because of that, he honestly wouldn''t know whether to be amused or just plain amused¡­ or really amused. The training hall buzzed with excitement. Once the crowd realized Ethan and Trent were about to throw down, they quickly backed up, clearing the center of the floor for the fight. At that moment, Celeste Hawthorne walked over, her expression unreadable. She looked at Ethan and spoke in a low voice. "You''re aware that in-class sparring has strict regulations. If someone sustains serious injuries or worse, the consequences remain the same, right?" Ethan nodded. "I know." "Good." She turned to leave but, as she passed him, she muttered something under her breath. Ethan froze. He stood there, staring at her back, completely dumbfounded. Celeste didn''t acknowledge his reaction. She walked to the edge of the training hall and turned around, her usual icy demeanor firmly in place. "What are you standing there for?" Trent snapped. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan exhaled sharply and smirked. "Alright then, why don''t we go all out? Otherwise, you won''t enjoy yourself, right? It''s just a fight. If we get banged up, we''ll just heal up at home. We''re young, nothing to be afraid of." Trent''s eyes gleamed with excitement. ''That''s exactly what I wanted. Even if you didn''t suggest it, I wasn''t planning to hold back anyway.'' "Fine by me. Let''s do this for real." He grinned before turning to the crowd. "You all heard him, right? Ethan agreed to an all-out match. If anything happens, don''t blame me!" "Ethan, are you insane?" "Dude, don''t mess around!" "Come on, don''t do this!" His dormmates were in shock, voices overlapping as they tried to dissuade him. But Ethan? He simply clasped his hands together and gave Trent a respectful bow. Trent hesitated for a second before following suit. As he bowed, Ethan caught sight of the opening, a sharp grin curling at his lips. Normally, in-class sparring didn''t require formal gestures. There was an official global regulation for competitive combat courses: If both fighters willingly performed a ceremonial bow before a match, it was no longer just a spar, it became an official fight. As long as neither party surrendered, there were no restrictions on injuries. Even death. However, if one fighter conceded or was knocked out, any further attacks would still be considered a criminal offense. The moment Ethan and Trent completed the ceremonial bow, the entire training hall fell silent. "...Are they actually serious?" Everyone knew what that gesture meant. After a brief silence, the hall erupted into hushed murmurs. "Ethan¡­ is he trying to get himself killed?" "Has he lost his mind?" "Who knows? Either way, this is straight-up suicide." "Who do you think''s gonna win?" "Is that even a question? Obviously, it''s Trent!" No one had expected Ethan to initiate the bow first. He had just cut off his own escape route. Amidst the chatter, Celeste''s lips curled into the faintest smile. But with all eyes glued to the fighters in the center, no one noticed. If they had, they would have been utterly dumbfounded. The Ice Queen¡­ smiling? Meanwhile, Trent''s eyes gleamed with ruthless intent. ''Since you''re so eager to get wrecked, I won''t hold back. If I don''t put you in the hospital for a month, I''ll livestream myself eating dirt.'' Of course, he only said that in his head. If he had spoken out loud, Ethan would have made him sign a written agreement on the spot. And then? Well, Trent would''ve had to follow through. "Let''s get started," Trent said. With a sudden burst of speed, he charged at Ethan. To the spectators, he was lightning-fast. Many of them clenched their fists, nervous for Ethan. But in Ethan''s eyes, Trent was moving like a sluggish snail. He hadn''t fully realized it yet, but his enhanced soul power had drastically sharpened his perception. As Trent closed in, he threw a punch straight at Ethan''s chest. Earlier, Rowan had warned him about Trent''s latest strength test results, 115 kg punch force, 235 kg leg strength, and a 152 kg squat. Ethan analyzed Trent''s movements in an instant. His stance was riddled with openings. He could think of at least a dozen ways to knock him down. But if Trent went down too quickly and refused to get back up¡­ where was the fun in that? Instead, Ethan simply pivoted left, brushing past Trent''s right side with ease. Trent reacted quickly, swinging his arm in a desperate attempt to catch Ethan. Too bad. Ethan sidestepped effortlessly, now positioned behind him. Using the momentum of his turn, he drove his elbow into the center of Trent''s back. Thud. A dull, heavy sound echoed through the hall. Trent staggered forward, his whole body seizing up. For a brief moment, just a fraction of a second, his blood circulation stalled. Then, under the sudden pressure from his heart, everything surged violently. That one hit had already caused serious internal damage. Ethan hadn''t held back. A strike to the spine was no joke, if Trent wasn''t one of the physically strongest in the class, he might have blacked out on the spot. Still, his heart had taken a direct hit. Even if he recovered, he could probably kiss any intense physical activity goodbye. Just as he was struggling to regain his balance, Ethan moved again. A sharp gust of wind cut through the air. Trent, still reeling from his momentary cardiac arrest, was too dazed to react. Then¡ª Smack. A loud, crisp slap landed across his face, sending him stumbling sideways. Before he could collapse, Ethan was already on the move. Smack. Another slap, this time to his left cheek, straightening him back up. Ethan wasn''t done yet. He wasn''t about to let Trent hit the floor, not until he had landed the finishing blow. Chapter 74 The Fall of a King At this point, how could Trent not realize that Ethan had been toying with him? In fact, he even suspected that Ethan had been playing the fool for over a year, just for this moment, to finally turn the tables. But¡­ that didn''t make sense. Last time, he had literally stomped Ethan''s head into the ground. The guy hadn''t even been able to fight back. "I¡­" Trent barely got a word out. He had already made up his mind to surrender. Thud. Ethan''s fist shot forward, drilling into Trent''s stomach with pinpoint force. The words died in Trent''s throat, swallowed by the shock and pain. His body folded like a shrimp, bending sharply at the waist. Just as he doubled over, Ethan''s knee came rocketing up. Boom! The impact sent Trent airborne. Before he could even start to fall, Ethan followed up with a powerful kick to his chest. Thud. A deep, gut-wrenching sound echoed through the hall as Trent''s body was launched backward. He crashed hard, tumbling nearly six meters before coming to a stop. Blood spewed from his mouth as he struggled for a moment¡­ then stopped moving altogether. Ethan dusted off his hands, admiring his final kick. Perfect form. The entire hall was dead silent. No one had expected the fight to end so quickly. And no one, absolutely no one, had expected Trent to be the one lying on the floor, utterly defenseless. When had Ethan become this strong? Everyone in the room had some combat training. They could tell, just from that last kick alone¡ªthat Ethan had easily generated over 300 kg of force. The thought sent a chill down their spines. That kind of power was on par with professional fighters. If Trent had really taken that full-force kick¡­ who knew how bad his injuries were? Just thinking about it was terrifying. Ethan, however, was feeling incredibly satisfied. Trent had always been considered the second-best fighter in their class, right behind Celeste. But now? That reputation had just been obliterated. Flat on his back, completely motionless, Trent was no longer a king. Ethan turned to the stunned crowd, his face a picture of innocence. "Uh¡­ so, does anyone know where to find a doctor? I swear, I didn''t mean to. I had no idea he was this weak!" As if on cue, two school medics pushed through the crowd, heading straight for the fallen Trent. Every combat class had medics stationed outside, just in case of emergencies. These two had been watching the fight from the doorway, and the moment Trent collapsed, they had sprinted in with a stretcher. One of them¡ªa guy with glasses, walked past Ethan and muttered, "Damn, that was brutal. I''d say he''s gonna be bedridden for at least six months." Ethan scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Uh¡­ that was an accident. I swear! Who knew he was this fragile?" The medic gave him a thumbs-up. "Dude, if you''re not acting, then Hollywood''s missing out big time." Ethan could only laugh awkwardly as they carried Trent away. His five dormmates immediately swarmed him. "Ethan, that was insane!" "Damn, man! Playing dumb for so long, just to strike when it mattered? Absolute genius!" "That last kick¡­ brutal. Just brutal." The other students crowded around, chatting excitedly. Ethan shrugged. "I mean¡­ maybe he just had food poisoning last night? Probably wasn''t feeling his best today." Everyone shot him a look of pure disbelief. Before they could call him out on his nonsense, Celeste''s cold voice cut through the air. "Alright, everyone, get back to training. Ethan, stay after class." The crowd instantly fell silent. All eyes turned to Ethan, who could only sigh. Looks like he wasn''t getting out of this one. Everyone''s gaze on Ethan had a mix of sympathy and amusement. He just got called out by the Ice Queen. ''Serves you right for acting all innocent, what, you think we''re blind? Good luck, buddy.'' Even his dormmates patted him on the shoulder one by one. "Stay strong, man." Ethan was speechless. Were they really enjoying his misery? Damn it. Hopefully, it wouldn''t be too bad. Then he remembered Celeste''s whispered words before the fight. Maybe she wouldn''t be too hard on him? Still, something didn''t add up. Hadn''t she just stood there, watching the fight unfold? What if Trent had actually beaten him half to death? Did she not care? Or¡­ did she already know he had gotten stronger? He had heard before that top-tier fighters could gauge someone''s strength just from their aura alone. Had Celeste reached that level? No way. She wasn''t much older than him. That would be insane. A thousand questions swirled in his mind before his thoughts landed back on what she had whispered: "After the bow, don''t hold back." That short phrase had made everything click. That was why he initiated the ceremonial bow first. He knew that once he did, Trent wouldn''t pass up the chance to humiliate him and would follow suit. And Celeste had probably predicted that too. That''s why she had warned him. Now, as she went around coaching other students, Ethan took another long look at her. Who was she, really? With her skills, there was no way she was supposed to be here, in an ordinary University. Pushing those thoughts aside, Ethan decided to look for a sparring partner. But before he could even ask, the other students shook their heads, practically backing away. No one wanted to be the next Trent. Especially after hearing the medic''s passing remark¡ª"Well, at least he''s still breathing." What did that even mean? That Trent had almost died? At that moment, Ethan officially became the last person anyone wanted to mess with. Even scarier than the Ice Queen herself. Celeste might break your body, leave you bruised, and push you to your limits¡­ But Ethan? That guy would smile at you like a friend, then send you straight to a hospital bed. Two years without fighting, and the moment he did, he left someone barely conscious. Yeah. Best to stay far away from him. That was the collective decision of everyone in the room. Ethan, meanwhile, was starting to feel¡­ bored. So this was the loneliness of being too strong? Left with nothing else to do, he turned his attention to the training equipment. He started testing his strength on the machines, one after another, breaking records as he went. Alarms blared. Machines groaned under the strain. His classmates, who had been trying to ignore him, now stared in horrified silence. Yup. Time to cherish their lives and stay the hell away from Ethan. Not far away, Celeste watched with bright, interested eyes. She was eager to finish the lesson and talk to him. But if Ethan had known he was once again drawing her attention, he''d probably be cursing himself. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The entire class passed with a strange mix of anxiety and relief. For the first time, Celeste didn''t call anyone out for one-on-one sparring. And Ethan? His initial excitement had slowly turned into full-blown panic. Because the whole afternoon, Celeste had been staring at him. Unwavering. Unrelenting. Eventually, he couldn''t take it anymore and slipped away to a corner where she couldn''t see him. That gaze of hers was lethal. As soon as the bell rang, he was going to blend into the crowd and escape. Chapter 75 The Ninth Division As soon as the class ended, the entire room erupted into motion. No hesitation. No second thoughts. Everyone rushed toward the exit. "Stop." Celeste''s cold, slightly irritated voice rang out. The crowd froze mid-step, turning back in confusion. Following her gaze, they finally saw what she meant. Ethan was hunched over, desperately trying to squeeze his way through the mass of bodies. Even with his ridiculous strength, there was no way to bulldoze through over a hundred people in such tight space. And now? Now everyone knew exactly who Celeste was talking to. No one said a word. Then, whether it was one person or several acting together, someone gave a hard shove. Ethan was immediately pushed out of the crowd, stumbling into the open. As he turned back, helpless, his classmates simply looked at him with a silent and collectively pitiful expressions. Then, in a wave of motion, they all bolted from the training hall. Someone even took the time to close the door behind them. Ethan slowly turned around, awkwardly facing Celeste. "Uh¡­ M-Miss Celeste," he stammered. "So, uh¡­ it''s dinner time, right? How about¡­ we, uh¡­ talk over a meal?" As he spoke, Celeste steadily walked toward him. Her face was unreadable. Ethan, however, was very aware of how many times he had witnessed her absolutely destroy their classmates in sparring sessions. Tension gripped his entire body. She stopped just half a meter away. For a moment, she simply stared at him. Then, to his utter disbelief, her lips curved slightly. "You''re buying." "¡­Huh?" Ethan''s brain spun. Celeste had already opened the door and walked out before he managed to react. He quickly followed, trailing behind as they left the building in silence. The atmosphere felt unbearably awkward, so Ethan finally broke it. "So¡­ where are we going?" "You''re paying. You decide." Celeste didn''t even turn her head. "Uh¡­ there''s this burger joint by the west gate. They make a good double cheeseburger." Celeste stopped in her tracks and looked back at him. "¡­Uh," Ethan blinked. He realized his mistake immediately. She was the most sought-after girl on campus. Guys would probably line up around the lake just to take her to a fancy restaurant. And what did he suggest? A greasy burger joint? Yeah. Not his best moment. "Or, uh... we could get some sea food?" he blurted, his brain scrambling for an alternative. To his surprise, the Ice Queen actually smirked. "I have to say, your taste is incredibly low. Seriously, how did you even manage to date Lyla?" Ethan opened his mouth to protest, but then¡ª "But seafood sound good," Celeste continued. "Haven''t had them in a while. Let''s go." And just like that, she wasn''t walking ahead of him anymore. Instead, she walked beside him, shoulder to shoulder. Ethan blinked. Wait. Was this the second time he had seen her smile? And¡­ it actually looked nice on her. Of course, he wasn''t dumb enough to say that out loud. As they walked together, students around them whispered frantically. Within minutes, the news spread like wildfire. The Ice Queen¡­ was leaving campus with a guy. And not just any exit. The west gate. Everyone knew what the west gate was famous for. Hotels. Motels. A whole street lined with them. So when Celeste suddenly spoke, Ethan wasn''t surprised at all. "Shouldn''t you check in with your girlfriend first?" she asked. He had already noticed the stares. Even some teachers were giving them strange looks. Apparently, Celeste''s reputation on campus was that powerful. Ethan cleared his throat. "Uh¡­ I''ll just ask Lyla if she''s eaten yet." Ethan wasn''t usually the paranoid type, but he really didn''t want this situation to be misunderstood by Lyla. Things were finally progressing between them, he couldn''t afford any unnecessary drama. "Good timing," Celeste said casually. "I was planning to find Lyla anyway. Quite the surprise running into both of you like this. If she''s free, have her join us." Ethan wasn''t really paying attention to her wording. Under Celeste''s half-smirking gaze, he quickly pulled out his phone and dialed Lyla''s number. "Hey, Lyla, have you eaten yet?" "Not yet. I was actually heading home to eat with you." "Uh¡­ I''m still on campus. Senior Celeste invited us to dinner." There was a brief pause. "Celeste invited us to dinner?" Lyla sounded genuinely surprised. "Alright. Where are you? I''ll come meet you." After giving her the location, Ethan hung up. Lyla didn''t take long to arrive. And just like that, the three of them walked out of the school gates together. The scene they created? Absolutely eye-catching. Ethan, flanked by two of the most stunning girls on campus, was now the center of attention. They found a casual seafood restaurant and took a table near the window. This time of the day, the place wasn''t crowded. Soon, their table was filled with plates of fresh oysters, grilled fish, and crispy calamari. Celeste, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke. "Do you know why I invited you here?" She didn''t bother with small talk. Ethan and Lyla exchanged glances. Then, they both shook their heads. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing how stiff they looked, Celeste suddenly smiled, a genuine, beautiful smile. "Relax, you two." That only made them more tense. Celeste never smiled. It was part of the reason she was called the Ice Queen. And according to rumors, anyone who had ever seen her smile¡­ hadn''t ended up in a good place. Because when Celeste smiled, it usually meant she was about to wreck someone. "Actually," she continued, "I''m not really a student here." That got Lyla''s attention. "Wait, but I heard you transferred in later. Where were you before?" Instead of answering, Celeste asked, "Have you heard of Recruitment Officers?" Ethan blinked. Recruitment Officers? Sounded like¡­ military recruiters? Lyla, on the other hand, looked genuinely surprised. "Wait, you''re our school''s Recruitment Officer?" Ethan turned to her. "Okay, hold up. What''s a Recruitment Officer?" Lyla hesitated, then glanced at Celeste. Surprisingly, Celeste, who had been nothing but cold and distant in class, now had the demeanor of a friendly older sister. She nodded. "Go ahead. It''s not really a secret." Getting her approval, Lyla explained. "Recruitment Officers were basically military recruiters, but with a twist. Instead of enlisting for the army, they scouted for a special government division." "The Ninth Division." Lyla didn''t go into detail, only saying that it was a classified national organization. Every major university had at least one Recruitment Officer stationed to identify and recruit promising talent. When she finished, Celeste studied her closely. "Sounds like you know quite a bit about them. Has someone tried to recruit you before?" Lyla nodded. "Yeah. Before I transferred here, someone approached me. But¡­ I have a Silverwood surname." That last part sounded cryptic to Ethan. What does having that surname have to do with anything? Celeste, however, immediately understood. She gave a small nod, though a hint of regret crossed her face. Then she turned to Ethan. "So? Are you interested in joining the Ninth Division?" Ethan stared at her, baffled. "The Ninth Division? What the hell even is that? Why do you guys talk about it like it''s some top secret?" Chapter 76 Keeping Them Apart Ethan had no idea what was going on. Just as he spoke, Lyla blurted out, "Celeste, you''ve got to be kidding, right? There''s no way they''d recruit him into the Ninth Division." As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt a little guilty. That was a bit too harsh, wasn''t it? She peeked at Ethan, stuck out her tongue, and made a silly face, hoping to lighten the mood. Celeste, however, just laughed. "Lyla, you really don''t know Ethan, do you? He had quite the moment today." "Huh? What happened? Tell me!" Lyla''s curiosity was instantly piqued. Celeste shrugged. "Nothing much. He just wrecked the guy I was considering for the spot." Lyla''s eyes widened. "Wait, seriously? You? That strong?" She turned to Ethan, her face full of disbelief. "I thought they called you a weakling." Ethan groaned internally. ''Can''t this girl ever just hold back? Give me some dignity, please.'' Lyla, clearly amused by his reaction, covered her mouth as she giggled uncontrollably. "So, Celeste, how bad did he get beat?" To be honest, she felt proud. She didn''t know how Ethan had suddenly become so strong, but that didn''t matter. If he was getting stronger¡­ maybe¡­ A little idea was starting to take root in her mind. Celeste smirked. "Oh, nothing serious. Just five broken ribs, six missing teeth, a severe concussion¡ªno idea when he''ll wake up. Oh, and his heart took some damage, so no more intense exercise. In fact¡­ let''s just say, certain bedroom activities are off the table for him now." "Uh¡­" Lyla had been staring at Ethan in shock, even squeezing his arm as if to check if he was actually that strong. But Celeste''s last comment¡ªwell, that had her blushing furiously. Ethan, on the other hand, was just as shocked. He hadn''t expected to do that much damage. Still, regret? Not a chance. That guy had it coming. He was lucky Ethan hadn''t finished the job. But Celeste cracking jokes like that? That threw him off. He gave her a suspicious once-over. ''Did she have a twin I didn''t know about?'' Noticing his gaze, Celeste casually added, "Don''t look at me like that." Then, in full view of everyone, she grabbed Lyla''s hand and said, "Lyla, even if you can''t join the Ninth Division, we should still stay in touch. Come hang out with me sometime." Ethan stiffened, goosebumps crawling over his skin. Wait. What? Even the fork in his hand trembled before slipping through his fingers and hitting the table. For some reason, his brain conjured up a smut filled scene, two stunning women, wrapped up in nothing but silk sheets, their smooth skins glistening with sweat as they explored each other''s bodies, their soft moans filling the air¡­ "Uh¡­" Lyla subtly pulled her hand back, her cheeks still flushed. "Yeah, sure. I''ll, um, hang out with you sometime." She stole a glance at Ethan, who looked like he''d just been flash-frozen. What the hell? Not only did she agree, but she looked shy about it?! "No way!" Ethan shot to his feet. Ethan''s outburst was loud, loud enough that half the street probably heard him. Realizing he''d just made a scene, he quickly sat back down, feeling a little embarrassed. To cover up, he grabbed Lyla''s hand and, under Celeste''s amused gaze, blurted out, "Uh, can I, uh¡­ join you guys when you hang out? Wait, no¡ªwhat I meant was, you can''t hang out together!" Celeste rolled her eyes, while Lyla covered her mouth, giggling. "Why not, Ethie? Are you jealous? You can join us if you really want." Ethan wasn''t falling for it. That scheming little look in Celeste''s her eyes was a dead giveaway. She was setting a trap. He straightened up and answered with full seriousness, "Assistant Instructor Hawthorne is a very busy person. She doesn''t have time to mess around with you, right, Celeste?" Celeste didn''t even bother replying. She just let out a soft hum, clearly unimpressed. Dinner went on after that, but the mood had shifted. Conversation turned awkward, mostly because Ethan spent the rest of the meal keeping a wary eye on Celeste, making sure she wasn''t getting any funny ideas about Lyla. Eventually, though, Celeste cut to the point. "So, about the Ninth Division. Have you thought it over?" "I don''t even know what you guys do. And more importantly, what''s in it for me?" Celeste smirked. "Ask Lyla when you get home. Once you''ve made up your mind, let me know." And just like that, her usual icy demeanor returned. She stood up, said her goodbyes to Lyla, reminded her again to definitely hang out sometime, then left. For some reason, as soon as she was gone, Ethan felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his chest. He trusted Lyla, sure. But Celeste was a wild card. If she kept hanging around, what if she¡­ converted his precious little Lyla? Worse, what if Lyla wanted to be converted? Nope. Not happening. Keeping them apart was now a priority. At least they hadn''t exchanged numbers. After Celeste left, Ethan and Lyla ate a little more. Ethan was stuffed, he hadn''t eaten all day. Morning had been spent working out, followed by a brutal commute to school, then an afternoon of combat training. Even if he hadn''t moved around much, going a whole day without food had taken its toll. Now that he had money, he could finally eat like a king. Honestly, he almost felt like ordering extra food just to throw it away, just because he could. His past self never had this luxury. Back then, it was instant noodles, if he was lucky. Sometimes, he just went hungry. As they ate, Ethan told Lyla everything that had happened earlier. He even pulled out the bracelet, showing it off like some rare treasure. Lyla was beyond thrilled. She was so touched she nearly teared up. After dinner, the two of them made their way back near the villa. But before heading home, Ethan decided to give his future lady a tour of the gym he''d just bought. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Back at the gym, Todd was gone, but Quinn was handling things surprisingly well. Everything was running smoothly. At night, the gym was much busier. With Jade gone, Quinn had to manage the entire place herself, acting as both the manager and the front desk staff. She was completely swamped. Ethan told her to put up a hiring notice. Two new employees would take over her and Jade''s old responsibilities, so she could focus solely on managing the gym. If any problems popped up, she''d just call him. After that, he dragged Lyla, who was still busy checking everything out, back to the villa. Ethereal was about to go online. Chapter 77 Overpowered Doesnt Even Cover It The moment Ethan logged into the game, a video call from Lyla popped up. ''Already?''He smirked. ''We just separated a few minutes ago, and she''s already missing me? Guess my charm really is something else.'' Feeling pleased with himself, he answered. "Check the leaderboard," Lyla said immediately. "The pet rankings." S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What''s up?" Ethan asked, already skeptical. The pet system hadn''t even been unlocked yet, nobody should have a pet right now. "Just look!" Lyla insisted. Giving in, Ethan opened the leaderboard and navigated to the pet category. And sure enough, there was one pet listed. The only one. Standing there all alone at the top. Pet Name: Myrga Nair Species: Dragonkin Description: A powerful dragon with mastery over poison and water magic. Owner: Moonbeam Ethan blinked. That name looked familiar. Then he read the description and bam, it clicked. Wasn''t this the Winter Queen''s pet?! Seeing the owner''s name, Ethan froze for a second before excitement surged through him. "Lyla! How the hell did you get her?!" In Ethereal, it was possible to tame wild creatures, but nobody had ever managed to tame a boss before. Once the pet system opened, 99.99% of players would get their pets by purchasing an egg and paying a ridiculous amount to have it hatched by a pet trainer. But Lyla? She somehow got a top-tier boss to pledge loyalty to her. Ethan was ecstatic. Through the video, he saw the little dragon perched on Lyla''s shoulder, chubby, deep green, and looking adorably smug. "I have no idea," Lyla said, equally amazed. "I logged in, and the system just told me I had a pet." Ethan finally understood why the boss hadn''t shown up at Larson Basin yesterday. It was off finding its new master instead. The real question was why. What kind of ability did Lyla have to make a monstrous creature willingly swear loyalty? First, there was that pendant from the Underworld that bound itself to her. Now, the Winter Queen''s pet had done the same. Was there some connection between them? Ethan was starting to think that maybe Lyla was the real chosen one here. And him? He was just¡­ some guy. For a moment, he didn''t even know what to say. Eventually, he just told Lyla to start leveling up with her new pet. Sure, it''d slow down her experience gain, but once it grew stronger, it''d be a massive asset, strong enough to help her fight enemies way beyond her level. Lyla, of course, didn''t seem too worried about her level. "I don''t mind leveling slowly. It''s nice having a little pet to keep me company." She sounded casual, but Ethan didn''t feel the same way. No way he was letting her stay low-leveled. Especially not when he had a legendary weapon meant just for her. They were supposed to fight side by side, carve out a legend together, make every single single player in the game jealous. If he wanted Lyla to level up faster, there was only one solution, getting her a unique growth ability. Ethan already knew where to find one. Problem was, that place was currently out of his reach. Walking in now would be the same as signing his own death warrant. But as for finding a low tier growth ability, That wasn''t a problem. Lyla getting this pet had Ethan in such a good mood that even his Sin Value being maxed out didn''t bother him anymore. Sin Value could be cleared eventually. Speaking of which, he quickly reminded Lyla not to let her pet die. If its Loyalty dropped too low, things could get ugly. Pets with low loyalty didn''t just disobey orders, they could turn on their own masters. And that was a mess neither of them wanted to deal with. In his previous life, Ethan had seen plenty of players get killed when their pets suddenly turned on them. But Lyla? She didn''t seem worried at all. "It''s fine," she said casually. "Her loyalty stat doesn''t have a number. It just says ''Cannot Decrease.''" Ethan''s jaw nearly hit the floor. He''d never heard of that before. Regression was really messing with his understanding of the game. Since Lyla didn''t need him worrying about her, Ethan said his goodbyes. He had his own problem to deal with, washing away his Sin Value. In Ethereal, simply staying online gradually reduced Sin Value over time. But at max Sin Value? That would take forever. He didn''t even want to think about how long it''d take to clear it naturally. Farming monsters was a much faster option. Speaking of farming, he suddenly thought of a place where monsters dropped Mutated Cores, an item that boosted pet growth. Excited, he called Lyla again. She picked up instantly. "Ethie, again? We just hung up." "I know, I know, but listen. Don''t level up your pet yet. Put her away and focus on getting to level fifteen first. I''m heading out to clear my red name, and while I''m at it, I''ll see if I can farm some Mutated Cores. If I get some, it''ll boost her growth before she levels up, making her even stronger." Lyla considered this for a moment. "Alright, but¡­ her Growth Stat already says ''(50) Max.'' Can it even go higher?" "¡­What?" Ethan froze. "Yeah, it says 50 Max," Lyla confirmed. "¡­Forget everything I just said. Go ahead and level her up," Ethan sighed, feeling completely defeated. In his previous life, he''d heard that the highest possible Growth Stat for a pet was 50. It worked similarly to a player''s Star Growth system. Every time a pet leveled up, all its attributes would increase according to its Growth Stat. That meant Lyla''s pet¡ªthis absurd Growth 50 freak, would gain fifty points in every single stat per level-up. For context, the strongest pet in the previous timeline, the number one ranked pet in the entire game, had a Growth Stat of 35. Fifty was beyond insane. The higher her level got, the bigger the gap between her and every other pet in existence. That''s why most players, upon obtaining a pet, didn''t rush to level it up right away. Instead, they focused on increasing its growth potential first. After all, each player could only ever have one pet for life. Even if a pet betrayed its master, the player couldn''t obtain a new one. The only solution? Never summon it again and try to restore its loyalty, an obscenely expensive process involving a high-tier pet trainer. Losing a pet meant losing a huge combat advantage. After ending the call, Ethan set off toward Ashen Gorge. It was a level 20¨C30 monster zone, perfect for grinding and lowering his Sin Value. The moment he stepped inside, the name made perfect sense. The entire landscape was cast in shadow. Unlike the Plaguewood Forest, where darkness came from an eerie atmosphere, Ashen Gorge was dim because of the towering trees. Their thick, interwoven branches completely blocked out the sunlight. Yet despite the lack of light, the gorge was lush, vibrant greenery, rare flowers, and exotic herbs filled every corner. Chapter 78 The Hunters Gamble In a short while, players who had learned herbalism would flood this area. After gathering herbs, they would supply alchemists, who in turn crafted potions, elixirs, and tonics. Most alchemists preferred joining a guild rather than working for a shop. Guilds ensured a steady demand for their products, while shops depended on foot traffic, something that could be unreliable if the location wasn''t ideal. Pure crafting professions weren''t as unprofitable as many assumed. In fact, dedicated artisans could earn more than an average job in the real world. In his past life, Ethan had been a miner. By all logic, his life shouldn''t have been so miserable. Most miners partnered with guilds to excavate resource-rich sites, securing stable income. Ethan, however, had spent years working alone, digging through abandoned mines for rare crystals, always guided by quest hints. The problem? Those crystals were buried deep, requiring him to practically tunnel through an entire mine just to retrieve one. As a result, he had been dirt poor. Instant noodles had been his staple, and there were days he couldn''t even afford that. Now, standing at the edge of Ashen Gorge, Ethan reminded himself not to be fooled by its deceiving beauty. There was no safe zone here. Monsters could appear anywhere, at any time. Especially Dire Wolves, creatures known as Prairie Stalkers. These beasts possessed advanced stealth abilities, patrolled the entire map unpredictably, and every single one of them was elite-ranked. Countless players had died to their claws while attempting to gather materials in this area. Ethan had chosen this place for two reasons. First, the dense monster population made it ideal for farming Sin Value. Second, he wanted to hunt Prairie Stalkers in hopes of obtaining an advanced Stealth Skill Book, something that could significantly raise his stealth level. Only by improving his stealth ability could he explore high-level zones that were currently beyond his reach. Not long after entering, Ethan suddenly felt a chill crawl up his spine. Something was lurking. A stealth unit! It wasn''t another player, he was certain of that. The minimum level for monsters in Ashen Gorge was twenty. Any rogue who tried sneaking in at this level would be exposed and instantly sent back to the revival point. That meant it could only be a Prairie Stalker. But drawing out a Prairie Stalker wasn''t easy. At level twenty-five, these elite beasts had a Silent Step ability that made them even harder to detect. They were three levels above Ethan. He had no way of spotting them first. The only solution? Let it see him first. Transform: Bear Form. Ethan trusted his own defenses in this form. With over 5,500 HP, he wasn''t worried about getting one-shot. Plus, Prairie Stalkers lacked stun abilities. He didn''t have to worry about being locked down. Once it revealed itself, he''d find a way to take it down. The moment Ethan shifted into Bear Form, his instincts proved right. A massive Dire Wolf lunged at him from the shadows. -89! "Damn, that''s a lot of damage!" Ethan muttered, realizing just how strong a level twenty-five elite was. Without hesitation, he retaliated. Maul. His Bear Form stun ability landed clean, locking the beast in place for three seconds. Then, he immediately shifted into Owl Form, dropping Bramble Bind in front of it, layering two debuffs, Moonfire and Sunburst. Two seconds had passed. Switching once more, Ethan took Panther Form and slashed. -35, -44! -38, -44! -78, -44! Three bleed effects ticked above its head. Just as the Prairie Stalker''s stun wore off, Ethan took a step back, and the Prairie Stalker immediately lunged forward. But the moment it stepped down, its paw got caught in the Bramble Bind he had set earlier. The biggest weakness of beast-type monsters? They never tried to break free from control effects. With its legs tangled, the Dire Wolf couldn''t turn around. Ethan wasted no time. He slipped behind it and slashed. Shred. Shred. -978! -1586! Massive damage numbers popped up. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even though Ethan''s attacks hit hard, the Prairie Stalker had a massive 60,000 HP pool. There was no way he could kill it within Bramble Bind''s eight-second duration. In Panther Form, his attacks consumed Energy Points. His max Energy was 100, and even with its regeneration speed, he could only pull off three Shred attacks in a row. Each Shred cost 40 Energy per strike. To keep up the assault, Ethan threw in a few basic claw attacks in between. By the time Bramble Bind wore off, he had landed five Bleed Effects, stacking up over 10,000 total damage. With the other debuffs, the Prairie Stalker had lost a full third of its health. Just before Bramble Bind expired, Ethan unleashed Typhoon in Panther Form. A sudden gust launched the Dire Wolf backward, six meters away. Thanks to Typhoon''s special effect, the beast was now slowed by 70% for ten seconds. Ethan shifted into Owl Form, immediately reapplying Moonfire and Sunburst, extending their duration. With all his control skills on cooldown, Ethan rushed forward. Dodging the Dire Wolf''s vicious swipes with nimble footwork, he only switched to Bear Form when an attack was unavoidable, soaking up the damage instead of taking direct hits. Before long, the Dire Wolf let out a dying wail and collapsed. Ethan glanced at the time. It had taken him a full minute to take down the elite. Then again, considering he had soloed a higher-level elite, he felt pretty damn proud. Most players at his level wouldn''t even stand a chance. With that thought, Ethan pulled up his status window for the first time in a while. --- [NotADruid] Class: Druid Race: Human Level: 22 Faction: Survivors Bloodline: King of Elves (Divine) Attributes: Strength: 110 (+20) ¨C Increases physical attack. Intelligence: 110 (+20) ¨C Increases magic attack and mana pool. Agility: 110 (+20) ¨C Increases attack speed, movement speed, and energy regen. Stamina: 110 (+20) ¨C Increases defense. Vitality: 110 (+20) ¨C Increases max HP. Special Stats: Omni +2 | Mastery +4 | Critical +4 | Haste +3 Combat Stats: Attack Power: 524-632 Defense: 226-328 Health: 2200 Free Points: 0 General Skills: Basic Appraisal ¨C Can inspect monsters up to 5 levels higher. Background: The peace-loving Elven race has left an indelible mark on every recorded Holy War. Though they cherish tranquility, their valor in battle is unparalleled. --- Ethan hadn''t changed his gear much, but his weapon had been upgraded to level 30. With these stats, he was confident. His attack power was likely among the highest in the world. Grinning, he scooped up the copper coins dropped by the Prairie Stalker and started searching for his next prey. Chapter 79 The Gamble Pays Off Author: There was a mix-up with chapter uploads. Chapter 76 was actually uploaded as 79. This has been corrected. If you unlocked the incorrect chapter, please feel free to go back and read the real 76. So sorry for the confusion. ___ Seven days passed in the blink of an eye. Two days ago, Ethan had finally cleared his red name status, but the Advanced Stealth Skill Book had yet to drop. So, he had remained in Ashen Gorge for another two days. After countless Prairie Stalker kills, the very last one finally dropped: [Skill Book: Stealth (Advanced)] Usable by: Rogue, Druid (Panther Form) Description: Enhances the existing Stealth skill upon use. Seven days. Three entire levels gained. And only now did he finally get it. The drop rate was insanely low. Without hesitation, Ethan grabbed the skill book and learned it immediately. Opening his skill panel, he checked his progress: Panther Form: Stealth LV1 (XP: 1/100) Finally. He could now level up his stealth. Mastering stealth mechanics had been the foundation of his rogue gameplay in his past life. With a high enough stealth level, he could drastically reduce the chances of being detected. Now that his red name status was cleared, Ethan pulled out a Teleport Stone and returned to Harmony City. --- The moment he arrived, Ethan was struck by the sheer difference from when he had first stepped foot here. The city was packed. At the teleportation hub, voices overlapped as players hawked their wares, many of them sitting on the ground, selling items at makeshift stalls. The three prime shop locations around the teleportation hub? They were all his. It was time to upgrade them into actual storefronts and officially kick off his business. With over 14,000 gold in his pocket, he had the capital to get things rolling and establish a reputation. Ethan left the teleport hub and made his way straight to the Shop Upgrade Center. On the way, a heated argument caught his attention. He glanced over and saw a commotion in front of the Master Engineer Guild. One of the men, dressed in novice gear, had a badge pinned to his chest, the mark of an Engineer Apprentice. A single star on the badge indicated his rank. He looked to be in his mid-thirties, but his weathered face made him seem older. The other man was a warrior with a greatsword strapped to his back. His small stature made the massive weapon look utterly ridiculous. A Dwarf Warrior, no doubt. "This failure wasn''t my fault," the Engineer Apprentice said quietly, head lowered. "Oh? So it''s my fault now?" The Dwarf Warrior sneered, looking up at him. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I swear, someone tampered with my materials before I started." "Shut it." The dwarf waved him off dismissively. "Our guild gave you so many resources, and you still made this garbage? You didn''t even break even. And you still call yourself some hidden class Master of Demonic Engineering? Hah! You''re just a delusional fool." Then, without warning, the Dwarf Warrior jumped up and slapped the Engineer Apprentice across the face. Since they were inside the city, PvP attacks had no damage, but the Apprentice''s low-level status meant the impact still knocked him off balance. His crafting tools clattered to the ground. Three days ago, the system had officially opened the Main City access to crafting-class players. The reason? Some Starter Zones had reached the 5,000-player threshold, triggering the requirement to allow life-skill players into the city. For pure crafting players, hitting 75 proficiency points in their trade skill was enough to qualify for the transfer. This was a quality-of-life update for non-combatants. Currently, in the Northern Frontier Region, most Starter Zones had already exceeded the 5,000-player mark. Only a handful of zones still hadn''t met the requirement. Most crafting-class players who made it into the Main City immediately headed to their respective Trade Guilds, where they could use system-provided crafting rooms to work on their creations. Of course, these rooms required rent, nothing came for free. Most crafting players joined recruiting guilds to keep their income stable. Guilds provided the materials, and in return, these players crafted items and earned a steady wage. The Engineer Apprentice quietly stepped back, gathering his scattered tools. His eyes burned with hatred as he glared at the Dwarf Warrior. "What the hell are you looking at? Get lost before I slap you again!" The dwarf puffed up his chest, trying to look intimidating. His beady eyes widened aggressively, but to everyone else, it just looked nothing more than an angry turtle trying to act fierce. The Engineer Apprentice took a deep breath, turned around, and walked away in silence. "Coward." The Dwarf Warrior spat in disgust. The crowd murmured. "He didn''t even fight back? Took a slap and just walked off?" "If that were me, I''d be calling the guards right now." "Maybe he''s just biding his time," Ethan commented casually, his eyes flashing with interest. "The ones who endure the longest? They''re usually the scariest when they finally strike back." Some players glanced at him, but most dismissed the remark. A few even scoffed. The commotion died down, and the crowd dispersed. Only Ethan remained, watching the Engineer Apprentice''s retreating figure, deep in thought. "Well, well¡­ Never thought I''d run into him this early." Ethan muttered under his breath. This apprentice was someone he knew. Not as a friend. But as an enemy. In his past life, this man had been one of Zachary''s most loyal lackeys. After Zachary secretly invested in Avalon Vanguard, seizing control of the guild, this engineer had joined him. From that point on, Avalon Vanguard became infamous for its bizarre engineered weapons, all thanks to this guy. Demonic Counter Shields. Homing Explosive Bombs. Enhanced Jump Boots. Fragmentation Magic Rounds. The worst of them all? The Counter Shield. That thing had caused Ethan to go red-named more times than he could count. It could be used on yourself or given to others. The catch? Reflected damage didn''t trigger system aggression rules. Ethan had no intention of fighting, yet enemies would activate the shield, baiting him into attacking. The system then flagged him as the aggressor, branding him with a gray name. A gray-named player in the open world? Free game for everyone. Suddenly, he was hunted by mobs of opportunists, many of them armed with Enhanced Jump Boots. With no escape route, Ethan had been forced to fight back, killing the ones blocking his path. And just like that, he was a red name again. Eventually, Zachary''s guild sent Shadowstrike after him, initiating an endless cycle of assassinations. And this "apprentice"? This nobody had been responsible for all of it. And that was only a fraction of his work. Later on, he even developed a Demonic War Machine, a giant mobile fortress that crushed entire enemy forces. During one of the biggest siege wars, this machine single-handedly wiped out an entire army of Dragonspire''s elite players. And it all started with this pathetic, beaten-down apprentice, now walking away in disgrace. ID: NoPaperOnTheBigOne Ethan''s lips curled into a smirk. Fate sure had a funny way of bringing people back together. Chapter 80 The Mad Engineer Because his original in-game name was ridiculous, players in Avalon Vanguard had once given him a new title¡ªThe Mad Engineer. Right now, NoPaperOnTheBigOne had just been kicked out of another guild. He hadn''t yet been discovered by Zachary, the man who, in his lowest moments, had extended a hand and shown him genuine appreciation. That moment of kindness had earned Zachary his absolute loyalty. It was that loyalty that later led to him designing weapons that slaughtered Dragonspire''s top-ranked players, turning the tide of entire wars. By the end, he was known as nothing more than a traitor, reviled by thousands. Looking back, NoPaperOnTheBigOne wasn''t inherently a bad person. He had just followed the wrong leader. "A Mad Engineer, still in his apprentice phase¡­ is he worth investing in?" Ethan murmured to himself. Back then, NoPaperOnTheBigOne had only succeeded because of Avalon Vanguard''s resources. Zachary had thrown an endless supply of materials his way, allowing him to refine his craft and rise to power. That title, Mad Engineer, had once carried real weight. Right now, in terms of personal wealth, Ethan was likely one of the richest players in the Northern Frontier Region. If Zachary could fund a Mad Engineer into existence¡­ Why couldn''t he? And if he couldn''t train him, then at the very least, he''d make sure this guy never fell into enemy hands. With that thought, Ethan picked up his pace, falling into step beside NoPaperOnTheBigOne. "What''s that dwarf''s name?" he asked casually. "Mediterran, why do you care?" The engineer glanced at him, his voice flat. "You here to gloat?" "You feel humiliated, don''t you?" Ethan replied with a smirk. "But let me tell you something, weak people always get looked down on. That''s just the way the world works. Join me. I can make you powerful. Powerful enough to make them regret what they did today." NoPaperOnTheBigOne narrowed his eyes. "Who the hell are you? That was a Tier 2 Guild. And you, some random nobody, think you can say a few words and expect me to follow you?" To him, this was some random player spouting nonsense, trying to pick up a discarded piece of trash just because he''d been thrown out. "What makes you think you''re worth following?" Ethan chuckled. "This." With a flick of his hand, he disabled his name concealment, his true identity flashing above his head for exactly three seconds before vanishing again. NotADruid. Then, he shrugged. "You''ve got nothing left. If I wanted to scam you, what exactly would I be after?" Ethan asked indifferently. "I see potential in you. If you don''t want to come, fine by me." And with that, Ethan turned and walked away. If NoPaperOnTheBigOne was smart, he''d take the opportunity. If not, Ethan wouldn''t waste time begging. That would mean giving up control of the situation, something he had no intention of doing. As he watched Ethan''s departing figure, NoPaperOnTheBigOne''s expression twisted. Getting kicked out of his guild and publicly humiliated had been one of the worst moments of his life. Something he''d never forget. And now, NotADruid had shown up, offering him a lifeline at the most coincidental moment possible. Too convenient. Was there some ulterior motive behind it? But then, he thought about it. The Newbie King title. The series of game-breaking events Ethan had triggered since launch. Would a player like him really go out of his way to mess with a broke nobody? Or¡­ Did Ethan really believe he was worth something? His real-life struggles mirrored his failures in the game, broke, aimless, and barely scraping by. If he let this opportunity slip, who knew when the next one would come? He had nothing to lose. Even if this was a scam, it was still better than wandering around with nowhere to go. "W-Wait a second!" Hearing the voice behind him, Ethan smirked. Hook, line, and sinker. NoPaperOnTheBigOne caught up quickly. "What do you need me to do?" Engineering was the only thing he was good at, but because of his hidden subclass, even simple creations failed constantly. The wasted materials were why he had been kicked out of the guild. "Simple. You''ll be crafting engineering gear," Ethan replied as they walked. "What''s your hidden subclass ability?" "¡­Demonic Engineering," NoPaperOnTheBigOne muttered, scratching his head. Ethan noticed his hesitation. "Go on," he encouraged. In his past life, he had only known that NoPaperOnTheBigOne could create demonic-tech items. The exact mechanics had been a closely guarded secret, probably only known to him and Zachary. "My trait is Research & Development¡­ But that''s also the problem," the engineer admitted. "With engineering, if one component is wrong, the entire thing fails¡­ or explodes. And this damn trait constantly interferes, forcing me to experiment and ''innovate'' whether I want to or not." His expression darkened with frustration. The constant interference made his normal engineering skills unreliable. He could barely complete basic projects without the trait sabotaging him. Ethan''s eyes gleamed with interest. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Oh? And what''s the success rate after innovating?" he pressed. "I¡­ I don''t know. Engineering is never stable. I have to experiment over and over, fail repeatedly, and refine the process before I can craft something usable. Honestly, I regret choosing this path, but at the same time¡­ I can''t let it go. Even as a kid, I loved tinkering with machines." Ethan gave him a strange look. Engineering was one of the least popular crafting professions in the game. It was a money pit. In most games, combat classes only picked up engineering as a secondary skill. The phrase "Once you dive into engineering, say goodbye to your savings" existed for a reason. Sure, some gadgets were great for PvP combat, and a few helped with player convenience¡ªlike wormholes for instant travel. But most of it? Toys. A long time ago, in an old MMO game, players obsessed over engineering''s quirky inventions and poured their resources into mastering it. The problem? Everything failed. A lot. Creating even a basic item took multiple failed attempts. And the more someone invested, the deeper they fell, constantly chasing the next breakthrough, unable to stop themselves from experimenting. To make matters worse, engineering products were expensive. Only a small market could afford them, meaning most engineers never broke even. That''s why, in later MMOs, players avoided engineering like the plague. And yet, NoPaperOnTheBigOne had chosen it willingly. Even doubling down on it with a hidden subclass. Ethan eyed him curiously. "You''ve¡­ never played MMOs before, have you?" The engineer looked embarrassed. "N-No¡­ This is my first game." Ethan stopped mid-step. "¡­Wait, what?" He studied the guy''s face. At least thirty-five years old. And this was his first MMO? How the hell was that even possible? Chapter 81 The Auction House "I''m seventeen." Ethan almost lost it. This guy was seventeen? No way. He looked way too old for his age. Ethan gave him a closer look. He didn''t seem to be messing around, but Ethan still had to ask, "Are you serious?" NoPaperOnTheBigOne looked more embarrassed. "Yeah, really. I just¡­ look a bit older than I am." Ethan thought to himself, ''A bit older? No, this is much more than that.'' As they chatted, they arrived at the Property Management Center. "Wait here," Ethan said before heading inside alone. With the guidance of the system NPC, he walked up to a 3D holographic map. Six golden-highlighted plots were displayed, indicating they were available for use. These were the six prime-location properties Ethan owned in Harmony City. Plot #1 had been a reward for being the first player to reach the Main City. Plots #2 and #3 had been given to him for completing the City Lord''s special quests. Plots #4, #5, and #6? He had bought those with his own money. After some thought, Ethan selected Plot #2 first and built an Engineering Shop. Engineering was a gold mine. Bullets, mechanical arrows, and cannon rounds were consumables, and with so many Archers and Gunners in the game, demand would always be high. Even if a player wasn''t hardcore about Engineering as a trade, mindlessly mass-producing ammo could still be a profitable business. Why? Because player-crafted bullets and arrows hit harder than system-generated ones. On top of that, they could be customized with different effects based on buyer requests. That alone could build an entire premium market. After setting up the Engineering Shop, Ethan moved on to Plot #3 and opened a Potion Store. Potions were an absolute necessity in Ethereal. If you didn''t have a Priest in your party while grinding, you needed potions to stay alive. If Engineering ammo was a gold mine for Archers and Gunners, then a Potion Store catered to everyone. Whether it was solo grinding or raiding dungeons, potions were always in demand. Ethan had planned the Potion Store in advance, the Engineering Shop had been a last-minute idea. Setting up each store cost 50 gold, meaning the total was 100 gold. However, Ethan only had to pay 90 gold. Why? Because under his contract with the City Lord, the city covered 10% of his construction costs. Meanwhile, outside at the teleportation hub, players were going about their business, some setting up stalls, others just hanging around. Suddenly, a squad of city guards marched in. One of them unrolled a notice and announced, "As per Harmony City''s Urban Management Laws, no private stalls are permitted within 500 meters of a Level 2 store. Violators will be detained for three days. You have three minutes to pack up and leave." The crowd was stunned. "What the hell? There''s no Level 2 shop around here!" someone voiced what everyone was thinking. But before anyone could argue, a group of NPC workers arrived, hauling wood and tools. They went straight to the designated locations and, without even laying a foundation, started tapping their tools on the ground. Then, before the players'' eyes, two buildings started rising out of the ground, assembling themselves section by section like magic. Within seconds, two brand-new two-story buildings stood there. The crowd stared at the shop signs. "All-You-Need Potions" "All-You-Need Engineering" Someone muttered in disbelief, "This guy must be loaded¡­ He named both stores the same thing." "Forget rich, do you know how much these plots are worth? Yesterday, someone offered 3,000 gold for one of them!" "Yeah, I saw that too. Either the owner refused to sell or he was the original buyer all along." "Holy, 3,000 gold?! That''s 5.4 million dollars!" "Yeah, if it were me, I would''ve sold it. No way that plot cost more than a thousand gold when bought from the system." "That''s why you have no vision. Only an idiot would sell! But seriously, this guy''s naming sense is¡­ something else." "Forget that, just the construction cost alone is insane. Upgrading to a Level 2 store takes 550 gold!" "Whatever, man. We''re the ones getting screwed. This was the best spot to set up stalls, and now we''re banned? That''s some real bull¡ª" As players vented their frustration, their emotions ranged from admiration to jealousy, and, of course, resentment. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan? He didn''t care. He knew exactly what the Urban Management Laws allowed, and he could already guess what was running through those stall owners'' heads. No place to set up meant no sales. Moving somewhere else? Useless. Sooner or later, new stores would pop up, pushing them out again. In the end, they''d have no choice but to relocate to the Market District, the only area designated for player-run stalls. That''s precisely why Ethan immediately upgraded his stores to Level 2, to make the gap between him and the others feel even wider. Now, he turned his attention to Plot #1 and selected another construction project. By the time the NPC laborers finished the first two buildings, the displaced vendors had already packed up and moved to the northern side of the plaza. The central plaza spanned about 1,000 meters, and the 500-meter shop restriction hadn''t covered the entire space. But with everyone now crammed into a smaller section, things were a mess. There were more sellers than buyers. Just as the stall owners began setting up again, they noticed something. The NPC workers were heading straight for them. Eyes widened in shock as the workers reached Plot #1 and started hammering away at the ground once more. BOOM. A structure even larger than the first two began rising from the earth. Since Plot #1 was massive to begin with, this new building looked downright imposing. The golden sign gleamed under the sunlight: "All-You-Need Auction House" Silence. Then... "Holy¡ªANOTHER All-You-Need store?! AND IT''S AN AUCTION HOUSE?!" Someone in the crowd yelled, voice full of disbelief. "I knew it! This was the only spot in all of Harmony City big enough to house an auction house." "Knew it? Bro, everyone knew. You don''t get points for calling the obvious." "Exactly! The real shocker is the cost. 200 gold just for Level 1! Upgrading to Level 2? 2,000 gold! And it''s the same guy running it!" "Three prime-location stores¡­ Just how rich is this guy?" As the crowd reeled from the sheer amount of money involved, a sudden cry rang out¡ª "Hey! What the hell, why are you grabbing me?!" Everyone turned toward the voice. Their faces paled. A player had just been seized by the city guards, his hands shackled in iron restraints. A second player was arrested seconds later. Only then did it hit everyone, they had forgotten to pack up their stalls! The unlucky ones caught near the guards were immediately detained. Three days in jail. And if they didn''t log in during that time? The sentence extended further. Three days of zero progress. The financial losses would be massive. Within moments, the entire crowd scrambled to clear their stalls, no one daring to resist. But even as they packed up, despair sank in. Anywhere else, selling would be twice as slow. What now? Use the auction house instead? But auctions had fees, didn''t they? Then again, consigning items meant they wouldn''t have to sit around selling, they could go back to leveling or questing instead. As everyone hesitated, a figure cloaked in black appeared. Beside him was a man in his thirties. The two strode into the auction house. Moments later, a system message flashed above the entrance: "Auction House Trial Run: No Fees for the Next 7 Days!" Chapter 82 Sealing the Deal Beneath the black cloak was, of course, Ethan. On his way back, he had stopped by a tailor''s shop and picked out the largest hooded robe he could find. For now, he wasn''t ready to reveal that he was the owner behind all three major stores. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he and NoPaperOnTheBigOne exited the Auction House and headed straight for All-You-Need Potions. Soon, a notice was posted: Hiring alchemists. Buying herbs. Minutes later, a similar announcement went up at All-You-Need Engineering: Hiring engineers. Buying minerals and various materials. Ethan left alone this time. The future Mad Engineer was staying behind, now entrusted with managing both the potion and engineering stores. To get him started, Ethan handed him 1,000 gold in funds and granted him administrative access to both shops. His primary task? Hiring staff. As for material purchases, Ethan had already set the prices and hired NPCs to handle transactions. Players would only need to craft items and put them up for sale, NPCs would manage everything else. And the auction house? That required even less effort. With the fee structure in place, the system handled everything automatically, eliminating any risk of scams or corruption. No need to worry about shady operators skimming off consigned gear. Opening a shop in the game was easy, as long as you had money. With everything set, Ethan said his goodbyes to the still-dazed NoPaperOnTheBigOne. Everything was in order, and he had a manager in place. Did it matter whether this guy was truly loyal? Not really. Ethan had the contract. No one was running away from a signed deal. Even Ethan winced a little reading over the contract details, this poor guy had no idea what he had just agreed to. Completely overwhelmed by Ethan''s financial display, the future Mad Engineer had absentmindedly signed a 200-year contract. The key terms? 1. Everything he crafted belonged to Ethan. 2. He would receive 15% of the profit from any sales. 3. Ethan would supply all the materials needed. Additionally, as acting manager of the potion and engineering stores, he would earn 0.5% of the net profits from both. However, Ethan reserved the right to replace him at any time, no questions asked. Honestly, aside from the ridiculous more than a lifetime employment clause, the profit split was incredibly generous. Most guilds capped commissions at 10%, some as low as 5%. Here, he was getting 15%. So, when NoPaperOnTheBigOne read the contract, his eyes went wide with shock. "You''re seriously letting me sign this?" he asked, still in disbelief. "Yeah. Any problems?" "You¡­ might not know this, but I suck at crafting. Half the time, I lose money making stuff. And even when I do manage to sell something, I barely break even. That''s why I got kicked from my old guild. If I end up losing you money, don''t blame me." Despite his words, his hands were shaking slightly as he gripped the contract. He wanted this deal. Badly. Ethan just smirked. "You think I''m short on funds? Even if I take a loss, I''ll live. Besides¡­" He crossed his arms. "I have a good eye for people. I trust you." Ethan''s words hit deep. The future Mad Engineer felt a wave of emotions surge inside him. It wasn''t about money. It wasn''t about opportunity. It was about recognition. When a person was at their lowest, they didn''t need pity or charity. They needed someone to believe in them. Sometimes, all it took was a single sentence. Ethan''s casual remark shattered his defenses, cutting straight to his core. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With trembling hands, he hesitated at the signature line. Then, after a pause, he looked up at Ethan. "Fifteen percent feels a little too high. Most crafting players in guilds only get ten percent, and that''s considered generous." "Quit complaining and sign it. You''re worth it!" Ethan snapped, pretending to be annoyed. But to the Mad Engineer, those words felt incredibly warm. As soon as his name was signed, Ethan grinned. "Alright, you''re mine now. And by the way, your name sucks. From now on, you''re just Mad Engineer. Keep an eye on the shop. I''ve got things to do." Before the guy could respond, Ethan had already left the Engineering Store. --- The plaza was as busy as ever, though much quieter than before. The scattered player-run stalls were gone. Across from him, the Auction House had a steady stream of players coming and going. Next door, the Potion Store was just as active, with customers trading herbs and potions with NPCs. Ethan stood there, taking it all in. Three stores. All his. He had no doubt, money would never be a problem again. Sure, the initial investment had been huge¡ª4,000 gold, but in time, these businesses would become unstoppable money machines. The game''s real-money trading system wouldn''t go live for another six months. That was when players could officially buy and sell in-game assets for real-world currency. When that happened, plots of land, stores, even auction houses would finally be up for sale. But Ethan had beaten everyone to it. By the time the rest of the world caught up, his stores would already be established. Players would be used to shopping at his stores. Latecomers? They''d be picking up scraps. And once corporations and investors started flooding into the game? If they wanted a piece of his business, they''d pay through the nose for it. If he had more gold, he would''ve already expanded into the two other cities. But right now, he had 10,000 gold left, and he needed it for something else, the guild. Currently, Renegade Alliance was only a Level 2 Guild, capped at 1,000 members. The roster had been full for a while now. He would''ve upgraded it sooner, but being red-named had kept him from entering the city. Now that he was back? It was time. A Level 4 Guild could hold 10,000 members, but it would cost 6,000 gold. Expensive? Yes. Necessary? Absolutely. If he wanted power, he needed his own force. Ethan strode into the Guild Hall, didn''t waste a second, and slammed down 6,000 gold. Renegade Alliance instantly became the second Level 4 Guild in Harmony City. With all his business handled, it was time for gear upgrades. His current equipment were garbage. And he wasn''t about to waste the Wishbound Relic on trash-tier gear. A quick glance through the Guild Vault revealed nothing worth taking. So, he turned around and headed straight for his own Auction House to browse the listings. As he walked, something flickered in his peripheral vision. A shadow. A figure. Someone was watching him. Chapter 83 A Familiar Face ''It''s him¡­'' The world really was small. Just a few days ago, Ethan had beaten this guy half to death in the real world. And now? He ran into him in-game. That guy was none other than Trent. Last time Ethan had seen Celeste, she mentioned Trent was in a coma from a severe concussion. No one knew when he''d wake up. Ethan had spent seven days grinding mobs in Ashen Gorge since then. That must''ve been enough time for Trent to wake up and log back in. Ethan still recognized Trent''s in-game avatar, they had teamed up in dungeons before, back in his previous life. Now, watching him walk into the Auction House, Ethan smirked and sent a message to Skyblade: "Send a few rogues my way. I''m at the Harmony City Auction House." The reply came almost instantly. "Got four nearby. They''ll be there soon. Need more?" "That''s enough. By the way, the guild''s upgraded, we''re at Level 4 now. We can hold 10,000 members." "Yeah, we noticed. Check how many we''ve got already." Curious, Ethan opened the Guild System. [Renegade Alliance] Guild Level: 4 Members: 3,569 / 10,000 Base Level: 1 (Harmony City) Fortresses: None Team Points: 265 Guild Funds: 1,358 gold, 92 silver, 26 copper S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan raised an eyebrow. Over 3,500 members already? And still climbing? He had only walked from the Guild Hall to the Auction House, just a few minutes and the numbers had jumped. Then again, Renegade Alliance was the hottest guild right now. After the battle Larson basin, plenty of players had been waiting for recruitment to open. Seeing the guild grow, Ethan let out a small smile. This time around, he would build an empire with his own hands. As for the guild funds, it wasn''t much, but every bit had been earned, through grinding, donations, and contribution exchanges. Once membership hit the cap, daily guild earnings would be substantial. But Ethan wouldn''t touch that money lightly. Guild raids, wars, fortress sieges, every coin would be needed. In fact, he''d probably have to pour in even more of his own funds down the line. Building a strong guild took time. Right now, there was still a ceasefire period, and fortress battles were months away. But once real-money transactions launched, everything would change. The moment Ethereal''s first fortress war ended, in-game currency would be linked to real-world cash. That''s when corporations and investors would flood in, throwing money at any guild with control over a fortress or city. A total power shift. Many guilds would sell out. Ethan had no intention of letting Renegade Alliance fall into corporate hands. He was confident they''d secure at least one fortress, and he wouldn''t accept a single outside investor. As he planned, four rogues approached, each wearing the Renegade Alliance emblem. Ethan raised a hand. They spotted him immediately. Seeing Ethan lift his hood slightly, their eyes widened. ''It''s Guild leader'' Skyblade had only told them to report to the Auction House for a mission. Now, seeing Ethan himself, they knew this wasn''t just some routine task. In Renegade Alliance, completing missions meant earning contribution points. And if they died during a mission? The guild compensated them. This was going to be worth it. The moment they received the order, the four rogues sprinted over. What they hadn''t expected? The one waiting for them was none other than the guild leader himself, the infamous Newbie King, NotADruid. What Ethan didn''t know was that he had gained another title among the player base: Druid God. The God of Druids. If Ethan knew about this title he had been given, he would have been dumbfounded. He was well aware that the true Druid God in Ethereal was Elyune, the Lunar Goddess, one of the Firstborn, and the Winter Queen''s younger sister. Hell, she ranked even higher than the Titan Forgers in the game''s lore. That said, in the player world, if anyone deserved to be called the Druid God, it was Ethan. "Boss! What do you need us to do?" one of the rogues asked eagerly. "Follow me." Ethan led them into the Auction House and stopped near the entrance. He motioned toward a player inside, Trent''s in-game avatar. "Memorize his face," Ethan said. "Track him. The moment he leaves the city, kill him. Send him back to the Starter Zone." The rogues'' eyes lit up. Corpse camping? Their favorite pastime. This was exactly why they chose the rogue class. One of them smirked. "Boss, just send him back once? That''s nothing. He''ll be out again in no time." Ethan grinned. These guys spoke his language. "If you''ve got nothing better to do," he said, "escort him all the way to Level 1." The rogues laughed. "Understood, boss! Leave it to us." Bounty hunting was one of the best money-making gigs for rogues. Unless the mission required handing over specific loot, whatever the target dropped was theirs to keep. Plus, they''d earn guild contribution points on top of that. This was exactly the kind of job rogues loved. With everything arranged, Ethan gave Trent one last merciless glance before turning back to his own business. He browsed the Auction House for gear but found nothing worthwhile. Probably because the auction house was still new, and most players hadn''t listed their items yet. Instead, he switched to the materials section and checked the Reinforcement Stones listings. There were already plenty, and the prices were only 1 silver each. Ethan bought them all. Right now, only a few players could afford gear enhancements, so prices were still low. But once players started hitting Level 30, the demand for Reinforcement Stones would explode. Prices would skyrocket from 1 silver to 50 silver per stone. Before Ethan''s rebirth, Reinforcement Stones had peaked at 35 gold each. By the time he finished, he had spent 200 gold, acquiring around 2,000 stones. A solid investment. But now? His inventory was full. It was only then that Ethan remembered, he was still stuck with a basic 12-slot bag. Even his personal bank storage hadn''t been expanded yet. Everything in this game cost money. With no choice, he ran to the Bank, paid another 500 gold to expand his storage, and hauled the Reinforcement Stones over in multiple trips. And that''s when he spotted it¡­ A weapon he had almost forgotten. [Wraithbinder''s Staff]. Chapter 84 The One and Only Ethan placed the staff at the very top of the guild vault, adjusting the contribution price to 999,999,999 points. Then, he attached a note: "High tier staff, viewing only. Available upon request for those who have made significant contributions to the guild." Just to make sure everyone saw it, he copied the message into the guild chat, along with the staff''s stats. The once lively guild chat fell into a brief, stunned silence. Then, all hell broke loose. "Holy crap! Boss, where did you even find this? This thing''s insane!" "A dark gold-tier weapon?! Damn, guild leader, you''re built different!" "guild leader never disappoints." "Boss is boss, as always!" The chat was flooded with admiration, praise, and the occasional shameless flattery. Ethan chuckled, enjoying the moment, but he didn''t linger on it. No need to rub it in. He opened his inventory and focused on a fiery red orb. [Infernal Core] Tier: Artifact Effect 1: Generates a 50x50 ft fire barrier, making all within it completely immune to fire-based attacks. Lasts 5 minutes, cooldown 24 hours. Effect 2: Can pacify all unstable fire elements. Effect 3: Can be socketed into any gear with a gem slot. Effect 4: Can be used as crafting material to forge any fire-based weapon or armor, instantly upgrading it to Artifact-tier. Restriction 1: Cannot be used by anyone with less than 20% fire resistance. Restriction 2: Anyone with less than 40% fire resistance will suffer continuous HP drain. Description: The heart of the Infernal Tyrant, brimming with unimaginable power, but also laced with an endless, corrosive fire. ... S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''What kind of joke is this?!'' A level 200 player in full fire resistance gear wouldn''t even reach 20%, let alone 40%. ''Might as well just tell me I''ll never be able to use it.'' Ethan closed his inventory with a sigh. No point fantasizing. A treasure too rare to use, yet too valuable to throw away. ''Looks like it''s just gonna sit there, gathering dust.'' By the time he finished checking his inventory, he had already made his way back to the central teleportation platform. Just then, a private message popped up. Lyla had finally hit level 15. She should''ve left the Starter Zone long ago, but her pet had been leeching part of her XP, slowing her down. Still, thanks to her meticulous care, that little dragon had already reached level 9. At their agreed meeting spot, Ethan spotted Lyla from a distance. Even just standing there, she was impossible to miss, a stunning figure in the middle of the plaza. Male players couldn''t help but steal glances, some even taking the long way around just to get another look. A grin tugged at Ethan''s lips as he walked over, hidden beneath his black cloak. "Waiting for someone, pretty girl?" Lyla instantly recognized his voice, her face lighting up with a playful smile. "Yep! Who are you? Why are you hiding under that cloak? You must be up to no good!" She had been attracting attention for a while now. Plenty of guys had wanted to approach her but were too hesitant. Now, seeing Ethan casually walk up and make her smile like that, they all froze in place. A few of them, who had already circled the plaza several times just to build up the courage, stopped dead in their tracks. Then, they heard Lyla''s crystal-clear voice. "You must be a bad guy!" A collective, murderous aura surged in the air. "Did¡­ did that guy just steal our chance?" Ethan could almost feel the waves of resentment rolling toward him. Just as he was about to speak, a sudden shout rang out from the crowd. "Hey! You there! Let go of that girl, you creep!" Ethan raised an eyebrow. ''Let go? I haven''t even touched her. But now that you mention it¡­'' A mischievous thought crossed his mind. Very, very slowly, he reached out, dragging the moment for full effect, before wrapping an arm around Lyla''s waist. ''Let''s see how many of these guys I can piss off.'' "What? I''m not letting go." Ethan smirked, his voice dripping with mock arrogance. Lyla couldn''t see his expression under the cloak, but his tone alone made her almost burst into laughter. "Get that creep!" someone in the crowd shouted. In an instant, dozens of players charged at Ethan. Not that he was worried. Combat abilities were disabled in the city, meaning any fight had to be purely physical. Still, he wasn''t about to waste his energy on them. If anything, their jealousy was a compliment, after all, if this many people were fawning over Lyla, it only proved how amazing she was. Why should he be the one getting mad? "Guards!" Ethan suddenly shouted. The group instinctively flinched. Within three seconds, a squad of city guards stormed over. The would-be attackers awkwardly froze, silently thinking, ''We haven''t even done anything yet! Let''s see what the guards do to you first.'' A commanding officer, clearly someone important, stepped forward and frowned. "Who called for the guards?" Ethan''s grin widened. An old acquaintance. Roland Carter, Captain of Harmony City''s First Guard Squadron. Looked like he had been patrolling nearby and heard Ethan''s shout. Before Ethan could say anything, one of the players quickly pointed at him. "It was him! He was harassing this lady, so we stepped in to help. But he called the guards first!" Roland turned to Lyla. "Miss, as a warrior from another world, I must ask, was this man bothering you?" He glanced down at Ethan''s hand still wrapped around Lyla''s waist. Lyla''s mischievous expression didn''t waver. "Not at all! He''s my brother!" The crowd fell silent. "...Brother?!" They were all dumbfounded. ''Brother, my ass! Who would believe that? You two are clearly flirting!'' The tension fizzled out instantly. The would-be heroes grumbled among themselves, disappointed, with many preparing to leave. But just as they turned away, Ethan spoke up. "Captain Roland, these people are loitering within ten meters of my shop while carrying weapons. I have reason to suspect they were planning to rob my store. Please, arrest them all for questioning!" Roland''s face darkened. "According to city laws, carrying weapons within ten meters of a shop is prohibited. If the shop owner wishes to press charges, offenders will be detained for three to twelve hours. Guards, take them away for investigation." "Yes, sir!" The guards instantly surrounded the group. The crowd lost their minds. "He''s the owner of All-You-Need?!" They had been waiting to see Ethan get arrested, but somehow they were the ones in trouble instead. Why the hell did they pull out their weapons?! "Wait! No, this is a misunderstanding! We were just trying to help!" "Yeah! Sir, please! I have a guild event soon, if I miss it, I''ll be kicked out!" The guards didn''t care. With sharp spears pressed against their backs, the players were escorted away, their wails fading into the distance. Ethan casually flipped his hood back and looked at Lyla. "Satisfied?" She scrunched her nose playfully. "Hmph! That''s what they get for staring too much!" "And you weren''t afraid they''d all gang up on me and beat me up?" Lyla giggled. "No way! Ethie is the best!" Ethan sighed, shaking his head. ''Trouble magnet.'' But, well, a ridiculously clever one. "Alright, here." Ethan sent a trade request, offering Frostbound Reverie to her. The weapon was strange, inside his inventory, none of its stats were visible. Even after upgrading it thirty times, the details remained a mystery. Worse, each upgrade required fifty reinforcement stones, five times the normal amount. [Frostbound Reverie +30] Level: ??? Tier: ??? Attack: ??? Attributes: ??? Class Restriction: Archer, Hunter, Windstrider Faction Restriction: Survivor Description: Frostbound Reverie was born alongside the Firstborn, the Winter Queen. It is a manifestation of her essence, only those it deems worthy may wield it. After reading the description, Ethan wasn''t optimistic. The weapon itself had to "approve" of the user? But how did one earn its approval? There were no clues. Chapter 85 The Chosen Archer If the bow required a quest to gain its approval, that would be manageable. But if it was based purely on luck, then there was nothing he could do. In his previous life, Frostbound Reverie had remained nothing more than a legend, no one had ever actually equipped it. Eventually, it ended up in the hands of Feather, the so-called God of Arrows, but even he never used it. And yet¡ª "Whoa! +30 Enhancement?! A legendary-tier bow?! Ethie, you''re the best! Mwah~!" Lyla planted a kiss on his cheek before he could react. At that very moment, her old bow vanished, instantly replaced by a new one. And the design¡­ The entire bow looked as if it was forged from pure ice, radiating a restrained yet overwhelming chill. Its wings curved into a graceful arc, and intricate, ancient runes were etched across its body. Most striking of all was the brilliant golden aura, proof of its +30 enhancement. "You¡­ You actually¡­ equipped it?!" Ethan stammered. "Yep! And its stats are insane!" Lyla beamed as she checked her inventory. "Well? Show me the details!" Ethan was just as eager. This weapon was supposedly born alongside the Firstborn, the Winter Queen, its power had to be extraordinary. But while he was excited, he was also confused. Lyla had bonded with the Winter Queen''s pet immediately. Now, she could equip the Winter Queen''s weapon without issue. What was going on? Lyla sent the stats over in a private message. Ethan quickly opened it. And then¡­ Nothing. Just like in his inventory, every stat was still a string of question marks. "...I can''t see anything," Ethan muttered in frustration. "You''ll have to read it out to me." "Really? Alright!" Lyla cleared her throat and began listing off the attributes. As Ethan listened, a clear picture formed in his mind. --- [Frostbound Reverie +30] Tier: Legendary Required Level: 15 (Grows with the user) Attack Power: 704 - 1156 (Base Damage: 176 - 303) (+30 Enhancement Bonus: 528 - 909) Agility: +150 Strength: +150 Passive Abilities: Frost Infusion: All attacks gain ice attributes, reducing enemy movement speed by 25% for 2 seconds. Endless Arrows: The bow automatically generates magical arrows, with damage matching the highest-level arrows available. Mimic Arrow: Can replicate the effects of special arrows. Stores up to five at a time. If a new effect is added, a random existing effect is erased. Stronger effects override weaker ones of the same type. Dynamic Abilities: Frostbolt Trigger: Every 10th attack fires an ice arrow, dealing 150 True Damage. Summon: Winter Queen: Summons a phantom of the Winter Queen, lasting 1.5 seconds. The phantom wields 0.15% of her real power. (Cooldown: 30 days) Forbidden: Winter''s End: Unleashes an ice storm, freezing and damaging all enemies nearby. The damage radius scales with charge time. While charging, 1% HP is lost per second. (Max charge time: 5 minutes | Cooldown: 30 days) Enhancement Bonuses: +10: Mastery +6 +20: Omni +6 +30: Haste +6 Class Restriction: Archer, Hunter, Windstrider Faction Restriction: Survivor Bound Owner: Moonbeam (Cannot be dropped or destroyed. If wielded by an unapproved user, they will be instantly frozen into crystal and unable to revive for 10 days.) --- "...Holy hell." Ethan stared at Lyla, dumbfounded. This bow wasn''t just powerful, it was ridiculous. But one thing was clear: It had chosen her. Frostbound Reverie was born alongside the Firstborn, the Winter Queen, formed from the very essence of her frozen soul. It could only be wielded by one it deemed worthy. ¡­ Ethan was stunned after hearing Lyla''s breakdown of the weapon. Forget the abilities for a second, just its base attack alone was an absurd 303 points. And this was at level 15. On top of that, the weapon grew stronger with its wielder, meaning its stats scaled as Lyla leveled up. It had six attributes, and three of them were dynamic, meaning they''d automatically improve as she gained levels. Then there was the Winter Queen''s Summon, it granted a phantom with 0.15% of the real Winter Queen''s strength. How strong was that? No one knew. No one had ever used it before. And then there was Forbidden: Winter''s End, just the name alone sounded catastrophic. But the 1% HP drain per second during charge-up? That was brutal. If Lyla fully charged it for 5 minutes, she''d drop dead before even firing it off. Yeah, she was gonna need a healer babysitting her for that one. Ethan frowned. If she was level 15 and the max charge time was 5 minutes, did that mean at level 100, she''d have to charge for 33 minutes? Of course, this was just his guess, but regardless, this bow was beyond broken. Even its first three abilities were insane. A 25% slow on every attack? For an archer, that was a godsend. Archers were glass cannons, meaning they needed to keep enemies at a distance. If every arrow crippled movement, getting jumped by melee attackers became way less likely. Sure, the slow only lasted two seconds, but an archer''s attack speed was fast enough to keep it nearly permanent. And the automatic magic arrows? That was basically printing money. Archers and gunners were notoriously expensive classes. Sure, their bullets and arrows had special properties, allowing them to punch above their level and deal high burst damage. But all that cost gold, a lot of gold. Even a basic, no-effect barrel of 1,000 arrows cost 1 copper. At higher levels, however, basic arrows weren''t even an option. Lyla was level 15 now, meaning proper arrows for her would cost around 3 copper per barrel. With the in-game exchange rate, that was about $54 per barrel. And in real combat, a barrel only lasted around three hours. Do the math, a single day of intense grinding would cost at least $200 in ammo alone. But now? With Mimic Arrow, she could copy the effects of special arrows, and combine that with the infinite supply from the bow itself¡­ Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unlimited ammunition. No more gold sink. Ethan sighed. He had thought his +30 silver-tier weapon was strong, certain that no one in the game could outdamage him. His entire gear set combined barely totaled 600 attack power. Lyla''s bow alone outclassed that. He stared at the weapon, practically drooling. He had planned on helping Lyla level up, but now? Looks like he was the one about to get carried. Chapter 86 A Surprise Wedding As soon as Ethan heard Lyla''s forbidden spell ability, an idea struck him. "Lyla, let''s test out that spell of yours!" he said, his tone filled with excitement. "Sure! Where are we going?" "Come on, I''ll take you there! But we''ll need a healer too, otherwise, you won''t be able to finish charging it." "Alright! I''ll listen to you!" Lyla chirped sweetly, clinging to Ethan''s arm and nuzzling against him. Ethan let out a helpless chuckle. This girl was like a completely different person in-game compared to real life. While she was pretty obedient offline, she was a total menace in-game. She knew that no matter what she did here, he couldn''t do anything about it. Thinking back to his previous life, the things they had done, in taverns, out in the wild, even inside dungeons¡­ his mind drifted. And suddenly, heat surged through him, and a growing bulge tented his pants. ''Damn it.'' Right now, he really wanted to drag her to somewhere private to unleash the pent-up tension he felt within. Unfortunately, the game had strict rules. Any kind of intimate interaction required mutual consent, otherwise, the system would immediately kill you on the spot. Pushing aside those thoughts, Ethan opened his friend list and sent a message. "Slashblade, you busy?" "Just got back to town with Ryan and Williams for supplies," Slashblade replied. "Meet me at the central teleportation hub. We''re forming a party." "We''re already here!" Just as Ethan read the message, he spotted four figures approaching. "What a coincidence," he muttered, recognizing them immediately¡ªSlashblade, Skyblade, SeraphWarrior, and Meatball. He hadn''t expected them to already be grouped together. With himself and Lyla, that made a full party. "Coincidence? You two stand out like a sore thumb, one dressed head-to-toe in black, the other drop-dead gorgeous. Hard not to notice!" Slashblade joked. It had been a few days since they last met, and Ethan noticed something different about him. Slashblade, usually reserved and brooding, seemed... talkative. Ethan raised a brow. "Slash, you''ve changed." "Hah! Told you he''d notice!" Skyblade laughed, slapping SeraphWarrior on the back. "Alright, pay up. You too, Meatball, no backing out!" Ethan was thoroughly confused. "What''s going on?" Skyblade grinned. "Boss, Slashblade''s getting married!" "What? No way!" Lyla gasped, rushing forward. "Congrats, Slashblade!" Ethan, however, had a very different reaction. "Wait¡­ married? Second marriage?" he blurted out without thinking. The group fell silent for a split second. SeraphWarrior immediately covered his face, his shaking shoulders betraying his suppressed laughter. Meatball struggled to keep a straight face, his expression turning an unnatural shade of purple. Slashblade, on the other hand, looked utterly mortified, glaring at Ethan with a mix of frustration and disbelief. Realizing his blunder, Ethan quickly tried to recover. "Uh¡­ I just thought you were already married, that''s all." That only made things worse. Skyblade doubled over laughing. "I knew it! I knew Boss would assume Slash was divorced! Alright, pay up, everyone!" He even gave Slashblade a shove, demanding his winnings. Slashblade looked like he was seriously considering murder. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Still grinning, Skyblade turned back to Ethan. "Boss, you don''t know the half of it. Slashblade dedicated his whole life to serving the country. Got injured in the line of duty, retired, and spent years taking care of his fallen comrades'' families¡ªwidows, orphans, the works. Never had time for his own life. "But there was this one girl, met him when she was sixteen. Waited over ten years for him. Now she''s almost thirty, and the guy finally gave in. Talk about a long game!" Ethan glanced at Slashblade, his respect for the man deepening. After hearing about Slashblade''s past, he couldn''t help but reflect on his own situation with Lyla. His eyes shifted toward her, a flicker of unspoken emotion passing through his gaze. Lyla met his eyes and, as if sensing his thoughts, smiled softly. Without a word, she squeezed his hand just a little tighter. "Oh ho! Something''s going on here!" Skyblade''s sharp eyes caught the exchange immediately. "Nothing''s going on," Ethan deflected, quickly shifting the focus. "Let''s talk about Slash instead. When''s the big day?" "The day after tomorrow," Slashblade answered, looking a little embarrassed. "That soon?" Ethan was taken aback. "Boss, First lady, you guys coming?" Skyblade asked with a grin. Ethan actually wanted to go, but instead of answering right away, he turned to Lyla to see what she thought. "First lady, you should come! Look at Meatball, we''ve barely known him for a few days, and even he''s coming," Skyblade added, clearly playing the persuasion game. "Where''s the wedding? If it''s too far, we might have to leave early in the morning," Lyla pointed out. She had already figured out that Ethan wanted to go. "No need to worry! Even if it''s far, you can just take a flight!" "I get air sick," Lyla admitted with a sheepish look. "I''ll send you the address in a bit," Slashblade said. He really wanted Ethan to be there. If it weren''t for Ethan, he wouldn''t have had the courage to pursue this relationship at all. Slashblade had only joined Ethereal on a whim, never expecting to run into Ethan. But under his leadership, their group had climbed higher than they ever imagined. And on top of that, Ethan paid his three core members a generous salary, 10 silver coins per day. That translated to a daily wage of about $1,800. Before retiring from the military, Slashblade had only earned around $8,000 a month. Now, he kept just $1,000 for himself and sent the rest to the families of his fallen comrades. It wasn''t much, but it was enough for them to live a simple but stable life in the countryside. He never really thought about himself, never allowed himself to. Slashblade wasn''t the expressive type, but he carried a deep gratitude toward Ethan. He never spoke about it, but he felt it every time they met. And ever since he had called Ethan "Boss" for the first time, his loyalty had already been sealed. Hearing that Ethan and Lyla were coming, Slashblade couldn''t help but feel a wave of happiness. Without delay, he sent them the address. Ethan took a quick look. "Not bad, it''s not too far. Should take about six hours by car." "Boss, where are you guys right now?" Skyblade asked. "Ember City," Ethan replied. "Holy¡ªThat''s not far at all! Shouldn''t take more than four or five hours. What, did you just get your license? Six hours¡ªwhat are you driving, a tractor?" Skyblade teased. Ethan shot him a look. "Our car probably can''t take the highway. We''ll have to use the backroads." "What kind of car?" "A Predator Beast X," Ethan said casually. There was a brief moment of silence. Even SeraphWarrior, who had been quiet the whole time, finally spoke up in shock. "Wait... you''re kidding, right?" "There''s no way..." Chapter 87 Into the Iron Mountains Ethan''s joke was getting out of hand. A Predator Beast X? That car was something out of a sci-fi fantasy. Forget about highways, even if he took it on regular roads, a convoy of armed SWAT units would probably surround him within minutes. Skyblade watched Ethan''s cryptic smile and shook his head. ''Yeah, right. He''s totally messing with us.'' "Alright, let''s squad up. I''ll take you guys to level up," Ethan said, sending out party invites. With six members, the team was full. Once they were all in, Ethan noticed that the four of them had already hit level 20. Not exactly record-breaking, but still within the top tier of players. "Since you guys are level 20 now, you should start upgrading your gear. You can probably handle the Howling Caverns dungeon," Ethan suggested. "Yeah, but we don''t have enough guild members at level 20 to form a full raid team yet. Boss, are you running it with us?" Skyblade asked. Ethan thought for a moment. Howling Caverns¡­ That dungeon drops a three-piece druid gear set. It wouldn''t hurt to grab some upgrades, and honestly, his current equipment could use an overhaul. "Yeah, call me when you''re forming the party. Let''s also get Moonbeam to level 20 so she can join. There''s a rare archer treasure that drops there, it boosts attack speed." "First lady''s only level 15? By the time she hits 20, we''ll probably have already cleared the dungeon. But we can power-level her after," Skyblade said. "Excuse me, are you looking down on me?" Lyla snapped. "Uh¡­ No way!" Skyblade forced a grin, clearly sensing danger. With their team set, Ethan led the group to the teleportation hub. He activated the squad teleport function, instantly transporting everyone to Blazestar Outpost in the Scorched Plains. "Where are we?" Lyla asked, glancing around. "This is the Scorched Plains, a level 30 zone," Ethan replied. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We''re grinding on level 30 mobs? That''s fifteen levels higher than me," Lyla said, sounding doubtful. "Don''t worry, First lady Back in the Starter Zone, Boss had us farming over-leveled mobs all the time. The EXP was insane," Skyblade reassured her. "This time, I''m not carrying you guys," Ethan smirked. "Moonbeam''s the key here. And we''re not hunting level 30 mobs." He left them hanging, turning toward the north. Beyond the outpost, a massive mountain range loomed in the distance, its peaks piercing the clouds. "That''s our real destination," Ethan said, pointing at it. They were headed for the Iron Mountains. Blazestar Outpost was the closest teleportation hub to their goal. The path ahead was mostly safe, but since their levels were still on the low side, Lyla managed to attract an enemy, a Flame Draconian. A level 30 elite. Good thing they had a full party, or even Ethan would''ve struggled to take this thing down alone. --- [Flame Draconian] Quality: Elite Level: 30 Magic Attack: 824 Physical Defense: 1200 Magic Defense: 1100 Health: 80,000 Skill 1: Fireball ¨C Deals 120% magic damage to the target. Cast time: 3.5 seconds. Skill 2: Inferno Blast ¨C Deals 200% magic damage. Cast time: 10 seconds. Cooldown: 1 minute. --- For Skyblade, a shield tank with no fire resistance gear, this type of magic-based enemy was a nightmare. Physical armor meant nothing against it, every hit would deal full damage. As soon as Lyla aggroed the monster, Skyblade immediately switched to defensive stance. He charged forward, taunting the Draconian before slamming a fist into its chest, interrupting its Fireball cast. The Draconian''s spell was interrupted, silencing it for five seconds. Unable to cast magic, it resorted to swinging its staff at Skyblade, landing two normal attacks. Each hit dealt only 1 damage. It couldn''t even break through Skyblade''s defenses. "Hah! Level 30 mobs aren''t all that tough. Can''t even scratch me!" Skyblade boasted. Seeing that their tank could hold the line, the rest of the party relaxed and launched their attacks. -1! -1! -1! -658, -50! -3,698! Everyone paused as the Draconian''s health bar ticked down. The first three weak hits were from Skyblade, SeraphWarrior, and Meatball, expected results given the level gap. But those last two numbers? All eyes turned to Ethan. "Uh¡­ The 600-something was mine," Ethan admitted. He was just as stunned as everyone else. But the 3,698? That was Moonbeam''s. That damage was insane. She was hitting a monster 15 levels above her, and it still landed that hard? "First lady, what the hell was that?!" Skyblade gawked at Lyla. "This is my highest single-hit skill, Aimed Shot. It does 500% base damage but has a 4-second charge time and a 1-minute cooldown," Lyla explained, just as shocked as the others. She suddenly realized how powerful the weapon Ethan had given her really was. A 4-second charge time was brutal for an archer. Staying rooted that long in battle was practically asking for death. But in their amazement, they had all overlooked one important fact¡ªLyla was only level 15. Against a level 30 monster, the system''s level suppression should have heavily reduced her damage. So how was she hitting that hard? "Skyblade, watch out!" Ethan shouted. "Huh?" Skyblade blinked in confusion. The five-second silence wore off. While everyone had been busy marveling at Lyla''s attack, the Draconian had already completed casting its Fireball. Boom! The blast hit Skyblade directly. -2,256! Skyblade''s health bar instantly vanished, and he collapsed to the ground. Being level 20, he was already at a 10-level disadvantage. Even in defensive stance, his max HP barely reached 2,200. The Fireball outright one-shot him. ''Damn, I got careless.'' "Shifting, Bear Form! Taunt!" Ethan roared, instantly transforming and pulling aggro onto himself. "Skyblade, corpse run!" he ordered. "On it!" Skyblade responded in party chat. Ethan cursed inwardly. ''Damn it, I forgot this thing is pure magic-based.'' Earlier, when its spell got interrupted and it was forced to use normal attacks, it barely dealt any damage. That had lulled him into a false sense of security. "Slashblade, keep me healed!" Ethan called out. "Got it!" Slashblade replied. "Anyone else have an interrupt? We need to stop its Inferno Blast. Ignore Fireball, it''s not worth wasting an interrupt on," Ethan said. "The only interrupt skill we have is Skyblade''s Punch," SeraphWarrior informed him. "Boss, can you tank this thing?" Skyblade asked while running back. "Relax," Slashblade cut in. "Boss is way more solid than you." "How?! He''s a druid! Even in Bear Form, his health is only about the same as mine. You''ve healed druid tanks before, you know they''re not that sturdy," Skyblade argued. Ethan smirked, his eyes locked on the Draconian. "You''ll see." Chapter 88 Breaking Limits Slashblade chuckled at Skyblade''s disbelief. "Hah, that''s why Boss is Boss. He''s got 6,250 HP, that''s three times yours! And his movement? Flawless." Ethan weaved through the battlefield, dodging most of the Flame Draconian''s Fireballs with precise footwork. He only took a hit when there was absolutely no way around it, giving Slashblade plenty of time to keep his health topped up. "You''ve gotta be joking," Skyblade muttered. "Less talking, more running. Get back here and help interrupt its spells. Inferno Blast will take out half my health, I don''t think Slashblade can heal me fast enough if I take the full hit," Ethan said in party chat. Even with his dodging, the few Fireballs that did connect were hitting him for over 1,800 damage each. The monster was five levels higher than him, and being pure magic-based, its damage was brutal. Ethan hadn''t had time to collect skill books yet, he didn''t even have the druid interrupt skill Skull Bash. "Moonbeam, simulate your strongest true-damage arrow," Ethan called out. With others around, he always used her in-game name. "Got it!" Lyla responded instantly. "Wait, what about Rapidfire Barrage?" Ethan asked. He distinctly remembered giving her an advanced archer skill book that she should''ve learned. "Oh, crap! I just hit level 15 and forgot to learn it! One sec!" As she spoke, the Flame Draconian began casting Inferno Blast. Ten seconds. The spell was almost complete. Heavy Strike! Ethan launched a stun attack, knocking the Draconian out for three seconds. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As soon as the stun wore off, the monster resumed casting. Typhoon! A burst of wind sent the Draconian stumbling eight meters backward, interrupting the spell again. The third cast began. Out of nowhere, a massive warhammer crashed down on the Draconian''s skull. Hammer of Judgment! SeraphWarrior''s control skill landed, stunning the Draconian for five seconds. But as soon as the stun ended, the monster started casting Inferno Blast yet again. Ethan knew there were no more interrupts left. This time, the spell was going to hit. Damn it, I won''t be able to dodge this one. A massive fireball, the size of a bathtub, blasted toward him at breakneck speed. Ethan had already sprinted ten meters away, trying to create an escape window, but he had underestimated Inferno Blast''s speed. The moment he reacted, the fireball was already in his face. Boom! -5,756! A critical hit. If not for his high HP and Slashblade''s constant healing, he would''ve suffered the same fate as Skyblade. Gritting his teeth, Ethan chugged a Medium Instant Healing Potion. +4,250! He was back in the fight. Slashblade, however, had already burned through a third of his mana, and the battle had only lasted a minute. Even with Ethan dodging most attacks, the damage was too high. Slashblade''s main healing spell only restored about 400 HP per cast, meaning he had to cast four times just to recover from a single hit. "Skyblade, how much longer till you get back?" Ethan asked. "It''s a long way. At least five more minutes," Skyblade replied. Ethan was starting to feel the pressure. The Flame Draconian had only lost a fifth of its health. At this rate, it would take at least five more minutes to kill it. If Slashblade ran out of mana, Ethan would be the first to die, then the whole team would follow. If things got worse, he''d have to call for a retreat. "Boss, don''t worry. I haven''t even used a mana potion yet. I still have one Medium Slow Mana Recovery Potion, it should be enough to finish this fight," Slashblade reassured him. "Wasting a Medium Slow Mana Recovery Potion on a single elite? That''s a loss," Ethan muttered. Mana potions were five times the price of health potions. A Medium Slow Health Recovery Potion cost 2 gold, while a mana potion of the same level was 10 gold. Just the Medium Instant Healing Potion he drank earlier had cost him 15 gold¡ªabout 27,000 dollars in real-world currency. Even with his wealth, he couldn''t just throw money around. And this wasn''t even a boss, just a regular elite. If they kept going like this, who knew how much it would cost to clear stronger enemies? "Bro, just hold on for one more minute, I''ll finish it off," Lyla suddenly spoke up. "You sure? If not, you guys should retreat. I can afford to die once, but I''m not wasting any more potions on a bad deal," Ethan said firmly. "I got this. I just learned Rapidfire Barrage, nine consecutive attacks, each dealing 200% damage. It only has a 10-second cooldown, and as long as I keep charging, the effective cooldown is just five seconds!" Lyla explained. As she spoke, she activated Double Shot, a buff that allowed her to fire two arrows in quick succession. Then, she began charging Aimed Shot. Whoosh! Two arrows flew. -3,698, -89! -5,547, -89! -150! The second Aimed Shot landed a critical hit, and her bow''s passive ability¡ªtriggering true damage every ten consecutive attacks, activated. The Flame Draconian''s health dropped drastically. Lyla didn''t stop. Her fingers pulled the bowstring again and again, releasing a relentless flurry of arrows over the next five seconds. -1,290, -1,290, -1,935¡­ The monster''s HP plummeted to half. Ethan immediately realized, she wouldn''t even need a full minute. Two more rounds, and the Draconian would be dead. At this point, SeraphWarrior and Meatball had completely stopped attacking. After watching their puny 1-damage attacks while Lyla casually dealt thousands, they felt utterly useless. They were level 20, and she was only 15. Yet she was carrying them. If word got out, they''d never hear the end of it. But something wasn''t right. How was Lyla''s damage this high? Their eyes drifted toward her bow. Its golden glow practically screamed high-grade enhancement. "First lady, is that a +30 weapon?" Meatball finally asked, unable to contain his curiosity. "Mhm, Guild leader gave it to me," Lyla said casually. "What?! Boss, hook me up with one too!" Meatball immediately turned to Ethan, pleading. "Sure, but you''ll need to supply your own Enhancement Stones. And just so you know, enhancing to +30 won''t be cheap," Ethan smirked. Meatball had been about to agree enthusiastically¡ªuntil he heard the second part. His excitement froze. "Wait¡­ You''re serious? You can actually enhance to +30?" He had only been hoping for something around +15. He hadn''t even considered +30. Chapter 89 The Art of Enhancement As a veteran gamer, he knew exactly how ruthless the enhancement system could be. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Right now, his weapon was at +5 enhancement. At one point, he had pushed it to +11. But greed had cost him. One failed attempt later, the enhancement level dropped, and he never managed to bring it back above ten. He had poured at least a hundred gold into enhancing this weapon alone. For a solo player to afford that much in the early stages, it spoke volumes about his deep pockets. If he could push it to +30? Forget a hundred gold, he''d pay a thousand without hesitation. "Boss, name your price. As long as you can get it to +30 and it''s within reason, I''ll pay up!" Meatball declared. He was a gaming fanatic, the kind of player who threw money at the best gear without a second thought. Hearing Meatball''s words, a thought sparked in Ethan''s mind. With the Wishbound Relic, could he create an elite squad? Why hadn''t he considered this before? Instead of just focusing on himself, he could equip his closest allies, people he trusted, with high-tier, enhanced gear. While he was lost in thought, Lyla fired off a Double Shot, followed by a Rapidfire Barrage. Eighteen arrows slammed directly into the Flame Draconian''s head. The creature let out a final roar before collapsing. Ethan bent down and picked up three copper coins from the loot. "What a loss. One life and a Medium Instant Health Potion, and all we get is three coppers?" Ethan muttered in the party chat. "Yeah, and it was the weakest one who died too!" SeraphWarrior chimed in. "Then why don''t you tank next time if you''re so good?" Skyblade shot back. "Alright, when we get back, stock up on Reinforcement Stones. I''ll enhance your gear for free," Ethan announced. Meatball''s eyes lit up instantly. "Boss, have you figured out some secret enhancement method? What''s the success rate?" he asked eagerly. Having spent a fortune on enhancements in past games, he was no stranger to the process. He had always relied on experts to enhance his gear. "Uh¡­ let''s call it a trick. It''s a hundred percent success rate. You believe me?" Ethan smirked. "Nope!" Meatball blurted out, then added, "Boss, I''ve got a hundred Reinforcement Stones here. See how far you can push this weapon. How much gold do you need?" Ethan took the stones, studying Meatball in silence. Meatball stared right back at him. A few seconds passed before Ethan finally spoke. "Give it to me." "Huh?" "The weapon. You expect me to enhance air?" "You need it now? I thought we''d do this back in town. If I give it to you now, I''ll be unarmed!" Meatball groaned. Still, he handed over his weapon. By now, the rest of the group had gathered around, curiosity piqued. Ethan hesitated. If he used the Wishbound Relic in front of them, could he trust these people? He weighed his options carefully. He hadn''t known them for long, but he had heard enough about them. Skyblade was a given, Ethan already trusted him in his past life. Slashblade, from what Skyblade had told him, was a retired soldier, loyal and honorable. SeraphWarrior and Skyblade had both served under Slashblade in real life. If Skyblade trusted them, Ethan had no reason to doubt them either. Meatball was the only uncertain one. But Ethan knew one thing, this guy had money to burn. And more importantly, he wasn''t the competitive type. He was a casual, solo player, someone who played for fun rather than rankings. People like that rarely got jealous of others'' success. With that in mind, Ethan finally pulled out the Wishbound Relic. His teammates watched in confusion as he placed Meatball''s Golden Warstaff inside. Ethan glanced at the weapon''s stats, Gold-tier, worth at least fifty gold. Yeah, Meatball really was loaded. Ethan tossed the Reinforcement Stones into the Wishbound Relic, one by one. He didn''t stop until he had used twenty-five of them. This time, his luck was absurd, every single attempt had succeeded. Under the stunned gazes of his teammates, Ethan pulled the weapon from the relic and handed it to Meatball. "This¡­ this¡­" Meatball stammered, his hands trembling as he held the weapon. "It''s really at +30? Boss, this thing¡­?" His eyes flicked to the relic in Ethan''s hands. "This is my biggest secret," Ethan said seriously, locking eyes with everyone. "I trust you to keep it." Meatball froze for a moment before his expression shifted. It wasn''t the heated look of envy or greed, it was something else entirely. Trust. For the first time, someone wasn''t trying to take something from him. Instead, Ethan was giving him something and asking for nothing but discretion in return. "Boss, you have my word," Meatball said, his voice firm. Despite how carefree he seemed, Meatball wasn''t from this region originally. He had grown up in the Capital, but tired of its endless noise and chaos, he moved to the coast, to a city known for its romance and laid-back lifestyle. As for his wealth? Even he didn''t know how much he had. All he knew was that he owned a ridiculous number of properties. The exact count? No clue. They were all managed by real estate firms, and his phone buzzed with transaction alerts every single day. He was an ultimate landlord. Where did all those properties come from? Inheritance. In other words, he was a real estate heir. But unlike most, he had no interest in high society. He only cared about games, living the life of a shut-in. The few people who stuck around were always after something. This was the first time he had met someone who wanted nothing from him, who simply asked for his trust. And that filled a part of him he never knew was empty. "Meatball, show us the stats!" SeraphWarrior urged. "What are you guys talking about?" Skyblade grumbled. He was still running back after Revival and had no idea what was happening. "Alright," Meatball replied, posting the weapon''s details in the chat. A moment of silence followed. Then¡­ "Holy¡ª" Everyone inhaled sharply at the absurd stats on display. SeraphWarrior and Slashblade turned to Ethan, their expressions a mix of shock and something else, something eager. Without a word, SeraphWarrior unsheathed the Greatsword on his back and strode toward Ethan. "What are you doing?" Ethan asked warily. He knew exactly what was coming, but the way SeraphWarrior was approaching¡­ it looked like he was about to start swinging. "Boss, do mine too!" "Boss, same for me!" Both Slashblade and SeraphWarrior thrust their weapons toward him, their eyes practically burning. A quick inventory check revealed they barely had a dozen Reinforcement Stones between them. "Boss, use my extras for them!" Meatball said, still buzzing with excitement as he held his now radiant, golden warstaff. A few dozen stones weren''t worth much to him. And considering he had spent over a hundred gold just to get his weapon to +5, this was practically nothing. Moments later, Slashblade and SeraphWarrior retrieved their newly enhanced weapons. The power boost was immediate. "Boss, any stones left? Enhance my shield too!" Skyblade had finally caught up, having pieced together what was happening through the chat. Now, he was practically howling. Chapter 90 The Floating Fortress After all the enhancement, Ethan realized something unsettling, he now had the second-lowest attack power in the party. Of course, the title of the lowest still officially belonged to Skyblade, their Shield Tank. His recent trip to the Underworld had cost him too much time. Though he still held the highest level, his gear had completely fallen behind. The others had been grinding non-stop, leveling up and farming loot, while he was still decked out in Starter Zone gear. Now that their weapons had caught up to his enhancements, his damage had plummeted in comparison. If not for his Unique Abilities, he might''ve been dead weight in the squad. Luckily, the extra attribute points and growth boost kept him useful, at least as a frontline tank. Skyblade, on the other hand, had fully embraced his role as the designated spectator and errand boy. His main job? Landing interrupts with his Heavy Strike. As they moved forward, they ran into a few more Flame Draconians blocking the path. This time, it was effortless. Not even a full minute, and the creatures were wiped out. At this rate, they could easily grind Draconians for XP and loot. But Ethan had a different plan. He led them north, pressing onward. Soon, they neared the base of the Iron Mountains. In the distance, they could see a massive Rotating Bridge, cast entirely from molten iron and forged into a spiraling structure. It led directly to an enormous iron gate, towering so high that it reached nearly halfway up the mountain. The sheer size of the double-doored gate was overwhelming, its ancient craftsmanship exuding both power and elegance. "This is our destination," Ethan informed the group. "Every monster inside starts at level 40." Before stepping forward, he gave them a quick rundown of the Iron Mountains'' history. Ten thousand years ago, a catastrophic collision between Azure and Terra reshaped the land. Mountains trembled. Vegetation withered. Flames devoured the earth, leaving only ashes in their wake. A massive volcano erupted, carving the landscape into what they now knew as the Iron Mountains, a volatile range stretching from the Scorched Plains in the south to Fire Canyon in the north. And right in front of them stood the volcano''s mouth, the Gate of the Iron Mountains. This gate had been forged by the Dwarves. The entire mountain range had once been a Dwarven stronghold, with vast underground halls carved into the stone. But over time, the Dwarves lost control. Their downfall? Curiosity. Like reckless miners, they dug deeper and deeper, until they unknowingly tunneled straight into another realm. From that breach, countless nightmarish creatures poured into their world. Another great war erupted. Only through a desperate alliance between the survivors of Terra and the natives of Azure were they able to push the invaders back. The Dwarves, realizing their mistake, swore an oath. Now, they remained in the depths of the Iron Mountains, acting as eternal wardens, guarding the gates to those otherworldly rifts. "That war¡­ the Winter Queen fought in it," Ethan said, glancing at Lyla. "She was the original owner of your bow¡­ and your pet." Lyla''s eyes widened. "How do you know all this?" Ethan smirked. "Did you forget? I told you before¡ªI''m¡­" He trailed off, knowing Lyla would understand. The others, meanwhile, were too caught up in the story to question him further. "Alright, let''s move," Ethan said, waving them forward. They crossed the Rotating Bridge, stepping into the shadow of the colossal gate. As they neared the Gate of the Iron Mountains, they noticed something surprising. The massive iron doors weren''t actually closed. A narrow gap had been left open, though from a distance, the sheer size of the doors created an optical illusion that made it seem fully shut. Stepping through the opening, they were immediately hit by a wave of scorching heat. Inside, the Iron Mountains were completely hollowed out. Iron-forged pathways spiraled upward along the inner walls, crisscrossing through the vast cavern like veins of molten steel. The group approached the edge and looked down. Thousands of meters below, a sea of bubbling magma churned, glowing with an ominous red hue. Looking up, the sky was nothing more than a distant pinprick, a well-like opening at the peak of the mountain. Their path, however, wound both upward and downward, following the spiraling structure. In the center of the cavern, suspended above the lava, was a massive floating platform. Thick iron chains, seven or eight of them, each as thick as a house, anchored the platform to the mountain walls. Whether the platform itself was naturally levitating or entirely supported by these chains remained a mystery. Ethan pointed toward it. "That''s our destination." "How the hell do we get over there?" Skyblade asked, frowning. "Simple. We walk the chains," Ethan replied, leading them toward the nearest one. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Only now did the team realize the sheer scale of the chains, each was at least twenty meters in diameter. More than wide enough for them to cross without issue. Once they reached the platform, everyone took a moment to look around. The sheer craftsmanship of the Dwarven engineering was astonishing. "This thing is massive," Skyblade muttered in awe. "How the hell did they even build this? How much manpower would it take?" "This is nothing," Ethan said with a smirk. "Once you guys level up and make it to Central Dominion, then you''ll see something truly spectacular." "How spectacular?" "You''ll find out when you get there," Ethan teased. "Boss, are you sure you''re not an insider at Aeon?" Meatball asked curiously. "You seem to know way too much about this game." "Uh¡­ I was involved in development at some point," Ethan replied vaguely, realizing he had already said too much. So far, Ethereal''s official website had barely revealed anything about the game''s deeper lore. He couldn''t exactly tell them he was a regressed player who had already lived through this world. Only Lyla knew the truth. And while she had said she believed him, Ethan couldn''t be sure if she actually did. Still, thinking back to the jade pendant incident, she hadn''t seemed particularly surprised. For the first time, Ethan found himself unable to fully read her. And then there was her conversation with Celeste Hawthorne, where she had deliberately emphasized that her surname was also Silverwood. Why? As Ethan pondered this, another thought struck him. Right, Celeste had told Lyla to update him about the Ninth Division. That had been days ago, and neither of them had brought it up since. Maybe it was time to ask her about it. Just as that thought settled, a voice suddenly rang inside his head, an old, gruff voice. "The Ninth Division already contacted you?" Ethan froze. He had been walking at the front, leading the way. Skyblade, who had been busy admiring the surroundings, hadn''t noticed and walked straight into him. "Boss? We stopping here?" Skyblade asked. "No, just checking our bearings," Ethan said quickly, glancing around as if surveying the area before continuing forward. At the same time, he had already recognized the voice in his head. It was Morzan, that old geezer. Chapter 91 The Iron Horde Ethan kept walking, his mind racing. ''Damn old man, why are you talking to me now? I''ve got people around me, how the hell am I supposed to respond?'' "You just called me an old geezer. Want me to send you back to your previous life?" Ethan froze. ''Wait¡­ he can hear my thoughts?!'' "Try calling me that again, you little brat." ''Old geezer old geezer old geezer! Ethan chanted in his head with amusement.'' "You¡ª!" ''What?" Ethan asked, completely unfazed by the supposed threat. "You''ve got guts, kid. I''m asking you, did the Ninth Division contact you?" Morzan finally calmed down. "I ran into a recruiter. You know about the Ninth Division?" Ethan responded mentally. "Of course I do. How could I not?" Morzan''s voice carried an unmistakable grudge. Ethan caught on immediately. "What, you got beef with them?" "Just join if you get the chance. I''ll have a job for you when the time comes," Morzan said, and then went completely silent. Ethan frowned. "The hell is that place anyway?" "Hey, you still there?" "Old man?" Nothing. "Tch¡­ for someone who needs a favor, you sure have a bad attitude." No matter how many times he called out, Morzan refused to answer. Ethan wasn''t intimidated, though. He knew Morzan hadn''t regressed him out of kindness. He had been chosen for something. For what? No clue. But whatever it was, it had to be big, something only he could do. And if that was the case, there was no way he was going to just blindly obey. If he had leverage, he was going to use it. "Hmph, whatever. I''ll ask Lyla about it later." ''The Ninth Division, huh?'' Now, Ethan was genuinely curious. By now, the group had descended into the depths of the Iron Mountains, following a spiral staircase through a narrow passage. It was clearly built for Dwarves, the ceiling was so low they had to hunch over just to fit. Ethan, however, smoothly shifted into Panther Form, glancing back at them. "Heh, maybe you guys should crawl too," he teased. "You wanna die?" Lyla shot back from up ahead. "Almost there!" Ethan ignored the threat and bounded forward, slipping through a cave opening. On the other side was a wide platform, big enough for the entire team. "That''s a lot of enemies," SeraphWarrior muttered, peering down. "Keep your voice down!" Ethan hissed, dragging them behind a low stone wall for cover. Just in time. A Dwarven patrol squad, at least fifty of them¡ªimmediately turned their heads toward the sound. For a tense moment, they scanned the area. Then, finding nothing, they resumed their rounds. Skyblade turned to SeraphWarrior, shaking his head. "Were you trying to get us killed?" "I¡­ I¡­ okay, my bad," SeraphWarrior admitted. "It''s fine," Ethan reassured him. "First time I came here, I was just as shocked." Once the patrol moved away, they stood up and took in the view. A massive underground plaza stretched before them, nearly a kilometer wide. And it was packed with Dwarves. The Dwarves below looked nearly identical to the ones they had seen in Harmony City, except for one key difference. Their skin was pitch black, charred as if burned. Many of them had mechanical limbs, some even with fully mechanical heads, making them appear more machine than flesh. Curious, the group quietly activated Appraisal. But every single one returned question marks. "Why are so many monsters gathered in one place?" Meatball muttered. "Yeah, and in such a tight formation¡­ no way any team could clear them all at once," SeraphWarrior added. As they spoke, drill-shaped constructs suddenly emerged from the ground across the plaza. Once they surfaced, their outer shells split open, revealing hatch-like doors. Then, from within, more of these half-mechanical Dwarves stepped out in organized ranks. Everyone watched in stunned silence. The sheer technological advancement on display was far beyond anything they had seen before. "These Iron Dwarves aren''t normal Dwarves," Ethan explained. "They''re hybrids, part machine, part reanimated corpse. After the war, the Black Iron Dwarves used fallen warriors to create them." "They''re using the dead for this?" Skyblade frowned. "The Dwarves in Iron Mountain aren''t the same as the ones on the surface," Ethan continued. "This place has been taken over by the Black Iron Dwarves, a war-driven offshoot of their race." Ethan knew this all too well. In his past life, the Northern Frontier Region had been hit by a Black Iron Dwarf Invasion. Two months from now, this very army would march on human cities, launching a global siege event. Every region faced its own invasion: Here, it was the Black Iron Dwarves. In the Eastern Region, it was the Tide of Sea Beasts. Other zones had their own monstrous threats, each one devastating in scale. The Black Iron Dwarves were different from other invaders, though. They were master engineers. Their forges churned out endless waves of mechanical soldiers, which were then deployed to the battlefield in droves. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Back then, Ethan had led a massive rogue faction to infiltrate this very stronghold. But all they could do was watch. No matter how many times they scouted, no matter how carefully they planned, the Black Iron Dwarves continued mass-producing their army without pause. When the invasion finally began, players were helpless. At level 30, they barely stood a chance against these level 40 mechanical soldiers, let alone the elite level 45 units. Even with an army of ten thousand rogues, Ethan''s faction had been forced to retreat. The invasion left major cities in ruins. NPC strongholds were shattered. In the end, only legendary-tier NPCs could suppress the attack, barely turning the tide of war. Because of that disaster, humanity built fortresses across every major region, ensuring that future monster sieges wouldn''t reach the cities so easily. And once the fortresses were complete, Ethereal''s system updated, unlocking Fortress Wars, where factions could battle for control over these new strongholds. But Ethan had come here for a different reason. This place was perfect for testing Lyla''s Forbidden Spell. First, because this was one of the most monster-dense areas he knew. Second, because the enemies were high-level. If he used the spell on weaker mobs, they''d die instantly, making it impossible to gauge the spell''s true damage potential. Skyblade, however, was starting to sweat. "Boss¡­ we''re not actually planning to fight these things, right? If we pull one, the entire army is going to aggro on us!" Ethan glanced at him. "We are fighting them," he confirmed. "But not in a direct battle." "Then¡­ how do we do it?" Skyblade asked hesitantly. Ethan simply pointed to something in the distance. "Watch that." Chapter 92 A Familiar Sight The group followed Ethan''s gaze and found themselves staring at a massive dwarven statue, towering over the distance. "All we need to do is attack from up there. Even if we only chip away one point of health at a time, we''ll eventually take them down," Ethan explained. "Chip away? Boss, don''t tell me this is how you always level up?" Slashblade asked, looking skeptical. Ethan nodded. "Pretty much." The entire group turned to stare at him like he''d lost his mind. They understood the concept of monster kiting, after all, they had used similar strategies in other games. But while it was an efficient way to level up, spending hours, or even days, whittling away at a single enemy was a level of patience most people didn''t have. Most players preferred forming parties to clear out mobs at their level or even slightly below. It was slower, but at least it was social. They could chat, joke around, and make the grind bearable. Solo grinding high-level monsters with absolute focus? That was the definition of suffering. "Boss, your patience is insane. You and Slashblade are basically the same kind of people," Skyblade muttered, looking pained. Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "You don''t know? Back in the day, Slashblade once had to complete a mission where he lay in a tree for nineteen days straight. When he got back, his chest had fused with his shirt, and they had to surgically remove it," Skyblade explained. Ethan turned to Slashblade. "Sniper?" Slashblade shrugged, his tone indifferent. "That was a long time ago." But despite his casual words, there was a glint of nostalgia in his eyes. The missions had been brutal, but those days in the military had been the best of his life. If he had a choice, he''d still be out there. "Boss, your plan might work, but how are we supposed to get over there?" Meatball asked, eyeing the ground below. "Yeah, even if we make it, how do we climb up?" Lyla added. Ethan grinned. "That''s where Slashblade comes in. Let''s move." Without further explanation, he led the group up the spiral staircase, returning to a raised platform. Once there, he double-checked their position before heading a few hundred meters forward, stopping at the edge of a dark pit. "This is it. Slashblade, give everyone a Levitation spell." Without waiting for a response, Ethan shifted into his Night Owl form. With a powerful beat of his wings, he dove straight into the abyss. The group exchanged uncertain glances. "What the hell is he doing?" Seeing their leader had already gone in, Slashblade cast Levitation on everyone before stepping into the void himself. The spell lasted ten minutes, and they spent a full seven drifting downwards. The opening was barely a meter wide, forcing them into a controlled descent. "Holy shit, Boss is a genius," Skyblade murmured in the party chat as they emerged. Because now, they were directly above the statue''s head. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Normally, Levitation allowed for gradual gliding, but the long, uninterrupted fall had worked like a bullet fired from a barrel, keeping them in a perfect downward trajectory. Ethan was already waiting, standing atop the statue, waving them over. One by one, they landed, looking at Ethan with newfound admiration. Finding a spot like this? They had no idea how he did it. "Well, looks like I''m finally useful," Skyblade muttered. Everyone stared at Skyblade, completely lost. He grinned mischievously, then pulled something from his inventory and tossed it onto the ground. With a thud, the item expanded instantly, transforming into a full-sized bed. The entire group, including Ethan, blinked in disbelief. It was a bed. A real, full-sized bed. Meatball pointed a shaking finger at him. "You¡ª" "You what? Get to work. Hey, Williams, come on, let''s relax," Skyblade said smugly, flopping onto the bed and motioning for SeraphWarrior to join him. "I¡­" SeraphWarrior hesitated. "I what? We''re both melee fighters, and we can''t hit anything from here. What else are we supposed to do, stare at the fight like idiots?" Skyblade reasoned, then casually pulled out a cigar and lit it. Slashblade winced. "You actually spent ten silver on a system cigar? Are you insane?" Skyblade ignored him, pulling out another one and tossing it to Ethan. "Boss, you want one?" Ethan caught it, his fingers tightening slightly around the familiar object. This scene¡­ It was just like before. In his past life, Skyblade always carried that ridiculous bed. Every time they escaped from a pursuit, every time they found themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere, he''d throw it down, stretch out, and smoke his overpriced cigars without a care in the world. Back then, if it weren''t for Skyblade''s company, Ethan might not have made it through those years. Him¡­ and Lyla. Ethan clenched the cigar in his hand, suppressing the wave of memories. "Boss, should we kick him out of the party?" SeraphWarrior suggested. Ethan chuckled. "No need. You two can rest. You''re right, melee fighters aren''t much use here. But before you get too comfortable, let''s have Moonbeam put on a little show for us first." At his words, everyone turned expectantly to Lyla. She shifted uncomfortably under their collective gaze before pulling Frostbound Reverie from her back. "Just drop it in the center of the plaza. That''s where they''re most concentrated," Ethan instructed. He was more than familiar with Forbidden Spells. He had never obtained one himself in his past life, but he knew their mechanics well. They had an absurd range, especially area-of-effect ones, which could reach distances of up to a kilometer. After all, if a Forbidden Spell had a short casting range, it would be the equivalent of throwing a grenade at your own feet. Lyla nodded and pulled back her bowstring, murmuring an incantation in an ancient language no one else understood. "Slashblade, keep her healed," Ethan reminded. As Lyla finished her chant, the conjured arrow trembled violently, a white vortex forming at its tip. A freezing aura began spiraling outward, as if the vortex had punctured a hole into another realm, drawing pure, chilling energy into the physical world. Gradually, the icy mist condensed into a massive arrowhead. From their perch atop the hundred-meter-tall statue, the dwarves below sensed something strange in the air but remained oblivious to the presence of humans above their revered monument. Two minutes passed. The enormous ice arrow solidified, its lethal form shimmering in the air¡­ Chapter 93 Winters End Lyla''s arm trembled slightly as she held her bowstring taut. Then, to everyone''s surprise, the massive ice arrow began to shrink. Before their eyes, it condensed into a normal-sized arrow, its entire shaft glowing with a pale blue light. A cold aura swirled around Lyla, forming a spiraling current of frost. Slowly, she started to rise. The force of the icy wind pushed everyone back to the edge of the statue''s head. Ethan watched in awe as Lyla hovered midair, her entire figure radiating pure, crystalline brilliance. She looked like an ice goddess, surrounded by an endless chill. For a moment, Ethan was completely entranced. She''s¡­ beautiful. "Damn, First Lady, what kind of skill is this? This is insane!" Skyblade shouted, barely managing to pack away his bed before it was blown off the statue. No one answered him. They were all too stunned to speak. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, Lyla''s voice rang out, chilling and commanding. "Forbidden: Winter''s End." Her usual clear, bell-like voice now carried an icy sharpness, freezing them to the core. As she spoke the final syllable, she released the bowstring. Whoosh! A streak of white tore through the air as the ice arrow shot forward, leaving a trail of frost in its wake. Then¡ªding. The arrow landed at the very center of the plaza, disappearing into the dark metal ground. That tiny sound was enough to catch the attention of every dwarf nearby. They all turned toward the spot in confusion. Crack¡­ crack¡­ A strange noise echoed from beneath the ground. From their vantage point, the team could see it clearly, starting from the arrow''s impact point, a wave of frost spread outward at terrifying speed. In the blink of an eye, over six hundred meters of the ground was consumed by an icy wasteland. Even the statue they stood on wasn''t spared, more than half of it was now encased in shimmering frost. For a moment, Ethan considered calling for an emergency teleport. But thankfully, the freezing wave stopped just short of seventy meters high. Realizing they were safe, the group exhaled in relief and turned their attention back to the battlefield. The once dark, metallic plaza was now an ocean of ice, stretching out in every direction. Every single half-mechanical dwarf within the frozen zone had been turned into a perfect crystal sculpture, their last moments forever preserved. Then Lyla, still floating midair, spoke again. "Shatter." Her voice was the trigger. Boom! Boom! Boom! Below, the battlefield erupted as frozen dwarves shattered into thousands of glittering fragments. Ding! [You have slain a Clockwork Dwarf Warrior. Overlevel kill bonus: 3000%. Gained 8,004 EXP (Party Bonus: +87 EXP, Overlevel Kill Bonus: +2,610 EXP, Unique Ability Bonus: +5,394 EXP).] Ding! [You have slain a Clockwork Dwarf Construct. Overlevel kill bonus: 3000%. Gained 8,004 EXP (Party Bonus: +87 EXP, Overlevel Kill Bonus: +2,610 EXP, Unique Ability Bonus: +5,394 EXP).] Ding! The barrage of notifications made Ethan''s head spin. Ding! Congratulations! You have reached Level 26! Ding! Congratulations! You have reached Level 27! One after another, golden light flashed across their bodies as they leveled up repeatedly. It wasn''t until a full ten seconds had passed that the team finally snapped out of their shock. Ethan checked his status. He was now Level 31. "I¡ªI''m at 80% of Level 28!" Skyblade stammered. "Same here," Meatball said. Slashblade and SeraphWarrior checked their status, like the others, their experience bars were nearly identical. "I just hit Level 28, 15% in," Lyla added. She had been five levels behind before, but now, in a single moment, she had caught up. Although her experience was slightly lower, her level was now on par with the rest. "This¡­ did we really just wipe them all out?" Meatball muttered in disbelief. Ethan turned to Lyla. "Moonveam, how much damage did that skill do?" "No damage numbers showed up," she replied. Ethan let out a breath. "I underestimated it." The others understood what he meant, he had underestimated Winter''s End. The once monster-infested plaza was now eerily empty, except for a few stragglers on the outskirts that had been outside the spell''s range. Ethan''s eyes swept over the entire ground. The ground was littered with loot, and among them, he spotted several pieces gleaming with golden light. Silver-tier items were everywhere, and bronze ones were practically carpeting the floor. "Slashblade, give everyone Levitation. We''re going down," Ethan ordered. Without hesitation, he leaped off the statue, heading straight for the golden-glowing items. These were Gold-Tiered pieces. Even if they required Level 30 or higher, they would only increase in value over time. The entire field was clear of corpses, every enemy had been shattered into dust. When the frost finally faded, their remains had disappeared along with it, leaving only loot behind. "Only grab Gold and Silver-Tiered items," Ethan called out as he saw Skyblade stuffing everything into his bag. "We won''t have enough space otherwise." Then, something at the far edge of the battlefield caught his eye¡ªa faint gleam of Dark Gold. Ethan darted toward it, waiting for a patrolling monster to move away before scooping it up and rushing back. Opening his inventory, he found a Dark Gold-Tiered Quest Scroll. His heart skipped a beat. Quest Scrolls were already rare, but Dark Gold ones? Those were practically extinct. He didn''t have time to examine it now, though. There was still too much loot to gather. While Slashblade and the others focused on collecting gear, Ethan kept searching for hidden valuables. It paid off, he found two Engineering Blueprints. Without checking their details, he stashed them away, intending to hand them over to NoPaperOnTheBigOne later. He also discovered a strange, multicolored stone, radiating a soft, shifting glow. Based on its colors, it had to be at least Artifact-Tier, but oddly, it had no name or description. There was no time to investigate. He bagged everything and kept moving. Before the next Drill Emergence event triggered, they needed to clear out, otherwise, another swarm of Clockwork Dwarves would surface. It might not be as overwhelming as before, but it was still too dangerous to face alone. "Boss, I''m out of space!" Skyblade called out. "Then we''re leaving," Ethan ordered. "But there''s still so much left," Slashblade groaned, visibly pained. Ethan was about to respond when a low, mechanical hum filled the air. From beneath the ground, several large drills began rising. "Move! Now!" Ethan shouted. Chapter 94 The Spoils of Battle No one needed Ethan''s warning. They all pulled out their Return Stones without hesitation. Just at that moment, as the massive drills fully emerged, their hatches opened, releasing wave after wave of Clockwork Dwarves in perfect formation. Before the swarm could react, Ethan''s party vanished in streaks of white light. --- Harmony City ¨C Teleportation Hub "That was too close. I thought I wasn''t gonna make it," SeraphWarrior muttered, his heart still racing. He hadn''t been slow, just greedy. Staying behind a few extra seconds to grab a Gold-Tiered piece had almost cost him his life. Ethan glanced at the group. "How''d everyone do?" "Seven Gold-Tiered pieces, twenty-six Silver-Tiered," Slashblade reported. "Seven? I got eleven," Skyblade said smugly. Meatball smirked. "Heh, I got a Dark Gold item. Can you believe it?" "You actually found Dark Gold gear?" Ethan raised an eyebrow. He had run across the entire battlefield, making sure that nothing valuable was left behind. Yet somehow, Meatball had managed to snag one. "Let''s find a place to split the loot," Ethan said. With that, he led them straight to the Guild Hall. The meeting room inside was off-limits to outsiders unless he gave permission. Once they were inside, everyone emptied their inventories, piling the equipment in the center. "Keep anything you can use. Anything else goes into the Guild Vault," Ethan instructed, already scanning through the loot. "Boss, this one''s for you." Meatball pulled out the Dark Gold item and handed it over. Ethan checked the stats. [Strider''s Boots] Rarity: Dark Gold Level Requirement: 30 Defense: 79¨C105 Agility: +30 Strength: +30 Intelligence: +30 Stamina: +30 Endurance: +30 Abilities: 1. Swift Stride ¨C Increases movement speed by 70% for 15 seconds. Cooldown: 5 minutes. 2. Leap ¨C Increases jump height by 300% for 10 seconds. Cooldown: 10 minutes. 3. Double Jump ¨C Allows a second jump mid-air. Cooldown: 1 minute. Class Restriction: Druid Faction Restriction: Survivor A Druid-exclusive piece? It was practically made for him. Ethan shared the stats with the group. "This is garbage," SeraphWarrior scoffed. "Yeah, balanced stats and three escape skills? Trash," Skyblade agreed. Meatball rolled his eyes. "You two are hopeless." "What''d you say, Meatball?" Skyblade shot back. Ethan ignored them, eyes locked on the boots. Most Druids avoided class-locked gear, preferring unrestricted equipment that fit their specialized playstyles. Since Druids usually focused on one form specialization, they had no use for balanced stats. But Ethan was different. His balanced build was intentional, and thanks to his Unique Ability, every stat point had amplified effects. To him, these boots weren''t garbage. They were perfect. Most players had a 12-star growth rate. Ethan had 20-star growth. But that wasn''t even the best part. The Swift Stride, Leap, and Double Jump skills turned these boots into an absolute god-tier item. If upgraded properly, this could be a lifelong piece of gear. Without hesitation, he equipped them, tossing aside his Pilot''s Boots. It felt like upgrading from a rusted pistol to a state-of-the-art rifle. After sorting through their loot, everyone was now decked out in Silver-Tiered gear, with a few Gold-Tiered pieces. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan replaced his old Starter Gear, boosting his defense past 500 points, and that was without any enhancements. The only downside? Not a single weapon had dropped. His attack power hadn''t increased at all. Originally, Ethan had planned to enhance everyone''s gear, but a quick glance at the in-game clock told him it was almost time to log off. So, he made plans to do it tomorrow. He was building an elite squad, and once their gear was upgraded, they''d finally be ready for bigger objectives. At that moment, the Northern Frontier Region leaderboards updated. The top six spots were all held by Renegade Alliance''s elite, with NotADruid still sitting at #1¡ªLevel 31. The next five had all reached Level 28, though their experience varied slightly. Meanwhile, #7 was only Level 21, completely left in the dust. The entire server was buzzing. How had these six players skyrocketed in levels so quickly? No one could have guessed that Lyla''s single Forbidden Spell had wiped out a hoarde of Clockwork Dwarves, creatures that had been stockpiled for ages. And they weren''t just regular mobs, they were all Level 40+, with many elites among them. Ethan wished he could experience that kind of power leveling again, but for now, he had other priorities. He was already Level 31, but as soon as the guild had enough members, they were heading into Howling Caverns. What he hadn''t told the others? He planned to challenge Expert Mode. With a fully enhanced squad and an entire raid team, Ethan was confident they could clear it. Expert-level dungeons required strategy, not just raw stats. Unlike Easy or Normal modes, where brute force could carry a team through, Expert mode demanded precise execution. --- Back to Reality Logging out, Ethan knocked on Lyla''s door. "Hey, let''s grab breakfast," he called out. He also wanted to ask her about Ninth Division. The fact that Morzan knew about it had piqued his curiosity. More than that, he wanted to know: who exactly was Morzan? Maybe Ninth Division held the answers. Lyla cracked the door open. "I just need to use the bathroom real quick." Before he could respond, she darted inside, clearly in a hurry. Ethan shrugged and stepped into her room to wait. Taking a few steps forward, he suddenly froze. On her bed, two very personal pieces of clothing were lying there. Underwear. ''¡­She wasn''t wearing anything under her night dress?!'' A wave of heat rushed through him. Instinctively, his gaze flicked toward the bathroom door. Right at that moment, Lyla stepped out. Her eyes landed on Ethan, then on the bed behind him. For a second, silence. Then, her face turned red. She rushed forward, snatching the items and shoving them under her pillow. Before she could react further, Ethan stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. As he leaned in, his breath brushed against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. Her knees nearly buckled. Chapter 95 A Simple Wedding Lyla''s breath hitched as Ethan''s arms tightened around her waist. Her body tensed for a brief second before she exhaled, sinking against his warmth. "Ethan¡­" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. His grip loosened just enough for her to turn around in his hold. Her face was still flushed, her lips slightly parted as if she wanted to say something but couldn''t quite find the words. Ethan met her gaze, searching. There was something in her expression, hesitation, maybe even longing, but before he could figure it out, she suddenly pushed lightly against his chest. "Breakfast," she mumbled, looking away. A small chuckle escaped him as he stepped back, letting her go. "Alright, alright. But first¡ª" He reached for the nightstand and picked up a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Lyla blinked, confused. "What are you¡ª" "You''ve been rubbing your ear a lot," Ethan said, his tone soft but firm. "Let me clean it before it gets worse." She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Fine¡­ but be gentle." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan smirked. "I always am." As she sat on the edge of the bed, he reached out and grabbed a cotton swab and dipped it into the hydrogen peroxide solution. "I''m going in. It might hurt a little at first," Ethan said, watching Lyla''s delicate face. Lyla closed her eyes at his words, clearly still a little nervous. "Okay, Ethan, I''m ready." Ethan carefully inserted the cotton swab into her ear, slowly and gently. "Mmm¡­" Lyla let out a small whimper. "Does it hurt?" Ethan asked, his voice full of concern. Lyla frowned and opened her eyes, a hint of tears forming in them. "A little¡­ Take it out," she pleaded. He quickly pulled it out with a soft pop. Ethan looked down at the cotton swab, now stained with a small trace of blood. "You''re bleeding a little. Should we see a doctor?" He held up the swab so she could see. Lyla studied it carefully before shaking her head. "I already went. The doctor said it''s just mild ear inflammation, probably from using earbuds too much. I just need to stop using them for a while." "Got it," Ethan replied, tossing the swab into the trash. He flexed his wrist to shake off the stiffness, then picked up a clean cotton swab to check her other ear. "No need, it''s only the one that''s itchy," Lyla said quickly. She stood up, the hem of her snug cotton nightdress shifting as she moved. The white fabric clung to her form, reaching just above her knees. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, her waist so slim it seemed as if a breeze could break it. She stepped lightly on the plush pink carpet, her bare feet delicate like a porcelain doll''s. "Lyla¡­" Ethan swallowed hard. His gaze darkened as his thoughts wandered to the two things she had just hidden. Lyla noticed the way he was looking at her, like a predator eyeing its prey. His stare burned with an intensity that made her heart race. For a brief moment, panic flickered across her face, but she quickly steadied herself. She bit her lip, took a deep breath, and stepped closer, pressing her body lightly against his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Ethan¡­ I''ll always be yours. But you need to wait. I have things I need to take care of first. After that¡­ anything you want." The softness against him sent a wave of heat through Ethan''s body. ''So, she really wasn''t wearing anything underneath.'' Her words doused the fire in his chest, snapping him back to reality. "Things to take care of? What things?" he asked. His mind raced back to his past life. In reality, Lyla had never been with him. Instead, she had hidden her identity and stayed by his side in the game as Moonbeam. Was it because, back then, she hadn''t been able to resolve things in her real life? Was that why she had disappeared, only able to accompany him in the game? Lost in thought, Ethan didn''t realize Lyla had already pulled away and changed the subject. "Let''s eat! I''m starving," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him downstairs to the dining room. "I''ll cook today. If I leave it to you, it''s either toast or fried eggs, with the wrong seasoning," Ethan teased, ruffling her hair. "Hmph! You were the first person to ever eat my cooking, and you''re already complaining? Fine! Breakfast is officially your responsibility from now on," Lyla huffed, pretending to be angry. Ethan couldn''t help but chuckle at the sight of her pouting like a little cub. Despite her feisty act, her body was soft and delicate, her angelic face making her look anything but threatening. He smirked. "I''ll do it, I''ll do it. Just sit back and enjoy," Ethan said, his throat suddenly dry. His eyes flicked over her form, taking in every curve beneath the thin fabric. Without thinking, he reached out, wrapping an arm around her waist. His hand accidentally landed right where his gaze had been seconds before. And to his surprise, she didn''t resist. Lyla''s face flushed as she shot Ethan a glare, but she didn''t pull away. Ethan just chuckled sheepishly, keeping an arm around her as he led her to the dining table. She could tell exactly what he was thinking, it was written all over his face. It was funny, really. Ethan never pushed too far, just sneaking in small moments here and there. Not that she minded. Half the time, she let him. And every single time, he''d act like he just pulled off a huge achievement. Lyla shook her head, amused. Meanwhile, Ethan had already stepped into the open kitchen, getting to work. Lyla sat there, zoning out for a moment, before her gaze drifted toward the table. Her cheeks burned. She suddenly remembered that day, right here, on this very table, when she had¡­ A shiver ran down her spine. That was the first time she had ever felt something like that. Her heart pounded as she peeked at Ethan, who was busy cooking. She quickly patted her chest, relieved. Luckily, he hadn''t noticed the look on her face. What the hell was she even thinking? --- Over breakfast, the two of them discussed whether they should head out early to meet Slashblade and the others. In the end, they decided to go today and help out before the wedding. Before logging off last night, Skyblade had mentioned that if Moonbeam had time, she could stand in as a bridesmaid. Slashblade''s fianc¨¦e, Celia, had lost both her parents ten years ago. She had no real family in his city, no friends besides a few coworkers. Without a proper bridal party, the wedding would feel painfully empty. Out of everyone they knew, there were barely any women to ask. Slashblade''s younger sister was an option, but she was¡­ well, let''s just say she had twice the waist size of Skyblade. And asking a groom''s sister to be the bridesmaid? That didn''t feel right either. So in the end, Celia decided to skip the bridesmaids altogether and keep things simple. But Slashblade felt guilty about that. After all, Celia was thirty-nine now. She had followed him for ten years, waiting for him for ten years. She was only sixteen when she first met him. Back then, she had looked him in the eye and said, "When I grow up, I''m going to marry you." Everyone thought she was just joking. Three years later, she reappeared, no longer a little girl, but a grown woman. No one really knew why a teenager had fallen so hard for a man over ten years her senior. Ethan and the others had no idea what kind of spell Slashblade had cast on her. One day, they were going to get him drunk and make him spill the truth. Even after all these years, their relationship had never been clearly defined. They had never officially gotten together, never crossed any lines. And yet, keeping the wedding this simple still didn''t sit right with Slashblade. He wouldn''t say it, but Skyblade saw right through him. So before logging off, he had privately asked Ethan and Lyla to consider helping out. Since it was Saturday and they had no classes, Ethan and Lyla decided to make the trip right away. With their VR headsets packed, they hopped into the Predator Beast X and hit the highway. Naturally, they turned heads the whole way there. More than a few rich kids probably went home that day begging their parents for the same car. He could only imagine the stupefied looks they would earn as a result. Ethan, though, was still a little nervous as they reached the highway entrance. This car was ridiculously flashy. Would they even be allowed on the freeway? Chapter 96 The Target To Ethan''s surprise, they weren''t stopped. The car sailed smoothly past the checkpoint and onto the freeway. Once again, he found himself stunned by Lyla''s father''s influence. He had seen the traffic officers checking his car, speaking into their radios, clearly verifying its details. Ethan had been sure they''d be pulled over. He had even considered suggesting to Lyla, Maybe we should swap cars? After all, he had enough money to buy another one, it was just the paperwork that would take time. Worst case? They could ditch the car and take the Bullet Express instead. It''d be faster and way less exhausting. Because if there was one downside to the Predator Beast X, it was that driving it was a workout. The sheer size of the thing made handling a nightmare. --- "They''re on Interstate 715." Unbeknownst to Ethan and Lyla, a black sedan trailed them at a distance. Inside, a scruffy-looking man held a phone to his ear, relaying every detail of their movements. "Find an opportunity to take him out. Make it clean, an accident would be best." A cold voice came through the receiver. "Understood, Boss. But¡­ taking him out on the freeway won''t be easy. That car? Even if it collided with a tanker truck, it''d probably come out without a scratch." "Hmph. Predator Beast X, huh? Didn''t think that girl had this kind of backing. Figure it out, but don''t harm her." "Got it, Boss." The man hung up, his eyes locking onto the beast of a vehicle ahead. This job was going to be tricky. There was no way a regular college student should be driving a car like that. His employer had told him the guy was just some freeloader, but he wasn''t buying it. With the kind of power that girl''s family had, would they really let a nobody leech off her? Would they allow him to live under the same roof? If that were true, and the family didn''t approve, the guy would''ve vanished long ago. The man wasn''t stupid. He had been in this line of work long enough to know, if you''re still alive, you''re not an idiot. He carefully calculated his next move. Meanwhile, Ethan and Lyla remained blissfully unaware. They had no idea someone was already plotting against them. Ethan certainly didn''t expect Zachary to have traced his identity so quickly. In his past life, it had taken much longer, back then, he had been drunk when he accidentally revealed he was the owner of the Wishbound Relic. That was when Zachary had set him up. But this time, after just a few encounters in the game, Zachary was already holding a grudge. He had even pulled strings he wouldn''t have used in the previous timeline just to track down NotADruid''s real-life identity. And Lyla had no idea that Ethan''s exposure was partially her fault. --- Four hours later, they finally exited the freeway. City driving was a nightmare with this car, but on the highway? Pure bliss. Ethan had flown down the open road, overtaking everything in sight. Even massive trucks had moved aside to let him through. Before long, they arrived at the address Slashblade had sent them. Ethan picked up his phone and dialed Skyblade. "Yo, we''re here." "Got it, boss! We''re coming to meet you now." They pulled over, and soon enough, a group emerged from the gated community across the street. At first glance, Ethan immediately spotted Skyblade. "Is that them?" Lyla asked. Ethan nodded. The three men approaching them carried themselves like soldiers, it was no wonder Lyla had spotted them instantly. Other people walked casually, but these three? Backs straight, steps in sync, as if they were still in formation. Except for Skyblade. He was just as upright, but something about his posture had a cocky, relaxed swagger that set him apart. As they stepped out of the gated community, they glanced around before spotting Ethan''s car. Skyblade visibly froze. Then, with an exaggerated expression, he mouthed: Holy shit! Without hesitation, the three of them strode over. Ethan and Lyla stepped out of the car to meet them. "Boss?" Skyblade looked at Ethan, still stunned. "Just call me Ethan. Don''t make it sound like some mobster title," Ethan chuckled. Skyblade''s eyes flicked to Lyla. "Wait¡­ is this Moonbeam?" His tone was like someone discovering a new continent. Lyla smiled politely. "I''m Lyla Silverwood, Moonbeam. Nice to meet you." "Damn, sis in-law, you''re even prettier than in the game," Skyblade blurted out. Lyla blushed slightly, stepping closer to Ethan, unsure how to respond. Before she could think of something, Skyblade kept going. "Hey, you got any single friends? I''m not picky, face doesn''t matter, just a great body will do! You know, as long as¡ª" "As long as my ass," Ethan cut him off swiftly. "Stop calling her sis in law like we''re some married couple." He shot a quick glance at Lyla, thankful he hadn''t let Skyblade finish the sentence. He already knew what he was about to say: As long as the lights are off, it''s all the same. This guy had zero shame, his mouth ran faster than a speeding train. "Alright, alright. So what should I call her?" Skyblade said grinning. "Just Lyla," she replied, still curious why Ethan had interrupted him. She studied Skyblade for a moment. He was a good-looking guy with a strong military presence, finding a girlfriend shouldn''t be hard for him. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, Slashblade stepped forward. "Victor." He didn''t say much, but his genuine happiness was clear. Skyblade suddenly turned and called out, "Hey, Williams, what are you doing?" Ethan followed his gaze and saw SeraphWarrior staring at the car like he was in love. Skyblade chuckled. "Ethan, Williams used to be our designated driver back in the day." His real name was Kyle Jensen. Back in the army, during basic training, a drill sergeant, notorious for his poor memory, struggled to remember all the new recruits. He''d mistakenly called Kyle Williams after confusing him with another recruit. The name, though incorrect, became a running joke within the unit, and eventually, it stuck. Hearing his name, Williams quickly snapped out of it and turned to Ethan. "Ethan, is this car legit? Not a custom build? No, wait¡­ even if the body is modified, you''d still get flagged driving this thing." "It''s not mine, it''s Lyla''s," Ethan said casually. Williams blinked. "Huh? Lyla¡­ uh, mind if I take it for a spin?" He awkwardly adjusted his glasses before turning to Lyla with hopeful eyes. Lyla laughed and pulled Ethan aside, making space. "Keys are in the car." "Thanks, sis!" Williams hopped in immediately. "Damn, I''m coming too!" Skyblade shouted, rushing in after him. Victor, watching them, smiled apologetically at Ethan and Lyla. "They haven''t been out of the military for long. It''s been a while since they''ve touched a machine like this." "It''s fine. Let them have fun," Lyla said with a grin. "Let''s go check on the bride!" Victor hesitated for a second, his face slightly awkward. Chapter 97 A Close Call Just as Ethan and Lyla were about to speak, a black sedan came speeding toward them. Ethan reacted instantly. He grabbed Lyla and pulled her aside, switching places with her. The car tore past them, missing Ethan by inches. But he wasn''t fast enough to avoid the side mirror. Crack! The mirror snapped off and clattered onto the pavement. Ethan stumbled back, a sharp pain shooting through his waist. "Damn it, that hurts!" he groaned, clutching his lower back. The car didn''t stop. It sped off, disappearing down the road. Victor and Lyla rushed to his side. "Ethan, are you okay?" "I''ll live," Ethan muttered, then shot Victor a look. "Is this how people drive around here?" Hearing him joke, both Lyla and Victor let out small sighs of relief. "Should we take you to a hospital?" Victor asked, still a little concerned. "Nah, just a scratch," Ethan waved him off. Victor nodded and pulled out his phone. "Leo, a black sedan just flew past your way. Have Williams stop it. License plate is¡­" Ethan watched Victor calmly recite the plate number. Even at that speed, he memorized it? ''Damn¡­ guess that''s what makes an ace sniper.'' Lyla had wanted to take Ethan to Victor''s place to rest, but Victor told them to wait, Williams had the apartment keys. A few minutes later, the Predator Beast X pulled up. Skyblade stepped out, shaking his head. "It''s over. Williams lost his touch. Couldn''t even chase down some lousy sedan." "Damn it, give me a break!" Williams jumped out, glaring at Skyblade. "What was I supposed to do, plow through traffic with that beast? It''s not a damn bulldozer!" Ethan smirked. "Forget it." Skyblade, however, wasn''t ready to drop it. "No way. That wasn''t random, it was clearly intentional. I''ll run the plate number later¡ªsee who''s behind this." That word, intentional, made Ethan''s expression darken. His mind replayed the moment the car passed him. He had seen the driver''s face. The guy wasn''t panicked. He wasn''t reckless. He was calm. Too calm. "What is it?" Lyla asked softly. Ethan forced a smile. "Nothing." He really wanted to believe he was just overthinking it. "Come on, Ethan, I got you." Skyblade took over from Lyla, helping Ethan walk. Hand on his waist, Ethan followed them into the building. They climbed flight after flight of stairs. Ethan assumed they were heading to the sixth floor. But they didn''t stop. They kept going, all the way to the rooftop. When they finally stepped outside, Ethan froze. It was a makeshift rooftop shack, steel sheets patched together, blue paint peeling from years of decay. "You guys live here?" Lyla asked, frowning. Ethan''s chest tightened. How could he have forgotten? This was the very place Skyblade had brought him in his past life, when he was on the run from Zachary. He had spent years hiding here. Never once stepping outside. Back then, Skyblade had brought him food every day. He had told Ethan this place used to belong to a close friend. A friend who was now dead. Was he talking about Williams? That would explain why, back when Ethan first met Skyblade, he had been alone. Victor and Williams weren''t there. Now it made sense. "Victor, before you joined Ethereal, you were planning to leave the country, weren''t you?" Ethan asked suddenly. The room went silent. Even Victor looked taken aback. But after a brief pause, he gave a slow nod. "Yeah." That confirmed it. Ethan finally understood why, in his past life, Victor and Williams were nowhere to be found. And after piecing things together from what Skyblade had mentioned in-game, he could make a solid guess: They had become mercenaries. As for Williams death¡­ it wasn''t hard to figure out. He must have died on a mission. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Whether Victor had survived or not, Ethan didn''t know. Skyblade had never mentioned it. He hadn''t even told Ethan about Williams''s death. This was something Ethan had only realized after arriving here. "Victor, listen to me. Don''t go. If you want to know why, I''ll tell you, because he''s going to die." Ethan pointed straight at Williams. Victor didn''t say a word. He just stared at Ethan, eyes dark and unreadable. "Holy shit, Ethan, how do you know about our plan?" Skyblade blurted out, stunned. Ethan shot him a glance. "Not you. Them." Skyblade turned to look at Victor and Williams. The two men exchanged glances, then, suddenly, they laughed. Williams gave Ethan an amused look. "Boss, don''t tell me you''re psychic?" "What the hell?" Skyblade scowled. "You two weren''t planning to bring me along?!" His face turned red, real anger flashing in his eyes. He grabbed Williams by the collar. "Answer me!" Williams didn''t resist, but Victor immediately stepped in, prying Skyblade off him. "Leo, listen. You have parents. Williams and I don''t. That''s why we never planned to bring you." Lyla shot Ethan a glare. Her eyes practically screamed: Really? You just got here, and now you''re making them fight? Is this what you''re good at? Ethan awkwardly scratched his nose. "Ahem¡­ Skyblade, chill. Why not take it easy? I''m sure Lyla can find you a nice girl instead." That immediately snapped Skyblade''s attention away. He let go of Williams''s collar and turned to Lyla. "For real, sis?" Lyla''s fingers pinched Ethan''s waist, hard. Cold sweat beaded on Ethan''s forehead, but he kept a straight face. "There are plenty of beautiful girls," Lyla said sweetly, still twisting Ethan''s side. "I just hope you can handle one." Skyblade scoffed. "Handle? Do you know how steady my hands are? I''ve handled pistols just fine, how big would she have to be for me to not handle her?" He even mimed gripping something in front of him. Ethan burst out laughing. "Pfft¡ª" A second later¡ªbam! Lyla''s small fist struck his waist. Right on the spot where the side mirror had hit him earlier. And she didn''t just hit, she used precise force. Pain shot through Ethan''s body like a lightning bolt. His legs nearly buckled. That punch hurt way more than the car. Chapter 98 Hidden Threat Ethan winced at the pain, and Lyla grabbed his arm. "Ethan, I''m sorry! Let me see." She looked genuinely concerned. She hadn''t hit him that hard, but he had still gotten hurt¡ªbecause of her. Lyla stepped behind him and lifted his shirt without hesitation. Williams, Victor, and Leo all leaned in to take a look. "What the hell are you guys looking at?" Ethan shot them a glare and shoved them away. The three exchanged confused looks. Weren''t they just worried about him? They turned back to Ethan, only to see him wiggling his eyebrows and making faces at them. "Wait a second¡­ Oh¡ª" Before Leo could finish, Victor smacked the back of his head. "Shut up and get some food." "Oh¡­ Got it, got it!" Leo scurried off, but not before turning back to give Ethan a thumbs-up and a couple of exaggerated winks. Ethan sighed. This guy. He was quite smart, but his mouth never knew when to stop. If Victor hadn''t interrupted, Leo would''ve probably spilled everything. Just then, Lyla''s cold fingers touched the sore spot on his lower back, gently massaging it. The sensation was so comfortable that Ethan nearly melted on the spot. Acting soft¡­ it always triggered a woman''s nurturing instincts. A universal truth. And Lyla? Right now, she was the perfect example. Fussing over him, rubbing his injury, whispering in his ear with concern. ''Oh, Lyla¡­ You think you can mess with me? When it''s just us, you''re all sweet, clinging to me like you can''t help yourself. But the moment people are around, you turn cocky, you mess with me, you act tough. Well, guess what? Two can play this game.'' Ethan smirked to himself. If Lyla knew what he was thinking, she''d probably kick him on the spot. She was too focused, though her expression was soft, almost like a kitten''s. Ethan''s hand moved on its own. A light smack landed on her backside. Lyla froze. Her face turned bright red. She quickly glanced at Victor and Williams, thankfully, they weren''t paying attention. Shooting Ethan a deadly glare, she clenched her fists. But just as she was about to land a punch, she remembered he was injured. With an exasperated sigh, she let it go and continued massaging his back. Ethan grinned. A new plan took shape in his mind, he was going to tame this kitten right in front of everyone. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Heh¡­" "Ethan, why are you laughing like that?" Lyla squinted at him. "Oh¡­ nothing. You just hit a ticklish spot." He covered up quickly. He had gotten so pleased with himself that he had let it slip. Lyla didn''t seem suspicious, so he continued scheming. Meanwhile, Victor and Williams kept chatting with him. An hour passed. "¡­Where the hell is Leo? He left to grab food ages ago." Williams frowned and pulled out his phone, calling him. No answer. Frowning, Williams dialed again. Still nothing. By the fifth attempt, Leo finally picked up. "Bro, where the hell are you?" Williams asked, putting the call on speaker. Through the phone, Leo''s heavy breathing filled the silence. "I''m¡­ I''m on my way back. But listen¡ªon my way home, I saw that car." Williams'' expression darkened. "The one that hit Ethan?" Ethan looked up sharply. "Yeah," Leo confirmed. "It was parked near the back entrance of the complex. When I saw it, I got closer and peeked through the window. No one was inside. But just as I looked up, I spotted this guy¡ªscruffy beard, rough-looking, walking out of our building. He saw me standing by his car¡­ and bolted. I took off after him. Chased him for blocks, but he lost me." Leo was still breathing heavily on the other end. Victor scowled. "Get back here. This isn''t normal. If he outran you, that means he''s no ordinary guy." "Yeah¡­ I figured." Leo coughed. "By the way, I lost the food in the chase. Should I grab more on my way back?" "No need. We''ll go eat out." Ethan cut in. "Got it, boss." Leo hung up. Williams turned to Victor. "What do you think?" But Victor wasn''t looking at him. He was watching Ethan and Lyla. "¡­Did you two piss off someone?" he asked. Lyla blinked, then scoffed. "Who, us? What kind of trouble could we possibly get into?" "What about your family?" Victor pressed. Lyla hesitated. She reached for her phone. "I can call my dad and¡ª" "No need." Ethan''s voice had turned ice-cold. "This is about me." His eyes were just as cold. The group fell silent. "What do you mean?" Williams frowned. "I don''t have proof," Ethan admitted. "But I have a pretty good guess." He turned to Lyla. "Has anyone been asking about me? Either in real life or in-game?" Lyla frowned, deep in thought. After a long pause, she shook her head. "No, I don''t think so." Ethan''s eyes narrowed. If it wasn''t about him¡­ Lyla''s voice suddenly cut through his thoughts. "Wait." She sat up straighter, a flicker of unease crossing her face. "I just remembered something." Ethan watched as she hesitated, piecing something together in real-time. "My old classmate from high school, she''s studying overseas now. A few days ago, she sent me a private message while we were running a dungeon." Lyla''s brows drew together. "She asked me something weird. She said, ''Lyla, are you dating NotADruid, the leader of Renegade Alliance?" Ethan felt a slow, sinking sensation in his chest. "I was in the middle of a fight, so I didn''t think much of it," Lyla admitted. "I just laughed and said, ''What? He''s my brother, don''t be ridiculous.'' And then¡­ she logged off." It hadn''t meant anything to her at the time. But now, looking back, the way her friend had just vanished after hearing that, like she had gotten the confirmation she needed¡ªsent a chill down her spine. "This all makes sense now," Ethan muttered. Before he could finish, Victor and Williams interrupted him in unison. "Wait¡ªaren''t you two dating?" Ethan froze. Of all the things to focus on¡­ "I almost got assassinated, and that''s what you''re worried about?" Ethan snapped. "Relax, boss," Williams waved him off. "This is just some in-game grudge spilling over. Someone wants payback but can''t get to you, so they''re coming for your girl instead. No big deal. It''s not like they can fly over here and blow up our place. Besides, with the three of us around, what''s there to worry about?" Williams looked completely unfazed. "Still crazy, though. Never thought I''d see the day someone tried to kill over a game." Ethan didn''t respond. He just stared at them, then at Victor. And on Victor''s face¡­ was something different. Unlike Williams, Victor wasn''t so sure. And that meant he could feel it. This wasn''t just some harmless grudge match. This was real. Chapter 99 Strange Feeling Ethan understood why Williams was so confident. He was young and had just left the military and still had unshaken faith in his country. But if even Victor thought the same way, then there was a problem. Victor should know by now that the world wasn''t as simple as it seemed. "Ethan, I don''t think you pissed off just any random guy," Victor said. "Whoever it is, they''ve been following you." "What makes you say that?" "If they were locals, they wouldn''t have spotted you the moment you arrived. And if they were just some ordinary thugs, they''d have taken one look at your car and known better than to mess with you." Victor laid it out in a few simple words. "You''re right," Ethan admitted. "If this mess ruins your wedding, I''ll owe you big time." Victor laughed and patted Ethan''s shoulder. "Don''t worry about it. No idea what kind of trouble you''re in, but you''ve got the three of us with you." Ethan was about to say something when Leo came back, gulping down a bottle of water in one go. "Damn it. That guy''s fast." "Did you find anything?" Victor asked. "No fight, no clues," Leo replied. Just then, Lyla walked over after finishing a phone call on the rooftop. "Ethan," she said. "What is it?" "Dad''s looking into it for us. He told us to be careful." Ethan nodded. "Let''s grab some dinner first." --- That night, at Victor''s insistence, no one stayed at a hotel. Instead, they set up a military-style tent on the rooftop. Ethan and Lyla slept inside the prefab steel cabin, while the other three took turns keeping watch outside. Fortunately, the night passed without incident. The next morning, Meatball dropped by, intending to stay the night with them, but Leo promptly kicked him out. His excuse? "You literally live in this city. What are you sticking around for?" In truth, they just didn''t want Meatball getting caught up in any danger. Ethan had originally planned to help Victor arrange an extravagant, high-class wedding. But after what happened, Victor and Celia decided to stick with their original plans. Lyla, having been invited as a bridesmaid, stole the spotlight in her dress. If it weren''t for Celia''s own stunning looks and her mature charm, Lyla might have completely overshadowed her. Even so, Lyla''s youthful energy was just as dazzling. Ethan, for his part, was momentarily stunned. He''d never seen Celia before the wedding. Victor had insisted she was traditional and refused to meet the groom before the big day. So when Celia finally appeared, Ethan couldn''t help but think, Damn, Victor really lucked out. The celebrations carried on late into the night at the hotel. When things finally wound down, Ethan, Lyla, Leo, and Williams returned to the rooftop. "Looks like it''s just us two tonight," Leo said to Williams. "Our captain found his happiness. We should be happy for him," Williams replied, slightly drunk. Inside the prefab cabin, Lyla had already put on her VR headset and logged into the game. Ethan sat on the floor, staring at the spot where she was lying. It was the same spot where he''d spent four years sleeping. Was this¡­ some kind of time-warped shared bed situation? He hadn''t logged into the game for the past two days, staying on high alert instead. Tonight, though, something felt off. It was the same sensation he got in the game when a stealth-class player lurked nearby, an eerie awareness that someone was hovering just outside his line of sight. A wave of unease crept up on Ethan, coming and going without warning. Every time he tried to pinpoint the source, it slipped away like a ghost. Something was going to happen tonight, he could feel it. That was why, at Victor''s wedding, he hadn''t touched a single drop of alcohol. Earlier that day, he had told Victor about his hunch. So when it came time for toasts, Victor discreetly had Ethan''s drink swapped for juice. Leo and Williams''s drinks were switched as well, though Williams, for whatever reason, decided to down several bottles of beer anyway. Maybe he was just too happy. No one stopped him. By the time it was past 1 a.m., Ethan was lying on the rooftop floor, half-asleep. Then¡­ Rustle, Rustle, Rustle¡ª The faint sound of footsteps echoed from the stairwell. In an instant, he rolled over and got to his feet. Stepping outside, he spotted Leo crouched near the stairwell entrance, peering out cautiously. Ethan moved toward him quietly. Leo gestured for silence. The footsteps grew closer. Whoever it was, they were heading straight for the rooftop. Just as a dark figure appeared at the top of the stairs, Leo launched a kick straight at their face. Thud! The intruder raised an arm, blocking the attack. "It''s me!" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing the voice, Ethan halted, just as he was about to rush in. Leo also froze, then flicked on a flashlight. The beam illuminated the figure''s face. "Holy shit, Victor?! What are you doing here?" Leo blurted. "I couldn''t shake the feeling something was off, so I came to check on you," Victor said. Ethan felt a warmth in his chest. Tonight was Victor''s wedding night, yet he had left his bride behind to come here because he was worried. As Ethan was still processing that thought, the flashlight suddenly clicked off. Then.. Shing! Out of nowhere, Leo drew a knife and slashed at Victor''s face. The sudden loss of light threw Victor off for a second. Instinctively, he twisted to the side. Rip! Even so, the blade still managed to graze his shoulder, tearing through his jacket and skin. "Leo, what the hell?!" Ethan shouted. "That''s not Victor," Leo said, lunging forward for another strike. Hearing the commotion, Williams groggily got up. "What''s going on?" he asked, blinking at the sight of Leo attacking Victor. "Wrong passphrase," Leo answered between attacks. Williams''s expression changed instantly. Without hesitation, he pulled out his own knife and joined the fight. Ethan stood there, dumbfounded. Passphrase? What passphrase?! Whoever this fake Victor was, he was far more skilled than Leo and Williams. As Williams charged, the imposter moved even faster, leaping high into the air, dodging Leo''s blade with such speed that his form seemed to blur. Midair, he twisted and brought his foot crashing down toward Williams. Williams lost his balance and fell hard. The imposter prepared to stomp down on the back of Williams''s head, but Leo struck again, aiming straight for his heart. Forced to retreat, the imposter dodged, but now he was on the defensive. Williams quickly rolled back to his feet, and the two of them pressed forward, attacking in sync. Even though they couldn''t land a decisive hit, they managed to keep the imposter occupied, leaving him no chance to counterattack. Ethan watched the fight unfold. Leo and Williams weren''t just throwing punches, they were aiming to kill. This was nothing like the combat techniques Ethan had learned in his training classes. Just as he hesitated, wondering whether to jump in, something chilling happened. Chapter 100 Eyes Everywhere The figure took a step back, nearly ten fee, his arms hanging limply at his sides. A sinister crimson glow spread across his hands. Then, right before their eyes, his hands began to change from the inside out, elongating, morphing into two razor-sharp, blood-red blades. Ethan froze. Leo and Williams saw it too, but instead of reacting with shock, they exchanged a brief glance. Raising their knives defensively, they didn''t pursue. "Ethan, take Lyla and get out of here! This guy isn''t someone we can handle easily," Leo warned, eyes locked on the transforming figure. There was no panic in their voices, no disbelief. This wasn''t the first time they had seen something like this. Ethan hesitated. Were they actually saying they couldn''t take this guy down? Worse, that they might not even make it out in one piece? Just as that thought crossed his mind¡ª Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bang! Boom! Two deafening gunshots rang out in near-perfect unison. In that split second, Ethan felt something snap inside him. His heartbeat surged, his head buzzed like a struck bell, and then¡ª Everything changed. His vision expanded. Not just left and right, but everywhere. A full 360-degree view. In front of him, a bullet¡ª5.8mm, smooth round tip, coated in red, ripped through the air. Its trajectory wasn''t aimed at him but at the mutated Victor. The bullet''s path led to a rooftop less than a hundred meters away. Standing there was a woman dressed entirely in black, mask, sunglasses, baseball cap, holding a M110 Semi-Automatic sniper rifle. Ethan couldn''t see her face. At the same time, behind him, another bullet approached. This one was huge, 12.7mm. The second, heavier gunshot had come from this direction. Its source? A bearded man, perched over 400 meters away on a high-rise rooftop. A massive Barrett M95 sniper rifle rested on its bipod, aimed right at Ethan''s back. The moment Ethan laid eyes on him, recognition struck. This was the guy who had tried to run him down with a car. The same guy Leo had been chasing. And his target now? Ethan''s heart. ''You''ve got to be kidding me!'' Ethan wasn''t reeling from the fact that someone was shooting at him. No. What shocked him was himself. Had he just turned into some kind of human radar? He could see in all directions¡ª360 degrees, a radius of 1,300 meters. And everything around him was moving in slow motion. Even the high-caliber bullet hurtling toward him looked like it was swimming through thick liquid. Ethan twisted aside. The 12.7mm round passed so close to his face that he could see the grooves in the metal. Meanwhile, the woman''s bullet struck the mutant dead-on. Boom! The anti-materiel round crashed into the rooftop''s concrete ledge, blasting out a hole the size of a soup bowl. As for the mutant¡ª The instant the shot hit, flames erupted from the wound, engulfing his entire body in an inferno. A fire round. Without a second thought, Ethan darted into the nearest blind spot, dodging out of the sniper''s line of sight. Leo and Williams, momentarily stunned by the sight of the burning mutant, quickly followed suit, scrambling for cover. Then, another figure burst out from the stairwell. Ethan''s eyes snapped to them. Victor. "What the hell, Victor?! What are you doing here?" Leo shouted. The exact same words he had yelled earlier. Victor, clearly pissed, barked back, "Why the hell does it matter to you if I''m here or not?!" Ethan blinked. "What''s with Victor? Why''s he so pissed?" "That''s the real Victor," Williams confirmed. Ethan froze. ''Wait¡­ so that phrase earlier was a passphrase?'' "What the hell happened?" Victor demanded. "I heard two gunshots in the stairwell, one from an M110 Semi-Automatic sniper, another from a Barrett M95 heavy sniper! Who the hell thinks they can pull this crap here?" He still had that soldier''s instinct, like he was back in the military, ready to defend the honor of his homeland. But before anyone could respond¡ª Bang! Bang! Bang! Three more shots from the M110 sniper rifle. That strange awareness Ethan had earlier? Gone. But judging by the direction of the shots, the bullets had landed on the rooftop 400 meters away, right where the bearded man had been. Boom! The heavy sniper fired back, as if answering the challenge. Then¡­ Bang! Bang! Two more rapid shots from the woman''s position. It was like a duel in the heart of the city. Shot for shot, neither side giving an inch. Within minutes, the wailing of police sirens echoed in the distance, closing in fast. Ethan yanked Lyla from inside, pulling her into the shadows with him. "Whoever that is, their reload speed is insane," Victor muttered. "Faster than yours?" Leo asked. Victor nodded, eyes filled with something rare, genuine shock. From enlistment to discharge, he had never met anyone who could reload faster than him. Then, from Ethan''s pocket, a sweet, overly cutesy voice rang out: "Ethie, pick up the phone already~" Ethan winced. ''Damn it.'' That was the custom ringtone Lyla had recorded for him. She had explicitly warned him: Change it, and we''re done. With three men staring at him with a mix of confusion and amusement, Ethan awkwardly fished out his phone. An unknown number. He answered. A woman''s voice sounded, firm and urgent: "Get downstairs. Now." Ethan hesitated. "Celeste?" "No time. Move." The call cut off. But Ethan knew. That voice, it was undoubtedly Celeste. And if she was here¡­ then that sniper on the rooftop had to be her. No wonder she had looked familiar. On the rooftop, Celeste kept her eye through the scope, watching the bearded man''s position over 500 meters away. Gone. With a sharp exhale, she pulled back. "Time to move." If the cops arrived, it''d be a mess. From her shadowed vantage point, she kept watch until she saw Ethan and the others exit the apartment complex. Then, without hesitation, she packed up her M110 sniper, secured it in a case, slung it over her back, and jumped. Straight off the six-story rooftop. No ropes. No safety gear. A normal person would''ve died from a fall like that. Ethan and the others made it out of the complex and reached the Predator Beast X. He opened the car door, ushering Lyla inside first. Just as he pulled out his phone, intending to call the number back¡ª "Get in." That same familiar voice, this time right behind him. Ethan turned. Celeste stood there. Same outfit. Same sniper case on her back. The rooftop sniper and Celeste Hawthorne were one and the same. Ethan reached for the driver''s seat, only to get yanked back. "Backseat." Before he could react, Celeste had already climbed into the driver''s seat and slammed the door shut. Her sniper case? She didn''t even bother keeping it. She just tossed it straight into Victor''s lap in the backseat. ___ Author: Wow, we hit 100 chapters! I honestly didn''t expect to get this far, but here we are. Huge thanks to everyone who''s been reading, commenting, and supporting this story. As a little celebration, I dropped 4 chapters today, hope you enjoyed! Also, there aren''t many reviews on the book yet, so if you''ve been enjoying (or even just tolerating) the story, I''d really appreciate it if you left a review. It helps me know what''s working, what isn''t, and how I can make this even better. Thanks again! Chapter 101 No Room for Refusal Once inside the car, Ethan finally felt a bit more at ease. Forget snipers, he was sure even a rocket launcher wouldn''t get through this beast of a vehicle. No one spoke. Leo and Williams still looked rattled. It was hard to believe that, in this day and age, someone had the audacity to fire sniper rounds from a rooftop in the heart of the city. And not just any sniper, a Barrett M95. How the hell had they smuggled something like that in? And what about the woman driving? She clearly wasn''t just some random acquaintance. Both Ethan and Lyla seemed to know her. After more than ten minutes of silence, Lyla finally spoke up. "Celeste, what are you doing here?" "Protecting your precious boyfriend, obviously," Celeste replied. She had already ditched her mask, sunglasses now perched atop her head. Dressed in sleek black combat gear, she had an undeniable presence¡ªcool, sharp, and utterly unfazed. "Your boyfriend, by the way, has pissed off some very dangerous people." "You know who''s after me?" Ethan asked. Celeste glanced at him from the driver''s seat. "Want to know?" "That classified intel. Join the Ninth Division, and you''ll have clearance." Ethan rolled his eyes. "I don''t need you to tell me. I already know who it is." "Oh?" Celeste arched a brow. "Zachary." Ethan''s voice was steady. The second he said the name, Celeste slammed on the brakes. "So, you do know a thing or two," she said, eyes sharp. "Then tell me, do you know what he really is?" Ethan leaned back, unbothered. "A sleeper agent from Serpent Isle, planted here for infiltration. What, you guys didn''t know?" In his previous life, Zachary''s cover had been blown after he orchestrated a massacre of elite players from Dragonspire. But by then, his mission was already complete. That incident had nearly collapsed the national economy. The top guilds suffered heavy losses, and soon after, waves of foreign players flooded in, pillaging strongholds, looting resources, and decimating key infrastructure within Ethereal. The economic damage bled into the real world. Corporations invested in the game lost millions. Panic spread. Serpent Isle seized the opportunity, launching a full-scale economic war against Dragonspire. Celeste''s expression darkened. "Are you sure?" That confirmed it. They had no idea about Zachary''s true identity. So much for "protecting" him. They weren''t guarding him, they had just been tracking Zachary and happened to stumble across his target. Ethan smirked. "You say you''re here to protect me, but let''s be real, you just wanted an excuse to recruit me into the Ninth Division." Celeste opened her mouth to respond, but Ethan didn''t let her. "You were only after the mutant." He gestured toward the backseat. "If you were really here for me, your first shot would''ve been aimed at the other rooftop. That''s where the real threat was." Celeste stayed silent. "And don''t even try to deny it," Ethan continued. "You fired first. The sniper on the other roof fired after. You had no idea he was there." Leo and Williams exchanged looks. Celeste gripped the steering wheel tighter. "You were sent to eliminate the mutant, and only then did you realize he was after us." Still, Celeste said nothing. "And that fire round?" Ethan leaned forward slightly. "Standard incendiary rounds don''t turn bones to ash. Your bullet was a custom job, something only the Ninth Division would have access to." Before Celeste could argue, Ethan smirked. "Relax. I never said I wouldn''t join. But if I do¡­ what''s in it for me?" His words hit like a barrage, giving Celeste no room to cut in. Victor finally spoke up. "You''re with the Ninth Division?" Celeste''s face darkened, clearly irritated at being called out. Instead of addressing Victor''s question, she turned to him with an icy gaze and said: "Victor Grant. Callsign: Slashblade. Served in the Northern Frontier Region for seventeen years. One year in boot camp, sixteen years in black ops. Medically discharged at thirty-five due to injury. Took a job as a mall security guard. Exceptional track record in classified missions. On one of those missions, you saved a sixteen-year-old girl named Celia Clair, now your wife. Applied to the Ninth Division eighteen times over five years. Seventeen rejections. Retired with the rank of Major General but refused a cushy government position. Instead, you chose to work as a security guard. A month ago, you attempted to leave the country in secret. You''ve been in contact with mercenary groups from the Sablon Republic. All because of your fallen comrades'' orphaned children. Tell me, Victor, was throwing away your life really worth it?" Her words hit like a hammer. Celeste wasn''t just venting her frustration from Ethan shutting her down earlier, she was pissed. Victor let out a bitter laugh. "Damn, you Ninth Division people really do your homework." He leaned back, exhaling slowly. "I turned down the government position because I knew I wasn''t fit for it. What else am I good at besides killing? I don''t have the patience to play office politics. And as for those kids... I made a promise." "You don''t need to explain anything," Celeste cut him off. She gestured to the case sitting on Victor''s lap. "Open it. Inside is your eighteenth application form." Victor hesitated. He already knew what was inside. The moment Celeste had tossed the case to him, he''d recognized the weight, the unmistakable heft of an M110 sniper rifle. But when he opened it, there it was. A document. Four years ago, it had been his final application to join the Ninth Division. Stamped across the bottom, one bold word: APPROVED. Victor stared at it. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The unshakable soldier, hardened through war and bloodshed, suddenly had red-rimmed eyes. He took a deep breath. Then, after a long pause, he placed the document back in the case and slowly closed it. "It''s too late," he muttered. "I''m married now. And¡­" He glanced at Ethan. Celeste smirked. "Him? Don''t worry about him. He''s joining the Ninth Division too. As for your lovely wife, she was picked up by our people the moment you left the hotel. We protect our own." Victor immediately pulled out his phone. Ethan already knew who he was calling. A few seconds later, Victor''s breath hitched. Whatever Celia said on the other end made his eyes well up for real this time. When he finally hung up, he looked like he wanted to say something, but no words came out. Celeste turned to Williams and Leo. "And you two, don''t even think about running." "Huh? Us?" "Don''t play dumb. You think that mutant was after Ethan?" Celeste crossed her arms. "I had two missions. One, recruit you three into the Ninth Division. Two, eliminate that target. But guess what? Turns out that target was after you. I''m guessing it''s because you two bailed on your meeting with the Sablon Republic mercenary group. They sent someone to take you out." She said it so casually, like it was just another day at work. "Wait, hold on." Ethan suddenly snapped. "What do you mean? What am I, some disposable extra? And don''t think I didn''t hear you trying to poach my guys. That''s not happening." Celeste raised a brow. Ethan glared. Back in school, she was the one who had stuck him with the nickname Weakling. Now, not only had she made the decision of him joining the Ninth Division, she was trying to take his people? Like hell he was going to agree to that. Chapter 102 The Choice Seeing Ethan and Celeste on the verge of a fallout, Lyla finally spoke up. "Celeste, he might not be able to join the Ninth Division. He''s going to be the heir to the Silverwood family." Ethan and Celeste turned to her at the same time. "Are you serious?" "What heir?" They both spoke in unison. "I''m serious, Ethan. I''ll explain everything to you later," Lyla replied, addressing both of them at once. Celeste turned away. Sitting in the driver''s seat, she pulled out a pack of slim cigarettes and lit one up. Taking a slow drag, she exhaled and spoke evenly. "Lyla, do you even realize what you''re doing? You''re putting him right in the crosshairs. He could end up dead. You''re setting him up for that." "That''s still better than him joining your division and meeting some horrible end," Lyla said calmly. "The country needs us. We accept that we might not make it back. That''s our duty." Celeste''s voice turned icy. "I don''t care about all that. In the Silverwood family, I can protect him." Celeste let out a dry laugh. "Protect him? The first people who''ll want him dead will be your own family." Lyla froze. A few seconds passed before she finally spoke. "What do you mean by that?" The others in the car had gone completely silent, watching the argument unfold. Ethan, especially, felt at a loss for words. They were arguing about him, and he hadn''t even wrapped his head around the situation yet. Lyla''s stance was clear now. No wonder she hadn''t mentioned the Ninth Division to him lately. She never wanted him to join. Instead, she wanted him to take over the Silverwood family. And from what she was saying, it sounded like being in the Ninth Division was a death sentence. But Celeste claimed it was about duty. Was the Ninth Division some kind of covert agency handling special assignments? Like those secret organizations in spy thrillers? But why him? What could he possibly have that made Celeste want to recruit him? Celeste took another drag from her cigarette, then flicked the butt out the window. Ethan was caught off guard. A woman like her¡ªcold, distant, always composed, smoking? If anyone from school saw this, they''d be shocked. After a long pause, Celeste''s tone softened slightly. "Lyla, I know you care about him. There are things I can''t tell you, but I can say this much." No one interrupted. Celeste took her time before continuing. "There''s something at the Ninth Division headquarters, a relic, called the Soulstone. You know what it does, right?" Lyla nodded. "At first, I only thought Ethan''s physical abilities had improved enough to meet our recruitment standards. That''s why I invited him." "But then, I got a report. The Soulstone has reacted three times in the past month." "The first two times, it detected a soul sense within Ember City." "The first time, I wasn''t sure if it had anything to do with Ethan." "But after the second event, he showed up at school and wrecked Trent." "And the third time?" She exhaled. "Just now. I just got word from the organization. The Soulstone reacted again, this time, it was right when I fired my first shot." She turned to Ethan. "I don''t know what you did at that moment, but I''m certain of one thing, the Soulstone reacted to you. Because the moment I pulled the trigger, I felt a shift in consciousness. A ripple." Lyla''s expression changed, shock evident in her eyes. Ethan''s mind raced. Was it because of that moment? When he got that panoramic, 360-degree vision? S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Could that be what she meant by ''soul sense''? "You''re saying¡­ his soul strength is more than five times that of a normal person?" Lyla asked. "More than that." Celeste''s voice was steady. "The first reaction was weak, barely within the Soulstone''s detection range. The second was over ten times stronger." "And just now, I got word that the intensity increased again. Since I was already in Blackridge for a mission, they contacted me directly, told me to keep an eye out." She turned to Ethan. "Did you feel anything strange just now? And don''t tell me dodging a shot from an M95 sniper rifle was just luck." Ethan had been about to deny it, but hearing her say that, he rubbed his nose. "I just¡­ suddenly saw everything within a full kilometer around me. A full 360-degree view, no blind spots. And everything slowed down¡­ like a hundred times slower." Lyla sank into her seat, her voice weak. "Soul sense¡­ it really is soul sense. How is this even possible?" Her hands trembled. "A person who can release soul sense, someone like that has a soul strength dozens of times greater than a normal person. That''s the kind of person the Silverwood family would never allow to live." Celeste leaned back, watching her. "Well, Lyla, do you still think you can protect him?" Her voice was calm but sharp. "The Silverwood family built itself on strength. You know that. And you also know that soul-wielders¡ªpeople who are naturally gifted in combat, are a threat to them." "A hundred years ago, your great-great-grandfather''s generation fought against a soul-wielder. Nearly wiped out the entire family. Ever since then, the Silverwoods have hunted them down, one by one." "So tell me, how would they ever allow Ethan, a soul-wielder, to become the heir?" Celeste exhaled, watching Lyla''s face darken. "You think just because you''re the family heir''s daughter, you can protect him?" "If they find out what he is, your own father might be the first to go after him." "And if he doesn''t, your uncles will make sure he loses his position before he even gets the chance." Celeste''s words hit like a sledgehammer, shattering whatever resistance Lyla had left. Tears welled in her eyes. She wasn''t someone who held onto old grudges. The family''s vendetta against soul-wielders was ancient history to her. But rules were rules. And those rules were absolute. She had already fought so hard just to be here with Ethan. She had three years, an agreement her father had negotiated on her behalf. Three years before she would have to return to the family. At first, she had a plan. If they forced her into that marriage, she would rather die than go along with it. Then Celeste appeared, and she thought maybe Ethan had another way out. If the Ninth Division valued him enough, they could shield him. The Silverwoods had clashed with the division before, trying to recruit the same people. As long as Ethan joined the family, she and her father could support him, help him rise in the ranks, and win a place in the Noble Eight Lineage'' power struggle. If he succeeded, her father''s position would strengthen, and no one would dare force her into that marriage. But now¡­ Now, she knew the truth. Ethan wasn''t just valuable, he was a target. Celeste had been right all along. If the Silverwood family found out, there wouldn''t even be a struggle. They''d kill him on the spot. If he joined the Ninth Division, at least he had a chance. "Listen," Celeste said, her tone gentler now. "A family, no matter how powerful, is still just a family. The Ninth Division belongs to the country. If Ethan joins us, he won''t be untouchable, but he won''t be easy to deal with either." "And right now¡­ the only people who know he''s a soul-wielder are the ones in this car." A brief silence fell over them. Then¡ª "Ow! My ears are still ringing from that sniper shot, I can barely hear anything!" Leo suddenly clutched his head, groaning dramatically. "What?" Williams shouted, cupping a hand around his ear. Victor shook his head, laughing at the two of them. "Relax. None of us are saying a word about this." Lyla finally gave in. Celeste was right. The Ninth Division was dangerous. But it was still better than a guaranteed death sentence. A small laugh escaped her lips at Leo and Victor''s antics. Then she turned to Ethan, who was still frozen, trying to process everything. "Ethan¡­" Her voice was quiet. Chapter 103 Cursed Ones Ethan sat there in silence, listening to everything they were saying. Soul-Wielders. This was a term he was hearing for the first time. And apparently¡­ he was one of them. Lyla''s family¡ªthe Silverwoods, seemed to have a deep hatred for Soul-Wielders. Lyla herself was the daughter of their family head. Just the fact that they were riding in this high-security vehicle right now said a lot about how powerful the Silverwoods were. As for the Ninth Division, it was clearly a government-backed organization. Only those with unique abilities were chosen to join. From the way Celeste spoke, it seemed like she was the only one in the division who knew what he was. She hadn''t reported it yet. And her message was clear: the Ninth Division could protect him from the Silverwoods. In this life, Ethan had encountered things he never would have dreamed of before. He had gone from being a cripple¡­ to becoming something the world feared. Did Soul-Wielders really only have stronger souls? Was that all there was to it? Celeste had said the Soulstone had reacted three times. The first time must have been when he woke from that five-thousand-year dream, when the system had rewarded him with five times the soul power. The second was when he returned from the Underworld after consuming countless Ethereal Blooms, further strengthening his soul. And the third¡­ was just now, when he had accidentally released his soul sense. That meant there was no mistake. Lyla''s voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Ethan¡­" He turned to her. "What exactly is a Soul-Wielder?" "The one best suited to answer that is the Silverwood heiress herself," Celeste said, glancing at Lyla. Lyla hesitated only briefly before speaking. "A Soul-Wielder is anyone whose soul strength is at least five times that of an ordinary person." "No one knows exactly when or why that number became the standard, but history has shown one thing, anyone who surpasses that threshold¡­ meets a tragic end." "Some mutilate themselves. Some lose their minds and start killing indiscriminately. Some even die physically, but their souls become so powerful that they linger, causing chaos." "There are many different outcomes, but they all share one thing." Lyla''s voice dropped slightly. "They lose control." "Some say Soul-Wielders are cursed. That they were never meant to exist in this world." "As for why my family hunts them down¡­" She took a deep breath. "It''s because a Soul-Wielding warrior once almost slaughtered the entire Silverwood household." "The family head at the time lost his wife and children to that man. The Silverwoods nearly collapsed. It wasn''t until my grandfather''s generation that we finally rebuilt our strength." "That''s why my family despises Soul-Wielders." "But it''s not just the Silverwoods. Many people will kill a Soul-Wielder the moment they encounter one." "Part of it is jealousy. The other part is self-righteousness." "If a Soul-Wielder takes up combat training, their growth is ridiculously fast." "And yet, the noble families, secret societies, and elite academies all use soul strength as their main selection criteria. The standard is 1.5 times that of a normal person." "It''s a contradiction. They want prodigies¡­ but they refuse to accept anyone who surpasses five times the normal soul strength." Celeste, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke. "That ''curse'' isn''t absolute." Lyla looked at her. "You mean¡­" Celeste nodded. "The founder of the Ninth Division was a Soul-Wielder. No one knows his exact strength, but in the end¡­ he just disappeared." "But even after he disappeared, there were no reports of him wreaking havoc. And our current Director''s soul strength measures at 5.1, he''s well past seventy now, and still perfectly fine." Celeste countered Lyla''s argument about Soul-Wielders being cursed. "Maybe disappearing is just another form of misfortune," Lyla said lightly. "As for Director Vaughn¡­ he never married, has no children, no family. Isn''t that a misfortune in itself? Who can say for sure?" Celeste shot her a sharp glare. The word misfortune echoed in Ethan''s mind. Never marrying¡­ no children¡­ Ethan looked at Lyla. ''That won''t happen to me¡­ right?'' A voice suddenly rang in his head. "It won''t." "Holy¡ª" Ethan nearly jumped out of his seat. It was the first time he had ever heard Morzan''s voice outside the game. His startled reaction made everyone else in the car turn and stare. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "N-No, it''s nothing," Ethan quickly covered. "I was just¡­ feeling sorry for Director Vaughn.That''s a rough life." That seemed to satisfy them. Meanwhile, he focused on the voice in his head. At this point, he didn''t even want to question how Morzan was capable of doing things like this. The old guy clearly had powers beyond his understanding. Considering his name, and the fact that Morzan had been responsible for bringing him back to the past, Ethan wouldn''t even be surprised if the entire game was something he created. But why? What was the point of making a game like this? Morzan never explained, and Ethan never asked. "You''re saying I won''t bring misfortune?" he asked in his mind. "Correct. Your soul strength was granted to you after rebirth." "Does that make a difference?" "Human soul strength comes from the soul itself. And where do souls come from?" "Where?" Ethan asked. "Are you an idiot? You''ve been there." Ethan''s eyes widened. "Wait¡­ you mean The Underworld?" Morzan ignored him and continued. "By their measurement standards, souls allowed to reincarnate from The Underworld are capped at a maximum soul strength of 4.9." "An average person has a soul strength of 1." "Those above 1 are usually powerful beings who resisted The Underworld''s laws through sheer force." "But no matter how strong they were in life, when it comes time for reincarnation, their souls are ground down to 4.9 or lower. That''s the hard limit." "The stronger the soul, the longer it has to remain in The Underworld before reincarnation." "And those who exceed 5? They''re usually escapees¡­ fugitives who broke out through unnatural means." "That''s why they bring misfortune. Even if nothing happens to them externally, their physical bodies can''t handle a soul that powerful. It always leads to disaster." "This is one of the reasons I had you choose the Druid class and distribute your stats evenly." "So¡­ you''re saying I really won''t bring misfortune?" Ethan asked again. "¡­ Just don''t get cocky," Morzan said vaguely. "What the hell does that mean? When have I ever been cocky?" Ethan shot back. "It means don''t go throwing your soul power around before you''re strong enough. If something notices you¡­ well, even I won''t be able to help you then." Ethan paused. Morzan''s tone was¡­ oddly serious. It almost sounded like he was worried about him. Feeling the moment was right, Ethan asked, "Then how do I get stronger?" "Your biggest priority right now is fully awakening your bloodline power." "Seriously? I''m already level thirty-something, and I still haven''t unlocked it?" Morzan clicked his tongue. "That''s what I''m saying. You''ve been slacking off." "¡­Well, how do I awaken it?" "You really need me to tell you? Think about it, haven''t you been ignoring a certain quest?" And with that, the voice disappeared. Chapter 104 No Way Out Ethan was still deep in thought when Celeste glanced around the car. "If no one has anything else to handle, we''re heading back to Ember city now. If you need to deal with something, you can meet me there in three days." No one objected. Only Leo made a quick phone call to check in with his family. As the car rolled forward, Ethan turned to Celeste. "That sniper, did you take him out?" "No. He got away. Sniping isn''t my specialty," Celeste replied casually. Victor nearly facepalmed. Not her specialty? S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''If that insane reload speed isn''t specialized, then what the hell am I?'' Does she even realize how much of a confidence-crusher that statement is for an actual sniper? Victor kept those thoughts to himself, his military discipline told him to follow orders without question. If the Ninth Division had approved his recruitment, there had to be a reason. Leo, on the other hand, had no such restraint. His mind worked in unpredictable ways, and during his time in the military, he had caused his fair share of trouble, including openly arguing with his commanding officers. So naturally, he spoke his mind. "What exactly are we doing in this Ninth Division, anyway? I already retired from the military. I barely got a few years of peace, and now they''re throwing me back into some special ops nonsense?" "I''m telling you right now, if this means spending weeks camping out in some godforsaken forest again, I''m out. I nearly lost my mind living out there." Before he could continue ranting, Celeste slammed the brakes. The car, which had been cruising at nearly eighty miles per hour, came to an abrupt halt. Everyone nearly flew out of their seats. Leo barely had time to process what happened before Celeste snapped at him. "You think you get to decide?" Her voice was sharp, cold. "If you don''t want in, get out. But don''t think for a second that this recruitment was the higher-ups'' decision." She sneered. "If I wasn''t planning to cut off Ethan''s other options, do you really think you three would even qualify?" "If I had confirmed earlier that he was a Soul-Wielder, I wouldn''t have wasted my time with this. I''d already be halfway to the beach with some cute girls, enjoying life." Williams raised a brow. "Cute girls?" Victor blinked. "Beach trip?" Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Cut off my options?" Leo, on the other hand, blurted out the worst possible reaction¡­ "What, you into chicks or something? That explains a lot." Victor quickly wrapped an arm around Leo''s neck, clamping a hand over his mouth before he could dig himself into an even deeper hole. The tension in the car was suffocating. Celeste radiated a chilling aura, the temperature seemingly dropping to freezing levels. The only one unfazed was Ethan. He locked eyes with her. "Explain. What do you mean by ''cutting off my options''? What do you mean my friends ''don''t qualify''?" Celeste kept staring at Leo for a few more seconds, as if memorizing his face for later punishment, before finally turning away. She started the car again and answered nonchalantly. "You''ve been running that little guild in Ethereal, haven''t you? Renegade Alliance, or whatever you call it." "Living the good life, gaming all day, avoiding responsibility. So, I decided to bring these three in." "Then, I planned to drop them off in some isolated mountain where even a satellite connection wouldn''t work." "No guild management. No reinforcements. Eventually, Renegade Alliance would collapse, and with all the enemies you''ve made, your time in Ethereal would be over." "And once Lyla left, you''d have no choice but to follow me into the Ninth Division." Ethan stared at her, then burst out¡ª "That''s it? That''s your master plan? You really think taking them out of the game means I can''t find new people?" "And what do you mean Lyla''s leaving? You better explain that right now." Celeste didn''t even blink. "Go ahead. Recruit more. I''ll just make them disappear, too." Ethan''s frustration boiled over. "The hell is your problem?! Before you even knew I was a Soul-Wielder, why were you so hellbent on dragging me into this?" Celeste scoffed, but didn''t answer. Instead, she glanced at the rearview mirror, right at Lyla. That split-second look said more than words ever could. And Ethan saw it. His mind connected the dots instantly. Lyla. Leaving. His vision blurred for a moment, his blood surging. Without thinking, his hands gripped the seat. Then, his legs shot forward. BANG! Celeste had never expected him to attack her directly. His foot smashed into the side of her face. Her head jerked from the impact, slamming against the car window with a loud thud. Ethan yanked the gear shift into neutral. He lunged forward, throwing a punch straight at Celeste''s face. Each hit landed with a furious rhythm. "You think you can just do whatever you want? Huh? Huh!?" "Damn shame, too. You''re actually pretty, but you just love making enemies, don''t you? Acting all high and mighty. Pretending you don''t like guys." "I''m telling you right now, Lyla is mine. Stay the hell away from her." Celeste fought back, but she was at a disadvantage. Pinned in the driver''s seat, she had no space to move. All her combat skills were useless in such a tight spot. And Ethan? He felt like he was made of steel. She landed a few hits on him, but her hands went numb from the impact. He didn''t even flinch. With no way to dodge or block, her flawless face was soon bruised and bloody. Ethan kept hitting, voice sharp with rage. "You think just because you''re a woman, I won''t hit you? If you were normal, I might hold back. But no, you had to pull this shit. Trying to mess with my life. Trying to ruin my friends. Who the hell do you think you are?" "You''re just a pretty face with a rotten heart." No one had expected Ethan to snap like this. Not even Lyla. She had seen the way Celeste looked at her, but never imagined Ethan would react so violently over one glance. This was a complete reversal. Celeste had been the top-ranked fighter in school, while Ethan was the guy everyone wrote off as useless. Yet here he was, pinning her down and beating the hell out of her. For a moment, everyone forgot to intervene. Half a minute passed before Lyla finally snapped out of it. "Ethan!" She rushed forward, trying to pull him off. But then she realized something, Ethan was too strong. There had been a time when she could easily kick him across a room. Now? She couldn''t even budge him. "Help me!" she shouted at the others. That snapped them out of their shock. It took all four of them to finally pry Ethan away. As they held him back, Celeste took the opportunity to throw one last punch¡ª Crack. Blood gushed from Ethan''s nose. Then, she followed up with a brutal kick to his gut, stopping just shy of full force. Celeste wiped the blood from her mouth and glared at him. "You actually hit a woman, you bastard!" She turned to Lyla. "You see this? This is your dear boyfriend. No class, no control. He actually hit a woman." "You call yourself a woman?" Ethan snarled. He struggled against the three guys holding him back. "Let go of me! Get your hands off Lyla! You don''t get to touch her!" Even with three people restraining him, it felt like he might break free at any moment. Ethan''s voice was hoarse with rage. "I don''t care who else you mess with, but you stay the hell away from Lyla." "If you ever try to get near her again, don''t think I won''t go out and find the nastiest bunch of lowlifes to¡ª" "Ethan!" Lyla cut him off. His words were going too far. As soon as he stopped talking, Celeste''s eyes widened, she suddenly slumped in her seat, curled up, and¡­ Started sobbing. Lyla quickly sat beside her, trying to comfort her. Ethan, meanwhile, was sitting in the back, still fuming, until he caught something out of the corner of his eye. Celeste, head lowered, arms wrapped around her knees¡­ Turned slightly and shot him a smirk. Then, just as quickly, she buried her face again. It was only for a split second. But Ethan saw it. And he realized¡ª ''Shit. I got played.'' Chapter 105 A Small Test Ethan instantly shut up when he saw Celeste in tears. He knew he''d been tricked, but there was nothing he could do about it. He slouched in the last row of the Predator Beast X, still fuming but also realizing he might have gone too far. Even if Celeste had provoked him, she was still a girl. Good thing Lyla had cut him off earlier, otherwise, he wouldn''t have known how to back out of that mess. Up front, Victor shot Williams a look. Williams got the message, heading to the front to take the driver''s seat. Lyla helped Celeste into the second row, gently patting her back as she sobbed. "Ethan, you were a little harsh back there," Leo murmured from beside him. "Harsh? Did you not hear what she said about you guys?" "Yeah, but did you have to hit her like that? Look at that face, what a waste¡­" Leo sighed dramatically. Ethan side-eyed him. "Oh? You developed some feelings for her?" "I¡ªWhat? Hell no!" Leo nearly jumped up, his face stiffening as he straightened his back. Victor and Ethan tilted their heads, looking up at him. Ethan smirked. "Relax, man, I was just messing with you. No need to get all worked up." Victor chuckled, then leaned in to whisper something in Ethan''s ear. Ethan turned to him, then back at Leo, who looked suspiciously uncomfortable in his seat. No way¡­ Ethan thought. Victor gave him a firm nod. "Oh yeah. No doubt about it. The guy''s got it bad for Celeste." Ethan was stunned. "That''s a hell of a situation. Celeste doesn''t even like men, Leo''s got zero chance." "By the way, Vic, where''s your sister?" Ethan had heard plenty about Victor''s sister, but she was nowhere to be seen at the wedding. Considering how late Victor was getting married, wouldn''t his sister have been the first to show up? Victor glanced at Leo, who had conveniently moved to the row behind Celeste, then pulled out his phone. He opened a picture. In it, a younger Victor stood amid a wreckage, his arm around a girl who looked about twenty. The girl had a round face, a stocky build, and at a rough guess, twice Leo''s size. Ethan frowned. "Wait¡­ You got married, and she didn''t show up?" Victor chuckled. "This is Celia. I took this photo when she was sixteen, right after I pulled her out of the rubble." Ethan was stunned. "Wait¡­ this is¡ª" He''d met Celia before. She was drop-dead gorgeous, second only to Lyla and Celeste. But at sixteen? She''d been massive. And somehow, she looked way older than she was. Victor put his phone away, grinning. "Back when we were in the military, Leo saw this picture and asked me who she was. I casually said she was my sister." "After that, Williams kept using it to mess with him. To this day, Leo still doesn''t know the truth." Ethan facepalmed. ''Leo''s brain, man¡­'' Sometimes, the guy was way too sharp. Other times? Clueless. Still, Ethan couldn''t help but feel a bit envious. Victor had two solid friends watching his back. Then again, wasn''t Leo the same for him? In his last life, Leo had looked after him for four years. This time around, it was Ethan''s turn to return the favor. And as for the Ninth Division¡­ He''d see for himself what kind of place it really was. ___ The highway stretched endlessly ahead. Victor and Leo had already dozed off. Even Celeste seemed asleep. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan sat alone in the back row, watching the world blur past the window. Lyla quietly slipped into the seat beside him. Without a word, she reached for his arm and pulled it close, hugging it to her chest. Lyla leaned against Ethan''s shoulder. "Ethie, find some time to apologize to Celeste, okay?" "I''m not¡ªOw!" Ethan yelped as a sharp pain shot through his waist. Williams glanced back from the driver''s seat, smirking before turning forward again. Victor simply pulled his jacket over his head, pretending to be asleep. "What the hell¡­" Ethan grumbled. Celeste had thrown a few punches at him earlier, and he''d barely felt them. But Lyla? Just two fingers, and it hurt like hell. As soon as the pressure on his waist disappeared, Ethan muttered, "Fine. I''ll do it if she stops plotting against me." "Don''t worry, I''ve got it handled!" Lyla declared proudly. "You? Handled it?" Ethan turned his head and found her face right in front of his. "Mhm¡ª" Before she could finish, Ethan leaned in. Their lips met. Lyla froze completely, her body stiff as a board before melting like water. It was just a light kiss, nothing more. Ethan pulled away, meeting her wide, stunned eyes. Lyla''s cheeks turned bright pink as she ducked her head, too embarrassed to look at him. But instead of letting go of his arm, she held onto it even tighter. "So? How''d you handle it? You haven''t said." Ethan grinned, teasing her. "Hmph! Not telling. Just know that it''s done." They stayed close, quietly wrapped up in their own little world, until Victor suddenly stood up. "Don''t mind me, carry on," he said before heading to the front seat. Lyla buried her face in Ethan''s arm in embarrassment, while he just laughed, unbothered. ___ Ethan wasn''t sure how much time had passed, but when he opened his eyes, sunlight was streaming into the car. He''d actually fallen asleep. It had been years since he slept like this. In his last life, ever since Ethereal launched, he had spent every night in the game. Real sleep? He had almost forgotten what that felt like. Lyla was still curled up against him, breathing softly. Glancing outside, he noticed they had left the highway and were now parked by the roadside. Carefully, he laid Lyla down in the backseat so she could rest properly, then climbed to the front. Williams was still in the driver''s seat, but instead of driving, he had his VR headset on, fully immersed in the game. Victor and Leo were the same. Ethan checked the time¡ªjust past six. Since Ethereal''s servers were still online, they had probably stopped in Ember City while he was asleep and logged in to grind levels. Celeste sat in the second row, wearing sunglasses and a black mask. Ethan wasn''t sure if she was asleep or just ignoring him. Stepping out of the Predator Beast X, he stretched, letting out a sigh. As he turned around, Celeste followed him out. Guess she was awake after all. "Um¡­ I''m sorry. I was wrong last night. I shouldn''t have¡ª" Celeste ignored him. She pulled out a cigarette, lowered her mask, and lit up. Ethan noticed the bruise at the corner of her mouth. His attempt at an apology was met with cold indifference. Awkward. "You weren''t wrong," Celeste finally spoke, exhaling a thin stream of smoke. "I was. If someone set me up like that, I''d have reacted the same way." "If you hadn''t fought back, I''d actually look down on you." Her voice was flat, unreadable. "I need people like you. People who''d do anything for their friends, for the ones they love." "This was just a small test." She took another drag of her cigarette. "I used to have friends like that. Teammates." "They''re gone now." Ethan''s expression shifted. "Gone?" Celeste nodded. "Dead." A heavy silence hung between them. Ethan hesitated before asking, "Killed in action?" Celeste was quiet for a moment. "If that were the case, it wouldn''t be so bad." She exhaled slowly. "But no. They were betrayed." Chapter 106 Hidden Game As their conversation continued, Ethan started to understand Celeste a little better. She had joined the Ninth Division at just fifteen. Her abilities weren''t those of a typical fighter, she was something else. A Controller. Through her, Ethan learned about the hidden world lurking beneath the surface of society. Controllers, in simple terms, were people with unique abilities. The thing they encountered last night? That was a Mutant. Mutants could alter their bodies in different ways, adapting to their abilities. Some could morph their limbs into weapons, like the guy they fought yesterday. Others could transform into beasts or take on entirely new forms. Celeste explained that the one they encountered wasn''t particularly strong. He could only change his arm into a blade. But that blade had a unique ability. The crimson glow surrounding it wasn''t just for show, it absorbed blood, converting it into energy. The more he killed, the stronger he became. Then, Celeste revealed her own power. Air. Her speed and strength? Not innate. She manipulated the air around her, reducing resistance, increasing force, or propelling herself forward. However, her ability had limits. She could only affect the air in her immediate surroundings. True long-range manipulation, the kind found in fantasy movies, hadn''t been seen in ages. These days, whether it was Controllers, Mutants, or even Soul-Wielders, their power was measured by physical combat ability. Their unique skills? Just support tools. Celeste admitted that she hadn''t sensed Ethan''s strength through some advanced perception. It was when they brushed past each other in the training room, she had felt an unnatural shift in the air. At first, she assumed he had awakened a speed or strength-based ability. But looking at things now¡­ Ethan had awakened Soul Power. And that was unheard of. Celeste had never heard of anyone awakening Soul Power. Normally, it manifested naturally, by the age of six, a person either had it or didn''t. Ethan frowned. "So that means¡­ the people the Silverwood family and others hunted down, were all kids?" Celeste was silent for a moment before nodding. She then added, "But in the past century, no Soul-Wielders have been hunted. Lyla''s father''s generation never had to get their hands dirty." "The last known Soul-Wielder is our division head, Director Vaughn." "Of course, that doesn''t mean there aren''t any others out there. But the Soulstone has remained dormant for over a hundred years." Ethan nodded, taking it all in. With that explanation out of the way, Celeste moved on to something else, the Ninth Division itself. "Ethan, you need to know, this isn''t the same Ninth Division as before." She met his gaze, her expression dark. "I told you my squadmates were killed by our own people. That''s because there was a traitor inside." "To survive, I had to play dumb for years." Celeste''s voice was steady, but there was something cold beneath it. "Our unit was ambushed. Our entire operation had been leaked. We walked straight into a trap." "My captain¡­ my team¡­ they all died." She took a breath, her fingers curling slightly. "They used their own bodies to get me out." Ethan didn''t speak. He just listened. Celeste exhaled slowly, her voice quieter now. "The last thing my captain ever told me? No matter what it takes¡ªlive. And avenge us." "So, after I came back, I played dumb, spent over two years locked up in a psych ward." Celeste''s voice was calm, but her words were anything but. "I was only released recently, right before coming to your school." Ethan frowned. "And you''re not afraid they''ll come after you again?" Celeste shook her head. "I told you¡ªI was only released after being evaluated." "The so-called evaluation was actually a memory wipe." "But what they don''t know¡­ is that before I was released, Director Vaughn met with me in secret. He told me it was time to get back to work." "That''s when I understood, he knew I was faking it all along." "So, I played along, pretended to gradually recover. Then, one night, they arranged for my memories to be erased." She smirked. "Except¡­ they weren''t." "Director Vaughn used Soul Power to create a firewall in my mind. They thought they erased my memories, but they didn''t. They also implanted¡­ let''s just call it a ''preference'' for women." "He was going to undo that part, but I refused. I figured, why not? If it helps me stay hidden, it''s worth keeping." She turned to Ethan. "Now, I just need one thing from you. Help me. Or walk away." Ethan was stunned. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A memory wipe? A mental firewall? Implanting a preference into someone''s mind? That was some sci-fi-level insanity. Stuff like this only happened in movies or novels. Then again¡­ He had literally been reborn. At this point, what wasn''t possible? "How do I help you?" Ethan asked. Celeste''s gaze sharpened. "Director Vaughn gave me one mission: Find someone I can completely trust, bring them into the Ninth Division, and uncover the mastermind trying to take control of it." "We need to root out the traitors inside." "For you, it''s simple, just join the Ninth Division naturally. Don''t do anything suspicious. Just observe." "If someone tries to recruit or bribe you, play along. If possible, infiltrate their inner circle and find out who''s pulling the strings." Ethan raised an eyebrow. "So¡­ you want me to be a spy?" "And you just trust me like that? What if they offer me something too good to refuse?" Celeste smirked. "You can try. Just don''t blame me if I steal Lyla from you." Even behind her dark sunglasses, the way her lips curled up was undeniably attractive. "Tch. Once I figure out how to use Soul Power, I''ll erase that weird quirk of yours. Maybe even give you a thing for¡ªoh, I dunno¡ªflirting with every guy you see." "You wouldn''t dare¡ª" "Why wouldn''t I? Remember, I''m a Soul-Wielder now. You should be a little more respectful." Ethan snatched the cigarette from her fingers and lit one for himself. Celeste rolled her eyes. "You think Soul Power is that easy to control? You can''t just edit someone''s mind whenever you feel like it." "If the target resists, the backlash could kill you. Best-case scenario, you''d be coughing up blood for a week. Worst-case? Your soul shatters completely." She exhaled slowly. "Soul Power is strong. But dangerous doesn''t even begin to describe it. Focus on training. Get stronger as a fighter first. If you mistakenly expose your identity as a Soul-wielder, I guarantee you won''t be able to survive for¡­" She lifted a finger. Ethan narrowed his eyes. "One day?" Celeste shook her head. "One hour." Ethan almost laughed. "Come on. You''re exaggerating." "Try me." Ethan scoffed internally. An hour? Please. I have Old Man Morzan watching over me. And as if on cue, a voice echoed in his mind. "She''s right." Ethan nearly jumped. ''Damn it, old man! Can you stop popping out of nowhere?! You''re gonna scare me to death one of these days!'' Chapter 107 A Place to Stay Ethan grumbled to himself but got no response. Morzan had only spoken that one cryptic phrase before going completely silent. It seemed like he was agreeing with Celeste''s warning. Ethan sighed and turned to her. "Alright, but what about my guys? If you really planned on tossing them into an isolated mountain, we''d have a serious problem." Celeste glanced at the car. "They may not have special abilities, but they''re top-tier military talent. They won''t be part of the Ninth Division''s core, but they qualify for squad roles." "With them, that makes five of us. We just need one more to form a full task force. Most squads in the Ninth Division have a similar setup. It''s not like every team is full of Controllers or Mutants, people with special abilities are rare." Ethan thought for a moment. "And outside of missions, what do we actually do?" He had a reason for asking. After all, he still needed to play Ethereal. His strength came from the game. Morzan had told him that growing stronger in Ethereal would make him stronger in reality, too. Not to mention, he had a Divine Bloodline. Once activated, who knew what kind of abilities it would unlock? Celeste shrugged. "Unless there''s a mission, you''re free to do whatever you want. You''ve got that gym, right? Just have them work there." Ethan blinked. Was she seriously suggesting that he hire the guys she dragged into this mess? "You''re telling me I have to put them on my payroll?" he asked, deadpan. Celeste rolled her eyes, though with her sunglasses on, he couldn''t see it. "Since they''re in the Ninth Division, they''ll get paid. Don''t worry, the benefits are solid." And with that, she climbed into the car. Ethan sighed, pulling out his phone. Ethereal''s communication system was linked to reality. Text messages, calls, anything he received in real life would show up in-game as well. He sent Leo a quick message: "We''re all up. If you guys aren''t busy, log out. Let''s grab some food and figure out our next steps." After finishing his cigarette, Ethan climbed into the car just as Leo, Victor, and Williams were taking off their VR headsets. He settled into the front seat and gave Williams directions. Their destination? His gym. ___ The gym''s third floor had several empty rooms meant for staff housing. But since most of the employees had their own places nearby, the space had been sitting unused. Ethan led the group inside. "For now, you guys can stay here. The place is empty anyway. Not much to do besides keeping an eye on things, but Quinn manages most of it, so just help out when needed." "I''ll find you all a proper place soon, and I''ll get each of you a VR Capsule. But for now, just make do." After sorting that out, he turned to Celeste. "By the way, where''s Celia?" Victor had just gotten married, splitting them up after only a day didn''t seem right. Celeste answered flatly, "At your house." "What? And you''re just telling me now?" Ethan grabbed Victor and the others, rushing back to the villa. ___ As they pulled up, Ethan immediately spotted Celia standing outside the house. She wasn''t alone. Three people stood with her, clearly security. They were probably the bodyguards Celeste had assigned to protect her. Victor frowned. "Didn''t you say Celia would be sent somewhere safe?" His tone was sharp, when it came to her safety, he wasn''t going to compromise. Celeste, unfazed, replied, "She is safe. This place has one of the most advanced security systems money can buy¡ªcost over a hundred million. You tell me, safe or not?" Ethan raised a brow. He hadn''t known that. He glanced at Lyla, who simply nodded. Clearly she was aware. Right at that moment, Celeste stepped out of the car. "Alright, we''re out." And just like that, she left. No further explanation. No concern. Ethan opened his mouth, then closed it. ''So you''re just gonna dump Celia here, huh?'' But he couldn''t say that out loud, not in front of Victor and Celia. It would sound like he was kicking them out. Truth be told, he wasn''t thrilled about the idea of someone else living here. He and Lyla, this was their own private world. A third person? That just made things¡­ awkward. Victor must have caught on, though, because he scratched his head awkwardly. "Maybe Celia should just stay at the gym with us," he offered. "We''ll be together, and there won''t be any issues." "Daytime, sure," Ethan said. "But what about at night? Everyone''s in Ethereal then." He wasn''t just speaking hypothetically. In his last life, being attacked while in the game had happened more than once. And more recently was right before his rebirth. VR headsets had motion detectors, so they''d issue a warning if someone approached. Problem was, the first time it happened, Ethan had been renting a tiny shared apartment. The walls were so thin, the alert went off constantly from his neighbors moving around. By the time he realized the real threat¡­ it had been too late. Lyla, sensing his discomfort, stepped forward and took his hand. "Forget the gym. You guys can just stay across the street." Victor blinked. "Huh?" "I was half-asleep in the car earlier, so I forgot to mention it. There are a few empty villas nearby." She pointed to a house across from theirs. "Same security setup as this place. Victor, you and Celia can take the biggest room on the second floor. Consider it your honeymoon suite." S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, she turned to Leo and Williams. "As for you two? Third floor. You wouldn''t want to get in the way of their alone time, right?" Ethan noticed how she emphasized those last two words. Wait. Did she just say ''a few'' empty villas? He''d been living here for a while and never saw neighbors. ''Hold up¡­ are all these houses Lyla''s?!'' Leo and Williams exchanged glances, then groaned. "So what, single people don''t get rights?" Lyla grinned mischievously. "Nope! But hey, if you guys ever find girlfriends, I''ll let you pick one of those two villas." She pointed to the homes on either side of Victor''s. Leo and Williams turned to inspect them, then looked back at her. "¡­Lyla, you got any sisters?" Leo asked hopefully. "Yeah," Williams added. "Older? Younger? Maybe a cousin?" Lyla rolled her eyes. "Dream on." Leo threw up his hands. "This isn''t fair. Ethan''s not as tall as me, not as handsome, and somehow he gets to live the good life." Ethan''s foot met Leo''s shin. "You calling me a freeloader?!" he laughed. Leo stumbled back, clutching his leg dramatically. "DID I LIE?! You''re literally living off her, man!" "I''ll show you who''s freeloading¡ª" Ethan lunged at him. Victor, Celia, and Williams stood off to the side, shaking their heads, laughing. The tension from the night before finally faded, washed away by the morning sun. Only Lyla, though she was smiling, still had something on her mind. And Ethan? Even as he joked around, his thoughts drifted to Celeste''s request. ''How exactly do you play the role of a spy?'' Chapter 108 Recruiting Heavens Dawn Now back in his own territory, Ethan naturally took charge, treating everyone to a full day of fun with plenty of good food, of course. By the afternoon, after stocking up on household supplies, Leo and Williams tactfully decided not to stay at the villa. Instead, they headed to the gym. As Williams put it, "Better than crashing in some sketchy rooftop shack." The two gaming capsules Ethan had ordered for them arrived at the gym''s third floor and were set up without a hitch. As for why there were only two capsules, Ethan had bluntly stated to Victor: "Why would you waste your three days off gaming? This is a very important period for your married life. Besides, your custom-built dual capsule will be ready by then." Victor had been so touched by those words that he looked like he might cry, while Celia''s face turned bright red. She quickly dragged Lyla away for some girl talk. Lyla, having company, was in high spirits. The two of them spent the entire afternoon shopping, loading up on little trinkets. Meanwhile, the three guys were utterly exhausted. Their feet ached, and they couldn''t wrap their heads around how women could walk so much in high heels. "Vic, I kinda miss the jungle," Leo muttered. Williams nodded in agreement. "Right? How is walking around the city more exhausting than running through the jungle all day? Next time you guys go shopping, count us out. We''ll leave you two lovebirds to it." "Yeah, yeah, we''re out," Leo added before grabbing Williams and making a break for it. Ethan and Victor exchanged looks¡ªdefeated, resigned, and utterly spent. Ahead, Lyla turned around and asked, "Where are those two weirdos?" She was referring to Skyblade and SeraphWarrior, the nicknames she had given them. Lyla had spent a lot of time with them back in the Starter Zone. In fact, she had been with them in-game more often than she had been with Ethan. While Ethan had left the Starter Zone early, Lyla and the others had stuck around, grinding dungeons together. Skyblade and the others never went anywhere without her. But while Ethan had been stuck in the Underworld for several days, Lyla had been in the hospital, taking care of him, missing a lot of game time. That gap had left her behind in levels. Not that it lasted long. A single forbidden spell, and she caught up in an instant. Though, in her rush, she had forgotten to summon her pet. Otherwise, that little guy would have leveled up quite a bit too. Ethan and Victor suffered through the rest of the shopping trip until, to their horror, the girls suggested a movie. Finally, a break. Even two men as physically strong as them had been reduced to shambling wrecks after a day of shopping. At the theater, they both passed out, snoring lightly, only to be rudely awakened by sharp pinches to their sides. Ethan shot up. "Movie''s over? Time to go home!" Lyla''s sharp glare brought him back to reality. "Uh¡­ I mean, last night was exhausting. Really exhausting¡­" Failing to come up with a better excuse, he awkwardly shut up. By the time they got back to the villa, it was already past ten. Ethereal had been online for over four hours. After changing into his sleepwear, Ethan slipped into Lyla''s room, messing around with her until she fled to the bathroom to clean up. Satisfied, he returned to his own room, showered, and climbed into the gaming capsule. Logging into Ethereal, the first thing Ethan did was check the leaderboard. Three days had passed, and quite a few players had already reached level 22. Most were at least level 20 by now. That old man Morzan claimed he still had an unfinished task, which was why he couldn''t officially awaken the Divine Bloodline yet. What task was it exactly? Ethan had no clue. The moment he logged in, a message from Skyblade popped up. "Boss, I heard a lot of guilds are trying to clear Howling Caverns." "Let them have fun clearing it," Ethan replied casually. "So when are we running it?" Skyblade asked. Ethan checked the time. "Aside from the six of us, gather 24 more. Meet at the dungeon entrance at midnight." "We''re down to five. Without Slashblade, we''re short a solid healer, which makes things harder." Right. Ethan had forgotten Victor was busy with his honeymoon night and wouldn''t be logging in today. Just as he was about to reply, a system notification popped up. Ding! [Private message received from Heaven''s Dawn.] Heaven''s Dawn? Ethan paused for a second before remembering, it was that teenage girl he had met at the Crowling Nest. Ethan opened the message. Heaven''s Dawn: "Big bro, can your guild take me in? I tried joining a few, but they all said I was too young and wouldn''t bring me to raids." Ethan chuckled to himself. He had already planned on recruiting top-tier players, and Heaven''s Dawn was at the top of his list. He''d given Victor and the others a list of names to recruit, but the trio had been too busy leveling, grinding for loot, and leading dungeon runs to focus on the task. Now, it was clear, he needed someone to handle logistics for him. He and his officers were frontline fighters, but they had a glaring hole in their operations: no one to run the back-end of the guild. Unfortunately, he didn''t have a trustworthy candidate for that yet. He''d have to take things one step at a time. "Sure, we''re about to raid Howling Caverns. We need a strong healer, want in?" Ethan replied. In his past life, once Heaven''s Dawn became famous, people had dug up her history. She had been seen as someone blessed by the game itself. Despite choosing a so-called weak class¡ªDruid, she had always managed to get her hands on top-tier gear. Her healing output regularly outperformed same-level Priests in every raid team she joined. Heaven''s Dawn: "Yes! Finally, I can do a real dungeon!" They set up a meeting spot, and she arrived quickly. After officially joining the guild, Ethan messaged Skyblade again. "I found a Druid for healer. Just bring 24 more." Skyblade''s reply came instantly. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "A Druid? Ugh, fine." Clearly, he wasn''t convinced. Most players still considered Druids second-rate healers. Ethan, however, knew better. Standing beside him, Heaven''s Dawn looked petite, but her gear told a different story. Several pieces of Gold-tier equipment shimmered faintly on her. More importantly, her entire set was enhanced to +10. Ethan''s eyes widened slightly. Gear at +10 enhancement was no joke. If not for his Wishbound Relic, he couldn''t guarantee getting his own gear to +10 at this stage. A perfect example was Meatball. He had poured over 100 gold into upgrading his staff, and yet, after all that, it had only reached +5. Chapter 109 The Druids Awakening Ethan was watching Heaven''s Dawn when Lyla logged in. Coincidentally, she appeared right next to him. "Heh, did you really need to take that long cleaning up?" Ethan asked, grinning. Lyla immediately knew what he meant. She rolled her eyes hard. "You''re the worst! Next time, keep your hands to yourself." "Oh¡­ next¡­ time?" Ethan deliberately emphasized the words. "You''re so annoying! There is no next time!" Lyla waved her small fists at him, pretending to be furious. A sudden voice interrupted them. "Big bro, who''s this pretty lady?" Ethan froze. He had completely forgotten about the little girl beside him. Awkwardly rubbing his nose, he introduced them. "Moonbeam, this is Heaven''s Dawn. She just joined our guild." With that, the two of them got acquainted. But with the Heaven''s Dawn tagging along, Ethan couldn''t exactly keep teasing Lyla. "Big bro, what''s your tree form like? Mine looks so ugly after I transform!" Heaven''s Dawn pouted, clearly unhappy with her own appearance in-game. "My tree form¡­" Ethan started but then stopped. Tree form? Hell, he didn''t even have one yet. He hadn''t completed the transformation quest. Was this the quest Morzan had mentioned? The one for druids to unlock their tree form? "I haven''t done the quest yet," Ethan admitted. "By the way, how long does it take?" He glanced at the time, it was already 10:50 PM. He had promised Skyblade and the others to meet at the dungeon entrance by midnight. If the quest took too long, he''d just do it after finishing the dungeon run. "About half an hour," Heaven''s Dawn answered. "Not that long." Hearing that, Ethan decided he had enough time. "Moonbeam, take her to find Skyblade and the others. I''ll finish my tree form quest and meet you at the dungeon." "Alright, go ahead." Lyla nodded. "Bye, big bro! I''ll be waiting for you with Moonbeam!" Heaven''s Dawn waved excitedly. Ethan smiled and activated his teleportation skill. This was his first time using [Teleport: Dreamwood Grove]. He had obtained the skill a while ago but never used it. According to the description, it would send him to the birthplace of Druids. A flash of light. Darkness filled his vision for a split second. Then, he arrived in Dreamwood Grove. Or rather, the outskirts of it. Ding! [Server Announcement: Congratulations to player ''NotADruid'' for being the first to reach Dreamwood Grove! The Dreamwood Grove map is now unlocked. All Druids''[Teleport: Forest of Nature]skill has been upgraded.] Ding! [Server Announcement: Congratulations to player ''NotADruid'' for reaching Dreamwood Grove and establishing a connection with the Ancestral Homeland. The first Druid sanctuary has been activated.] Ding! [Server Announcement: System upgrade in progress. The Ancestral Blessing has been introduced to Ethereal. All Druids'' growth stat has increased to 12-star (previously 10-star).] Ding! [Server Announcement: Ethereal will undergo a restart at midnight. The restart will last 10 minutes. After the update, Druid growth stats and teleportation skills will be officially implemented.] A flood of server-wide notifications. Every player froze. Him. Again. The moment the name ''NotADruid'' popped up, everyone had the same thought, how was it always him? Meanwhile, Druid players across the server were overwhelmed with joy. A 12-star growth rate. For so long, they had been at a disadvantage. Without connections, it was nearly impossible to find a good team. Now, finally, they could stand on equal footing with other classes. NotADruid wasn''t just a top player, he was their savior. In an instant, forum posts exploded. One thread surged to the top: "Calling all Druids¡ªProtect the Druid God!" And 99% of the replies came from Druids. Within moments, millions of replies flooded the forum. First comment: "Swear to defend the Druid God!" 11,000th comment: "Mess with the Druid God, and you mess with all Druids." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 153,100th comment: "Just say the word, Druid God, and we''ll follow you to the ends of the earth!" Ethan had no idea. He had done something so casually, yet somehow, he had gained an army of followers. He could never have imagined that, one day, these very Druids would willingly throw themselves into battle for him. Even if all they could do was buy him 0.001 seconds, they would charge ahead without hesitation, like moths drawn to a flame. At that moment, a seed was planted. And from that seed, something massive began to take shape. In the game, a new channel was created: The Druid Order. To join, one had to be a Druid, and an unwavering supporter of NotADruid. But Ethan hadn''t just brought fortune to every Druid player. He himself had received an incredible reward. Ding! [System Notification: Congratulations! You have earned the title: Grand Druid. (Unique)] [System Notification: Congratulations! You have obtained the Druid-exclusive weapons: Claw of Sok, Fang of Shaman, Lunar Scythe, Mother''s Tree.] [System Notification: Congratulations! You have unlocked the Grand Druid exclusive quest: Twilight War Spear.] Three back-to-back system messages. Ethan opened his inventory. Four weapons, glowing with multicolored radiance, lay inside. Artifact-tier. The kind of glow only an Artifact could have. ''All this¡­ just from using a teleport skill?'' And not just any Artifacts, these were Unique weapons, bound to him alone. At this moment, Ethan felt like he had four priceless objects lying before him. No choosing, no second-guessing. They were all his. With shaky hands, he inspected the stats of Claw of Sok. [Claw of Sok:] Requirement: Strength, Stamina, Endurance ¨C 10,000 points "¡­What the hell?" His jaw dropped. He quickly checked the other three. "¡­Are you kidding me?" [Fang of Shaman]: Requirement: Strength, Agility ¨C 15,000 points [Lunar Scythe] Requirement: Intelligence ¨C 30,000 points [Mother''s Tree] Requirement: Intelligence ¨C 10,000 points Ethan stared at the absurd requirements. He didn''t even bother looking at the stats. Was this a joke? 30,000 Intelligence?! If he had that, he wouldn''t need a weapon. He could probably one-shot a demigod level boss with his bare hands! And Mother''s Tree¡­ A healer''s weapon? Oh, how generous. Only 10,000 Intelligence required? ''Why not just hand me the points directly so I can boost my intelligence first?'' From euphoria to despair, he could feel his brain cells dying. This was the kind of stress that lowered intelligence, right? All this excitement, only to end up with weapons he couldn''t even use. Ethan sighed and pinned his last hope on the Grand Druid exclusive quest: Twilight War Spear. With trembling hands, he opened the quest panel. This time, his hands weren''t trembling from excitement. They were trembling from fear. Chapter 110 The Living Stone Quest: [Twilight War Spear] Objective: Prismatic Stone 1/3 Description: The Prismatic Stone exists somewhere in the world of Ethereal. No one knows its origins or its true name. It was given this title based purely on its appearance. Gather three Prismatic Stones to fuse the Druid-exclusive Artifacts into the Grand Druid''s Ultimate Weapon: Twilight War Spear. Reward: Twilight War Spear is forged from the four Druid Artifacts, embodying the ultimate balance of destruction, healing, protection, and bloodlust. It is a weapon that grows alongside you, adapting to your strength and granting you the greatest possible assistance. ¡ª Ethan skimmed the entire quest description, but his eyes locked onto just four words: "A weapon that grows." Finally. A stroke of luck. Lyla''s bow, Frostbound Reverie, was a growth weapon. He had been the one who found it and handed it to her, but he had always been a little jealous of its power. Watching her unleash a Forbidden Spell with a single shot was incredibly satisfying. Now, if he completed this quest, he would have one too, a Druid-exclusive growth weapon. How could he not be thrilled? A moment ago, he had been sulking over the four useless Artifacts in his bag. Now, his spirits were soaring. It turned out those Artifacts were just materials to craft the Twilight War Spear. If four Artifacts were merely the ingredients, what tier would the final weapon be? At minimum, Legendary-tier, right? No one had ever heard of anything stronger in Ethereal. But if this was a fusion process, then it might surpass even Legendary. Ethan wasn''t going to overthink it. Right now, he had a bigger problem. What exactly was a Prismatic Stone? In his previous life, he had never heard of such an item. He glanced at the quest objective: 1/3. ''¡­Huh?'' That meant he already had one in his inventory. Hurriedly, he opened his bag. His eyes landed on a strange, multicolored stone he had picked up in the Iron Mountains. Ethan was certain¡ªthis had to be a Prismatic Stone. Back then, he had found it odd that the stone had no name. And just like the quest description stated, no one knew its origins. ''So that''s how it was.'' If he had found one in the Iron Mountains, then¡­ could more be obtained there? But the moment he had that thought, reality slapped him in the face. That stone had only dropped after Lyla wiped out tens of thousands of monsters with a single Forbidden Spell¡ªWinter''s End. If he had to farm them the normal way, who knew how long it would take? This drop rate was insane. Ethan let out a sigh and pulled the stone from his inventory. The instant it was exposed to open air, a violent gust of wind erupted. A terrifying suction force surged forth. The surrounding grass and flowers withered at a speed visible to the naked eye. The Dreamwood Grove trembled as chaos spread. Several Grove Sentinels rushed toward him. At that moment, Ethan wanted nothing more than to throw the stone away and tell the soldiers, I swear this has nothing to do with me! In the Forest of Nature, any destruction of the land resulted in forced exile or immediate execution. But when he tried shaking it off, the stone refused to leave his hand. Luckily, when the first soldier¡ªa Cervidian Guardian, whose lower body resembled a stag and upper body a human, approached, he simply bowed. "Honored Grand Druid, do you require assistance?" S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan exhaled sharply. Whew. At least that title was worth something. Trying to play it cool, he nodded. "No issues. The Prismatic Stone is just¡­ absorbing energy. It''ll be done soon." He had no idea if that was true, but he had to say something. Though, judging by the stone''s reaction, it did seem to be drawing in the life energy around it. Its glow was growing even more intense. ¡­But how long would this take? "Honored Grand Druid," the Cervidian Guardian spoke again. "A Prismatic Stone requires six elemental forces to awaken¡ªGold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, and Life." He gestured toward the stone in Ethan''s hand. "Yours is still missing Water and Life. You may visit the Lunar Well, it contains both elements." Ethan stared blankly. "Awaken?" Awaken what? ___ Ethan followed the guardian to the Lunar Well. As soon as they arrived, he could see the energy radiating from the well, pure life force flowing into the Prismatic Stone in his hand. Along with it, water vapor from the well also fused into the stone. Fifteen minutes passed. The absorption slowed, and the stone seemed to reach its limit. Ding! [System Notification: Hidden Quest Activated ¨C The Awakening of the Prismatic Stone] Ethan barely had time to check his quest log before¡ª Crunch! The stone bit his finger. A sharp pain shot through his hand. Instinctively, he flung it away. Ding! [System Notification: Hidden Quest ¨C The Awakening of the Prismatic Stone ¨C Phase One: Bonding Complete.] ''What the hell?'' And just like that, the bonding process was done? Before he could react, the stone he had tossed away whooshed through the air and flew right back to him. It didn''t just return, it burrowed into his hand. Ethan stared at it in horror. The stone could fly? Was it trying to become sentient?! He immediately threw it again. This time, when the force wore off, the stone didn''t fly back. Instead, it simply vanished. The next moment¡ªpoof¡ªit reappeared on his head. Then it started nestling into his hair, like a bird settling into a nest. Ethan sighed in defeat. Grabbing the stone from his head, he shoved it into his inventory. Thankfully, this time, it stayed put. Now, time to check the quest. --- [Quest: The Awakening of the Prismatic Stone] Type: Hidden Quest Progress: Phase Two ¨C Feeding Description: The Prismatic Stone must be nourished with various minerals to advance to the next phase. The rarer the mineral, the faster the evolution. That was it. No extra details. Ethan''s curiosity was piqued. ''Evolution?'' What could it possibly evolve into? Was it going to pop out some mythical creature or something? Whatever, he just had to feed it minerals. That could wait. For now, it was time to handle his Tree Form transformation quest. ___ The Dreamwood Grove was enormous. After asking several guardians for directions, Ethan finally arrived at a massive ancient tree, just ten meters behind him the whole time. Looking up, he noticed a golden exclamation mark floating above its crown. He groaned. How had he not found it the whole time? it had just been right behind him. Was there some sort of mysterious phenomenon at play here? No matter how much he thought of it, he couldn''t come to a conclusion. Ethan approached the tree and initiated a conversation. Quest Received: [Transform: Tree Form] The task was ridiculously simple: Find injured soldiers in the grove. Use the given Rejuvenation Spell and Healing Spell to restore them. Purge their diseases using the Purification Spell. For the next thirty minutes, he ran all over Dreamwood Grove, healing every last soldier and villager he could find. Finally, with just 15 minutes left until midnight, he was done. There was still enough time to return to the Ancient Tree and turn in the quest. And just as expected, in the final ten seconds before the game reboot, He reached the tree and swiftly completed the dialogue. Ding! [Quest Complete: Transform ¨C Tree Form] Ding! [Congratulations! You have unlocked all Druid transformation forms and successfully activated: Prim¡ª Chapter 111 Race for First Clear Before the system notification even finished ringing in Ethan''s ears, his screen went black. Ethereal was rebooting. All players were kicked from the game, left waiting on the login screen. With nothing to do, Ethan browsed the official forums and stumbled upon the Druid player rally post. Opening it up, he found it flooded with Druid comments, all fired up and pledging their loyalty. He chuckled. It was entertaining to read through. Since he was there, he left a quick reply, just a simple thank you to his new followers. Time passed quickly. Ding! [System Upgrade Complete. You may now log back in.] Ethan closed the forums and re-entered the game. There weren''t many visible changes at first. But within seconds, Dreamwood Grove was packed with Druids teleporting in. The place, once quiet and peaceful, was now buzzing with players exploring their newly enhanced abilities. Ethan barely spared them a glance. Without hesitation, he activated his teleportation skill and returned to Harmony City. Skyblade had already messaged him, everyone was assembled and waiting at the dungeon entrance. Ethan replied: "On my way." As he moved, he mentally reviewed the dungeon layout. They weren''t going for the easy version of Howling Caverns, they were tackling the Expert Mode. --- Expert Mode dungeons could only be cleared once per week. Once completed, players had to wait until the next Monday afternoon for another attempt. Currently, most players were just reaching level 20, and every major guild was rushing to form teams to challenge Howling Caverns. The dungeon entrance was packed, a sea of players, all looking for groups. Voices filled the air: "UnspokenTruth: Full Intelligence Mage, 315 spell power, looking for a group!" "Nightwind: High-attack Sharpshooter, 394 physical attack¡ªanyone running Easy Mode?" "FleetingDust: Running first clear, need one high-healing Priest. Must be good, one slot left!" Meanwhile, Skyblade and the others stood by the dungeon gate, repeatedly turning players away. Many asked if they needed extra members, but the answer remained the same: "Party''s full." Ethan didn''t head straight to the dungeon. Instead, he made a quick stop in Harmony City''s Market District to check on his businesses. --- First, he dropped by All-You-Need Potions, his alchemy shop. It had finally stabilized, several apprentice alchemists had been hired, and while production speed wasn''t high, at least there were potions available for sale. Then, he visited All-You-Need Engineering. The store shelves now carried bullets and arrowheads. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Heading to the back, he peeked into the workshop, a few apprentices were busy crafting equipment. And, as expected, the future Mad Engineer, NoPaperOnTheBigOne, was in his personal workspace, tinkering with who knows what. Ethan didn''t bother disturbing him. Leaving the shop, he made his way to the Auction House. The place was packed. Checking the recent transaction logs, he saw that thousands of items had been traded daily. Right now, there were no listing fees, but once that changed, even if the fee was just 1 Copper per item, the revenue would be staggering. Of course, auction fees were based on item value. The Auction House was a gold mine, it made life easier for everyone. Right now, free listings were bait. Once players got used to the convenience, even a small fee wouldn''t stop them from using it. After all, why waste time setting up a stall when you could be leveling up, farming loot, or chatting up NPCs? --- Remembering the Prismatic Stone quest, Ethan searched the Auction House and spent 2 Gold on a pile of minerals. Then, he made a final stop at the System Alchemy Shop. Currently, All-You-Need Potions only stocked Basic Healing Potions and Mana Recovery Potions. So, he bought three bottles of Size Enhancement Elixir. Now, he was finally ready. [Size Enhancement Elixir]: Increases body size by 500% for 5 seconds. (Strength increases proportionally, but no attribute bonuses are granted.) After grabbing the elixirs, Ethan made a stop at the System Engineering Shop, purchasing two grappling launchers, each costing a painful 50 Gold. With his wallet significantly lighter, he made his way to the teleportation array, selecting the closest town to Howling Caverns. --- Draped in a black cloak, Ethan strode down the main road leading out of town. As he walked, a conversation between two players up ahead caught his attention. A short-statured Mage spoke first. "Did you hear? Guild leader hired a pro team to clear Expert Mode. They''ve already taken down two bosses." A burly Warrior beside him scoffed. "Yeah, I heard. Those guys are professionals. Not like us, we can''t even beat the second boss in Easy Mode. We''ve been wiped over forty times already." "And that so-called Leaf Guild? They''ve been wiped twenty times on the third boss. And guess what? We have to chip in for their repair fees. Bunch of freeloaders." "Quit complaining. They got through the second boss after ten or so tries. They''ll probably clear the third soon." Hearing this, Ethan narrowed his eyes. Someone was already attempting Expert Mode, and they were on the third boss? Leaf Guild¡­ It was them. In his previous life, this guild had secured world-first clears on numerous dungeons. And he clearly remembered Howling Caverns was one of their trophies. Picking up his pace, Ethan overtook the two players and glanced at the guild emblem on their chests. Two bold words stood out: Blade Syndicate. His pupils contracted. ''Marcus Skeiner.'' That guy actually hired Leaf Guild to help their team secure the first clear? If Blade Syndicate snagged the world-first completion reward, their arrogance would know no bound. Not only that, but it would also be a direct challenge to Renegade Alliance''s reputation. Ethan clenched his fists. So, they were already on Boss #3¡­ What about Skyblade''s raid team? Would they be able to keep up? He wasn''t sure. But one thing was certain, his team had the strongest core players. Five of them were already equipped with +30 enhanced gear and had reached level 28. A level 20 Expert Mode dungeon shouldn''t pose a serious challenge. Lyla alone could probably match the damage output of half a raid group. Even Meatball''s damage wasn''t to be underestimated. Skyblade was an unshakable tank, capable of soloing a boss, though certain one-shot mechanics would require teamwork to survive. However, Howling Caverns had a unique defensive mechanic, one that made Expert Mode brutal. Instead of a flat defense stat, bosses had percentage-based damage reduction. This system significantly weakened high-attack, high-gear setups. Easy Mode Bosses: 20% damage reduction. (If you hit for 100 damage, only 80 goes through.) Expert Mode Bosses: 80% damage reduction. (A 100-damage attack would deal only 20 damage.) This meant high attack power still helped, but the actual damage gap between players was drastically reduced. For example: A player with 100 attack would deal 20 damage. A player with 200 attack would deal 40 damage. The higher attack still had an advantage, but the difference wasn''t as huge as in normal fights. Ethereal''s dungeon system was built for balance. And in Expert Mode, raw strength alone wasn''t enough. Chapter 112 Hidden Judgment If not for this system rule, Ethan would have dared to take a six-man team and challenge an expert-level dungeon by now. Just imagine Lyla''s explosive damage output, facing a boss with zero defense, wouldn''t she wipe it out in seconds? The percentage-based damage reduction system ensured a balance between elite and regular players. It highlighted the status of top-tier players while still allowing casual players to participate. After all, zero defense meant that even those without high-tier gear could break through. But at the same time, it prevented overpowered players from solo-clearing dungeons. Ethan quickened his pace, heading straight for the dungeon entrance. He wasn''t just aiming for a simple clear, he wanted a five-star rating. A five-star clear guaranteed at least one gold-tier item, with a chance of even scoring dark gold loot. And more importantly, securing the world''s first five-star clear meant earning a huge amount of guild points, far more than a standard dungeon run. Guild upgrades required increasing the level of their stronghold, and stronghold upgrades consumed guild points. The only way to earn guild points? Guild members had to form teams and clear dungeons together. Of course, even a regular dungeon clear awarded some points, but the amount was small. It would take a ridiculous amount of runs just to upgrade the stronghold once. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That''s why guilds looking to dominate the game always fought for first clears. By the time Ethan reached the Howling Caverns dungeon entrance, the place was packed, it was more crowded than a street market. He had to squeeze his way through, pushing past groups of players, before finally reaching Skyblade''s team. As soon as he accepted Skyblade''s party invite, leadership and raid command permissions were instantly transferred to him. "Boss!" "Guild leader is here!" The party members greeted him one after another. Ethan nodded back at them and checked the raid lineup: Damage dealers: Archers (4) Gunners (2) Mages (4) Warriors (3) Rogues (4) Warlocks (2) Paladin (1) Healers: Paladins (2) Priests (3) Druid (1) Tanks: Shield Tanks (2) Guardian knight (1) Total: 29 players. Including himself, that made a full 30-man raid. As Ethan scanned the group, he suddenly noticed something odd¡ªSeraphWarrior had somehow blended into the healer squad. Wait¡­ Had that guy switched to a healing class? He pulled up the party window. SeraphWarrior''s icon still showed him as a Retribution Paladin. Frowning, Ethan turned to Skyblade. "Sky, what''s going on?" Skyblade chuckled, clearly expecting the question. Leaning in, he whispered, "Last night, after logging in, he stumbled into a side quest and unlocked a hidden class¡ªJudicator of Light." Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Judicator of Light?" "It''s a fusion class, a mix of Retribution and Holy Paladin," Skyblade explained. "Any time he uses a Retribution skill, he gains Holy Energy. He can then use that energy to cast any healing spell." "Oh, and the best part?" Skyblade smirked. "It doesn''t consume mana. Pretty insane, right? I swear, the guy must''ve stepped in some serious good luck." Ethan glanced over at SeraphWarrior again, his surprise evident. Judicator of Light, this hidden class had only been discovered in his past life by a top-tier Paladin named PlainWalker, and that was after hitting level 40. Now? SeraphWarrior had unlocked it this early?! It all but guaranteed that he was destined to become a legendary player. Skyblade noticed Ethan''s reaction and let out a low chuckle. "Don''t let the class fool you. SeraphWarrior has been stressing out over it." Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Why?" Skyblade grinned. "The class talent lets him use both Retribution and Holy Paladin skills, which sounds amazing, right?" Ethan nodded. "Well," Skyblade continued, "the trade-off? His attack power is permanently reduced by 35%. But his healing output is only 50% of a regular Holy Paladin. At best, he''s half a healer." "The only real advantage is that he doesn''t use mana, so he''s got insane endurance. But¡­ y''know, weak and pathetic. Hah!" Skyblade burst out laughing at his own joke. Ethan already knew that Judicator of Light wasn''t particularly impressive in the early game. But at level 60, when it advanced into Divine Judicator, it was a whole different story. That reminded him of something, because of his presence in this life, too many things had changed. The timeline wasn''t unfolding the way it had before. Even if he tried recruiting the same top players from his past life, there was no guarantee they''d even become top players this time around. So¡­ why not create his own legends instead? He turned to Skyblade with a burning gaze. Skyblade shuddered. "Uh¡­ Boss? What''s with that look? You''re staring at me like I''m some kind of prize or something." Ethan''s mind was already racing. ''Yeah¡­ I should take Skyblade to unlock the Iron Guardian hidden class for Shield Tanks.'' It had already been a month since Ethereal launched. He''d been way too busy, rushing to level up, making a trip to the Underworld, then fighting against Blade Syndicate, followed by seven days of clearing his red-name status. Now it was time to get back to serious business. But first, securing the first clear of this expert-level dungeon took priority. Originally, he''d planned on selling dungeon guides, but at this rate, that might not be profitable anymore. Ethereal had been live long enough that most top teams had already figured out the game''s mechanics. Plenty of high-profile guilds had moved in, and soon, selling guides wouldn''t be a viable business model. Ethan''s voice rang out in the raid chat. "Alright, everyone ready? We''re going in." The team gathered at the dungeon entrance as Ethan approached an NPC standing nearby. "Honorable Grand Druid, do you wish to enter the Howling Caverns?" "Yes." "Please select your difficulty: Easy, Normal, Hard, Expert, or Hell (locked)." "Expert," Ethan confirmed. "Understood. You and your party will be transported in ten seconds. Please stand by." Instead of stepping in immediately, Ethan stood his ground, watching the dungeon''s shimmering entrance. The rest of the team, including Skyblade, exchanged confused glances. "Uh¡­ Boss? What are we waiting for?" A few seconds later, the entrance flickered, shifting from white to deep purple, a massive, eerie skull forming over the portal. "Holy¡ªExpert mode!" Skyblade gasped. The rest of the players gawked in disbelief. They had experienced Expert dungeons before back in the Starter Zone, thanks to Ethan''s guides. So the color shift at the entrance was all too familiar. Ethan smirked. "What? You scared now?" "Scared my ass!" "Hell no, we''re not cowards." "Let''s do this! With you leading us, Guild leader, what''s the worst that could happen? Losing some EXP? Who cares!" Ethan chuckled. "Alright, listen up. Blade Syndicate hired a professional raid team to tackle this same dungeon on Expert. I got word on my way here, they''ve already reached the third boss. This dungeon only has seven bosses total. That means they''ve already cleared almost half of it." The room went dead silent. Ethan let that sink in for a moment before raising his voice. "But we''re not just aiming to beat them, we''re going for a five-star clear." Then, he fired off three questions in rapid succession: "Do you have the guts to keep Blade Syndicate beneath our feet forever?" "Can you outperform professional raiders and make history in Ethereal?" "And when the dust settles, do you want to brag that you took the world''s first Expert dungeon clear¡ªwith a five-star rating?" A roaring battle cry erupted in the raid chat. "HELL YES!!" Even Heaven''s Dawn, the 12-year-old in the party, clenched her tiny fists and shouted along with them. Chapter 113 Unleashing the Firepower Out of the entire raid group, only one person didn''t join in on the battle cry. Lyla. Instead, she simply watched Ethan, her eyes brimming with warmth as he rallied the team. "Moonbeam, Big Bro is really good at hyping people up!" Heaven''s Dawn excitedly waved her tiny fists, turning to Lyla. Lyla sighed at the little girl''s enthusiasm. "You do realize he''s just hyping you all up, right? So why are you shouting along with him?" "I dunno! It just felt exciting!" Heaven''s Dawn beamed. Then, after a short pause, she suddenly declared, "Big Bro is so cool! When I grow up, I wanna marry him!" Lyla chuckled and ruffled the little girl''s hair. "Well, you''d better grow up fast then. Your Big Bro isn''t just a smooth talker, he''s also a huge bully." "Hey! Don''t mess up my hair! It''ll stunt my growth!" Heaven''s Dawn pouted and batted Lyla''s hand away. "Big Bro isn''t a bully! He''s nice to me!" Lyla smirked. "That''s because you don''t see what he''s like when no one''s watching." The little girl squinted at her suspiciously. "Wait a sec¡­ How do you know that? Unless you¡­?" Lyla''s smirk vanished, and her face turned red. "Stop talking nonsense!" "Heh! Moonbeam, you''re blushing!" As the two of them playfully bickered, Ethan took the first step into the dungeon portal, vanishing into the swirling purple light. One by one, the rest of the team followed. ¡ª The scene shifted. The moment they stepped through the portal, the group found themselves inside a massive underground cavern. Jagged rock formations jutted out in all directions, and a single winding path stretched forward. A chilling howl echoed through the cavern, the very sound that gave Howling Caverns its name. In truth, it wasn''t a monster''s cry at all, just the wind rushing through the tunnels, creating eerie, ghost-like wails. Ethan led the group forward. They walked for nearly a thousand meters, the empty path stretching on and on. Not a single monster in sight. Then, suddenly¡ªthe cavern opened up. Before them lay a hidden underground world, lush and green, filled with strange, towering trees. A vast subterranean forest. High above, a massive hole in the cavern ceiling let in a beam of sunlight, illuminating the landscape in a golden glow. A shallow river flowed through the center of this hidden paradise, its crystal-clear waters reflecting the light. Ethan''s gaze swept across the scene. Then, his voice rang out. "Prepare for battle." The team froze. Wait¡­ there weren''t any monsters here yet. What were they supposed to fight? Then¡ª SPLASH. Upstream, a massive turtle slowly lumbered down the riverbank, its gigantic shell glistening under the sunlight. "Yo, Boss¡­ You''re not seriously planning to fight that thing, right?" Skyblade asked hesitantly. Ethan nodded. "Yeah. Why?" Skyblade grimaced. "That thing isn''t even a boss, but it''s got more HP than one. Why waste time fighting it? It''s a neutral monster, it''s not even blocking our path." Another player chimed in, "Yeah! Plus, I heard that when its HP drops to 50%, 30%, and 10%, it transforms into something massive. And if it lands on even a tank, it''s an instant kill." Ethan pulled out three bottles of Size Enhancement Elixirs and handed them to Skyblade. "Relax. I''ve got a plan. When I give the signal, drink one of these." Skyblade took the potions without questioning him. "...okay, if you say so." Ethan grinned. "Alright, everyone, clear the way for the bait¡ªuh, I mean, for Skyblade." Laughter broke out across the raid chat. The tension in the air lightened considerably. It was their first time tackling this dungeon on Expert Mode, and many players were feeling the pressure. A joke at the right moment? Priceless. "Damn you, Boss¡­" Skyblade sighed dramatically, but without hesitation, he activated Taunt and charged straight at the turtle. "Come at me, you bastard!" With a loud clang, his shield smashed against the turtle''s shell, drawing its attention. Ethan immediately broke into a cold sweat. Why did all tanks have to yell something dumb when they used Taunt? Was this some gaming ritual? Or was everyone just influenced by that one obnoxious bull-headed warrior from a certain old-school game? Pushing that thought aside, Ethan barked out orders. "All healers, focus on Skyblade." "Ranged DPS, start attacking." "Melee DPS, hold your positions, surround it, but don''t rush in yet." "Moonbeam, Meatball¡ªhold your fire until I give the signal." "SeraphWarrior¡ªget in there and manage aggro." The team sprang into action, charging into the shallow river, the water barely reaching their knees. The battle had begun. The shallow river turned murky as the team trampled through the water, their movements stirring up sediment from the riverbed. The giant turtle roared, its deep, guttural cries echoing through the cavern. But with the melee fighters locking its position, the creature couldn''t move an inch. This was basic raid strategy¡ªeveryone understood it. In Ethereal, bosses never just stood still and fought tanks head-on. They would constantly adjust their positioning, trying to circle behind the tank for an attack. That''s why melee DPS had to help box the boss in, while the two off-tanks assisted the main tank in keeping it in place. Ethan''s eyes flicked across the raid''s damage numbers. Most players were dealing around 50 damage per hit, meaning their total attack power was somewhere around 400, a high stat for this stage of the game. After all, at the dungeon entrance, players were shouting their attack stats to get picked for raid teams. Anyone with over 300 attack acted like they were hot cake, getting snapped up by strong teams. And if their stats were lower than the group''s average? They''d get instantly rejected. ''Looks like Skyblade gathered some of the guild''s strongest players for this run,'' Ethan thought. The damage numbers continued to float above the turtle''s shell, dozens of hits, ranging from tens to over a hundred. But two damage sources stood out. One was from SeraphWarrior¡ªhis Judicator of Light skill landed a staggering 400+ damage. The other? Skyblade himself. His silver-tier weapon, which Ethan had personally upgraded to +30, allowed him, a Shield Tank¡ªto hit really high with a single skill. "Holy crap! Who just hit for 400+?" A player shouted in disbelief. Most of them could only deal double-digit damage, with some breaking into the hundreds at best. Seeing 400+ appear out of nowhere was shocking. And that wasn''t all, SeraphWarrior''s basic attacks were already breaking 100 damage per hit. "Damn! That''s gotta be SeraphWarrior!" Another player confirmed. But Skyblade chuckled. "Oh? And who do you think just hit for 200+?" "Uh¡­ who?" The player actually fell for it and asked. Skyblade grinned. "Me, obviously!" The chat fell silent. Skyblade, a Shield Tank, was dealing this much damage? What were the DPS players supposed to do now? Were they even needed? One by one, the players turned to stare at Skyblade, their confidence shattered. Ethan, meanwhile, had been watching from stealth in Panther Form, studying the fight for a full minute. Skyblade had firmly secured aggro, meaning it was finally safe to attack. Ethan hadn''t joined the fight yet, nor had he allowed Lyla or Meatball to start. The reason? If they attacked too soon, they might steal aggro, throwing the fight into chaos. And if the turtle''s aggro reset, it could wipe the entire raid. Now, though, it was time. Ethan struck first, lunging forward with a Rake followed by a Shred. -578! -62! True Damage. Ignoring all armor. At level 31, his True Damage stat was already 62, nearly as much as other players'' full skill damage. He followed up with several more Shreds, draining his energy bar. As he waited for energy to recover, he swiftly shifted into Owl Form and cast Moonfire and Sunburn. It didn''t matter how much damage these spells did, the goal was to trigger his weapon''s True Damage effect. As Ethan entered the fight, the raid froze for a second. They had thought SeraphWarrior had already surpassed the Guild Leader in damage. But now? They realized¡ªEthan was still a step ahead. With just his star-gathering skills, he was already hitting for over 500 damage. That was the moment Ethan knew it was time to go all out. He raised his voice. "Moonbeam, Meatball¡ªget ready. Attack at will!" S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 114 A Second Chance The moment Ethan gave the command, Meatball who had already summoned his demonic army, snapped his fingers. A dozen summoned creatures surged forward, charging at the giant turtle in a frenzy. Leading the charge was a Demonic Guardian, dual-wielding massive cleavers. It activated Charge, closing the distance in an instant and landing directly behind the turtle. "Damn it, Meatball! Don''t let it spin like a damn fan blade!" Skyblade howled in alarm. He still had trauma from their previous fight in Larson Basin, where Meatball''s summon had unleashed an uncontrolled AOE attack, nearly turning Skyblade into ground beef. If he hadn''t reacted fast and hit the deck, he would''ve suffered the same brutal fate as those Blade Syndicate players. "Don''t worry, my Mastery is maxed out now. I have full control," Meatball reassured him. Meatball''s other summons didn''t deal high damage, but the sheer number of them made up for it. Ethan glanced at Meatball''s setup. A full summoner build. He knew someday, he''d truly command an unstoppable demon army. The giant turtle had a staggering 1.2 million HP, but with Meatball now fully engaged, its health noticeably started dropping faster. Meanwhile, Lyla had drawn back her bow, charging up a Double Shot combined with an Aimed Strike. She hadn''t released the arrows yet, but Ethan had been keeping an eye on her. He was eager to see just how much damage she could dish out. Back when she first obtained the Frostbound Reverie, she had been level 15. Now, at level 28, the weapon should have grown accordingly. Plus, her attack-boosting accessories had all been enhanced to +30. Ethan estimated that her attack power was now at least 3,000. Then¡ª Whoosh! Whoosh! -2178! -3267! (Critical Hit!) "¡­What?" "No way!" "Damn, Boss lady, you might as well solo this thing!" The entire raid team erupted in shock. The numbers were devastating. And before they could even process it¡ª Rapidfire Barrage! -871, -871, -895, -1306¡­ Nine consecutive hits, damage piling up in waves. Even Ethan felt a pang of jealousy surge through him. So this was the power of a legendary weapon? Running a quick mental calculation, he realized Lyla''s total attack power had exceeded 3,400. In open-world PVP, she could one-shot most enemies with a single arrow. Even Feather, the so-called God of Arrows? He''d better step aside. Wealth? Skill? Maxed-out gear? None of it mattered if he didn''t have a legendary weapon like this. Ethan felt a mix of pride and envy. With Lyla and Meatball joining the fray, the giant turtle''s health bar plummeted at a steady rate. Ten minutes later, it was approaching the critical 50% threshold. That''s when Skyblade suddenly yelled out. "First Lady! Stop! STOP!" Ethan noticed it too¡ªsomething was wrong. The turtle was becoming restless, shifting aggressively within the melee circle. It was on the verge of losing aggro, about to OT (OverThreat). Skyblade had reacted too late. As a tank, he should have noticed sooner. Managing boss aggro wasn''t just about holding threat, it was about reading the enemy''s movements and knowing when to tell damage dealers to hold back. But Skyblade was still a rookie. By the time he realized the threat shift, it was already too late. At that exact moment, Lyla fired. Her Double Shot and Rapidfire Barrage had already been fully charged. Eighteen arrows streaked through the air in a perfect straight line. Thud! Thud! Thud! A massive 15,000 damage burst exploded onto the turtle''s shell. And then, the boss lost control. The giant turtle''s health had just dropped to 50%. Then¡ª Woooooo¡­ Its entire body suddenly expanded, nearly doubling in size. The melee players, Skyblade included, were violently knocked back, sent flying across the battlefield. "Shit." Ethan''s heart sank for a split second. Then, gritting his teeth, he shouted: "Everyone, scatter! Stay out from under it! Lyla, move away from the group!" The turtle''s stubby legs had now transformed into massive stone pillars, holding up its colossal frame as it charged straight for Lyla. For a brief moment, panic flashed across her face, but she quickly regained control, sprinting out of the crowd the moment she heard Ethan''s command. As expected, the turtle locked onto her, chasing her relentlessly. Skyblade didn''t even bother taunting this time, he knew it was pointless. Once aggro was lost, the only way to reset threat was for the targeted player to die. Taunts would be ignored. The turtle was immune to all aggro-control skills. And with its size increase, the next thing it was going to do was drop its instant-kill attack. If Skyblade somehow took back aggro now, the skill would hit him instead, and that would mean a full raid wipe. Lyla was fast, but the turtle was faster. In just two seconds, it had caught up, its massive shadow looming over her. Then¡ª It tucked in all four legs, its tail, and even its head, vanishing entirely into its shell. The next moment, the entire shell came crashing down. BOOM! The impact shook the entire cave. The very ground trembled. When the dust settled, the turtle''s shell slowly shrank back to normal size as its five limbs extended once more. Ethan''s voice rang out instantly. "Skyblade, take aggro! Keep attacking!" Skyblade didn''t even need the order, his Taunt was already flying through the air. "Come at me, you bastard!" But he knew, Lyla was dead. In dungeon fights, corpses couldn''t be revived manually. You couldn''t corpse-run back either. Priests could resurrect, but only after combat ended. Their revival spells weren''t meant to bring back players mid-battle, they were meant to reduce time lost running back from graveyards. Without Lyla, the raid''s total damage output would drop significantly. Ethan opened the damage statistics window provided by Ethereal. Lyla alone had dealt 450,000 damage. The rest of the 29 players combined? 150,000. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She had tripled the entire team''s output. That''s when a voice pinged in raid chat. "Big Bro, do you need me to revive Lyla?" It was Heaven''s Dawn. Ethan blinked. "Wait¡­ You have a battle resurrection skill?" Battle res was one of the rarest healing abilities in the game. In his previous life, most Druids were only invited to high-level raid teams because of this exact spell. "Yup! Just learned it!" Ethan almost laughed in disbelief. This little girl was seriously blessed by the game itself. Most Druids barely unlocked battle res at level 100. She got it at level 20?! "Do it. Bring her back." The moment Ethan gave the order, Heaven''s Dawn began chanting. Vines and glowing flowers emerged from the ground, wrapping around Lyla''s corpse. Twenty seconds later¡ª The plants withered and faded, revealing Lyla, back on her feet with 20% HP. But the moment she came back, a new problem emerged. The turtle''s attack pattern had changed. For the first half of the fight, it only targeted the tank. Now? It started randomly casting Thunder Stomp, an AOE shockwave that hit all melee players nearby. The healers were struggling to keep up. Ethan''s voice rang out again. "Dawn, focus on healing! All other healers, stop attacking and keep melee players alive!" The real fight had just begun. Chapter 115 Pricey Gamble In the earlier battle, only Skyblade was taking damage. His gear had been reinforced by 30%, reducing the damage he took to less than 200 HP per hit. Any random healer could patch him up with a single cast. So Ethan had all the healers focus on dealing damage instead, leaving only SeraphWarrior to keep Skyblade alive, since his healing didn''t even consume mana. Once the boss dropped below half health, the incoming area-wide damage would require heavy healing. Until then, conserving resources was the priority. This time, Lyla didn''t dare to go all out, and Skyblade was now fully focused on studying the boss''s attack patterns. Earlier, Ethan had given him a basic guide on tanking basics via private message, and he was putting that knowledge to the test. On top of that, he felt guilty. Lyla had died because he lost control of the boss, and that didn''t sit well with him. He thought he was tough enough to tank anything, but clearly, his positioning was off. To distract himself, he started chatting with Lyla in private. She reassured him, "It''s fine! My damage was too high anyway. And since I got revived mid-fight, I didn''t even lose any experience. No big deal. But my gear durability dropped by 10%, so you''re covering my repair bill, yeah?" Skyblade chuckled, "Come on Boss lady, don''t flex on me like that. If your damage is insane, keep it to yourself, alright? You''re crushing my ego here. And forget 10%, even if your gear was completely broken, I got you." Ethan overheard this and smirked. "You''re gonna regret that." Sure enough, when Lyla told him the repair cost, Skyblade froze. Her weapon was Legendary-tier, and fixing just 10% of its durability cost 52 silver. Factoring in the rest of her gear, the total came to 54 silver. Skyblade''s daily wage? 10 silver. Which meant he was now 44 silver in the hole. Higher-tier equipment had absurd repair costs. Ethan knew this, which was why he had warned him earlier. And Lyla''s weapon was only at level 28, its upkeep would get even worse as it leveled up. It was all part of Ethereal''s built-in gold sink, designed to drain currency from the economy. That''s why dying stung so much, it wasn''t just the lost experience, levels, and gear durability. Soon, the giant turtle''s health dropped to 30%, and it grew even larger. "Melee, back off! Skyblade, pop a potion! Healers, keep him topped off!" Ethan commanded. As the turtle shell loomed overhead, Skyblade threw the potion into his mouth and bit down. Crunch. The bottle shattered like candy, releasing a fruity aroma. The potion melted in his mouth, and he swallowed it down. Instantly, his body swelled in size. At the same time, the enormous turtle shell came crashing down. His giant shield, now also enlarged, rose to meet it Boom! The shell and shield collided with a thunderous impact. -1,892! Skyblade''s health dropped dangerously low¡ª But six healers were on him, and his HP shot back up in an instant. "Damn, that''s it? One potion handled it?" Skyblade muttered. Ethan rolled his eyes. "That one potion cost 12 gold. You''re paying me back." "...Boss, just leave me to die next time. It''ll be cheaper for both of us." The rest of the fight was much easier. When the giant turtle''s health dropped to 10%, it swelled in size again. Another potion. Another gulp. Another clean finish. Ethan glanced at Skyblade. "That''s 24 gold now." Skyblade nearly keeled over. Twenty-four gold. That was over $40,000 in real-world money. Where the hell was he supposed to get that kind of cash? The other players overheard and were just as shocked. Spending that much on a single mob? What was their guild leader thinking? Why not just go around it, clear the other mobs, and take down the main boss? Did this turtle drop some kind of god-tier loot? A few minutes later, the giant turtle crashed to the ground. Its massive body vanished, leaving a single item behind. Its shell. Ethan picked it up. Skyblade blinked. "Wait¡­ after all that effort, all we got was a turtle shell?" He had been convinced this thing would drop something insane. Ethan wouldn''t have spent a fortune killing it otherwise, right? "Boss, what''s the item''s stats?" someone asked. Ethan wasn''t bothered by the skepticism. He simply shared the item''s details with the team. [Hardened Shell] Use: Throw a reinforced shell to knock a target off their mount. Uses: (1) S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Only usable inside Howling Caverns. SeraphWarrior frowned. "...And what exactly does this do for us?" Everyone else was just as puzzled. Spending 24 gold, nearly 50 grand in real-world currency, for this? And if they hadn''t pulled aggro on it early, they would''ve needed another potion. That would''ve brought the cost up to 36 gold. "What a waste," Skyblade muttered under his breath. Ethan smirked. "You''ll see." With that, he rallied the group and led them across the river, toward the dense forest on the other side. The thirty-man team moved cautiously, warriors and paladins taking point while mages and ranged fighters stayed in the back. Under Ethan''s orders, everyone kept their spacing tight¡ªno more than a meter apart. After about 100 meters, Ethan called for a stop. "Rogues, scout ahead. Clear any branches or vines that could get in our way. We need to move through as a unit," Ethan instructed. The rogues exchanged puzzled looks but did as told, slipping into stealth and moving forward. They were used to scouting missions. This was standard procedure. But what they didn''t understand was why Ethan was so adamant about it. In lower difficulty runs, this path had been empty. Sure, the guild leader was strong, but was he just micromanaging to flex his leadership? Many players silently wondered if Ethan was just showing off. They failed to remember that the first-ever raid guide for the Starter Zone dungeon had come from Ethan himself. Watching from behind, Ethan observed the four rogues moving ahead, their movements precise yet lacking a certain sharpness. He sighed internally. They were decent. Mid-tier, at best. In his past life, he had played a rogue himself. And while he wasn''t really some god-tier pro, he had at least been high-level. The deeper they ventured, the denser the foliage became. This underground world was already dimly lit, but in this part of the forest, visibility dropped even further. A cold wind rustled through the undergrowth. And with it came an eerie sensation, like something unseen was watching them. Chapter 116 Trust the Process Ethan stretched lazily, stealing a glance toward the depths of the forest. Perched on a tree branch, blending perfectly with the bark, was a humanoid creature lurking in stealth. If Ethan hadn''t been level 31¡ªa full six levels above the dungeon''s mobs, he wouldn''t have even noticed it. A Demonhunter. But Ethan ignored it, pretending he hadn''t seen anything. Up ahead, the four rogues continued clearing the path. The terrain was narrow, almost claustrophobic. If they wanted to spread out, it wouldn''t be possible. The only way forward was single file. But marching in a straight line like that? A disaster waiting to happen. That was why the rogues were hacking away at the thick underbrush, cutting down overgrown branches and clearing tangled vines underfoot. And yet, they weren''t happy about it. Because when they had cleared this dungeon on Easy Mode, there had been no danger here. They had walked straight through without a problem. So why was the guild leader being so paranoid? Still, orders were orders. At this pace, did he really expect to push the world-first clear? "Damn it," one of the rogues muttered, kicking aside a thick vine blocking his path. Bad move. The vine snapped to life, coiling around his ankle and yanking him upside down into the air. "AHH¡ªHELP!" he screamed. His in-game name was PainBehindPromises. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan shook his head. The moment that vine had moved, he could have dodged in at least three different ways. "It''s a Vine Fiend. Lost, Eternal¡ªget in there!" Two tanks immediately stepped forward, one a Shield Tank, the other a Guardian Knight. "Melee, hold formation! Mages, focus fire on the vines! Doesn''t matter how much damage you deal, just keep them from grabbing anyone else!" Ethan commanded. Everyone followed his orders. As fire spells rained down, the Vine Fiend''s tendrils recoiled from the flames. PainBehindPromises was cut down, landing with a thud. Truth be told, Ethan had seen the monster long ago. He had sent the rogues forward on purpose, he wanted to see how they handled the situation. But he was disappointed. PainBehindPromises had walked straight into the trap, and the other three rogues? Instead of reacting, they turned and ran. "What do I do?" Skyblade asked. "Stay put." Ethan didn''t even look at him. The Vine Fiend was now fully surrounded. Melee fighters locked it in place while mages bombarded it with fire magic, keeping its vines at bay. Archers, gunners, and spellcasters unloaded their attacks, filling the air with a storm of arrows, bullets, and spells. Within two minutes, the Vine Fiend let out a final shriek before crumbling into dust. It had been just a basic mob. No way it could survive that kind of onslaught. "Any drops?" "Five copper." A monster like that? Not worth expecting good loot. "Watch out!" Ethan''s voice rang out just at that moment. But it was too late. The melee fighters, assuming the fight was over, had relaxed and wandered out of position. Two of them stepped directly into a hidden pit. Whip! Another vine lashed out from below, slamming into their bodies. Both players were sent flying. One landed face-first, eating a mouthful of dirt. That single hit took out half their health. Skyblade reacted instantly, charging forward to catch one of them. The other two tanks intercepted the second Vine Fiend. But now there was a problem. They only had four fire mages. And two Vine Fiends? Not enough firepower to keep both locked down. As the melee fighters kept getting swatted aside, the only thing keeping them alive was the healers frantically spamming their spells. At last, the team understood why Ethan had insisted on scouting ahead. On the surface, this path looked identical to the Normal Mode version of the dungeon. But in reality, it was riddled with hidden Vine Fiends and Tree Golems, lying in wait like ordinary plants, ready to snare anyone who walked into their traps. If the entire team had lined up single file and walked through carelessly? A chain reaction of triggered traps would have wiped them out. These monsters feared fire, but with only four mages in the party, they were already struggling against two Vine Fiends. If three or five had attacked at once? Total disaster. After dealing with the current threat, Ethan personally took the lead. The truth was, they didn''t have to fight these monsters at all. As long as they disarmed the traps before triggering them, they could pass safely. But those four rogues? They had wandered aimlessly, completely failing to spot any traps. One of them had even kicked an obvious trigger like a complete idiot. Ethan sighed. He wasn''t a rogue, so he lacked Trap Detection. All he had was his past life''s experience to recall where each trap was. One by one, he pointed them out, guiding the rogues to scan and disable each one. This time, they took it seriously. With Ethan''s instructions, the four rogues meticulously searched and cleared the traps. The party advanced without triggering a single ambush. Even those who had doubted Ethan at first were now silent. By the time they reached the first boss, they had suffered zero casualties. The only death so far had been Lyla''s, back during the turtle fight, because her damage output was too high. This dungeon was one of Ethereal''s early-game instances. It wasn''t particularly difficult¡ªsuccess mostly depended on the tank''s durability and the DPS output. As for healers? If the tank could hold, healing pressure was minimal. The first boss went down effortlessly. With Lyla''s insane damage per second (DPS), they never had to worry about whether they could kill things fast enough. Instead, the only concern was whether she needed to hold back. Thankfully, Skyblade''s gear was no joke. At the very least, his weapon had a +30 reinforcement. That meant he could stably hold aggro. Under Ethan''s command, they cleared every single mob in the dungeon¡ªblocking their path or not, it didn''t matter. Along the way, they triggered two hidden minibosses and completed a Guardian Mission. The task? Defend an NPC digging a tunnel through 18 waves of enemies. When the tunnel was finally complete, the NPC escaped, marking the mission''s completion. By the time they reached the final boss''s entrance, it was already 7 AM. At this point, no one doubted Ethan''s leadership anymore. "Boss, I just got a message from a friend." A player spoke up in the team chat. He hesitated before continuing, "He said Blade Syndicate hired a pro team to run this dungeon, but they wiped 13 times. Every time, they failed at 5% HP." Everyone fell silent. "At 5% HP, the boss flies into the air." "Once it''s airborne, all damage becomes useless. And then¡­ it unleashes a dungeon-wide poison storm. Nothing works¡ªnot antidotes, not resistance potions. The boss never comes back down until everyone is dead." "So far, no one has figured out how to survive the poison phase." Murmurs broke out in the group. But Ethan just smiled. "If we can get to that point, we''ve basically won." His voice was calm. "Just because they failed, doesn''t mean we will." Then, his expression turned serious. "But listen up, today''s strategy does not leave this team. At least for the next few days, no leaks." Chapter 117 The Hidden Key Everyone swore they wouldn''t leak any information. Ethan didn''t press the issue. He knew it was only a matter of time before someone talked. But even if others killed the final boss with their own strategy, they''d only earn a four-star clear. What came next, wouldn''t require the whole team. Just him and Lyla. "You guys take this path," Ethan instructed, gesturing toward the left route. "Clear everything on the way to the boss and wait for us there." Skyblade nodded and led the team forward. Ethan, meanwhile, turned to Lyla and motioned for her to follow him down the right path. Everyone knew this side was empty. No enemies, no loot, just a dead-end cliff. Nobody understood why Ethan was heading that way. When they reached the edge of the path, Ethan pulled out the Grappling Launcher he had purchased from the Engineering Store and handed it to Lyla. "Watch where I aim. Follow me up," he instructed. [Grappling Launcher] Use: Fires a rope that can be climbed. Uses Left: 10/10 S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan aimed at a ledge high above and fired. Thwip! The rope shot upward, its arrowhead sinking into the rock. Ethan climbed first, with Lyla right behind him. When she reached the top, she realized they were standing on a hidden platform. From below, the angle of the terrain had completely concealed it from view. A cave entrance was nestled against the mountainside. Ethan glanced at her. "Just focus on dealing damage. Don''t kill the target." Lyla nodded. Without another word, Ethan shifted into bear form and stepped inside. The cave wasn''t deep. After just a few steps, they spotted a dying campfire. It was empty. Lyla frowned. But before she could ask anything, Ethan suddenly charged at the far corner. She squinted and saw something lurking in the shadows. A faint, shifting blur. Thanks to her level 28 detection, she spotted it¡ª The Demonhunter. This was the same monster Ethan had seen after killing the giant turtle. With every other mob in the dungeon cleared, this was the last remaining enemy. And to achieve a five-star rating, they needed to capture it alive. Ethan''s charge stunned the Demonhunter, knocking it out of stealth. Before it could react, Ethan slammed his paw into its face, dazing it further. Lyla''s arrow followed immediately after. Ethan had warned her not to go all out. First, they needed to gauge how much damage she dealt. If she accidentally one-shot the target, they''d be screwed. The Demonhunter was a level 25 Elite. It had a massive 250,000 HP. Seeing the hefty health bar, Lyla stopped holding back. Meanwhile, Ethan held aggro, absorbing every hit. For his Bear Form, the damage was pathetic¡ªonly a few dozen points per attack. Each time his health dropped too low, Ethan would shift into Tree Form, cast a healing-over-time spell on himself, and then revert back to Bear Form to continue tanking. The Demonhunter stood no chance. When its health dropped to 1%, it suddenly leapt backward. "Stop attacking!" Ethan shouted. The monster raised its hands in surrender. "Warriors, please¡ªspare me! I''ll give you all my treasure! I can even tell you a secret of immense value!" Ethan shifted back into human form and smirked. "Hand it over. Now. Otherwise, I won''t hesitate to finish you off." The Demonhunter hesitated, watching them carefully before slowly walking over to a treasure chest. With cautious hands, it unlatched the lid. Ethan stepped forward, and reached inside. Inside were three gemstones and a necklace. "The treasure is yours, warrior! Now swear you won''t kill me, and I''ll reveal the sec¡ª" Before the Demonhunter could finish, eighteen arrows tore through the air. Lyla had instantly executed him. Ethan had already sent her a private message¡ªkill it before it speaks. It was part of the dungeon rating system. If the Demonhunter had revealed its secret, they would lose the chance for a five-star clear. But they couldn''t skip this encounter either. If the chest wasn''t opened, they wouldn''t qualify for five stars. And if the Demonhunter finished talking, its name would turn green, making it untargetable. That would mean one less kill, and again, they''d fail the five-star rating. Ethan motioned for Lyla to move. They rappelled down the cliff and sprinted back toward the main path. By now, Skyblade''s team should have already reached the final boss. When they arrived, Ethan''s guess was spot on. He checked the time, it was just past 7 AM. Ethereal''s servers shut down at 8 AM. They had just over 30 minutes left. Ethan quickly laid out a battle plan. And then, they pulled the boss. --- Final Boss: Falconer Triss Eugene HP: 3,700,000 The first phase wasn''t difficult. But as its health dropped, the pressure mounted, time was running out. At the 10-minute mark, the boss reached its flight phase. "You pathetic humans! Die!" Triss Eugene roared. With a mighty leap, she soared into the air. At the same time, a massive shadow fell over the battlefield. A colossal warhawk dived from above, and Triss landed perfectly on its back. The ranged players immediately opened fire. But the hawk was simply too massive¡ª Every attack landed on the bird instead of the boss. Immune! Immune! Immune! A stream of immune messages floated above the hawk. Even Lyla''s Aimed Shot was useless. "Damn it! We''re screwed!" "What do we do? We made it this far!" "Shit¡­ Even the pro team Blade Syndicate hired couldn''t clear this part." Just as despair set in¡ªa massive turtle shell flew into the sky. It came from Ethan. He had shifted back into human form, Hardened Shell in his hands. The spinning shell hurtled toward the warhawk, growing larger and larger. Boom! A thunderous impact rocked the battlefield. The hawk let out a piercing screech, flailing midair. Then, It plummeted. The entire raid team froze. "What the hell¡­?" Ethan''s voice snapped them out of it. "Stop gawking¡ªfinish the fight!" Triss Eugene and her warhawk slammed into the ground. A massive damage number floated above the hawk''s head¡ª -5,648,952! Instant kill. The hawk died on impact. Triss Eugene, meanwhile, was left with only 1% HP. The team swarmed her. Less than two minutes later, she collapsed. Victory. Silence fell over the group. Everyone stared at Ethan like he had just pulled off some kind of black magic. He only smiled. No one had expected it. The key to defeating the final boss¡­was a random drop from the giant turtle. Without the Hardened Shell, the dungeon couldn''t be cleared. And Ethan had known it all along. Chapter 118 World First Timing was everything. If they threw too early, the Warhawk wouldn''t die from the fall, and then they''d have two bosses to deal with. On top of that, attacking the Warhawk wouldn''t even reduce its health. A wipe was inevitable. And since the Hardened Shell could only be used once per run, failing meant they''d have to wait until the dungeon reset the next day, defeat the giant Turtle again, and claim another Hardened Shell. If they threw too late, the Warhawk would fly too high, out of the Hardened Shell''s range¡ªanother guaranteed wipe. The group exchanged glances before turning back to Ethan, admiration clear in their eyes. How did their leader know all this? Had he cleared this dungeon before? He had every little detail memorized. Under his command, they had made it through from start to finish without a single wipe. ¡ª Ding! [Global Announcement: Congratulations to NotADruid and the Renegade Alliance guild for successfully clearing Howling Caverns (Expert Mode) with a five-star rating, achieving the World''s First Clear. Guild Points Rewarded: 30,000 Raid Leader Gold Reward: 2,000 Gold Raid Member Gold Reward: 20 Gold each Teamwide Bonus: +3 Levels Thanks to their efforts, Howling Caverns (Hell Mode) has been unlocked. Challengers, prepare yourselves!] ¡ª Ding! National Announcement... Ding! Regional Announcement... "We did it! World''s First!" "This is insane! I can brag about this for the rest of my life!" "Guild leader is a beast! Three first clears back to back, that''s 30 gold in rewards! I''m donating 1 gold to the guild!" "Pfft, just 1? I''m putting in 5!" "Five? That''s weak. I''ll donate 10!" Laughter and cheers filled the chat. Ethan smiled, watching his teammates celebrate as he bent down to loot the boss. Three Bronze items. Three Silver. One Gold. Seven pieces total. He immediately shared the loot with the raid. Any gear that dropped in a raid was first offered to the team. Members who wanted an item could bid for it using Guild Contribution Points, ensuring fair distribution. Auctioned points were split evenly among other members, a far better system than the Guild Vault, where the game simply deducted points without redistributing them. The Bronze and Silver gear was quickly claimed. Then, Ethan glanced at the Gold-tier item and hesitated. He wanted it. Badly. But just taking it for himself wouldn''t sit right. The usual solution was to bid for it, but in terms of contribution points, nobody in the guild could outmatch him. His points were technically infinite. Well, no point overthinking it. He posted it in the raid chat. ¡ª [Blazing Ring] Tier: Gold (Upgradeable) Level Requirement: 20 Attack Power: 54-77 Agility: +20 Strength: +20 Intelligence: +20 Effect: Increases physical and magical attack power by 10%. Set Bonus (1/3) [Inactive]: When equipped with Blazing Bracelet and Blazing Necklace, unlocks the skill Blazing Defense. Skill Description (Blazing Defense): Grants immunity to death once, reduces damage by 20% for 8 seconds, and fully restores health. (Cooldown: 3 days) ¡ª "This is insane! And it''s a set piece too?" "How many contribution points will this even cost?" "I want it so bad, but my points are kinda low..." "Without the full set bonus, it''s just decent, really." The chat exploded with discussion. Everyone wanted it, but no one wanted to be the first to bid. Ethan looked at the team and said, "I already have the Blazing Bracelet, so I''d like to keep this ring for myself. Any objections?" "I can trade for it with twice the market price in Guild Contribution Points, split evenly among you all. If you''d rather have gold, that works too." As he spoke, he posted the Blazing Bracelet in the chat. Seeing that he actually had part of the set, the team quickly voiced their opinions. Even if they spent all their contribution points, they still wouldn''t be able to afford the ring. Besides, if it went unclaimed, it would end up in the Guild Vault anyway, where anyone with enough points could claim it. And Ethan had already offered compensation, what was there to argue about? "No problem, boss. Without you, we wouldn''t have cleared this dungeon in the first place. Just take it." "Yeah, take it!" "Honestly, in my last guild, the leader and raid officers always took first pick. We only got leftovers." "Same. And they never compensated us for anything." Ethan smiled, thanking them before distributing the contribution points. "Alright, that''s it for today. See you all tomorrow!" sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By the time he logged out, there were less than two minutes before Ethereal''s daily shutdown. While Renegade Alliance was celebrating, things were much different on the other side. ¡ª Four players stood before Marcus Skeiner. These four were representatives from Leaf Guild, one of the top pro teams in the region. Marcus''s expression was pure fury. "You useless pieces of trash! Professional team? My ass! What did you promise me before? You swore you''d get the World First clear, and if not, at least Regional First!" "And now look at you! That pack of nobodies from Renegade Alliance took all three! World, National, and Regional!" "You lost to a bunch of casuals! CASUALS!" Marcus pointed at them, his voice growing sharper with every word. "Refund me. Right now. Every single cent. And I want compensation on top of that. If you don''t pay up, forget about doing business in Harmony City ever again." The man leading the Leaf Guild representatives could only offer a bitter smile. The three behind him were furious, but since their leader remained silent, they had no choice but to swallow their anger. His name was Leafshade, and he had led his team through years of blood and sweat. Every single member was elite-tier, handpicked for their skill and dedication. When Ethereal launched, Leafshade had thrown his entire fortune into building the strongest team possible. By all logic, they should have easily secured this dungeon''s first clear. After all, in the Northern Frontier Region, his team was undeniably top-tier. At the very least, they should have secured Regional First. Who could have predicted that some rookie guild leader would set a new record, snatching all three first clears? During the Starter Zone phase, Ethan hadn''t secured the first dungeon clear himself, although the strategy guide that made it possible had come from him. Leafshade had assumed that Ethan was strong, but his guild? No way they were elite-level. And yet, somehow, with a ragtag mix of casual players, he had managed to steal the kill right from under their noses. Clearly, Ethan wasn''t just individually strong, he could lead a team to victory, too. And that was what made him truly terrifying. Leafshade clenched his fists. The final boss of this dungeon entered an invulnerable phase when its health hit 5%. He was certain his team had been ahead, so how had Ethan pulled it off? Chapter 119 No Negotiation How had Ethan pulled it off? Not only had he cleared the dungeon first, but he''d done it with a five-star rating. How did he even get that rating? Leafshade barely heard Marcus Skeiner''s ranting in the background. He wasn''t listening. His mind was entirely focused on the dungeon. As soon as the system announcement appeared, he had his people start gathering intel. Maybe they could get some information from the Renegade Alliance players. As for Marcus, Leafshade had only come here to say one thing¡ªtheir contract was over. The agreement had been clear: even if they failed to secure the first clear, Leafshade''s team owed no refunds. No penalties. Marcus, the arrogant fool, had been the one begging Leafshade to help Blade Syndicate, not the other way around. Because of that, Leafshade had held all the bargaining power. If Marcus didn''t agree to his terms, there simply wouldn''t be a deal. So now, while Marcus fumed and cursed, Leafshade didn''t care in the slightest. His team specialized in PvE, dungeon-raiding, and high-level content. But that didn''t mean they were pushovers. Blade Syndicate? They were a joke. Marcus spat threats at him, but Leafshade only gave a casual reply: "If five Renegade Alliance players could wipe your entire guild, what do you think my real team could do?" Leafshade''s operation wasn''t some random in-game guild, it was a professional gaming studio with over a thousand employees. Not guild recruits. Not casuals. Paid professionals. And every single one of them was leagues above Blade Syndicate''s so-called "elite" players. "I just came to inform you," Leafshade said flatly. "Do whatever you want." With that, he turned and walked out of Blade Syndicate''s headquarters. The three teammates behind him each flipped Marcus off before following. "Fuck you, you bastards!" Marcus shouted after them. His fury was justified. He had spent 12 million dollars in advance payments just to get Leaf Guild under his banner. He had even promised that once they secured World First, he''d only take Guild Contribution Points and the raid guide, Leafshade''s team could keep all the other rewards. That was the deal that convinced them to join Blade Syndicate. And once they were in, Marcus had covered all raid expenses, potions, elixirs, everything. The total cost? He''d lost track. And now, he had nothing to show for it. No World First. No dungeon clear. His net worth had been cut in half overnight. Marcus had planned to use this as an opportunity to crush Renegade Alliance, secure new allies, and launch an all-out guild war. Now? Every single one of those dreams had gone up in smoke. Marcus clenched his fists. His hatred for Ethan and Leafshade had just reached a whole new level. ¡ª [Private Message to Trusty007] Ethan: "Here''s the raid guide. Sell it for however much you want. Just send my cut to my inbox." He didn''t expect to make much off it. Still, money was money. And with a huge guild to support, he needed every source of income he could get. Right now, his auction house and shops weren''t generating enough gold. He still had two entire cities where he hadn''t even built stores yet. Everything was going according to plan, but progress was slow. Without waiting for a response, Ethan logged off, climbed out of his VR capsule, and stepped into the real world. ¡ª A new morning. Ethan started his daily training routine. He had just begun his weighted squats when his phone rang. The caller ID flashed: Quinn. Ethan frowned. ''The gym? Something must have happened.'' As soon as he picked up, Quinn''s panicked voice came through. "Sir! You need to get down here¡ªnow! Ryan and Victor are fighting with some guys!" Ethan''s expression darkened. "What happened?" Quinn quickly explained: One of their VIP clients, a man named Leon, had been renting out the entire gym daily for the past week. Since he was paying well, Quinn had allowed it, though it meant their regulars couldn''t use the facility. Leon had promised he''d only book the place for seven days, so Quinn had notified all the regulars, offering them a 10-day extension on their membership and extra perks as compensation. That kept everyone happy, until today. Day eight. Quinn opened the gym as usual, expecting everything to return to normal. The regulars, who hadn''t been able to train all week, started coming back. Then Leon showed up again. With a group of men. And he demanded Quinn clear out the gym, again. This time, she refused. So Leon''s people blocked the entrance, stopping anyone else from getting in. The customers inside were furious, demanding refunds, threatening legal action, and causing a scene. That''s when Quinn realized, this had been Leon''s plan all along. He had bribed some of the regulars, turning them against the gym. "Did you call the cops?" Ethan asked. If these guys were physically blocking the business, the police should handle it. "I did! It''s been an hour, and no one''s come! Leon''s got connections around here, I think he paid them off." Quinn''s voice was shaking now. "Stay put. I''m on my way." Ethan hung up, grabbed his keys, and bolted out the door. He didn''t even bother changing, just basketball shorts and a tank top. As he ran across the street, he shouted for Victor, who was staying in the villa next door. The two of them jumped in the car and sped off toward the gym. ¡ª When they arrived, a crowd had already gathered outside. Dozens of onlookers were filming with their phones, whispering amongst themselves. Ethan shoved through the crowd and stepped inside. There were twenty-six men lying unconscious on the gym floor. No need to ask. Leon''s people. Ethan opened his mouth to speak, But then, the sound of police sirens echoed outside. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The crowd parted as seven officers stormed in, hands hovering over their holsters like they were about to draw their weapons. The lead officer exchanged glances with one of his men, who immediately moved to the entrance and closed the security shutter behind them. Ethan''s eyes narrowed. The leader walked straight to Leon''s unconscious body, crouched down, and shook him twice. No response. But he was still breathing. Then, the officer stood up, coldly sweeping his gaze across the room. "You people have some nerve. Attacking a group of unarmed men in broad daylight?" "Cuff them," he ordered. Without hesitation, the officers drew their pistols with one hand and handcuffs with the other, stepping forward to arrest Ethan and his team. "Rainbow, hurry up and take them in! Ugh¡­ damn, this hurts¡­" A groaning voice came from the floor. One of the beaten men had managed to push himself upright, calling out to the lead officer. Ethan turned to look at him, and the moment he saw his face, his entire body stiffened. His mind went blank. Then, in an instant, rage exploded in his chest. His eyes turned bloodshot, his breathing sharp and ragged. One of the officers reached him, raising the handcuffs¡ª Ethan moved. His hand shot out, gripping the officer''s throat in a vice-like hold. Chapter 120 No More Games "Holy sh¡ª" The entire atmosphere froze. No one had expected Ethan to fight back. Leo and Williams saw him move, and immediately joined in. Victor was a second slower, but he didn''t hesitate either. In a flash, the three of them struck like lightning. With just a few motions, the officers'' pistols shattered into pieces, clattering to the floor like useless scraps. Less than a minute later, six groaning men lay sprawled out. Ethan turned toward the man who had spoken earlier. "You¡­ what are you doing?!" The man scrambled backward in terror. Ethan grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off the ground. Leo and Williams finished off the last two officers, just in time to see what Ethan was doing. It only took two seconds, the man''s eyes bulged, bloodshot and ready to pop from their sockets. Victor, realizing what was happening, rushed forward and grabbed Ethan''s arm. Leo and Williams followed suit, prying Ethan''s fingers apart. "Bro, let go! You''re gonna kill him!" Ethan snapped back to reality. His breath steadied, and he slowly released his grip. The man collapsed to the floor, unconscious. As he lay there, a wave of memories crashed into Ethan''s mind. ¡ª His past life, right before his rebirth. A rundown apartment, his legs shattered, pain burning through his body. And the one holding him by the hair? This man. The same pathetic scumbag now lying at his feet. For a split second, Ethan considered stomping his skull in, but his rational mind held him back. Instead, he took a deep breath, forcing his rage into a cold, controlled burn. ¡ª Leo kicked a pile of disassembled gun parts together, scowling. "These dumbasses. Walking in here, guns drawn, like they own the place." He shook his head. "Back in the day, people like that wouldn''t last a second." Victor sighed in frustration. "Ethan, man, you need to control yourself." Ethan''s voice was cold. "Forget it. I''ll take the blame for this." Williams, who had been quite, suddenly spoke up. "You serious right now? You think we''d let you do that?" "He''s right," Leo added. "What''s the worst they can do? Seven years inside? Big deal." Victor exhaled. "Fine. We handle this together. I''ll reach out to some old contacts, and try to smooth things over." He had nearly snapped when the cops pointed a gun at him, so for Ethan, who was still young, to actually fight back? That took balls. What Victor didn''t know, was that Ethan wasn''t just fighting cops. He was fighting a ghost from his past. Ethan forced a smile, but didn''t say a word. He had other things to think about. Something wasn''t adding up. He had never made enemies here, so why was this Leon guy targeting him? ¡ª "Open the gate," Ethan ordered. "We''re not staying locked in here." The security shutter slowly rolled up. As Ethan looked outside, he spotted a familiar figure lurking among the crowd. The moment their eyes met, the man flinched, turning to run. "Get him." Ethan pointed. Leo shot forward like a bullet, grabbing the guy by his bright red hair and dragging him back. "Help! They''re trying to kill me!" the guy screamed, but the bystanders stayed put. Nobody was dumb enough to step in, especially after seeing thirty men lying broken on the floor. Some continued filming, though. Ethan turned to Quinn. "Close the gate." No response. Or rather, she seemed too shocked to respond. "Quinn." Ethan''s voice hardened. She jolted upright behind the counter, trembling as she rushed to obey. Standing at the door, Leo held the red haired guy by the scalp, watching as Quinn stepped outside and pressed the button. The security gate slammed shut. Ethan''s disappointment was obvious. Not because Quinn had been scared. But because she had let the business get played like this in the first place. It''s been seven days since it started. If not for this mess, Ethan wouldn''t have even realized what had been happening under his nose. Letting a single VIP rent out the entire gym was never a good idea. Even without today''s incident, it would have driven away regular customers. Ethan took a step forward, stopping in front of the red haired guy who Leo held firmly. "You seem to know something," Ethan said calmly. The red haired guy sneered. "You idiots have no idea what you''ve done. You just beat up Leon? You think you''re walking away from this?" Ethan''s eyes flickered with recognition. He knew this guy. Back when he first came to the gym, this guy had been flirting with Jade. If he remembered correctly, his name was Len. Ethan had barely paid attention to him that day, he had assumed he was just another of her thug friends. If not for his obnoxious red hair and shady behavior today, Ethan wouldn''t have even remembered him. Leo cracked his knuckles. "Oh? So there''s more to this?" Williams smirked. "You''re running your mouth awfully fast for a guy in your position." "Boss, let me handle him. I know just how to make him ta¡ª" S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. BANG! Williams never finished his sentence. Because Ethan had already moved. He grabbed Len by the back of the head and slammed his face into the marble countertop. A sickening thud echoed through the gym. "AHHH!" Len screamed in agony. When Ethan yanked him back up, his nose was bent at an unnatural angle, blood pouring down his face. Williams shut his mouth. He had not expected Ethan to be this ruthless. This didn''t look like questioning session, it was more like plain torture. "I¡ª" Len gasped. BANG! Another slam. By the time Ethan lifted him again, his nose was crushed flat, and blood dribbled from his mouth. "I¡ª" Len tried again. Ethan grabbed his jaw, forcing his mouth wide open, then pushed his teeth against the marble edge. And then, he shoved. CRACK. A gut-wrenching grinding noise filled the air, followed by the sharp sound of teeth shattering. Leo and Williams exchanged looks. Ethan''s sheer brutality sent a chill down their spines. Victor, who had been calm until now, stepped forward and grabbed Ethan''s wrist. "Bro. He''s trying to talk." Ethan let go of Len''s hair, turning to face his team. His expression was eerily calm. "I know." He smiled slightly. "I just wanted to see which was tougher, his teeth, or the countertop." Then, he dropped Len. On the bar counter, a small pile of shattered teeth lay in a bloodied mess.At least four front teeth were gone. Len slumped against the counter, his entire body shaking as he clutched his face. Leo, Williams, and Victor all felt a chill crawl up their spines. Who was Ethan, really? On the surface, he was just a college student. But this? This was not something a normal person would do. Victor had killed men before, but even he wasn''t this methodical. It was like Ethan had flipped a switch, turning into something inhuman the moment he recognized Len. And worst of all, he was completely unfazed by it. ¡ª "Talk," Ethan ordered. Len visibly flinched at his voice. "Are you still waiting? You want me to continue?" Ethan''s voice grew colder. Instantly, Len spoke with a trembling voice. "I-I''ll talk! I''ll talk!" He coughed, blood mixing with saliva, and finally started speaking. "I was here when you bought this place," he stammered. "Originally Leon told me to wait. He said the previous owner would give up soon and sell to him for cheap." "When I saw you sign the papers, I ran to tell Leon, but he wasn''t around. By the time he got back, the deal was already done." "So¡­ Leon told the boys to take over the gym. He wanted to study your customers, figure out who came in regularly. Then he started bribing them, telling them to demand refunds." "If enough people quit, you''d lose business and be forced to sell cheap." "I swear! That''s all I did! I was just following orders! I didn''t actually do anything!" Chapter 121 Change in Command Ethan frowned. All this over a gym worth just two million? Why go through so much trouble? Was this Leon guy that desperate for money? If Leon knew what Ethan was thinking, he''d probably explode in rage. Just two million? What kind of absurd logic was that? Did he think two million was that easy to make? Ethan himself had kind of lost touch with reality. Ever since he was reborn, he''d been raking in hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of gold in-game. When converted to real world currency, the money flooded in so fast that he started believing making money was just that simple. In truth, for most people, two million was a fortune, enough to work a lifetime for. Take Victor, for example. After leaving the military, he barely made a few grand a month. Williams drove a cab and wasn''t making much either. Otherwise, he wouldn''t be living in an illegal rooftop shack. At that moment, Leo held up his phone. "Ethan, I recorded everything he said. This can be used as evidence, right?" Ethan glanced at him and shook his head. "If we hadn''t attacked the cops, maybe. It''d be enough to file a report, but now, this recording isn''t going to do much." After saying that, he turned to Len. "This Leon guy¡­ who is he?" Len quickly responded, "I''m not sure. I don''t run with him, but I''ve heard he''s pretty tight with Commissioner Joe''s son." "Which Commissioner Joe?" "The Commissioner. The head of the police department," Len said. Ah. So that''s why. No wonder when Quinn called the cops earlier, they didn''t show up for over an hour. "Attention! You are surrounded! Release the hostages and surrender immediately!" A booming voice came from outside. Victor, watching the security monitors from behind the bar, saw that the crowd outside had been cleared out. Four SWAT vans had pulled up, dozens of officers already geared up and ready to storm in. "Ethan, what now?" Williams asked. "Fight¡ª" Leo started, but before he could finish, Ethan cut him off. "Fight who? You already punched a cop, and now you want to take on SWAT? You really think you won''t get your head blown off the second you make a move?" Leo grumbled. Of course, he knew Ethan was right, but still¡­ "So we just surrender? Damn it. If there''s one thing I learnt while in the army, surrendering is for cowards." "Yeah," Williams nodded in agreement. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just then, Ethan''s phone buzzed. He pulled it out, glanced at the message, and raised an eyebrow. Meanwhile, Victor was still watching the monitors. "They''re moving in," he said. Ethan took a deep breath. "Open the gate." The three of them froze. "Ethan¡ª" "Just do it." Ethan sighed. Seeing them hesitate, Quinn, shaking in fear, curled up in the corner. Ethan stepped forward and pressed the switch himself. The metal shutter slowly rolled up. Ethan stood at the entrance. Outside, three riot shields came into view, advancing steadily. At the same time, Ethan was completely exposed. Instantly, every gun locked onto him. A chill ran down his spine. He instinctively lifted his gaze, up high, a sniper''s barrel was aimed dead center at his forehead. Ethan stepped out of the gym. Two SWAT officers rushed forward, ready to subdue him. He glanced at them but didn''t resist. Didn''t struggle. The two officers grabbed Ethan''s arms, twisting hard, but nothing happened. They frowned, applied more force and still, he didn''t budge. One of them, frustrated, reached for his gun and raised it, ready to strike Ethan across the back of the head. Ethan turned his gaze toward him, his expression calm. "Ninth Division is handling this. If you hit me, I guarantee you''ll be turning in your badge by tomorrow." The officer froze, a flicker of uncertainty flashing in his eyes. Ethan immediately picked up on it, this guy clearly had no idea what the Ninth Division was. Damn. That complicated things. "I need to speak with your Captain," Ethan said. "Tell him we''re with the Ninth Division. This is a classified case, and we''re handling it." The SWAT officers exchanged glances. After a brief moment, one of them gave a slight nod before turning and jogging toward the armored vehicle. Not long after, a man, fully geared but without a helmet, around Victor''s age¡ªwalked over. He studied Ethan''s face for a moment before speaking in a low voice. "You''re saying you''re with Ninth Division?" Ethan didn''t reply. He just nodded. "Where''s your ID? And what exactly did these guys do? Also¡ª" the Captain''s tone sharpened as he gestured toward the officers lying on the ground, "¡ªeven if you''re Ninth Division, you can''t just go around roughing up cops, can you?" Ethan frowned, glancing back at the unconscious officers. Yeah. Just as he thought. As he considered how to respond, a sharp, commanding female voice cut through the tense air. "As of today, they are no longer police officers." Hearing that voice, Ethan felt a wave of relief. Finally. Every head turned in the direction of the voice. A woman in full military uniform strode toward them from the perimeter of the secured area. As she passed two SWAT officers, they immediately snapped to attention, saluting her with precision. Ethan had never seen Celeste in uniform before. And damn, he had to admit, it looked damn good on her. She carried a file in one hand, walking straight up to the SWAT Captain and shoving it against his chest. The man hesitated, glancing at the insignia on her shoulder. Two stars. One oak leaf. A Major General? His body reacted before his brain could catch up, he snapped into a salute. "All the evidence against them, along with our identification, is in there," Celeste stated flatly. She didn''t wait for a response, didn''t even acknowledge the Captain beyond that. Instead, she turned and shot Ethan a glare so sharp it could''ve drawn blood. Then, without another word, she brushed past him and entered the gym. Ethan let out a quiet chuckle. Saved by Celeste. Again. That text message he''d received earlier? It was from her, telling him to stall for time because she was on her way. He had no idea what was in that file, but one thing was clear¡ªthey were safe. Inside the gym, Celeste glanced around before settling her gaze on Leo and Williams. "You two are something else," she remarked. "Just the two of you, taking down thirty-plus guys?" Ethan, trailing behind her, had expected her to start chewing them out. Instead¡­ she sounded impressed? ''Wait. What?'' Just minutes ago, outside, she had practically lasered him with that death glare. Even Leo and Williams, who had braced themselves for a brutal scolding, were caught off guard. Was she just acting tough earlier, only to settle the score later? Celeste smirked. "Relax." Then, as if reading their minds, she added, "If you were my subordinates and you didn''t have the guts to fight back, then you''d be unworthy of your positions." Chapter 122 Ruthless Authority As Celeste spoke, the SWAT team captain entered the room. One hand held a file folder, the other gripped a stack of IDs. He handed them over. "Miss Hawthorne, if there''s nothing else, we''ll be taking our leave." "Everything verified?" Celeste asked as she took the IDs. "Yes, ma''am. These individuals are involved in organized crime. As for these officers, they''re accused of accepting bribes, delaying response times, and aiding criminal activities. They''ve already been dismissed from duty." The captain saluted after his report. "Take them all in," Celeste ordered. "As for the public fallout, that''s your department''s problem." "Understood. We''ll take care of it," the SWAT captain replied, now all smiles, completely different from his earlier stern demeanor. Celeste gave a curt nod. With her approval, the captain signaled his men, and one by one, the suspects on the ground were cuffed. Just then, Leon regained consciousness. Hearing the exchange between Celeste and the captain, he immediately erupted. "Do you even know who I work for?! You think you can charge me?!" He spat on the ground, his face twisted in rage. "Commissioner Joe won''t let you get away with this, you idiots! In a few days, I''ll be out, and when I am, you''re all dead!" Celeste didn''t bother replying. She simply kicked him. Crack. Her boot connected with his neck, producing the unmistakable sound of bone fracturing. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed. Even with restraint, Celeste''s strike had cracked his vertebrae. If she had put in just a little more force, she could have snapped his neck outright. The SWAT captain twitched. ''Damn¡­ she''s ruthless. No wonder nobody messes with the Ninth Division.'' He was relieved he hadn''t insisted on taking them in earlier. He still remembered last year, his unit had responded to an emergency call. Three suspects had nearly wrecked an entire shopping mall. The strange part? No one had seen who they were fighting. Yet, the trio had been carrying a case, and radiation detectors had picked up significant energy fluctuations from inside it. When the SWAT team arrived, the suspects presented Ninth Division credentials and claimed they were on an official mission. Their team leader, however, wasn''t having it. Ignoring their clearance, he insisted they surrender the case and tried to cuff them. What happened next was inevitable. In under five minutes, the entire SWAT team was down. There were even rumors that one of their snipers had taken a shot, straight to the forehead of one of the suspects. The bullet didn''t penetrate. And that sniper? He ended up far worse. His limbs were shattered, and the very finger he had pulled the trigger with had been snapped clean off. By the next day, the incident was buried. The SWAT team leader was reassigned to a quiet rural station as a ''retirement'' post. As for the rest of the unit? They were quietly scattered across different squads. The sniper, from what people said, had received a hefty compensation package and was reassigned to a desk job. That incident was exactly why, the moment Ethan had stepped out and claimed to be from the Ninth Division, the SWAT captain hadn''t proceeded with the assault. And then, right after, this woman showed up. "Captain, we''ve got a problem," one of the SWAT officers said as he approached. "What problem?" the captain turned to him. "Sir, we can''t transport them." The captain frowned. "Why not?" "Every single one of them has at least one broken bone. If we move them, we might cause further injuries. And we''ve only got three armored vans, there are over thirty of them here. No way we can fit them all." As he spoke, the officer''s gaze lingered on Leo and Williams. It had to be these two. The SWAT officer was certain. ''They look about my age, but damn, they went hard.'' Breaking someone''s leg with just their bare hands? That took serious skill. So, this Ninth Division¡­ just how terrifying are they? He was new, barely a year in the force. He hadn''t heard about what had happened to the previous SWAT team that had crossed paths with the Ninth division. "Call for ambulances," the captain ordered, wiping cold sweat from his forehead. These guys weren''t just tough¡ªthey were on another level. If only he had men like them under his command. Then again, that was wishful thinking. The country''s top combat specialists were either elite soldiers or part of the Ninth Division. The military ones? You''d never see them unless there was a war. But the Ninth Division? They lived among ordinary people, blending in. Their identities only surfaced when they were on a mission. Take Ethan, for example. On paper, he was just some small business owner running a local gym. But in reality? He was the vice-captain of the Ninth Division''s M-Squad. During verification, the captain had also learned something else, Ethan was a college sophomore. And this gym? He had just recently bought it out. The idiot who caused all this trouble, Leon, had no idea who he had provoked. Didn''t he stop to think? Someone who could casually drop two million dollars wasn''t just some random nobody. Leon had walked straight into a death trap. Of course, Leon wouldn''t have done it without some encouragement. The real instigator? That red-haired bastard, Len. Len had convinced Leon that Ethan had no real backing, just some spoiled rich kid with a bit of money. Leon had done some digging himself, found out Ethan wasn''t some trust fund brat, nor was he from an old money family. Sure, he lived in a villa, but rumors said he was just mooching off a woman. As for Lyla, she was just the daughter of a small-time business owner. No connections, no power. With that information, Leon felt safe. And why wouldn''t he? He had Commissioner Joe''s son backing him. Whatever happened, one word from the Commissioner. would make the problem disappear. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It wasn''t the first time Leon had pulled this stunt. He''d done it plenty of times before, strong-arming businesses, raking in profits, splitting the cash with the commissioner''s son. This time, his plan was airtight. He had two hundred grand ready, planning to force Ethan into selling the gym. Once he flipped the property, he''d be walking away with a clean four-hundred-thousand-dollar profit. He''d already laid the groundwork, booking the place out for a full week while Ethan was supposedly out of town. Then yesterday, his guys had reported back, Ethan was finally back. So today, he made his move, ready to pressure Ethan into giving up the gym. But of all the things he had accounted for, he hadn''t factored in the two monsters Ethan had brought home with him. He barely even saw what happened before he blacked out. And when he woke up? His entire crew was face-down on the floor. Even the seven cops he had in his pocket were down and out, just like the rest of them. Chapter 123 The Cleanup At first, he was shocked. But that quickly turned into excitement. If things went as expected, he might have just saved himself two million dollars. He knew the SWAT team had the place surrounded, so when he woke up, he stayed quiet. But then he overheard the SWAT captain talking to Celeste, and that''s when the confusion set in. This wasn''t playing out the way he had imagined. Still, with powerful connections backing him, he sat up and threw out a few threats, assuming they''d hesitate. Instead, he got a brutal kick to the neck. From the way everyone looked at him, it was clear¡ª even if he survived, he''d probably end up paralyzed for life. Outside, ambulances lined up in a steady stream, operating like a factory assembly line. One after another, the injured were loaded up and driven away. Finally, once the last stretcher was carried out, the SWAT team wrapped up, lifting the lockdown. Only then did Lyla and Celia step inside. Ethan finally realized that the two of them had been right behind him when he arrived at the gym. When Lyla saw cops lying unconscious inside, she knew things had spiraled out of control and immediately called Celeste. As it turned out, Celeste had already been on her way, delivering their Ninth Division assignment documents. After getting Lyla''s call, she wasted no time. Within minutes, she contacted her team, launched an immediate investigation, and had the necessary files printed. The efficiency of the Ninth Division was no joke. In just over ten minutes, they had compiled records on over thirty people, including seven police officers¡ª tracing their entire family history. By the time Celeste pulled up to the scene, Lyla and Celia had only been waiting for a few minutes. Moments later, a man arrived with a file folder. She even took the time to change in her car, slipping into her uniform before stepping past the SWAT barricade. The man who delivered the files? He appeared out of nowhere and vanished just as fast. One moment, he handed over the folder, and by the time Lyla turned to thank him, he was already gone. Celia had rubbed her eyes, convinced she was seeing things. But when she spotted the folder in Celeste''s hands, she knew she wasn''t imagining it. She even glanced around, searching for the man, before turning to Lyla. "Where did he go?" Lyla shrugged. "I didn''t get a good look." But deep down, she knew the truth. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That man was one of the Ninth Division''s elite operatives. The way he arrived and disappeared in an instant? It had to be some kind of speed-based ability. The Ninth Division was no joke. ... Soon, the internet was in chaos. First, videos surfaced showing Leo and Williams beating up a group of men. They were quickly labeled as violent criminals. Then, another video emerged¡ª Leo capturing Len, dragging him off. But within minutes, every single video disappeared. Not long after, a statement from the Ember City Police Department hit the trending page. "This morning, a criminal syndicate with ties to organized crime was apprehended. Several corrupt officers providing them with protection have also been taken into custody." The full report was filled with official jargon, detailing the crimes of the gang led by a man named Leon. It even referenced the video footage of Leo and Williams, with their faces blurred, clarifying that they were not criminals. Their identities remained classified. The report also warned citizens against spreading misinformation. Anyone caught distributing the original videos or related files would face legal consequences. And just like that, everything was handled. The dust had settled. ___ Somewhere in Ember City, inside a hotel room. A woman sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her phone, reading the same news article. "This... this can''t be real¡­ Ethan¡­" Her initial shock twisted into deep, seething hatred. If Ethan were here, he''d recognize her instantly¡ªit was Jade Taylor, the woman he had once spared. Furious, she shut off the video and threw her phone onto the bed. A moment later, she picked it back up, scrolled through her contacts, and dialed a number. "Hello? I need to speak with Mr. Henry Joe" ___ Meanwhile, Ethan and the others were treating Celeste to a well-deserved meal. After saving them twice¡ªwhatever her reasons, she deserved a proper thank-you. But what Ethan didn''t know was that a plan for revenge was already in motion, creeping toward him. Just before noon, Celeste glanced at the time and stood up. "I have class this afternoon, so I have to go." Before leaving, she gave them a warning. "Get ready. You''ll be getting an assignment soon." Ethan raised a brow. "How soon?" "Could be tomorrow. Could be in a few days," Celeste said with a shrug before walking off. Ethan couldn''t help but feel a surge of curiosity. His first mission, what would it be? Victor and Leo, on the other hand, were downright thrilled. After four years out of the military, they missed the rush of action. As for what the mission was? They didn''t care. They were just eager to jump in. ___ That afternoon, Ethan returned to the gym, which was still temporarily closed. He had already sent Quinn home for a break. After what happened that morning, she had been terrified. He figured she deserved a few days off. With a few calls, he had a cleanup crew take care of the mess Leo and Williams left behind, then hired someone to fix up the damage. Once everything was arranged, he settled behind the bar, flipping through the financial records on his laptop. A few minutes in, his head was already spinning. That''s when Celia walked over. "Ethan, need any help?" Ethan''s eyes lit up the moment he saw her. He remembered Victor mentioning her background, she had worked in HR for a foreign company and had a degree in accounting. Even though her job was in a different field, she had been doing well. If she hadn''t moved to Ember City, she was on track for a promotion. Without hesitation, he slid the ledger toward her. "Celia, this one''s all yours." Celia smirked. "I knew you''d struggle with this. Victor told me to stick around and help. So, tell me, Mr. Boss, does this count as an interview?" Ethan chuckled. "Are you kidding? I''d be lucky to have you. I just hope my little gym is big enough to keep someone like you around." After today''s chaos, Ethan had already considered replacing Quinn as the gym''s manager. Her intentions weren''t bad¡ªrenting out the gym for extra revenue, but her decision-making and execution were seriously flawed. Worse, she hadn''t even consulted him before making such a big call. Of course, even if she hadn''t booked the event, Leon would have found another way to make trouble. But still, not even running it by him? That crossed a line. Ethan didn''t care too much about the gym, but he wasn''t about to just shut it down either. If managed properly, it could still bring in good money. Chapter 124 The Gluttonous Stone If Celia was willing to help, Ethan was more than happy to have her on board. "I think we should let Celia handle logistics for the guild too," Lyla, who had just come in suggested, as she walked over with a serious expression. "Oh?" Ethan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Celia''s a life-skills player in the game¡ªalready a mid-tier alchemist. She spends way more time in the city than we do. Don''t you think she''d be perfect for managing the guild''s logistics?" Ethan considered it for a moment. Lyla had a point. He had been meaning to find someone reliable to help run the guild. "Alright, then. Tonight, Celia, you''re logging in and joining the guild. I''m giving you the title of Honorary Guild Leader!" Ethan said enthusiastically. Celia chuckled. "I''ve been in Renegade Alliance for a while now. But if I have to work for you both in-game and in real life, how much are you paying me?" "Uh¡­ talking about money hurts friendships," Ethan said, feigning a pained expression. "Besides, you and Victor are already making plenty off me!" Celia laughed. "Relax, I''m just messing with you. I''m happy to help." With that, she grabbed the ledger and playfully shooed Ethan away from the bar. Ethan, finally freed from paperwork, wasted no time escaping, making sure not to bring up salaries again. Of course, in his mind, he already had it figured out. There was no way he was letting Celia work for free. --- That night, after logging into Ethereal, the first thing Ethan did was open the guild management panel. With a few clicks, he promoted Celia''s character, Tears of the Fallen, to Honorary Guild Leader¡ªa position granting nearly the same authority as the actual guild leader, except for the ability to disband the guild. His second task was checking his Bloodline Attributes. That afternoon, he had suddenly remembered something, the night before, right before the game''s scheduled maintenance, he had completed the Tree Form quest. At the time, there had been a system notification mentioning that his bloodline had officially awakened. ¡ª Bloodline: [King of Elves (Divine) - Unique] Lv1 Special Trait: In human form, you can use certain Druid-form abilities at 20% effectiveness. (Not yet activated.) Passive Bonus: +10 Star Growth to all attributes. Abilities: Focus (Divine): +50% skill effectiveness Prophecy (Divine): +10 stat points per level Growth (Divine): Double XP from quests/kills Description: The peace-loving Elven race has left an indelible mark on every recorded Holy War. Though they cherish tranquility, their valor in battle is unparalleled. --- His bloodline was now upgradable, and a new special trait had appeared. But for some reason, it remained inactive. "Using certain Druid-form abilities in human form¡­ What does that even mean?" Curious, Ethan switched to his human form and attempted to cast a skill. Nothing. All of his abilities were grayed out, completely unusable. And sure enough, the new trait still showed inactive while in human form. Frustrated, he called out in his mind, "Morzan, care to explain what this nonsense is?!" Silence. No response. Ethan scowled, staring at the useless trait. Even if it worked, what good would 20% effectiveness be? Annoyed, he mentally ranted at Morzan for a while before eventually giving up. His frustration only grew. Sure, his real life had drastically improved since his rebirth. But in the game? It felt like things were only getting more irritating. And for some reason, once the thought of quitting Ethereal popped into his head, he couldn''t quite shake it away. Lyla had gone off with Heaven''s Dawn and her classmates for some dungeon runs, leaving Ethan alone. Trying to shake off his lingering frustration, he focused on upgrading the ring he had acquired the night before, reinforcing it to +30. --- [Blazing Ring +30] Tier: Gold (Upgradeable) Level Requirement: 20 Attack Power: 216-308 (Base: 54-77, Reinforcement: 162-231) Agility: +20 Strength: +20 Intelligence: +20 Effect: Increases both physical and magical attack power by 10%. Reinforcement Bonuses: Mastery +3 (at +10) Haste +3 (at +20) Critical Hit +3 (at +30) Set Bonus (2/3, Inactive): When equipped with Blazing Bracelet and Blazing Necklace, unlocks the skill Blazing Defense. Skill Description (Blazing Defense): Grants immunity to death once, reduces damage by 20% for 8 seconds, and fully restores health. (Cooldown: 3 days) --- This ring alone boosted Ethan''s attack power to 1,700¡ªa solid improvement. But compared to Lyla? He was still 2,000 points behind. If he wanted to craft his own personalized artifact, he needed Prismatic Stones. The problem? The drop rate in the Iron Mountains was atrocious. He wasn''t about to waste hours farming there. Besides, that area was a death trap for solo players. ''Wait¡­ wasn''t there a quest related to nurturing that Prismatic Stone?'' Remembering this, he pulled out the odd little floating stone from his inventory. Next, he grabbed some ore he had purchased earlier. "How am I even supposed to feed this thing?" As soon as he took out the ore, the Prismatic Stone darted from his left hand to his right, its tiny body suddenly splitting open into a comically oversized mouth¡ªeasily several times bigger than itself. Then, without hesitation, it chomped down on the basketball-sized ore in Ethan''s hand. Crunch. Crunch. The solid mineral shattered like popcorn. In just three bites, the entire chunk was gone. And yet, the stone''s size hadn''t changed at all. Ethan blinked. Then, still in shock, he pulled out another ore. Crunch. Crunch. Then another. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Crunch. Crunch. And another. Crunch. Crunch. Ten ores later, Ethan finally stopped. The Prismatic Stone, now floating in front of his face, started bouncing up and down, almost as if urging him to keep going. Its movements practically screamed: "Come on! More! Keep ''em coming!" Ethan''s already foul mood soured even further. "Oh, so now even a rock is acting smug around me?" Fine. He''d show it. With a sinister grin, he emptied his entire ore stockpile into his hands, every single chunk of rock he had spent two gold on. A single low-grade ore barely cost a few copper coins, and even the better-quality ones were only worth a few dozen. Most mining players still had low skill levels, and the higher-tier mines were practically inaccessible without a cleared-out dungeon. The undead monsters inside made solo mining nearly impossible. Ethan had assumed this pile of ore would last a while. But the Prismatic Stone had other ideas. As soon as he dumped the pile out, it opened its mouth wide, and with a massive suction force, the entire mini-mountain of ore vanished in an instant. "...What the hell?! A second ago, you were taking tiny bites, were you just messing with me?!" Chapter 125 Strength in Numbers Ethan was about to teach this damn rock a lesson when he noticed something strange. The Prismatic Stone, which had been hovering confidently just moments ago, was now wobbling unsteadily, as if it were drunk. Then, without warning, it lurched sideways and plummeted to the ground. Ethan''s eyes widened. ''Did it eat too much? Did I actually overfeed it?!'' He had been hoping to see some kind of evolution, maybe even witness it hatching into something powerful¡ªwho knew, maybe it would pop out a miniature lifeform or something. Just as he stepped forward to check on it¡­ The Prismatic Stone began to contort, shifting between being long and flat, over and over. Then¡ª Pffft¡­ A weird noise. Fwshhh! Something shot out at high speed, whistling through the air straight for Ethan''s face. His reflexes kicked in, he raised his hand just in time to block it. A small, scorching-hot stone landed in his palm. At that moment, a system notification popped up. Ding! [You have obtained an item: "Prismatic Stone.] "Prismatic Stone?" Ethan frowned. Where did that even come from? He slowly opened his palm. The small projectile sitting there was indeed a Prismatic Stone, the very material he needed. Wait¡­ His gaze snapped back to the Prismatic Stone lying on the ground. Sure enough, a small hole was visible on its body, slowly closing up. "Oh, hell no¡ª" Ethan''s entire body shuddered in disgust. His fingers twitched, nearly hurling the rock away on instinct. But, in the end, logic won over revulsion. Taking a deep breath, he tossed the stone on his palm into his inventory. Checking his quest tracker, he saw: Prismatic Stones Collected: 1/3 He recalled that when he activated the hidden quest to awaken the Prismatic stone, it had reset his progress to 0/3. Now, with this¡­ er¡­ freshly produced stone, he was back on track. Suddenly, the Prismatic Stone in front of him didn''t seem like a cursed object anymore. Disgusting? Yes. But insanely useful. Wasting no time, Ethan scooped up the now slightly larger Prismatic Stone and sprinted straight to the auction house. This time, he wasn''t messing around, he dropped ten gold on high-quality ore, making sure to pick only the best grades available. Exiting the auction house, he didn''t even bother looking for a quiet spot. Sitting down right outside the entrance, he grabbed a chunk of ore in one hand and the Prismatic Stone in the other¡ªthen started force-feeding it. However¡­ No matter what he tried, the Prismatic Stone refused to eat. It kept its mouth firmly shut. Ethan poked, prodded, shook, and even tried prying it open¡ªnothing worked. At some point, the damn thing even sealed its mouth completely, leaving no visible opening at all. After exhausting himself with failed attempts, Ethan finally gave up, panting in frustration. ''Fine. Maybe it really is full. But how long would it take to digest? And more importantly¡­ could it "produce" two more before evolving?'' Just as he wondered, he heard murmuring around him. "What''s that guy doing, smashing two rocks together?" "No idea. Maybe he''s not quite right in the head?" "Hey, man! Need some help melting those ores? I can forge them together for you!" Ethan looked up. A blacksmith player was standing in front of him, genuinely offering assistance. Without a word, Ethan stood up and walked away. The blacksmith trailed after him, still talking, but Ethan ignored him completely, practically sprinting to the teleportation platform. Only after keeping quiet a distance did he allow himself to process the humiliation. ''Damn it. That was so freaking embarrassing.'' Standing there, smashing two rocks together in public, he must have looked like a complete moron. As Ethan sprinted toward the teleportation platform, he pulled up his character panel, realizing he had completely lost track of his level. --- [NotADruid] Class: Druid Race: Human Level: 34 Faction: Survivor Bloodline: King of Elves (Divine) Stats: Strength: 170 (+22 Growth Index) ¡ú Increases physical attack power. Intelligence: 170 (+22 Growth Index) ¡ú Increases magic attack power and mana capacity. Agility: 170 (+22 Growth Index) ¡ú Boosts attack speed, movement speed, and energy regeneration. Stamina: 170 (+22 Growth Index) ¡ú Enhances defense. Vitality: 170 (+22 Growth Index) ¡ú Increases max health. Special Attributes (Enhanced): Omni +7 Mastery +13 Critical Hit +10 Haste +6 Combat Stats: Attack Power: 1392-1725 Defense: 834-1012 Health Points: 3740 S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unallocated Stat Points: 0 Skills: Basic Appraisal ¨C Inspect monsters up to 5 levels above. --- He was already level 34. Just yesterday, they had five-star cleared an Expert-level dungeon, instantly rewarding every party member three whole levels. Victor had practically been dying of jealousy when he found out this morning. But he had zero regrets. Why? Well¡­ everyone understood the reason. Of course they all did¡­ Ethan also noticed his Growth Index had reached 22¡ªa reward he had earned in Dreamwood Grove, which boosted all Druid Growth Indexes by +2. Previously, Druids had the lowest Growth Index in the game at 10, while other classes had 12. Now, they were finally on equal footing. That also meant that, in his previous life, no one had ever unlocked Dreamwood Grove. This time, Ethan had paved the way for Druids to thrive, no longer doomed to be lowly extras. --- By now, Ethan had stepped onto the teleportation platform, but the blacksmith apprentice was still chasing after him. That''s when Ethan remembered¡ªhe did have a couple of items that needed upgrading. Glancing at his inventory, he took stock of his gear quality. Aside from a few high-end pieces, most of his gear was still trash-tier Bronze and Silver. And those pieces weren''t even worth upgrading. Right now, the only two items worth enhancing were: 1. [Ring of True Sight] (Iron-Tier, Level 1) 2. [Blazing Bracelet] (Gold-Tier, Level 5) --- [Ring of True Sight +30] Tier: Common Iron Required Level: 1 Attack Power: 8-20 (Base: 2-5, Reinforcement: 6-15) Passive Effect 1: Increases Stealth Detection Chance. Passive Effect 2 (Locked): Unlocks "True Sight" ability, allowing the wearer to detect invisible enemies within 3 meters for 10 seconds (Cooldown: 1 minute). (This ability will activate once upgraded to Bronze-Tier.) This ring was one-of-a-kind because of its detection ability, a rare and highly sought-after skill. In his previous life, the God of Assassins had used this ring''s True Sight skill to dominate every rogue in the game, earning his legendary status. But in this timeline, Ethan had looted this ring off him. He couldn''t help but wonder, without this item, would that guy still become the top rogue? Either way, if Ethan wanted this ring to reach its full potential, he needed to upgrade both its tier and level. --- [Blazing Bracelet] (Gold-Tier, Level 5) This item was already high quality, so he just needed to increase its level. Once upgraded to Level 20 or higher, it would unlock additional stat bonuses. --- Ethan wasn''t new to equipment upgrading. In Ethereal, forging enhancements was one of the game''s biggest gold sinks. That''s why he was so envious of Lyla''s weapon, a growth-type Legendary weapon. You couldn''t even upgrade Legendary weapons through forging. Not even Master Blacksmith Ryan, the greatest NPC forger in the game, could do it. Speaking of which¡­ Ethan suddenly remembered Ryan¡­ Chapter 126 Path to Godhood Ethan suddenly remembered a hidden quest. And it was connected to the Wishbound Relic. In his past life, just before his rebirth, he had heard that Zachary had stumbled upon this very quest right after obtaining the Wishbound Relic from him. But no one knew what the reward was. Zachary never completed the quest. That said, if it involved Master Blacksmith Ryan, a man with the title of ''Master,'' the reward couldn''t possibly be mediocre. "Hey, slow down! I said I can smelt the ore for you!" Ethan arrived at the Teleportation Hub, selecting his next destination. Behind him, the apprentice blacksmith, who had been chasing him persistently was calling out. Glancing back, Ethan thought to himself, ''This guy''s relentless.'' The teleportation array activated, and as the apprentice watched Ethan vanish, he muttered under his breath, "Damn, finally found someone who looked gullible, and he just ran off!" To trigger the hidden quest, Ethan first needed to locate Master Blacksmith Ryan. The problem? Ryan wasn''t on Azure. He was on Terra. And getting to Terra wasn''t easy. A Faction Barrier separated the two planets, and Ethan''s current level wasn''t high enough to pass through it. But he knew another way. In his inventory lay the key¡ªan Iron-Tier Necklace, Level 35, the only way he could reach Terra. This necklace was obtained from the Expert-Level Dungeon he had just cleared, specifically from the treasure chest dropped by that Demonhunter. Only the first person to open that chest could ever obtain this necklace. [Demonhunter''s Bonefang Necklace] Tier: Iron Level: 35 Dark Vision: +5 Attribute #1: Opens a portal to the Shadow Realm (only visible to the wearer). Portal lasts 5 minutes. Cooldown: 7 days. Attribute #2: Temporarily transforms the wearer into a Carnage Faction player. Duration: 30 minutes. Can be dispelled at will. Cooldown: 1 hour. After the Faction Barrier was officially unlocked later in the game, the first ability became pretty useless. But the second attribute? Absolute gold. Even in the late game, fewer than three pieces of equipment in the entire server had the ability to switch factions. This was why Ethan had prioritized clearing the Expert-Level Dungeon¡ªto obtain this item first. If someone else followed his strategy and killed the Demonhunter after him, they wouldn''t get the necklace. The first opening of the treasure chest was the only one that mattered. However, just having the necklace wasn''t enough to safely infiltrate enemy territory. To be truly prepared, he needed to acquire a Divine Ability first. Ethan''s next destination? The place where he could obtain [Teleportation]. [Teleportation] Allows the user to mark specific coordinates and instantly travel between them. Basic-Level Teleportation: Stores 3 coordinates. Travel range: within 5 km. Divine Teleportation: Stores 20 coordinates. Travel range: up to 100 km. The only restriction? Teleportation cannot be used in combat. If engaged in battle, the user must remain out of combat for five minutes before teleporting. According to legend, the game Ethereal contained twelve Divine Abilities. Eleven of them could be obtained within the game. And anyone who collected all eleven¡ªeach with a Divine Rating, would automatically unlock the twelfth and final Divine Ability. Legends spoke of a path to godhood, gather all twelve Divine Abilities, and one would ascend. Then, the final, twelfth ability? It was simply called [Divinity] (Divine). Its effects were unknown. No one had ever obtained all eleven abilities before. In his past life, even acquiring just one Divine Ability was a feat reserved for the top 0.01% of players. Ethan had known of only a few, and [Teleportation] was one of them. Anyone who possessed a Divine Ability was guaranteed a spot among the Top 100 Players worldwide. Of course, these abilities were powerful, but they all came with a catch. Upon picking one up, it couldn''t be used immediately. It also couldn''t be stored in the Guild Vault or any Personal Bank. The only option was to keep it in the inventory at all times. And that wasn''t even the worst part. If the player holding a Divine Ability Scroll was killed, the Scroll would drop 100% of the time. There was no safe zone protection¡ªit would fall the moment they entered one. The only way to keep it was to survive for twelve hours while the entire world tried to hunt you down. Once a Divine Ability appeared in Ethereal, the game would enter a No-Sleep Period¡ªmeaning it would no longer shut down at 8 AM. The servers would remain open until the ability was claimed and learned. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That''s why the moment someone acquired one, all hell would break loose. Ethan still remembered the longest No-Sleep Period in Ethereal history¡ª79 days. The cause? A Divine Ability called [Fatal Strike], which granted a ridiculously high chance to deal 5x critical damage. A random Korean player had picked it up. Within hours, they were hunted down. The Scroll changed hands dozens of times, passing from one faction to another. Eventually, it ended up in the hands of Eros, the leader of Russia''s No.1 Guild¡ªbringing an end to the bloodbath. Divine Abilities weren''t unique, meaning they could appear multiple times. But whenever one spawned in a country''s Warzone, the entire region would become a battlefield. Players from other nations would launch full-scale invasions, seeking to claim the ability for themselves. Right now, however, the Warzone Borders hadn''t been unlocked yet. That meant Ethan had a rare window of opportunity. He could obtain [Teleportation] without worrying about players from other regions chasing him down. If it weren''t for the fact that Northern Frontier only had this one Divine Ability available at the moment, Ethan would''ve tried to grab as many as possible. In truth, there were two more Divine Abilities hidden within Northern Frontier. Each Warzone contained a total of eleven Divine Abilities, and whether a nation could hold onto them depended entirely on their strength. Back in his previous life, Dragonspire had nine players who wielded Divine Abilities. Among them, two players held two abilities each. And one madman? He had four. Six of these abilities were native to Dragonspire¡ªthe other five had been stolen from foreign warzones. These three players were the leaders of Dragonspire''s top-tier guilds. As for the other six abilities, they were scattered among various elite factions. Ethan had rarely seen these players in action, but the official game website had posted videos showcasing their power. He still remembered one battle vividly¡ª The player who held [Apocalypse] and [Quickstrike], the guild leader of Empire, was a Dual-Blade Berserker who had ascended to the advanced class of Ravager. During a Guild War, he had charged straight into the enemy forces. As a Ravager, he already had one of the fastest attack speeds in the game. But when combined with [Quickstrike], which further increased his attack rate, and [Apocalypse], which granted unlimited stat point allocation¡ª His speed and damage output became utterly terrifying. It was a massacre. One step, ten enemies fell. A hundred steps, a thousand were cut down. That battle cemented him as one of the strongest players in Ethereal history. And the other two Divine Ability holders? They each created legends of their own. Chapter 127 Into the Darkness The Guild Master of Abyss Order, a Fire Mage who had advanced to Flame Archmage, was a player infamous for his cunning nature, earning him the title of ''Sneaky Old Man''. And he wasn''t just some ordinary player. He wielded two Divine Abilities: [Focus] (Divine) and [Energy Conservation] (Divine). During the Undead Cataclysm, he unleashed four Forbidden Spells in succession, wiping out eight entire legions of undead in a single moment, securing his place as a legend in Ethereal. Then there was Little Horn, the Guild Master of Hand of God. As a Gunner, he had advanced to the terrifying Battlefield Dominator class. And his abilities? [Undying] (Divine), [Bloodlust] (Divine), [Fatal Strike] (Divine), and [Sundering Shot] (Divine). In one of the largest Nation Wars ever recorded, he faced off against an army of over ten thousand enemy players, alone. For seven straight hours, he fought without pause. Thanks to [Sundering Shot] and [Fatal Strike], he dished out devastating AoE critical hits, while [Bloodlust] kept his health replenishing nonstop. The result? He became a nightmare on the battlefield. As the battle raged on, the enemy kept sending reinforcements, increasing their numbers from ten thousand¡­ to a hundred and twenty thousand. Yet, using nothing but guerilla tactics, Little Horn single-handedly stalled a tenth of Russia''s entire war effort. Eventually, his ammunition ran dry. A full force of 120,000 ranged players finally managed to take him down. But that wasn''t the end. Because of [Undying], he resurrected on the spot,and for the next three minutes, he was completely invincible. Using those precious moments, he broke out of the encirclement, regrouped with his waiting guildmates, and together, they launched a devastating counterattack. By the time the dust settled, the entire 120,000-strong army had been wiped out, most of them ranged players. That day, he didn''t just win a battle. He became a legend. A true ruler of the battlefield. Even now, just thinking about it, Ethan could feel his blood boiling. In Ethereal, every Divine Ability had a known location. And when it came to the six abilities hidden within Dragonspire, Ethan knew exactly where to find them. Right now, his target was one of the Divine Abilities hidden in Northern Frontier¡ª[Teleportation]. He already had three Divine Abilities thanks to his King of Elves bloodline, and since bloodline abilities stacked with player-obtained ones, he had no reason to stop now. Besides, once he claimed it, taking it from him would be damn near impossible. Of course, no plan was foolproof, but [Teleportation] was the perfect first step. With enough teleportation points set, gathering more Divine Abilities in the future would become much easier. And worst case? ''If I can''t win¡­ I can just run.'' A 100-kilometer teleport? No one was catching him. Especially now, mounts hadn''t been unlocked yet, and thanks to his ability to transform into a Stag, Ethan was already the fastest player in the game. Moments later, he arrived at a pitch-black cave entrance. This was a Level 40 zone, and the creatures inside were Level 45. After making sure no one else was around, Ethan slipped into the darkness. Originally, he had planned to wait until he was higher level before attempting to claim [Teleportation]. At his current strength, the challenge would be brutal. But since he was already heading for Master Blacksmith Ryan, he figured¡ªwhy not take a shot at it? If he could secure [Teleportation], his survival chances in Carnage Faction territory would increase dramatically. With that thought, Ethan shifted into his panther form and silently padded forward. His sleek, shadowy body blended perfectly into the darkness. The cave was eerily silent, aside from the soft trickle of water echoing through the depths. After a ten-minute trek, the tunnel suddenly opened into a wide cavern. Four Armored Beetle Elites lurked within. The faint layers of dust on the ground marked the spots where they had burrowed underground, lying in wait. Further ahead, a small underground pool stretched about twenty meters across. On the far side of the cavern, a narrow stream of water trickled down the rock face, feeding into the pool below. The source of the eerie water sounds was now clear. The four Armored Beetle Elites patrolled the path ahead, moving unpredictably beneath the ground. Every so often, one would burst from the earth, spreading its hardened shell to reveal the delicate, membranous wings underneath. A faint tremor would ripple through the air as it shook them out, dislodging swarms of tiny insects that scattered in all directions. Then, as if summoned by an unseen command, the swarm would return, vanishing back inside the beetle''s body as it snapped its shell shut. Ethan estimated the distance¡ªroughly thirty meters stood between him and the water''s edge. Unfortunately, this entire stretch was within their patrol zone. There was no sneaking past. Unless he eliminated all four, any attempt to cross would instantly trigger a chain reaction, pulling the entire group into combat. There was no way around it. Either he fought through, or he turned back. And Ethan wasn''t the kind of person to turn back. He understood the risk, but this wasn''t his first time doing something reckless. While things had been relatively safe in this life, in his previous one, he had thrived on danger. As a Rogue, he had lived for the thrill, doing things no sane player would attempt, pushing the limits of what was possible. Perhaps it was just in his nature. Risk, danger, the rush of the unknown. And yet, in this life, his Druid class had forced him to play things safer. That didn''t mean he had lost his reckless edge. Sure, Panther Form lacked the life-saving tricks of a Rogue, but Ethan wasn''t just some single-path Druid. He was a Full-Spec Druid, his sustain and survivability were leagues ahead of any Rogue. He quickly calculated the beetles'' detection radius¡ªlikely 3.5 meters under normal conditions.But since their level was 11 higher than his, their awareness would be boosted to around 5¨C6 meters. That meant one thing, if he stayed at least six meters away from any of them, he could slip through unnoticed. A shadow stirred from the cave''s entrance. The black panther emerged into the open, its sleek body pressing low to the ground. Breath steady. Steps silent. Ethan moved with precision, carefully threading his way through the danger zone toward the water. 1 meter to the left. 3 meters ahead. 2 meters to the right. Like a predator on the prowl, his body remained tense, shifting between stealthy crawls and careful sidesteps. Every movement was calculated. A loose rock on the cavern wall. A scattered pile of animal bones. The brittle remnants of dried grass. Anything that could cause an unexpected disturbance had to be accounted for. Caution was everything. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In his past life, he had died over a thousand times while being hunted in the wild. Most of those deaths? Stupid mistakes. A careless footstep. A snap of a twig. A brief moment of hesitation. And in dungeons? He had lost count of how many times he had been wiped out. What he did know, though¡ªhe had died far more times inside dungeons than he ever had to other players. Chapter 128 The Depths of the Unknown In Ethereal, anyone who had never tasted death wasn''t a true expert. Dying in PvP battles, treasure hunts, or high-risk adventures¡ªit was inevitable. If a player had never died and had only grinded levels by farming monsters, even if they reached Rank 1 on the Leaderboards, even if they were the highest-level player in the world, to real veterans? They were still a rookie. True elites had forged their skills through countless deaths, refining their own unique combat styles through pain and experience. Right now, Ethan was six meters away from one of the Armored Beetle Elites. Suddenly, the creature stopped moving underground. Then, with a sharp twist, it burst out of the ground, turning its massive body toward Ethan''s position. He remained perfectly still. His black panther form was pressed tightly against the cavern wall, swallowed by the shadows. It was a near-perfect hiding spot. Ethan held his breath. His muscles tensed. But then¡ª The beetle spread its armored shell, letting out a sharp, high-pitched screech. A swarm of tiny insects erupted from its body, surging toward him. "Shit. I''ve been spotted!" Ethan sprang to his feet. Instantly, the insect swarm engulfed him, their bites leaving behind a flurry of tiny damage numbers¡ª -1, -1, -1¡­ Hundreds of tiny hits chipped away at his health. Without hesitation, Ethan cast¡ª [Tree Form] ¡ú [Rejuvenation] + [Wild Growth] Two instant-cast healing skills kicked in, granting him steady HP regeneration. But it wasn''t over. The other three Armored Beetle Elites had surfaced as well, charging straight for him. The first beetle slammed its razor-sharp beak into the ground, a spike of rock shot toward Ethan''s feet. He felt the stone beneath him shift, danger surged through his instincts. With a flicker of thought, he reverted to panther form and activated the Dark Gold boots'' skill¡ª[Leap]. [Leap] Increases jump height by 300% Duration: 10 seconds Cooldown: 10 minutes S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His hind legs coiled, and with a powerful push, he shot upward, soaring nearly four meters into the air. But that wasn''t high enough. For these massive beetles, four meters only brought him level with their backs. Without missing a beat, Ethan triggered his boots'' second skill¡ª [Double Jump]. Before [Leap] expired, he kicked off the air, gaining another four meters, and soared clean over the beetle''s head. The moment Ethan landed, the beetle spun around, and the other three rushed at him. [Swift Stride] activated¡ª +70% movement speed Duration: 15 seconds Cooldown: 5 minutes Ethan''s body blurred, dashing away at impossible speed. The four massive beetles crashed into each other¡ª BANG! Their sheer size and weight sent them tumbling backward, landing on their backs with all four legs flailing helplessly. For a moment, they were completely helpless. Unfortunately, their enormous bodies had nearly blocked off the entire cavern path. Ethan took advantage of his boosted speed, his movement was now over 200% faster than normal¡ªweaving through the narrow gaps between them. The swarm of insects still clung to his body, continuously draining his HP. But thanks to his two regeneration spells, his health remained stable. Without those, he would have already been eaten alive. Ethan''s health had dropped to just 10% by the time he reached the water''s edge. One of the Armored Beetle Elites had already flipped back onto its feet, and in the next instant, it spat a stream of venom straight at him. Ethan leaped aside, barely dodging, before diving headfirst into the water. Splash! Water erupted into the air as he plunged deep beneath the surface. The tiny insects that had been swarming him scattered instantly. Some reacted too slowly and were dragged underwater, their tiny bodies twitching for a moment before they floated lifelessly to the surface. Meanwhile, the four beetles lingered at the water''s edge, circling for a while before finally deciding against following him in. One by one, they burrowed back underground, disappearing into the earth. Ethan exhaled sharply, his heart pounding in his chest. "Damn¡­ that was close." If it weren''t for his Dark Gold boots, he wouldn''t have even considered coming here. Those boots had single-handedly covered his biggest weakness here, mobility. Now that he was submerged, he activated Travel Form¡ªhis body shifted into the sleek form of a Seal, and he dove deeper into the depths. The water was murky, and despite the vision boost from Seal Form, it was still hard to see anything clearly. The currents here were strong, constantly shifting the flow of water. Even with his improved swimming abilities, keeping his balance was difficult, every time he stopped moving, he felt himself being dragged backward. After stabilizing his posture, Ethan took a moment to observe his surroundings. No monsters in sight¡­ That was a good sign. In his past life, he had visited this place before, but by then, the game was already deep into the late stages. By that point, this area had been explored countless times. One of the core mechanics of Ethereal was that many locations were incredibly dangerous on a player''s first visit. These areas often had hidden guardian monsters that never respawned after being defeated. He wasn''t sure if this place had one. After ten minutes of swimming, Ethan finally spotted a faint glow up ahead. As he got closer, he realized¡ªIt was coming from a Silver-Tier Treasure Chest, wedged into the rocky wall. He had heard rumors about an unlocked chest hidden here, and it looked like he had finally found it. Reaching out, Ethan flipped the lid open and rummaged inside. His fingers brushed against something smooth. He pulled it out¡ªa Skill Book. His eyes lit up when he checked the details. It was a finishing move for Panther Form¡ª[Rend]. [Rend] Finishing Move ¨C Inflicts Bleed Damage over time. The more Energy Points consumed, the longer the effect lasts. 1 Energy Point: Deals 200% total attack damage over 8 seconds. Each additional Energy Point: Increases duration by 4 seconds and adds +100% attack damage. Skill Performance Rating affects total damage output. Usable by: Rogues & Druids A pleasant surprise. Ethan''s skill selection was severely lacking right now, and this would be a great addition. He recalled Heaven''s Dawn mentioning that she had never needed Skill Books. Every skill she had was automatically unlocked upon leveling up. She hadn''t even known that Skill Books existed. Everyone has their own unique encounters¡­ No wonder she eventually learned [Forbidden: Rebirth]. She probably just had to reach a certain level before the game gifted it to her. Without hesitation, Ethan absorbed the skill book, immediately unlocking [Rend]. Then, without pausing, he dived deeper into the lake, pushing further into the pitch-black abyss. The darkness became so absolute that he couldn''t see his own hands. All he could do was rely on touch to navigate. His body grazed the lakebed, and as he moved, a few jagged rocks scraped against him, causing a faint sting of pain. Then, his fingers brushed against something circular. Chapter 129 The Race for Power Ethan''s heart skipped a beat as his fingers brushed against the circular object, he had found it. Shifting back into human form, a countdown timer instantly appeared on his screen, warning him of his dwindling oxygen supply. If the timer hit zero, he would drown. No time to hesitate. Gripping the ring tightly, he yanked it upward. A chain trailed beneath it, slowly rising from the depths as he pulled. Click-click-click¡­ A mechanical grinding echoed through the water. Hearing the sound, Ethan instantly switched back into Seal Form, causing the oxygen timer to vanish. Now, he could breathe freely again. On the rocky wall beside him, a hidden door¡ªover two meters tall, began to slide open. A thin beam of light pierced the darkness, cutting through the murky lakebed like a beacon. Ethan swam toward it, the glow intensifying until¡ªsplash!¡ªhe broke through the surface. Wiping water from his face, he took in his surroundings. A small, secluded pool. The landscape around him was familiar. A breathtaking canyon stretched before him, its crystal-clear springs flowing gently through narrow ravines. Towering trees swayed in the breeze, their thick foliage forming a lush canopy. Vibrant wildflowers dotted the emerald carpet of grass, their delicate fragrance drifting through the air. Sheer cliffs surrounded the valley on all sides. Even with a flying mount, it was impossible to soar over these towering rock faces. The only way in or out was through the submerged entrance he had just emerged from. Ethan stepped onto dry land and made his way deeper into the forest. The sky above shimmered an unnatural shade of green, as if the heavens here were separate from the rest of the world. In reality, this phenomenon was known as an aurora. The luminous bands of emerald light rippled across the sky, giving the valley an otherworldly glow. After walking for about ten minutes along a narrow woodland path, Ethan ventured deeper into the dense jungle. The trees here were thicker, their ancient trunks stretching skyward. The further he went, the darker it became. A thick layer of fallen leaves blanketed the forest floor, stretching endlessly into the distance. As he stepped forward, the ground beneath him felt strangely unsteady, like walking on water. Then, through the tangled undergrowth, he spotted it. A pillar of light shot up from the earth, illuminating the gloom with a blinding radiance. A grin tugged at Ethan''s lips. Floating within the light, suspended in midair, was a Scroll. His target: [Teleportation (Divine)] Approaching the glowing beam, he hesitated. The records from his past life only confirmed that a Divine Ability could be found here, but they never detailed the method of obtaining it. Could it really be this easy? Ethan highly doubted it. The valley was sealed off, yes¡ªbut that didn''t mean the scroll was just lying around for anyone to take. There had to be a guardian. Something¡­ watching. Something that hadn''t been revealed in his past life. After a brief hesitation, Ethan extended his hand toward the light, moving slowly and cautiously. His entire body was tense, ready to react at a moment''s notice. Just then¡ª Ding! [Global Announcement: The player Blast from China and their guild AngelEmpire have officially become the first Level 6 Guild worldwide.] With this achievement, a new expansion has been unlocked: Town Conquest. All Level 4 and above guilds are now eligible to participate in Town Conquest battles. In any town, once a guild stationed 1,000 or more members, a countdown timer would begin. If the guild held their position for the required duration, they would claim ownership of the town. Ownership was permanent¡ªwith a catch. For as long as they controlled the town, 5% of all shop revenue would be funneled into the guild''s bank. However, after a three-month ceasefire period, other guilds would be free to challenge their claim and launch an attack to seize control. Ethan''s hand froze mid-air. A Level 6 guild already? He had more than enough points to upgrade his own guild after securing the world''s first major boss kill, but he had deliberately held off. He wanted someone else to take the lead. The first Level 6 guild reward wasn''t bad, actually, it was incredible. The benefits for guild members alone were tempting. But the cost of upgrading? That was another story. Advancing from Level 4 to Level 5 required 10,000 gold and increased the guild''s member cap to 30,000. Going from Level 5 to Level 6? 20,000 gold¡ªfor a 50,000-member cap. And every level beyond that? 50,000 gold per upgrade, each adding 50,000 more slots. Ethan only had a little over 4,000 gold right now, not nearly enough. As for the player Blast from China, Ethan knew him well. He had the backing of one of China''s largest financial groups, and more importantly, he was ruthlessly ambitious. In his past life, AngelEmpire had been one of the biggest threats to Dragonspire. They had led multiple Nation Wars, launching full-scale invasions against his homeland. Ethan opened his chat window and sent a private message to Skyblade. "Drop everything. Get every member back to the city. Set up in the towns. Take as many as you can. If you see another guild with 1,000+ members in a town, wipe them out." The final word in his message carried a chilling weight. Skyblade responded immediately. "Understood. But¡­ we can kill people inside towns?" Ethan smirked. "The Town Conquest system is now active. Once a guild has over 1,000 players in a town, they''re automatically placed in war mode against any other guild that meets the same criteria. Inside those towns? It''s a free-for-all." "Got it. I just got intel¡ªBlade Syndicate is already on the move. One group is heading for Duskridge, while the rest are splitting up to hit other small towns." Ethan chuckled. "Greedy bastards. They can''t take every town. Scout their numbers in Duskridge, that''s our main target. Looks like it''s time for another brawl with Blade Syndicate." "Understood. I''m taking my squad there now," Skyblade replied before going silent. With those orders handled, Ethan refocused on the scroll floating in the light pillar before him. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Enough waiting. He snatched the scroll and tossed it into his inventory. Ding! [System Message: You have obtained Ability Scroll: Teleportation (Divine)] Suddenly¡ª The ground shuddered violently, deep fractures splitting the earth. Something massive was forcing its way up from below. Ethan didn''t wait to find out what it was. Spinning on his heel, he shifted into Stag Form and bolted toward the pool where he had entered. His incredible speed had him there in seconds. But when he arrived, he stopped dead. The pool was gone. Massive boulders had crashed down, completely sealing the exit. What the hell? How had the last guy who obtained the scroll escaped in his past life? Was there¡­ another exit? Before he could figure it out, a thunderous roar split the air. At the same time, a system notification flashed before his eyes. Chapter 130 Marked for Death Ding! [Global Announcement: Player ''NotADruid'' from the Northern Frontier Region (Dragonspire) has obtained Ability Scroll: Teleportation (Divine) at coordinates 54945.126574.36164. Holding Time: 0 hours, 10 minutes. If the scroll remains in possession for 12 hours, it will become usable. Until then, the holder''s coordinates will be broadcast every 10 minutes. Players, seize your chance to claim it! If the scroll changes hands, the timer resets. For the next 12 hours, Ethereal''s servers will remain online without shutdown.] The world barely had time to process the Level 6 guild announcement and the Town Conquest wars, and now, this. A Divine Ability Scroll had appeared, throwing the entire player base into chaos. For a brief moment, no one knew how to react. But Ethan had zero time to care about any of that. Because right behind him, a massive head emerged from the canyon''s fractured earth. Then, a hulking torso followed, its enormous frame clawing its way free. When the creature fully revealed itself, Ethan saw its name floating above its head: [Ancient Riftwalker] Ethan immediately activated Basic Appraisal. [Ancient Riftwalker] Rank: Elite Level: 69 HP: ??? Attack: ??? Defense: ??? That was all he could see, but it was enough. A Level 69 Elite? For Ethan, this thing was a world boss. Even if he shifted into Stag Form or Bear Form, he''d be one-shot instantly. There was no fighting this. The only option? Run. But the entrance was blocked. Where the hell was he supposed to go? "Roar! Foolish human, I''ve finally found you!" Ethan froze. ''It¡­ can talk?'' And what did it mean by finally found me? His eyes narrowed as he examined the Riftwalker more closely. Then, he spotted it. Perched atop the creature''s head was a shadowy figure, cloaked in deep violet and black mist. Something about it felt¡­ eerily familiar. "Caw, caw, caw¡­" Before Ethan could react, the shadow burst into mist and seeped into the Riftwalker''s body¡ªthrough its nostrils, mouth, and ears. The twenty-meter-tall Riftwalker let out an earth-shaking howl. Then, its body began to mutate. Wings. From its back, a pair of massive, pitch-black wings unfurled, like those of a raven. Ethan''s stomach dropped. Without thinking, he activated Appraisal again. [Evolved Ancient Riftwalker (Crowling God Anzu)] Rank: Commander Level: 99 Other stats: ??? Commander Rank. Level 99. This thing wasn''t just overpowered, it was a death sentence. "Crowling God?" Ethan''s mind raced. That shadowy figure must''ve been the real cause of the Riftwalker''s evolution. But why? It was already impossible to fight in its previous state, what was the point of making it even stronger? The newly evolved Riftwalker didn''t attack right away. Instead, it grinned mockingly and spoke in a deep, guttural voice. "Foolish human. I told you¡ªI remember your scent. Caw, caw, caw¡­" Ethan stiffened. Wait¡­ That voice. That phrase. Suddenly, it all clicked. Back when he was Level 5, he had done the Owl Form transformation quest. One of the quest bosses had been a Crowling creature, and after slaying it, he had looted an insanely powerful Warlock staff. At the time, the system had given him a special warning, because he had killed a clone of a Pseudo-Divine entity, it would remember him. And¡ª It would periodically descend into the world¡­ to hunt him down. So much time had passed without incident that Ethan had completely forgotten about the system warning. But now, staring at the monstrous figure before him, he remembered. That Pseudo-Divine entity? Its name was Crowling God Anzu. And the Ancient Riftwalker was merely a vessel for its descent. Ethan frowned. The creature wasn''t rushing to kill him, it was playing with him. A twisted game of cat and mouse. Taking the opportunity, he scanned his surroundings, desperately searching for an escape route. The possessed Riftwalker chuckled darkly, its deep voice echoing across the valley. "Foolish human, are you looking for a way out? Give up. I have already sealed the only exit, the water pool behind you. Caw, caw, caw¡­ Unless you control spatial magic, you have no way out. Now, be a good little pet and accept your fate as my slave!" Ethan''s heart sank. So it was true. That pool really was the only exit. In his past life, the player who had taken the Divine Ability Scroll had escaped through that very route. But now? That exit was buried, the entire pool collapsed under a pile of boulders. All because of this damn Crowling God. Was this really it? Was he really going to die here? More importantly¡ªhe''d drop the Wishbound Relic upon death. Would he ever get another chance to reclaim it? Opening his inventory, Ethan stared at the Wishbound Relic, still lying untouched in his bag. Would he lose it¡­ in this life, too? Just as despair began creeping in, his gaze landed on something else in his inventory. A dull gray scroll, sitting right next to the relic. Ethan''s eyes lit up. Then, his lips curled into a grin. How could he have forgotten about this? Without hesitation, he grabbed the scroll and clenched it in his fist. "You stupid bird!" Ethan sneered. "You think you can keep me here? Maybe in your next life!" Before Anzu could react, Ethan crushed the scroll in his hand. A wave of magic surged, wrapping around his entire body. A second later, he vanished. --- When Ethan reappeared, he was far away from the valley, standing atop a distant ridge. From here, he could see the towering cliffs that enclosed the hidden canyon. He exhaled sharply, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Made it out¡­" That had been way too close. His lifesaver? A Random Teleport Scroll. He had only ever found one, way back in the Starter Zone, after exploiting a bug to kill that rare giant rat boss. And now¡­ that 8,000 gold scroll was gone. The loss stung, but it was nothing compared to losing the Wishbound Relic. Shaking his head, Ethan turned toward the road leading downhill. Not far from here was Duskridge. Skyblade and his squad were probably already fighting for control of the town. Duskridge was the only town in the region spanning Levels 25 to 55, which made it a must-have. The player level range was broad, meaning this town would remain crowded for a long time. More importantly, its location was strategic. To the north: Direct access to Harmony City. To the west: A Level 25-35 hunting zone. To the east: A Level 35-50 hunting zone. To the south: A Level 50-55 zone, with a barrier leading toward the Central Dominion. Most crucially, Duskridge housed the largest teleportation array outside of the main cities, capable of transporting thousands of players at once. Owning this town meant absolute control over future guild wars and even regional war campaigns. With that in mind, Ethan picked up his pace, heading toward Duskridge. But just as he started moving¡ª BOOM! A thunderous explosion erupted behind him. His heart skipped a beat. Spinning around, his eyes widened. Above the valley, a massive cloud of dark fire churned violently, blocking out the sky. A monstrous figure loomed within, its silhouette crackling with raw destruction, like a harbinger of death, risen straight from the abyss. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 131 The Siege of Duskridge "Oh, come on¡­ it evolved AGAIN?!" Ethan''s stomach twisted as he stared at the monstrous figure looming within the swirling black clouds. There was no mistaking it, this was the same Ancient Riftwalker he had faced earlier. Except now, it had transformed once more. Its massive wings were fully spread, its entire body engulfed in violet-black flames. And then¡ª BOOM! It smashed straight through the canyon wall, bursting into the open sky. Ethan didn''t hesitate. He shifted into Stag Form and sprinted for his life. A Pseudo-Divine entity was already terrifying, but now, it had evolved twice. Was there even a limit to how many times it could evolve? For all Ethan knew, if this thing kept going, it might eventually summon its true body into the world. The sealed canyon wasn''t far from Duskridge, only about ten kilometers east of town. The area was mostly open plains, with the canyon''s rocky cliffs being the only major landmark in sight. But now, the earth trembled violently, sending shockwaves across the region. Over in Duskridge, thousands of players felt the tremors beneath their feet. A ripple of unease spread through the crowd. "What the hell is happening?" "Look! East! The mountain!" Above the distant cliffs, a storm of black fire churned restlessly. Within it, an enormous creature hovered in mid-air, its vast wings beating against the sky. Its body burned with twisted purple flames, radiating an aura of pure destruction. Then, a deep, guttural voice boomed across the land, carrying for kilometers. "Foolish human¡­ Caw, caw¡­" Even from ten kilometers away, every player in Duskridge heard it clearly. --- At that moment, inside Duskridge, Skyblade was leading over 3,000 Renegade Alliance members in an all-out battle against Blade Syndicate. Just as he prepared to strike down an enemy, a private message popped up on his screen. Frowning, he opened it. Then, he froze. "Retreat. Head north. Get to Harmony City. Now." Skyblade''s brow furrowed. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Boss, we''re about to take over Duskridge, why are we pulling out?" A second later, Ethan''s voice boomed through the team chat. "Shut up and RUN. If you don''t, you''re all dead." Without another word, Skyblade turned and sprinted toward the northern city gates. The rest of his guild hesitated. But when they saw their leader retreating, they gritted their teeth and followed. Abandoning the fight, 3,000 players surged out of Duskridge, retreating like a tidal wave. --- On the other side, the Blade Syndicate forces stood in stunned silence. They had been fighting tooth and nail, and now, their enemies were running away? Some players instinctively chased after them. "Idiots! Get back here!" A furious voice snapped them back to reality. Their leader¡ªMarcus Skeiner, stood tall, watching Skyblade''s retreat with a smug grin. "Cowards. One monster shows up, and you all scatter? Pathetic." To him, this was laughable. The highest-level monsters near Duskridge were only Level 50 Elites. Even if some freak boss had appeared, it couldn''t be stronger than Level 60. Besides, Duskridge''s city guards were all Level 79 Elites, and its Town Chief was a Level 89 Commander-tier NPC. As long as they stayed inside the town, what was there to fear? He had no idea. The creature wasn''t Level 50. It wasn''t Level 60. Before its second evolution, it was already Level 99 Commander-tier. And now, It was something even worse. --- Back on the plains, Ethan was sprinting at full speed toward Duskridge. As much as he wanted to run straight to Harmony City, he knew he had no chance of outrunning the Riftwalker. His only hope was to reach Duskridge''s city guards, maybe they could hold the monster off for a while. Just long enough for him to escape. But before he could make it¡ª BOOM. A deafening explosion erupted behind him. Ethan''s heart pounded as he whipped around. Above the distant canyon, the black flames thickened, swirling into a monstrous storm. Then, a colossal figure emerged from the chaos. Its presence was overwhelming, its aura dripping with pure annihilation. It was like staring at a demon god, risen straight from the abyss. And now, It was coming for him. The guards in Harmony City weren''t just strong, each one was Level 200. But Ethan wasn''t there yet. And the mutated Ancient Riftwalker was gaining on him fast. The creature muttered an unknown spell, its deep voice resonating with an eerie power. Above, the black clouds swirled violently, condensing into a storm of blazing fireballs. A second later¡ª BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The ground shook violently as fiery projectiles rained from the sky, detonating on impact. Flames erupted everywhere, spreading rapidly across the plains. Ethan had teleported roughly two kilometers from Duskridge. That put him ten kilometers from the canyon, meaning he had only covered one kilometer since escaping. Meanwhile, the Riftwalker had already crossed five kilometers. At this rate, they would reach Duskridge at the same time. There was no time for strategy, he had to run. Ducking and weaving, Ethan dodged the relentless rain of black fireballs, sprinting full speed toward the town. But the attack''s range was too wide, even Duskridge itself was now being bombarded. One particularly massive fireball, wreathed in black flames, tore through the sky and slammed directly into Duskridge''s eastern district. --- [Duskridge Alert: A powerful (Demigod-Tier) entity has appeared east of town. All players are advised to evacuate immediately to avoid unnecessary casualties.] --- Ethan''s eyes twitched. Demigod-tier? He had expected Commander-tier, maybe even Pseudo-Divine. But Demigod?! Even Crowling God Anzu was only Pseudo-Divine, one rank below Demigod. Yet somehow, it had forced the Ancient Riftwalker to evolve straight to Demigod-tier? That was insane. In Duskridge, Marcus Skeiner stared in disbelief. A Demigod-tier monster wasn''t something a single guild, or even an army of NPC guards could handle. At that moment, he finally understood why Skyblade had ordered a retreat. "Damn it¡­" Marcus gritted his teeth. But was it too late to escape now? He wasn''t sure. Because the Riftwalker was less than a kilometer away. --- Ethan finally reached Duskridge''s outskirts, but he didn''t stop, he immediately veered toward the north gate''s teleportation array. However, before he could get there, a brilliant white light flashed ahead. From the teleportation array, a battalion of fully armored NPC soldiers materialized. They wore polished silver plate armor, their weapons gleaming under the dim sky. Emblazoned on their chest plates was a bold Silverhawk emblem. Over hundreds of them swiftly formed ranks in Duskridge''s central plaza. Ethan came to an abrupt halt. Because standing at the front of the formation, Was a man he recognized. Roland Carter, Captain of Harmony City''s First Guard Squadron. It seemed Harmony City had dispatched reinforcements after detecting the attack on Duskridge. --- Harmony City had two elite military forces: 1. The Northern Frontier Army ¨C A two-million-strong force, commanded by the Supreme General of the Northern Frontier. 2. The City Guard ¨C A smaller but elite force of 100,000, directly under Harmony City''s ruler. Though fewer in number, each City Guard soldier was a Level 200 Elite, not to be underestimated. And right now, Roland Carter had personally led a squad of them to defend Duskridge. --- Seeing the reinforcements, the players in Duskridge breathed a sigh of relief. All eyes turned to the colossal creature approaching the town''s gates. It had the body of a panther, the wings of a crow, and a fierce, storm-wreathed head, with eyes crackling like rolling thunder. Some players smirked. A Demigod-tier boss had spawned. A massive NPC army had arrived. A huge battle was about to erupt. Maybe, just maybe¡­ they could profit from this. Chapter 132 Wrath They weren''t the only ones who had that thought. The moment Marcus Skeiner spotted the incoming wave of NPCs, he wasted no time. He issued a rallying call in the guild, summoning every available member to Duskridge. Other players quickly followed suit, reporting the situation in their own guilds. Before long, the major guilds started mobilizing, sending reinforcements in droves. Everyone wanted a piece of the action. Within minutes, a flood of players teleported into Duskridge, overwhelming the once-quiet town. At first, some had retreated after hearing the system alert. But now, with reinforcements pouring in, the town became packed beyond belief. Guilds from Northern Frontier Region¡ªWasteland Dominion, Eternal Glory, Unrivaled Honor, Whispering Bamboo, and others, each sent thousands of members. Even Whispering Bamboo, a guild composed entirely of female players, showed up with an army of thousands, drawing the attention of every nearby player. A Demigod-tier monster dropping a single piece of gear was an opportunity no one could ignore. The entire town sprang into action. Towers extended their ballistae and cannons, ready for battle. Ethan looked up. The Evolved Ancient Riftwalker loomed above, its massive wings, dark as a raven''s, casting an ominous shadow over the town. A deep hum filled the air as the creature chanted a spell, black clouds rapidly consuming the sky. Yet, it didn''t attack immediately. It simply hovered there, scanning the town as if searching for something. For a long moment, neither side made a move. Then, the system alert rang out. Ding¡­ [System Alert: Player ''NotADruid'' is currently carrying a Divine Ability Scroll. Current coordinates: 56515.23674.15642. Remaining possession time: 30 minutes.] Ethan''s face darkened. "Oh, come on¡­" Of all times, the system had to broadcast his coordinates now? Everyone received the message. They checked the numbers. That was inside Duskridge. Was the monster here because of him? The Riftwalker was scanning the area like it was looking for something. Did NotADruid¡­ steal its treasure to get the Divine Ability Scroll? Speculation spread like wildfire. Then, the Riftwalker''s gaze locked onto a section of town. It uttered a guttural incantation, and the storm above thickened. A hail of black fireballs rained down like falling stars, engulfing the houses below. "Damn it! It found me?!" Ethan burst from a building just as a fireball obliterated it. Explosions rocked the ground. Each impact left a half-meter crater, debris flying everywhere. The earth scorched black. Without hesitation, Ethan shifted into Panther Form. He tracked the incoming fireballs, predicting their trajectory while weaving between safe spots. Luckily, the bombardment wasn''t overly dense, but the sheer power behind each blast was terrifying. Buildings collapsed, the streets shattered, and wooden shards and stone fragments pelted Ethan as he sprinted through the chaos. -1, -5, -4, -20, -8¡­ Numbers flooded his screen as minor injuries stacked up. And then, the Evolved Ancient Riftwalker tucked its wings and dove straight at him. A creature of this level¡­ Ethan knew he didn''t stand a chance. Even the slightest touch would be fatal. Activating his boots'' Swift Stride ability, his speed shot up by 70%. A streak of black, Ethan bolted¡ª BOOM! The Evolved Ancient Riftwalker slammed into the spot where Ethan had just stood. The ground collapsed beneath the impact, and even the creature itself staggered from the recoil before regaining balance. Ethan had dodged the direct hit, but the explosion''s shockwave still sent him flying. -1520! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A massive damage number floated above his head. Just the impact alone had wiped out half his health. The Riftwalker, failing to land its strike, flapped its massive wings and ascended again. Meanwhile, Ethan quickly found another hiding spot. Peering through a narrow gap, he watched as the creature circled above. "If I were a Rogue, I could just Stealth and disappear," Ethan muttered under his breath. "No way it could see through my stealth from that high up." But now? He had no choice but to keep running while being hunted like prey. Frustrating. Through the gap, Ethan''s gaze locked onto the Riftwalker. At that exact moment, its head snapped toward him. Their eyes met. "Shit." As expected, the Riftwalker adjusted mid-air, tucking its wings back for another dive attack. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Boom! Boom! Boom! Finally, the ballistae and cannons stationed on the town walls and watchtowers roared to life. Massive bolts and cannon shells slammed into the Riftwalker''s body. "Kraaahhh!" It shrieked in pain, its altitude rising slightly in response to the attacks. "You pathetic humans¡­ all of you will die!" Clearly, the assault had enraged it. A guttural incantation rolled from its throat, words incomprehensible yet brimming with power. Above, the sky twisted, forming a massive vortex. From its swirling core, a fifty-meter-wide sphere of purple-black energy began to descend. "Activate the town''s barrier!" Roland Carter shouted from the tower. [ALERT! ALERT! Duskridge is under attack by a high-tier entity!] A siren blared through every player''s interface. A golden-transparent shield expanded over Duskridge, enveloping the town in a protective dome. BOOM! The dark sphere smashed against the barrier, detonating on impact. Like ink igniting, black flames splattered across the shield, clinging to it instead of dissipating. The entire town trembled. Players felt the heat seeping through, even from behind the protective layer. Unlike normal fire, this dark flame continued to burn, eating away at the shield like corrosive acid. The world outside turned eerily dark, as though smothered by thick ink. "Fire!" Roland''s command echoed through the city. Every ballista and cannon unleashed another wave of destruction. Countless bolts, cannonballs, and magical projectiles tore through the sky, converging on the Riftwalker. Players joined the assault. Tens of thousands filled the streets, and nearly every guild had sent ranged fighters¡ªArchers, Mages, Warlocks, and Priests, to battle the airborne threat. Melee players? Only a few could be seen. Everyone had heard: This thing flies. So there wasn''t really any point bringing a sword to a sky battle. Despite the relentless assault, the Riftwalker kept casting. Under its attacks, the protective barrier began to crack. CRACK! Then¡ª BOOM! The barrier shattered. With nothing left in its way, the Riftwalker dove straight into the town. Its massive foot came crashing down. An entire building crumbled beneath its weight, debris exploding outward. Players scattered. The real fight had begun. Chapter 133 Breaking the Chains "Melee fighters, fall back!" A crisp, commanding voice rang out near Ethan''s hiding spot. He turned toward the source and spotted a female player from Whispering Bamboo issuing orders. From his position, he could only see her in profile. Was she the guild leader? Or maybe a high-ranking officer? Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Either way, calling for melee fighters to retreat was the smart move. Unfortunately, not everyone shared that level of awareness. "It''s on the ground! Shield Tanks, get up there and hold the line!" Marcus Skeiner''s voice thundered across the battlefield. Right now, Blade Syndicate had the largest presence in Duskridge¡ªover eight thousand members had answered the call. Marcus had practically mobilized his entire guild. "Boss¡­ it''s level 99¡­" A hesitant Shield Tank barely got the words out before the Evolved Ancient Riftwalker stomped him into paste. He wasn''t the only one. More than a hundred melee players, nearly all from Blade Syndicate were crushed in an instant. Marcus cursed. "I don''t care¡ªkeep attacking! All ranged classes, hit it with everything you''ve got!" His mind wasn''t on the casualties. A level 99 Demigod-tier boss? If it dropped even a Dark Gold item, the rewards would be more than worth the losses. Blade Syndicate members, however, had no real strategy, just a mindless charge. Every time the Riftwalker even twitched, someone got sent flying. Then, suddenly, a squad of NPC soldiers emerged. Twenty of them. All level 200 Elite NPCs. Normally, a level 200 fighter against a level 99 monster would mean an easy victory. But in Ethereal, level wasn''t everything. A monster''s tier mattered far more. The Elite Town Guards rushed in, forming a tight perimeter around the Riftwalker. Their shields and weapons struck like relentless rain, locking the massive creature in place. For a moment, they actually managed to hold it down. "Kraaahhh!" The Riftwalker suddenly erupted in black fire, its burning claws swiping through the ranks. Each strike sent a level 200 guard flying. The soldiers crashed into buildings, flames consuming their bodies. Structures collapsed, the streets turning to scorched ruin. Then¡ª "Soulrend Piercing Bolt!" A cold, commanding voice echoed through Duskridge. A wave of deathly energy surged across the battlefield, sending chills down Ethan''s spine. He turned toward the voice. Roland Carter, Captain of Duskridge''s First Guard Squadron, stood atop the watchtower. In his hands was a massive crossbow, nearly five feet long. It looked¡­ plain. No excessive decorations, just a simple, well-crafted weapon. But, It gleamed with seven-colored light. Ethan''s eyes narrowed. What tier of weapon was that? Something else struck him as odd. Every time he''d seen Roland, the man had a sheathed longsword at his waist and a shield on his back. Ethan had assumed he was a Shield Tank. But now? A crossbow user? Shield on his back, sword at his side¡ªwas that supposed to look cool? The Riftwalker, still controlled by the Crowling God, must have sensed the danger. It struggled violently, trying to break free. But with thousands of Shield Tanks and a squad of elite NPC defenders pinning it down, it couldn''t move. A Demigod-tier boss¡­ but still only level 99. For the first time in this fight¡ªit was vulnerable. Despite the Riftwalker''s overwhelming power, the relentless attacks had slowed it down considerably. Whoosh¡ªBOOM! Roland Carter finally fired. The Soulrend Piercing Bolt tore through the air with a deafening sonic boom. And went straight through the Riftwalker''s skull. The entire bolt sank into its body. Yet, strangely, it dealt no damage. For a brief moment, the Riftwalker''s body stiffened. Then, thick black mist burst from its eyes, nostrils, and mouth, spiraling into the air with an agonized shriek. "Damn you humans! That wretched Soulbreaker Crossbow¡­ You''ve wounded my very soul! I will never forgive this!" The voice of the Crowling God, Anzu echoed within the dissipating darkness, its presence slowly fading from the battlefield. Ethan narrowed his eyes. It worked. The Riftwalker''s obsidian-black eyes turned blood-red. Anzu''s control had been shattered. But, Its evolved form didn''t revert. Its power remained the same. Only now, it had lost all rationality. It rampaged blindly, attacking everything in sight. Ethan glanced back at Roland''s weapon. That crossbow¡­ it was specialized for soul-based attacks. So that''s why it was glowing with seven-colored light. Ethan suddenly felt a lot less interested in this fight. With Anzu gone, the Riftwalker was no longer a major threat. Time to leave. He checked the battlefield. Everyone was too focused on the chaos to notice him slipping away. Ethan took the opportunity to sneak toward the northern gate. Just as he reached it, a massive army of over eight thousand players charged toward the town. Leading the front was Skyblade, Slashblade, and SeraphWarrior. Behind them, Lyla accompanied by her pet. And behind her, the rest of the eight-thousand-strong force. Right at the town''s entrance, Ethan and the advancing guild locked eyes. Skyblade, Slashblade, and SeraphWarrior stopped in their tracks upon recognizing him. "Boss!" Ethan blinked. ''Huh?'' "Wait, what are you guys doing here?" Skyblade stepped forward. "Boss, the system broadcasted your coordinates inside Duskridge. We thought you were trapped¡ªso we came to rescue you!" Lyla approached as well, concern in her eyes. "Are you okay?" Ethan looked at his guildmates, his heart warming at their loyalty. These guys¡­ really came all this way just to save him? "I''m fine," he said, smiling. "Thanks, everyone." Skyblade turned back to the guild. "Boss is safe! Charge into the city and loot the boss!" Ethan''s warm feelings instantly evaporated. Something felt¡­ off. His expression darkened. Lifting his foot, he kicked Skyblade square in the chest. "You bastard! You used me as an excuse to gather everyone just so you could farm loot, didn''t you?!" Skyblade, still recovering from the kick, stammered awkwardly. "N-no, of course not! We were already here¡­ figured we might as well, y''know, make the most of it¡­" Ethan massaged his temples. "¡­Forget it." He took a deep breath and issued orders. "Pull back. That boss isn''t dropping anything useful. Instead, split into teams and start securing territory." Skyblade looked disappointed. "We''re not taking Duskridge?" Ethan glanced around at the wrecked town. Taking it over now would mean massive repair costs. Even if they fully rebuilt it, taxed it at 5%, and managed a steady income, It would still take at least six months to break even. This wasn''t an investment. It was a financial sinkhole. He wasn''t taking the bait. Whoever was dumb enough to claim Duskridge right now could have it. And if Ethan had to bet, that fool was probably Marcus Skeiner. Chapter 134 A Fools Battle Ethan quickly split his forces into four squads. Each squad was led by Slashblade, Skyblade, SeraphWarrior, and Meatball. Each leader took 2,000 players, heading toward the four closest towns to Duskridge, one in each cardinal direction. Though these towns weren''t as large as Duskridge, they had strategic value. In the future, if anyone wanted to take control of Duskridge, these locations would serve as fast-travel hubs for a siege. So, Ethan''s plan? Let Blade Syndicate waste resources rebuilding Duskridge. Once they finished fixing it up, he''d take it from them in one decisive strike. Just imagining Marcus Skeiner''s reaction made Ethan smirk. Slashblade glanced at him. "Boss, you''re carrying that Divine Ability Scroll. The system broadcasts your coordinates every ten minutes¡ªshouldn''t we leave some people with you for backup?" Ethan chuckled. "Lyla''s with me. That''s all I need." Slashblade shot a glance at Lyla, then nodded. "Fair enough." "Alright, I''m heading out. Once I capture Redridge Town, I''m logging off." Slashblade stretched. Ethan smirked at him. "Yeah, yeah. Take care of yourself. Maybe grab a handful of almonds¡ªthey''re good for stamina, if you know what I mean." Slashblade''s face flushed red as he quickly led his team toward Redridge. Ethan and Lyla lingered at the northern gate, taking one last look inside Duskridge. The town was almost completely leveled. The Evolved Ancient Riftwalker, though weaker after regaining its free will, had unleashed its signature ability¡ªRift Step. A short-range teleport it could spam indefinitely. With its ability to blink all over the battlefield, the players were struggling to keep up. Still, the sheer number of players, combined with NPC guards and siege weapons, had brought its HP down to 40%. "Let''s go." Ethan shifted into Stag Form. Lyla hopped onto his back, and he galloped northward. --- Inside Duskridge sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sky was filled with projectiles, arrows, bullets, cannonballs, and spells. Thousands of melee players and Shield Tanks charged at the Riftwalker like a suicidal wave, sacrificing themselves to give ranged players enough time to chip away at its health. But its short-range teleports made it a nightmare to pin down. The death toll was staggering. Almost every guild active near Harmony City had joined the battle. Except for Renegade Alliance. And one other group. Shortly after Ethan left Duskridge, Whispering Bamboo also withdrew from the fight. Maybe it was female intuition, but Misty Cloud, one of Whispering Bamboo''s two guild leaders, had a bad feeling. She had noticed Ethan''s hiding spot earlier. When the system broadcasted his coordinates, she knew exactly where he was. She also saw him leave toward the northern gate. And then¡ª Instead of storming into the city, Renegade Alliance split into four groups and left in different directions. NotADruid? He didn''t even look back. That confirmed her suspicion. This entire mess was his fault. And now he was gone. Misty Cloud''s scouts had overheard Ethan''s conversation. He had flat-out said that the Evolved Ancient Riftwalker wouldn''t drop any loot. And if anyone knew what he was talking about, it was him. A Demigod-tier boss should be an irresistible prize. Even if a guild lost thousands of players, the potential rewards were worth the cost. Yet, NotADruid, the Newbie King, the so-called Druid God¡ªhad chosen to walk away. Misty Cloud hesitated, then gave the order. "We''re pulling out." She trusted her instincts. But that didn''t mean she was done here. The Riftwalker might not drop gear¡­ but once the meatheads in town turned on each other, there''d be plenty of loot lying around. She just had to wait for the right moment. --- "The Riftwalker is almost dead! Get ready to loot!" Someone''s voice cut through the battlefield, triggering a frenzy. Players rushed forward, desperate to land the final hit. Another wave of ranged attacks rained down, chipping away at the last of its HP. Individually, each attack did barely any damage. But with thousands of players, NPC guards, and siege weapons blasting it simultaneously, It was only a matter of time. Another volley of cannon fire erupted. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. The Riftwalker collapsed. And then, Its body vanished instantly. For a moment, silence reigned. "Where''s the loot?!" "Who took the drops?!" "It had to be someone nearby¡ªKILL THEM!" The melee players surrounding the Riftwalker¡ªdrawn from every major guild, had no idea what had just happened. So they did the logical thing. They started murdering each other. A Dual-Blade Warrior from Eternal Glory was the first to snap. Activating Berserk Mode, he lunged at the nearest player who, just minutes ago, had been his ally. Before his blades could land, dozens of spells crashed down on him at once. He vanished in a flash of white light, along with the poor bastard he had attacked. And then, the real massacre began. Ranged players, still high on adrenaline, turned on the very melee fighters who had risked their lives to protect them. They unleashed their most powerful spells and skills, faster than they had against the boss. "FUCK!" Marcus Skeiner, watching his free loot slip through his fingers, snapped. "SCREW IT! KILL THEM ALL!" He assumed¡ªlike everyone else, that some bastard had ninja-looted the drops. And so, Blade Syndicate, Wasteland Dominion, Eternal Glory, Unrivaled Honor, and dozens of smaller guilds lunged into an all-out war. Magic exploded in all directions. Warriors charged forward, spinning their blades, only to be blown to pieces before they even reached their targets. A Mage tried to retreat¡ªonly for eight Rogues to materialize behind him, gutting him instantly. The Rogues? They were immediately shredded by a storm of arrows. For ten straight minutes, the battle raged. By the time the chaos settled, every single player had lost 1-2 levels from constant deaths. The once crowded battlefield was now a graveyard, littered with countless corpses and abandoned loot. At some point, everyone just stopped fighting. The guild leaders stared at each other, then at what was left of their forces. Each guild had started with thousands of players. Now? Most had barely 200-300 left. Just then, a new force stormed through the northern gate. Over four thousand players. And they were all women. Chapter 135 Trap Everything currently happening in Duskridge had nothing to do with Ethan. Right now, he was carrying Lyla on his back, heading north at first, then veering east. After reaching the coastline, they found a stretch of beach, plopped down, and basked in the sea breeze, watching the waves roll in. The system reported Ethan''s location every ten minutes. Yet, for over four hours, they stayed put. At this point, Ethan had been holding onto the Divine Ability Scroll for six hours. Time was running down. In reality, it was already 8 PM. Normally, Ethereal would be offline by now, entering its daily sleep mode. But today, because of Ethan''s acquisition of the Divine Ability Scroll, the game remained open. As Ethan and Lyla played by the shore, he noticed more and more scouts lurking nearby. Back in Harmony City, several major guilds had suffered massive losses because of that Demigod-tier Boss. Only Whispering Bamboo had managed to walk away with a fortune. Of course, Renegade Alliance had also gained control over four towns. But all their attention remained on Ethan. Seeing that his coordinates hadn''t changed in three or four hours, they got suspicious. Naturally, they assumed Ethan had brought a massive force of thousands and was camping there. Badly wounded from their recent defeats, none of the guilds wanted to make the first move. "Let''s go. Too many flies buzzing around." With Lyla still on his back, Ethan started moving south along the shoreline. The scouts watching him immediately sent reports back to their guilds. That''s when they realized¡ªEthan wasn''t leading an army. He was just hanging out with a girl, sightseeing. Then, he shifted into Stag Form. At that point, no one could possibly keep up with him. He kept heading south, stopping again to take in the scenery. Again. And again. The guild leaders, at first, thought Ethan was taunting them. But when he hit the ten-hour mark with the Divine Ability Scroll, they couldn''t sit still anymore. Elite squads were sent out, converging on the coordinates reported by the system. Ethan and Lyla, like startled deer, bolted the moment anyone got close. Time was running out. Frustrated, the guild leaders took charge themselves, leading the chase. From their perspective, Ethan was running in a panic, taking random paths to escape. Until, to their surprise, he sprinted straight into Redridge Mountain. Everyone knew Redridge was a maze¡ªmountains overlapping to form countless valleys and dead ends. "Boss, they ran into that gorge ahead! Our guys say it''s long, but there''s no way out." The guild leaders from Wasteland Dominion, Eternal Glory, and Unrivaled Honor all received the same report. "Where the hell is Blade Syndicate?" one of them asked. The three guilds had formed an alliance after their devastating loss earlier. Along with Marcus Skeiner, they were now four guilds strong. "That dumbass Marcus? He''s probably lost," scoffed Wasteland Dominion''s leader, Nocturne. "Tch. If we hadn''t taken such a beating, I wouldn''t even bother working with him. His guild is full of idiots," sneered Eternal Glory''s leader, Tyrant Solitude. Unrivaled Honor''s leader, Frostbite, sighed. "Back in Duskridge, we had everything settled with those women from Whispering Bamboo¡ªthey''d take 30% of the loot, we''d split the rest. But then Renegade Alliance came out of nowhere, surrounded us from four directions, and crushed us. And to top it off, they didn''t even pretend to play fair. Just straight-up wiped us out. Those Bitches from Whispering Bamboo really left us out to dry." "They probably sided with Renegade Alliance," Nocturne muttered. "Think about it, did any of you see them when we were fighting the Boss? When we were killing each other over loot, did they show up? No. They waited until we were all battered and exhausted before jumping in. And Renegade Alliance? They showed up right after that¡ªafter they''d already secured control of four towns. This was a disaster. Renegade Alliance walked away with everything. I heard they only took half of our dropped loot and handed the other half to Whispering Bamboo." Tyrant Solitude''s expression darkened. "Just thinking about it pisses me off. If Blade Syndicate hadn''t started that fight, we wouldn''t have gone at each other''s throats. And now we have to ally with Marcus Skeiner? That''s even worse." "Shut it. They''re here." A squad approached from the distance, led by none other than Marcus Skeiner himself. He didn''t bother with greetings. "Hey! They went inside?" The three guild leaders acted like they didn''t hear him. Who did he think he was, barking orders at them? "Hey! I''m talking to you," Marcus repeated. Tyrant Solitude finally snapped. "Who the hell do you think you''re talking to? We''re partners, not your lackeys. If you wanna know so badly, go in and see for yourself. I''m done with this." Without another word, he waved for his men to withdraw from the canyon entrance. Marcus stood there, stunned. Then rage took over. No one had ever spoken to him like that. He was about to explode when Nocturne and Frostbite quickly stepped in. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Come on, Marcus, don''t waste your breath," Nocturne said smoothly. "Tyrant Solitude''s always been hot-tempered. Look on the bright side¡ªnow that he''s out, that''s one less guild we have to split the loot with." That seemed to calm him down. "Hmph. Fine. Let''s move. Block them inside the canyon." The remaining three guilds¡ª12,000 players in total, flooded into the gorge. The passage was narrow, barely wide enough for four people to walk side by side. Marcus led the charge. At the End of the Canyon Ethan lounged under the shade of a massive umbrella. Beside him, Lyla relaxed on a beach chair, happily munching on fruit they had bought from the system store. "Ethan, are you sure about this? We just made enemies out of three guilds." "And? If you kill, be prepared to be killed. They want my head? They better be ready to lose theirs. Besides, in Harmony City, only two Level 4 guilds matter¡ªus and Blade Syndicate. This fight was always going to happen." Ethan stretched lazily, unconcerned as a message came in from Skyblade. "Boss, Marcus Skeiner is 2,000 meters away." Ethan''s gaze flicked to the horizon, where dust clouds were beginning to rise. "They all inside yet?" he asked. "Almost. By the time you meet Marcus, their entire force will be in the canyon." Ethan stood, folding up the beach chairs and packing away the snacks. "Lyla, time to go. We''ve toyed with them long enough. Time to spring the trap." Then, sending another message to Skyblade, he said: "Tell Tyrant Solitude and Whispering Bamboo to get ready." Chapter 136 The Perfect Trap Tyrant Solitude''s ''retreating'' force was actually lying in wait just beyond the canyon entrance, hidden in a nearby ravine. At the same time, Whispering Bamboo had arrived and joined up with him. Skyblade relayed the update. Meanwhile, Marcus Skeiner and his men had closed in¡ªless than 500 meters from Ethan. From this distance, he could already see Ethan and Lyla backed up against the canyon wall. Ethan''s expression was one of sheer terror. Marcus sneered. ''Finally caught you.'' He slowed his advance, stopping just shy of 100 meters from them. "NotADruid? Ha! Let''s see where you run this time!" he called out mockingly. Hearing that, Ethan chuckled. His frightened look vanished instantly. "Run? Who''s running? I was just enjoying the view. Beautiful scenery, don''t you think? Stopped here to rest for a bit, that''s all." The three guild leaders stiffened. Why was he still so calm? Did he have a trick up his sleeve? Nocturne, the Wasteland Dominion leader, was an older man in his fifties. He scanned the surroundings, his instincts on high alert. Could there be an ambush? "Gentlemen, let''s finish this quickly. The longer we wait, the greater the risk," he urged. Frostbite scoffed. "Getting paranoid in your old age, Nocturne? I already had men scout the cliffs. There''s no way up unless they can fly." Hearing that, Marcus and Nocturne relaxed slightly. Marcus raised his hand to signal his men. "NotADruid, let''s settle this. Old grudges, new grudges¡ª" Before he could finish, Ethan cut him off. "Uh, yeah, I''m gonna have to pass on that. You guys take your time hashing it out. I''ll be heading out now. Bye." Ethan and Lyla exchanged a quick glance. Then, in a flash, Ethan pulled out a Grappling Launcher and fired it at the cliff behind him. Bang! A rope shot upward and latched onto the rock face. "Shit! That''s a Grappling Launcher! Those things cost 50 gold each, and they''re actually using them?" Nocturne shouted. Before anyone could react, Ethan and Lyla were already climbing fast¡ªscaling 10 meters in seconds. "Archers! Shoot them down!" Marcus bellowed. "Boss, the ranged fighters are in the back! They''re not in position!" one of his men yelled back. In an instant, the melee players scrambled aside, clearing a narrow path for their ranged allies to advance. Before they could even take aim¡ª BOOM! A cannon shell crashed into the ground, exploding just 10 meters in front of Marcus. "Damn it! Stop spamming skills if you''re out of range! You''re just wasting mana!" Marcus roared. BOOM! WHOOSH! Suddenly, waves of magical energy surged through the air. Arrows. Bullets. Cannon shells. Magic spells. A rain of death poured down from above. "This isn''t us¡ªit''s coming from the cliffs!" a panicked player shouted, only to be obliterated by a barrage of attacks. The three guild leaders finally looked up and saw dozens, no, hundreds of players standing atop the canyon walls. Hurling down spells like mana was free. "It''s over!" Nocturne stumbled, nearly falling. "Switch formation! Rear team to the front! Break out!" Marcus Skeiner barked, somehow still the calmest among them. "Boss! The entrance is blocked¡ªit''s Eternal Glory and Whispering Bamboo!" "What?! Break through! Move, now!" Above them, the sky was pure chaos. Explosions. Arrows. A rain of magic. The canyon became a massacre. What was supposed to be a three-guild assault turned into a perfect ambush orchestrated by Renegade Alliance. It was over in ten minutes. Blade Syndicate, Wasteland Dominion, and Unrivaled Honor¡ªall 12,000 players who entered the gorge¡ªwere wiped out. Renegade Alliance? Not a single casualty. Their only expense was ten barrels of Grappling Launchers, costing a total of 500 gold. Each rope could last long enough for 20 players to climb. Each barrel contained 10 ropes. Atop the cliffs, Renegade Alliance had 2,000 ranged players, all with powerful AoE skills. Eternal Glory and Whispering Bamboo took heavier losses since they had to block the escape route head-on. Each guild sent 4,000 players. By the time the dust settled, 2,000 of their own had fallen. But since their guildmates looted all the fallen gear, the only real loss was 20% experience. When all was said and done, Renegade Alliance spent the most gold, but also gained the most loot. Of the 12,000 pieces of gear dropped in the canyon, Renegade Alliance claimed 70%. Ethan earned far more than the other two guilds combined. As for Blade Syndicate and its allies, they were left utterly broken. Wiped twice in a single day. The aftermath? Total silence in all three guilds. --- DING! [System Announcement: Congratulations to player ''NotADruid'' for successfully defending the Divine Ability Scroll: Teleportation!] Teleportation (Divine): Allows the player to set 20 teleportation points and freely teleport between them within a 100 km radius. (Usable 5 minutes after exiting combat.) The entire game world saw the message. What should have been pure chaos in the Northern Frontier had instead been a flawless victory. Ethan himself was a little surprised. In his previous life, every single time a Divine Ability appeared, Ethereal would descend into madness. His original plan was simple: Since mounts hadn''t been unlocked yet, he intended to run for 12 hours straight, relying on his superior speed. But everything changed in Duskridge. When he noticed Whispering Bamboo''s guild leader, Misty Cloud, tailing him, he had an idea. She was sharp. So, he had Celia approach her, to see if an alliance was possible. He hadn''t expected Misty Cloud to agree instantly. Then, Eternal Glory also joined in, another unexpected twist. As it turned out, Whispering Bamboo''s second guild leader, Riverleaf, was an old classmate of Tyrant Solitude. And Tyrant Solitude? He''d been in love with her for years. So when Riverleaf approached him, there was never any doubt. That led to the canyon ambush. Tyrant Solitude pretended to ally with Marcus Skeiner¡­Only to lead them straight into the trap. Then, right before the ambush was sprung, he broke ties with Marcus, withdrew from their sight, and hid in the ravine¡ªwaiting to strike. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Step by step, the plan unfolded. And while Ethan had proposed the possibilities¡­Celia, Riverleaf, and Misty Cloud had designed every detail. Even the "cat-and-mouse chase" across the coastline was just an illusion¡ªmeant to trick Blade Syndicate into thinking Ethan was desperately running. Chapter 137 Shadowless Ethan had chosen the final destination, but it was the three women who mapped out his entire escape route. Every step, every turn, meticulously planned. Even Tyrant Solitude''s role¡ªmanipulating the other guild leaders into chasing Ethan, guiding them straight into the ambush, had been scripted by them. There''s a saying: When three women join forces, the world shifts. But when three brilliant women scheme together, it becomes a storm no one can outrun. After running around Ethereal for over ten hours, Ethan finally felt a hint of exhaustion. With the guild war concluded, he left the battlefield cleanup to Skyblade and the others. As for dividing the spoils among the allied guilds? Celia had already negotiated the terms. Renegade Alliance would loot the battlefield first, catalog everything, and take 70% of the rewards. The remaining 30% would be split evenly between Whispering Bamboo and Eternal Glory. On the surface, the split seemed unfair, but the two guilds were thrilled. After all, they had zero upfront investment, minimal losses, and only lost a bit of experience from fallen players. Once everything was settled, Ethan activated the Divine Ability: Teleportation. His first teleportation marker? Right here, on top of the steep mountain cliffs. --- During the loot division, Tyrant Solitude was caught off guard. Celia unexpectedly returned a portion of the loot Renegade Alliance had taken from Duskridge earlier. It wasn''t much, but it was just enough to cover his guild''s previous losses. At first, he had no complaints¡ªsimply breaking even was already a blessing after today''s war. But Renegade Alliance''s move¡­ It bought his loyalty. Teaming up with a guild like this? He could rest easy. On paper, they were both Level 4 guilds. But deep down, he knew the truth, his guild could never match Renegade Alliance''s sheer strength. It wasn''t just about ordinary members¡ªsure, they might be similar in skill. But Renegade''s core elite? They were on a whole different level. Tyrant Solitude had witnessed it firsthand during the battle in Duskridge. Renegade Alliance had sent four squads, each led by monsters in human form. Skyblade and SeraphWarrior were frontline powerhouses that tore through enemies with brute force. Meatball, the warlock, summoning over twenty demons at once¡ªeach with different abilities, each handling crowd control, ranged attacks, and melee combat simultaneously. That one guy alone had the power of an entire raid team. And then there was Slashblade¡­ A holy priest, but not the kind that stayed in the back healing. No. He wielded his staff like a club, bashing heads in. Whenever someone hit him, he''d simply heal himself back to full. Then, once his spells were off cooldown¡ªHoly Smite, Divine Fire, Judgment. He''d unleash a full combo, then go right back to clubbing people. A combat medic in the most literal sense. What Tyrant Solitude didn''t know, however, was that Slashblade''s ridiculous playstyle was all thanks to Ethan''s Wishbound Relic. Without enhanced reinforcement, there''d be no boosted defense. Without boosted defense, no cloth-wearing priest would ever dare charge into melee. But as for that secret, only six people knew. --- Logging Off With everything settled, Ethan grabbed Lyla and logged out of Ethereal. The moment he was back in reality, he checked his phone. He had missed a text from Celeste. It had arrived while he was running from Crowling God Anzu, and he hadn''t had time to read it. Later, Slashblade had mentioned that Celeste had been trying to reach him. Apparently, a mission had been assigned, and she was waiting for his confirmation. Since she knew he couldn''t log out for twelve hours, and they weren''t friends in-game, she had sent him a text instead. When Ethan hadn''t responded, she had relayed the message through Slashblade. She also left a note¡ª "Next time you log in, disable auto-reject on friend requests. Or better yet, just add me. I don''t have time to hunt you down every time we need to talk." Ethan dialed the number. "Senior, we''re done here." A cold, slightly weary voice came through. "Mm. I know. I''ll come find you this afternoon." Then¡ªclick. She hung up without another word. Ethan stared at his phone, baffled. What the hell? Who pissed her off this time? ''Wait¡­ don''t tell me it''s that time of the month?'' He shrugged and tossed the phone aside. Not his problem. --- Stepping out of his room, he saw Lyla emerging from hers at the same time. And then¡ª Oh. Oh, damn. She had been dressing quite daring around the house lately, but today? Today was something else. A thin crop top. A tiny pair of cotton shorts. And¡­ wait, was she wearing anything underneath? His eyes narrowed slightly. "Lyla¡­ you''re playing with fire." His gaze trailed over her, appreciating the view. Lyla blushed but held his stare. "You don''t like it? I can change if you want." "No, no¡ªlove it. Perfect. Don''t change." Ethan grinned and pulled her close, one arm sliding around her waist. His fingers brushed against her soft, bare skin. Lyla gasped lightly, shooting him a half-hearted glare but making no move to stop him. With her still in his arms, he led the way downstairs. It was already noon. Neither of them had eaten since logging into Ethereal the night before. Taking the hint, Ethan went straight to the kitchen and whipped up a simple pot of chicken and dumplings. They devoured it. Just as they finished, Lyla stood up to clear the dishes. But right then¡ª Ding-dong. The doorbell rang. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan glanced at the monitor. It was Celeste. Just as he was about to open the door, Lyla panicked. "I need to change!" She ditched the dishes and bolted upstairs. Ethan smirked. ''Guess that outfit really was just for me.'' He opened the door and Celeste strode in, her face cold as ever. "You got food?" Ethan blinked. "Uh¡­ there''s some soup left, if you¡ª" Before he even finished, Celeste was already at the table, digging in. Like she hadn''t eaten in days. "Hey, slow down. I can make more if you need¡ª" Thirty seconds, that''s all it took. She downed two full bowls in that time. Then she sat back, wiped her mouth, and scowled. "You made this?" "Yeah." "...Tastes awful." "¡­" Ethan almost cussed her out. But then he took another look at her. The dark circles under her eyes. The slightly hollow cheeks¡­ She looked drained. "Okay, seriously. When''s the last time you ate?" He sat across from her. Celeste slumped back in her chair. "A full day. No food, no sleep." Then she straightened up. "Get Victor and the others. We need to talk. This case is¡­ different. Be ready." "Different how?" Ethan frowned. Celeste gave him a look. "You''re in the Ninth Division. You should already know¡ªwe handle anything that isn''t normal. There''s no checklist, no rules. If it''s unnatural, it''s ours." Ethan nodded slowly. He headed upstairs to grab his phone, and when he came back down, Celeste was slumped over the table, asleep. Ethan sighed, about to wake her so she could rest properly, but then, three steps away, he froze. A cold chill shot up his spine. His breath caught in his throat. His gaze slowly lowered to the floor. There, the table had a shadow. The chairs had shadows. But Celeste? Celeste had none. Chapter 138 Shadow Eater Lyla had just finished changing. She walked downstairs and made her way to Ethan. At the dining table, Celeste was passed out, head resting on her folded arms. "Bro, why is she so exhausted?" Lyla asked. Ethan didn''t answer. He was staring blankly at the floor. "Bro?" Lyla tilted her head, following his gaze. At first, she didn''t notice anything strange, two seconds later, her body stiffened. She grabbed Ethan''s arm with one hand while pointing at the floor with the other. Ethan reacted instantly, clamping a hand over her mouth. Under Lyla''s wide-eyed, terrified stare, he dragged her outside the villa. Once outside, he let her go. "Ethan¡­ Celeste''s shadow¡­" "I saw it," Ethan muttered, his brows knitted together. Just then, Victor walked out of the villa across the street. Noticing their tense expressions, he frowned. "What''s going on?" Ethan recounted what had just happened. Victor''s face paled. Even as a skeptic, he couldn''t deny it¡ªthis was beyond unsettling. As regular people, they had heard countless stories about ghosts and spirits. But now, was Celeste¡­ no longer human? The three of them stood there in silence. It wasn''t until Leo and Williams arrived from the gym that the tension broke. Seeing the trio standing stiffly outside, Leo raised a brow. "What''s with you guys?" Victor relayed what Ethan had told him. "Holy shit¡­" Leo''s first instinct was to rush straight into the villa. But just as he reached the door, he stopped short. Right. He didn''t have the key. "Ethan! Open up!" Ethan glanced at Victor. Victor arched a brow as if to say, "See? Told you." Ethan let out a wry chuckle and shook his head. He understood exactly what Victor meant. Leo, practically bouncing with impatience, reinforced Victor''s point even more. Sighing, Ethan unlocked the door, Leo was the first to charge inside. As expected, the moment he saw it, he froze. The rest of them followed him into the dining room, where Victor and Williams immediately fell silent, jaws dropping. The five of them stood three or four meters away from Celeste, staring at her in eerie silence. Time ticked by. The shadows cast by the dining table gradually shifted as the hours passed. After nearly two hours, Celeste stirred. Slowly, she sat up. And that was when they saw something even more horrifying. Her shadow¡­ At first, it wasn''t there, then, faint traces of gray emerged, growing darker until it fully reappeared. The whole process took no more than five seconds, exactly the time it took for her to wake up, sit upright, and stretch lazily. A shiver ran through all five of them. Celeste, still mid-stretch, tilted her head¡ªand immediately froze at the sight of them standing in a neat row, staring at her. Lowering her arms, she forced a smile, looking awkward. "You guys saw that?" "Uh-huh¡­ Nope!" They all nodded¡­ then, almost in perfect sync, shook their heads. Celeste let out a soft chuckle. She lowered her gaze to her shadow. "Did it fade¡­ or disappear completely?" The group exchanged glances. Finally, Leo stammered, "It¡­ it completely disappeared." Hearing this, a wry smile tugged at Celeste''s lips. "Looks like¡­ my time is running out." "You¡ªyou''re not a ghost?" Leo voiced the question they were all too afraid to ask. Celeste slowly shook her head. Then, without another word, she stood up. She unfastened the top button of her blouse and swept her long hair forward, draping it over her shoulders. No one knew what she was doing. Turning her back to them, she pulled her shirt down, revealing her bare shoulders. "Lyla, give me a hand," she said, glancing over her shoulder. Lyla hesitated for a moment before stepping behind Celeste. "Help me unfasten it," Celeste said calmly. Lyla blinked in surprise but reached out, unhooking the clasp on Celeste''s bra. The moment she did, she let out a small gasp. Without a hint of hesitation, Celeste stepped aside. Lyla had been blocking everyone''s view, but now, with that single step, her entire back was exposed. "What the¡­" A grotesque, crimson mark¡ªabout the size of a coin was imprinted on Celeste''s pale skin. It was a snarling, blood-red face. A demonic visage, twisted in rage, its presence stark against her smooth back. Seeing that everyone had gotten a good look, Celeste gave Lyla a nod. Lyla quickly re-fastened the clasp, the mark disappearing beneath the strap. Adjusting her clothes, Celeste finally spoke. "This thing is tied to our mission." Victor narrowed his eyes. "What is it?" "We call it¡­ a Shadow Eater." Leo crossed his arms. "So what, it just¡­ eats shadows? What''s the real danger? And how the hell did you end up with it?" There was something oddly genuine in his concern, though he tried to mask it. Celeste shot him a glance but continued. "We don''t have all the answers. What we do know is that once someone is infected, their shadow starts fading while they sleep. "Eventually, it disappears completely. That''s when this mark appears¡ªstarting at the ankle. When it first shows up, it''s just a tiny red dot. No one notices it. But it keeps growing. Slowly crawling upward¡­ until it reaches the top of the head." Leo frowned. "And then?" Celeste shot him a warning look. "If you interrupt me again, I''ll rip your damn tongue out." "Uh¡­" Leo froze. The others snickered. Celeste continued. "When it reaches the head, you die. And not just a normal death. Your entire body shrivels up¡ªskin, muscle, organs, all dried out. Your brain becomes completely hollow." A heavy silence settled over the room. "Our mission is to put an end to this," Celeste said, pulling a thick folder from her bag and tossing it onto the table. Ethan stepped forward and opened it. The first thing he saw was the title: Shadow Eater Case¡ªa name assigned by the Ninth Division. The case had started a year ago, when eleven people mysteriously died, one after another. Celeste¡­ was the only survivor. Six months later, a second group of twelve people. All dead. One month ago, a third group¡ªanother twelve, all marked. The symbol had already reached their waists. And all thirty-six victims shared something in common. First: Every single one of them was an operative from the Ninth Division. Second: They had all received classified orders before vanishing. Third: When they returned, none of them could remember what those orders were. They had no memory of where they had gone. They couldn''t even recall who they had been with. Ethan''s eyes flicked up to Celeste. "You were on the first list? But how¡­" He didn''t finish the question. Celeste answered anyway. "You''re wondering why I''m still alive?" She smirked. "Simple. I have chronic insomnia." Ethan suddenly understood. The documents had stated clearly that the Shadow Eater only spreads while its host is asleep. Ethan had been torn about taking on this mission because Morzan had warned him, he only had five years. In five years, the Cataclysm would begin. Would this mission get in the way of his growth in Ethereal? S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Morzan had said it himself¡ªthe stronger you are in the game, the stronger you become in reality. And only by getting stronger¡­ would Ethan stand a chance of surviving what was coming. Chapter 139 Departure But if they didn''t go, Celeste would eventually succumb to the Shadow Eater. She had only survived the first wave because of her chronic insomnia. This time, they had no choice. Victor spread the documents across the table, scanning through them. After a moment, he frowned. "According to the reports, we should retrace the locations where the previous victims were sent after receiving their classified orders. "But¡­" He tapped the page. "It says here that every single one of them lost their memories after returning. "Captain, do you remember anything?" Victor''s ability to cut straight to the point was exactly why he''d made a good leader in the military. Celeste shook her head. "Nothing." "Then where exactly is our mission taking us?" "Ravenwood," Celeste said. There was something¡­ off about her tone. A flicker of hesitation. A moment ago, she claimed she couldn''t remember. Now, she suddenly had an exact location. And her reaction made everyone suspicious. They stared at her, waiting. Celeste cleared her throat. "I¡­ found something in my inventory that doesn''t belong to me. It might be something I forgot. The tag on it has the Ravenwood insignia." She kept her eyes glued to the documents as she spoke, avoiding their gazes. Which was strange. Celeste wasn''t the type to dodge eye contact, she always looked people straight in the eye. But right now¡­ she was definitely hiding something. "C-Captain," Leo said hesitantly. "Are you sure it''s not just a mix-up? Even if it has a location tag, that doesn''t mean you actually got it from there." He was trying to reason with her, but the way he addressed her¡ªCaptain, felt oddly forced, like he wasn''t used to saying it. Still, the others agreed with his logic. Celeste finally looked up and fixed Leo with an icy stare. A chill ran down his spine. Did I say something wrong? He couldn''t recall anything out of line, but the way she was looking at him made it seem like she was about to kill him. After a long, tense moment, Celeste rolled her eyes, then reached into her pocket. She pulled out a small, black bundle. Without another word, she tossed it onto the table and headed for the door. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Get ready. We leave in two hours. Meet at Peachtree Airport." The second the door shut behind her, Leo¡ªever the curious one, reached for the bundle. "Whoa¡ª!" The moment he unwrapped it, he nearly flung it back onto the table. It landed softly, unfolding before their eyes. For a second, no one spoke. Lyla''s face turned red as she quickly looked away. The four men, however, just stared at each other. Then at the lacy, black thong lying on the table. Leo had been quick to suggest it was a mix-up. Yeah. Not anymore. So the "Ravenwood insignia" Celeste mentioned¡­ was on this? For a long moment, nobody moved. Finally, Lyla stepped forward, plucking a small white tag from the fabric. Stamped on it was an oval-shaped logo. Ravenwood National Park Resort ¨C Exclusive Item. The truth was out. Williams clicked his tongue. "No wonder the Captain was embarrassed. This is your fault, Leo." "Yeah, definitely Leo''s fault," Victor added, turning to leave. "Wait¡ªI¡ª!" Leo sputtered, looking for a defense. Lyla scoffed, picking up the underwear. "You''re such a perv," she muttered before heading upstairs. Leo was left staring at the ceiling, questioning his life choices. Ethan patted his shoulder with a sympathetic shake of his head. Then, without another word, he sighed and followed the others upstairs. Leo stood alone, utterly baffled. "Weren''t all of you doubting her just now? How did this suddenly become my fault?" ___ Two hours later. Lyla stood outside Peachtree Airport, watching the plane ascend. Tears welled in her eyes as she watched it vanish into the sky. Softly, she whispered, "Goodbye, Ethan." Inside the plane, Ethan absentmindedly touched his lips. He could still taste the faint sweetness of Lyla''s lip balm. She had kissed him. Out of nowhere. That little troublemaker¡­ She had been so worried about him, hesitating to speak multiple times before their departure. Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire Ethan grinned, glancing out the window as the plane climbed. Then, out of nowhere, a sharp pain stabbed through his chest. It disappeared just as quickly, so he brushed it off as nerves from his first flight. Despite having lived two lives, this was somehow his first time flying. He gazed out for a while, but once the plane entered the thick clouds, everything outside turned into a dull, gray mist. With nothing to see, he shut his eyes to rest. Before he knew it, he was asleep. A light slap on his arm woke him. Leo was standing over him. "We''ve landed." The five of them had brought nothing, completely light-packed. Which was quite a contrast to how Ethan had left Ember City. Back at the villa, he had packed everything. Extra clothes, toiletries, even his VR headset. Leo and Victor had laughed at him the whole time, but he hadn''t understood why¡ªuntil they reached the airport. Celeste had looked at him, deadpan. "Are you moving out?" Then she dropped the bomb. "You''re not bringing any of that." And just like that, Ethan understood why the others had been snickering. Apparently, he was the only one who didn''t know the rules. A complete rookie. With no choice, he had to hand everything off to Lyla before boarding. Still, he had asked, just to be sure. "Not even my VR headset?" Celeste didn''t even dignify that with a response. She just turned and walked away. That silence said everything. After landing, Celeste led them to a parking lot. They walked until they reached a rugged black Hummer. Williams exchanged a glance with Celeste, then pointed to the front tire. Victor nodded, crouched down, and slid under the vehicle. A few moments later, he emerged, holding a key. No one spoke on the way. It wasn''t awkward, just¡­ silent. Ethan, however, felt completely out of the loop. Forget understanding¡ªhe didn''t even have the faintest idea what was happening. As for the others, with just one glance or one nod, they all knew what to do. Meanwhile, Ethan felt absolutely lost. After getting in, Leo reached under the backseat and pulled out five heavy-duty backpacks. He tossed one straight to Ethan. The moment Ethan caught it, he almost staggered under the weight. "Damn," he muttered, testing it with his hands. Easily 160 pounds. What the hell was inside this thing? Bricks? Curious, he unzipped it and started digging through. And immediately, he understood. Inside was a full survival kit¡ªclimbing gear, thick boots, a sleeping bag¡­ and weapons. A handgun. A submachine gun. A machete. Ropes. It was basically a mobile arsenal. Ethan pulled out the pistol, inspecting it. He had no clue what model it was. "You know how to use that?" Leo asked. Ethan shook his head. Leo smirked. "I''ll teach you when we reach the mountains." Williams hit the gas, gunning the Hummer down the road. Celeste fed him the coordinates. Their destination was a place just beyond the famous Warrior''s Rest. And whatever was waiting for them there¡­ Ethan had a feeling it wasn''t going to be pleasant. Chapter 140 The Sixth Member They drove deep into the mountains. Ethan checked the coordinates Celeste had given him. The map showed nothing but endless green, no buildings, no landmarks. After roughly 200 kilometers, Williams brought the Hummer to a stop. "End of the road," he said. "Gear up. We''re heading out," Celeste ordered as she started stripping off her clothes. "Uh¡­" Ethan hesitated. "Should we at least get out of the car first?" Victor clapped him on the shoulder. "On a mission, there''s no room for modesty. Just survival." With that, the rest of them started changing right then and there, unfazed. Meanwhile, Ethan awkwardly stalled, feeling like a complete outsider. Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire Barely a minute later, Celeste was fully geared up. She shot Ethan a glance. "You always this slow?" Then, without waiting for an answer, she hopped out of the vehicle. ''Are you kidding me¡­'' Ethan cursed internally. It took him over ten minutes to strap everything onto his body. By the time he was finally ready, the others had been waiting for ages. The sun had already set by the time they landed, and now, deep in the wilderness, it was past 11 PM. The mountain forest was deathly silent. A thick, eerie stillness surrounded them, sending a chill down Ethan''s spine. They hiked for over two hours, Ethan trailing behind Celeste. Finally, he couldn''t hold back anymore. "Where exactly are we going?" If he didn''t ask, these three military-trained blockheads would probably just follow orders blindly, even if it meant marching straight into a trap. Hell, if Celeste sold them off, they might even salute her on the way out. The moment Ethan spoke up, the other three turned to him with something almost like¡­ admiration. Turns out, they had the same question, just never dared to ask. Celeste slowed her pace. "Have you ever heard of the Shadow Lynx Incident?" Ethan frowned. Shadow Lynx? The moment she said it, a strange, chilling aura seemed to creep into the air. His scalp tingled. A shiver ran down his spine. Victor suddenly stopped walking, his face tense. "Captain¡­ You''re not saying we''re heading to Shadow Lynx Village, are you?" For the first time, there was real fear in his voice. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan had known Victor for a while now. The guy had spent half his life in the military, he wasn''t the type to get spooked. But now? He looked genuinely shaken. "You''ve heard of it?" Celeste asked, just as surprised. Victor nodded. "I had a hunch the moment we got here. I just didn''t want to believe it." Ethan''s curiosity burned. He stepped closer. "Alright, someone explain¡ªwhat the hell is this village? And what''s with the creepy name?" Victor glanced at Celeste. She didn''t stop him, so he sighed and started explaining. "Ten years ago, I was on a mission near this area. Our squad leader warned us¡ªnever go near that village. The local guide we hired said the same thing. Told us it was cursed." Victor hesitated before continuing. "As for the name Shadow Lynx¡­ That came from an old codename. The village''s real name? No one knows." Before Ethan could ask more, Celeste raised a hand. "We''ll set up camp here for now." Without hesitation, the others got to work. Victor, Leo, and Williams moved with military efficiency, pulling tents from their packs. Meanwhile, Williams sprinkled a fine yellow powder in a circle around the campsite. Ethan sniffed the air. The scent was a mix of sulfur and herbs, probably some kind of repellent for snakes and insects. In the past ten minutes, he had done absolutely nothing except stand there and watch. Within minutes, the others had the tents up and perimeter alarms set. If anyone¡ªor anything approached, they''d know. Ethan drew his machete. "I''ll grab some firewood." At least that was something he could do. He was about to gather firewood when Victor stopped him. "It''s almost November. The temperature''s dropping fast, especially out here in the mountains," Victor said. "But you''ve been watching too many movies. You start a fire here, and it''ll be visible for miles. We''re on a stealth mission." Ethan, feeling a little useless, wandered back to Celeste. The others soon joined them. Leo pulled a small package from his bag, dug a shallow hole in the center of their camp, and tossed the package inside. Then, he unscrewed a bottle of water and poured it over the package. The moment the water touched it, the material inside expanded, releasing a steady stream of heat. Ethan could feel the warmth radiating from it instantly. "Wait¡­ Is that quicklime?" he asked, realizing what it was. Leo grinned. "Compressed high-grade quicklime. A single bottle of water can keep it hot for four hours." No wonder they didn''t need a fire. The group gathered around, letting the warmth soak in. It was surprisingly effective, Ethan felt his body relax almost immediately. Celeste took a seat and scanned the group. "You five, get some rest. I''ll keep watch." Leo, munching on a protein bar, spoke up. "Come on, Captain. We''re not that tired yet. Why don''t you tell us more about that village?" Williams nodded. "Yeah, give us a little mental prep." Celeste glanced at Victor. Victor raised his hands. "I already told you everything I know." Before he could finish his sentence, Ethan suddenly shot to his feet. Everyone turned to look at him, confused. Ethan locked eyes with Celeste and spoke slowly. "You just said¡­ we five should rest." Victor and the others frowned, finally realizing what he meant. Apart from her, there were four of them, so why did she say we five? Celeste smiled but didn''t answer. Instead, she turned her head slightly, looking off to the side. The next moment, something appeared. A faint silhouette, growing more distinct by the second. Ethan''s breath hitched. "The squad always needed a sixth member," Celeste said casually. "I asked her to help." The translucent figure waved cheerfully. "Hey there! You can call me Doe. I''m a ghost." She looked like a teenage girl¡ªmaybe seventeen or eighteen. Ethan felt his skin crawl. A ghost? His instincts screamed at him to run. The others weren''t doing much better. Doe''s semi-transparent body matched every description of a classic ghost. Victor, usually the calmest of them all, looked like he''d seen death itself. Celeste smirked. "Come on, Doe. Stop messing with them." Then, she dropped a bombshell. "Besides, you''re older than the five of us combined. Stop acting like a kid." Ethan''s blood ran cold. Older than all of them combined? That meant¡­ over a hundred years old?! What the hell is she if not a ghost?! Seeing their horrified expressions, Celeste finally explained. "Relax. She is a ghost, but not the kind you''re thinking." Celeste nodded toward Ethan. "Like you, she''s a Soul-Wielder." The others stiffened. "A Soul-Wielder?" Leo asked. Celeste nodded. "Her physical body was destroyed a long time ago. But because of her powerful soul, she managed to persist in this form." The group fell silent, trying to process it all. Ethan, however, was more intrigued than afraid. This was the first time he''d ever met another Soul-Wielder. But¡­ wasn''t it said that Soul-Wielders were eliminated the moment they were discovered? Then how was Doe still alive? Chapter 141 Haunting Story Doe floated toward Ethan as soon as Celeste introduced her. Her translucent form hovered just beside him. Giggling, she turned to Celeste and teased, "He''s such a scaredy-cat! I blew a little air on the back of his neck earlier, and he started shivering all over." Ethan stiffened. No wonder he''d felt a constant chill creeping up his spine, it was this hundred-year-old ghost messing with him. Celeste chuckled. "Alright, Doe, tell them about the Shadow Lynx incident. You know that place better than anyone. Even I only learned about it through Ninth Division''s reports." Ethan noticed something strange, Celeste, usually so composed and distant, had been smiling ever since Doe showed up. So this was the expert Celeste had invited. Someone who knew the village of Shadow Lynx better than anyone. Doe sighed and plopped down beside Ethan. The playfulness in her expression faded as she settled into deep thought. Her translucent face turned solemn. Then, in a slow, steady voice, she began her story. "Almost fifty years ago, something strange happened in a remote village deep in Ravenwood. For centuries, the village had been completely isolated from the outside world. Even when the Serpent Isle invaded Dragonspire, it remained untouched. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire But in 1977, during Dragonspire''s rapid industrial expansion, the village received its first visitors, an official government drilling team sent to bring fresh water to remote mountain settlements. When the drillers arrived, the villagers refused to let them in. No matter how many times they explained their mission, they were met with nothing but rejection. The team, however, couldn''t just leave without completing their task. Failure meant disciplinary action. So their squad leader came up with a compromise: if they weren''t allowed inside, they''d dig just outside the village, close enough for the villagers to access the well without having to hike down the mountain. It was a win-win. The villagers got clean water, and the team completed their mission. After surveying the area, they picked a spot about twenty meters from the village entrance and began drilling. Normally, digging in a mountainous region was a nightmare. The team had struggled in the past, sometimes having to drill multiple times with no success. But this time, they hit water almost instantly. Within hours, fresh water gushed from the ground. The villagers, who had been cautiously watching from a distance, were shocked. These outsiders weren''t here to harm them¡ªthey had actually delivered what they promised. Suspicion turned into gratitude. Hostility gave way to warmth. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The squad leader, relieved that their mission was going smoothly, ordered his men to seal the well temporarily and start digging around it to reinforce the structure. Back then, transporting cement to the mountains was impossible, meaning they couldn''t build a proper concrete well. Instead, they had to do it the old-fashioned way¡ªdigging by hand and reinforcing the walls with stone. They worked nonstop, only pausing when the sun dipped below the horizon. The squad leader had planned to push through the night, but then¡ª A sudden downpour. The villagers, now appreciative of the team''s efforts, insisted they come inside and offered them shelter from the rain. As they entered the village, the squad leader pointed at an empty courtyard. "Chief, we''ll just take shelter there. It''s vacant, right?" The village chief hesitated. "I''ve already arranged rooms at my place for you all. That courtyard¡­ it''s not clean." The squad leader waved a hand dismissively. "We don''t believe in that stuff. It''s close to the entrance, so we''ll rest there until the rain stops." The village chief, unable to convince him otherwise, reluctantly agreed. The courtyard seemed recently renovated, its walls freshly plastered, its roof sturdy with new tiles. It was spacious, with several rooms, enough to accommodate the entire squad and the drilling team. Forty-eight people squeezed into the house, setting up their temporary base. Some started cooking while others sorted their gear. It was only after the drilling team''s foreman, Old Man Carter, finished securing the drill machinery that he finally stepped inside. The moment he entered, his face changed. Without a word, he grabbed his team members and tried to drag them out. "Everyone, move out! Now!" he ordered, his voice urgent. The soldiers nearby were confused. A few even started arguing with him. Hearing the commotion, the squad leader rushed over from another room. "What''s going on?" Old Man Carter pointed at the wooden beams above them. His voice, already hoarse with age, whistled slightly as he spoke. "This house¡­ is cursed." The men followed his trembling finger, eyes trailing up to the ceiling. Carved into the wooden beam were seven deep slash marks. None of the soldiers, not even the squad leader, knew what they meant. Old Man Carter let out a slow, weary sigh. "Each mark represents a person who hanged themselves here." The room fell silent. "In Ravenwood," he continued, "when someone takes their life in a house, tradition says you must carve a mark into the beam. Seven marks¡­ means seven suicides. "Now do you understand why this place is abandoned?" Thunder rumbled. A flash of lightning split the sky, casting eerie shadows across the room. For a brief moment, it felt as if seven bodies were swaying from the rafters. The soldiers shuddered, but the squad leader wasn''t having it. "Superstitious nonsense," he scoffed. "This is exactly the kind of thinking we''re supposed to be moving past. You''re trying to scare everyone over some old carvings?" Back in the late ''70s, efforts to stamp out superstition were at their peak. As a ranking officer, he had no patience for talk of ghosts. Old Man Carter shook his head, knowing there was no convincing him. With a deep sigh, he turned to his son and daughter. "We''re leaving," he said firmly. "And you''re not going back in there." The rest of the drill team hesitated. At that moment, the food was ready. The warm aroma filled the air, washing away their unease. One by one, they shrugged off their doubts and sat down to eat. Old Man Carter and his children, however, refused to step foot inside again. They spent the night huddled in a donkey stable near the village entrance. Morning came. The rain finally stopped. And nothing happened. No hauntings. No strange occurrences. As the sun rose, the soldiers and drillers laughed off the old man''s fears, had breakfast, and got back to work. The rain had flooded the well overnight, turning it into a pit of thick mud and stagnant water. The squad leader ordered a few men to climb down and start clearing it out. That''s when it happened. A worker in the well let out a piercing, bloodcurdling scream. The kind of scream that raised every hair on the back of your neck. Everyone froze. Then, as one, they rushed to the well, leaning over the edge to see what was happening. But just as suddenly as it started, the screaming stopped. The man stood there, confused. "What the hell was that?" someone asked. The worker blinked. "What was what?" "The screaming! You were screaming like you were being skinned alive!" The man frowned. "I didn''t scream." Before anyone could react, three more men in the well started howling in unison. Their voices overlapped, wild and unnatural, sending chills down everyone''s spine. Then¡ªsilence. The three men straightened, looking around blankly. "What the hell''s wrong with you guys?" someone shouted. They looked up, confused. "Wrong with us? We didn''t say anything." A nervous chuckle spread through the crowd. "They''re messing with us," someone muttered. "Yeah," another said, shaking his head. "Bored out of their minds, trying to freak us out." With an uneasy laugh, they all went back to work¡ªbrushing off the incident, as if nothing had happened. But something had. Something had definitely happened. Chapter 142 Unearthed The crew spent the entire morning clearing out the mud. By the time they were ready to cook lunch, the sky, which had been clear all morning, suddenly darkened. In less than three minutes, thick storm clouds rolled in, and an even heavier downpour than the day before came crashing down. The squad leader cursed under his breath. If this kept up, all their morning''s work would be for nothing. Without hesitation, he assigned a few men to build a waterproof barrier around the well to keep more mud and rainwater from spilling in. They also threw up a plastic tarp over the opening as a makeshift shelter. Once everything was secured, everyone returned to the courtyard¡ªeveryone except Old Man Carter and his kids. The three of them remained huddled in the donkey stable, chewing on stale rations. The rain didn''t let up. It poured through the night and well into the next morning. This wasn''t even the rainy season. A storm like this shouldn''t have lasted this long. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At dawn, the squad leader ordered the men back down into the well to resume clearing it out. Luckily, their previous efforts had paid off. Thanks to the waterproofing, the well hadn''t filled up as much as before. This time, four men climbed down to work. And then¡ªit happened again. Within minutes, all four started screaming at the top of their lungs. Unlike the day before, it didn''t stop after a few seconds. Their howls went on for a full minute, echoing from the depths of the well. At first, the others thought they were just messing around, playing the same prank as yesterday. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire But Old Man Carter''s expression darkened. "Pull them up! Now!" The rope crew scrambled to haul them back up. Strangely enough, the moment their heads emerged from the well, the screaming stopped. As if nothing had happened. Everyone gathered around, demanding answers. But the four men looked dazed and confused. They couldn''t remember a thing. The squad leader''s brows furrowed. These were trained soldiers, disciplined men, not the type to crack under pressure. But something about this whole situation felt off. A wave of unease spread through the group. Old Man Carter finally spoke. "This is too damn weird. I''m telling you, fill that well back up and drill somewhere else." The squad leader''s expression hardened. Three days. That''s how long his unit had been stuck in this village. Not a single well completed. If his superiors found out, it would be a black mark on his record. There was no way he was letting some old man''s superstitions delay them further. His voice was firm. "No. We keep going." He handpicked four new men and sent them down. This time, nothing happened. Relieved, the squad leader decided to push forward. They''d wasted too much time already. By noon, he gave orders to skip the hot meal¡ªjust eat dry rations and keep working. Bucket after bucket of dirt was hauled up. The deeper they dug, the closer they got to hitting the underground water source. Then, a voice came from below. "Why the hell is Mark''s uniform down here?" One of the men at the bottom of the well yanked something out of the mud¡ªa military jacket. It was the same uniform they all wore, complete with the standard-issue name patch over the chest. It read: Third Battalion, Fourth Squad ¨C Mark Dawson That was strange enough. But what sent a chill through everyone was where they''d found it. Buried in the mud. The squad leader dismissed it at first. "He must''ve dropped it earlier, and no one noticed." It made sense. The heat had been unbearable, and plenty of men had taken off their jackets and tossed them aside while working. Just as he was about to call for Mark Dawson, a terrified shout erupted from the well. "PULL US UP! NOW!" The men topside didn''t ask questions. They rushed to haul them back up. As soon as the workers emerged, their faces were pale, bodies trembling. They were scared. Really scared. The squad leader''s patience snapped. "What the hell is wrong with you?" One of the men stammered, "C-Captain¡­ t-the clothes¡­ t-there''s more¡­" The squad leader scowled. "More what?" "The uniforms," the man whispered, voice shaking. "The whole bottom of the well¡­ it''s full of them. We¡ªwe dug them out of the dirt. Not dropped¡­ buried." The squad leader froze. For a moment, he just stood there, staring. Then, without a word, he grabbed a rope, tied it around his waist, and swung one leg over the edge of the well. "Lower me down. I need to see this for myself." Just as he was about to descend, a young soldier came sprinting from the village, stumbling so hard he nearly fell flat on his face. "Captain¡ªCaptain! Something''s happened!" The squad leader groaned in frustration. "What now?" The soldier gasped for breath, pointing toward the courtyard. His voice cracked as he stammered, "D-Dead¡­ there are dead men!" Everything stopped. The squad leader paled. Without another word, he leapt off the well''s edge and bolted toward the courtyard. A death on his watch? If this got out, his career was over. The others followed, abandoning their work at the well. When they reached the house, they skidded to a stop just outside the door. No one stepped inside. Some even took a few steps back. Every single soldier stood frozen in place, eyes wide with horror. Hanging from the main support beam were eight bodies. Eight men. Shirts stripped off, their bare torsos exposed. Their tongues lolled out grotesquely, lips curled unnaturally outward. Their bulging eyes strained from their sockets, faces twisted into terrifying grimaces. The sight was unnatural, wrong in a way that made the stomach twist. Old Man Carter, standing in the crowd, sucked in a sharp breath. His voice came out barely above a whisper. "Eight at once¡­? How?" The squad leader''s hands were slick with sweat. He forced himself to take a deep breath before barking out an order. "Cut them down! Everyone, arm yourselves. Lock down the village¡ªno one leaves." The moment those words left his mouth, a cold realization set in. He had to find a culprit. If he didn''t, he was done. His rank, his career¡ªeverything would be gone. As the soldiers moved into action, Old Man Carter took a slow drag from his pipe, his eyes fixed on the wooden beams above. He stepped into the house, gaze sweeping across the room, scanning the rafters. Then¡ªhe stopped. His eyes narrowed at a faint, almost invisible mark near the far end of the beam. It was an old cut, much older than the seven deep slashes they had seen before. Unlike those, this one was barely noticeable. It had been carved long ago, likely before the beam had even been stripped of its bark. To an untrained eye, it would look like a natural imperfection in the wood. But Old Man Carter wasn''t just anyone. Before the war, before everything, he had been a man who knew blades, who used blades. He had cut down his fair share of Serpent Isle invaders. And this? This was a blade mark. A very old one. Meanwhile, outside, the villagers had been rounded up. From the eldest elders to mothers clutching infants, every single one was gathered at the village entrance. A murmur of uneasy voices spread through the crowd. "What are you doing?" "You have no right to hold us here!" "This is no different from banditry! Is there no law anymore?" Despite their complaints, no one dared step forward to resist. The sight of armed soldiers kept them in check. The squad leader scanned the crowd, his expression dark. If he didn''t find a culprit soon, he knew what would happen to him the moment he reported back. Best case? A demotion. Worst case? A dishonorable discharge. Years of service, all gone. His voice was cold. "Someone in this village is responsible. Turn them over now, or you all take the fall." A tense silence settled. Then, the village chief spoke up. "I warned you," he said, his voice steady. "I told you that house wasn''t clean. You refused to listen. And now that something happened, you''re blaming us?" His words stoked the tension. Several villagers muttered in agreement, their earlier fear turning into resentment. The squad leader''s jaw tightened. Without thinking, he pulled his pistol and pressed it to the chief''s forehead. "Say that again," he growled. The villagers gasped, a few taking a step back. The chief, however, didn''t flinch. He simply looked the younger man in the eye and said, "Pull the trigger if you want. But don''t act like this isn''t on you." Before the squad leader could respond, Old Man Carter stepped out of the house. His gaze was distant, but his words were clear. "They killed themselves." Chapter 143 The Shadow Lynx Incident The squad leader''s face twisted in anger at Old Man Carter''s words. "How the hell could this be suicide? You''re telling me eight men all decided, at the exact same time, to hang themselves?" he barked. Old Man Carter snorted. "And you''re telling me this bunch of old folks, women, and kids managed to take down eight trained soldiers in one go?" The squad leader clenched his jaw. He hated to admit it, but the old man had a point. Looking at the villagers, he saw mostly elders and women. Only a handful of younger men stood among them, none of them looking remotely capable of overpowering his men. He knew what his soldiers were capable of. Even if someone had tried to take them by surprise, there was no way they''d all go down without a fight¡ªwithout making a sound. And then there was the boy. The soldier who had sounded the alarm earlier had mentioned something strange, there had been nine of them in the room that night. He had fallen asleep, and when he woke up, the other eight were hanging from the rafters. If this had been murder, why was he left alive? Before the squad leader could process this further, a man wearing glasses stepped out from the courtyard. He was older than most of the soldiers, his expression calm but serious. Seeing the squad leader still gripping the village chief by the collar, he quickly intervened, pulling them apart. "Easy, Hayes," he said. "This isn''t what you think." The squad leader scowled but loosened his grip. This man was Instructor Ross, the unit''s political officer. His family had been coroners for generations, and though he had never formally trained in the field, he had spent years studying old forensic manuscripts left behind by his ancestors. He had been inside the courtyard, examining the bodies. Now, standing before the squad leader, he spoke carefully. "They weren''t killed," he said. The squad leader stiffened. "You''re saying¡­ it really was suicide?" Instructor Ross hesitated, glancing at Old Man Carter before replying, "I''m only saying they weren''t murdered." The squad leader''s stomach twisted. Not murdered¡­? Then how¡ª? His thoughts screeched to a halt. Ghosts. The word crawled up his spine like a whisper. For a moment, he found himself staring at Old Man Carter. Those seven marks on the rafters¡­ could they really mean something? Before he could say anything, the men he had sent to check the well came running back. They were carrying eight uniforms. The same uniforms that belonged to the eight dead soldiers. The squad leader''s blood ran cold. "Where did you find these?" One of the men swallowed hard. "In the well, sir. Buried deep in the mud." "Someone tossed them down there?" "No, sir," the soldier said. "They weren''t tossed. We dug them out. And the dirt around them¡­ it hadn''t been disturbed." The squad leader felt his breath hitch. That made no sense. How could their uniforms have been buried under untouched earth? And yet, there they were. Eight bodies hanging, stripped to the waist. Their uniforms buried beneath layers of dirt, as if they had been underground for years. And worse¡­The eight men who had died? They were the same eight who had gone down into the well. The same eight who had screamed. The same eight who had clawed their way back up, confused and unable to remember. The squad leader felt his stomach churn. This wasn''t just unnatural. It was impossible. But the horror didn''t end there, because whatever happened next¡ªno one ever found out. Doe''s translucent figure paused in midair, her voice trailing off. Ethan and the others exchanged glances, confused. "What do you mean, ''no one found out''?" Ethan asked. Doe crossed her arms, her usually playful expression completely serious. "I mean exactly that," she said. "Nobody knows what happened after this." And that was somehow even more unsettling. Doe seemed to know exactly what they were thinking. "The memories of the witnesses end here," she said. "Beyond this point¡­ nothing." Ethan frowned. "What do you mean?" Doe crossed her arms. "I mean, no one remembers what happened next. "The only reason we know as much as we do is because we spent years piecing together fragments from the only survivor¡ªOld Man Carter''s daughter." Leo''s eyes narrowed. "Only survivor? Everyone else¡­ died?" Doe nodded. "At the time, I was still just a field agent for Ninth Division, working with Vaughn," she said. "We were given orders to investigate an abandoned village and conduct a rescue mission. "But when we arrived, there was only one person left¡ªLillian Carter. "The original village population was 126. Add in the soldiers and drill team, that''s 47 more people. Every single one of them was gone." Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire Silence fell over the group. Doe continued, "We searched the ruins for three days, but there were no clues. In the end, all we found was a broken woman, half-mad from whatever she had been through. "We brought her back to Ninth Division for treatment. Over time, in scattered, broken pieces, we managed to get this much of the story from her." She trailed off, her expression unreadable. No one spoke for a long time. Finally, Ethan broke the silence. "Then¡­ why call it the Shadow Lynx Incident?" Doe tilted her head. "Because, during the three days Vaughn and I spent in that abandoned village, something strange happened. Every single night, a lynx appeared." Leo raised a brow. "A lynx?" Doe nodded. "A dark one, like a shadow. It showed up every night, just outside our camp. "We tried to catch it. "Every single time we got close, it vanished. "The next night, it reappeared. "When we returned, we reported everything, and the higher-ups officially labeled it The Shadow Lynx Incident. "The village itself, since it had no official name, was renamed Shadow Lynx Village. "Even after all these years, Vaughn and I have always believed that whatever happened back then¡­ that lynx was the key." She turned to Ethan, her gaze sharp. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "And before you ask¡ªno, our Soul Sense couldn''t detect it." Ethan stiffened. That was exactly what he had been about to say. Doe smirked. "That''s probably why Celeste brought you here. "Vaughn and I aren''t strong enough. My Soul Strength is 13.2, and his is only 5.1. Neither of us has reached the level where we can extend our Soul Sense outward." She leaned in slightly, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "But you¡­ I heard you can use Soul Sense already. "I''m really curious, kid. Wanna show me?" She giggled, stretching her arms lazily. "Well, that''s enough talk for one night. "I''m old, and old people get tired easily. Time for bed." With that, her translucent form flickered¡ªthen slowly faded away. Leo swallowed and shrank back. "Ghosts need sleep?" Whoosh! A thin branch shot through the air like a bullet, stabbing deep into the rock in front of him. Leo yelped and fell backward, his legs giving out beneath him. The brittle branch, no thicker than a pencil, had embedded itself two inches into solid stone. Celeste chuckled. "One of these days, that mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble." Leo stared at the branch, sweat trickling down his temple. If that had hit a person¡­ it''d be like taking a sniper round to the chest. Ethan was just as stunned. Soul-Wielders¡­ could control objects like that? As he was still processing what he''d seen, a soft voice whispered in his ear. "Telekinesis is just the basics for a Soul-Wielder, kid. Want to learn?" Ethan stiffened. That voice, It was Doe. But she had disappeared. His eyes darted around, scanning his surroundings. A playful giggle echoed in his mind. "Relax. Soul-Wielders can also use telepathy~" she teased. "Think it over, kid. If you take me as your teacher, I''ll teach you everything. "But for now¡­ I''m going to sleep." Just as her voice faded, something rustled behind Celeste. The group turned just in time to see the zipper of a tent slowly closing But no one was there. Chapter 144 Breakthrough Celeste insisted that everyone get some rest while she stood watch alone. They all knew that if she slept, the Shadow Eater infection would worsen, so they didn''t argue. The night passed uneventfully. As dawn broke, she roused everyone to prepare for departure. The mountain air was crisp and fresh in the early morning. Ethan took a deep breath. Strangely enough, in both his lives, this was the first time he had ever camped out in the wild. After a quick meal, Celeste checked their direction and led the way. At first, the journey was manageable, but after a few hours, the terrain became impassable. Vines and thorny undergrowth blocked the path, forcing Leo and Williams to take turns hacking through with machetes. Even Victor, who had been keeping up without complaint, was drenched in sweat by noon. Carrying a hundred-pound pack through rugged terrain was no joke. Even for three former elite soldiers, four years of civilian life had dulled their edge. Their training wasn''t what it used to be. Even Celeste, using air manipulation to lighten her steps, was reaching her limit¡ªespecially after pulling an all-nighter. Yet Ethan, somehow, seemed completely unaffected. He didn''t look exhausted like the rest of them. In fact, he seemed refreshed. Everyone shot him weird glances, making him feel a little self-conscious. In the end, he took Celeste''s pack without waiting for her to refuse. Even with the added weight, he barely felt any strain. It puzzled him. There was something in the jungle, some kind of energy seeping into his body. It kept him at peak condition. And he noticed something else. The more weight he carried, the faster this strange energy flowed into him. By midday, after their break, Leo resumed clearing the path, and Ethan grabbed his pack too. A little while later, still not feeling the strain, he took Victor''s and Leo''s packs as well. No one said anything. Victor and Leo just looked at Ethan with growing disbelief. Celeste, however, gave him an approving nod. An hour later, Ethan was carrying five backpacks, weighing at least 750 pounds. The strange energy surged into him faster than ever, but it still couldn''t completely erase his exhaustion. Another hour passed. Sweat drenched his entire body. Every step left a puddle in the dirt. Celeste and the others slowed their pace, all eyes on him. Several times, Leo looked ready to step in, but Victor held him back, shaking his head. One step. Ten steps. A hundred steps¡­ to the others, he looked like he could collapse at any second. Ethan''s mind blurred. Only his will kept him moving. The world faded away until it felt like he was the only one left. Just like in the dreamworld, five thousand years, walking alone. Then¡ª Crack. Ethan swore he heard something shatter inside him. Like a chick breaking out of its shell, an unfamiliar power welled up from within. Celeste and the others watched in shock as his bent back slowly straightened. The lifeless haze in his eyes cleared, replaced with a sharp, determined gaze. Ethan glanced at Victor and Leo. Their expressions were frozen in disbelief. Only Celeste spoke. "Not bad." "Huh?" Ethan scratched his head, clueless about what had just happened. Leo and Williams gave him a thumbs-up before speeding up their pace, cutting through the jungle with renewed vigor. Victor walked up behind Ethan, clapped him on the shoulder, and said, "Congrats. You just broke past your physical limit." Then he grabbed the backpacks off Ethan, tossing them back to Leo and Williams before taking Ethan''s own pack as well. "You just pushed past your limit. It''s not a good idea to strain yourself right after. Take a break." With that, Victor hoisted two backpacks and continued forward. Ethan stood there, dazed. The power that had surged within him earlier was still coursing through his body, circulating in a pattern he didn''t understand. ''So¡­ this is what breaking past my limits feels like?'' He had never studied combat training before, so he had no idea how to control the strange energy. He could only let it flow as it pleased. But every time it cycled through him, he could feel himself getting stronger. A voice suddenly whispered in his ear. "Kid, use your mind to connect with the energy inside you. Follow my guidance." It was Doe. Up ahead, Celeste turned her head slightly, as if Doe had just spoken to her as well. A second later, she abruptly walked back to Ethan, eyeing him in surprise. "You actually awakened energy? How many times have you broken past your limit before?" Hearing this, the others froze. "Uh¡­ I don''t know. This should be my first time?" As soon as Ethan answered, Celeste stared at him like he had grown a second head. Even Victor and the others had the same expression. "Ethan, no way¡­ You awakened energy on your first breakthrough?" Leo''s face was filled with disbelief. Ethan glanced at his own body. "If by ''energy'' you mean whatever''s running wild inside me, then yeah, I guess." Williams who had since been quite , was listening intently. He had hoped Ethan would deny it. But Ethan had confirmed it. Williams didn''t say a word. Instead, he silently unzipped his backpack, pulled out some supplies, and started setting up camp. Victor and Leo exchanged looks before letting out a helpless chuckle and joining him. Ethan frowned. "Uh¡­ what are you guys doing?" "I don''t feel like talking to a freak," Leo muttered, side-eyeing him. Celeste smirked. "We''ll camp here for the night." "But you¡ª" "Relax. A day or two won''t kill me. Right now, you need Doe to help you stabilize that energy. If you miss this chance, you might regret it forever." Ethan blinked. Celeste had never spoken to him this gently before. That night. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire Doe stood beside Celeste, her translucent figure faintly glowing under the moonlight. "You really can''t guide his energy?" Celeste asked, frowning. Doe puffed up her cheeks and glared at Ethan, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground. "Guide my ass! This kid doesn''t even have Energy Pathways!" Celeste gave her a puzzled look. "Then¡­ what''s happening to him?" Doe''s expression darkened. She clenched her jaw before spitting out, "How the hell should I know? I tried to channel my Soul Power into him, and some freak force nearly shattered my damn soul!" Her hands balled into fists as she trembled with frustration. "I''ve lived for over a hundred years, and this brat almost wiped me out! It''s going to take forever for me to recover from this. I''m so pissed!" Celeste watched her fume for a moment, then¡ªshe stifled a laugh. Doe whipped her head around. "What the hell are you laughing at?!" "Nothing¡­" Celeste said, covering her mouth. But her gaze drifted back to Ethan, a flicker of worry in her eyes. At that moment, Ethan himself was growing frustrated. Doe had promised to help him guide his energy, but the second they started, something had yanked his consciousness into a strange, unfamiliar space. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 145 Cracking the Gate Ethan floated in a strange, mist-filled space, below him stretched a vast, emerald-green lake. Despite the absence of any visible light source, the entire space glowed with an otherworldly brightness. Scanning his surroundings, Ethan noticed a small island at the lake''s center. Curious, he willed his body forward, intending to get a closer look. Before he could react¡ª Whoosh! The space shifted. In an instant, he found himself hovering above the island. Ethan froze. ''What the hell?'' He tried again. With just a thought, he could instantly teleport anywhere within the space. Testing the limits, he focused on the misty barrier surrounding the area. A blink later, he was at the edge, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t move past it. "You done messing around?" A familiar voice boomed through the space. "¡­Uh." Ethan hesitated. "Old man, where is this?" He recognized the voice¡ªit was Morzan. "This is your mindscape," Morzan explained. "Or, to put it simply, the inside of your consciousness." Ethan paused. "Great. Love that for me. Now, how do I get out?" Morzan let out a long sigh. Ethan waited. And waited. But Morzan said nothing. "Oh, come on! What''s with the dramatic silence? Spit it out already!" Ethan strained his ears, waiting for a response. Nothing. "¡­Hello?" "Bad signal." Morzan''s voice returned suddenly. "¡­???" Ethan stared blankly into the void, his mind full of questions. "Just listen," Morzan continued. Then, silence. Again. Ethan sighed in exasperation, crossing his arms. Finally, after what felt like forever, Morzan''s voice crackled back in, this time in broken fragments: "Central island¡­ gate¡­ open¡­ enter¡­" Luckily, Ethan wasn''t an idiot. He got the gist. In a flash, he reappeared on the island. From afar, the island had seemed small, but the moment he set foot on it, everything changed. Either he had shrunk, or the island had expanded endlessly. At its center stood an ancient, imposing gate.The sight of it sent a strange chill down Ethan''s spine, almost like the feeling of standing before the Gates of the Underworld. Towering endlessly into the sky, its massive frame was carved with intricate, milky-white patterns. Wisps of mist coiled around the engravings, giving them an eerie, living presence. But the most peculiar thing was the vine. A single, pale vine coiled around the grand doorway, shifting ever so slightly, as if alive. Ethan watched as fresh green leaves sprouted from it, slowly turning gold before withering and falling to the ground. The moment they touched the earth, they shattered into mist, dissolving back into the gate. Standing there, Ethan could tell¡ªthis process had repeated itself countless times in just a few seconds. An odd sensation welled up inside him, a whisper of understanding just out of reach. It was like trying to recall a dream slipping from his grasp. No matter how hard he focused, he couldn''t quite seize it. The feeling weighed on his chest, like a stone pressing down on his lungs, making it hard to breathe. "Steady your mind," Morzan''s voice came again, this time crystal clear. "You''re not ready to understand it yet. Focus all your Soul Power and break through the Gate of Ascension." Finally, a full sentence. "How the hell am I supposed to control Soul Power? I don''t know how!" Ethan shouted at the sky. His voice vanished into the void without a response. Frustrated, he tried to calm his mind and focus. Boom! The island trembled beneath him. Ethan turned toward the sound, a towering column of emerald water shot up from the lake. Strangely, the water didn''t splash back down. Instead, it simply faded into the air. His eyes widened. ''Wait¡­ did I do that?'' He concentrated again. Another surge of water spiraled upward. A smirk tugged at his lips as he directed the water toward the Gate of Ascension. Boom! The gate trembled. A searing pain exploded in his skull, as if a massive boulder had been dropped onto his head. Darkness swallowed his vision, and he collapsed onto the island. Ethan had no idea how much time had passed before a voice rang out beside him. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Kid! You alive? Did you activate your Source Energy yet?" Groaning, Ethan sat up, rubbing his head¡ªonly for his hand to pass right through it. Oh, right. He wasn''t in his real body. "If by ''Source Energy'' you mean that water column, then yeah, I guess." His voice was weak. "Good. Now focus and summon even more to break through the gate," Morzan instructed. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire Ethan scowled. "Yeah, easy for you to say. I just blacked out from the pain. You got another method? And also, why the hell am I even here?" Morzan let out a long hum before answering. "Nope, no other way. As for why you''re here? That''s on you, kid. Letting someone else probe your soul? If I hadn''t caught it in time and kicked them out, your¡­ well, let''s just say it wouldn''t have ended well." Ethan''s eye twitched. "The hell does that mean?" Morzan ignored the question and continued, "You would''ve had to go through this eventually. It just happened earlier than expected. But that''s actually a good thing. The sooner you master this, the better prepared you''ll be for the Cataclysm five years from now." Ethan''s breath hitched. Five years¡­? "Once you complete this step," Morzan went on, "you''ll gain full control over your Soul Power. And with Source Energy supporting it, your soul will finally have a proper foundation." "Without it, your Soul Power is like a rootless weed¡ªeasily torn away." Morzan''s voice carried a rare seriousness. "With this, you''ll also be able to mask your presence. No one will be able to tell you''re a Soul-Wielder." Then, his tone turned lazy again. "So yeah, keep slamming that gate. Sooner or later, it''ll open. Your Source Energy isn''t weak¡ªit''s just a matter of how much you can control." "Oh, and once you''re out of here, you still need to guide your energy into your core. If you waste this chance, you''ll regret it forever." What Morzan didn''t mention was that this whole mess was kind of his fault. He''d been drinking when he sensed someone probing Ethan''s soul. In his tipsy state, he''d lashed out a little¡­ too hard. That backlash had rattled Ethan''s mindscape, slamming the Gate of Ascension shut. But if he admitted that now, Ethan would lose his mind. Ethan groaned and shot to his feet. "Old man, I just slammed into that gate once and nearly died from the pain. And now you want me to hit it harder? Why don''t you try bashing your own head with a hammer and see how that feels?" Morzan muttered under his breath, "Not like I haven''t¡­" but didn''t say it loud enough for Ethan to hear. Instead, he simply fell silent, ignoring him completely. That silence unsettled Ethan. Meanwhile, Morzan frowned to himself. By all logic, Ethan should''ve been able to break the gate with just one hit. It was nearly impossible to open from the outside, but from the inside? It should''ve been effortless. So why hadn''t it worked? Even more concerning¡ªwhen Morzan tried to probe Ethan''s mindscape, he found the gate completely shut. Something was off. And whatever it was, even someone like him who had existed for countless millennia couldn''t figure it out. Chapter 146 The First Step Ethan scowled as Morzan went silent again, muttering curses under his breath. That old man had said his newly awakened energy would fade if he didn''t stabilize it, and Celeste had warned him about the same thing. Clearly, ''energy'' was something rare and valuable in their eyes. Which meant he needed to get the hell out of this place. With no other option, he focused again, summoning more Source Energy. One column of water¡­ Two¡­ Three¡­ Four¡­ By the time he reached nine, he hit his limit. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t summon a tenth. Fine. He''d just have to make do. Locking onto the Gate of Ascension, he controlled all nine water columns and slammed them against it. BOOM! Everything went dark. An eternity seemed to pass before Ethan slowly regained consciousness. "Kid! You still alive?" Morzan''s voice was urgent. Ethan didn''t answer. He sat there, blankly staring at the massive gate in front of him, a crushing sense of helplessness settled in. Even after throwing everything he had at it, the damn thing was still shut. No way out. Without opening the Gate of Ascension, he couldn''t regain control of his body. Would he die here? And if he did, what about the Cataclysm Morzan had mentioned? What about Lyla? His friends waiting for him outside? Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Ethan clenched his fists. He refused to accept this. But Morzan said nothing. He already knew Ethan had failed. Silence stretched between them. Then, Ethan took a deep breath and stood. That''s when he noticed something strange. His previously transparent body was now glowing with a faint green aura, the same shade as the lake water. Even the intricate white carvings on the gate had taken on a slight emerald tint. Did¡­ did I stain the gate with the water? He didn''t dwell on it. Summoning his Source Energy again, he launched another attack. Again. And again. Each time, he blacked out from the pain. Each time, he woke up stronger. Gradually, he found himself controlling twelve water columns with ease. Now, he could strike the gate twice before passing out, but the pain was unbearable¡ªlike his soul was being torn apart. Then, out of nowhere, Morzan spoke. "Try a different angle." Ethan blinked. "What do you mean?" "Go around. Try from the other side." Wait. No way. Had he been¡ª? Heart pounding, Ethan circled the gate. As he reached the opposite side, his breath hitched. The once-white gate was now completely emerald, almost jade-like. A ridiculous thought crept into his mind. ''No way I''ve been attacking the back this whole time¡­ right?'' Stepping onto the platform, he hesitantly placed his hands on the massive doors. Then, with a gentle push¡ª HUMMMMMM¡ª Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The gate swung open effortlessly. Ethan stared, dumbfounded. "¡­Are you f***ing kidding me?" --- Meanwhile, in the real world, Ethan had been sitting motionless for two hours. Celeste and the others had kept a close eye on him the entire time. He remained perfectly still one moment, then trembled violently the next, his brows furrowing in deep concentration. No one knew what was happening to him. And none of them could do a damn thing to help. Just moments ago, Doe had attempted to probe Ethan''s condition again when she saw his entire body trembling violently, but the moment her Soul Power made contact, a surge of emerald energy blasted it away. She barely withdrew in time¡ªany slower, and she would''ve been injured again. What shocked her most, however, was that the green energy wasn''t a foreign force. It was Ethan''s own Soul Power. It was the first time she had ever seen someone''s soul take on a distinct color. With even Doe unable to intervene, the others had no choice but to wait. Either Ethan would pull through on his own, or his energy would fade, and he''d wake up naturally. None of them realized that Ethan was currently trapped inside his own mindscape, unable to break free. Inside his consciousness, Ethan stepped beyond the Gate of Ascension, his mind screaming numerous curses. ''All this time¡­ I was pushing the wrong damn side?!'' And to make matters worse, it had opened with the slightest push. As soon as he crossed the threshold, he felt his awareness slam back into his physical body. At the same time, he gained a strange new perception¡ªan inner sight. His entire body appeared as a dark void, with a single golden speck darting around like a restless firefly. It looked like a seed, aimlessly bouncing from place to place inside him. "Wrap it in your will," Morzan''s voice instructed. "Guide it into your core." For the first time, Morzan''s voice came through with perfect clarity. A soft green mist¡ªhis Soul Power, rose from the top of Ethan''s head. To his eyes, it looked like faint, drifting vapor. The golden seed, on the other hand, felt strangely solid. At first, Ethan thought it would be difficult to capture. But the moment his Soul Power touched it, the seed instantly calmed, as if a child finding its mother. A wave of warmth and familiarity radiated from it. Ethan''s heart leapt in excitement. ''That was easier than I thought.'' Morzan let out a small hum of surprise. "Well, well. Seems like you fused with Source Energy by accident while inside the mindscape." Then, after a brief pause, he muttered, "And just as I expected, your Source Energy is linked to the Essence of Life. Giving you the King of Elves bloodline was the right choice after all. Maybe¡­ just maybe¡­ you can reach that level in five years." Ethan stayed silent, fully focused. The seed had stopped resisting, but moving it was still a challenge. Especially when guiding it toward his core¡ª the point where his energy converged. But as soon as his awareness reached that spot, he froze. It was empty. Completely void. There was no energy pool, no power center, nothing. His stomach twisted. ''Wait¡­ isn''t it impossible to be a fighter without a core?'' He had heard the rumors. Those without a core were considered almost useless, at best, slightly stronger than an average person with enough training. Honestly, he had never dreamed of becoming a warrior in the first place. After all, gathering energy in one''s core was rare, only one in a thousand people succeeded. He had never dared to hope for it. But now, standing at this threshold¡­ What was he supposed to do? "Quit panicking," Morzan grumbled. "You haven''t even formed your core yet. Get that energy into place, and then you''ll have a core." Ethan blinked. Oh. So this was just the beginning. He really was a complete novice at this. ''Maybe I should ask Doe to be my teacher¡­?'' For now, though, he had bigger things to worry about. Focusing again, he poured more Soul Power into the golden seed, slowly pulling it into his core. HUMMMMM¡ª! A deep resonance rang through his body. And at the same time¡ª Back in the real world, Celeste and the others tensed as violent winds erupted around the camp. Chapter 147 The Seed Awakens Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire The golden seed finally settled in the core of Ethan''s body. Suddenly, it flared with brilliant light, revealing the state of his inner energy center. It was rumoured that most people''s energy cores had a distinct shape, usually spherical. But as Ethan observed his own, he realized something was very, very different. It stretched endlessly in all directions, like a boundless void. They said the larger the core, the greater the potential. Did this mean he was some kind of prodigy? "Stop flattering yourself. You don''t even have an energy core, how could it have a shape?" Morzan''s blunt remark crushed his excitement in an instant. "¡­Huh?" Ethan blinked in confusion. The golden seed floated within him, drifting until it reached a specific point. Then, it trembled twice and went still. Ethan was just about to ask what to do next when¡ª Crack. A fine split appeared along the seed''s shell. A single root sprouted from the gap, extending downward. Under Ethan''s stunned gaze, it embedded itself into the very void of his core, as if taking root in thin air. Moments later, two small green leaves emerged from the seed, unfurling gently. Wait¡­ Wasn''t this supposed to be his life energy? How had it turned into a literal seed? And now it was taking root in the empty space where his energy core was supposed to be? Ethan had a hundred questions, but before he could voice any of them, a massive pull surged from the tiny sprout. All around him, an invisible force gathered. Countless wisps of faint green energy rushed toward him, surging into his body and flowing straight into the seedling. Wrapped in that dense energy, the tiny plant began to grow. At an absurd speed. It shot upward, extending along the space where his energy core should have been. Ethan stared in shock and a hint of worry. Shock, because the growth speed was insane, like someone was forcing a sapling to mature overnight. Worry, because instead of thickening as it grew, the stem only became thinner. By the time it reached his chest, it was as fine as a spider''s silk strand, delicate and fragile, as if a mere touch could snap it in two. "¡­Old man, what the hell is this?" Ethan asked, his voice tinged with unease. Morzan had been watching closely. His eyes gleamed with excitement, though he kept his thoughts to himself. ''It sprouted¡­ it actually sprouted¡­ So this Vessel could nurture the Seed of Life after all¡­'' There was hope. For his old comrades, for everyone. The only question was¡­ How far would this Tree of Life grow in five years? Of course, he wasn''t about to share any of that with Ethan. Instead, he simply scoffed, "It''s just a sprout. What''s there to be surprised about? Hurry up and get back to leveling in the game." Ethan exhaled, releasing a faint green mist with his breath. Morzan''s nonchalant tone was enough to kill his curiosity. Pushing everything else aside, he refocused and opened his eyes. What greeted him was a wrecked campsite; collapsed tents, scattered supplies. Leo, Victor, Celeste, and even Doe¡ªwho was currently just a floating soul, were all staring at him in shock. "Did you gather your energy into your core?" Victor asked. his brows furrowed. "¡­Something like that," Ethan replied hesitantly. Even he wasn''t sure what had just happened. Not like he could tell them there was a tree growing inside him. They''d think he was a damn monster. "That''s impossible. You didn''t even¡ª" Doe had just started speaking when she froze. Her face drained of color, eyes wide in terror. Because in that instant, an immense pressure crashed down on her, and a voice whispered coldly in her ear: "Speak another word, and I''ll erase you from existence." For the first time in years, despite being a wandering soul, Doe felt something eerily close to cold sweat. She stared at Ethan in pure disbelief. Who the hell was watching over this guy? That presence just now was terrifying. If only she knew Morzan couldn''t actually do anything¡ªthat he was just bluffing, she might not have been so shaken. "¡­What''s wrong?" Leo asked. The others also turned to Doe, curious. "Ah¡­ I was just wondering," she quickly covered, "how he figured out how to channel energy without any assistance." Ethan blinked. Wait, was there supposed to be some secret method? Wasn''t it just a matter of using his will to pull life energy into his core? That seemed obvious enough. What he didn''t know was that he was missing something fundamental. If he had ever seen how other warriors'' bodies worked, he''d immediately notice the difference. He had no energy pathways. Even an ordinary person had them. He had none. Doe studied Ethan''s expression. Yeah, he didn''t even realize. Better to change the subject. "Alright, enough of that. You two, get ready to move," she said. "We''ve wasted three days in this dump, Celeste''s curse mark shifted again." Three days? Ethan was stunned. He had completely lost track of time. This whole mission was about removing the curse mark on Celeste. Twelve other people were waiting on them to find a solution before their own time ran out. And he''d wasted three whole days standing around? Ethan scratched his head, feeling guilty. "That''s on me. Let''s move fast. I''ll carry all your packs." After a quick meal, the group set off again. By the time they neared their destination, it was already past ten at night. Doe, who had been scouting ahead, called out, "We''re close!" Twelve straight hours of trekking had finally paid off. And it was all thanks to Ethan. Not just because he was hauling everyone''s gear, but because, while asking Doe how to control his life energy, he made an accidental discovery. When he let his energy seep outward, vines, brambles, tree branches¡ªevery plant around him instinctively moved aside, clearing a path for him. With that, Ethan naturally took the lead, making travel much smoother. After all, it wasn''t like he had to do anything special. He just had to walk. Compared to hacking through the undergrowth with machetes like Leo and Victor were doing, Ethan''s method was ridiculously efficient. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Twelve hours of uninterrupted movement later, the air around them thickened with mist. Doe glanced at the fog and nodded. "This is the barrier we set when we left years ago." She explained that it was designed to keep ordinary people from stumbling into danger. One of their team''s spellcasters had created it, anyone who entered without the proper guidance would unknowingly find themselves turned back the way they came. Hearing that, the group couldn''t help but be intrigued. A magic barrier that had been running for years without fading? "That''s some serious craftsmanship," Leo commented. Doe smirked. "Magic like this borrows from the wind, the water, the land itself. As long as it isn''t critically damaged, it can run indefinitely." Leo raised a brow. "Then why have most of the strongest barriers in history disappeared?" Victor, who hadn''t been paying much attention, suddenly looked over in surprise. "Wait, you actually know about magic barriers? Which ones?" Leo gave him a disdainful look. "Ever heard of the Thousandfold Ward? The Executioner''s Seal? The Plague Shroud? The Tenfold Lock? The Ninefold Riverbind?" Victor shook his head. The others also stared at Leo, surprised. Since when was he this well-versed in magical theory? "¡­Wait," Leo narrowed his eyes. "None of you have heard of them?" He studied their faces and suddenly came to a horrifying realization. "¡­Don''t tell me¡ªnone of you have read Legends of the Eternal War?" For a second, the group almost took him seriously, until they realized what he was talking about. Victor clicked his tongue. "The hell are you on about?" The others rolled their eyes. Leo had just lost all credibility. Chapter 148 The Village That Time Forgot "Hey! What''s with that attitude?" Leo called out as Victor walked ahead, ignoring him. The rest of the group shook their heads, paying him no mind. Even Doe floated forward, instructing, "Follow my trail exactly. Don''t take the wrong step." Ethan almost pointed out that she was floating¡ªhow could she leave a trail? But as he watched, he noticed that wherever she passed, the mist slightly parted, leaving shallow depressions in the ground. It had to be another use of soul energy. Doe led them through the thick fog, twisting and turning for several minutes. Then, suddenly the mist vanished. The moment they stepped through, Ethan glanced back. The thick fog that had surrounded them was gone. The realization sent a chill down their spines. Even after seeing so many mysterious and impossible things already, the sheer mystery of the barrier made them rethink what they knew about magic. Ahead, about a hundred meters away, stood a lonely village. Something about it was¡­ off. A deep sense of unease crept up Ethan''s spine. He turned instinctively, expecting Doe to be playing another one of her ghostly pranks. But instead, his gaze locked onto something else, a pair of glowing green eyes staring straight at them from the trees. He barely made out the creature''s silhouette¡ªits body massive, dark, and sleek, eerily similar to his panther form in the game. As soon as it noticed him looking, it held his gaze for a brief moment, then vanished into the forest. Shadow Lynx. The name popped into his head instinctively. A wave of goosebumps prickled across his skin. "Shadow Lynx!" Ethan shouted. The group spun around, but there was nothing. Under the skeptical stares of the others, Ethan pointed to where the creature had been. "I swear! It was right there! It disappeared in a blink." Seeing his serious expression, the others grew uneasy. Victor knelt down, scanning the area. After a moment, he shook his head. "No tracks. No signs of movement." "Ethan, you sure you''re not just messing with us?" Leo teased. No one responded to him. But their silence spoke volumes. Especially Doe. She had been here before. She knew how strange this place could be. After another moment of tension, they pressed on, moving carefully toward the village. Victor and the others had already loaded their submachine guns, scanning their surroundings with growing unease. At the village entrance, an old drilling machine stood rusted and decayed, its iron plating corroded beyond recognition. An unfinished well sat beneath the drilling rig, half-dug, filled with stagnant water. It looked exactly as Doe had described. It was as if time had frozen here for the past forty-four years. Swallowing his nerves, Ethan stepped up to the well and peered inside. Dark water reflected his gaze back at him. No movement. No strange figures. Just silence. The group reached the first row of houses, cautiously stepping into the abandoned village. "¡­Are we sure this place is empty?" Leo muttered. At first, no one thought much about the question, but Ethan''s mind caught onto something. Based on Doe''s story, this place had been abandoned for over four decades. Yet¡ª There wasn''t a single vine, not a single overgrown weed. That didn''t make sense. In a deep mountain forest like this, a village left alone for even a few years should have been completely overrun with vegetation. Yet the houses looked untouched. If it weren''t for the rusted drilling rig, no one would believe this village had been abandoned at all. It was as if the people had only just left. "¡­Nothing''s changed," Doe whispered, breaking the eerie silence. Her words made the unease settle even deeper in their bones. Something had prevented nature from reclaiming this place. Celeste frowned, her gaze locked onto a particular house near the village entrance. "This place¡­ feels familiar," she murmured. "But I know I''ve never been here before." Ethan followed her gaze and nodded. "If that''s the case¡­ then this is where your missing memories are." She clenched her fists and stepped forward. The group followed her into the courtyard. According to Doe, this house had a distinct mark¡ªeight knife cuts on the wooden beam inside. They stepped through the entrance, sweeping their flashlights across the interior. Seven knife marks were immediately visible. Ethan stepped closer and ran his fingers along the back of the beam. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire The eighth mark was hidden near the corner. Everything was exactly as Doe had described. "¡­It''s so quiet," Leo muttered. Once again, he had unknowingly pointed out something unsettling. Victor''s expression darkened. "He''s right. Ever since we left the mist, there haven''t been any sounds. No birds, no insects¡ªnothing." Even in cold weather, there should have been some faint rustling. But there was nothing. For the first time, Victor, as hardened as he was, felt the weight of uncertainty press down on him. Facing human enemies was one thing, but facing the unknown was another. "Hey, check this out." Victor suddenly called from the corner of the room. The group gathered around as he held up a half-eaten military ration bar. It had been bitten into but left abandoned. Victor examined it, his face growing more serious. "This is a newer model. We didn''t have these back when I was deployed." He turned the packaging over and shined his flashlight onto the label. The date printed on it read: September 7, 2024. Celeste''s expression turned grim. "That matches the last recorded expedition here." Ethan exhaled slowly. The implications were clear. The last group to investigate this place had been here. They had left in a hurry. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And whatever had happened to them¡­ was still unknown. Leo glanced around, uneasy. "They abandoned their supplies. Left food behind. Something must''ve happened." He looked at the others expectantly, as if they had the answers. They didn''t. But one thing was certain¡ª Celeste, Doe, and the others had all come here before. And when they returned, they had been cursed by whatever the Shadow Eaters were. No one knew what those creatures truly were. A curse? A disease? A parasite? And now¡­ they were here too. Would they be affected as well? Every recorded case of the affliction had been among individuals with supernatural abilities. But who was to say it wouldn''t spread to ordinary people? After all, no ordinary person had ever made it this far. Not with the barrier keeping them out. And Ethan¡­ he wasn''t exactly normal. "I''m sorry." Celeste suddenly spoke, her voice filled with guilt. The group turned to her. "¡­Why?" Leo asked, confused. She met his gaze, her face unreadable. "I wasn''t sure before¡­ but now I am. This is the place. This is where it started." She hesitated before adding, "If we don''t figure this out, you might all end up like me." Silence. Then, after a long pause, Leo stretched, cracking his neck. "Oh, come on. Like I wasn''t prepared for this?" He crouched down and started rummaging through his backpack. Chapter 149 Watchful Eyes Victor glanced at Leo rummaging through his bag and turned to the others. "Williams and I will check the perimeter." With that, he and Williams headed outside. "Wait, hold on! Take these¡ªjust in case!" Leo pulled out two heads of garlic, a string of prayer beads, a cross, and other random trinkets from his bag. Then, as if that weren''t enough, he reached into his oversized cargo pants and fished out two laminated protective charms, shoving them into Williams and Victor''s hands. The two men stared at him with blank expressions. Clearly, they had expected this. Their expressions screamed regret, but in the end, they just sighed and took the items. Leo stuffed extra sage bundles into their pockets, handed them each a charm, and pressed a silver pendant into their palms. Then, he turned to Ethan and Celeste, passing them their own share. Ethan frowned at the strange objects in his hands. "Where the hell did you even get all this?" He couldn''t believe for a second that the gear bags in their Humvee had come stocked with anti-supernatural supplies. Leo puffed up his chest. "Brought ''em myself!" He patted his bulky cargo pockets proudly. Ethan suddenly remembered how, on the plane, Leo''s pants had looked strangely stuffed. At the time, he had assumed it was just some weird design¡ªturns out the guy had actually packed them full of junk. When Leo handed Celeste her share, Ethan half-expected her to toss them aside. But to everyone''s shock, she neatly arranged the items in her pockets and nodded. "Thanks." The entire group froze. Even Victor and Williams, who were halfway out the door, turned to stare. Even Doe, who had seen plenty of strange things, looked dumbfounded. Celeste¡­ just said thank you? "¡­Uh¡­ uh, y-you''re welcome?" Leo stammered. Celeste smiled slightly and stepped toward the door. As she walked, she said, "Doe mentioned this place has an ominous presence. We shouldn''t linger in one spot for too long. Let''s split up¡ªtwo per team to cover more ground." She glanced at Ethan. "You go with Leo. I''ll team up with Doe." Without waiting for a response, she left. Leo turned to Doe, still holding out one of the charms. "Uh¡­ Doe, do you want¡ª" Without a word, she phased right through him, her ghostly form passing through his body like mist. He shivered violently and turned around just as she turned back toward him. "Do you think I need them?" she asked. Leo frantically shook his head, looking like a rattling bobblehead. She smirked. "Good boy." Then, without another word, she floated off after Celeste. Soon, everyone had dispersed, leaving only Ethan and Leo behind. Ethan was still staring at the eighth knife mark on the wooden beam overhead. Leo groaned. "Ethan, what are you even looking at? Let''s just go." Ethan didn''t answer. Instead, he tilted his head. "Do you see that?" Leo followed his gaze. "¡­See what?" Ethan pointed at the beam. "There''s someone hanging up there." Leo''s face drained of color. Slowly, hesitantly, he turned his flashlight toward the beam. "Where¡­?" "Right there. Can''t you see?" Ethan continued, his voice eerily calm. Leo started trembling. "Ethan, man, don''t mess with me right now." Then Ethan turned his head sharply and stared past Leo''s shoulder, his eyes widening in horror. "¡­It''s behind you now." Leo screamed. "By the gods above and below! Holy light, blessed waters, spirits of the old¡ª" He spun around wildly, flailing his charms and beads like a mad priest in an exorcism. His hands waved furiously, trinkets clattering together as he muttered every religious phrase he could think of. Ethan burst into laughter. He clapped Leo on the shoulder. "Alright, alright, relax. You scared it off." Leo stopped mid-chant, blinking. "Huh?" "I said it''s gone," Ethan repeated, smirking. Leo''s face turned red with embarrassment. "Dude! That''s not funny! You almost gave me a heart attack!" Ethan was already walking toward the door. Leo sighed, shaking his head as he followed. But just as he stepped under the beam, Ethan suddenly stopped.His face twisted into an expression of shock, and he stumbled backward. Leo rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, man. You think I''m falling for that again?" He strode up next to Ethan, smirking. "I''m not an id¡ª" Then he saw it. "¡­Oh, hell no." A black lynx was perched on the beam, its glowing green eyes locked onto them. It didn''t move, didn''t blink. It just stared. Then¡ª Tat-tat-tat! Leo raised his submachine gun and fired a burst at the rafters, but the lynx was faster. With an impossible leap, it dodged the bullets and vanished through a hole in the roof. Only then did Ethan and Leo notice the hole was even there. Then, a flash of white shot past them, soaring straight through the opening in pursuit. Leo nearly opened fire again. Ethan grabbed his arm. "It''s Doe." A moment later, Celeste, Williams, and Victor ran up. "What happened?" Celeste demanded. "Shadow Lynx," Ethan replied. Leo nodded quickly. Doe''s voice echoed from a distance. "Over here!" Without hesitation, Celeste took off and the others hurried after her. Their radios had long since become useless, reduced to nothing but static. They sprinted past the last rows of houses and into the treeline. Doe hovered beneath a massive oak, waiting for them. As soon as they arrived, she turned to Ethan. "This is the spot. Last time we chased it, this was where it disappeared." She glanced at him. "Try using your soul sense. See if you can pick up anything." Ethan hesitated. His soul sense had only activated once before, and that had been during a life-or-death moment. Using it intentionally? He wasn''t even sure how. Seeing his hesitation, Doe reassured him. "Don''t worry. The magic barrier here keeps us hidden from the outside world. No one will sense you." That wasn''t his concern. He just didn''t know how to activate it. But there was no turning back now. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and focused. A low hum filled his mind, then, like ripples in water, an invisible pulse radiated outward from his body. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For a brief moment, he could see everything. Not with his eyes, but with something deeper. Everything became sharper, clearer. Even the tiniest insect egg buried in the dirt was visible in his mind. He swept across the village, the tree, the exact spot where the lynx had vanished¡ª And found nothing. Opening his eyes, he sighed and shook his head. The group''s anticipation faded into disappointment. Ethan frowned. Something about this felt¡­ incomplete. Like he had missed something. He went over everything again in his head. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire Then it hit him. He had been so focused on what he could see, that he hadn''t considered what he couldn''t. And there was one very particular empty spot. A place where there should have been something¡ª But wasn''t. Chapter 150 The Shadows Trail Ethan stretched his soul sense outward again, but this time, instead of expanding it in all directions, he focused it like a thread, pushing toward a single point. To his surprise, doing so increased his range. Like stretching dough, his awareness extended farther and farther, until he reached a spot that felt¡­ different. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was it. The forest behind the village was made up of perfectly aligned trees. Not naturally grown¡ªplanted. By their spacing, there should have been another tree standing in the spot he was sensing. "We should check it out," Ethan said. He must have gotten some clue. The others shared the same thought as they followed him into the dense woods. They walked for about five hundred meters before Ethan suddenly stopped. He knelt, running his fingers over the base of a tree stump, a stump that had been cleanly cut. "Do you guys remember what kind of trees we saw when we first got near the village?" Ethan asked, standing up. "Mostly cypress, I think," Victor replied. Ethan nodded. "Same. But look around. This part of the forest is full of redwoods. And these trunks¡­ they must be at least sixty years old, right?" The others exchanged uncertain glances. What was he getting at? Williams studied the trees and guessed, "Sixty, maybe seventy years." Ethan swept his soul sense over the nearby trees, then said, "Sixty-three to sixty-four, to be exact." He pointed at the stump. "And this one? It was cut down at nineteen or twenty years old." Leo knelt and counted the rings. "Yeah, nineteen. So what?" "Remember the newest house in the village? Doe mentioned that building was the last one constructed before the village was abandoned." The group nodded. Ethan continued, "The only redwoods we''ve seen are in this section of the forest. And what was that house built from?" Realization dawned on them. "The roof beam¡­" Celeste muttered. Ethan nodded. "Exactly. The eighth knife mark wasn''t the last¡ªit was the first. Someone carved it into the bark while the tree was still standing." The weight of his words sank in. That meant¡ª "¡­That tree was a hanging tree," Leo said, his voice low. "Someone died there, and then they chopped it down to build a house. And if there really was a ghost attached to it¡­" "It would have haunted the house," Victor finished grimly. "And killed everyone inside." Ethan sighed. "If ghosts exist, then yeah. That''s exactly what happened." At that moment, Celeste abruptly raised a hand for silence. Everyone followed her gaze. Doe whispered in shock, "No way¡­ It''s never shown up this many times before." The Shadow Lynx had returned. It perched on a low branch, not far from them, staring. Not at the group. At Ethan. The others exchanged uneasy glances. Was it appearing over and over because of him? Leo reflexively reached for his gun, but Celeste grabbed his wrist, shaking her head. They had spent half the night chasing dead ends, maybe this creature was the only real clue they had. Ethan could tell that was what everyone was thinking, but that didn''t make the situation any less unsettling. The group and the lynx remained locked in a silent standoff. Then, out of nowhere, someone kicked Ethan. He stumbled forward, catching himself before falling. Whipping around, he saw the rest of the group staring back at him, feigning innocence. ''One of these bastards just kicked me.'' His eyes landed on Leo, who just shrugged. Definitely Leo. Ethan glared. Leo made a gesture of innocence, as if to say, ''Wasn''t me!'' The lynx tensed at the sudden movement, its body coiling, but then, when it saw that it was Ethan stepping forward, it stopped. It just watched. Ethan swallowed hard. He took another step forward. Leo turned to Victor and whispered, "Man, you are cold-blooded." Victor smirked. "It''s not like I have to take the blame anyway." "¡­You," Leo muttered, suppressing his annoyance. Ethan ignored them and focused on the lynx, his heart pounded as he took slow, careful steps toward it. When he was about five or six meters away, the lynx suddenly leapt from the tree. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire The group tensed, ready to fight, but it didn''t run. Instead, it walked. Straight toward Ethan. Ethan froze. Telling himself he wasn''t scared would be a lie. The lynx circled him once, sniffing at his legs, then glanced at the rest of the group. Then, suddenly, it spun around and took a few steps away. It paused, turned back and motioned with its head. Obviously it wanted them to follow. Ethan turned to the group. Celeste nodded in response and so they followed. The lynx led them straight to its usual disappearance point. It paused there, glanced at them one last time, then, without hesitation, it lunged forward and slammed headfirst into the base of a massive redwood. The instant its body touched the bark, it vanished. Gone. Ethan blinked in shock. He hurried forward, pressing his hands against the tree. Nothing. It was just a normal redwood. Solid. Rough. Completely ordinary. The others arrived seconds later. Ethan tried sweeping his soul sense over the tree. Still nothing. "¡­What the hell?" he muttered. The lynx had led them here again, only to disappear without a trace. What was it trying to tell them? The group looked at each other, frustration written across their faces. Then¡ª "Is it just leading us in circles?" Leo muttered. The moment he said it, a hissing sound came from behind them. They spun around and saw the figure of the Shadow Lynx. It had somehow materialized behind them without a single sound. And it looked pissed. Its lips curled back, baring sharp fangs, eyes narrowing at Leo. Its tail lashed once, twice. The realization hit them all at once. It had heard him. "Shit," Leo whispered. For a long, tense moment, the lynx just stared at him, growling softly. Leo, to his credit, took a step forward, lifting his submachine gun. "Look, you little¡ª" The lynx''s expression changed. It was subtle, but clear. A look of pure disdain. Leo blinked. "Did¡­ did this thing just look down on me?" Before he could say anything else, a scent filled the air. It was a familiar scent. Wood smoke. Cooking fires.The scent of a meal being prepared In a village that had been abandoned for over fourty years. The group turned toward the village and saw something that should not have been possible. Chapter 151 The Hidden Passage It was exactly 1:00 AM. The abandoned village lay silent, but wisps of smoke curled into the night sky. Ethan''s stomach twisted. Just minutes ago, this place had been nothing but a deserted ruin. Now, there were signs of life. And even if this were a normal village, who the hell started cooking in the middle of the night? The black lynx stiffened, its fur standing on end. Step by step, it backed away, glanced at Ethan and the others, then, without warning, slammed its head into a nearby tree. And vanished. "...What the hell?" That thing was terrified. Did this mean something dangerous was about to happen? Ethan''s senses flared. "Shit!" From the village''s ancient well, a dense, crimson mist was rising. In seconds, it had spread throughout the entire village, seeping through every street, every empty house. Dark shadows twisted within the mist, drifting through the air. One of them was heading straight for Ethan''s group. The thing was already at the village center and closing in fast. The lynx hadn''t been afraid of the village''s changes¡ªit had been terrified of this. Ethan''s eyes saw only the shifting village, but his heightened senses told a different story¡ªa world smothered in thick, red fog. And the shadows within it were spreading. At this rate, they''d be engulfed in seconds. A faint mist was already curling around their feet, and Ethan''s perception was growing dull. His senses, which were supposed to be razor-sharp, couldn''t pierce through the blood-red haze. The changing village, the scent of food¡ªan illusion. A trap. If they ran now, that thing would catch them before they even made it to the village outskirts. What now? Ethan relayed everything he sensed to the group. Doe suddenly lunged at Leo. Startled, Leo raised an arm to block her, only for his hand to pass straight through. But she didn''t reappear behind him. For a brief second, everyone froze. Then, with a determined sprint, Leo charged straight at a tree. At that speed, he was either about to knock himself out cold¡­ or crack his skull open like a watermelon. Ethan instinctively reached out to grab him, but right as his fingers brushed Leo''s arm, Leo''s forehead slammed into the tree. Victor''s heart sank. ''Is he dead?'' For a moment, Ethan had the same thought. Was Doe behind this? But before he could say anything, Leo''s body vanished, just like the lynx. The only difference was, this time, a small smear of blood was left on the bark. Through it all, Celeste remained calm, only furrowing her brows slightly. She trusted Doe completely, but even she wasn''t sure what the hell Doe was trying to do. The moment Leo disappeared, Celeste lifted her head and looked toward the mountainside. A flicker of realization crossed her face. Then, she spoke. "Follow me." Without another word, she charged at the tree and slammed her head into it. Gone. Ethan, Victor, and Williams exchanged glances. Ethan gritted his teeth. "Screw it. If we die, we die." Victor and Williams both nodded. Williams took the lead, sprinting forward, but instead of using his head, he kicked the tree. Boom. The tree barely shook, and Williams staggered back. He scowled. "Wait, seriously? It has to be the head?" At this point, Victor wasn''t going to waste time testing. He clenched his jaw, braced himself and headbutted the tree. Gone. That confirmed it. Williams sighed, muttered something under his breath, then did the same. Ethan was the only one left. And the shadow was barely three meters away. It surged forward, its speed suddenly doubling. Ethan bolted and slammed his head into the tree. Pain flared in his skull as his vision shifted, blinding flashlight beams swept across him, then quickly turned away. Ethan blinked. Everyone was here. Celeste, Victor, Williams¡ªalong with Doe, who was still in her ghost form. Everyone¡­ except Leo. Leo was lying on the ground. Bleeding. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The hell happened?" Ethan asked. He''d been the last one in, and nothing made sense. "Yeah, what the hell was that?" Victor turned to Doe. "Why haven''t you given us an explanation yet?" Doe gave him a sideways glance. "Oh, sure, I should''ve explained everything while you all were running in one by one. I guess I could''ve repeated myself five times?" Victor opened his mouth, then closed it. Satisfied, Doe continued, "You saw the lynx hit that tree twice, right?" Ethan nodded. "It did the same thing last time we chased it here," Doe said. "That''s when I realized¡ªthe tree is the entrance to some kind of magic formation." Ethan frowned. "That''s¡­ the dumbest way to enter something. You seriously have to headbutt your way in?" "Exactly," Doe said. "It''s hidden because no normal person would think of doing that. Who in their right mind slams their head into a tree just to check if it''s a door?" Ethan had to admit, she had a point. Williams crossed his arms. "So, what''s the logic behind it?" Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire Doe smirked. "You ever heard of the ''Three Flames'' theory?" They all shook their heads. "Every living thing has three essential flames¡ªlife, will, and identity," She said. "The flame at your head represents identity; it''s the most stable, the one that never changes. This formation is designed to absorb that specific fire as a key to activate it. No idea what level of spellcaster could construct something like this, but it''s beyond insane." Doe shook her head in amazement. Williams narrowed his eyes. "But¡­ didn''t you guys see the lynx do this before? Didn''t you have a spellcaster in the group last time?" "That thing is fast. Faster than me even when I''m flying. There''s no way we could''ve gotten close enough to see what it was actually doing," Doe said. Then she glanced at Ethan. "What I do find weird is how it seems so attached to you." Ethan had no answer for that. "I''d love to know too," he muttered. Then, he turned his gaze toward Leo. "Alright, what about him?" Leo was the only one injured. Everyone else had made it through just fine. At that, Doe hesitated. "¡­Yeah, about that." Ethan frowned. "What did you do?" Doe scratched her cheek. "So¡­ I don''t have a body. I had to possess someone to get through." Ethan''s eyes narrowed. "And?" "¡­And because I was inside him, his ''head flame'' was weaker than normal." Doe coughed. "So, uh, when he hit the tree, the impact was¡­ a bit rougher than expected." Ethan gave her a blank stare. "¡­But hey, good news!" she added quickly. "It could''ve been worse. At least he''s¡ª" She paused, then smirked. "At least he''s, you know, still a virgin. That''s why his flame was strong enough to work at all." Ethan''s jaw dropped. "Wait¡ªwhat? He''s a virgin?" Chapter 152 The Altar Even Victor, Williams, and even Celeste stared at Leo in stunned silence. "This guy''s been bragging to us for years, and it turns out it was all just talk?" Williams muttered. The problem was, in the eerie silence of their surroundings, everyone heard him loud and clear. At that moment, Leo''s fingers twitched slightly. No one else noticed, but Ethan did. His heightened senses had been scanning their surroundings the moment they arrived, and he caught the movement instantly. Leo had woken up the second Jade exposed him as a virgin. And now, unsure of how to face the embarrassment, he was pretending to be unconscious. Ethan wasn''t about to let him off easy. He stepped forward and kicked him. "If you''re awake, get your ass up. Quit playing dead and patch yourself up before you actually die." Then, with a smirk, he added, "And what''s wrong with being a virgin? It''s not like we weren''t all virgins at some point." Leo opened his eyes, looking at Ethan like he''d just been betrayed. As he slowly sat up, Celeste suddenly spoke. "How old are you?" Leo blinked. "Uh¡­ what?" "He''s twenty-six," Williams answered instantly. "Oh." Celeste''s lips curled into a knowing smile. She turned and walked away. Leo, halfway through standing up, stumbled. His face said everything. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire At that moment, Ethan realized where they were. Somewhere inside the mountainside. The western ridge near the village, most likely. The real shock, though? The entire mountain was hollow. Ethan could tell this wasn''t natural, the walls bore clear marks of artificial excavation. But more importantly, his usual sensory range was being suppressed. Under normal conditions, he could scan nearly a kilometer in all directions. But here? Barely a hundred meters. Still, he knew which way to go. At the very edge of his perception, the black lynx was waiting. It walked ahead, pausing occasionally, as if making sure they were following. The group moved forward, turning to a corner, and suddenly, the path ahead was lit. A massive altar came into view. The chamber was dimly illuminated by nine eternal lamps, their flames flickering with an eerie glow. Ethan counted¡ªnine lamps, nine corners of the altar. And at eight of those corners, skeletal remains lay motionless. Feline remains. The lynx crouched beside one of the skeletons. Curious, the group stepped closer. The lynx looked up at Ethan, then stood, It let out a low, mournful howl, then lifted a paw and touched the bones beside it. Slowly, it circled the altar, stopping at each skeleton. Every time, it howled again. Finally, it returned to the one empty corner. And lay down. This time, its golden eyes were filled with something that looked almost¡­ pleading. Ethan frowned. "Are you saying¡­ this last spot is yours? That you''re supposed to die here too?" The lynx lifted its head. Then, to everyone''s shock¡ªit nodded. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without hesitation, it walked over to Ethan. And then, suddenly, it dropped to its knees, its forehead pressed against the cold stone floor. "What the hell is this?" Victor muttered. "Wait¡­ does it want you to take it with us?" Leo asked, eyes widening. "It doesn''t want to die here?" The lynx immediately lifted its head and nodded frantically. Leo''s jaw dropped. "No way... This thing''s sentient? That''s...impossible." He trailed off, the implications sinking in. "Weren''t animals...?" Ethan ignored him. Instead, he fixed his gaze on the lynx and asked, "How did the others die?" He didn''t expect an answer, it was too complicated a question. But the lynx tilted its head, considering. Then, it padded over to the first skeleton, It lifted a paw, touched the remains¡ªthen touched its own belly. Then, it lay down and stuck out its tongue, going completely still. "¡­Your mother?" Ethan asked slowly. "She gave birth to you¡­ and died here?" The lynx blinked, then, it nodded. The group exchanged glances. Something wasn''t right. If this had happened for generations¡­ why? Why did each lynx come back here to die? Celeste narrowed her eyes. "Couldn''t you just¡­ not return?" The lynx shook its head. Then, without hesitation, it strode to the center of the altar. It dug its claws into the stone floor, scratching at it furiously. Ethan and the others started to approach, but Celeste suddenly raised a hand. "Wait." They stopped. "This altar is weird," Celeste muttered. "It might be rigged with something. Let''s not step on it just yet." Her words made sense. No one moved forward. Ethan narrowed his eyes and focused. Compressing his senses, he tried to pierce through the stone itself. His vision blurred. It took an immense amount of effort, draining his energy rapidly. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead and after a few seconds, he gasped and pulled back. Celeste immediately caught his arm. "What is it?" Ethan steadied himself. "The altar itself is fine. But underground¡­" He hesitated. "I don''t know," he admitted. "Something''s down there, but I couldn''t make it out." That was all Leo needed to hear. The second he knew the altar wasn''t dangerous, he sprinted forward. The lynx was still digging when he arrived. It didn''t move away as Leo approached. Reaching behind his back, Leo pulled out a folding shovel, and judging by his stance, he was about to start digging. "Wait¡ª" Leo swung the shovel and at the last second, Victor yanked him back. "The hell are you doing?" Victor snapped. Leo blinked. "Uh¡­ digging?" Victor clenched his teeth. "You idiot! Didn''t you hear Ethan? There''s something down there." Leo looked confused. "Yeah, and I''m trying to dig it up." Williams shoved him aside. "You wanna get yourself killed? Fine. Just wait until we''re gone." Ethan ignored them and crouched beside the lynx. "What''s down there?" he asked. "I saw something like a jar. What''s inside?" The lynx froze, then, its gaze shifted to Celeste. It pointed It''s paws at her, then at itself. And then it started digging again. No one understood what it meant. Leo frowned. "Your soul''s trapped in there?" The lynx rolled its eyes then, it pointed at itself, then at Celeste. Then kept digging. The second time, it still wasn''t clear. Now, it was pacing in circles, clearly frustrated. Finally, it walked to Celeste, pointed at her again, then at the ground. It''s paws then trailed to Williams'' shadow then, it flopped onto its back, showing its belly, pointing at itself again. Only now did the group realize, Its stomach was slightly swollen. Leo''s eyes widened. "Holy shit. This thing''s pregnant." The group collectively turned toward the lynx. Ethan narrowed his eyes. "You''re saying¡­ she has no shadow." He pointed at Celeste. "But he does." He gestured toward Williams. The lynx nodded, then it placed a paw on its belly. After that, it furiously started digging at the altar''s center. At long last, they finally had some clue. Something connected shadows, the lynx''s unborn cub, and whatever was buried beneath this place. But what exactly was down there? And why was the lynx so desperate to dig it up? Chapter 153 The Cycle As time passed, the creature repeated the same movements over and over again, but no matter how much it gestured, Ethan and the others couldn''t fully understand. They threw out a few guesses¡ªnone of which were correct. Frustrated, the shadow lynx began spinning in circles on the spot. When they were out of ideas, something clicked in Ethan''s mind. He pointed at Doe and asked, "Have you seen her before?" The lynx looked confused, unsure why Ethan was asking, but still turned to Doe. After a brief moment, it shook its head. "What about her?" Ethan pointed at Celeste. The lynx turned its head, staring at Celeste before slowly nodding. Ethan''s eyes lit up. He glanced at the group. "Can anyone determine how long these bones have been here?" Doe and Celeste both shook their heads. Instead, Leo and Williams turned to look at Victor. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Damn, Vic, I didn''t know you had that skill!" Ethan grinned. "Can you check if these bones have been here for about five years?" Victor nodded and began inspecting each one carefully. "I heard top-tier snipers need a good understanding of wind speed, humidity, temperature, and even how fast bones weather in different conditions. Some experts can just glance at a skeleton, feel the air, and instantly figure it out. Looks like the rumors are true. Never thought we had someone like that on our team." Celeste spoke softly beside Ethan. Leo smirked, clearly enjoying the praise. "Of course! Vic isn''t just any sniper, he''s the best. The man can calibrate his own rifle and hit a fly from two kilometers away." "Oh?" Celeste raised an eyebrow. "And what''s your special skill?" "I¡ª" Leo was about to answer when Williams cut in. "He''s still a virgin." "¡­You son of a¡ª" Leo''s face turned red in an instant. He shot an embarrassed glance at Celeste before grabbing his folding shovel and charging at Williams. Ethan and Celeste watched the two bickering with amusement. Especially Celeste. For the first time, her expression softened, revealing an emotion she had never shown before. But it didn''t last long. Her face suddenly tensed, and she clenched her hand behind her back. "What''s wrong?" Ethan noticed the change immediately. Celeste took a deep breath. "It''s moving." "What? The parasite?" Ethan''s expression darkened. Celeste nodded. "Yeah. I''ve never felt it move before. Maybe because I was always asleep when it did." "When did it start?" "The moment we entered the mountain. Then it stopped again." Ethan studied her for a moment, then said, "We''ll get rid of it this time. I promise." Even as he said it, uncertainty weighed on his chest. But what else could he do? Celeste gave a bitter smile. "I''m not afraid of dying. I just hate failing the mission Vaughn gave me. If I don''t make it, you should leave the Ninth Division." "Why?" Ethan frowned. "The division is a mess. You might get taken out by your own people before you even realize it." She hesitated before adding, "I think this parasite issue¡­ was caused by someone inside." Ethan nodded. He had already suspected as much. Otherwise, where had the classified orders come from? Before he could speak, Victor called out from the side. "Ethan, your guess was right. Based on temperature and seasonal shifts, these bones have been here for about five years." Ethan hurried over, and the others followed. "That means, based on the arrangement of the skeletons, the shadow lynx Doe saw forty years ago¡­ must be this one." Ethan pointed at one of the skeletons. "Eight in total. Every five years, one dies. And this one here¡ªit should be four or five years old." "That explains why it doesn''t recognize Doe. The lynx she saw back then is already dead. It was the first one in the cycle." "But it does recognize Celeste," Ethan continued. "Which means she really was here before." He glanced back at the lynx. "Every one of them probably tried to escape¡­ but something kept them trapped." "Every five years, they come here to give birth. Then they die. So what the hell is this altar for?" Ethan suspected that someone had discovered the last remaining shadow lynx was nearing its end. That meant there would soon be nine skeletons, completing whatever grim ritual this altar was meant for. Perhaps that was why they had been sent here on a classified mission, just pawns in a larger game, meant to die in the process. No one could say for sure, and Ethan kept his theory to himself. He stepped into the center of the altar, glancing at Celeste. His gut told him something, but without proof, he couldn''t be certain. After a brief rest, his soul energy had recovered a bit. This time, he closed his eyes, suppressing the range of his soul sense to an extremely small area. It was mentally exhausting, but he had no other choice. He had to see what was hidden below. The altar''s material was clearly something special. His soul sense barely managed to seep through. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he finally made contact with whatever was beneath it. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire "Idiot! Use the energy inside the Gate of Ascension! How can you be this stupid?" A sudden voice echoed in his mind¡ªMorzan. Ethan hesitated for a second before focusing inward. Thin wisps of mist rose from the lake inside his mindscape, drifting through the gate in an instant. A surge of energy jolted through him. So the source energy inside the Gate of Ascension could replenish his soul power¡­ "No sh*t. Source energy is condensed soul power. The entire space exists to store it. You really thought you could rely on the scraps leaking out?" Morzan mocked him before falling silent again. Ethan ignored him. He''d gotten used to these snide remarks. His first attempt at drawing power from the gate was a mess¡ªtoo much at once. A powerful shockwave burst from his body, sending the group staggering backward. "Soul energy¡­ materializing? How is it this strong?" Doe gasped. Crack. A crisp sound echoed from the center of the altar¡ªthe exact spot where Ethan had focused his soul sense. Everyone took a step closer, eyes widening. The altar, made of some unknown indestructible material, now had cracks spreading across it like a spiderweb. Thinking back to the shockwave earlier, they shuddered. If Ethan had focused that energy on a person instead of the altar¡­ Would they have been blown to pieces? What they didn''t realize was that Ethan had compressed his entire two-kilometer soul sense down to a single foot-wide column. It had taken him five whole minutes just to achieve that. f this were a fight, who would give him five minutes to cast a skill? In this era, standing still for five minutes would get you turned into bullet-riddled meat. But now a new problem arose. If the altar was breaking¡­ what would happen next? As the cracks deepened, Ethan suddenly felt the resistance below weaken significantly. Something was emerging from beneath the altar. Before he could see what it was, his eyes caught a familiar symbol carved into its surface. His breath hitched. The parasite. It was the exact same grotesque mark as the one on Celeste''s back. Its twisted features made Ethan''s scalp tingle. Just as he was about to get a closer look, a sudden force pulled at him. No one else seemed to feel it. Because whatever it was¡ªit was draining his soul energy. In an instant, his power surged out like a rushing tide. And in the depths of his mindscape, the tranquil lake inside the Gate of Ascension began to boil. Chapter 154 The Mark Ethan struggled, but the pull was too strong. Even the mist inside his Gate of Ascension surged outward, pouring through the open threshold. Gritting his teeth, he forced the gate shut with a resounding slam. With no more soul energy flowing, his face turned pale, and his body wavered before collapsing. Celeste, standing nearby, caught him just in time. Though his body was weak from the energy drain, at least he had broken free. Ethan''s gaze locked onto the cracked altar, filled with lingering fear. Doe, the only other one who could see his soul energy, shared the same horrified expression. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What happened to Ethan?" The group rushed over. Ethan didn''t answer immediately. He closed his eyes, trying to reopen the Gate of Ascension to replenish his energy. Last time, after escaping the mindscape, he had gained control over opening and closing the gate at will. But now, completely drained, he couldn''t establish a connection. After a failed attempt, he gave up and opened his eyes. "There''s something down there¡­ and it has the same parasite mark as Celeste''s." He exhaled sharply. "It absorbs soul energy. Nearly drained me dry." Ethan''s eyes flicked to Leo, his expression cold. "Leo, dig it up." Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire He wasn''t the type to just take a hit and let it slide. The altar had already shattered, and nothing disastrous had happened. That meant they could dig the damn thing out, study it, and if necessary, smash it to pieces. No way in hell was he letting something get away with stealing from him. Still nauseous from the encounter, Ethan cursed in his mind. That feeling had been unbearable¡ªlike his very soul was being yanked out of his body. Even now, a wave of dizziness hit him, like a severe case of motion sickness. Leo nodded at the order and pulled a pair of rubber gloves from his pack, along with a small shovel and rake. At the altar''s center, the foot-wide cracked area had splintered like a spiderweb. Leo carefully scraped away the broken pieces. Finally, something emerged from the rubble. A small, round, leather-wrapped object, no bigger than a dinner plate. It seemed to be sealing whatever was beneath it, like a lid over a jar. Branded into its surface was a grotesque black symbol. The parasite. Identical to the one on Celeste''s back, except for the color. Everyone had braced themselves after Ethan''s warning, but seeing it in person triggered an eerie sensation. The longer they stared at it, the stronger the pull. A deep, sinking feeling¡­ like being dragged into an abyss. "Don''t look at it!" Ethan''s sharp yell cut through the trance. He knew firsthand¡ªhis soul energy had been devoured just moments ago. His voice snapped them out of it. A collective shiver ran through the group, and cold sweat dripped down their backs. For a terrifying moment, it had felt like they were losing themselves. Doe had never gotten close, likely afraid that her soul-form body would be affected too. Leo, on the other hand, had been fully engaged in his task. But when Ethan shouted, he flinched, lifting his head with a startled expression. "Damn, Ethan, what the hell was that for? Nearly gave me a heart attack!" The others turned to stare at him. "¡­What?" Leo blinked. Victor wiped sweat from his forehead. "You didn''t feel anything weird just now?" "Nope." "¡­Wait, is this because he''s still a virgin?" Williams muttered. "Williams, if you bring that up one more time, we''re done." Ethan, barely holding back laughter, waved a hand. "Alright, Leo, just take it out." It seemed Leo was the only one unaffected, so the job remained his. After a bit of work, he cleared enough debris to reveal a narrow gap¡ªjust wide enough to fit a hand through. Reaching in, he grabbed hold of something and yanked. It didn''t budge. Frowning, he wiggled it side to side, testing its resistance. "Weird¡­ It feels like it''s attached to something." He kept shifting it, trying to get a better grip. "Agh¡ª!" Celeste let out a sharp cry, collapsing to her knees as her hands flew to her back. "Leo, let go! Don''t move!" Ethan shouted, already rushing to her side. Without hesitation, he pulled down the collar of her jacket, exposing the back of her neck. The parasite mark writhed beneath her skin, slithering upward at an alarming speed. It was already at the base of her neck. Leo let go immediately. The parasite mark twitched a few more times but stopped climbing. It went still. "What do we do? Should we just dig it out?" Leo asked, stepping closer. Ethan had thought about it. But now that the idea was out in the open, he hesitated, his expression dark. Celeste shook her head. "That won''t work. We''ve already tried. That''s why it''s called a Shadow Eater Worm." She took a slow, shuddering breath before continuing. "It''s a real, physical parasite. A worm. And it''s fully fused with my spinal nerves. Even if we tried surgery, there''s no way to remove it without severe damage." "If you take it out now, at best, I''d end up in a vegetative state. If it were caught early¡ªmaybe. But the thing only reveals itself once it reaches the lower spine. Before that, there are no symptoms. No pain. No warning. So no one ever thinks to check." Ethan nodded grimly. He had suspected as much. If the Ninth Division, with all its resources, had failed to remove it, then the issue was far worse than it seemed. They had finally made some progress¡­ only to hit another dead end. Worse, the parasite had sped up after being disturbed. As frustration settled over the group, the shadow lynx padded over. It let out a low howl, catching their attention. Then it pointed toward the tunnel they had come from. With a glance back at them, it started walking in that direction. "You''re saying we can leave now?" Ethan asked. The lynx nodded once before continuing forward. If it was leading them outside, that meant whatever danger had been lurking in the cave was gone. And maybe, just maybe it was leading them toward another clue. For now, the group had no choice but to put their faith in the strange creature. The exit was right where they had entered, a passage tucked into the mountain wall. To Leo''s relief, no one had to bash their head against a stone to get through. He had genuinely worried that Doe would pull the same stunt as before and force him into another self-inflicted concussion. But when they finally stepped outside, everyone froze. They had emerged inside that room, the eerie, abandoned house at the village entrance. The one where so many had hung themselves from the rafters. Ethan''s breath caught in his throat. Could the deaths in this place be connected to whatever was buried inside the mountain? A chilling thought crept into his mind. And the pieces of the puzzle began falling into place. Chapter 155 The Descent A thought crossed Ethan''s mind, and he cast a subtle glance at Doe. But he said nothing and followed the shadow lynx out of the house. The sky had started to lighten. Ethan checked his watch¡ª4:00 AM. Had they really been inside the mountain for nearly three hours? It had felt much shorter. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire The group trailed the lynx to the village entrance. Just as they arrived, the first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon. "Awooo¡ª!" The lynx let out a pained cry, raising a paw to shield its eyes. It shrank back into the shadows beneath the house, clearly terrified of the sun. Ethan frowned. "You want us to go down the well?" The lynx nodded before turning and bolting back toward the mountain. Ethan watched its frantic retreat and quickly pieced things together. The lynx''s eyes weren''t adapted to bright light. That explained its usual speed, but now, in its desperate escape, it moved like a disoriented animal, blindly slamming into a wooden post before scrambling away. The group gathered around the well. Below them, only dark water. No telling how deep. "You three go. Celeste is too weak¡ªI''ll stay up here with her." "Got it," Ethan replied, eyes still fixed on the well. The opening was narrow at the top, widening into a sloped chamber below. If they went down without a rope, getting back up would be nearly impossible. Leo secured a stone to the end of a rope and tossed it in. After a few seconds, he hauled it back up and examined the wet section. "Three meters deep." "I''ll go first," Williams said, already stripping off his shirt. He looped a rope around himself and turned to hand the other end to Victor¡ªdeliberately avoiding Leo''s outstretched hand. "The hell, man?" Leo scowled. "You''re unreliable," Williams deadpanned. "Or did you forget you dropped me last time?" Leo opened his mouth¡ªthen shut it. He had, in fact, let go of the rope during a past mission. Williams had ended up with a broken leg and two months in the hospital. "¡­Fair point." Still, Leo grabbed the rope alongside Victor, just in case. Williams smirked. Despite his constant jabs at Leo, it was all in good fun. "Wipe that smug look off your face before I kick you down there," Leo grumbled. Ethan watched them, amused. Even in this eerie, abandoned village, they were still cracking jokes. That was the mindset of soldiers who had walked the edge of death too many times to count. Their camaraderie was something Ethan envied. But he knew¡ªLeo, Victor, and Williams weren''t shutting him out. If anything, they were actively trying to include him. These bonds, however, weren''t formed overnight. "Ethan, be real with me," Leo called out. "I''ve done nothing to provoke this guy, but Williams has been messing with me non-stop for two days. What do I do?" Ethan chuckled. "Sounds like you deserve it." "Bullsh*t." "See you down there." With that, Williams grinned, flipped over the edge, and dove in. Splash. A loud splash echoed from below. Ethan stepped up, gripping the rope alongside the others while peering into the well. "Don''t worry, Ethan," Leo said, as if reading his mind. "Williams grew up around water. This is nothing for him." Ethan chuckled. "And what about you? Your special skill isn''t actually being a virgin, is it?" Leo''s face turned an alarming shade of green. His gaze flicked to Celeste, who was still resting near the village entrance. Before he could fire back, the rope suddenly went taut. Victor signaled for them to let out more slack. A few moments later, the rope stopped unspooling, Williams had reached the bottom. But then, with a violent tug, the rope jerked, thrashing wildly. Ethan and the others immediately braced themselves and started pulling him up. Splash! Williams broke through the water''s surface, and Ethan exhaled in relief. For a moment, he had worried something had gone wrong. As they hauled him up, Ethan noticed he was gripping a dagger, and something was impaled on the blade. His soul energy had only just started to recover, so he hadn''t been able to extend his senses. Instead, he helped pull Williams onto solid ground. The moment he removed his diving mask, they could see his grim expression. Before anyone could ask, he flung the dagger onto the ground. Ethan caught a glimpse of the strange creature impaled on it, and his breath caught. It had an exoskeleton, that alone wasn''t shocking. What was shocking was its back. The shape. It was identical to the parasite mark on Celeste''s back, same grotesque design and size. Roughly the diameter of two stacked coins. A mass of tiny, writhing legs curled beneath its body, almost like a mantis shrimp, except with even more limbs. "There are a lot of these things down there," Williams muttered as he wiped himself off. "And it''s freezing." Celeste had wandered closer, her eyes locked onto the creature. "This¡­ this is what''s inside me." Her voice was tight. Understandable. No one would be calm after realizing something like this was crawling through their spine. Williams had already changed into a high-density thermal wetsuit, the shivering gone from his frame. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "There''s a passage at the bottom," he said, tightening a strap. "Barely big enough for a person. Looks like a drill site¡ªprobably a natural spring." "I was gonna check it out, but then I saw these things buried in the silt. No idea how they died, but there were a lot of them. And I wasn''t about to stick around to find out why." He grabbed a safety harness, preparing to go back in. Ethan stopped him. "Going alone isn''t safe. I''m coming with you." He pulled a wetsuit and a small oxygen tank from his bag. "How long will this last?" Ethan asked. "You''ll get about fifteen minutes. I can stretch mine to thirty," Williams replied. Ethan nodded. "No matter what, we turn back when we hit the halfway mark. No heroics." He directed the last part at Williams. Williams grinned but nodded. As the others suited up, Celeste returned to the village entrance, while Doe remained in the shade, watching quietly. By now, they had learned that it wasn''t fear keeping her out of the sun, she just didn''t like it. Ethan sat on a wooden post near the well, pulling on his wetsuit. But as he adjusted his gear, he discreetly reached into his bag and dropped a length of rope into the well. Chapter 156 The Rope The rope slipped into the well, breaking the silence with a soft splash. Victor, being the closest, immediately heard the sound. He turned his head, just in time to see Ethan pulling a grappling hook from his bag, about to toss it down. Victor opened his mouth to speak, but Ethan gave him a quick shake of the head. Victor hesitated but said nothing. He turned away as if nothing had happened. Ethan hesitated for a moment. The grappling hook was made of metal¡ªdropping it would make too much noise. Before he could rethink, Victor caught his gaze and gave him a slight nod. Ethan understood. Victor was covering for him. Without hesitation, he tossed the hook into the well. "Ryan, help me strap this on!" Victor suddenly shouted at the exact moment the hook hit the water. His timing was perfect. The loud shout completely drowned out the splash, blending so naturally it felt rehearsed. This was why he was the best sniper. Just by estimating the hook''s weight and gauging the well''s depth from earlier, he had calculated the precise moment it would hit the water. Victor didn''t know why Ethan needed to do this, but he trusted that there was a reason. Once everything was ready, Leo tied the rope securely to a sturdy tree. After a quick exchange of glances, the four of them jumped in. The well water was murky. Even with their diving masks, visibility was low. They dove deeper. Strangely, the deeper they went, the clearer the water became. Williams led the descent, reaching for the spring opening at the bottom. Ethan grabbed him by the shoulder and gestured for him to stop. Victor and Leo also came to a halt. Ethan pinched his nose with his fingers in a signal and then covered his breathing vent to prevent air bubbles from escaping. The three exchanged glances, not entirely sure what he was doing¡ªbut they got the message. They all held their breath. Ethan looked up. A faint silhouette stood at the mouth of the well, peering down. Judging by the figure, it was Celeste. Of course, if it wasn''t Celeste, that would be strange. If it were Doe, they wouldn''t even see a shadow. Celeste remained at the edge, observing. Just as Ethan was on the verge of running out of air, she finally stood up and left. At the same moment, the group noticed something alarming¡ªthe rope they had used to descend was being pulled up, inch by inch. Leo''s eyes widened. He pointed up, about to speak. Fortunately, Victor knew him too well. He reached over and clamped a hand over Leo''s air tube before a single bubble could escape. This was exactly why Leo was never assigned to reconnaissance. He was pure assault. His job was to stay hidden until the order to charge came. Leo''s specialty had already been mentioned¡ªraw speed. His record? A hundred meters in just 4.38 seconds. Five seconds faster than the world record. If he wasn''t in the military, his name would be in the record books. People once thought he had some kind of speed-based ability, but it turned out his lower leg muscles were simply different. A normal person had two calf muscles at the back of their leg, Leo had three. Not to mention, the tendons in his feet were layered in triple strands. That was why a reckless guy like him had managed to stay in special forces for so long. Above them, the rope was steadily being pulled out of the well. The group was seething, but Ethan''s expression was colder than ice. A few more seconds passed before they couldn''t hold their breath any longer. They exhaled slightly, releasing a small stream of bubbles into the water. Immediately, they held their breath again and waited. Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire Ethan fumbled around the well''s edge underwater. When he had tossed the grappling hook and rope earlier, he had aimed toward the side on purpose¡ªhe didn''t want them falling into the spring below. His memory was spot on. Right where he expected, he retrieved both the rope and hook. Leo and Williams looked at him in shock, but Victor gave him a silent thumbs-up. After securing the grappling hook, the four surfaced. They were about fifteen meters below the well''s opening. Even with the rope and hook, throwing it up would be no easy task. Ethan stared at the distance, suddenly realizing a problem¡ªhe had been so focused on securing their escape that he hadn''t considered how hard it would be to get the hook to latch onto something. Victor grinned. "Heh, I got this." From his belt, he pulled out an underwater spear launcher. Ethan''s eyes lit up. "Victor, you absolute genius." Victor chuckled. "I didn''t bring it on purpose. You guys just didn''t have one in your bags. If you did, you would''ve brought it too." Ethan nodded and handed the grappling hook to Victor. He secured it to the harpoon, lifted the launcher, and aimed at the well''s opening. Thump! With a muffled blast, the harpoon shot upward, carrying the hook with it. The recoil was stronger than expected¡ªVictor was sent plunging back into the water. Ethan yanked the rope, feeling a sudden tension. The hook had caught onto something. He pulled hard to test its grip. It held firm. That was all they needed. Just as he was about to climb, Leo shoved past him and grabbed the rope. "Ethan, I''ll go first." Ethan grinned and let go. He knew what Leo was thinking¡ªif there was danger up there, he''d rather be the one to face it first. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Leo ascended the rope at an incredible speed. Ethan watched, a bit dazed. No surprise there. The guy was a soldier through and through, his technique was textbook perfect. Williams followed next, then Victor gestured for Ethan to go up before him. Ethan sighed to himself. These guys really treated him like some fragile rookie. He tried mimicking their climbing but quickly realized he didn''t have the right technique to do so. In the end, he had to use his legs, squeezing the rope between them as he scrambled upward. By the time he finally reached the top, Williams and Leo reached down and hauled him up. Victor, of course, had it the easiest. The three of them simply yanked the rope and pulled him up in one go. "What now? Why would Celeste do this to us?" Leo asked, frustrated. Ethan patted his shoulder in reassurance. "I''m not sure it was her. Do you remember how Doe controlled you?" Leo''s eyes darkened. A wave of fury washed over him as he clenched his teeth. "I knew that damn ghost was up to something from the start." Victor tossed him a backpack. "Alright, enough of that. Get changed and quit complaining." Once they were all geared up, they sprinted back toward the tree marking the entrance. Ethan gave a final warning. "Try not to fire your guns. If Doe possessed Celeste, shooting her would only hurt her body. It won''t do much to Doe." On the way here, he had noticed Leo had fully loaded his SMG and pistol, safety off, ready to fire at a moment''s notice. Hearing Ethan''s words, Leo nodded. Then, without hesitation, he charged forward¡ªstraight into the tree. Chapter 157 The Truth Ethan was about to remind Leo to be careful, fearing that the magic formation might have been tampered with. But it was too late. With a loud thud, Leo''s body vanished. Thankfully, nothing went wrong. If it had, with the force Leo had used, his head might have been smashed to pieces. The four of them quickly returned inside the mountain, sprinting toward the altar. Leo was incredibly fast. Everyone in the group, including Ethan, was skilled, but Leo was on another level. In the blink of an eye, he had already turned the corner and entered the corridor they had passed earlier. By the time Ethan and the others were halfway there, Leo was out of sight. Bang! The sound of a gunshot echoed through the cavern. Ethan''s heart sank. He had specifically told Leo not to fire his weapon. The three of them hurried forward, rounding the corner to find Leo aiming his pistol at the altar. In the ninth spot, where there should have been no remains, lay the Shadow Lynx. It was unclear whether it was alive or dead. Without turning his head, Leo said, "She was about to gut the lynx. I shot the knife out of her hand." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan scanned the area with his Soul Sense and confirmed that the lynx was still alive. He glared at Celeste and said coldly, "Should I call you Doe, or Celeste?" Celeste let out a soft, melodic laugh. Her voice, usually a neutral, magnetic tone, had shifted into something entirely different¡ªneither her own nor Doe''s. It was unsettling. "When did you figure it out?" she asked, her voice now carrVoidg an eerie, unfamiliar quality. Leo, visibly agitated, demanded, "Who the hell are you? What have you done with Celeste?" "Oh, you little virgin," she teased, her tone dripping with mockery. "Don''t tell me you have a crush on her? You''re out of luck, though. I happen to know she only likes women." Leo''s anger flared, and he looked ready to lunge at her. Ethan placed a hand on his shoulder, calming him, and then turned back to Celeste. "You hid it well. Up until now, I wasn''t entirely sure it was you, Doe." Celeste¡ªor rather, the entity controlling her smirked. "Go on, then. Tell me what you think I''ve done." Ethan met her gaze calmly. "If the story you told earlier was true, then the seven people who hanged themselves in that house, that was your doing, wasn''t it? You wanted to create panic, to make the villagers believe the place was haunted so they wouldn''t go near it. The exit to this place is there, after all. But then the drilling team came and disrupted your plans. They hit an underground river, which I assume leads to some secret location. To stop them from digging further, you possessed those soldiers and made them hang themselves. That secret place, I''m guessing, is beneath this altar¡ªwhere you''ve been raising those Shadow Eaters." Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire "Giggle... You''ve got quite the imagination, kid," she said, wagging a finger. "But you''re only half right. First, I didn''t raise those creatures. Second, they''re not just any creatures¡ªthey''re Candle Abyss." Ethan''s eyes narrowed. "Candle Abyss? Never heard of it." Celeste¡ªor whatever had taken hold of her, smiled, slow and knowing. "Of course you haven''t. It''s older than memory, older than language itself. The name has been forgotten, but the truth never disappeared. You called them Shadow Eaters, didn''t you? That''s not wrong. But what you''re really dealing with is Candle Abyss." Ethan didn''t speak, waiting. "The Abyssal Dragon once ruled this place. It had no equal, no rival¡ªuntil it died. But death isn''t always the end. What it left behind wasn''t a corpse, but a seed. A fragment of itself, raw and hungry, waiting for the right moment to return. The ancients called it Drum." Her fingers traced the altar''s surface, almost reverently. "This altar wasn''t built to worship the dragon. It was built to nurture what it left behind. They believed that if Drum was fed enough life, enough soul power, it could hatch. And from it, the Abyssal Dragon would rise again." She let out a small sigh, almost wistful. "But when I found it, it was nothing more than a husk. Just a relic of what could have been." A low growl interrupted her, the Shadow Lynx stirring on the stone floor. Celeste''s¡ªno, Doe''s¡ªsmile widened. "Ah. Right on time. The Ninth Sunbirth Rite is nearly complete." Ethan''s pulse quickened. The Rite. He glanced at the lynx just as something small and golden-furred began to emerge from it. "You think you have time to stop this?" Doe laughed. "You''re waiting for your protector, aren''t you? Hoping he''ll break through the mist and come save you? Don''t bother. Even if he makes it through that mist, he won''t be able to enter here. The last time he tried to scare me, I heard his voice. He sounded like some ancient, decrepit old man. The entrance barrier also requires the fire of life to open, and that old fossil''s vitality is too weak to activate it now. Even if he knows where the entrance is, trying to force his way in would only damage the barrier''s foundation, sealing it off forever." Ethan was stunned. What was she talking about? Was this delay tactics? He was genuinely out of options here. If only she''d leave Celeste''s body, he''d blast her with his Soul Sense without hesitation. And what was this about a protector? Who was she referring to? "You''re the decrepit one, you old hag! You''ve really pissed me off now. I was just here to enjoy the show, but fine¡ªEthan, kill her!" The voice of Morzan suddenly echoed in Ethan''s mind, filled with rage. Ethan froze for a moment, then quickly understood. This must have been related to the incident when he was gathering energy earlier. He hadn''t realized that Morzan had actually scared her before. "Old... uh..." Ethan almost called him "old man" out of habit, but he caught himself. He needed Morzan''s help now, so he quickly corrected himself. "How am I supposed to kill her? She''s inside Celeste''s body!" "I''ll scare her out. Once she''s out, hit her with your Soul Sense and turn her into dust!" Morzan was clearly furious, though Ethan didn''t understand why. He''d called Morzan names like "old man" countless times before. If he knew that the only reason Morzan hadn''t taken it to heart was because he was the only ''Vessel'' in existence, he might have been a bit more cautious. "But if I use my Soul Sense, I''ll need to compress it. Why don''t you just kill her yourself?" "If I could kill her directly, do you think I''d need you? Start compressing your Soul Sense now. I''ll open the Gate of Ascension when the time comes," Morzan instructed. Ethan obeyed, releasing his Soul Sense and compressing it, aiming it at Celeste. As he watched the altar, he couldn''t help but think, ''You really brought this on yourself. You just had to run your mouth, didn''t you?'' "Oh my¡­ are you planning to hit me with that tiny bit of Soul Power you''ve just recovered? Hehe... I should thank you, actually. Your Soul Power helped activate Drum! I''ve been tricking that fool Vaughn for years, but he never agreed to come back here with me. He''s lucky¡ªif he had, I would''ve fed his soul to Drum. If I hadn''t heard that Celeste found someone with such strong Soul Power, I wouldn''t have bothered coming here myself... Ah!" Before she could finish, she let out a sharp cry. Celeste suddenly clutched her head, and a shadowy figure began to separate from her body. It was Doe! Chapter 158 Twinborn Fate As soon as the shadowy figure separated, Celeste collapsed to the ground. "Now!" Morzan shouted in Ethan''s mind. Ethan didn''t know how Morzan had managed to force Doe out of Celeste''s body, but he didn''t hesitate. With a loud bang, he connected to the Gate of Ascension and unleashed a torrent of pale green Soul Power, following the compressed path he had prepared. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire "How is this possible¡­?" Doe, momentarily stunned, felt the overwhelming surge of Soul Power emanating from Ethan. She had just been forced out of Celeste''s body by an immense pressure, and now she was faced with this devastating attack. Fear gripped her as she turned and lunged toward Celeste, who lay motionless on the ground. But she was no match for the speed of Ethan''s Soul Sense. A beam of pale green energy struck her, piercing through her form and slamming into the mountain wall behind her, leaving a deep crater. Ethan''s attack was like a high-pressure water cannon, the force of it explosive and unrelenting. However, the relief was short-lived. Despite being hit by Ethan''s attack, Doe managed to reach Celeste''s body. The moment she touched Celeste, the girl''s body began to convulse violently, shaking like a leaf in a storm. Seizing the opportunity, everyone rushed forward. They watched helplessly as Celeste continued to tremble, unsure of what to do. Thankfully, the convulsions didn''t last long. Soon, she lay still, her body lifeless. Leo cautiously reached out to check her breathing. Suddenly, Celeste''s eyes snapped open, startling Leo. Everyone immediately pinned her down, unsure if it was still Doe pretending to be Celeste. "It''s me¡­" came the familiar, magnetic voice. But no one moved. They couldn''t be sure if it was really her or just Doe playing another trick. Ethan scanned her with his Soul Sense and found no trace of Doe''s presence. "Is she dead?" he asked Morzan in his mind. "Deader than dead. And that girl just devoured her," Morzan replied lazily. Hearing this, Ethan released his grip on Celeste''s shoulders. Seeing him let go, the others followed suit. Celeste sat up, looking at everyone with deep gratitude. "Thank you," she said sincerely. The group laughed nervously, their tension melting away as they leaned back and sat on the altar, exhausted. Growl¡­ A mournful cry from the Shadow Lynx, which everyone had forgotten about, drew their attention. They turned to see a strange and tragic scene unfolding. The golden-furred cub that the lynx had given birth to lay motionless on the ground. Its once vibrant golden hue had faded to a dull gray, and its body was rapidly withering. The mother lynx let out another heart-wrenching cry as she watched her cub''s life drain away. Ethan quickly moved toward the cub, reaching out to touch it. "Don''t!" Celeste shouted sharply, stopping him in his tracks. Ethan froze, his hand hovering over the cub, and looked at Celeste in confusion. Her face was pale, her expression grim. "She succeeded," Celeste said quietly, her gaze shifting to the center of the altar. Before anyone could respond, Leo shouted, "It''s not done yet¡ªthere''s another one coming!" He rushed to drag the weakened mother lynx away from the corner. Celeste watched him, her voice calm but heavy with resignation. "It''s no use. It''s a Twinborn Lynx. The Twinborn Lynx can only give birth once in its lifetime, and it always bears two cubs, one Lightborn and one Darkborn. The Lightborn cub is the elder, but it is weak and fragile. The Darkborn cub, though smaller, is born with the ability to drain the life force of its mother. Within hours of birth, it can hunt on its own. The mother lynx, however, dies shortly after giving birth. The Darkborn cub then takes on the responsibility of caring for its sibling. I never thought Doe would actually find such a legendary creature. And to think she used the Lightborn cub as a sacrifice¡­" Celeste''s voice trailed off, heavy with regret. Leo interrupted, "Wait, so this altar was set up here just to consume the Lightborn cub? As some kind of offering?" As he spoke, the Lightborn cub dissolved into a pool of blood, which was quickly absorbed by the altar. Celeste nodded. "The Ninth Sunbirth Rite is complete. The final offering has been made. You all¡­ need to leave. Now." Ethan was taken aback. "What about you?" "I''ll be fine," Celeste replied. Her voice suddenly echoed in Ethan''s mind, a private telepathic message. "I''ve absorbed all of Doe''s memories and abilities. Don''t you think this is a perfect opportunity to infiltrate the enemy from within?" Ethan was stunned. Celeste could now use telepathy? If Morzan hadn''t assured him that Doe was completely dead, he would have suspected that Celeste was still being controlled by her. But according to Morzan, Celeste had devoured Doe''s Soul Power, gaining her abilities in the process. Ethan remained silent, unsure how to respond telepathically. He assumed Celeste was keeping this conversation private, but she noticed his hesitation and laughed softly. "It''s fine, you can speak out loud. I was just testing it." Gone was the cold, aloof demeanor of the Ice Queen. Ethan cautiously asked, "What about your memories and personality?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "They''ve been restored," she said, glancing subtly at Leo, who was now fully engrossed in helping the mother lynx give birth. "Seriously, you all need to go," Celeste urged again. Just then, Leo exclaimed, "What the hell?!" Everyone turned to see him playing the role of midwife as the Darkborn cub began to emerge. The mother lynx''s body was rapidly withering, while the cub grew at an astonishing rate, ballooning from the size of a palm to that of a basketball in moments. The mother lynx shed her final tears, which dripped onto the altar. The sight was heartbreaking, but there was nothing anyone could do. Such was the natural cycle of these mystical creatures. Before today, Ethan would have dismissed the existence of the Twinborn Lynx as mere legend. But after everything he''d experienced¡ªhis rebirth, the events of the past few days, he could no longer deny the reality of such beings. The Darkborn cub, now fully grown, turned to bite through its own umbilical cord. "Whoa!" Leo flinched, nearly dropping the cub. Despite being only minutes old, the cub''s teeth were razor-sharp. As it bit through the cord, it accidentally nicked Leo''s finger. To everyone''s surprise, the cub latched onto his finger and began to suckle. Leo yelped, terrified that the cub might bite his finger off. His panicked reaction made Celeste burst into laughter¡ªa sound so unexpected that Leo froze, letting the cub continue to nurse. Celeste quickly composed herself, her cheeks flushing slightly. She turned to Ethan. "You all need to leave. Candle Abyss is about to awaken." Ethan gave her a long, searching look before nodding. "Alright," he said, signaling the group to gather their things and prepare to leave the mountain. Leo, still holding the Darkborn cub, asked, "Aren''t you coming with us?" Chapter 159 Drum of Control Leo had been so engrossed in delivering the lynx cub, that he had completely missed the conversation between Ethan and Celeste. Celeste remained silent, but Victor stepped forward, grabbing Leo by the arm and pulling him toward the exit. "Wait¡­" Celeste called out just as they stepped off the altar. The four of them turned around. Celeste walked to the center of the altar, reached down, and yanked something out from beneath it. The entire mountain seemed to tremble. What she pulled out was a drum-like object, with something slimy still attached to it. Upon closer inspection, it reminded everyone of the umbilical cord the lynx cub had bitten through earlier. However, this one was much thicker, about ten centimeters in diameter, and it wrapped around the lower half of the drum-like object in Celeste''s hand. As everyone watched, Celeste gave the object a firm slap. Ethan, however, knew that she had first established a soul connection with the object before striking it. With one hand holding the drum¡ªwhich was only about 20 centimeters tall, Celeste used her other hand to tear at the back of her neck. The parasitic creature, which she had previously said couldn''t be removed directly, was ripped off effortlessly. At the same time, the small lynx cub in Leo''s arms began to gag. A smaller version of the Candle Abyss wriggled out of its mouth and plopped onto the ground. "Holy crap¡­" Leo lifted his foot and stomped on it, squashing it flat. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire The others showed no unusual reactions, and Celeste spoke up. "It''s done. Nothing will control the Twinborn Lynx anymore. As for the Candle Abyss on your bodies, I''ve removed them as well. Don''t worry about the others; I''ll find a way to remove theirs when I get back. From now on, if you see me again, we''ll be enemies." Leo and the others hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back. Ethan smiled at her. "We''ll be waiting for you¡­" "No need for such a dramatic farewell," Celeste said. "I''ve absorbed her memories. Her original plan was to possess my body. By taking the Candle Abyss back with me, I''ll have enough leverage to infiltrate their ranks, maybe even their upper echelons. When the time comes to close the net, we''ll meet again." The trembling from beneath the ground grew more frequent. Celeste continued to rhythmically tap the drum in her hand as she addressed the group. Ethan guessed that this drum could both nurture new Candle Abyss creatures and control them. Otherwise, how would Doe have controlled the Candle Abyss even if she had managed to create it? Celeste had devoured Doe''s soul and absorbed her memories. This plan of turning the tables on their enemies shouldn''t be too dangerous. As they waved goodbye, Ethan turned and noticed Victor nudging Leo, who looked both bitter and conflicted. Even as they left, Leo seemed to want to say something but couldn''t bring himself to speak. "Coward. No wonder you''ve been single for twenty-six years," Williams muttered under his breath. Leo hung his head, looking utterly dejected, but he didn''t argue back. Even Victor nodded in agreement. "Leo, I''m not trying to be harsh, but if you like someone, just go for it! Chasing girls requires thick skin, attention to detail, and courage. You''ve charged into gunfire without a second thought, but this scares you?" Leo looked up at him, his face full of grievance. "Don''t act like you''re some expert! When have you ever chased a girl?" "Uh¡­" Victor was momentarily speechless. He hadn''t, but then he glanced at Ethan and quickly added, "Ask Ethan! Ask him how he managed to win over Lyla. Let him give you some lessons!" Ethan had been enjoying the spectacle, but when the spotlight suddenly turned to him, the smile on his face froze. He awkwardly scratched his head and said, "Uh¡­ Victor, I''m in the same boat as you!" As soon as he said this, Victor''s expression also froze. Leo, on the other hand, looked utterly defeated. It seemed like everyone else had girls throwing themselves at them. To find some psychological balance, he glanced at Williams, finally letting out a sigh of relief. At least there was one person worse off than him. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without even looking at him, Williams knew exactly what Leo was thinking. He calmly said, "You won''t find anyone to share your misery with. I''m married." This statement shocked even Victor. "Since when?" he asked. "Just a few days ago," Williams replied. "We''ve been together for three or four years. One time, I was driving my taxi, and she pulled up in a Porsche 911, revving her engine at an intersection, trying to provoke me. I shut her down! After that, we kept in touch. She''s from Ember City and would visit me in Harbour City when she had time. She kept asking me to come to Ember City, but I thought she was just playing around. Plus, I had already made plans with Victor to go abroad, so I never made it official. This time, when I came to Ember City, I reached out to her. Turns out, she was serious. She asked me, ''After all these years, what''s wrong with me that I''m not even your girlfriend?'' I don''t know what came over me, but I got carried away and said, ''What''s the point of being a girlfriend? If you''re serious, let''s get married!'' And then, we actually did! That day I left early while we were shopping with the others, I went to see her." As they walked, Williams continued his story. The more he spoke, the darker Leo''s expression became. Finally, Leo blurted out, "Damn, you''ve been hiding this so well! No wonder there were women''s hairs in that dump of a place on the rooftop. You said it was from the wind! You actually took a girl to that crappy place? Didn''t you think it would make you look cheap?" Williams grinned at him and said, "I don''t think you''re getting the point here." This piqued everyone''s curiosity. The point? What point? Leo, clueless as ever, asked directly, "What point?" Williams smirked and said, "The point is, even a crappy place like that was good enough for her to come with me. And she drives a 911! Remember, she''s a girl, not some sugar momma!" As he said this, his eyebrows started dancing, wiggling up and down in a ridiculous display. Ethan was stunned. Williams had always come across as someone with a high level of sophistication. He wasn''t cold, but he always wore a polite smile that kept people at arm''s length. With his glasses and calm demeanor, he seemed like the epitome of composure. Yet here he was, doing a ridiculous eyebrow dance to taunt Leo. The contrast was so absurd that Ethan almost choked trying not to laugh. Victor, standing next to Ethan, chuckled and said, "You''ll get used to them over time. They might be a bit older than you, but honestly, they act more like kids." Ethan was taken aback. Did he really seem that burdened? He thought he had been hiding it well. But how could he not be weighed down? As far as he knew, he was the only one aware that the world would face an apocalypse in five years. According to Morzan, he had been reborn to shoulder this responsibility. While he didn''t have a savior complex, he couldn''t ignore the fact that this world still held the people he loved¡ªLyla, and these quirky, friends of his. By now, they had walked quite a distance. The mist formation they had encountered earlier didn''t reappear, likely because it was a directional array that only activated upon entry, not exit. It wasn''t until they had walked over ten kilometers that they suddenly noticed a thick fog rising behind them! Chapter 160 Intruders The sudden appearance of the fog took them by surprise. Victor frowned and said, "When we entered, I remember we only walked 1,080 steps. Even with all the twists and turns, the straight-line distance couldn''t have been more than a kilometer, right? How did we end up over ten kilometers away?" Ethan thought for a moment and replied, "This magical formation might have some kind of spatial compression ability, like shrinking the distance. As for how it works, only a spellcaster would know." When they had arrived, there were four men, one woman, and a ghost. Now, as they left, only four men remained. Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire With the mission completed, the mood on the return journey was noticeably more relaxed. Along the way, they discussed and speculated about the many unanswered questions that still lingered. Why did people possessed by the Candle Abyss lose their shadows? How did the clothes of those controlled by Doe end up buried beneath the soil? What were the red mist and the shadowy figures within it that appeared in the village? Where did the spring at the bottom of the well lead, and why were there Candle Abyss corpses down there? Why did Doe massacre the entire village after the drilling machine breached the spring? S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Where had the bodies of the over hundred villagers gone? Why was the village built here, and when was the hollow space inside the mountain excavated? Was the formation that required fire to enter set up by Doe, or had it existed before? How had the village remained untouched by decay for forty-four years? Although they had resolved the issue of the Candle Abyss on Celeste, even more mysteries had surfaced. At first, they debated and theorized enthusiastically, but eventually, the group fell silent. In the quiet of the deep forest, the only sounds were the rustling of branches and vines as Ethan cleared the path ahead. By evening, they found a clearing and decided to set up camp there for the night. By midnight, Leo, Victor, and Williams were already asleep, leaving Ethan to take the first watch. For him, it was easy¡ªhe simply sat down and let his soul sense expand outward. Ethan discovered that the maximum range of his soul sense had grown significantly, now covering a radius of nearly 2,000 meters from his center. However, the farther his sense extended, the fuzzier the details became. After testing it, he decided not to push the range too far, instead maintaining a natural radius of about 500 meters to conserve his energy. As boredom set in, Ethan''s thoughts drifted back to the moment his King of Elves bloodline had fully activated. One of the abilities it granted was the use of certain Druid-form skills while in human form. In the game, he had tried every method to activate this ability, but it always remained dormant. Logically, there shouldn''t be such a flaw in Ethereal. So, what was the reason? He had asked Morzan about it once, but the old man had simply told him to figure it out himself. At the thought, Ethan cursed inwardly: You old geezer, would it kill you to give me a straight answer? --- Meanwhile, in a void-like space, Morzan, who had just finished drinking, was in the middle of a deep sleep when he suddenly sneezed. Rubbing his nose, he muttered, "That brat¡­ Just wait until you reach that level. I''ll make you pay for this!" He rolled over and went back to sleep. --- Back in the forest, Ethan was growing increasingly bored. He stretched and was about to stand up when his soul sense suddenly rippled. Six figures had just entered his detection range. The sudden movement immediately caught Ethan''s attention. Through his soul sense, he could see that the six figures were dressed like tourists. Focusing his attention, he scanned their backpacks and found only ordinary items¡ªno firearms or other weapons. However, they did carry knives and machetes, which were standard equipment for anyone venturing deep into the wilderness. What struck Ethan as odd was that they weren''t setting up camp despite the late hour. Instead, they were wandering around, which seemed highly unusual. After observing them for a while, Ethan noticed that they were heading straight for their campsite. When they were about 300 meters away, they spread out, taking up positions to surround the camp while moving stealthily. What they didn''t realize was that their every move was being monitored by Ethan''s soul sense. They were completely exposed. Ethan stood up quietly and unzipped the tent where Leo, Victor, and Williams were sleeping. He planned to cover Leo''s mouth first, worried that the guy might make noise if he woke the others. But before he could act, Leo''s eyes snapped open, and he raised a finger to his lips, signaling silence. Ethan was momentarily stunned. He glanced around and saw that Victor and Williams were also awake, quietly getting up. Apparently, the sound of the tent zipper had already alerted them. They knew Ethan wouldn''t disturb them unless something was wrong. Keeping his soul sense focused on the intruders, Ethan whispered what he had observed to the group. Leo listened and concluded, "They''re definitely not ordinary hikers." "No shit, Sherlock," Williams muttered, rolling his eyes. "Enough, you two," Victor interjected. "Ethan, do you think they could be here to back up Doe?" Ethan immediately thought this was a strong possibility. Before they had set out, Celeste had told them that this mission had been assigned directly by Director Vaughn, so no one else should have known about it. She had also warned them that if things went wrong, there would be no reinforcements. If they didn''t want to participate, they didn''t have to. Now, this six-person team showed up. Celeste had mentioned that teams from the Ninth Division were always six people. The fact that they weren''t carrying firearms suggested this might be a private operation, meaning they wouldn''t have access to restricted weapons. "What do we do now?" Ethan asked, looking to Victor for guidance since he was the most experienced. "What do you think? We take them out," Leo said, already clicking the safety off his rifle. At the same moment, Ethan sensed one of the intruders suddenly stop. The man''s ears twitched, and Ethan quickly signaled for everyone to stay silent. The intruder listened carefully for a moment before continuing to move forward cautiously. Ethan was impressed. The man had heard the sound of Leo''s rifle safety being clicked from over 100 meters away. If they had been any closer, he might have heard them clearly. This guy likely had some kind of auditory enhancement¡ªeither an innate ability or a specialized skill. Ethan leaned toward it being an ability, as even with training, it would be nearly impossible to hear such a faint sound from that distance. Ethan relayed this information to the group in a hushed tone. Victor''s eyes narrowed. "This team isn''t ordinary." "Victor, we can''t just sit here. What''s the plan?" Ethan asked, knowing that all three of his companions were experts in combat, with Victor being their usual leader. Chapter 161 Coordination LVictor questioned Ethan in detail about the situation with the intruders. After a moment of thought, he said, "Leo, Williams, you two stay in the camp. I''ll find a position to cover us. Ethan, your energy can manipulate plants. Hide yourself and see if you can use the vegetation to ambush them. Also, you''ll be our eyes¡ªthat''s our advantage!" Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After he finished speaking, he quickly helped Ethan adjust his walkie-talkie and slipped out of the camp, moving silently in the direction they had come from. Ethan understood what Victor meant by their advantage. The intruders were likely all ability users, which gave them an edge. However, they almost certainly didn''t have anyone capable of using soul sense like Ethan. The intruders were approaching from the opposite direction, forming a semicircle around the camp. Only one side remained open. Ethan followed Victor at a distance, stopping about forty meters from the camp in a small hollow. He crouched down, and the nearby plants began to gather around him, providing cover. Ethan glanced around at the makeshift hideout created by the foliage. ''Well, I guess I can play the role of a plant-controlling ability user now,'' he thought. Through his soul sense, Ethan could see that the six intruders were now less than thirty meters from the camp. Two of them had begun to flank the camp, while one had stopped right in front of Ethan''s position, hiding in the underbrush. At that moment, two of the intruders stopped hiding and began walking openly toward the camp. As soon as they emerged, Leo and Williams spotted them. Leo immediately raised his submachine gun and shouted, "Who''s there? Stop!" The two intruders exchanged a glance, and one of them raised his hands. "Hey, buddy, you''re from the Ember City M Squad, right?" Celeste''s team was indeed designated as M Squad, so Leo knew what he was referring to. But he didn''t confirm it. Instead, he asked, "Who are you?" "Don''t worry, we''re from the Terracotta City S Squad. We received a classified order from the Ninth Division to come support you," the man said with a friendly smile. Leo feigned surprise. "Really?" Without waiting for a response, he lowered his gun and even turned off the safety, walking over with a swagger. He grabbed the man''s hand, his face lighting up with exaggerated relief. "Bro, you have no idea how dangerous this mission has been. One of our team members turned traitor¡ªa ghost possessed our captain and attacked two others. They''re dead, and we barely made it out alive! Having you here is a godsend. You''ve got to help us get revenge! Those two members who died¡­ it was brutal¡­" As Leo spoke, he began to sob uncontrollably, even using the man''s hand to wipe his nose and tears. Ethan, watching through his soul sense, almost burst out laughing. ''This guy should''ve just been an actor. He''s making this up on the spot without even a script!'' The intruder was visibly stunned, his expression frozen. ''So this is the famous M Squad? They''re way too trusting. And there are only two of them. We should''ve just attacked outright.'' He exchanged a glance with his companion. But as he turned his head, Leo seized the opportunity. He grabbed the man''s hair and yanked it downward while driving his knee upward with the force of his powerful leg muscles. Thud! The sound of Leo''s knee connecting with the man''s face echoed through the forest. Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire Leo''s sudden attack came after Ethan''s voice crackled over the walkie-talkie: "Leo, be careful!" Ethan had seen the man''s hand, hidden behind his back, transform into a claw with long, sharp nails. Both intruders were shape-shifters¡ªone with wolf-like claws, the other with bear-like claws. Ethan had warned Leo because he was worried he might get hurt. But Leo, being a top-tier special forces operative, had already noticed the intruder''s subtle movements. As Leo grabbed the first intruder''s hair, the second one quickly moved to intervene. But Williams was ready. With a flick of his wrist, a gleaming dagger shot through the air, aimed straight at the second intruder''s face. The man dodged backward, narrowly avoiding the blade, but the brief delay was all Leo needed. By the time the second intruder recovered, his companion was already airborne, courtesy of Leo''s devastating knee strike. Leo then turned his attention to the second intruder. With explosive speed, he closed the two-meter gap in an instant, launching himself into the air with another knee strike aimed at the man''s chest. Watching this, Ethan was reminded of a character from an old fighting game he used to play¡ªKOF97. There was a guy named Joe Higashi from the Fatal Fury team who had a move just like this. For a moment, Ethan even thought Leo looked a bit like Joe. Meanwhile, the four intruders hiding in the shadows saw the fight break out and prepared to join the fray. But Leo''s knee strikes, combined with Williams'' precision, had already taken down their two companions. The first intruder was sent flying by Leo''s knee, the impact likely knocking him out cold. The second intruder, distracted by Williams'' dagger throw, tried to dodge Leo''s follow-up knee strike. But Leo''s move was a feint. As the intruder stepped back to counter, Leo shifted his weight mid-air, turning the knee strike into a flying kick. His foot missed the man''s face by inches, but that wasn''t the real attack. A flash of steel followed. "Ugh¡­" The shape-shifter, now sporting furry bear-like paws, clutched his throat and collapsed without another sound. He died without even understanding what had happened. Only Ethan saw the full picture. Leo''s flying kick was a distraction. The real killing blow was the dagger Leo had hidden, which he dragged across the intruder''s throat as his foot passed by. By the time Leo finished off the second intruder, Williams had already dealt with the first. He caught the airborne man with a perfectly timed dagger thrust, driving the blade up through the jaw and into the brain. The wolf-clawed shape-shifter died just as quickly, if not more unfairly. The two elite soldiers had taken down their opponents in less than 5 seconds, their coordination flawless. Of course, Leo''s earlier acting had played a crucial role in setting up the ambush. For two non-ability users to take down two shape-shifters in such a short time was nothing short of impressive. If the intruders had fully transformed, the fight might have gone very differently. The four remaining intruders, still hidden, were caught off guard by the sudden violence. Though they reacted quickly, the fight was over before they could intervene. As Leo and Williams dealt with their targets, Ethan launched his own attack on the intruder hiding just ten meters in front of him. If only I had a Bramble Bind skill right now, Ethan thought. But before he could even attempt to manipulate the plants with his energy, a thicket of thorns suddenly sprouted from the ground, entangling the intruder''s legs. The man, who had just started to rise and run toward the camp, lost his balance and face-planted into the dirt. Ethan, however, was stunned. What just happened? Chapter 162 Spark of Insight In the next second, a spark of realization flashed through his mind. Could it be that the upgrade to the King of Elves bloodline in Ethereal had activated a new attribute? He quickly recalled the description he had seen: [Special Attribute: In human form, you can use certain Druid-form abilities at 20% effectiveness.] The description specifically mentioned "human form." Could it be¡­? Ethan''s excitement surged as he looked up at the man who had just gotten back on his feet. The man''s right hand had transformed into a long blade, which he swung at the vines around his legs. Ethan leapt out from the hollow in the hillside, startling the man. Clearly, the guy hadn''t expected someone to be hiding less than ten meters behind him. But the man recovered quickly, slicing through the vines with his blade. Without hesitation, he swung his transformed right hand¡ªnow a long blade, toward Ethan. As Ethan sprinted, he attempted to shift into Panther Form. He didn''t have much hope for it, but he figured it was worth a try. Buzz¡­ As expected, he didn''t transform into a panther. But Ethan''s excitement only grew. Because he felt his body suddenly become incredibly agile. His movement speed increased dramatically, allowing him to dodge the incoming blade with a quick sidestep. In the blink of an eye, he closed the distance between them. The man''s blade was too long for close combat, and this proximity became his fatal blind spot. The man with the blade hesitated. He knew his own striking speed was impressive, yet Ethan had dodged it as if he had teleported. The speed was unreal. But the man reacted quickly, thrusting his left hand toward Ethan. As he did, his left hand morphed into a short, sharp blade. He was fast, but Ethan was faster. With a swift motion, Ethan slapped him across the face. Smack! The speed and angle of the slap sent the man staggering. The blade that had formed on his left hand grazed past Ethan''s side, narrowly missing him. Ethan broke out in a cold sweat. The speed had been so intense that he almost lost control, nearly impaling himself on the blade. Thankfully, he''d managed to land that slap in the nick of time. Encouraged by his success, Ethan followed up with another slap. The man couldn''t dodge. He couldn''t even see Ethan''s hand moving. Ethan was starting to love this fluid, almost effortless feeling. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire Smack! Smack! Smack! Ethan unleashed a flurry of slaps, each one landing squarely on the man''s face. In just three seconds, he lost count of how many times he''d struck him. By now, the man''s face was swollen like a pig''s head in a butcher''s shop, shiny and bloated, looking as if it might burst at any moment. The man was utterly humiliated. He was known as one of the fastest blade masters in Terracotta City, yet here he was, unable to keep up with a barrage of slaps. His swollen face had squeezed his eyes into narrow slits. Squinting through his swollen eyes, the man saw Ethan''s excited expression. Clearly, Ethan was on a roll, and the man''s last thought before passing out was, ''What the hell¡­'' He collapsed to the ground, unconscious, not only from the beating, but also from sheer frustration. Ethan''s next swing missed as the man''s body slumped, narrowly avoiding the slap. For a moment, Ethan thought the man had somehow figured out how to counter his super-speed slaps. But then he realized the guy had simply fainted, his collapse coincidentally dodging Ethan''s strike. At the same time, Ethan sensed through his Soul Sense that Leo had just finished his fight, taking down two Mutants with brutal efficiency. Ethan hesitated. He''d never killed anyone before, and the thought of doing so now made him uneasy. But then, a soft thud came from behind him. Ethan knew it was Victor. He''d fired his sniper rifle, equipped with a silencer. The bullet whizzed past Ethan''s shoulder and struck the unconscious Mutant right between the eyes, killing him instantly. Ethan turned and gave Victor a grateful smile, then spoke into his walkie-talkie: "Thanks, Vic!" He understood¡ªVictor knew this wasn''t something Ethan was used to, and he''d stepped in to help. "Go help Leo!" Victor said, shifting his scope away from Ethan. Victor was just as stunned as Ethan. He''d been watching the entire time, and it was the first time he''d seen someone move that fast. The way Ethan had delivered those slaps¡ªit was almost¡­ satisfying. Through his scope, Victor had seen Ethan''s hands move like blurs. And there was something else¡ªa faint, shadowy outline of a panther surrounding Ethan''s body. Was that some kind of Innate Ability? But Ethan was a Soul-Wielder, wasn''t he? How could he have an ability like that? There was no time to ask. Back at the camp, three Mutants had already launched an attack on Leo and Williams. As Victor adjusted his scope, he noticed a man with a rat-like face standing at the edge of the camp, staring directly at him. Victor froze. This must be the Mutant Ethan mentioned, the one with enhanced hearing. Despite being 280 meters away and using a silencer, the rat-faced man had still detected the shot. Looking at the man''s face, Victor was reminded of another creature: a bat. At the same time, through his scope, Victor saw Ethan charging into the camp. His speed was astonishing¡ªfaster than even Leo''s bursts. Victor had never seen Ethan move like this before. In the time it took Victor to lift his rifle, Ethan had already covered 40 meters and entered the camp. Shocked but focused, Victor pulled the trigger, aiming for the bat-faced man. But something unexpected happened. The moment Victor fired, the bat-faced man tilted his head slightly, and the bullet missed, embedding itself in a tree behind him. Victor reloaded and fired again, but the man sidestepped, dodging what should have been a heart shot. As Victor prepared to fire a third time, the bat-faced man smirked at him, a look of pure disdain. Victor''s confidence took a hit, but he knew he had to change tactics. He moved his finger away from the trigger and spoke into the comms: "Ethan, that bat-faced guy can dodge bullets! Keep him busy while I help Leo and Williams with the other two!" By now, Ethan was already in the thick of it, helping Leo and Williams take on the other two Mutants. He noticed that even with two against two, Leo and Williams were already injured. When Ethan had first charged into the camp, he''d seen the bat-faced man standing there and thought, ''What an idiot, just standing there like a target.'' He''d ignored him and gone straight to help Leo and Williams. But now, hearing Victor''s warning, Ethan realized: That guy''s the real threat. Ethan stepped back from the fight. He wasn''t used to working with Leo and Williams, and his attempts to help had only made him feel like he was getting in the way. At the same time, the bat-faced man turned his gaze toward Ethan. Both Ethan and Victor saw it at the same time and spoke into their comms simultaneously: "He can hear us!" The bat-faced man grinned, his smile twisted and ugly. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 163 Echoes of the Bat After the bat-faced man finished laughing, he muttered something into the communication device clipped near his mouth. Ethan and the others couldn''t make out what he said, but the effect was immediate. The woman who had been fighting Leo and Williams suddenly disengaged and sprinted toward Victor''s position. It didn''t take a genius to figure out what the bat-faced man had just ordered. He''d sent her to take out Victor. Williams and Leo tried to intercept her, but the remaining Mutant¡ªa man wreathed in flames, suddenly unleashed his full power. His fists burned with a searing heat, each strike forcing Leo and Williams to retreat. It became clear that the Mutants had been toying with them earlier. Leo took a direct hit to the shoulder, his shirt instantly burning away, leaving a gaping hole. His skin blistered and turned red, as if branded by a hot iron. Beads of sweat rolled down his face, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on, refusing to cry out. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, Victor''s rifle cracked in the distance. He was clearly trying to snipe the woman rushing toward him, but no one knew what her ability was. She hadn''t used any special powers earlier, and now she was moving fast. Ethan didn''t wait. In a flash, he closed the distance between himself and the bat-faced man. The man''s vertical pupils narrowed as he registered Ethan''s speed. He hadn''t expected Ethan to be this fast. As Ethan closed in, he began testing the limits of his abilities. He remembered the description of his Divine Bloodline attribute: In human form, you can use certain Druid-form abilities at 20% effectiveness. He quickly discovered that while he couldn''t use the finishing moves of Panther Form, skills like Rake and Shred were surprisingly effective. The bat-faced man dodged and weaved, but Ethan''s relentless assault forced him back against a tree. Ethan swung his arm, activating Rake. Swish! The man dodged, but Ethan''s fingertips left a bloody streak on the tree trunk. A shallow cut appeared, and green sap began oozing from the wound. Anyone who knew anything about trees would find this strange¡ªtree trunks don''t "bleed" when cut. But Rake, a skill that caused bleeding in the game, retained its effect in the real world. Even a tree could "bleed" when struck by it. When Ethan used Shred, four claw marks over a foot long appeared, extending his reach significantly. But despite Ethan''s speed, the bat-faced man was no pushover. It seemed he truly possessed the abilities of a bat¡ªecholocation, like sonar, allowed him to detect and evade Ethan''s attacks with eerie precision. At the same time, the man''s attacks were useless against Ethan. Ethan''s Soul Sense was like a radar system, far more advanced than the man''s sonar-like abilities. The two clashed dozens of times, neither landing a single hit. This mission was Ethan''s first real combat experience, and it was the kind of fight where the stakes were life and death. At first, he''d been nervous, but now, just a few seconds into the fight, he felt completely in control. Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire Still, he was worried about Leo and Williams, who were clearly struggling. Meanwhile, Victor fired several shots at the woman, but she was protected by a translucent shield. Even his sniper rounds only penetrated halfway before getting stuck. Victor switched to armor-piercing rounds, but they barely pierced the shield, slowing down so much that the woman easily dodged them. As Ethan watched the bat-faced man''s smug, twisted grin, a memory from his childhood biology class surfaced. A cruel smile spread across Ethan''s face. The bat-faced man noticed and paused, confused. ''Is this guy insane? Your teammates are about to die, and you''re smiling?'' Under the bat-faced man''s watchful gaze, Ethan yanked the earpiece off his comms device. He turned the volume to maximum and began twisting the frequency dial. Screech¡­ buzz¡­ whine¡­ howl¡­ hiss¡­ The comms erupted with a cacophony of distorted noises, each one more piercing than the last. Ethan winced at the sound, it was unbearable, like nails on a chalkboard. The bat-faced man''s expression froze. In an instant, his hands shot up to cover his ears. But it didn''t help. Not one bit. Ethan wasn''t about to waste this opportunity. He lunged forward, closing the distance in a flash. Heavy Strike¡­ As he swung his palm toward the man, a thought flashed through his mind: Crap, I forgot to shift into Bear Form! But it was too late to stop now. Even without the skill''s full power, Ethan''s strength was nothing to scoff at. The moment his palm connected with the man''s chest, a faint shimmer of a panther''s claw flickered across his hand. Ethan recognized it¡ªthe visual effect of a successful skill activation. The bat-faced man was sent flying, stumbling back seven or eight steps before slamming into a tree. His grotesque bat-like mouth opened, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. Ethan paused, staring at his hand. ''Wait, how did I just use Heavy Strike in Panther Form?'' But there was no time to dwell on it. The man was still standing, and Ethan couldn''t afford to let him recover. He dashed forward again, this time focusing on shifting into Bear Form as he prepared another strike. The moment he did, he felt the difference. His movements slowed significantly, but the power behind his strike was immense. A heavy, crushing force traveled down his arm and into his palm. The bat-faced man, already severely injured, was in no condition to dodge. His echolocation, once his greatest asset, was now his worst enemy. The deafening noise from the comms had completely disoriented him. Ethan''s palm slammed into the man''s chest, and this time, a massive bear paw shimmered into existence for a split second before vanishing. Thud¡­ crack¡­ The man vomited another mouthful of blood, this time with chunks of internal organs mixed in. The force of the blow sent him crashing into the tree behind him, and with a deafening snap, the huge tree¡ªwide enough to take two people to encircle, split in half and toppled over. Ethan yanked his hand free from the man''s caved-in chest and took off running. He had to¡ªthe tree was falling right toward him. As he sprinted away, Ethan couldn''t help but marvel at the sheer power of that strike. The man''s chest had been crushed flat, his front and back pressed together like two sheets of paper. Ethan almost wished he had a force gauge to measure just how strong that hit had been. The commotion instantly drew the attention of everyone in the camp. The flame-wreathed man turned just in time to see Ethan obliterate the bat-faced leader. "Captain!" he shouted, his voice filled with rage and disbelief. So, the bat-faced man had been their leader. The flame-wreathed man swung his fists, forcing Leo and Williams back. Then, with a dramatic flourish, flames erupted beneath his feet, propelling him forward like some kind of fiery chariot. It looked almost cool, like something out of a superhero movie. Ethan saw the man charging toward him, flames trailing behind him, and braced himself for the fight. Chapter 164 The Aftermath In the next second, the man who had been charging toward Ethan suddenly veered off and plunged into the woods. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was running away? Ethan and his companions paused for a moment, their thoughts in unison: What the hell¡­ this guy''s a coward? Leo immediately sprang to his feet and gave chase, while Ethan also moved, his body shifting into action. Williams turned and sprinted toward Victor''s position. Two seconds later, Ethan grabbed Leo by the arm, yanking him back mid-sprint. Leo stumbled, caught off guard by the sudden force. "What the¡ª" Leo exclaimed, startled. It was the first time someone had managed to stop him in the middle of a full-speed dash. "Go help Victor!" Ethan barked, then continued running, his focus now on the man wreathed in flames. The man''s fiery escape was impressive, but no matter how fast he was, he couldn''t outrun Ethan''s heightened senses. The man''s speed was clearly a burst-type ability. After about five hundred meters, the flames at his feet flickered and died out. Ethan, now in his Panther Form, was slower but not by much. He kept pace, trailing the man like a shadow. The man glanced back after his flames extinguished, his eyes widening in terror when he saw Ethan less than a hundred meters behind him. Panicking, he pushed himself to run even faster. Bang! A sniper shot echoed through the forest. A burst of fire erupted in the distance, flaring up briefly before vanishing. Bang! Another shot. Crack! A tree ahead of the flame-wreathed man splintered as a bullet tore through it. Ethan knew Victor had won his fight¡ªotherwise, he wouldn''t be firing shots in their direction. By now, they were far from the camp, and Ethan''s senses were focused ahead, so he had no idea what was happening back at the base. The flame-wreathed man changed direction, only for another tree to explode in front of him. He veered again. The delay allowed Ethan to close the gap to less than ten meters. Shred! Ethan''s fingers curled into claws as he slashed at the man''s back. "Ahhh!" The man screamed in agony. Unlike the bat-faced man, he had no special defenses. Ethan''s claws tore through his flesh, leaving four deep gashes that exposed his spine. But the man didn''t stop. Using the momentum from the attack, he stumbled forward, still trying to escape. Shred¡­ This time, Ethan had an idea. What would happen if he combined his skill with the use of his Soul Energy? As the thought crossed his mind, he channeled his energy and activated the Shred skill. Whoosh! Four claw marks, each half a meter long, materialized in the air as if slicing through space itself. They shot forward, striking the man with brutal precision. Sssshhhhk! The sound of tearing fabric echoed as the man''s body was cleanly severed into five pieces. He froze mid-step, his head turning slowly to look back at Ethan. Ethan stared in shock as the man''s body collapsed into a heap on the forest floor. The thick stench of blood filled the air, making Ethan gag. He covered his nose and mouth, turning away from the gruesome scene and sprinting back toward the camp. But after only a few steps, he stopped, leaning against a tree as he dry-heaved. Earlier, when he had crushed the bat-faced man with a single strike, it hadn''t affected him like this. Part of it was the adrenaline of combat, there hadn''t been time to process what was happening. The other part was that the bat-faced man, after transforming, had looked more like a monster than a human. Killing him had felt no different than taking down a creature in a game. It hadn''t bothered Ethan at all. But this was different. With a single swipe of his claws, he had dismembered a man who, despite his abilities, still looked entirely human. This was the first time Ethan had killed someone who appeared so¡­ normal. And it made him sick to his stomach. Rustle, rustle, rustle¡­ Ethan knew it was Victor and the others approaching. All three of them were carrying backpacks, and it was clear they''d cleaned up the camp before heading over. With them was the female mutant, her hands bound, her clothes torn and disheveled. Half of her face was badly burned, and her hair was completely gone. Just as Ethan was trying to steady his stomach, the smell of burnt hair and flesh hit him like a wave, and he doubled over, dry-heaving again. Williams, grinning, handed him a water bottle. Ethan took a few gulps, and the nausea began to subside. Victor chuckled. "First time''s always the worst. You''ll get used to it after a while." "What happened to her?" Ethan asked, recalling the massive burst of flames he''d seen from the forest earlier. By then, he''d been over five hundred meters from the camp, his senses locked onto the flame-wreathed man. He hadn''t paid attention to what was happening back at the base. "Dust explosion," Williams explained. "She got roasted." "Dust explosion?" Ethan frowned, confused. He remembered seeing Williams rummaging through their backpacks earlier, pulling out small, palm-sized waterproof bags from each of their medical kits. Ethan knew those bags contained starch, used for stopping bleeding in case of serious injuries. Pressing a starch bag against a wound and bandaging it could quickly stop the bleeding, potentially saving a life if done in time. But Ethan still didn''t understand how a few bags of starch had taken down the woman. Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire Seeing his confusion, Williams elaborated. "Victor told me to grab them. Turns out this woman''s ability is similar to the team leader''s¡ªshe can compress air." Ethan had seen her ability in action, but he still couldn''t figure out how starch had been the key to defeating her. Williams continued, "When I got over there, I timed it just right. As she was compressing the air, I tossed the starch into the air. Her air shield filled up with the particles, and then Victor hit it with an incendiary round. Compressed air plus dust, plus a spark¡ªboom! She was done for." Ethan listened, impressed, and gave Victor a thumbs-up. "That''s some quick thinking." But then he asked, "What if we hadn''t had the starch?" Victor froze, and Williams'' expression darkened. "Well," Williams said quietly, "Victor had all four of our grenades strung together and hanging around his neck." Ethan''s heart sank. He knew they only had four grenades, and Victor had taken all of them when he left the camp. Ethan had assumed they were for some tactical purpose, but now it was clear¡ªVictor had been prepared to go out in a blaze of glory if things went south. Victor scratched the back of his head, clearly embarrassed. "Old sniper habits. Anyway, what do we do with her?" "Kill her," Ethan said without hesitation. The others were taken aback. Leo spoke up, "Shouldn''t we interrogate her first? See if we can get any intel?" Ethan glanced at him. "Open her mouth and take a look." No one understood what he meant, but Leo, curious, grabbed the woman''s jaw and forced it open. Chapter 165 Back to Civilization Her mouth was empty, completely hollow. Her entire tongue had been cut out. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire "Damn¡­ No wonder she didn''t make a sound when she was burning. What do we do now? If she can''t speak, even drugging her won''t work," Leo said, releasing her jaw. Everyone knew what Leo meant by "drugging." It was a common tactic during interrogations. The woman kept her head down, seemingly indifferent to her current predicament. "Out of the six of them, three had their tongues removed, including their vocal cords," Ethan explained. The three who had been mutilated were: 1. The bear-paw mutant Leo had taken down first. 2. The hand-blade mutant Ethan had slapped into oblivion. 3. And now, this woman in front of them. Crack! Before Ethan could finish speaking, the woman''s head suddenly exploded. Whoosh! Something shot out of her skull. No one had expected this. They were all standing close to her, and now they were covered in a gruesome mix of blood and brain matter. Ethan fought back the urge to vomit and immediately expanded his heightened senses, pushing them to their maximum range. But all he caught was a glimpse of a tail before it vanished beyond the reach of his senses. The speed was unbelievable. It had taken less than a second for the creature to escape his detection. Ethan quickly shifted his focus, scanning the area with his senses. He checked the locations of the hand-blade mutant and the bear-paw mutant Leo had killed earlier. Both bodies were gone. He relayed this information to Victor and the others, who were equally stunned. The bodies that had disappeared were all from the mutilated individuals. And now, with the woman''s head exploding and something escaping from it, it was clear this was no coincidence. "Could it be that the creature felt trapped and decided to shed its host?" Ethan speculated. His theory made sense to everyone. Ethan retracted his senses and took a deep breath, glancing in the direction the creature had fled. "Let''s get out of here. We need to head back to Ember City," he said. The others nodded in agreement. This mission had taken too many bizarre turns, and they''d been ambushed on their way back. If it hadn''t been for Ethan''s sudden surge of power, the three of them might not have made it out alive. The four of them moved quickly, heading straight for the spot where they''d parked their vehicle. As they walked, Ethan turned to Victor. "Victor, you''ve always wanted to join the Ninth Division. Do you know what they actually do?" Victor nodded. "Yeah, the Ninth Division has two departments. One handles regular cases in the mundane world, and the other deals with supernatural phenomena. I applied to the regular department." He chuckled bitterly. "Who knew my first mission would be this¡­ weird." Ethan nodded, finally understanding. So the Ninth Division was divided into specialized units. But where did Celeste''s Emver City M-Squad fit into all this? Given the alphabetical ranking, their team probably wasn''t at the bottom of the hierarchy. Celeste wouldn''t be able to return with them, and Ethan wondered how the rest of them would be reassigned once they got back. Celeste had suggested they all leave the Ninth Division, but Ethan doubted it would be that simple. For now, they could only take things one step at a time. They took another break during the journey and finally emerged from the mountains by noon the next day. Using the GPS coordinates from their device, they had taken a direct route out of the forest. As soon as they cleared the trees, they spotted their Hummer parked not far away. It had been sitting there for days, untouched. Ethan let out a long sigh of relief, tilting his head back to soak in the sunlight. Victor and the others approached the vehicle, and Leo immediately crawled underneath to check for any tampering. Williams popped open the hood of the Hummer and began inspecting the engine. After a thorough check, both he and Leo gave the all-clear. "Everything looks good," Leo said confidently. Ethan walked over, raising an eyebrow. "You sure about that?" His question made Leo and Williams pause. They exchanged a glance, then went back to double-checking the engine. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A few minutes later, they stood up again, looking at Ethan with puzzled expressions. Ethan grinned and pulled open the driver''s side door. Victor and the others gathered around, and Ethan said casually, "Let''s go home." "Wait, what?" Victor hesitated, his face full of confusion. Leo and Williams were equally baffled. Ethan chuckled and explained, "I just wanted to make sure they checked everything properly. That''s all." "Ugh¡­" Leo groaned, opening the back door and tossing his backpack inside. Williams had been holding his breath, waiting for Ethan to point out some critical flaw. Now he exhaled sharply, shaking his head. Victor let out a tired laugh. "Ethan, you''re something else." "Just trying to lighten the mood," Ethan said with a smirk. "Alright, let''s get out of here." Once inside the vehicle, everyone changed into clean clothes, and they drove back to Terracotta City. They parked the Hummer in the same spot as before and decided to stay in the city for a day to rest. They booked a hotel and slept for what felt like an eternity. By evening, Leo was adamant about going out for a "feast." He insisted it was his treat and dragged everyone to a bustling street food stall. His idea of a feast turned out to be an all-you-can-eat skewer buffet, with a time limit and a per-person charge. Sitting there, surrounded by the noise and chaos of the city, Ethan found himself oddly comforted. After days in the mountains, the urban clamor felt almost welcoming. His mind drifted to the last time he''d taken Celeste out for seafood. He wondered where she was now¡ªstill in that desolate village, or back in the city? He had no idea what their next meeting would be like. And then there was Lyla. Why hadn''t she answered his calls? According to Victor, who had heard from Celia, Lyla had left for her family home in the capital the day after they''d departed. She hadn''t returned since. Ethan couldn''t shake his worry about her. "Do any of you know about the Silverwood family in the capital?" Ethan asked. All three shook their heads. Leo tried to reassure him. "Don''t worry, Ethan. Lyla''s fine." Victor and Williams nodded in agreement. Ethan forced a smile, but a sinking feeling lingered in his chest. The four of them ate until they could barely move, just as the time limit ran out. They returned to the hotel and collapsed into bed once more. The next morning, they boarded a plane back to Ember City. As the city of Terracotta shrank beneath them, Ethan felt a sense of closure. The mission was finally over. As the flight progressed and they drew closer to Ember City, Ethan''s excitement grew. Despite Lyla''s absence, he had received a brief call from her that morning. Their conversation had been short but sweet, and it had eased his mind somewhat. When he asked her when she''d be back, Lyla said it might be a while, but she promised she''d return. That reassurance was enough for Ethan. Over the time they''d spent together, he''d learned a bit about her family. Her father was going through a turbulent period, with other family members trying to oust him from his position as head of the household. Lyla''s return home was likely to support him. But what Ethan didn''t know was just how much effort Lyla had gone through to make that one phone call to him. Chapter 166 The Shops Struggles Evening. Ethan pushed open the door to the villa. The familiar scent hit him, bringing an immediate sense of calm. But the thought that Lyla was no longer here filled him with a sudden, heavy sadness. He climbed the stairs to the second floor, where the door to Lyla''s bedroom stood ajar. Ethan paused at the threshold, memories flooding back. Before his rebirth, Lyla had hidden her identity, accompanying him in the game as Moonbeam for four years. On the first day of his new life, he had knocked on her door in the apartment building, asking for the time. Later, when he was stuck without a VR headset to log into the game, Lyla had shown up like a miracle, gifting him the very thing he needed. When he discovered her true identity, it all clicked¡ªthe childhood memories, the near-death experience, and their eventual separation. Moving into this villa together, the days they''d spent side by side, it all came rushing back. Suddenly, Ethan realized just how integral Lyla was to his life. Though they''d had a long, sweet conversation that morning, Ethan couldn''t shake the feeling that Lyla was hiding something from him. Whatever it was, she hadn''t shared it, and he hadn''t pressed her. He trusted her completely. If she was keeping something from him, he believed she had her reasons. During the day, with Victor, Leo, and Williams around, he''d been distracted. But now, alone in the vast, silent villa, the weight of her absence pressed down on him like a boulder, making it hard to breathe. He checked the time: 5:40 PM. Ethereal would be online in twenty minutes. It had been a while since he''d logged into the game. Ethan took a deep breath and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. By the time he finished, it was exactly 6:00 PM. Without bothering to dress, Ethan climbed into the VR capsule. After all, he was alone now¡ªno one to judge him for his lack of modesty. As soon as he logged in, a system notification popped up: his offline double experience had maxed out. Harmony City was bustling, as always. It was peak login time, and players materialized around him in waves. Ethan felt a strange sense of disorientation, as if he''d stepped into another world. [Ding¡­ Your friend ''NoPaperOnTheBigOne'' has sent you a video call request.] He had been about to head to the city center to check on his shops when the notification came through. It was from Mad Engineer. Ethan accepted the call, and the man''s weathered face appeared on the screen. "Boss¡­ sniff¡­ You''re finally online!" Mad Engineer burst into tears the moment the call connected. Ethan was taken aback. "What''s going on? Calm down and explain." "Sob¡­ Boss, I need money, or I''m going to get beaten to death¡­ sob¡­" "Hold on, I''ll be at the shop soon," Ethan said, realizing he wouldn''t get a clear explanation over the call. He ended the video and sprinted toward Central Plaza. From a distance, he could see NoPaperOnTheBigOne standing outside the All-You-Need Engineering Shop, anxiously scanning the crowd. "Boss!" Mad Engineer spotted Ethan from afar and bolted toward him. As Ethan approached, he noticed that both the ''All-You-Need Engineering Shop'' and the ''All-You-Need Potions Shop'' were thriving. Customers streamed in and out, the shops buzzing with activity. "Looks like you''ve been running the shops well," Ethan remarked, surprised. He''d assumed that after being away for eleven days, business would have suffered. "Boss, if you hadn''t come back soon, the shops would''ve gone under!" Mad Engineer said, following Ethan into the engineering shop. Ethan casually opened the shop''s financial records. To his surprise, the shop''s funds had ballooned to 3,400 gold coins. He hadn''t expected such a massive profit. "If the shop''s making this much, how is it on the verge of collapse?" Ethan asked, puzzled. "Scroll back to the second day after you went offline," NoPaperOnTheBigOne said. Curious, Ethan adjusted the date and began reviewing the records. It didn''t take long for him to understand the problem. When he''d left, he''d only deposited 30 gold coins into the shop''s operating fund. At the time, he hadn''t thought much of it, just a casual amount to keep things running. Initially, with lower customer traffic, the funds had been sufficient. As the shop''s popularity grew, the balance between profits from sales and the daily expenses for materials had been manageable. But on the second day after Ethan went offline, Celia had delivered two blueprints and three recipes to the shop: intermediate bullet and arrow engineering blueprints, and three intermediate potion recipes¡ªSlow Health Recovery, Instant Health Recovery, and Slow Mana Recovery. NoPaperOnTheBigOne had immediately appraised the blueprints and recruited players willing to sign contracts to learn and produce the items. Once produced, the items were listed in the shop for sale. This was when things took off. The system recognized the player-run shop''s inventory and removed the same items from the system stores. Suddenly, the All-You-Need Engineering Shop and the All-You-Need Potions Shop became the only places in Harmony City where players could buy intermediate bullets, arrows, and potions¡ªand at prices significantly lower than the system stores. The shops exploded in popularity. But with success came a new headache: the shop''s operating funds were insufficient. The daily automatic material purchases were limited, which in turn limited production. Every day, the items would sell out almost immediately, leading to shortages and frustrated customers. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Some players even began reselling the items at inflated prices. Other shops, still limited to producing beginner-level items, started spreading rumors and slandering the All-You-Need shops, accusing them of hoarding, monopolizing the market, and profiteering. Realizing this wasn''t sustainable, NoPaperOnTheBigOne turned to Celia for help. After discussing the issue, Celia withdrew 2,000 gold coins from the Renegade Alliance guild''s treasury to support the shops. She would have given more, but the guild itself was struggling. With only 5,000 gold coins in its treasury and 10,000 members to support, the guild''s finances were already stretched thin. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In fact, Renegade Alliance was doing better than most guilds. Many others were operating at a loss during this early stage of the game, with limited revenue streams. Renegade Alliance''s stability was largely due to their success in recent battles, which had filled their treasury with equipment that could be exchanged by guild members. Without that, they would have had to spend a fortune buying equipment to meet demand. NoPaperOnTheBigOne deposited 500 gold coins into the engineering shop and 1,500 into the potions shop. Even with the additional funds, the shops could only barely keep up with demand. Each day, as soon as the servers went live, the shops would start producing and purchasing materials, but they could only sustain operations for about an hour before running out. Most gatherers and crafters would sell their materials in the morning and not return until the next day¡ªor even several days later. As a result, the shops'' current inventory of 3,400 gold coins was misleading; it was only because they hadn''t started purchasing materials yet. Ethan checked the material inventory and saw that it was nearly depleted. The shelves were almost empty, and several engineers were idle in the workshop upstairs. As NoPaperOnTheBigOne explained the situation, Ethan did some quick math. The shop had started with just over 30 gold coins, and after depositing 500 gold, it had managed to generate a daily profit of around 250 gold coins. The realization hit him like a freight train. The engineering shop alone was bringing in the equivalent of $450,000 per day. The excitement was short-lived, however, as NoPaperOnTheBigOne''s next words dashed his hopes. Chapter 167 Debt of Loyalty "Boss, look at this¡­" he said, pulling up the gold deposit records. [NoPaperOnTheBigOne deposited 1,000 gold.] The deposit was made five days ago. There were only three entries in the gold deposit log. One was Ethan''s deposit of 30 gold, another was Mad Engineer''s deposit of 500 gold, and then this one. "After depositing the 500 gold, there wasn''t much improvement. I thought, since you entrusted the shop to me, I had to make it work. So¡­" "So you went and borrowed from loan sharks?" Ethan asked, surprised. He realized the income numbers he''d calculated earlier didn''t add up. At the same time, he remembered what NoPaperOnTheBigOne had said when they first connected the video call: "I''m going to get beaten to death." "Yeah¡­" The man''s eyes reddened as he realized Ethan had figured it out. "I thought you''d log in within three or four days. I borrowed 3 million and used it all to buy gold. The agreement was to repay it in five days, but on the third day, my old classmate showed up with his crew to collect. Tomorrow''s the final repayment day. If you hadn''t logged in, I''d either be on the run or worse beaten to death." Ethan listened, piecing together that the guy had probably borrowed from multiple sources and ended up getting scammed by someone he knew. But he was curious¡ªhow did a nobody like this guy manage to secure a loan of 3 million? "Send me your account number. I''ll transfer the money now." While listening to the story, Ethan had walked over to the All-You-Need Potions shop and checked the records. There, he found a deposit of 2,000 gold. Combined with the earlier deposits, that made a total of 3,000 gold. It seemed the gold price had dropped to $1,000 per gold coin. "Uh¡­ Boss, you''ll need to transfer a bit more," the man said cautiously after sending his account number. "How much? Give me a number." Ethan still had more than three million in his account. Even with the high interest, he could cover it. "Three and a half million," Mad Engineer whispered. Ethan couldn''t help but laugh. Looking at the man''s pitiful expression, he said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "You really went all out, huh? Three million principal, and half a million in interest over five days¡­ Tsk tsk, weren''t you worried I''d just disappear?" When Ethan had appointed him as the shop manager, he hadn''t given him permission to withdraw funds from the shop. "Uh¡­" Mad Engineer hesitated, then said slowly, "I¡­ I just wanted to make the shop successful¡­ Boss, you wouldn''t really abandon me, would you?" Seeing Ethan turn to leave, the man nearly broke down, chasing after him and pleading, "You''re not really leaving, are you?" "The money''s been transferred. Go pay off your debt," Ethan said, having only been teasing him. "Okay¡­ Thank you, Boss!" [Your friend ''NoPaperOnTheBigOne'' has gone offline!] Ethan stood there, staring at the now-offline Mad Engineer, feeling a surge of gratitude. "No, thank you," he thought. He never expected the guy to be so fiercely loyal, going as far as borrowing from loan sharks without a second thought, just to make the shop successful. Shaking his head, Ethan turned and walked toward the All-You-Need Auction House. There should be some income there by now¡ªthe seven-day free trial period he''d set up had ended. However, the auction house wasn''t under Mad Engineer''s management, so even if there was gold in the inventory, he couldn''t withdraw it. Checking the ledger, Ethan saw that after eight days of paid operation, after deducting system taxes and NPC management fees, the daily average income was around eighty gold coins. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire The income was quite good, especially since there was no need to hire labor¡ªeverything was automated by the system. It was essentially a self-sustaining money-making machine. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan also knew that in the early stages, the value of items being auctioned was relatively low, so the fees collected were also modest. But as players leveled up and the value of auctioned items increased, so would the fees. Moreover, the auction house was a monopoly. The plot of land in Harmony City where the auction house stood was the only one available for such a business. Withdrawing five hundred gold coins, Ethan now had over 4,500 gold in his inventory. Doing the math, he realized that even with this amount, the operating funds for both shops wouldn''t last a full day. According to NoPaperOnTheBigOne, Celia had been sending over a steady stream of blueprints these past few days. Ethan was curious. These blueprints were supposed to drop in level 45 zones, and the drop rate was extremely low. How had she managed to get her hands on so many? The shop''s funds and production speed were only enough for half a day''s operations, and even then, they had to limit sales. Right now, his shops were in a monopoly phase, but once other shops got their hands on similar blueprints, his business would face competition. ''Where can I get more money?'' As he pondered this, his eyes landed on the mailbox near the auction house entrance. There was a new message. He quickly walked over and opened it. Sender: Trusty007 Ethan''s eyes lit up. Could it be that the strategy guide he''d sent out had sold? Sure enough, the message contained a sales report and a transfer of 23,795 gold coins. In the accompanying note, Trusty007 explained that this was the income from all regions across the country. Their studio had enough gold stockpiled in the Northern Frontier Region to cover Ethan''s share, so they hadn''t converted the gold from other regions into cash this time. Seeing the five-figure gold amount, Ethan couldn''t help but grin. This was a lifesaver. With this influx of funds, he''d have enough to keep his shops running smoothly. Crunching the numbers, he estimated that the engineering shop, running at full capacity, would net a daily profit of around 300 gold after expenses. The potion shop would bring in about 500 gold, give or take. The auction house added another 80 gold daily. All in all, he was looking at a daily income of roughly 880 gold, which translated to over $880,000. At this rate, it was like printing money. Of course, this calculation only applied during the monopoly phase. Feeling a surge of excitement, Ethan returned to the engineering shop. Checking the system, he was shocked to see that the 3,400 gold he''d left earlier had dwindled to less than 1,000 gold. It turned out that a wave of crafters had come to sell materials, and more were still arriving. The shop''s gold reserves were depleting rapidly. In the time it took Ethan to process this, another 50 gold disappeared. Without hesitation, he deposited 10,000 gold into the shop''s account. Then he headed to the potion shop and dumped another 15,000 gold into its coffers. Upstairs, he checked the workshop. All the alchemists capable of crafting intermediate potions were already hard at work. The Level 2 shop''s workshop boosted production speed by 20%, making them even more efficient. But Ethan quickly realized they were still understaffed. The shop''s storage had several blueprints that no one had learned yet. He left a message for NoPaperOnTheBigOne, instructing him to have the blueprints learned and production ramped up as soon as he logged back in. They needed to maximize profits while the monopoly lasted. With everything arranged, Ethan decided it was time to focus on leveling up. Checking the Northern Frontier Region''s leaderboard, he was still in first place, but his lead wasn''t as commanding as before. Two players had already reached Level 30, and a sense of urgency washed over him. Those two players¡­ They were his enemies. How could it be them? Ethan''s heart skipped a beat. "Hmph¡­ So you''re finally worried, huh?" The voice of Morzan echoed in his mind. Chapter 168 Back to Grinding There was a distinct undertone in Morzan''s words. Ethan asked directly, "What do you mean?" "Do you think you''re all that powerful now?" The question made Ethan think of the time he''d sliced a mutant into five pieces with a single strike. He nodded and said, "I''m decent, I guess. Not bad." "Good. Keep that humility," Morzan said, completely ignoring Ethan''s self-satisfied tone. He continued, "Your Core has just formed, and the roots of the sprout within it haven''t fully taken hold yet. It can''t draw energy from external sources. Didn''t you notice how it almost withered after you used that move?" Ethan was stunned. He hadn''t noticed¡ªmostly because he''d spent so long as an ordinary person that he''d never developed the habit of internal observation. But if Morzan said so, he wouldn''t lie. Ethan quickly asked, "How do I fix it? How do I make it draw energy?" "Leaves pierce the Gate of Ascension, roots traverse countless worlds¡­ For now, to have it pierce the Gate of Ascension, you''ll need to reach Level 45. For the roots to fully grow and absorb energy on their own, you''ll probably need to hit Level 60." Morzan first recited these cryptic words, leaving Ethan utterly confused. But the explanation that followed made sense. "Wait, what? Its growth is tied to my in-game level?" Ethan exclaimed, shocked. It wasn''t unreasonable for him to be surprised. After all, the sprout had appeared in his Core after he awakened his energy in the real world. How could it be connected to the game? This was something Ethan couldn''t wrap his head around. "Of course it is, you idiot! Do you think your pathetic physique would''ve changed without the Ethereal World?" Morzan sounded genuinely annoyed. In his mind, he was thinking, ''You brat, how can you be so clueless? If you were capable of greatness, would your past life have been such a disaster?'' Ethan felt a bit embarrassed when Morzan called him "pathetic." He was well aware of how weak his physique had been, but recent events had made him a little too confident. "So, what should I do now?" Ethan asked humbly. "Level up. If you want to survive what''s coming in five years, you''ll need to reach at least Level 200." Ethan nodded, and Morzan fell silent. Thinking about leveling up, Ethan''s thoughts drifted to Lyla. His mood soured, and he sighed. He remembered the last time he''d leveled up quickly¡ªit was when she had unleashed a forbidden skill from her weapon, boosting him straight to Level 31. Later, after clearing an Expert-level dungeon, he''d gained three more levels, putting him at Level 34. Now, the second and third players on the leaderboard had reached Level 33. Skyblade and his crew had been pushed down to fourth place and below. Ethan''s expression darkened as he looked at the two names. Second Place: Overlord Third Place: Dominus Overlord¡ªEthan knew that name all too well. It was Zachary, the man who had betrayed him in his past life. Not only had Zachary pretended to be his friend, but he''d also stolen Ethan''s girlfriend. Even worse, to get his hands on the Wishbound Relic in Ethan''s inventory, Zachary had orchestrated an assassination attempt in both the real world and the game. In the real world, Lyla had shown up just in time to save Ethan, but he''d lost both legs and lived like a stray dog afterward. After his rebirth, Ethan had clashed with Zachary in the Starter Zone, dismantling his Unity Hall guild and screwing him over with a land deal. Zachary had retaliated during Slashblade''s wedding, when snipers had ambushed Ethan and his friends on the rooftop. If it hadn''t been for Celeste showing up and saving them, things could''ve ended badly. Later, Ethan had told Celeste about Zachary and mentioned that he was a spy for Serpent Isle. Celeste had used the resources of the Ninth Division to investigate, but the feedback she received was that Zachary was just an ordinary student. As for Dominus, Ethan didn''t have much of a reaction at first. But upon closer inspection, he realized this was someone he knew¡ªTrent, the guy he''d sent a team of rogues to chase back to the Starter Zone. Trent had been his college classmate and had bullied him relentlessly in his past life. Ethan was surprised to see Trent, who''d been killed and sent back to the Starter Zone, now sitting at second place on the leaderboard. Had he stumbled upon some kind of rare opportunity? That had to be it¡ªotherwise, there was no way he could''ve reached Level 30 so quickly. It was almost laughable¡ªboth of his enemies were hot on his heels, climbing the leaderboard at an alarming pace. Scrolling further down the leaderboard, another name caught his eye. Eighth Place: Executioner Great. Now even more of his enemies were popping up on the leaderboard. A sense of urgency washed over him. He closed the leaderboard and started organizing his inventory. To his surprise, he noticed that the Prismatic Stone had multiplied¡ªthere were now two of them. Apparently, the strange stone could ''reproduce'' inside his inventory. He pulled out a pile of stones and fed them to the Prismatic Stone until it was so full it refused to eat any more. Satisfied, he tossed it back into his inventory and restocked on essentials at his potion shop. "Put together a team. Let''s run an Easy-level dungeon to grind some levels," Ethan messaged Skyblade. "We''ve already started. You''ll have to find your own team or form one. By the way, before I entered the dungeon, I saw a lot of guildmates forming parties. You could join one of those," Skyblade replied. ''Damn it¡­'' Ethan cursed under his breath. They''d started leveling without him. As for Skyblade''s suggestion, Ethan thought about it for a moment but decided against it. Teaming up with guildmates would be more trouble than it was worth. If their skill level was too low, he''d feel bad about ditching them mid-dungeon. Spending an entire night stuck in an Easy-level dungeon wasn''t his idea of efficient leveling. Joining a random pickup group (PUG) was a better option. If things went south, he could just leave without any guilt¡ªafter all, he didn''t know any of them personally. What Ethan didn''t realize was that Easy-level dungeons did take all night to clear, that was just the reality of the current state of the game. In fact, most groups couldn''t even finish the dungeon in one night. Player skill levels were all over the place. The more competent players were usually part of guild teams, leaving the PUGs to the less skilled¡ªor the skilled but overly arrogant players who couldn''t fit into guild dynamics and chose to go solo. Arriving at the dungeon entrance, Ethan scanned the recruitment messages being spammed in the chat. Why are the requirements so low? The ads were barely meeting the minimum requirements for clearing an Easy-level dungeon. Ethan hid his name and level and joined a few groups to check out their gear. Unsurprisingly, their equipment was as mediocre as their recruitment ads suggested. Frustrated, he left those groups and kept searching. Finally, he found a team with slightly higher requirements. Ethan sent them his stats, making sure to equip some average gear instead of his high-tier items. Once he joined the group, he thought they seemed decent enough and decided to give them a shot. But as soon as he entered, someone piped up. NoMoreCandy: "Who the hell is this guy? Hiding his name and level? Trying to be all mysterious, huh?" Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire Ethan knew the comment was directed at him. The rest of the team was from the same guild, and he was the only outsider. Plus, he was hiding his name and level. The team had too many melee classes, so they were looking for a ranged DPS. Ethan had applied as a Balance Druid, and thanks to his high stats, the party leader had accepted him. Ethan ignored the comment, treating it as background noise. He quickly added NoMoreCandy to his block list, muting him. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He thought that would be the end of it, but a few seconds later, the party leader sent him a private message. "Hey, did you block NoMoreCandy? Uh¡­ would you mind revealing your name and level? Just to keep things transparent." Ethan sighed. He knew NoMoreCandy was stirring up trouble. He unblocked the guy just in time to see another message pop up. NoMoreCandy: "This idiot''s probably the product of inbreeding. Who the hell plays a trash-tier spec like Balance Druid? What a loser." Ethan''s eyes narrowed, a flicker of anger passing through them. He could handle being insulted¡ªhe''d just ignore it. But when someone dragged his family into it, that crossed a line. He had been planning to keep a low profile, but if the team required him to reveal his name and level, he was willing to do so. However, NoMoreCandy''s constant trash talk and personal insults had pushed him too far. What was supposed to be a simple leveling session had turned into something much more complicated. Today wasn''t going to end peacefully¡­! Chapter 169 Bad Name As soon as the guy finished speaking, he noticed the icy glare in Ethan''s eyes. He paused for a moment, then suddenly got even more fired up. "Oh? What''s this? You wanna mess with me, old man?" "NoMoreCandy, just drop it, alright? You know how hard it is to find a high-DPS ranged player these days. Just let the guy reveal his name and level, and let''s move on!" someone in the team tried to mediate. "No." "No!" Ethan and NoMoreCandy spoke in unison, their voices overlapping. "Uh¡­" Several others who were about to chime in suddenly went silent. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You''ve got some guts!" NoMoreCandy, who was a mage class, clapped his hands sarcastically, a smug look on his face. He shouted, "You''re one guy, and there are twenty-nine of us. You really think you can take us on?" As soon as he said this, Ethan couldn''t help but laugh. He noticed that the people around NoMoreCandy, including the party leader, had subtly taken a step back, their eyes shifting away awkwardly. "Seems like your reputation isn''t exactly stellar," Ethan said calmly. NoMoreCandy also noticed the shift in the group''s demeanor and froze for a moment. He pointed at the others and yelled, "You¡­ I''m gonna report this to the guild leader and get all of you kicked out!" Hearing this, one of the team members finally snapped. FrozenAffection: "I''ve had enough of your arrogance! Who do you think you are? You think the guild leader will just kick us out because you said so?" As soon as he finished, another player quickly tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Frozen, stop. Don''t you know NoMoreCandy''s cousin is the captain of the 19th squad in Renegade Alliance''s warrior division?" FrozenAffection hesitated, then fell silent. The comment, though whispered, was heard by everyone. NoMoreCandy puffed up with pride upon hearing this. Ethan, however, was confused. What''s going on? Renegade Alliance¡­ He frowned. His own Renegade Alliance had grown more influential than he''d realized. For a moment, he wasn''t sure whether to feel proud or disappointed. "Is Renegade Alliance really that big of a deal? I''ve never even heard of this ''warrior division''," Ethan said. It was true¡ªhe hadn''t heard of it. The division had been recently created by Celia to streamline management, and Ethan hadn''t had a chance to catch up with her in-game yet. When he said this, everyone looked at him as if he were an idiot. In their minds, they were all thinking: Is NoMoreCandy right? Is this guy actually clueless? How can he not know about Renegade Alliance? NoMoreCandy grinned. "Oh, this is rich. You dare look down on Renegade Alliance? Just wait until you''re sent back to the Starter Zone! I''ve already called my cousin. He''s on his way, and when he gets here, we''ll see how tough you are then!" Ethan ignored him and opened his chat, sending a message to Skyblade: "Hold off on the dungeon. Something important''s come up. Bring the team out." At the same time, the party leader who had invited Ethan sent him a private message. FreeYears: "Dude, you should really leave. There''s still time." Ethan replied, "It''s fine. Since when did Renegade Alliance get so cocky?" FreeYears: "It''s been like this for a while, but it''s gotten worse recently. They''ve been bullying players from other guilds all over the place." Ethan sent back a string of question marks: "??????" FreeYears: "Bro, are you from Blackridge or Springhaven or something? How do you not know? The leader of the Renegade Alliance is the guy ranked first on the Northern Frontier Region leaderboard. People call him the Druid God. He''s ruthless, cold-blooded, and downright evil. Oh, and he''s a huge womanizer. But the worst part is how protective he is of his own. If one of his people gets killed, he''ll slaughter a hundred in retaliation. There was one time he wiped out over seven thousand players in one go¡­" You must''ve heard about that, right? It''s even in the pinned posts on the forums! That''s why no one around here dares to mess with Renegade Alliance. They''re untouchable!" After hearing this, Ethan''s heart sank. ''What the hell? Who''s spreading these rumors about me being evil and a womanizer?'' If Renegade Alliance continued down this path, it would quickly become public enemy number one. At this rate, even if the guild didn''t disband, it would be despised by everyone. Looks like the guild system needs a serious overhaul, Ethan thought. Just then, he noticed a group of about a dozen players strutting confidently toward them. As they passed, other players looking for groups quickly moved out of their way. NoMoreCandy scurried over to them, pointing in Ethan''s direction and whispering something to one of the members. Ethan squinted from under his cloak and saw that all of them wore the Renegade Alliance guild emblem on their chests. After NoMoreCandy finished talking, the guy he''d spoken to turned and whispered something to the leader of the group. The leader glanced at Ethan, then nodded. With the leader''s approval, the guy called over a few more people, and together with NoMoreCandy, they marched toward Ethan with an air of menace. Ethan couldn''t help but laugh. So, the cousin NoMoreCandy had been bragging about¡ªthe captain of the 19th squad in the warrior division was just another lackey. It dawned on Ethan that this kind of behavior wasn''t limited to just one person. Ordinary guild members like this guy were using Renegade Alliance''s name to throw their weight around, and their friends and relatives were doing the same. Renegade Alliance''s reputation was indeed spreading far and wide¡ªjust not in a good way. How many more rotten apples like this are there in the guild? Ethan wondered. The whole pot might already be spoiled. The thought sent a chill down his spine. If things continued like this, Renegade Alliance was doomed. By now, the guy had reached Ethan. "I''m FallingShell, captain of the 19th squad in Renegade Alliance''s warrior division. I hear you''ve got quite the attitude," he said with a noticeable puff to his chest. Ethan had already seen the guy''s name. In the guild hierarchy, lower-ranked members couldn''t hide their names from higher-ranked ones, even if they tried. FallingShell stepped closer to Ethan, his chest practically pressing against Ethan''s stomach. Despite being a head shorter than Ethan''s 6''2" frame, he carried himself as if he were the one in charge. Slap! Everyone watching the scene felt their eyes widen in shock. Then, as if on cue, the entire crowd took five or six steps back. This is about to get ugly, they thought. Better stay out of the line of fire. Whispers broke out among the onlookers. BloodEmperor: "Holy crap, this guy''s insane. He just hit someone from Renegade Alliance!" WildThoughts: "Insane? More like legendary. Did you see that slap?" RoseOverflow: "Wow, that guy''s so hot!" Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire SSS-Rank Blood Emperor: "Girl, stop drooling. He''s about to be hot¡­ as in dead." FallingShell staggered from the slap, his face frozen in disbelief. It took him a full five seconds to process what had just happened. "You¡­ you dare hit me?!" he finally shouted. As soon as the words left his mouth, the other Renegade Alliance members rushed over, surrounding Ethan. Ethan, however, remained unfazed. He casually said, "Sorry, but could you not stand so close to me? You''ve got terrible breath." Chapter 170 Setting The Rules The crowd couldn''t help but stifle their laughter at Ethan''s words. This guy was too much. He had come up with a reason that was utterly impossible within the world of Ethereal. But with so many players from Renegade Alliance present, no one dared to laugh out loud. After all, a dozen or so Renegade Alliance players had already drawn their weapons. In this situation, anyone who laughed would likely become the next target. Just as everyone thought Ethan was about to be obliterated by a barrage of attacks, a group of players suddenly emerged from the dungeon entrance. They quickly scanned the area and immediately started running toward the commotion. Self-Description: "It''s Renegade Alliance''s elite team!" LaughingAtLife: "Didn''t they just enter the dungeon?" WarmMemories: "They withdrew the entire elite team just for this one guy? That''s overkill, isn''t it?" Duke: "I think there''s more to this than meets the eye." The crowd buzzed with speculation, and many players sensed that something unusual was brewing. The commotion caught the attention of the Renegade Alliance players on the scene. Their leader, a player named HeyYourYida, frowned as he saw the thirty elite team members approaching. He quickly stepped forward to greet them, calling out enthusiastically to the man at the front, Skyblade: "Boss Skyblade, what brings you out here?" Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire Skyblade glanced at him. He remembered this guy¡ªthey had teamed up many times back in the Starter Zone. "What''s going on here?" Skyblade asked, his eyes shifting to Ethan, who was surrounded in the middle. HeyYourYida grinned and replied, "Nothing serious. Just some idiot who dared to disrespect Renegade Alliance!" "Oh? Is that so¡­ Surround him!" Skyblade barked. With a swift motion, the twenty-nine players behind him rushed forward, forming another circle around the group. HeyYourYida couldn''t help but feel smug. Today was the perfect opportunity to show off the might of Renegade Alliance. With that thought, he eagerly squeezed into the circle, standing proudly alongside his teammates. Just as he settled in, another sixty players teleported into the dungeon entrance. Today, Slashblade, Skyblade, and SeraphWarrior hadn''t entered the dungeon as a single team. Instead, they had each led their own squads. This was part of Ethan''s plan, orchestrated through Celia. After all, a guild with ten thousand members couldn''t rely on just one elite team. They needed to start training more players for larger dungeons in the future, some of which would require hundreds, if not thousands, of participants. The sixty-plus players who emerged wasted no time. Without a word, they moved to encircle the area. Slashblade, Skyblade, and SeraphWarrior exchanged glances. They weren''t sure what was happening, but seeing Ethan in the middle of the crowd gave them a rough idea. Their expressions darkened as they silently made their way toward Ethan. As they passed through the inner circle of players, the others greeted them with cheerful smiles. "Hey, Bosses!" HeyYourYida was the only one who looked visibly uneasy. His heart was pounding. What was going on? All three officers were here, and their expressions were grim. Slashblade, Skyblade, and SeraphWarrior ignored the dozen or so players and walked straight up to Ethan. In front of thousands of players gathered at the dungeon entrance, they addressed the figure in the black cloak standing in the center. "Boss¡­" The crowd''s jaws collectively dropped. Whispers and exclamations erupted. "What?!" "Holy crap, is that¡­ the Druid God?" "Oh man, this just got interesting." FallingShell, who had been grinning and greeting obsequiously as the three officers approached, quickly retreated behind Slashblade and the others. He had been ready to tattle, to tell them how this guy had disrespected Renegade Alliance and even slapped him in front of everyone. He had a whole speech prepared. But now, clutching his stinging cheek, his face fell as he almost lost his balance from shock. HeyYourYida, standing behind him, had already sensed something was off. Now, his heart sank. ''This is bad,'' he thought. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, NoMoreCandy, the guy who had been trash-talking Ethan earlier, seemed completely oblivious to the situation. He reached out to his cousin, FallingShell, muttering, "Who are these three People? Which guild are they from? Why aren''t they wearing guild badges?" FallingShell shuddered. He had just regained himself when he spun around and kicked NoMoreCandy square in the chest. "Shut the hell up!" he roared. By now, he knew exactly what was happening. Cold sweat dripped down his face. NoMoreCandy, being a mage, was no match for a warrior in terms of physical strength. In non-combat situations, the stronger player always had the upper hand. He was sent flying three meters back, tumbling twice before sitting up and pointing at FallingShell, shouting, "Why did you just kick me? Just wait till I tell aunt about this!" FallingShell felt a lump in his throat, he was really on the verge of tears. At that moment, Ethan slowly removed his cloak. He scanned the crowd and began to speak. "I''m sure you all know what just happened. Today, as the leader of Renegade Alliance, I want to apologize to you all." As he said that, his face took on a solemn look. The crowd buzzed with murmurs, but they quieted down as Ethan continued. "From this day forward, all members of Renegade Alliance will adhere to the following rules: 1. Any member who bullies the weak without cause will be expelled from the guild, killed back to the Starter Zone, and hunted down to level zero. 2. Any member who stirs up trouble without cause will be expelled from the guild, killed back to the Starter Zone, and hunted down to level zero. 3. Any member who damages the guild''s reputation will be expelled from the guild, killed back to the Starter Zone, and hunted down to level zero. 4. Any member who uses their connections to exploit other guilds or players for personal gain will be expelled from the guild, killed back to the Starter Zone, and hunted down to level zero." Ethan paused, then added, "For now, these are the four rules. But remember this: If anyone dares to harm Renegade Alliance, I will show no mercy. If you touch one of mine, I will kill a hundred of yours!" As his words echoed, the hundred or so Renegade Alliance members exchanged glances. Their reactions varied¡ªsome looked worried, while others seemed unfazed. But when Ethan delivered his final line, their eyes lit up with excitement. Someone in the crowd shouted, "If anyone harms Renegade Alliance, show no mercy!" "Show no mercy! Show no mercy! Show no mercy!" The morale of the guild members soared to its peak, their blood boiling with fervor. Meanwhile, the other players outside the guild cheered at Ethan''s announcement. Renegade Alliance had been bullying them for a while now, and seeing their leader step up to enforce justice filled them with excitement. They began chanting, "Renegade Alliance! Renegade Alliance! Renegade Alliance!" The two groups'' chants echoed each other, creating a thunderous roar. Of course, not everyone was thrilled. Some players'' eyes turned cold as they quietly reported the situation to their own guild leaders. Chapter 1 - 1: The Legend in the Dirt Ethan lay motionless on the cold, stained floor of his rundown apartment. The flickering light above barely illuminated the crumbling walls, the suffocating stench of mold mixing with the sharp metallic tang of blood. His blood. His breathing was ragged, his ribs screaming with every shallow inhale. His legs¡ªuseless, broken things, remained twisted at unnatural angles. The phantom ache of lost strength gnawed at him, but it was nothing compared to the agony clawing at his soul. Then came the footsteps. Heavy boots pounded against the floorboards. The door to his apartment had already been shattered, the lock nothing more than twisted metal hanging from splintered wood. A group of men entered, their shadows looming in the dim light. "Finally found you, you crippled rat," one of them sneered. Ethan barely turned his head to look at them. He already knew who sent them. "Zachary," he muttered, voice hoarse from disuse. The name alone earned him a savage kick to the ribs. His body convulsed from the impact, but he refused to give them the satisfaction of a scream. One of the thugs crouched down, grabbing him by the hair and yanking his head up. "Damn, look at you. You used to be a legend. Now you''re just some cripple wasting away in filth." Another laughed. "This is pathetic. I heard you don''t even log into Ethereal anymore. Guess reality hit too hard, huh?" Ethan chuckled weakly, blood staining his lips. "Guess so." The thug snarled and slammed his head against the floor. Stars burst in Ethan''s vision. Then, one of them spotted something on the bed. A battered, outdated VR headset. "Look at this trash," he said, picking it up and turning it over in his hands. "This is what you''ve been reduced to? Playing with scraps?" A cruel idea must''ve crossed his mind, because a wicked grin spread across his face. "Let''s see if your pathetic ass can still escape into a game," he said, jamming the headset onto Ethan''s head with brute force. The device whirred to life. Ethan barely had time to process the humiliation before a system notification flickered into his vision. ¡ª [Quest Update!] You have been transported to your last active location in Ethereal. ¡ª His surroundings dissolved into darkness. ¡ª When Ethan opened his eyes again, he was no longer in his decaying apartment. He was deep underground, swallowed by endless darkness. The cold air was thick with dust, the only sound the faint echo of dripping water somewhere in the distance. The mine. A sharp weight rested in his hand, a pickaxe. His hands, once trembling and weak, now held callouses formed from years of labor, despite being a game character. A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. Three years. He had spent three goddamn years, mining this forsaken place, all for a single objective. Finding the last piece of Titanite. He had long given up. The quest had turned into an endless, mind-numbing task, breaking him more thoroughly than even his enemies in reality. But now, the system had dragged him back. Mocking him. He considered throwing the pickaxe away, but deep inside, something refused to let go. A flicker of stubbornness. "¡­Screw it." Summoning the last thread of motivation, Ethan raised the pickaxe and swung. The metallic clang echoed through the chamber. Over and over, he swung, muscles aching, sweat mixing with the grime on his skin. Each impact sent shards flying, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Then¡ª Crack. A distinct sound, different from the usual grinding of stone. Something broke. Ethan''s heart lurched. His hands trembled as he reached down, brushing away the loose debris. And there it was. Aglowing shard of Titanite. A system notification flashed before his eyes. ¡ª Ding¡­ [Congratulations, you''ve discovered a rare item: Titanite!] ¡ª Ethan exhaled shakily, as his eyes brightened at this flash from the system notification. His lips twitched into an exasperated smile. "Three years¡­ Three years of my life, and I''ve finally done it. One thousand shards complete." His eyes gleamed with a mix of exhaustion and anticipation. What kind of reward would he get for this grueling quest? A legendary weapon? A unique Ability? He needed something, just anything that could change his current situation. Whatever it was, he didn''t care. As long as it gave him a way to rise again. ''Avalon Vanguard Guild,'' he though as his expression darkened. I''ll make you regret every betrayal. And then there was Zachary and Ivy, the traitorous pair who had ruined his life. "You''ll pay for what you did. Both of you.'' Yet, as the euphoria threatened to settle in, reality crashed down on him. His real body, back in his apartment, was still being beaten. Pain rippled through him, even here. He could feel every punch, every kick landing on his ribs, his arms, his face. His tormentors were still destroying him. ''I don''t have time.'' He knew what came next. The final step of the quest. With no hesitation, Ethan pulled out a dagger from his inventory. And drove it into his chest. His health plummeted to zero. Darkness consumed him. ¡ª He had expected to wake up in front of the Angel of Resurrection. But there was nothing. Just endless, suffocating blackness. Ethan floated in the void, weightless. The silence was deafening, pressing against his mind. Something was wrong. Then, a system notification flashed. ¡ª [The Final Judgment has begun.] ¡ª A slow realization crawled into his mind. The Titanite¡­ he had completed the quest, but this wasn''t resurrection. This was something more. The darkness around him trembled, like a cocoon beginning to break. Ethan felt something within him shift, something fundamental. Then came the final notification. Ding¡­ [Congratulations! You''ve completed the unique hidden quest: ''The Angel''s Salvation.'' Reward: The thing you desired most.] Ethan''s breath hitched. His eyes locked onto the notification, his body trembling from both exhaustion and pain. "The thing I desire most?" he muttered. What the hell did that even mean? After years of grinding through this brutal quest, he''d expected a weapon, a skill, or something that could help him rise again. But this? What kind of vague reward was this supposed to be? Before he could even begin to comprehend it, a brilliant light erupted around him. A searing, all-consuming heat engulfed his body. It wasn''t like the pain of revival he had grown accustomed to. This was deeper, more primal, like his very soul was being reforged. He screamed, but no sound came out. His vision blurred, the agony reaching its peak until¡ª Nothing. Just an empty, endless darkness as his consciousness faded. ¡ª Ethan woke with a violent gasp. His entire body jerked upright, lungs heaving as if he''d been drowning. Sweat clung to his skin, but beneath it, he felt something else, warmth. Like embers cooling after being doused in water. His pulse pounded in his ears as he blinked rapidly, struggling to adjust. Then, he froze. The damp, mold-ridden ceiling of his rundown apartment was gone. So were the cracked walls, the flickering lightbulb, and, most unsettling of all, the men who had been mutilating him just moments ago. Instead, he was here. A cramped studio dorm. A faint smell of cheap air fresheners. The familiar sight of a battered desk shoved against the wall. A bed, small and worn-out but neat. Ethan''s breath hitched. He knew this place. His fingers clenched the bedsheets as a flood of memories crashed into him. This was his old dorm. The one he had rented in college. The very same place where he had spent his days with Ivy before everything had gone to hell. His hands trembled. His mind reeled. What the hell was happening? Ethan scrambled for the phone on the bedside table. The screen came to life, the date displayed on it was October 9, 2024. "No way¡­" his voice came out in whispers as he shook his head in disbelief. Desperate for a confirmation, he threw open the door and rushed to the next apartment, immediately banging on the door. After a moment, it opened revealing a girl about his age. Her messy hair and puffy eyes made it obvious that she had just woken up "Uh¡­ can I help you?" she asked with a frown. Ethan stared at her as he struggled to suppress his shock. He recognized her. She was a fellow student, someone from his program. "Lyla," he blurted out, the name slipping from his lips before he could even stop himself. She blinked. "How do you know my name?" "It doesn''t matter," Ethan said quickly, waving her question away. "What day is it today? Please, just tell me!" Lyla looked at him like he was insane, but answered anyway. "It''s¡­ October 9, 2024." Before she could say another word Ethan bolted back to his room, slamming the door shut behind him. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he looked at his trembling hands. "I''ve really... gone back in time," he whispered, the reality finally sinking in. His thoughts turned to the quest reward, the cryptic description burned into his mind: ''The thing you desire most.'' A bitter laugh escaped his lips. He had wanted power, a legendary item, a unique skill, something to help him climb back to the top. Instead, he had been granted the one thing he never dared hope for, a second chance. As memories of the past rolled in his mind, his gaze drifted to his legs. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His chest tightened. Three years ago, those bastards had crippled him, leaving him with nothing but shattered dreams and burning hatred. Zachary had orchestrated the attack, but with no evidence, the authorities had done nothing. Ethan had barely escaped with his life, fleeing from Ember city to avoid the murderous schemes that kept flying his way. His mind swirled with memories, sharp and raw. October 8th, the day Ivy had ended things with him. The breakup had shattered him, blindsiding him with no warning. By the afternoon of October 9th, desperate and unaware of the betrayal yet to fully unfold, he had gone to Zachary to borrow money. Not knowing that Zachary was the one Ivy dumped him for. Now, things were different. Clenching his fists, Ethan focused on the date again: October 9th, 2024. Tomorrow was the day it all began. Chapter 2 - 2: Quite An Unexpected Path By late 2024, the gaming industry had been completely consumed by one name: Aeon Corporation A tech giant that had bulldozed its way to dominance, Aeon acquired every major gaming company worldwide. By then, the world hadn''t seen a new game launch for over six months. Rumors spread like wildfire, Aeon was working on something massive. And they weren''t wrong... Three months ago, on July 6, 2024, Aeon made the announcement that rocked the globe: A fully immersive 100% realistic virtual reality game. The game named Ethereal, was set to launch at midnight on October 10th, 2024.. Skepticism flooded social media and news outlets. Experts questioned the safety of such technology, while others doubted that such an ambitious project could have been developed in just six months. Some even called for governments to ban its release, citing potential risks to mental health and societal stability. But the response from world governments? Silence. By the time Aeon''s unrelenting marketing campaign began, the so called experts had mysteriously quieted down. For three months, advertisements were everywhere: on billboards, streaming platforms, and even augmented reality displays Yet, no one knew anything about the game itself. There were no trailers, no gameplay footage, no backstory, just one cryptic tagline: "The world you''ve always dreamed of¡­ awaits." Speculation was rampant. Was it a fantasy game? A sci-fi adventure? A survival challenge? Most leaned toward the first option, guessing that a title like Ethereal hinted at a magic-filled, otherworldly experience. But Ethan knew better. He had lived it. This wasn''t just an ordinary game, it was the future. Ethereal wasn''t about casting spells or slaying dragons. It was a brutal survival world, a stage for power struggles, alliances, betrayals, and unimaginable rewards. Ethan clenched his fists as his heart churned with anticipation. He had four years of experience from his past life, he knew the locations of hidden quests, legendary items and shortcuts through dungeons. He knew every exploit every strategy to dominate the game''s economy, and every way to climb to the top. This was his chance to rise again. But there was one massive problem. ''How the hell am I going to get a VR headset?'' Ethan glanced at the clock. In his previous life, right now, hed have been on his way to Zachary''s apartment to borrow money. All for the cheapest, most basic headset that would allow him to log into Ethereal. He winced at the memory. What a joke. The clown was me all along. Checking his pockets, Ethan fished out a crumpled wad of cash. About 8 dollars and fifty cents. He was still $1,491.50 short of even the most affordable headset. His frustration boiled over. Here he was, reborn with all the knowledge and determination he needed to dominate Ethereal, but without the means to even log in. The thought of waiting six months for Aeon''s universal distribution program, when the company would give every citizen a free headset, made his blood run cold. ''I can''t wait that long. The opportunities in the first six months are too critical. I''ll miss out on everything!'' His spiraling thoughts were interrupted by a sharp knock on the door. Knock, knock, knock. Ethan frowned, rising to answer. He opened the door, and froze. Standing in front of him was Lyla, the girl from next door. But it wasn''t even her presence that shocked him, it was what she was holding. A pristine, sleek VR headset. Model 207. Ethan''s breath caught. He remembered this headset. It was the exact one Lyla had gifted him in his previous life. But back then, it had been six months after they''d become close friends. Why was it here now? "Um¡­ hi," Lyla stammered, her face held a deep blush. "I just moved in, so¡­ I thought I''d give you a little gift as a thank you for, uh, welcoming me." Ethan''s mind raced, overlapping memories of the past and present. In his previous life, she had smiled brightly when she handed him the headset and said: "Thanks for looking out for me these past six months, Ethan. This is just my way of saying thanks!" But now? ''Why would she give this to me now, before we''ve even had the chance to know each other'' "Uh¡­Hello?" Lyla waved her hand in front of his face, snapping him back to reality. "Ah! Yes, thank you, Lyla," Ethan said hastily, reaching out to take the headset. Her blush deepened as she handed it over. "Well, I''ll¡­ I''ll let you get back to whatever you were doing. See you around!" And just like that, she spun on her heel and darted back to her apartment as sge closed the door behind her with a soft click. "...." Ethan closed his own door, leaning against it as he stared at the device in his hands. "Did she¡­ always have this headset prepared?" he muttered, his mind racing. "If she did¡­ why did she wait six months to give it to me last time? What was she waiting for?" He shook his head, dismissing the thoughts that ran through his mind. With his current situation, he wasn''t the kind of guy to attract attention from women, let alone gifts like this. ''No sense in overthinking it.'' With trembling hands, Ethan tore open the packaging, his heart was pounding as the headset''s sleek surface graced his view. This was it. He lay back on his creaky bed, the VR headset snug over his face. The countdown to Ethereal''s official launch ticked away in his mind. Ten minutes. He tried to steady his racing thoughts. This was it. His chance to reclaim everything he''d lost. Five¡­ four¡­ three¡­ two¡­ one¡ª Ding¡­ S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You''re here, kid." There was no dramatic intro screen. No character creation. No guide NPC to welcome him. Instead, Ethan found himself face-to-face with a ragged old man, his tattered sleves and singed beard giving him the appearance of someone who''d just crawled out of an explosion. "Uh¡­" Ethan blinked. His brain struggled to process what he was seeing. The old man chuckled, a knowing glint in his eye. "Didn''t think you''d be so surprised, considering everything you''ve been through. Then again, you''re the only one who passed the test." "The¡­ test?" Ethan echoed, his stomach knotting with unease. The old man nodded. "That''s right. You''re here because you completed the ''Angel''s Salvation'' quest." Ethan''s breath caught. "Back when I designed that quest, I made sure the activation requirement was no joke. Over 1,000 deaths, within the time limit, of course. And you''re the only player stubborn enough to pull it off. That takes some serious grit." The old man''s tone was casual, as though recounting a mildly interesting story. Ethan, however, was less amused. He remembered the leaderboard from his previous life, where his name sat at the top under Most Deaths¡ª1,389 times. The runner-up? A distant 287. At the time, people had joked about him being a masochist. A few players had even tried to grind deaths to climb the leaderboard, but none lasted long. The pain was too real. Ethereal''s death system didn''t just simulate physical pain; it simulated fear, despair, and the primal terror of dying. It was rumored that the second-place player had gone insane after his 200th death. "So¡­ no one else can trigger this quest, huh?" Ethan muttered. The old man shook his head. "Nope. You''re one of a kind, kid. I know you''ve got questions, but now''s not the time for answers." Ethan frowned but said nothing, sensing there was no point in arguing. The old man continued. "As the only one who passed, you''ve earned the right to three Devine Abilities. But there''s a catch: your class is locked to Druid." "Druid?" Ethan''s skepticism was immediate. In his previous life, Druids had been the laughingstock of the game. Sure, they could shift between six forms, A Bear, Panther, Owl, Tree, Stag, and Human, but every form was outclassed by another profession: The Bear couldn''t tank like a proper shield-wielder. The Panther lacked the versatility of a Rogue. The Owl couldn''t out-damage a Mage. The Tree wasn''t half as effective at healing as a Priest. The Stag? It had no combat abilities whatsoever. The only thing it could do was move fast¡­ and act as a mount for others. And in Human Form, Druids couldn''t use skills from their other forms, rendering them almost useless. The community''s verdict had been unanimous: a Druid could do everything, but none of it well. "Jack of all trades, master of none" was an understatement. Many who chose the class at launch ended up quitting or pivoting to non-combat roles like crafting and gathering. After all, Ethereal didn''t allow players to delete their characters and start over. Now, this strange old man wanted to saddle him with the worst class in the game? Ethan''s gut reaction was pure resistance. "I''m not sure about this¡­" "Relax, kid," the old man said, waving dismissively. "You''re not like the others. As the sole victor of the trial, your Druid class will start with an additional +10 to all attributes." Ethan''s protests faltered. +10 to every stat? That was¡­ absurd. No other class came close to that level of baseline growth. The old man''s tone shifted, growing somber. "You''ll need that edge, trust me. Five years from now, when the Ethereal Cataclysm arrives, the world as you know it will end. This game isn''t just a game, kid. It''s a glimpse into what comes after, a world reborn a millennium after the fall of civilization." Ethan''s head spun. "Wait, what? Are you saying¡ª" The old man cut him off. "You''ll understand in time. For now, just remember: choose Druid. It''s the only way forward." Before Ethan could object, the old man'' ascended through the air, his ragged clothes bubbling in the wind as he disappeared. "...." The world around Ethan dissolved, replaced by a familiar interface and the stirring orchestral music of the Ethereal login screen. "Protect the world, my ass," Ethan muttered, glaring at the character creation screen. "What kind of deception is this? End of the world, my foot. If that means a world as cool as Ethereal, then bring it on!" Ding¡­ [You have selected the class: Druid. Please customize your character''s name.] Ethan''s mind was still reeling from the old man''s words when the system prompt blinked in the corner of his vision. "What the hell? You said I could choose Druid! At least let me pick it myself! What''s with the forced assignment?" Ding¡­ [The character name ''What the Hell? You Said I Could Choose Druid! At Least Let Me Pick It Myself!'' is unavailable. Please try again.] Ethan let out a long sigh, muttering under his breath, "This is just ridiculous." After a moment of thought, he typed in: NotADruid. It felt like his last act of rebellion. Ding¡­ [Character created successfully. Logging into the Northern Frontier Region, Dragonspire. Please wait¡­] Ethan''s lips twitched into a faint smile. The Northern Frontier. Same as his previous life. He knew every nook, cranny, and secret quest in this Region. Ding¡­ [Welcome to Starter Zone 1314.] His eyes lit up. This was it! The same Region where he''d stumbled upon the hidden quest that rewarded him with the mythical Wishbound Relic in his past life, a treasure that had both elevated him to legendary status and ultimately led to his downfall. For a moment, he''d worried he might spawn in a different village. But luck seemed to be on his side. Ding¡­ [Activating Divine Bloodline: King of Elves.] "Bloodline? What the hell happened to the Divine Abilities?" Ethan groaned. He barely had enough money to survive tomorrow, let alone make sense of whatever "bloodline" meant. He opened his inventory, hoping for something useful. Inside, he found three items: a coarse linen shirt, tattered grass sandals, and a wooden staff with a pathetic attack stat of 2. Disappointment flickered across his face. He''d been hoping for three activation scrolls for the promised Divine Abilities, something he could sell for cash and live like a king for at least a month. But it turned out to be something else. With a resigned sigh, Ethan equipped the ragged shirt and sandals. No stats, but at least he wouldn''t be walking around barefoot. He gripped the wooden staff and opened his character stats. --- [NotADruid] Class: Druid Race: Human Level: 1 Faction: Unaligned Bloodline: King of Elves (Divine) Strength: 2 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Increases physical attack. Intelligence: 2 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Increases magical attack and mana capacity. Agility: 2 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Increases attack and movement speed. Stamina: 2 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Increases defense. Vitality: 2 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Increases max health. Physical Attack: 2¨C6 Magical Attack: 2¨C4 Physical Defense: 2¨C4 Magical Defense: 2¨C4 Health: 40 Experience: 0/100 General Skills: Basic Appraisal (Inspect monsters up to 5 levels above your own.) --- Curious, Ethan navigated to the bloodline section, this was a feature he''d never seen in his previous life. --- [Bloodline: King of Elves (Divine)] (Unique) Passive Bonus: +10 Star Growth to all attributes. Bloodline Ability (stacks with player talents): Focus (Divine): Increases skill effectiveness by 50%. Prophecy (Divine): Grants +10 distributable stat points per level. Growth (Divine): Doubles experience gained from quests and monster kills. Description: The peace-loving Elven race has left an indelible mark on every recorded Holy War. Though they cherish tranquility, their valor in battle is unparalleled. --- Chapter 3 - 3: Predator Among Prey Ethan stared at the screen in disbelief. The Abilities the old man talked about were related to this Bloodline? And these abilities¡­ they were absurd. Pairing Prophecy with his +10 attribute growth, it meant his potential was off the charts. By the late game, he''d be unstoppable. And Growth? That Ability alone had propelled players to legendary status in his previous life. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He recalled the #1 player on the global rankings¡ªa priest class who dominated for four years straight. That guy''s secret? A single Divine growth Ability, which kept him a staggering 20 levels ahead of everyone else. It didn''t matter whether it was one-on-one combat or massive battlefield showdowns; his level advantage crushed all opposition. As for Focus, it had been a cornerstone of the infamous Arcane Mage. That player had used it to devastating effect, turning a single mana bar into enough firepower to annihilate bosses in seconds. Sure, the mage needed perfect conditions to fully unleash his Ability, but when he did? Nothing survived. Now, Ethan had all three Abilities. If he could acquire duplicates of his stats later, the stacking bonuses would make him a walking apocalypse. Suddenly, his resentment over being forced into the Druid class melted away. "First things first," Ethan muttered. He needed to retrace his steps and secure the hidden quest for the Wishbound Relic. This time, though, he wouldn''t let its secrets ruin him. Transforming into his Panther form, a skill that boosted his movement speed by 30%, he shifted into a sleek, dark feline. His fur was pitch-black, almost blending into the shadows. He grinned, as his feline ears twitched. "Time to rewrite history." Ethan''s sudden transformation startled everyone around him. The sight of his predatory figure even caused oneyoung woman to let out a surprised yelp. Testing his new limbs, Ethan groaned. Walking on all fours wasn''t exactly comfortable, and he felt the awkward sway of his unfamiliar form. His first few steps felt clumsy, out of sync, earning him a few puzzled looks. "Wait, why is there a druid in the Starter Zone?" "Yeah, isn''t that some kind of system glitch?" The murmurs started, whispers spreading among the crowd as they pointed at him. Ethan ignored them, striding past with his tail swishing. He left the crowded village, thankful he had chosen the druid class. He remembered how, in his past life, it had taken him over thirty minutes just to push through the throng of players clogging the village exit. Now, in his panther form, he He made a point of slipping beneath the crowd as scandalized yelps followed him. This life seemed to be starting quite eventfully. Outside the Starter Zone, chaos reigned. The sight of countless players crowding around low-level monsters was overwhelming. The moment a Level 1 larva respawned, a swarm of players descended on it, tearing it apart before it could even twitch. For most of them, this was their first foray into a fully immersive VR world, with its 100% realism. The visceral thrill and adrenaline rush of the experience were enough to hook anyone. Ethan couldn''t help but recall his own first experience in the game. Like them, he''d wasted ten fruitless minutes competing for scraps before finally heading deeper into the forest in desperation. But not this time. This time, he had the advantage of foresight. He knew the Starter Village was just the prologue to a much larger event. At 1:00 AM, the system would initiate a cataclysmic event: the Ethereal Cataclysm. The world would be reshaped, and every player would be transported ten thousand years into the future, to a newly-formed planet called Gemini. Gemini was the result of a catastrophic collision between Earth''s twin, Luna, and an advanced tech world known as Azure. Rather than obliterating one another, the two planets had fused into a figure-eight-shaped superworld. The aftermath left one half, Azure, bathed in eternal light, while the other, Terra, remained shrouded in perpetual darkness. Survivors of the Cataclysm were sent to Azure, assigned to the Survivor Faction. Those who died during the event were resurrected on Terra, forced into the Carnage Faction. After the prologue, players should have had the freedom to choose their factions upon creating new characters. But the system''s forced allocation had caused an uproar. Protests flooded Aeon Corporation''s forums, with players demanding the right to pick their sides. Aeon''s response was blunt: "This is the world''s only 100% immersive VR game. There won''t be another. Play it or don''t¡ªit''s up to you." Ethan''s lips twisted in a faint smile at the memory. During his last life, an NPC had once said that the Cataclysm event was a prediction of real-world events five years into the future. He''d laughed it off then, and even now, the idea seemed absurd. Sure, he had been reborn, but attributing the in-game occurrence to the real world, that was a leap he wasn''t ready to make. Leaving the noisy crowds behind, Ethan ventured toward a more secluded area where wild boars roamed. By now, most players had already claimed the easier hunting zones. "Damn that old man," he muttered under his breath. Being held up by an NPC earlier had cost him precious time. Even the Level 3 zones were swarming with players now. Reaching the outer fringes of the forest, Ethan silently prayed. Please don''t let anyone have found it yet. In his previous life, he''d stumbled into this area by accident after failing to secure any kills near the village. When the Cataclysm struck, he''d fallen into a hollow tree, triggering a hidden quest. The incident not only saved him from the apocalyptic chaos but also ensured his transfer to the Survivor Faction on Azure. Now, standing at the entrance to the forest''s Level 5 zone, Ethan eyed the three wolves blocking his path. Their names glowed red, a warning that these were aggressive creatures. The hollow tree lay just beyond them. Back then, the Cataclysm had wiped out all monsters, allowing him to stumble into the tree unchallenged. But now, with twenty minutes remaining until the event, those wolves were a very real obstacle. And with only 40 HP, Ethan didn''t fancy his odds. He grimaced, tightening his resolve. "Screw it." Transforming into his panther form, Ethan crouched low. We''re both predators here. Maybe they won''t notice me. Maybe. The wolves noticed. The moment Ethan moved, the three wolves snarled, leaping toward him in unison. This was it. Timing was everything. At the last second, Ethan kicked off with his hind legs, curling his body into a tight ball. He rolled under the wolves in one fluid motion, slipping beneath their snapping jaws and clawed paws. The wolves landed with a thud, growling as they turned to look for their prey. But their sharp eyes found no trace of the oversized black cat that had just barrel-rolled past them. By then, Ethan was already lying in a crumpled heap at the bottom of the hollow tree, groaning in pain. In his last life, this fall had left him with a miserable 3 HP. This time, his panther form''s passive ability to reduce fall damage had helped, but he still lost a third of his health. His dramatic roll to dodge the wolves had nearly snapped his spine. He massaged his aching back, cursing under his breath. Sure, the pain in Ethereal was only 20% of what you''d feel in real life, but it was still enough to leave him gasping and unable to stand for a good few moments. --- Ding¡­ [You''ve discovered the Burial Site of the Master Blacksmith Ryan. Hidden quest: The Wishbound Relic triggered. Accept?] "Accept!" Ethan said without hesitation. This was the whole reason he''d come here. --- Quest Name: The Wishbound Relic Quest Objective: Retrieve the relic of Master Blacksmith Ryan from the depths of the cave. Rewards: Experience: +600 EXP Item: Wishbound Relic --- Before Ethan could celebrate, a startled scream echoed from above. A cascade of dirt and loose rocks tumbled down, followed by a pudgy figure crashing into the tree hollow. "Crap!" Ethan rolled to the side just in time to avoid being flattened. ''That was close,'' he thought, his heart racing. Someone else had made it here already! Still, Ethan wasn''t worried. Hidden quests in Ethereal were unique, no one else could trigger this one now that he had claimed it. Shifting back into his panther form, he activated his only skill: Pounce and Rend. The player, still sprawled on the ground, barely had time to react. -3 HP A tiny damage number floated above the stranger''s head. His health dropped to zero, and his body disintegrated into a flash of white light. --- Ding¡­ [You''ve killed player "LuckIsASkill." Sin Value +1.] --- Ethan smirked at the irony of the guy''s username. "Luck is a skill, that''s quite right. If you hadn''t run into me, maybe this relic would''ve been yours. In Ethereal, killing another player from your faction increased your Sin Value. At 5 points or higher, you''d become red-named, marking you as a criminal. Red-named players faced harsher penalties upon death, including the loss of all their equipped items. Fortunately, one point wasn''t enough to cause trouble, and Ethan figured he could clear it later by grinding monsters. He grabbed a red health potion the player had dropped and made a dash deeper into the cave. Two minutes later, Ethan emerged from the hollow tree, clutching his prize: --- Wishbound Relic Description: A legendary item forged by the daughter of Master Blacksmith Ryan, who sacrificed her flesh and blood to create it. Effect: Enhances any equipment. Adds a fixed 50% success rate to all equipment upgrades. Removes all gold costs during upgrades. Prevents equipment destruction upon failure. Prevents downgrade penalties upon failure. Guarantees success after three failed attempts. Durability: Infinite. Restrictions: Cannot be traded, stored, or destroyed. Drops upon death. --- Anyone who had ever played a game with an upgrade system knew how infuriatingly random it could be. In Ethereal, equipment upgrades maxed out at +30, with bonus attributes added at every tenth level. The problem? Each failed attempt reset the equipment''s level back to zero. Stories of players losing their fortunes chasing the elusive +30 were legendary. Ethan couldn''t help but grin as he stared at the box shaped relic in his inventory. ''This little box just turned me into a god of upgrades.'' He glanced at the time. Only a few minutes remained before the system broadcasted a global alert, instructing players to find shelter. During the Cataclysm, the only safe places were within the Starter Village or designated shelters like this tree hollow. Ethan had no intention of leaving. In his previous life, hiding here had saved him, allowing him to be transported to Azure as a Survivor. Opening his settings menu, he enabled the game''s auto-play feature, letting his character remain logged in while he took a break. He wasn''t about to risk logging out; too many players in the past had tried to outsmart the system, only to wake up assigned to the Carnage Faction. With a satisfied sigh, Ethan removed his VR headset and leaned back, the image of the relic still etched in his mind. Chapter 4 - 4: The First Step to Dominance Ethan left his room and knocked on the door next to his. After a moment, the door cracked open, revealing Lyla in a pink tank top and shorts. "Ethan?" she asked, blinking sleepily. Ethan cleared his throat, trying not to notice how casual her attire was. "Uh, yeah. Listen, are you playing Ethereal too? If so, make sure you stay in the Starter Village. If you''re already outside, get back immediately. Whatever happens, don''t log out." Ethan remembered how she had confided in him months after they became friends, saying she had been assigned to the Carnage Faction. She hated the constant gloom of that side and rarely logged in. She''d never shared her in-game ID, due to communication restrictions between factions. That was why Ethan had come to warn her directly. "Oh? Why is that?" Lyla asked, opening the door fully, curiosity lighting up her face. "Just trust me, okay? It''s important. By the way, what''s your in-game ID?" "Alright¡­ It''s Moonbeam," she said with a shrug. "Got it. I''ll send you a friend request soon." With a quick wave, Ethan turned to leave. But as he took a step toward his apartment, something clicked in his mind. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Wait¡ª''Moonbeam''?!" He spun around, but Lyla had already shut her door. Could it really be her? Even as Ethan slipped on his VR headset to log back into the game, he couldn''t shake the thought. Was Lyla truly Moonbeam? In his previous life, he''d encountered a player named Moonbeam while hunting monsters in the wilderness. She had been assigned the same quest as him, and her archer skills far outpaced his rogue abilities. Frustrated, he''d considered attacking her to steal the kills, but before he could act, she had sent him a party invite. That moment had led to a friendship that turned into an unforgettable story. But why had she hidden her identity from him back then? His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden notification. --- Ding! [System Alert: The Cataclysm is imminent. Seek shelter immediately. Countdown: 1 minute.] [System Alert: Starter Experience ending. All levels will reset to 0 as the official expansion begins. Countdown: 1 minute.] [System Alert: Experience multiplier during Starter Experience is 15x. The multiplier will return to normal in the official expansion.] --- Ethan shook his head, jolted from his thoughts by the constant stream of system notifications. Ding, ding, ding¡­ The World Chat exploded with messages: "What''s going on?" "They''re dropping an expansion just an hour after launch?!" "Are you kidding me? I''m already Level 4, and now you''re resetting me?!" "Didn''t you morons read? It''s called the Starter Experience!" "Hah, serves you right! Thank goodness I haven''t even started farming yet!" The chat devolved into chaos, filled with complaints, laughter, and taunts. Ethan muted the World Chat and took a deep breath. --- The countdown hit zero, and the world went dark. When the screen brightened again, a deafening alarm blared in Ethan''s ears. "Warning! Warning! Aircraft crash imminent. Parachute deployment required in 1 minute¡­" All around him, other players rushed toward the rear hatch of the aircraft, jumping one by one. Ethan shook his head. "Yeah, not falling for that again." In his past life, he''d learned the truth about this spawn point. The "imminent crash" never actually happened. The plane would just keep flying on an endless loop. In fact, a famous post from the forums told the story of a player who had fallen asleep on autopilot and woken up hours later, still onboard. Ignoring the frantic crowd, Ethan pushed his way forward to the cockpit. There, he found the dead pilot slumped over the controls. "Just an NPC," Ethan muttered, pulling the pilot out of the seat. He rummaged through the corpse''s belongings, taking anything useful. If the system had allowed it, he''d have stripped him down to his boxers. This was another rare discovery Ethan had learned about in his previous life: looting the pilot''s gear. The equipment was on par with Level 5 items, but that wasn''t the real prize. The pilot''s wristwatch was a key item for unlocking a critical hidden quest later on. Satisfied with his haul, Ethan grabbed a parachute and headed for the hatch. He calculated the plane''s trajectory carefully before leaping into the sky. His target was the true Starter Safe Zone: Evercrest Town. The last time, Ethan had panicked during the alarm and jumped at random, only to land miles away. It had taken him three hours of running to reach the town. This time, he was determined not to waste time. The town was essential to activating key systems in the game: quest hubs, monster spawns, and even level progression. As the silhouette of Evercrest Town grew larger below, Ethan timed his descent. When he was 100 meters from the ground, he deployed his parachute, gliding smoothly toward his destination. "I guess I''m about to be the first ever Panther to attempt sky diving." Ethan shifted into his panther form mid-air causing the parachute to deactivate. With a resounding thud, he hit the ground, the passive skill Feline Grace activating to reduce fall damage by 80%. Even so, his health bar plummeted, leaving him with barely 10% remaining. If he''d been any other class, falling 100 meters without parachute would''ve resulted in instant death. --- System Announcement: [Player "NotADruid" is the first to arrive at the Safe Zone: Evercrest Town.] System Announcement: [The 1314 Starter Zone Bounty Board is now active. Players can pick up quests from the Task Hall in Evercrest Town.] --- Ethan''s destination was clear: the Task Hall. Unlike old-school games with linear quest chains, Ethereal centralized all NPC bounty tasks on a shared board in the town. But there was a catch¡ªbounty tasks had a daily limit. If you were late, you''d have to settle for scraps, like farming monster drops for resource collection. Worse, by the time you returned with the materials, the NPC might''ve already met their quota, making all your efforts worthless. --- Ding! [System Notification: Achievement Unlocked ¨C "Discoverer of Evercrest Town." As the first player to reach Evercrest Town, you gain +200 NPC Affinity within the town and +200 Reputation with Humanity.] --- This was the reward Ethan had been aiming for. NPC affinity was one of the hardest stats to grind. Without high affinity, even knowing how to trigger hidden quests was useless¡ªNPCs wouldn''t even give you the option. After accepting 20 high-priority tasks from the bounty board¡ªthe maximum his quest log could hold, Ethan was ready to head out. --- He sprinted out of the gate toward his first destination: the abandoned power plant. This location was key. It allowed him to complete four tasks at once. All the quests he''d selected were clustered in nearby areas, maximizing efficiency. As he approached the plant, two Level 2 guard dogs prowled the entrance. With a quick flick, Ethan cast Basic Appraisal. --- [Corrupted Hound] Type: Common Level: 2 Physical Attack: 10 Physical Defense: 2 Magic Defense: 2 Health: 30 Abilities: Rend: Slashes the target with claws, causing a bleeding effect that deals 10% of attack damage per second for 8 seconds. Description: A hound corrupted by dark energy, wild and aggressive. It attacks any living being within its sight. --- There was no getting past these dogs without taking them down. Ethan glanced at his own stats. With the pilot''s gear equipped, his physical defense was now at an impressive 12. The hounds'' attacks wouldn''t even scratch him¡ªthey''d only deal the minimum damage of 1 HP per hit. Confident, Ethan lunged at the first hound. --- Shred! Shred! -16! -14! The first hound let out a dying howl, collapsing into a puff of digital smoke. --- Ding! [You''ve killed "Corrupted Hound." Gained 4 EXP (including +2 EXP from Divine Ability).] --- Ethan paused, momentarily stunned by the damage he''d dealt. "Wait¡­ why is my attack so high?" The second hound lunged at him, breaking his train of thought. Ethan rolled to the side, dodging its claws with practiced ease. --- Shred! -16! Shred! System Notification: [Insufficient Energy. Skill use unavailable.] --- Ethan cursed under his breath. The Shred ability cost 40 energy per use, and his energy had dropped to 5, slowly regenerating at a rate of 10 per second. Forced to rely on basic attacks, Ethan swiped at the hound with his claws. -4! Ducking and weaving, he avoided the hound''s attacks while chipping away at its health with regular strikes. Years of experience as a rogue in his past life had honed his reflexes, making dodging second nature. After a few more claw swipes, the second hound collapsed with a faint whimper, awarding another 4 EXP. Ethan scooped up the loot: 2 copper coins and a chunk of raw meat. He opened his skill menu to review Shred. --- [Shred] Effect: Deals 200% physical damage. --- Combined with his Divine Ability, Focus, which increased skill effectiveness by 50%, the total damage skyrocketed to 300%. "That explains why I one-shot a Level 2 monster," Ethan muttered, a faint smirk playing on his lips. The power of his Divine Ability was already becoming evident. Excitement stirred in his chest as he imagined how much further he could grow. Chapter 5 - 5: Loot and Luck The factory grounds were swarming with low-level monsters, their glowing yellow names marking them as Level 1. None of them met the requirements for Ethan''s current quest. Guided by his memories of the past, he headed straight to the entrance of the underground facility. Blocking the way was a massive rat, its bloated body wedged in the corridor like an oversized trash can. [Giant Rat] Type: Rare (Unique) Level: 3 Physical Attack: 25 Physical Defense: 10 Magic Defense: 5 Health: 300 Skills: 1. Gnaw ¨C Bites the target, dealing 200% physical damage three times. 2. Charge ¨C Dashes forward, dealing 100% physical damage to all enemies in its path and stunning them for 3 seconds. Description: This rare gatekeeper monster blocks access to the underground plant. It won''t attack unless provoked. Its forelimbs are weak and nearly useless, but its sheer body mass and powerful jaws make it a formidable opponent. Ethan grimaced as he sized up the rodent, its bulk reminiscent of a compact car. In his previous life, this creature had already been defeated by the time he arrived. He''d heard stories of players being obliterated by its relentless gnawing attacks. After scouting the surroundings, Ethan found a collapsed section of the building nearby. Among the debris, two slabs of reinforced concrete formed a narrow triangular gap, just wide enough for one person to squeeze through. Crawling inside, he noted the passage grew tighter as it went. "Perfect. I can escape through this in my panther form," he muttered, crawling out the other sid With his plan in place, Ethan circled behind the enormous rat. Staring at its shiny fur and twitching tail, he couldn''t help but feel small in comparison. "Alright, big guy. Let''s dance." Ethan lunged forward, slashing at the rat with his claws. Shred. -8 HP! The beast squealed in pain, its massive head snapping around to locate its attacker. Wasting no time, Ethan bolted. His passive skill, Panther''s Agility, increased his movement speed by 30%, giving him just enough of an edge to dodge the rats relentless charges. Each time it prepared to charge, its back legs dug furiously at the ground, which was a clear warning Ethan had learned to recognize. Other classes would''ve been crushed into paste by now. But for Ethan, evasion was second nature to him After leading the beast through a series of twists and turns, Ethan finally maneuvered it toward the gap he had scouted earlier. The rat''s hind legs scraped against the ground, signaling another incoming charge. This time, Ethan didn''t dodge. Instead, he dove headfirst into the narrow crevice. The rat followed, its bulk slamming into the debris. The ground trembled, and the concrete slabs above groaned ominously. Finally, the rat''s charge came to an abrupt halt. Its enormous front teeth hovered mere inches from Ethan''s face, but it was well and truly stuck. Exhaling a shaky breath, Ethan locked eyes with the rat''s bloodshot gaze. It hissed and snapped its jaws, but its stubby forelimbs were useless in this position. Backing out of the crevice, Ethan circled around to the trapped rat''s exposed rear. "Time for payback." He launched a flurry of attacks: Shred, Swipe, Shred, Swipe. -8 HP, -1 HP, Miss, -1 HP¡­ The damage numbers floated above the beast''s head. They were pitifully small, but consistent. Occasionally, the rat''s health would tick upward as it regenerated, but the overall trend was in Ethan''s favor. Despite the repetitive nature of his strikes, Ethan''s mind began to wander. He pondered his next steps. Should he go after Zachary alone, or build a team to back him up? Revenge was tempting, but for now, leveling up took priority. At Level 15, he could access the main city map and join other players from other regions. Until then, he''d have to make do with solo grinding. But grinding in the usual spots? No, that would be a waste of his second chance. His memories were filled with forgotten glitches and terrain exploits. He could outsmart bosses and rare monsters that others would struggle to defeat. And¡­ there was Lyla. She''d make an excellent partner, especially with her ranged abilities. A grin spread across Ethan''s face as he opened his friend list and searched for her username: ''Moonbeam''. As soon as her profile popped up, he sent her a friend request. [You have become friends with Moonbeam. Communication is now possible] Surprisingly, it didn''t take more than a second for her to accept. "Lyla, which starter Zone are you in?" Ethan sent her a message. "I''m in Zone 1370! What about you, Ethan?" Ethan frowned. Different Regions meant they couldn''t team up until Level 15 when players could leave their zones. "I''m in Zone 1314. I was hoping to help you level up, but I guess that''ll have to wait. Get to Level 15 quickly, and we''ll meet up in the main city." "Alright! I''ll do my best!" "Good. See you then." Closing the chat, Ethan turned his attention back to the massive rat he''d trapped earlier. Thirty minutes of relentless attacks later, the beast let out one final squeal before collapsing in a heap. Ding... [System Alert: You''ve slain [Giant Rat]. Overlevel kill bonus: +200% EXP. Gained 1200 EXP (including 300 bonus EXP and 600 EXP from Divine Ability multiplier).] Ethan checked his stats. He''d jumped straight to Level 3, sitting at 8% progress. Rare monsters truly lived up to their reputation for rewarding massive experience points. Even better, his Divine Ability doubled his kill rewards. This was a indeed game-changer for rapid leveling. With the rat dead, its enormous body shrank to the size of an ordinary rodent. Ethan rummaged through the loot it dropped, pulling out a few items: Two Silver Coins Reinforcement Gem Pouch (Medium) Bronze Appraisal Scroll Random Teleportation Scroll Two-Handed Hammer (Unidentified) The silver coins alone were a treasure at this stage of the game. But the standout was the Random Teleportation Scroll. It was a lifesaver in dangerous situation Random Teleportation Scrolls had an abysmal drop rate, usually crafted by high-level Inscription Masters with even lower success rates. In the game''s later stages, desperate players paid absurd amounts of gold for these one-time-use items. Ethan recalled a time when a single scroll sold for over 8000 gold at auction which was a small fortune, even by late-game standards. Turning to the warhammer, Ethan inspected its stats: Heavy Warhammer Grade: Bronze (Unidentified) Ethan''s eyebrows rose. Bronze-grade equipment was a rare find in the early game. In the world of Ethereal, gear was divided into several grades: Common, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Dark Gold, Artifact, Legendary, and Set Gear. By the time he was reborn four years into the game''s lifespan, most players were still wearing Common Iron gear. Anything above Bronze required appraisal to unlock its hidden attributes. Fortunately, he had picked up a Bronze Appraisal Scroll. Without hesitation, Ethan used it on the warhammer. Ding... The Heavy Warhammer glowed. [Heavy Warhammer (Bronze)] Required Level: 3 Attack: 12¨C16 Special Attribute: Has a chance to deal +7% bonus damage per attack. Usable by: Warrior, Paladin, Druid. Ethan''s lips curled into a smile. A weapon with bonus damage was considered top-tier at this level. It might not have the highest base attack, but its attribute made it far more valuable. Excited, he opened the reinforcement gem pouch and extracted seven reinforcement stones. He reached into his inventory for the item that had been his curse and salvation in his past life: the Wishbound Relic. The relic hummed with energy as Ethan began reinforcing the warhammer. Each attempt consumed one reinforcement stone, accompanied by the mechanical whir of the relic and a cheerful chime. Ding... [Congratulations! Your Heavy Warhammer (Bronze)] has been reinforced to +1.] Ding... [Congratulations! Your Heavy Warhammer (Bronze)] has been reinforced to +2.] ¡­ Ding... [Congratulations! Your Heavy Warhammer (Bronze)] has been reinforced to +7.] Ethan couldn''t help but laugh, basking in the thrill of success. There was nothing quite like the rush of a successful gear upgrade. It was a joy only gamers could understand. With the last of his reinforcement stones used, Ethan examined the final stats of his upgraded weapon: [Heavy Warhammer +7 (Bronze)] Attack: 20¨C27 S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Holding the warhammer in his hands, Ethan felt like a new man. His base attack had skyrocketed from 2¨C6 to 20¨C31. Druids, known for their adaptability, automatically adjusted their attack stats depending on their current weapon and form. While long spears were the preferred choice for their accuracy bonuses, this warhammer would do nicely for now. Ethan grinned, gripping the weapon tightly. "Alright, let''s see if any monster can stand up to this." If one strike didn''t finish them off, two certainly would. ___ Author: Support me by adding to your library, commenting and voting. More chapters incoming~ Chapter 6 - 6: A Rogue’s Deadly Game Ethan opened his stats panel, excitement coursing through him. It was time to allocate his free stat points In his previous life, he had played as a rogue. The druid''s panther form shared some similarities, and this time, he planned to fully commit to it. As for his stat distribution, he''d already worked out the details. Normal players earned 5 points per level to allocate freely. But with his unique Divine Ability, he got 15 points per level. His plan was to invest 5 points into Strength and 10 into Agility. It was a surefire path to dominance. But the moment he opened the panel, his hopes were shattered. Ding¡­ [Player has activated automatic stat allocation: Strength 20%, Intelligence 20%, Agility 20%, Stamina 20%, Vitality 20%. Once set, this cannot be reversed. Confirm?] Ethan froze, staring at the message. He knew what this was, a system feature that locked players into a pre-determined growth path. It saved the trouble of manual allocation but robbed players of flexibility. Nobody used it because late-game situations often demanded precise adjustments, like increasing Strength to meet equipment requirements. "No¡­ No, no, no¡ª" Ding¡­ [Configuration set!] "Are you kidding me?!" Ethan yelled, his frustration boiling over. There was no doubt in his mind, this was the work of that old man who had forced his class selection earlier. Now the bastard had locked his stat distribution too! Tears of frustration welled in Ethan''s eyes as he cursed silently. The old man''s interference felt like a cruel joke. Meanwhile, somewhere in an unknown location, the old man swigged from his flask, chuckling. "Good thing I stepped in. If I''d let that brat mess with his stats, all my effort picking him out would''ve been wasted." Back in the game, Ethan sighed and reopened his panel. He began calculating. The average player had a Strength growth of 12 stars, translating to 1.2 points per level and could be stacked up to a maximum of 6 attack points. With the combination of his Abilities, even with balanced stat distribution, Ethan''s Strength gain still matched the bonus of building a single stat. Plus, his distributed stats granted him versatility others couldn''t match. Relieved, Ethan felt his confidence returning. Sure, he might not excel in any particular area, but his well-rounded build could unlock strategies others couldn''t even dream of. With renewed determination, Ethan entered the underground power plant. Panther Form! Stealth! At Level 3, he had automatically unlocked the skill Stealth, which let him blend into the shadows in his panther form. The first floor teemed with Level 1-2 Corrupted Spiders. None could withstand his Shred attack. Before long, Ethan grew bored of even using skills and started swiping them away with basic strikes. An hour later, Ethan reached the second floor entrance. His experience bar now read 78% to Level 4. "This is way too slow," he muttered, frowning. If other players heard him complain, they''d probably lose their minds. With a glance at his quest log, he saw a full list of 20 active missions. Grinding monsters alone was inefficient; completing these tasks would speed things up. But as Ethan stepped into the second floor, a sudden chill ran down his spine. Years of being hunted had honed his instincts, and they screamed one word now: danger. A rogue. Acting on instinct, Ethan shifted into stealth and leaped onto a cracked concrete wall nearby. His panther form landed silently as he scanned the area. A figure appeared where he''d just stood, dagger poised for a sneak attack. The rogue hesitated for a split second before vanishing back into stealth. "It''s him," Ethan thought, his gaze darkening. Although the person had vanished quickly, Ethan had caught a glimpse of his face making it quite unmistakable. This was Shadowstrike. In his previous life, Shadowstrike had been his greatest adversary during his peak. Known for his ruthless efficiency, he was a feared name in both the game and the real world, a mercenary who took on any job for the right price. Ethan clenched his fists, memories of their rivalry flashing through his mind. In that life, Ethan had risen to fame thanks to the Wishbound Relic and a set of +30 legendary gear, earning the title of Rogue God. Shadowstrike, on the other hand, had carved his legacy as the God of Assassins through skill alone. In Ethan''s previous life, Zachary had hired Shadowstrike for an exorbitant fee, relentlessly sending him to hunt Ethan down. At first, they were evenly matched. But as time went on, Ethan''s equipment lagged behind due to his Wishbound Relic being stolen, engineered by none other than his supposed friend, Zachary. Without top-tier gear to match his level, Ethan started losing battles. Shadowstrike eventually cornered him at a resurrection point, repeatedly killing him and causing his low-level +30 gear to drop piece by piece. Stripped of his power, Ethan was reduced to Level 1 and forced back to the Novice Village, humiliated. That grudge from his past life? This time, Ethan intended to settle it. As memories flooded his mind, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. His instincts screamed. "Damn!" he cursed inwardly. Shadowstrike materialized behind him, striking with precision. Cheap Shot. Ethan''s panther form shook, the blow knocking him out of stealth. [Cheap Shot: A stealth skill that paralyzes a non-combat target for 1 minute. Any damage will awaken the target. Usable only on one target at a time.] Ethan couldn''t help but laugh bitterly. When he had jumped onto the cement wall earlier, he had kicked up a faint puff of dust. That tiny clue had been enough for Shadowstrike to track him. "I see¡­" Ethan muttered. "Even in the early game, you''re still terrifyingly sharp." Locked in paralysis, Ethan could do nothing but wait as the seconds ticked down. He braced himself for Shadowstrike''s follow-up skill. Ambush would stun him for another 15 seconds, but Ethan wasn''t worried. Shadowstrike was only Level 2 and had no hig grade skills. With Ethan''s 160 HP and 20 Defense, there was no way he could be killed in one strike. Fifteen seconds of stun? Ethan could live with that. Once it wore off, he''d end this. Seconds crawled by, and yet¡­ nothing. No follow-up. Shadowstrike didn''t attack. "Wait¡­ did he leave?" Ethan thought, his mind racing. "For the love of¡ªhit me already! One hit breaks the paralysis!" Ethan had done this himself countless times as a Rogue in his past life. Walk by, hit someone with Cheap Shot, and then leave them paralyzed. Unless they had a skill to break control, the poor victim was stuck for the full duration. Cheap Shot was one of the most obnoxious Rogue skills. It could only be used in stealth and couldn''t target players already in combat. Once hit, a victim either had to wait it out or rely on rare countermeasures to break free. However, most players wouldn''t waste those valuable skills on such an inconvenience. Ethan grimaced as the seconds stretched on. Rogues could stack paralysis with a "three-strike stun combo": Cheap Shot, followed by Ambush, and ending with a second Cheap Shot. The fourth attempt would fail due to immunity, but the first three strikes alone could immobilize someone for up to 1 minute and 45 seconds. It was maddening. Now, paralyzed in place, Ethan had a new realization on just how annoying Rogues could be. "Rogues," he thought bitterly, "are such bastards." --- Three seconds remained. Ethan silently counted down, preparing to launch into stealth the moment the effect ended. 3¡­ 2¡­ Ding! [You have been hit by Shadowstrike''s Cheap Shot. Paralyzed for 30 seconds (reduced from 1 minute due to diminished effects).] "What the¡ª?!" Ethan growled, rage bubbling up. He readied himself for combat, muscles tensing for retaliation. This wasn''t the Shadowstrike he remembered. The legendary God of Assassins who never hesitated, who killed decisively and without remorse, was playing a disturbingly petty game. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan couldn''t believe it. The Shadowstrike he had known was famous for a legendary assassination. This was an event that had cemented his reputation across the game. --- The incident took place at a certain point in his previous life. At that time, the reigning guild leader of the Blade Syndicate, Marcus Skeiner, was celebrating a recent victory. Known as the Warrior King, Marcus was a shield wielding tank with defenses so high that Rogues wouldn''t dare approach him. Marcus had been grinding monsters with his new girlfriend, flanked by 300 guild members guarding their farming grounds. Whether he was genuinely leveling up or just showing off was anyone''s guess. Shadowstrike had slipped past every layer of security, bypassing three rings of guild members. When he reached Marcus, his ambush was swift and brutal, a flawless chain of stuns and critical hits. Starting with Ambush, then following up with Kidney Strike, Sap, and Shadow Meld, Shadowstrike unleashed a perfect flurry of crowd control and burst damage. It was rumoured that Marcus was not even able to react. He was slowly whittled down over 50 excruciating seconds. Even his top-tier shield couldn''t save him. That assassination became the stuff of legends. Shadowstrike earned the title of "God of Assassins," and his reputation only grew as he systematically eliminated other high-profile players. But here, in this timeline? The man Ethan faced was still inexperienced. Shadowstrike hadn''t yet become the infamous killer of Ethan''s past life. A smirk tugged at Ethan''s lips. "You''re still a rookie," he muttered. "This time, I''m putting an end to your reign before it even starts." Chapter 7 - 7: Justice Served The second Cheap Shot''s stun duration was winding down. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Ethan, who had been bracing for his opponent''s next move, was caught completely off guard. Just as the stun was about to wear off, Bam¡ª A third strike connected squarely to his head. This one was Ambush, and lasted 15 seconds. Gone was the smug satisfaction Ethan had once felt when he''d toyed with others like this in his previous life. Back then, he''d relished the thrill, the sneaky delight of outplaying his prey. Now? He was seething. Furious. ''Damn it, old man! Why didn''t you let me pick the Rogue class?'' Right now, he''d gladly take anything else over this humiliation, being controlled for nearly two full minutes without a chance to fight back was torture. ''So this is what it feels like, he thought bitterly. Karma''s a cruel Bitch!'' The third stun finally wore off. The moment he regained control, Ethan activated Stealth and jumped down from the wall he had been perched on. Sure enough, his guess was right. Shadowstrike was just toying with him. Low-level Rogues without advanced abilities rarely risked a head-on confrontation, they''d get obliterated without even a chance to escape. Ethan gritted his teeth. ''Shadowstrike, just you wait.'' He crouched in the shadows, scanning the area with his sharp eyes. His mind raced. He needed an anti control skill or an item to counter stealth, anything to level the playing field. Replaying the earlier encounter, Ethan recalled Shadowstrike''s initial move. It was clear now. Thiis wasn''t just toying. Shadowstrike had been baiting him, trying to make him drop his guard. Fighting against stealth classes without proper countermeasures was a nightmare. You could never tell if they had left or were still circling you, waiting to strike. When two stealth classes crossed paths, it became a game of patience. The first one to reveal themselves, whether attacking or farming mobs, would almost always end up dead. Ten minutes passed. Ethan moved cautiously, his form blending seamlessly with the terrain. This was a trick he''d mastered in his previous life, a chameleon-like movement technique that drastically reduced the chances of being discovered while in stealth. ''No way a rookie, even with his level of talent , could outmatch four years of experience,'' Ethan thought. A plan began to form in his mind. His gaze locked onto a single blade of grass swaying gently in the breeze. With a determined glint in his eye, Ethan extended a claw and brushed it lightly. Then he retreated silently, crouching low. Just as he settled into position, he felt it, a faint ripple in the air beside him. Gotcha. Ethan sprang forward, claws lashing out in a swift Shred. --- Ding... [You have been attacked by player ''Shadowstrike.''] Ding... [You have slain player ''Shadowstrike.'' This has been evaluated as a counterattack and will not increase your Sin Value.] --- Through his fading dizziness, Ethan caught a glimpse of Shadowstrike''s stunned expression before he crumpled to the ground and vanished into a lifeless heap. "What a monster¡­" Ethan murmured, both impressed and rattled. Shadowstrike''s precision was terrifying. Ethan had only managed to preemptively attack because he''d guessed Shadowstrike''s position based on the subtle movements near the grass. But as soon as Ethan moved, Shadowstrike had reacted with lightning speed, countering with Ambush. The result? Ethan landed his Shred a fraction of a second before Shadowstrike''s Ambush took effect. The timing difference was little, barely 0.1 seconds. But to Ethan, it was clear. He would have lost this exchange. Sure, Shadowstrike was dead, but in terms of technique and reaction speed, the guy had bested him. In his past life, Ethan knew he wouldn''t have been able to retaliate like that in such a short time. Shadowstrike''s mastery was leagues ahead of anything he''d faced before. As Ethan watched the corpse dissolve into a flash of white light. He knew exactly where Shadowstrike would chose to respawn. In Ethereal, players could either revive at a designated spawn point or opt to "corpse-run" back to their body. --- Revive Mechanics: 1. Spawn Point Revival: Corpse disappears as white light. Penalties: Weakness debuff (1 hour) and -1 level. 2. Corpse Revival: Corpse becomes a skeleton. Penalties: Start with 50% HP and lose 20% of current XP. --- Corpse revival had lighter penalties, but few players wanted to risk playing the game in that form. Ethan bent down, picking up a glowing item near Shadowstrike''s former position. A ring. A grin tugged at the corners of his lips. Since the system had flagged Shadowstrike as the aggressor, his name had turned gray. Gray-name players dropped one guaranteed piece of gear upon death. This ring could be valuable. Just as he thought his expression widened "Could it be...?" He quickly examined its stats: --- [Ring of True Sight] Grade: Common [Upgradeable] Attack: 2¨C5 Attribute 1: Increases the chance of detecting stealth. Attribute 2 (Locked): Activates the True Sight skill, revealing invisible entities within a 10-foot radius for 10 seconds. (Unlocks at Bronze tier.) --- Ethan''s jaw nearly dropped. This was the ring. The one Shadowstrike had used to make a name for himself in Ethan''s previous life. Rumor had it, Shadowstrike upgraded it all the way to Dark Gold tier, where its detection range expanded to 100 feet, and its duration stretched to five full minutes. Ethan had fallen victim to this ring countless times. Nicknamed the Rogue''s Bane, its reputation was well-deserved. Now, holding it in his hands, Ethan couldn''t help but grin. ''Talk about justice. Looks like the tables have turned. This time, I''m hunting you.'' The frustration from being humiliated earlier was all but forgotten. Although the ring was only Common grade, accessories were incredibly rare drops in Ethereal. Anything in this category, no matter its stats, was considered special. ''What dumb luck did Shadowstrike have to stumble across this?'' Ethan wondered. Slipping the Ring of True Sight onto his finger, Ethan made his way toward the quest zone. --- Two hours later, Ethan completed all four of the area''s quests. It hadn''t been easy. One of the kill quests demanded an absurd number of monsters to be slain, something most players tackled in groups. Ethan, however, had gone at it solo. Even with his high attack power, it was slow, methodical work, picking off enemies one by one. When he finally resurfaced from the underground hunting zone, the area above was bustling with players grinding for experience. Most were around Level 2 by now. Ethan, on the other hand, was already Level 4 with 54% experience toward his next level. Looking at the completed quests in his log, he knew turning them in would push him to Level 5. Transforming into his panther form, Ethan sprinted back toward the surface, moving like a blur. His speed and agility immediately drew the attention of the surrounding players. "Wait¡­ what''s a druid doing here?" one whispered. "I thought druids weren''t supposed to show up until after the Starter Zone?" another added. Ethan ignored the murmurs. Ideally, he''d stay in stealth to avoid attention, but stealth reduced movement speed by 50%. Even with his panther form''s 30% speed boost, it wasn''t worth the tradeoff. --- As soon as Ethan reached the surface, a sharp scream cut through the air. Looking up, he spotted the source: a newly spawned Level 5 Corrupted Rat Commander. It must''ve been triggered by the area''s monster kill count reaching its threshold. This was a system that spawned minor bosses in certain regions. A girl in beginner gear lay pinned beneath the rat''s massive claws. Her health bar was plummeting, and after one more bite, it was down to a sliver, barely 10%. "Help me!" she cried, struggling to break free. Her strength was too low, her level also too low to escape the boss''s grasp. "Don''t worry, I''ll save you!" The shout came from a young man wielding a sword and shield. He charged forward with reckless abandon, clearly intending to play the hero. "Eat this, you filthy rat!" he yelled, activating his taunt ability. Ethan winced at the cringe worthy battle cry. This guy clearly had to be some sort of simp who only watched anime all day. Wether things didn''t go as planned or this guy was just too stupid, Ethan couldn''t tell. The rat commander turned, releasing the girl and charged at the aspiring hero with terrifying speed. Its fangs sank into his neck with a sickening crunch. --- -30, -4, -4, -4¡­ --- The rat''s bite triggered a Bleed effect, draining his health rapidly. "Argh!" the would-be savior screamed as his body crumpled to the ground, lifeless. The rat turned its attention back to the injured girl, who was desperately trying to crawl away. --- Around them, other players began to panic. "It''s a Level 5 commander!" someone shouted, after using their basic appraisal skill. "If a tank like that guy got one-shotted, what chance do we have?" Despite their murmured concerns, no one stepped forward to help. Sure, the girl was attractive, but she was still a stranger. Why risk their hard-earned experience for someone they didn''t even know? At Level 2, death meant losing 20% of their XP, which was essentially an hour of grinding wasted. None of them were willing to make that sacrifice. As the rat commander lunged at the girl, its sharp claws ready to strike, a shadow streaked across the battlefield. Ethan, still in his panther form, leaped into the fray with lightning speed. Chapter 8 - 8: First-Kill Rewards The young girl stared at the charging figure of the black panther, Her hands trembled with fear, and the beginner healing potion she''d been clutching fell to the ground. Hugging her knees, she crouched down and began sobbing uncontrollably. Ethan, seeing this scene, couldn''t believe his eyes. She''d actually been scared into tears just from seeing his panther form. She obviously knew that this was just a virtual reality game, if she was this scared then why venture into the games in the first place? His panther form leapt gracefully over her, landing squarely between her and the hulking Corrupted Rat Commander. For a second, the onlookers froze in stunned silence. Then, a wave of murmurs broke out as they noticed the name tag hovering above the panther. They instantly realised he was no ordinary beast but a druid. "Why is there a druid here? Did someone cross over from another zone?" "No clue. Didn''t think druids were even a thing in the Starter Zone!" "Wait, I''ve seen guy before. Isn''t he the person who made it to Evercrest Town first?" "Pfft, what''s he trying to do? Play the hero?" Dozens of players turned their attention to Ethan, fully expecting him to be obliterated in a matter of seconds. But when they looked back, the black panther was gone. "Wait¡­ where''d he go?" someone muttered. Their question was answered a heartbeat later. A massive red critical damage number floated above the Corrupted Rat Commander''s head. -234 Over a fifth of its health bar vanished in an instant. "Holy crap! Did anyone else see that?!" "That wasn''t a bug, was it? His normal damage has to be over 150 for that crit to hit so hard!" "Are we seriously watching this?" Amid their shock, Ethan reappeared behind the rat commander, his claws flashing. He stayed glued to its blind spot, moving effortlessly in response to its attempts to turn. The rat was massive, about the size of a bison, while Ethan''s sleek panther form was much smaller in comparison, as he darted around like a shadow. To the onlookers, it was a bizarre, almost comical scene. It reminded them of a certain cat and mouse cartoon they had all watched while growing up. With precise timing, Ethan unleashed a flurry of attacks: Shred, Swipe, Shred. -164, -43, -159, -47, -46 The damage piled up, chipping away at the boss''s 2,000 HP pool. Thankfully, the rat''s defenses were low, typical for monsters in the Starter Zone. But Ethan knew better than to test its offensive power. One wrong move could end the fight instantly. Instead, he relied on his superior speed, weaving through the chaos like a predator toying with its prey. The crowd''s initial shock turned to awe. They couldn''t take their eyes off the spectacle. Finally, with one last lunge, Ethan''s claws raked across the rat''s chest. The giant beast let out a deafening screech before collapsing to the ground. Ding¡­ [Congratulations! You have achieved the world''s first kill of a Level 5 Boss: Corrupted Rat Commander.] [System Announcement: Your achievement will be broadcast globally. Do you wish to hide your character name?] "Hide it," Ethan muttered, barely pausing to catch his breath. The next second, he snatched up the glowing treasure chest the boss had dropped. Activating Stealth, he melted into the shadows and disappeared without a trace. Moments later, the announcement rang out across the entire server: [Global Announcement: Anonymous Player from Zone 1314 has achieved the first kill of a Commander-tier Boss: Corrupted Rat Commander. Rewards will be sent via in-game mail.] As the players in the area stared at the boss''s lifeless body, more notifications rolled in for regional and Zone-first achievements. Each announcement came with a corresponding in-game mail, now neatly stacked in Ethan''s inbox. Ethan could hardly contain his excitement. First-kill rewards were known to be quite generous, typically including skill books and coins. He quickly opened his mailbox and started with the Starter Zone First Kill reward: 10 silver coins. In Ethereal, gold was a scarce and valuable commodity. Most monsters dropped a single copper coin only occasionally, and everything in the game from gear to repairs, crafting, upgrades, required gold. Having 10 silver coins during the early game was a small fortune. Ethan had rarely seen more than a few silver coins drop even when fighting high-level monsters in his previous life at level 120. But when he opened the next reward, the silver coins seemed like pocket change. Regional First Kill Reward: 1 gold coin. National First Kill Reward: 10 gold coins. Global First Kill Reward: 100 gold coins and skill book Savage Bite. Ethan stared at his inventory, his heart racing. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I''m rich¡­ fucking rich!" he exclaimed, nearly hopping in place with excitement. "Forget feeding, I can literally live like a King!" Memories of the first days of Ethereal''s launch flooded back. In the Eastern Frontier Region, Starter Zone 1 had become infamous when a wealthy player began buying up gold coins. At one point, the price of a single silver coin had skyrocketed to 1,000 credits. Ethan glanced at the total in his inventory: 111 gold coins and 13 silver coins. The urge to cross the border into the East Region''s Starter Zone 1 burned in his chest. But reality quickly doused his ambition. The borders between Starter Zones were guarded by Level 30 elite monsters. Not even his current panther form could help him overcome such a massive gap in strength. Stealth wouldn''t help either; the level disparity was too great, and monsters of that level would spot him immediately if he got too close. Earning real-world currency from the game was tempting, but it wasn''t officially enabled until six months after launch. Until then, players had to trade through third-party brokers, rely on player-to-player trust, or meet in person to exchange money. In his previous life, Ethan had worked with a reliable middleman in Starter Zone 1314. They''d done several transactions, and the guy''s reputation was solid. Opening his friends list, Ethan typed in a username: "Trusty007" A while later, a system notification popped up: [Friend Request Accepted. Communication now Available.] Ethan immediately opened the chat and sent a message: "Hey, you buying gold? Got some available. Name your price." After a brief pause, the reply came back: "Whoa, is that you, Anonymous?" Ethan blinked, confused. "You know me?" "Of course, I do! Even though you hid your name on the announcements, everyone in Starter Zone 1314 knows who you are. A solo kill on a Level 5 Boss? Unbelievable!" Ethan frowned as he read the message. He hadn''t considered the dozens of players who had witnessed his fight against the Corrupted Rat Commander. Even with the anonymity provided by the global announcement, his identity was obvious to anyone in the area. Instead of feeling proud, a sense of unease crept over him. In his last life, his fame had been a double-edged sword, drawing the attention of Zachary and his schemes. This time, he would have to tread more carefully. Before Ethan could respond, another message popped up: "Current rate is 60 per copper coin. How much are you selling? If you''ve got a lot, I can bump up the price for you." Ethan''s eyes lit up. Day-one rates were always high. He knew that within two weeks, prices would stabilize to around 30 per copper coin, at least in most zones. East Region Starter Village 1 was an exception due to its wealthy buyers. "100 gold coins. Can you handle it?" Ethan typed, debating whether to hold onto some of his earnings but ultimately deciding against it. The funds would be better spent on a VR pod, which he''d desperately need later in the game. There was a long pause. Ethan shrugged, unconcerned. If this broker couldn''t buy the full amount, he could always sell the gold directly to other players for an even better rate. While waiting for a reply, he began making his way toward Evercrest Town, the first settlement outside the Starter Zone. As he walked, a thought struck him. He still hadn''t checked the skill book from his Global First Kill Reward. Opening his inventory, Ethan navigated to the rewards tab and selected the glowing icon of the skill book. A grin spread across his face as he inspected the details. ___ Author: Support me by adding to your library, commenting and voting. More chapters incoming~ Chapter 9 - 9: Trade Completion. Ethan happily scanned the skill information, but it only took a moment for his expression to suddenly change, a sense of dread settled in his gut. [Skill Book: Savage Bite] Class Restriction: Druid Level Requirement: 5 Description: A finishing move that consumes stored energy in stars to deal massive damage. At 1 star: 100%-200% physical damage. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For every additional star: +10%-50% damage increase. (Damage scales with mastery and proficiency.) Activation: Requires biting motion to trigger. When Ethan saw the activation method, he almost hurled the book away in frustration. This was exactly what he feared. In Ethereal, aside from the basic skills given at the start, every other skill required specific gestures or motions to activate. Mastering the precision of these actions was the only way to unlock a skill''s full potential. But using his mouth? Seriously? He pictured the hideous, pus-covered zombies that roamed the world of Ethereal, each exuding a putrid stench. The thought of biting one of those abominations almost made him throw up. Once again, he cursed that shitty old man who was most definitely responsible for handing him this skill book. Still, as a Druid, this was the only direct damage-dealing finishing move available to him. With no better option, he gritted his teeth and reluctantly learned the skill. "Whether I actually use it¡­ that''s a problem for future me," Ethan muttered. A sharp chime interrupted his thoughts. Ding¡­ [Your friend ''Trusty007'' is requesting a video call. Accept?] "Accept." A familiar face popped up on the floating holographic screen, bald, chubby, and wearing a grin that could only be described as shady. "The legend himself! Did you really mean 100 gold? Not 100 copper?" Trusty007 blurted as soon as the call connected, disbelief written all over his face. Ethan smiled. He wasn''t surprised by the reaction. On the first day of the game, 100 gold coins was an outrageous amount of money. He had initially planned to keep most of his gold, but the necessity of buying a VR pod for his real-world safety left him no choice. Selling all his coins was the only way to afford the high-end equipment he needed. "100 copper? Sure, why not just round it up to one silver?," Ethan replied sarcastically. Trusty''s eyes lit up. "If it''s not too much trouble, could you meet me in Evercrest Town to finalize the deal? I just want to confirm it in person." Ethan shrugged. He was heading back to town anyway. They quickly agreed on a meeting spot and ended the call. Upon arriving in Evercrest, Ethan immediately hid his character name and shifted into human form before heading to the Task Hall. He turned in four completed quests, boosting his experience bar to 41% of Level 5. Then, without hesitation, he abandoned the remaining 16 tasks in his log. He''d had enough for now.. It was time to focus on completing his Owl Form transformation quest, which was crucial to executing his next plan, which was to use terrain advantage to power-level. The town''s main street was bustling with activity. Players crowded every corner, hawking wares and shouting over each other to advertise their goods. Ethan scanned the stalls and sighed. Most of the items were low-level trash; common gear and basic potions that were almost practically useless. However, a few vendors were selling reinforcement stones, and Ethan quickly bought up their entire stock. Nineteen stones for three silver coins. At this early stage of the game, it was a massive investment, but he didn''t hesitate. As he moved toward the quieter end of the street, A familiar voice caught Ethan''s attention. "Extra loots for sale! Come take a look, all at affordable prices." He turned toward the source and saw a warrior class player squatting by the roadside, lazily scanning passerbys. But even in that brief period, he couldn''t help noticing that whenever a woman walked by, the gaze of this person lingered a bit longer than usual. Ethan''s heart clenched. The name Skyblade flashed in his mind¡ªa name etched deeply into his memories. In his previous life, Skyblade had been one of his closest allies in Ethereal. After Ethan had been killed and forced back to the Starter Zone, Skyblade and the rest of their group had stayed with him for over three months, grinding together in a remote valley to help him recover. When Zachary''s guild started targeting Ethan relentlessly, most of his friends had given up fighting and transitioned into crafting professions to stay safe in the cities. Skyblade, however, had stuck by him to the bitter end. He had even risked his life to help Ethan escape from the city when Zachary''s men came after him in the real world. If not for Skyblade, Ethan¡ªa legless cripple at the time, wouldn''t have survived. Ethan''s chest tightened as he considered walking over to greet him. But he stopped himself. His path to revenge would inevitably lead to a showdown with Zachary, and anyone close to him would be caught in the crossfire. Skyblade didn''t deserve that. Better to leave things as they were. Let fate decide. "May this life be kinder to you, my friend." Ethan pushed down the wave of emotion and continued through the bustling streets, eventually arriving at a dimly lit tavern. The interior was shabby and poorly maintained. A frail old man sat behind the counter near the entrance, leafing through a yellowed book. The hall was filled with mismatched tables and chairs, while a narrow hallway at the back led to several private booths. This tavern was a system-designated "safe zone." Players could rent the private booths with coins, and once inside, no one could eavesdrop on their conversations. Few players came here unless they had sensitive matters to discuss. Most preferred to spend their time on quests or trading, not loitering in a rundown bar. Ethan made his way to the booth he''d arranged to meet Trusty007. Before he could knock, the door opened, revealing the grinning face of the bald, portly man. "Ah, Legend! Great to see you! Come on in!" Trusty beamed, ushering Ethan inside. Ethan wasted no time, sending a trade request as soon as he sat down. He typed 100 into the gold amount field and waited for the transaction to process. When it closed, he asked, "So? Can you handle it?" Trusty was silent for a moment, his face scrunched in thought. "Could we maybe do half payment up front? Or even meet in person to finalize the deal?" Ethan shook his head. "No. Full payment first. We can do smaller, repeated trades if you''re worried, but no meetups." Meeting in person was out of the question. It was a waste of time and, more importantly, a security risk. He had learned that lesson the hard way in his previous life. Trusty hesitated but eventually relented. "Alright, send me your account info." Ethan forwarded his account details, trying to keep calm. The transaction would net him $180,000 , a massive sum by anyone''s standards. Ding¡­ [Incoming transaction: $180,000 received.] The notification mirrored his connected bank, which made Ethan''s eyes widen slightly. He turned to Trusty, who was smiling smugly. "Aren''t you afraid I''ll just take the money and run?" Ethan asked, half-joking. Trusty chuckled. "Legend, I know you''re not just some random player. Taking down a boss solo on the first day and earning this much gold? You''re someone I want to work with long-term. Consider this an investment in trust." He paused, then added with a sly grin, "Of course, this booth has a built-in recording system. If you run, I''ll make sure the footage gets out. Your reputation would be ruined, but if that doesn''t bother you, I guess it''s no big deal." Ethan smirked, initiating the trade to transfer the 100 gold coins to Trusty. "Since you trust me so much, let me return the favor with a bit of advice: Don''t hoard those coins. Sell them now while the price is high. Believe me or don''t, it''s up to you." With that, he stood and left the booth without looking back. Trusty sat there, momentarily stunned. He had planned to stockpile the gold and sell it later when the market spiked. But Ethan''s words sparked a sense of unease. After a moment of deliberation, Trusty pulled out a communication device and began dialing several contacts. Ethan, meanwhile, was practically giddy as he walked out of the tavern, humming a cheerful tune. A glance at the in-game clock showed it was already 6:00 a.m. In two hours, the servers would go offline for maintenance. Chapter 10 - 10: The Night Owl’s Request The developers of Ethereal had a unique vision: to seamlessly integrate the game into players'' daily lives without disrupting their work or sleep schedules. As a result, the game''s servers operated only from 6:00 PM to 8:00 AM. This clever time restriction ensured that no one had an unfair advantage by playing 24/7. Players started their in-game day simultaneously, creating a more balanced playing field. It also prevented professional farming studios from dominating the game economy, preserving the integrity of Ethereal''s economic balance. Eventually, Ethereal transcended being just a game. The developers connected its in-game currency directly to real-world economies, making it an integral part of everyday life. From young children to elderly individuals, everyone could immerse themselves in the virtual world Ethereal provided. It became a global phenomenon. Within just a few years, the virtual economy''s total spending exceeded the combined global expenditure in the real world by five times. The rise of this "super consumer base" gave birth to countless new service industries inside Ethereal. For many, it became a perfect blend of work and leisure. Players could relax, hang out with friends, and relieve stress, all within the game. This system also allowed people with challenging financial situations to make money after their day jobs, becoming professional players and earning supplemental income. For Ethan, the $180,000 he had just earned, It was the critical first step to solving his immediate survival concerns, ensuring food, safety, and stability in his new life. With two hours left before the servers went offline, Ethan decided to tackle a key mission to unlock his Owl Form. He made his way to an engineering shop in the city, spending 50 silver coins on a glider. He remembered overhearing a druid mention this as a vital tool for completing the mission, something that would significantly reduce its difficulty. Of course, no one would have dared to buy such an expensive item during the game''s early days. Spending 50 silver coins was considered outrageous. "Spirits of nature, drifting through the void, heed my call. Let me transcend the boundaries of space. Guide me to the cradle of life, Teleport: Forest of Nature." Finding an isolated corner, Ethan chanted the spell. [Teleport: Forest of Nature] was an innate skill granted to all druids upon character creation. It served as both a safe haven and a hub for druid-exclusive missions. The spell transported players to the Forest of Nature, and when cast inside the forest, it would return them to the spot they''d originally teleported from. The casting time was ten seconds, easily disrupted by external interference. Unlike the war-torn lands outside, the Forest of Nature was untouched, a serene sanctuary brimming with life. A powerful magic barrier, said to have been cast by the Lunar Goddess during the Ethereal Cataclysm, protected it. Only druids could enter the forest by using the teleportation spell. Ethan''s first glimpse of the forest left him awestruck. The lake at the center was vast, its surface shimmering like a sky full of stars reflected in the moonlight. Fittingly, it was called Lunar Lake, a name steeped in legend. Behind him, the architecture of the druids'' buildings blended harmoniously with the natural surroundings, exuding a quiet yet untamed energy. Ding¡­ [System Notification: You have discovered the Forest of Nature.] The system''s chime pulled Ethan out of his reverie. The beauty of this place was almost surreal, but there was no time to lose. He steadied himself, scanning his surroundings. His eyes locked onto a distant campfire, where there was a large, lumbering figure. In front of Ethan stood an NPC with a bizarre appearance, a creature with a large body covered in feathers, the head of an owl, and a single antler sprouting from its skull. It swayed side to side, its plump body jiggling as it danced. Above its head floated a dark gold exclamation mark, signaling a quest. Ethan froze, staring at the NPC''s comically chubby and endearing figure. "So¡­ this is what my future form is supposed to look like?" he thought, suppressing a groan. Cute? Sure. But with that much weight? It would agility even be possible? With a sigh, he approached the dancing NPC. As he got closer, Ethan''s feet paused with shock. The creature wasn''t just dancing, it was singing. Infact the tone made it sound more like a rap. "Curse those thieves, those Crowlings, who stole my feathers away, now even in dreams, the cold wind makes me sway. Brave adventurer from beyond this land, will you lend me a helping hand?" Ethan blinked, staring at the NPC, his thoughts barely holding together. A plump looking hybrid-like owl was rapping? This game''s developers had some wild imaginations. "Uh¡­ sure, I''ll help!" he said reluctantly. Ding¡­ [Quest Accepted: The Night Owl''s Request] [Quest: The Night Owl''s Request] Objective: Retrieve the Night Owl''s tail feather (0/1). Location: Crowling Nest, atop the southern mountain in the Forest of Nature. Description: The Night Owl once ventured beyond the sanctuary of the Forest of Nature, curious about the outside world. While listening to the whispers of countless souls, he noticed that some voices were impossible to understand. After many attempts to connect with these mysterious voices, he realized they belonged to the Crowlings. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "...." At loss for words, Ethan began his trek southward. He skirted the edge of Lunar Lake and crossed a forest before reaching the barrier that marked the forest''s boundary. Through the shimmering barrier, he saw towering mountains rising in the distance. Passing through the magic shield, he noticed another barrier ahead. He knew that beyond it lay the Crowling Nest. Ding¡­ [System Notification: You have entered the Trial Grounds: Crowling God Anzu''s Nest. All equipment enhancements are disabled.] [Note: Monsters in the Trial Grounds adjust their stats to match the player''s level, with a maximum level of 6.] This was exactly why Ethan hadn''t bothered to enhance his gear yet. He''d heard about this quest in his previous life, inside the Crowling Nest, all enhancements became useless. The scenery shifted drastically. Unlike the vibrant Forest of Nature, the land here was steeped in darkness. The sky, ground, trees, and grass, all were shaded in varying hues of deep purple. The monotony strained Ethan''s eyes. Pressing forward, he soon spotted a lone Crowling Warrior patrolling the area. The Crowlings, true to their name, resembled humanoid crows. They walked upright, their skeletal limbs resembling the talons of chickens. Ethan cast Basic Appraisal to gather information: --- [Crowling Warrior] Level Range: 1-6 Attack: 5-30 Health: 60-360 Defense: 5-30 Skill: Frenzy (Increases attack speed by 200% upon activation). Description: The bloodthirsty and frenzied followers of the Crow God, they attack anything in their sight, sparing only their own kind. --- Keeping his movements quiet, Ethan crept closer to the Crowling Warrior, transforming into his panther form. When he was within striking range, he leapt into the air, aiming for the creature''s head. In Ethereal, headshots increase The chances of critical hits, dealing bonus damage. Ethan''s attack landed cleanly, slashing across the Crowling''s face. -82! It wasn''t a critical hit, but the damage still knocked off nearly a third of the creature''s health. The Crowling let out a sharp screech, its claws glowing red as it activated Frenzy. Its movements became erratic and fast as it lunged at Ethan. Ethan sidestepped just in time, narrowly avoiding the frenzied attack. ___ Author: Support me by adding to your library, commenting and voting. More chapters incoming~ Chapter 11 - 11: Heavens Dawn The Crowling Warrior activated its Frenzy ability, and its dual blades whirred through the air as it relentlessly chased Ethan. Ethan leapt into the air, twisting mid-flight as he clawed and raked at the creature. -82! -35! He landed with a sharp spin, whipping his tail across the warrior''s face. -123! (Critical Hit!) The Crowling Warrior howled in agony before collapsing in a heap. Ethan bent down to pick up a bronze coin before slipping into stealth and stalking his next target. In his past life, Ethan had heard that the quest item required for the Owl Form had a 1 in 500 drop rate. He''d have to eliminate countless Crowlings before completing this task. Luck might see him through the next kill, or it could take all night, especially with today''s game session about to end. At least the Crowlings provided decent experience points. This one had just given him 120 XP, likely thanks to the system''s scaling mechanics. With no competition for mobs here, farming experience was unexpectedly peaceful. After taking down several Crowlings, the quest item still refused to drop. Ethan continued deeper into the Crowling Nest, determined to see it through. Just as he closed in on his next target, chaos erupted deeper in the nest. Ethan turned toward the noise, spotting a sleek, pink panther bolting in his direction. Hot on its heels was a Crowling Warrior, while two Crowling Spellcasters trailed slightly farther behind, flinging instant-cast spells at the fleeing panther. ''A Druid? And¡­ a female?'' The sight caught Ethan off guard. The panther darted past him, unintentionally dragging his target along with it. Though the Druid''s control was decent, she appeared panicked. While the melee warrior couldn''t catch her, the spellcasters were relentless with their bombardments. If she hadn''t pulled Ethan''s target, she might''ve whittled down the pursuing warrior already. But with two Frenzied Crowling Warriors now chasing her, she was losing ground fast. Her health bar dropped to a third, and Ethan made a snap decision. Druids had to stick together, after all. Slipping behind one of the spellcasters, he unleashed two ferocious slashes. -95! -135! (Critical Hit!) The Crowling Spellcaster barely clung to life, proving how much softer it was compared to the warriors. Ethan finished it off with a well-placed swipe. The creature fell to the ground without dropping so much as a feather. Meanwhile, the pink panther hesitated for a moment upon noticing Ethan. That slight pause nearly cost her as the warriors closed in, slicing her health bar dangerously low. She quickly turned and resumed running. But this time, she wasn''t heading for the nest''s exit. Instead, she began circling around Ethan. Ethan nodded approvingly. This time, he hadn''t saved the wrong person. If she had kept running for the exit, the monsters would''ve reset and headed back to their original positions, with Ethan becoming their next target. But by keeping the warriors engaged on her wjile she circled him, she ensured Ethan could deal with the mobs one by one without attracting their aggro. Smart. She wasn''t selfish. If she''d been the type to prioritize her own survival over everything else, she''d have led the mobs out, reset them, and left Ethan to fend for himself. Instead, she was trying to ensure they could both come out of this alive. Ethan assessed the situation. The spellcasters were still the bigger threat, especially with their relentless spells. Darting toward the second spellcaster, Ethan lunged, his jaws closing on its neck in a bite. He''d built up five energy stars from his previous kills, perfect for testing the power of Savage Bite. At least these mobs weren''t as revolting as the pus-covered Corrupted Zombies outside the nest. Ding! S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Savage Bite¡ªAverage Completion! +2 Proficiency!] -89! "...." Ethan cursed under his breath. The damage wasn''t much better than his Shred skill, but considering it was his first attempt with Savage Bite, and only an average completion, it wasn''t too bad. Skill completions were ranked: Poor, Average, Good, Perfect, and Extreme. Extreme completions could del up to double the skill''s maximum damage. In the later stages of the game, professional players chased after Extreme completions. Hitting an Extreme 20% of the time was enough to earn a spot among the legends. Unlike beginner skills, learned and unlocked abilities came with levels, maxing out at Level 20. Each level significantly boosted a skill''s base damage, but the experience required to level them up was astronomical. In his previous life, Ethan''s Level 120 Rogue had only managed to bring his highest skill to Level 6. Dispatching the Crowling Spellcaster with two quick Shreds, Ethan bent down to collect a bronze coin. He turned just in time to meet the charging pink panther. As they passed each other, Ethan''s energy had just regenerated to 40 points. A perfectly timed Shred struck the critically injured Crowling Warrior, finishing it off instantly. Under the stunned gaze of the panther, Ethan followed up with a claw attack. -69! (Critical Hit!) The other Crowling Warrior roared in anger and redirected its aggression toward Ethan. "Why are you staring? Help out!" Ethan barked at the panther. He was out of energy and had taken a quarter of his health in damage while fighting off the mobs. While he wasn''t afraid of the Frenzied warrior, he wasn''t going to do all the heavy lifting while she just watched. "Oh!" came a soft, almost timid response. The panther circled him hesitantly. Ethan kept the monster busy, letting her get in a few hits. Her attacks, however, were laughably weak compared to his. Shred: -36! Claw: -17! That was her maximum damage? Ethan couldn''t take it anymore. He rushed forward, unleashing another Savage Bite. [Completion: Average.] With a sigh, Ethan followed up with two Shreds, finally bringing the Crowling Warrior down. With a faint clatter, the monster dropped a skill book, a bronze coin, and a reinforcement stone. Ethan blinked in surprise, this was a jackpot by the standards of low level mobs. Under her gaze, he bent down to scoop up the loot. The skill book, Rake, immediately caught his attention. It was exactly what he needed: a strong opener. Outside of stealth, Rake inflicted a bleeding effect. When used in stealth, it added a 5-second stun on top of the bleeding. It easily outclassed the Rogue''s Cheap Shot, which provided only a stun without any damage. The panther remained silent, simply watching him. Ethan felt a twinge of guilt. He activated the item-sharing feature and gestured toward her. "How do you want to split it? Your call," he offered. She hesitated for a moment before transforming into her human form. "I don''t need anything," she said softly. "Thanks for saving me. My name''s Haven''s Dawn." Ethan froze at the name, memories from his past life flooding back. She was the only Druid to ever achieve the title of a legendary player. Not because of raw skill, but because she was the only one stubborn enough to keep playing the class until it became viable. Her fame had come during a nation-wide war, where she had unleashed a skill called Forbidden: Rebirth. Druids were largely overlooked in the late game, with their only redeeming feature being the Tree Form''s ability, Rebirth, the game''s only skill capable of reviving players mid-combat. Haven''s Dawn, through some extraordinary encounter, had unlocked the forbidden version of this skill. During that war, when Dragonspire was on the brink of total collapse, she resurrected every fallen ally within a 3-kilometer radius. The battle had turned from a certain loss to an overwhelming victory. The cost? She lost 20 levels, and the skill had a staggering 180-day cooldown. Now, standing before this future legend, Ethan felt a surge of excitement. But what shocked him even more was her appearance. Apart from her deep brown skin, she was just a young girl¡ª12 or 13 at most. His mind raced. If he could build a good relationship with her now, would she become an invaluable ally in the future? And suddenly, a new thought took root: What if he could recruit all the future legends before they became overpowered? Chapter 12 - 12: Insane Luck "I''m NotADruid," Ethan said absentmindedly, his mind still wandering in thoughts. "Huh?" Haven''s Dawn tilted her head, her wide eyes filled with curiosity. "Oh! Uh, I mean, that''s my username, NotADruid." Ethan stammered, realizing how strange it sounded out loud. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, regretting his choice. ''Probably gives people the wrong idea, huh?'' Haven''s Dawn giggled, her cheeks dimpling. "Then why''d you pick the Druid class?" "Well¡­ it''s a long story." Ethan quickly changed the subject, not eager to disclose the system had assigned it to him without choice. "Anyway, what are you doing out here grinding monsters? What level are you?" He''d been dying to ask since he''d seen her. Surely no one else could already be Level 5 like him. "I''m Level 3! I got curious and used the skill Teleport: Forest of Nature to come here. It was so pretty, I just wandered around and started leveling up," she explained with a proud smile. Ethan let out a small sigh of relief. "Makes sense," he murmured. "What about you? Why are you here?" she asked, her gaze shining with admiration. Ethan''s attacks were so powerful, it was hard to believe he wasn''t already a seasoned player. "I''m doing the Owl Form quest," he replied casually. "But honestly, the monsters here are pretty tough. You should head back to the Starter Zone to level up." He was right. Most players wouldn''t last long in an area like this, let alone manage to hit Level 3. Still, she was a future legend, her talent and grit were already clear. "I was about to head back!" she admitted, looking sheepish. "But my Teleport: Forest of Nature skill doesn''t work here. I need to head back to the barrier before I can use it again." Ethan opened his skill menu to check. Sure enough, the ability was grayed out in this area. Seeing him pause, Haven''s Dawn hesitated before asking timidly, "Plesse¡­ can you help me level up?" Ethan blinked. He wasn''t exactly thrilled about the idea, but the hopeful look on her face made him cave. "Fine," he said, sighing. "But once I finish my quest, I''m leaving." "Deal! I''ll send you a party invite!" she said cheerfully, practically bouncing. Ding! [System Notification: Haven''s Dawn has invited you to join her party.] Ding! [System Notification: Haven''s Dawn has sent you a friend request.] Ethan accepted both. He was curious about her, this future Legend. Plus, teaming up with a Level 3 player would reduce his experience gains, but it also meant the monsters'' levels would scale down, making things easier. As soon as they teamed up, the nearby monsters adjusted to Level 4. While Haven''s Dawn struggled to deal significant damage, Ethan''s attacks more than made up for it. "So, NotADruid, what item do you need for your quest?" Haven''s Dawn asked as she followed him, her steps quick and eager. "I need a Night Owl Feather," Ethan replied offhandedly, still focused on hunting. A few minutes later, after taking down a Crowling Guardian, Haven''s Dawn came running up to him with a large feather in her hands. It was nearly the size of a pig''s ear. "Is this it?" she asked innocently. Ethan took it, raising an eyebrow as the system notification popped up. Ding! [Item Discovered: Night Owl Feather. You may now proceed to the Crowling Nest at the mountaintop to summon the Crowling Chief. Reduce its health to 30% to activate the next stage of your quest.] It was exactly what he needed. Ethan smirked and held the feather up. "Erm, if I take this feather, I''ll finish my quest and leave. You sure you want to hand it over?" Haven''s Dawn froze, her face falling as she fidgeted nervously. It was obvious she hadn''t considered this possibility. But after a moment, she took a deep breath and said, "Alright¡­ let''s head back to the Forest of Nature together, then!" Chuckling, Ethan gently pressed the feather back into her hands. "Relax, I''m just messing with you. Keep it. You''ll need it for your own quest when you hit Level 5." Haven''s Dawn looked down at the feather in her hand, then glanced at Ethan, who had already turned back to continue hunting. Her lips curved into a smile, dimples forming on her cheeks. A second later, her form shimmered as she transformed into a pink panther, pouncing forward to assist him. With the Rake skill now unlocked, combat felt smoother for Ethan. He''d start with Rake, stunning the monsters for 5 seconds. The bleed damage varied depending on the skill''s completion, but in these short battles, it hardly mattered. To his surprise, Haven''s Dawn also had Rake in her arsenal. Ethan couldn''t help feeling a pang of envy. Some people were just born with an insane amount of luck. As the clock approached 7:50 AM, Ethan realized they had been grinding for over an hour, and yet the quest item he needed still hadn''t dropped. He even debated asking Haven''s Dawn for her feather so he could just complete the quest and move on. After taking down two more monsters, Ethan gestured toward a relatively safe spot nearby. "Let''s call it a day. The servers are about to shut down. We can log back in at 6 PM." "Servers are shutting down? Why?" Haven''s Dawn asked, clearly puzzled. "I''ve got insider info," Ethan said with a smirk, trying to to sound convincing. "The game runs from 6 PM to 8 AM daily. Probably to make sure people don''t neglect their jobs or schoolwork." "Oh¡­ that makes sense. I guess I''ll log off, then. I''ve got homework to finish anyway. See you at 6 PM, Big bro!" With a cheerful wave, she vanished, logging off without hesitation. Ethan blinked, slightly taken aback. "You trust me that easily?" he muttered to himself before disconnecting as well. --- Unknown to Ethan, Haven''s Dawn logged back in at 7:59 AM, just before the servers closed. Ding! [System Notification: The server will shut down shortly. Reopening at 6:00 PM. Countdown: 42 seconds.] Smiling, she whispered to herself, "NotADruid isn''t some creepy liar. Seems he''s a good person!" With that, she logged out again." --- Outside the game, Ethan removed his VR headset and stretched, cracking his neck. He grabbed his outdated, beat-up phone and checked his notifications. His eyes sparkled as he read the latest bank message. "Ha ha ha! Oh boy!" Ethan chuckled, counting the zeroes on his balance like a child discovering a treasure. Knock, knock, knock. The knocking pulled him from his glee. Ethan froze. He didn''t need to guess¡ªit was Lyla. After all, only two people knew where he lived. One was Ivy, his ex, and she definitely wouldn''t be visiting. The other was Lyla, his next-door neighbor. The thought of Lyla made him pause. In his past life, Lyla had stuck by him as "Moonbeam," her in-game username. She had been his constant companion, loyal but also full of secrets. But then there were¡­ those moments. Memories from the game flickered in his mind, moments where they had crossed some certain lines beyond friendship. It had been in the game, sure, but they''d happened more than once. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door. Lyla stood there, wearing a cream-colored tracksuit and a high ponytail. Her fresh face was free of makeup, her skin glowing with youthful vibrancy. She was effortlessly beautiful. For a moment, Ethan froze. The image of Lyla overlapped with Moonbeam''s avatar in his mind. Ethereal''s character customization altered appearances a little, but the inherent beauty of both faces shone through. The two images blurred together, and for a brief, dangerous second, Ethan had the urge to pull her into his arms. "Hey, Ethan," she said, dimples appearing as she smiled. "Wanna grab breakfast together?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Uh¡­" Ethan scrambled to collect his thoughts. "Sure¡­ I just need to get ready." "Great! Hurry up¡ªI''m starving!" she chirped, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. She plopped down on his bed, completely unfazed by the cluttered room. "Uh¡­ Lyla, I need to change," Ethan said, gesturing to his basketball tank top and baggy shorts. Pfft, what''s the big deal? We''re just grabbing breakfast downstairs. Go brush your teeth and wash your face. You''ll be fine," she said dismissively, making no move to leave. Instead, she leaned back and grabbed a corner of his crumpled blanket, giving it a playful tug as if to make more room for herself on the messy bed. She tossed it to the side carelessly and sat cross-legged, clearly signaling that she had no intention of going anywhere until he was ready. "...." ___ Author: Twelve chapters in. Please drop a review of what you think of the story so far. Don''t forget to leave some power stones. Chapter 13 - 13: Ive Been Reborn The smell of fried pastries wafted through the air as Ethan bit savagely into a breakfast roll, releasing all his pent-up hunger unto the unsuspecting food. Across from him, Lyla sipped her porridge in small, delicate mouthfuls. Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched Ethan''s intense expression. Occasionally, when their gazes met, she''d stick her tongue out playfully, eliciting a strange mix of awkwardness and warmth from him. Around them, people glanced curiously at the mismatched pair, Ethan''s bedraggled appearance clashing starkly with Lyla''s polished demeanor. Murmurs buzzed, speculating on their relationship. Ethan had never felt this self-conscious in his life. As soon as he polished off his last bite, he practically bolted out of the shop, eager to escape the weight of those prying eyes. To his dismay, Lyla slipped her arm through his as they walked. "Ethan, doesn''t this feel familiar somehow?" Her unexpected closeness made his heart skip a beat, though the sudden, hostile stares from nearby men quickly dampened the moment. "Uh..." Ethan stammered, unsure of how to respond. Lyla scrutinized him for a moment before letting go of his arm. "I''m heading to the library, see you later!" She hopped a few steps backward, waving cheerfully as she left. "Oh, by the way, my name''s Lyla Silverwood. Silverwood, like the trees that shine in the moonlight!" "Lyla Silverwood" Ethan murmured. In his past life, he''d only known her as Lyla, never her full name. Yet, the name tugged at a corner of his memory, teasing him with familiarity he couldn''t quite place. As Lyla disappeared into the distance, she turned back to wave one last time. Ethan returned the gesture, silently wishing her to stay safe. This life¡­ seemed to be going pretty amazing. For the first time in years, Ethan allowed himself a small smile. --- Ethan hailed a cab, not caring about his rumpled appearance, and headed straight to Aeon Corporation''s flagship store. The staff there didn''t bat an eye at his unkempt look, treating him with unyielding professionalism. One employee eagerly guided him through their inventory, explaining the features and price points of each VR capsule. When Ethan inquired about a high-safety model, he was led to the second floor''s premium showroom. The most basic capsules started at $30,000 and offered full-immersion VR with only moderate operational sensitivity. Take, for instance, the one Lyla had given him, the Model 207 headset. It wasn''t entry-level, but it was far from top-tier. Priced at $1,500, its sensitivity maxed out at a mere 68%. In comparison, even the cheapest gaming capsules boasted an impressive 92% sensitivity. Elite players didn''t just rely on skill, they needed top-of-the-line equipment to compete. After careful consideration, Ethan settled on the Model XVI-701 capsule. Its features were staggering. Constructed from specialized alloys, the capsule could withstand water pressure at depths of 3,000 meters. Its shock absorption system was so advanced that a fall from a hundred-story building wouldn''t cause fatal injuries to its occupant. The door? Made of blast-proof glass, rumored to withstand explosive charges. It came equipped with an independent power supply capable of running for a week during outages, an automated oxygen system to counter gas attacks, and thirty-two surveillance cameras to record external threats. The built-in GPS ensured its location could always be tracked. In essence, the capsule was less of a gaming accessory and more of a personal fortress. Most importantly, it eliminated the delay between disconnecting from the game and logging off, a feature that had cost Ethan dearly in his previous life. Back then, he had been attacked in reality while still online, leaving his character vulnerable during the mandatory 20-second logout period. The result? His death in-game and the loss of a priceless artifact. The price of this fortress-like capsule was equally staggering: $168,000. Ethan''s bank balance, standing at $180,000, would be all but wiped out. Though slightly dissatisfied with the operational sensitivity¡ªstill capped at 92%¡ªhe consoled himself with the knowledge that it could be upgraded later. Aeon Corporation even offered a generous trade-in policy, allowing older models to be exchanged for 80% of their original value toward a new purchase. Ethan''s lips curled into a determined grin as he proceeds with the purchase. This time, nothing would stand in his way. Aeon Corporation''s customer service was stellar, far better than that of any global tech giant he''d dealt with before. Still, the sting of spending $168,000 lingered¡­ The sales associate politely asked for a delivery address, and Ethan froze. The Model XVI-701 capsule measured over 11 feet in length, 6.5 feet in width, and nearly 6 feet in height. His current Studio apartment barely fit his bed, let alone a massive VR capsule. "Uh... I''ll confirm the address later," Ethan said awkwardly. "Of course, sir," the associate replied with a practiced smile. "Just notify us whenever you''re ready. We offer 24/7 delivery and installation services. Once you confirm, we''ll have it at your doorstep within two hours." Leaving Aeon''s flagship store, Ethan sighed. There was no way around it, he needed to find a bigger place. Buying property was out of the question with only $12,000 left in his account, so he''d have to rent. But¡­ did he really want to move away from his neighbor, Lyla? In his past life, their relationship had grown complicated. Despite never officially dating, they''d shared more than just simple moments. Moving felt like giving up on rekindling that connection. After some hesitation, Ethan pulled out his phone and dialed Lyla''s number. "Hello?" "Lyla, it''s me." "Ethan? How did you get my number?" "Uh¡­" Ethan realized too late that they hadn''t exchanged numbers yet in this timeline. "That''s not important. Are you busy right now? I need to discuss something with you." "I just got to campus," Lyla replied. "I was going to study with a classmate, but I can let her know something came up." "No need to cancel. Just meet me at the west gate in half an hour." "Alright, see you there." --- Ten minutes later, Ethan arrived at the west gate by cab, only to find Lyla already waiting for him. She had clearly come straight after their call, a fact that made Ethan feel slightly guilty. He''d told her thirty minutes, but she was here early. "Ethan," she teased the moment he stepped out of the car, "you''ve had a crush on me for ages, haven''t you?" "Wha¡ª?" Ethan stumbled, caught completely off guard. "Either that, or you''re a stalker. How else would you know my name and my phone number?" Ethan opened his mouth to respond but faltered. He hadn''t thought this through at all, and now Lyla was jumping to conclusions. Before he could explain, her expression shifted to a pout. "I can''t believe this!" she said, voice trembling. "You just broke up with Ivy two days ago, and now you''re already after me?" Ethan panicked. This misunderstanding had snowballed out of control. But¡­ "Wait," he said, narrowing his eyes. "How do you know I broke up with Ivy two days ago? And how do you know her name?" Lyla froze, a flash of guilt crossing her face. She turned her head sharply, refusing to meet his gaze. "That''s¡­ not important," she muttered. Ethan chuckled, her reaction was oddly endearing. "Not important, huh? Alright, fine. But if I told you I''ve been reborn, would you believe me?" The words escaped his mouth before he could stop himself. He didn''t know why, but he couldn''t bring himself to lie to her. Even so, his heart raced as he waited for her response, fearing she''d think he was crazy. Lyla turned to face him, her eyes searching his. "Uh¡­ to be precise, I regressed back in time," Ethan clarified nervously. "Do you¡­ believe me?" Lyla stared at him for a long moment, her gaze unwavering. Finally, she tilted her head. "Huh?" Then, after a pause, she shook her head. But to his surprise, she eventually nodded. ___ Author: I know, I know. Ethan just casually spilled his deepest, darkest secret to Lyla, and you''re probably thinking, ''No! It''s too soon!'' But trust me on this one, dear reader. Ethan and Lyla''s story goes way back, their connection runs deeper than you might realize at this point. So keep reading, you''ll understand why. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 14 - 14: I Trust You Ethan studied Lyla as she nodded vigorously. Despite her repeated nods, he found it hard to believe. "Really?" he asked, narrowing his eyes. "Really! I believe you" Lyla responded, full of conviction. Ethan couldn''t help but give her a skeptical look, his expression bordering on disbelief. ''How can anyone take that seriously?'' After a moment, Ethan gave up on the thought. "Alright," he sighed, "I''ll treat you to lunch later." But Lyla had a different idea. "Let''s grab some snacks and go hiking instead. We can discuss while we''re up there." Ethan chuckled, a bit exasperated. He knew her too well, he could sense what she was up to. She claimed to believe him, but this was clearly a test. The hike was mostly silent, with Lyla unusually quiet. She only spoke when Ethan started a conversation, otherwise staring blankly out the car window. When they reached Hawthorne Ridge, Lyla took the lead, heading up the trail. She wandered further and further off the beaten path, eventually leaving the designated tourist area altogether. "Lyla," Ethan called out, "you sure we''re heading the right way?" "Almost there," she insisted stubbornly, pressing on. Ethan shook his head but followed. Eventually, they reached the entrance of a hidden cave, concealed behind a thick wall of shrubs. Lyla stopped abruptly, her face glistening with sweat, her breath heavy. Watching her, Ethan felt a wave of emotions, an unexplainable mix of fondness and concern. "Ethan," Lyla said softly, pointing to the cave. "Does this place seem familiar to you?" Ethan stared at the overgrown entrance, his brow furrowed in confusion. "No¡­ Should it?" But something about the way she had called his name tugged at him. Noticing his expression, Lyla sat down on a boulder near the cave entrance. "Ethan, let me tell you a story." Ethan sat opposite her, intrigued. "Alright, I''m listening." "Fourteen years ago, a little boy and a little girl met in this very cave. He was six, and she was five. They had both been kidnapped and brought here by traffickers¡­" Lyla trailed off, studying Ethan''s face closely. Her words hit Ethan like a freight train. His heart pounded as fragmented memories rushed to the surface. He shot to his feet, staring wildly at the cave. Then, turning back to Lyla, he found her standing, tears streaming down her face. "You remember, don''t you?" she whispered, her voice trembling as she ran to him, burying her face in his chest. "You¡­ You''re Ellie," Ethan stammered, his voice breaking. "You''re Ellie¡­" Lyla nodded vigorously, sobbing into his shirt. The memories were now crystal clear. Fourteen years ago, he''d been yanked from a van, his head covered, and the first person he''d seen was a girl about his age. She had been crying endlessly, her wailing relentless. Frustrated, he''d snapped at her, "If you keep crying, I won''t take you with me when I escape!" To his surprise, she had stopped instantly. "You can really get us out of here?" she had asked. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Do you trust me?" he''d replied. "I trust you." For a week, they''d been trapped together, their hope dwindling with each passing day. Then, on a stormy night, he''d managed to cut through the ropes binding his hands with a sharp stone. He''d freed her legs just as the guard discovered them. They''d fled into the woods, but two children could never outrun an adult. When the guard closed in, Ethan had made a desperate suggestion. "We have to jump." Without hesitation, the girl had said, "I trust you. Let''s jump." Ethan had tied her arms around his neck and, just as the guard reached out to grab them, hurled them both off the cliff. The incline had broken their fall, but iraculously, they had survived. The guard, however, wasn''t as lucky. Slipping as he tried to follow, he had plunged straight to the bottom. When Ethan had slid down the cliff, using his body as a shield, they''d landed right on top of the guard, cushioning their fall slightly. When the two of them woke up, they were already in the hospital. The doctors said the trafficker had died from the fall, and his accomplices had all been arrested. Three months later, they were discharged. Ethan had stayed at Ellie''s house for a week after being released, but then he''d insisted on returning to the orphanage. Ellie''s family, being wealthy, had wanted to adopt him. But Ethan had refused, clinging to the faint hope that his parents, the ones who had abandoned him, might still come back for him. On the morning of his departure, Ellie''s mother asked if there was one thing she could do for him. His request? A proper breakfast, a feast of freshly fried pastries. And so, dressed in his worn-out clothes, he sat opposite Ellie, as they ate together in a restaurant. When it was time to say goodbye, Ellie had waved at him from the sidewalk while Ethan sat in her family''s car. He could barely make out her voice over the hum of the engine. "Ethan, you have to remember me! My name is Ellie¡ªlike the letters E-L-L-I-E! When I grow up, I''ll¡­" The car had pulled away, cutting her words off. --- Now, standing at the edge of the same cliff, Lyla clung to Ethan''s arm, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "This was the spot, wasn''t it?" she asked. Ethan peered down, his head spinning slightly. "Looks like it," he muttered. "No way I''d jump now, though." Lyla laughed softly. "Do you know? I come here every year. Oh, by the way, let me see your scars." Ethan raised a brow, turning his head to look at her. She smiled back, eyes sparkling with mischief. After hesitating, Ethan sighed and turned around. Lyla gently pulled up his basketball jersey, revealing his back. Her breath caught. His skin was crisscrossed with scars, running from his shoulder blades down to his lower back. Lyla''s cold fingertips traced one of the deeper scars along his spine. Tears welled up in her eyes again. "Does it still hurt?" she whispered, her fingers sliding lower. Ethan tensed, clearing his throat. "No¡­ Doesn''t hurt at all. In fact it''s like a protective layer now. Once, someone hit me with a metal pipe during a fight, and I barely felt a thing!" As her fingers grazed his lower back, Ethan spun around quickly, pulling his shirt down. "Alright, enough of that," he said, grinning. Lyla laughed, swatting him lightly on the arm. "Look at you, acting so tough!" Her gaze wandered back to the cliff. "So¡­ I guess you''ll be fine if you jump again?" she asked, pointing down. Ethan took one look and shook his head. "Not a chance." "But you jumped back then, even with me on your back. How did you manage that?" Ethan shrugged, thinking for a moment. "I don''t know. It doesn''t matter, does it? We survived." Lyla pouted, clearly unimpressed with his answer. "What do you mean it doesn''t matter? Do you know how much I trusted you back then? And now you''re saying it wasn''t important?" Seeing her anger about to explode, Ethan turned and ran, playfully laughing as Lyla chased after him, fists swinging. After a while, Ethan spun around and caught her hands. "Hey, back then, as I was leaving, you shouted something to me. You said, ''When I grow up, I''ll¡­'' What were you going to say? I couldn''t hear over the car engine." Lyla''s face turned red as she yanked her hands free. "I''m not telling you!" she shouted, bolting ahead. Ethan stood there, watching her retreating figure. For the first time in what felt like forever, the shadows clouding his heart lifted. A small smile played on his lips. Softly, he murmured, "Doesn''t matter what you said, Lyla. You''re not getting away from me this time. Not in this life." His thoughts wandered back to her in the game, always by his side, never abandoning him. Determined, Ethan clenched his fists. This time, he wouldn''t let her down. Chapter 15 - 15: Lylas Surprise The two of them returned to the tourist area and found a patch of grass. Lyla spread out a weatherproof mat while Ethan sat beside her, his gaze distant. Under Lyla''s persistent questions, Ethan finally began recounting his experiences from his previous life, the betrayals, the regrets, and even his connection to Lyla in the game. However, he carefully avoided the part about their... complicated in-game relationship. As Ethan spoke, he noticed tears welling in Lyla''s eyes. Her usual bright demeanor dimmed as she listened intently. Worried that he''d gone too far, he shifted to sharing only the funny and lighthearted moments from his past life. When he finished, he asked cautiously, "Do you still believe me?" Lyla smiled through her tears, her response as firm as always. "Of course I believe you." As their conversation wound down, Ethan mentioned his plan to move into a bigger apartment soon. Lyla grew uncharacteristically quiet, then stood abruptly, pulling Ethan up with her. "Let''s go," she said, starting to pack up their things in a hurry. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Confused, Ethan allowed himself to be dragged along. Lyla led him out of the park and into the city streets. Her behavior was secretive, almost mischievous, as if she were planning a surprise. Eventually, they arrived at Eastwood Manor, an upscale gated community. The area was lined with pristine townhouses and luxurious two-story villas, with only three high-rise towers breaking the symmetry. Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Don''t tell me¡­ you own a place here?" Lyla grinned slyly. "You''re smarter than you look." "...." Stopping in front of a villa, Lyla scanned her eye on the biometric lock. The door clicked open with a satisfying sound, and she pushed Ethan inside. "Well? Is it big enough for you?" she asked, her tone playfully smug as she spread her arms wide. Ethan gawked. The interior was spacious, modern, and downright extravagant. "You own a house like this, yet you live in a cramped Studio apartment?" Lyla rolled her eyes. "Mind your own business." "Heh, say no more, I get it," Ethan said, smirking knowingly. "Hmph!" Lyla''s face flushed, and she turned on her heel, stomping up the stairs. Ethan followed her to the second floor, where she flung open a door. A wave of pink hit him like a truck. The entire room was bathed in shades of blush, from the walls to the furniture. Even the VR gaming capsule in the corner glowed in a custom rose gold finish. Ethan''s jaw dropped. "No way¡­ That''s an SUP-R-006! Are you kidding me?!" The SUP-R series was the pinnacle of VR technology, boasting a responsiveness rate of 99.8%. The base model alone cost nearly $5.1 million, but the "R" variant was a custom version, meaning the price tag was likely astronomical. Ethan glanced around the villa, estimating its size and luxury. With about 7,500 square feet of living space at $1,500 per square foot, plus this gaming capsule, the total cost easily surpassed $7.5 million. His mind reeled at the thought. Lyla fidgeted under his stare, her cheeks a shade of red. "My dad prepared all of this for me. I wasn''t planning to move in, but since you''re looking for a new place, why don''t we both stay here instead?" Ethan hesitated. A part of him, a small, prideful part, felt uncomfortable. Was he really about to live off someone else''s generosity? Sensing his internal conflict, Lyla tugged him toward another room across the hall. She opened the door with a flourish. The room was just as elegant, though it lacked a gaming capsule. "This one''s for you!" she said brightly. "Dad had it prepared in case you ever came around. He wasn''t sure when, or if¡ªyou''d show up, so he didn''t install a gaming capsule yet." "For¡­ me?" Ethan blinked, momentarily stunned. He didn''t even register the rest of her explanation. "Yes, for you," Lyla said, pushing him gently into the room. "Go on, take a look." Following Lyla''s instructions, Ethan stepped into the room. The sight before him froze him in place. The walls were covered with photographs, pictures of him in a hospital bed, moments from his recovery, childhood snapshots of him and Lyla playing together, and even one of him eating at a corner diner. Tears pricked the corners of Ethan''s eyes before sliding down his cheeks. "Ethan¡­" A voice broke the silence. Ethan spun around to see a holographic projection flicker to life. A familiar figure appeared, though the years had left visible lines etched into his face. He looked older and wearier than the man Ethan remembered. "I always knew Lyla would bring you to this room someday," the man said, his voice warm but slightly choked with emotion. "She''s sacrificed a lot for you. Take care of her. And when you have time, come visit us in the capital. Your aunt and I would love to see you." The message was brief, but it struck Ethan straight to his core, pulling at the most fragile part of his heart. "Crying already? How embarrassing!" Lyla teased, clutching his arm and making a silly face. Before he could respond, she let go and walked toward the door, calling over her shoulder, "It''s up to you whether we move in!" Ethan wiped his eyes and smiled faintly. "Alright, fine. Let''s move in together. But isn''t this place a bit far from school?" Before Lyla could respond, she turned and tossed a set of keys at him. Ethan caught them, confused. "From now on, you''re my personal driver. And no other girls are allowed in the car!" Ethan stared at the car keys in his hand, shaking his head with a wry smile. Clearly, Lyla had prepared everything in advance. What could he possibly say to that? By the afternoon, Ethan had arranged for his VR gaming capsule to be delivered and installed in his new room. As the workers finished setting it up, Lyla looked it over and snickered. "Wow, look at you, a big spender. $168,000 for a gaming capsule? And it''s a reinforced, explosion-proof model too? Are you that worried someone''s out to get you?" Ethan rolled his eyes and shot back, "$168,000 wouldn''t even cover the scrap materials for your custom model!" "That wasn''t even my money!" she countered, pinching his waist playfully with her fingers. Ethan chuckled. He was beginning to notice how different Lyla''s personality was in this timeline. In his previous life, she had always maintained a certain distance from him, like a delicate barrier that he couldn''t quite cross. After his escape from Ember City, they''d lost touch entirely. It wasn''t until the recent conversation, that she''d confessed the turning point in this life. The moment he knocked on her door that day and called her name, she''d assumed he remembered their childhood. It had stirred something within her, sparking her curiosity and breaking down her walls. That was the reason why she had given him the VR headset. And then, when he had called her and said those word; "Do you believe me?" That had been the final push. It shattered whatever defenses she had left, and she decided to reveal her true identity to him. --- By the time they finished moving in and unpacking, it was already 5 PM. After dinner, only a few minutes remained until Ethereal''s servers went live. Ethan spent the afternoon briefing Lyla on hidden quests and bug exploits he remembered from the Starter Zone. "Just focus on getting to level 15 as fast as you can," he advised. "That''s the minimum level needed to leave the Starter Zone. Once you''re there, we''ll meet up in the main City." As Ethan climbed into his gaming capsule, a wave of contentment washed over him. The plush padding and ergonomic design were pure luxury. "Damn, this feels amazing. Worth every penny," he murmured, a grin spreading across his face. The system voice chimed. "Ding¡­ [The game will begin in 30 seconds. Please wait."] The familiar sound and the whirlwind of events earlier that day filled Ethan with renewed anticipation. This life was already shaping up to be something incredible. When the countdown hit zero, Ethan entered the game, his vision adjusting to the vibrant virtual world around him. As he flexed his fingers and moved, he marveled at the smooth responsiveness. At 92% sensitivity, the controls were leagues beyond the 68% responsiveness of his old headset. "Big bro, you''re right on time." A soft voice broke his concentration. Ethan turned to see Haven''s Dawn had logged in as well. Chapter 16 - 16: The Wraithbinder After over three hours of grinding monsters, Ethan finally reached 98% experience for Level 5 when the quest item dropped. Nearby, Heaven''s Dawn had also climbed to Level 4 and was close to Level 5. However, judging by her experience bar, she''d have to grind here until the next morning to level up. Ethan had grown fond of the cheerful girl, and he didn''t mind sharing some combat tips with her. But his time was precious. After saying a quick goodbye, he set off alone, heading toward the top of the Crowling Nest to complete his next quest. --- Stealthily weaving through the increasingly dense clusters of Crowlings, Ethan noticed a new challenge: Crowling Scouts equipped with the enhanced perception of True Sight. If avoiding them wasn''t an option, he''d engage and dispatch them swiftly before continuing. An hour later, he arrived at the altar atop the nest. The mountaintop was eerily silent, devoid of monsters. Ethan moved quickly, lighting the four braziers surrounding the altar. He realized the Night Owl Feather from his inventory wasn''t just a collectible, it worked as a makeshift fan to stoke the flames. "Caw... caw... Who dares disturb my slumber?" A shadowy figure materialized in the altar''s center, semi-transparent and ominous. It wielded a staff adorned with a skeletal head. The voice growled, "Intruder, you have no place here. I shall tear you to shreds!" Ethan cast Basic Appraisal to assess the new enemy. [Shadow of the Crowling Chief] Level: 10 Attack: 0 Defense: 0 Health: 1,500 Skill: Summon Crowlings (120-second chant or instant cast when health drops below 30%; summons 50¨C200 Crowlings randomly). Description: The Crowling Chief sleeps in the Void Realm, preaching its doctrine through soul projections. Though its projection has no attack power, it can summon devoted followers to fight on its behalf. --- Ding... [Follow-up Quest Triggered: Reduce the Crowling Chief HP to 30% and escape to the Druid Camp in the Forest of Nature under the pursuit of the Crowling Army.] Ethan pondered the possibilities. What if killing the Crowling Chief''s projection triggered a rare hidden quest? No one in his previous life had mentioned it, likely because it seemed impossible. Back then, players could barely survive the onslaught of summoned Crowlings, which triggered as soon as the boss dropped below 30% HP. The best they could do was flee. Even high-level Druids who returned for the quest found themselves handicapped. Entering the nest automatically scaled them down to Level 6, with all equipment stats reduced to Common Iron gear. For them, the challenge was even harder than for low-level players. Ethan calculated carefully. At 30% health, or 500 HP, he''d store enough energy for two Shreds followed by a five-star Savage Bite. This combo could kill the boss in two seconds. The key was positioning. If the summoned Crowlings couldn''t fully surround him, he might have a chance. Ethan methodically attacked using Rake, gauging the boss''s health. At 50%, he ensured his energy bar was maxed out with five energy stars. -56, -48, -105... Without any defense, even normal critical strikes dealt over 100 damage. Finally, the Crowling Chief''s health hit 513 HP. Ethan followed with one last Rake. Critical Hit: -101! The Crowling Chief shrieked, now at just 412 HP. Its shadowy body flared with crimson particles as it raised its skeletal staff. "Arise, my faithful! Fight for me, and eternal life shall be yours!" A dark mist erupted from the altar, signaling the summoning ritual. Fwoosh! ¡ª The once-purple sky dimmed further, casting an ominous shadow over the land. The ground began to glow with countless violet circles, each one pulsing as shadowy figures emerged from within. Ethan''s quick scan confirmed it, there were over a hundred of them. "Damn it¡­ no choice." He launched into action. Savage Bite ¨C [Completion: Good] -145! Shred, Shred, Savage Bite ¨C [Completion: Good] -98, -102, -65! His final Savage Bite, rushed and only two-star quality, still landed a solid blow. -65! Two seconds had passed. The summoned Crowling Soldiers were already closing in. The Crowling Chief health dropped to just 2 points. Ethan gritted his teeth and struck with a basic Rake. Critical Hit: -2 (Overkill: 43) The Crowling Chief let out a guttural cry, its voice echoing across the nest. "Cursed Druid! I''ll remember your scent. Wait for my revenge!" Ding... [System Notification] A system message appeared, but Ethan didn''t have time to read it. Grabbing a glowing item from the ground, he turned and bolted. --- Instead of running back the way he came, where the soldiers had already formed an impenetrable wall, Ethan sprinted toward the cliff behind him. This route wasn''t safe either, as Crowling Soldiers were scattered across it, but he''d mapped out a path earlier with a small gap in their formation. Even so, these soldiers moved faster than typical monsters. If he started at the same time as them, their superior speed would catch him in seconds. Dodging a pair of scythe-like blades swung by one soldier, Ethan made it to the edge and leaped without hesitation. Another cliff jump for survival. How coincidental. --- With the ground still a dizzying 300 meters below, Ethan pulled out the glider he had purchased earlier for 50 silver coins. The makeshift wings caught the wind, and he adjusted his course, gliding toward the Forest of Nature. Below him, the barrier of the Crowling Nest loomed. Once he crossed it, he''d enter the Druid Camp''s sanctuary. Seconds later, he passed through the shimmering boundary, then another. At last, he touched down safely beside Lunar Lake, his heart pounding. He had done it. He had slain the Shadow of the Crowling Chief, a feat that eluded countless Druids in his previous life. --- Panting, Ethan opened his inventory to inspect the item he had grabbed. [Wraithbinder''s Staff] Tier: Dark Gold Level Requirement: None Attribute Requirement: 800 Intelligence Magic Attack: 800¨C1200 Bonus: +800 Intelligence sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Attached Skills: Necromantic Revival: Resurrect slain creatures with 70% of their original combat power. Duration: 3 hours. Limit: 10 undead. Revived creatures do not count against summon limits. Cannot revive players but can destroy their corpses, forcing them to respawn at a graveyard. Life Drain: Absorbs 15% of damage dealt as health. Cataclysm: Summons a meteor shower, stunning all targets within a 50x50 meter radius for 3 seconds. The impact area burns for 30 seconds, dealing 5% max health damage per second. Damage is reduced by 40% for elite monsters, 55% for rare creatures, and 70% for bosses. Cooldown: 6 hours. Cast time: 3 minutes. Faction Restriction: Survivor Faction Class Restriction: Warlock --- Ethan blinked in disbelief. A Dark Gold-tier staff. Its stats rivaled Legendary items. Of course, there was a catch: the Intelligence requirement. Even a pure Intelligence build Warlock wouldn''t be able to wield it before Level 130 unless they had learned several passive stat-boosting skills. He couldn''t believe his luck. Slaying a Level 10 quest monster had dropped such a high-grade weapon. But as he finally checked the system notification, any trace of joy vanished from his face. His expression froze, and he muttered under his breath. "Damn it¡­ I brought this on myself!" Chapter 17 - 17: Night Owl’s Abilities Ethan stared at the system notification, his expression devoid of any excitement. [Congratulations! You''ve slain the clone of Anzu, Crowling God (Pseudo-Divine Lv. 200) that was growing followers in Ethereal. Anzu now holds a grudge against you and may appear at random intervals to hunt you down. Brave warrior, grow stronger quickly! Good luck!] "Congratulations, my ass," Ethan muttered, his tone dripping with bitterness. "Level 200? A pseudo-divine boss hunting me? What kind of chance do I have against that?" He sighed, a mix of frustration and disbelief clouding his thoughts. In his last life, people had hunted him relentlessly. Now, in this life, he was cursed to be chased by monsters too. What had he done to deserve this? --- Somewhere in an unknown expanse of Ethereal, an area that seemed devoid of any life, a familiar old man lounged in midair, one leg lazily crossed over the other. The scruffy man who had once appeared before Ethan chuckled to himself. "Heh, serves you right, kid. You got too cocky. No use regretting now. Just pray Anzu only shows up inside Ethereal¡­ and not¡ª" His laugh turned into a wheeze of delight. "Oh, this is going to be fun." --- Ethan dragged his sour mood to the druid camp. From a distance, he spotted the Night Owl. This plump, ridiculous creature was still at it, swaying its hips while single its own offbeat rap. "...." Ethan''s eyebrow twitched as he fought the urge to vent his anger by delivering it a sharp kick. "Yo, yo¡­ Thanks, traveler from another world," the Night Owl crooned. "You brought me my feather, oh-so-pretty. May Mother Earth guide¡ªerr, bless you! Here''s your well-deserved reward!" Ding¡­ [Congratulations! You''ve completed the ''Druid Transformation'' quest. You can now shift into Night Owl Form!] Ethan checked his skill tab, noticing three forms unlocked: Human Form, Panther Form, and now Night Owl Form. Human Form: Cannot use any skills. Removes movement restrictions upon transformation. Panther Form: Transforms into a panther, increasing attack speed by 20% and converting attacks to Physical (Wild) damage. Boosts physical crit chance for allies within a 100-meter radius by 5%. Panther-exclusive skills only. Immune to polymorph effects. Removes all movement restrictions upon transformation. Night Owl Form: Transforms into a Night Owl, increasing defense by 36% and converting attacks to Magical damage. Boosts magical crit chance for allies within a 100-meter radius by 5%. Owl-exclusive skills only. Immune to polymorph effects. Removes all movement restrictions upon transformation. Switching into the Night Owl form, Ethan gave himself a quick glance. Only one description came to mind: A fluffy, feathered meatball¡­ Before him hovered a balance bar, its center marked by a symbol of pale blue and yellow. On the left was a moon icon, and on the right, a sun icon. Ethan glanced at his newly unlocked skills, all five neatly categorized: Moonfire and Sunburn: Instant-cast debuff spells. Lunar Beam and Solar Flare: Direct damage spells. Wingbeat: A utility skill. --- Solar Strike: Summons a sunbeam to deal astral damage in a 3x3 meter area. Damage ranges from 1%-150%-80% depending on the balance bar''s position. Cast time: 2 seconds. The closer the bar is to the sun icon, the higher the damage. Centering the bar deals maximum damage. Lunar Beam: Channels moon energy to deal astral damage. Damage ranges from 80%-200%-1%. Cast time: 1 second. The closer the bar is to the moon icon, the higher the damage. Centering the bar deals maximum damage. Ethan sighed, staring at his unwieldy new form. Balancing between moon and sun energies was going to be a nightmare. Wingbeat: Despite your pudgy form preventing you from actual flight, this skill allows you to slow your descent, gliding through the air. However, you cannot change direction mid-glide, and any attack will interrupt the skill. If used while stationary, it can also trigger an adorable animation! "The fuck¡­" Ethan almost choked when he read the description. Gliding with zero control? Interrupted by the faintest touch? This was less a skill and more of a glorified cuteness mode, perfectly in line with his current chubby and mock-inducing appearance. The thought of being gawked at by other players made his skin crawl. Still, the Night Owl form had one standout feature: despite being a ranged magic class, it didn''t consume mana. Instead, everything revolved around managing the balance bar. For Ethan, this was a huge advantage, especially since he planned to exploit bugs and level up faster than anyone else. No other class had the same sustainability. Even archers needed to spend money on arrows, but a Druid''s Night Owls skills required no consumables at all. Sure, the base damage of his skills was lower, but when exploiting high-level monsters, raw damage hardly mattered, every attack was forced to chip away at their health bit by bit. With a chant, Ethan activated the teleportation spell and returned to Evercrest Town. Once there, he oriented himself, shifted into Panther Form, and used Stealth to navigate the bustling town streets. He moved swiftly, eventually reaching the bank. His target: depositing the Wraithbinder''s Staff. This staff had cost him dearly, earning the wrath of a pseudo-divine boss was no joke. Losing such a rare weapon due to carelessness was simply not an option. Moreover, now wasn''t the time to sell it. The market wasn''t ready. Most players had barely scratched the surface of Ethereal''s mechanics. If he sold it now, he''d only get a fraction of its true value. Only Ethan knew how absurdly rare Dark Gold gear drops were, especially one with three exceptional skills. --- Life Drain: Drastically improves Warlocks'' sustainability. Many Warlock skills require health sacrifices to cast, including powerful Multi-target abilities like Hellfire, which burns their own health to unleash devastating area damage. Necromantic Revival: A summoning skill of immense power. Cataclysm: A skill so overpowered it bordered on ridiculous. Without fire resistance, being hit at the center of this skill caused a 3-second stun and inflicted 15% burn damage over time. By the time you recovered and managed to run 50 meters away, chances were you''d already died. --- This weapon was a game-changer. Selling it wasn''t just unthinkable, it could also fall into the hands of rival players, turning it into a liability. Ethan wasn''t about to hand his enemies that kind of advantage. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After securing the Wraithbinder''s Staff in the bank, Ethan organized his inventory. That''s when he noticed something: a treasure chest he''d completely forgotten about. After a moment''s thought, he recalled where it had come from, the Level 5 Boss he''d killed earlier. With all the first-kill rewards flooding his system at the time, he must have overlooked it. Pulling it out, Ethan''s eyes lit up. It was a Silver Chest, and it was locked. Locked chests often contained high-quality loot, and this one being Silver-tier only increased his anticipation. In Ethereal, treasure chests were as rare as they were valuable. Like gear, they came in tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Dark Gold. Dark Gold chests had a chance of containing divine abilities or legendary equipment. Ethan wasted no time. He sprinted to a nearby NPC vendor to purchase a key. Back in his previous life, he''d opened a few chests like this while playing as a rogue, lockpicking had been second nature back then. Now? He just needed a key and a bit of luck. Chapter 18 - 18: A More Tankier Build Ethan winced as he glanced at the NPC shop''s price list for keys. He''d painstakingly memorized the locations of high-tier treasure chests during his past life as a rougue. But now, it seemed those dreams would have to wait¡­ Bronze Key: 1 silver coin. Silver Key: 1 gold coin. Gold Key: 100 gold coins. Dark Gold Key: 10,000 gold coins. "Absolute robbery," he muttered. Who in their right mind would buy these keys this early in the game? Nobody, that''s who. By the time the in-game economy stabilized and rogues leveled up their lockpicking skills, these overpriced keys would become useless. He sighed, though he had to admit: treasure hunting was one of the few perks for rogues, whose solo leveling pace was painfully slow. Finding and unlocking treasure chests in the wild was a lucrative perk, with experience points awarded for successful unlocks. He vividly remembered opening a Dark Gold Chest at level 109 in his previous life. The reward? An entire level''s worth of experience points, plus some extra. But that was a naturally spawning chest. These lootable chests didn''t grant XP, just items. Ethan sighed and shelled out 1 gold coin for a Silver Key, $1,800 in real-world currency. "Better not be junk," he muttered, eyeing the progress bar on the chest. 1%... 20%... 50%¡­ "Come on, don''t screw me over," he whispered, literally clasping his hands together. "C''mon, old man, give me something good!" Ding! [Lockpicking successful!] Excited, Ethan threw the chest open and reached inside, his heart pounding. After rummaging for what felt like an eternity, his hand finally grasped an item, a bracelet. Ethan''s eyes lit up. Jewelry! Even the worst piece of jewelry was worth at least a gold coin. --- [Blazing Bracelet] Quality: Gold-tier (Upgradeable) Level Requirement: Level 5 Base Defense: 18¨C32 Effect: Increases physical and magical defense by 10%. Set Bonus (1/3): Equipping the Blazing Bracelet, Blazing Ring, and Blazing Necklace activates the skill [Blazing Defense]. Skill Description (Blazing Defense): Grants immunity to death once, reduces damage by 20% for 8 seconds, and fully restores health. (Cooldown: 3 days) --- Ethan grinned as he examined the item. A set piece! Though the bracelet''s base stats were underwhelming for now, its scaling potential was immense. As his other gear improved, its defensive boost would grow exponentially. And if he managed to complete the set? A life-saving skill like Blazing Defense could be invaluable. "This thing''s practically endgame gear," he murmured, slipping the bracelet onto his wrist. He pulled out his prized possession, the Wishbound Relic, along with a small pile of reinforcement stones, 19 he''d bought earlier and 14 more he''d looted during the Crowling Nest raid with Heaven''s Dawn. It had been their first boss clear, so the drop rate was exceptionally high. Ethan had claimed only the reinforcement stones from the loot, leaving the rest, including a rare skill book for Tree Form, to Heaven''s Dawn. He wasn''t interested in splitting hairs over loot disputes, his focus was on fortifying his gear. First, he strengthened his weapon up to +10, activating a rare attribute: Omni +2. --- Omni: For every point gained: +1% to all damage and healing. -0.5% damage taken. --- Satisfied, Ethan used the remaining 30 stones to reinforce the Scorching Bracelet to +30. Normally, players focused on attack early-game to speed up leveling, but Ethan had chosen a tankier path. Given the level suppression mechanics that happened frequently, any extra attack power would barely make a dent anyway. The results spoke for themselves. After reaching +30, the bracelet''s defense jumped to a staggering 54¨C96, boosting Ethan''s overall defense to 152¡ªmore than enough to tank hits even in higher-level zones. By now, Ethan was practically untouchable in the Starter Zone. Save for dungeon monsters and boss-level creatures, nothing could even scratch his defenses. With everything else prepared, he made his way to a blacksmith shop and spent another gold coin to purchase ten repair hammers, practically an investment . Each hammer could be used 30 times, more than enough for his immediate needs. Leaving the shop, Ethan activated Stealth, his figure fading into near-invisibility. While the skill slightly reduced his movement speed, it ensured no one could track where he was headed. The monsters surrounding the town ranged from levels 1 to 10, with difficulty increasing the farther one ventured. Players would eventually hit level 10 and face their first dungeon, which was a milestone in Ethereal. Dungeons offered better experience rates than open-world grinding, alongside a rating system. The higher the team''s performance rating, the more bonus XP awarded, which was evenly distributed among party members upon clearing the dungeon. Ethan skirted through several grinding zones, each teeming with players fighting over every respawning monster. The overcrowding was typical during the game''s early days and one of the main reasons leveling up felt so slow. With more players than monsters, progress ground to a frustrating halt. As he reached the level 4 grinding zone, he noticed the crowds thinning slightly. Few players had reached level 4 at this stage, so this area was less chaotic. Most of the players here operated in small teams of four or five, standard party sizes, as the game capped party limits at six players. For larger-scale gameplay, players could form raid groups: five parties made a squad, and ten squads created a full raid team of up to 300 players. However, the larger the group, the thinner the XP split per kill. While raids had the advantage of clearing large areas and monopolizing mobs, they weren''t practical at this early stage. Right now, most groups were just grateful to have a few teammates. Coordinated grinding with strangers often led to problems, players freeloading for XP, arguments over loot distribution, or even betrayal, with party members killing each other to steal valuable items. Ethan carefully moved through the grinding zones, observing the various player dynamics. Melee classes like Paladins, Warriors, and Rogues darted between the mobs, drawing aggro, while ranged classes like Mages and archers unleashed constant barrages. Priests, meanwhile, mostly hung back, tossing out the occasional weak damage spell. Despite their low damage output and lack of healing abilities early on, Priests were highly sought after. Everyone knew how indispensable they''d become later on. Having a Priest in your corner now could mean the difference between life and death later, when their healing and buffs became critical to surviving dungeons. Ethan stayed low and quiet, moving through the grinding zones with practiced precision. He could have taken the safer main roads, where no monsters spawned, but that route would''ve added unnecessary distance. A straight line was faster, even if it meant slipping through active combat areas. When he reached the level 5 Corrupted Bear zone, he was surprised to see other players there. Opening the level leaderboard, he confirmed his position at the top, at Level 5 and 98% XP. The second-place player, Birdsoar, was still level 4 with only 7% XP progress. The name didn''t ring any bells from Ethan''s previous life, which struck him as odd. A name that distinctive wasn''t the kind you''d forget. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two groups grinding in the Corrupted Bear zone appeared to be around level 4. For them to be tackling level 5 monsters meant their gear had to be above average. But something else caught Ethan''s attention: the two groups weren''t fighting monsters. They were arguing. Ethan shook his head, stifling a laugh. "Seriously? The entire level 5 zone is massive, and they''re fighting over territory? What a bunch of clowns." Curiosity got the better of him. He crept closer, stopping about 10 meters away, a distance he considered safe. While his level advantage meant he could approach undetected, experience had taught him to always keep a buffer zone in case things went sideways. Once he got closer, the reason for their tension became clear. ___ Author: Eighteen chapters in. Please drop a review of what you think of the story so far. Don''t forget to leave some power stones. Chapter 19 - 19: Avenging Skyblade The two groups stood facing each other: one with five members, the other with four. The leader of the smaller group was fuming with anger. "Birdsoar, you bunch of shameless bastards! Was it really worth kicking us out of the party and killing Skyblade over a lousy bronze-grade bracer?!" Across from him, a bald man with a red coloured name smirked, casually swinging a massive greatsword that glimmered with a faint white mist. "Lousy? Really, Slashblade? With that garbage gear of yours, you still dare talk down on a bronze bracer? Let me correct you, though: killing him wasn''t just about the bracer. I''ve had my eyes on his silver-grade greatsword for a long time. If he hadn''t gone red-named, I wouldn''t have had the chance!" Slashblade''s face turned beet red with rage. "He went red because he racked up the most kills while we were fighting over leveling spots! How else do you think we leveled up to 4 so quickly?!" A mocking laugh erupted from the other side as one of Birdsoar''s mages spoke, winking at his teammates. "Wow, they''re dumber than I thought. Of course, we left the weakest members for him to kill so he''d go red! That way, we''d have a chance to make his gear drop. Hahaha!" The five-man group chatted freely, not even bothering to lower their voices as if Slashblade and his team didn''t exist. "You¡­ you all¡­" Slashblade stammered, too enraged to form words. Watching from the shadows, Ethan pieced together the situation. It seemed to be a classic case of betrayal over loot. What caught his attention, however, was the name Birdsoar. He''d just seen it ranked on the leaderboard moments ago and now stumbled upon this scene. ''Wait¡ªdid they say the dead guy was Skyblade?'' Ethan''s eyes narrowed as he glanced at the corpse on the ground. A cold, menacing air surrounded him. "Enough of this crap. Get lost already!" the bald man barked. "You trash think we actually wanted you in our party? You were just slowing down our grind!" "Yeah, don''t make us wipe the floor with you. At worst, we''ll rack up a couple more red-names and spend a day or two avoiding town," another chimed in smugly. Slashblade looked at his team, desperation in his eyes. "We should retreat, Slashblade. We can''t win this fight," suggested a nervous mage behind him. The archer nodded immediately. "Skyblade told us to leave anyway. Forget the gear, it''s not worth it. If we all die here, they''ll just camp our corpses, and we won''t even get a chance to respawn!" Slashblade''s gaze shifted to the team''s paladin, who didn''t hesitate. The paladin stepped forward, drawing his massive sword. "Let''s go down swinging, Slashblade." With a heavy heart, Slashblade nodded and glanced at the rogue lingering at the back of their party. But the rogue avoided his gaze, took two steps back, and vanished into stealth. Ding¡­ [System Notice: Leafshade has left your party.] Slashblade chuckled bitterly. Betrayal at its finest. As the archer and mage also quit the group and fled toward safer territory, Slashblade turned to the paladin beside him. "Looks like it''s just you, me, and Skyblade now. Let''s join him, we''ll start over if we have to." The paladin smirked, his grip tightening on his sword. "No big deal. We''ve never backed down in real life; why should a game be any different? Pull out your best gear. Who knows? We might take a couple of them down with us." Before the two could make their final stand, chaos erupted on the other side. "Damn it¡ªwe''ve got a rogue!" Ethan''s approach had almost been perfect. Even with a level advantage, Birdsoar had sensed him the moment he got within two meters. ''So, the guy had perception-boosting gear, huh?'' If not, then this guy was undeniably skilled. Yet in his previous life, Ethan hadn''t heard of anyone like this. Before Birdsoar could finish his sentence, Ethan pounced. In a blur, he tackled the rogue behind Birdsoar, the one whose body had just started fading into stealth. The surprise attack broke the rogue''s concealment instantly. Rake! The rogue staggered, stunned for five seconds, as blood began to flow steadily from his wounds. Leaving the immobilized rogue behind, Ethan spun on his heels, lunging at the mage standing nearby. Shred! -243! Instant kill! Grabbing the helmet that fell from the mage''s corpse, Ethan bolted straight toward the shield tank. In less than two seconds, Birdsoar''s group had one man dead and another incapacitated. The rogue, meanwhile, was as good as dead. With no priests in their party, and even if they had one, none at this level would have access to healing spells, there was no saving him. The Rake effect drained a sixth of his health every second. Even if he survived the stun and chugged the strongest healing potion available, all he''d achieve was delaying the inevitable. Rake''s bleed lasted for 18 seconds. To their credit, the rest of Birdsoar''s team reacted quickly. The warlock ducked behind the shield tank, summoning two imps with a wave of his hand. Then he began channeling Destruction Bolt, while the imps launched their Firebolts. Birdsoar charged forward, intent on intercepting Ethan. Ethan glanced at him with disdain. If he wanted to, Ethan could kill Birdsoar with a single Shred. But where was the satisfaction in that? No, Birdsoar wouldn''t get off that easily. Killing him just once wouldn''t suffice as revenge for Skyblade. Hunting him down until he was reduced to Level 0 would take too much time, but¡­ Torture? That sounded about right. Ethan''s lips curled into a sinister smile. First, he''d deal with the other players. Once Birdsoar''s lackeys were gone, Ethan would finish him off without giving his teammates a chance to pick up his dropped gear. Birdsoar''s greatsword gleamed with a silvery glow, it must have been the one that had dropped from Skyblade. With a powerful leap, Birdsoar raised the massive weapon high above his head, aiming a crushing downward strike at Ethan. The blade whistled through the air, closing in on Ethan''s panther form. Just as the sword was about to connect, Ethan''s body compressed. His 1.5-meter frame seemed to fold in on itself as his back arched, his paws pulled in tight, and his chest pressed against his belly. Ethan didn''t know Birdsoar''s exact attack power, but he doubted it could penetrate his defense. Still, there was no need to reveal too much too soon. In Ethereal, ranged attacks had auto-tracking mechanics that required either well-timed rolls or obstacles to avoid. Melee strikes, however, could be evaded with precise movement, something martial artists, fighters, or anyone with combat experience had a natural edge in. For Ethan, who had spent years being hunted in his past life, this kind of attack was child''s play. Birdsoar''s move was akin to a toddler swinging a wooden sword at him. The panther''s flexibility made such evasive maneuvers almost effortless. Birdsoar''s blade struck nothing but air. He froze for a moment, stunned by the bizarre motion. ''What kind of move was that? How did he dodge that?'' By the time Birdsoar turned around, Ethan was already within three meters of the shield tank. Birdsoar gritted his teeth and chased after him, unwilling to let Ethan escape. He wasn''t too worried, though. The shield tank was the best-equipped member of their team. Unlike the rogue and mage, the tank wouldn''t fall to a sneak attack. If Ethan engaged the tank head-on, one well-placed shield bash would knock him back. And the warlock''s Destruction Bolt was almost ready to fire. Once that happened, Ethan would be dead for sure. As Ethan closed the gap to the tank, the two imps fired their Firebolts. Twin projectiles streaked toward him, their fiery trails converging in a deadly crossfire. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just before impact, Ethan''s hind legs kicked off the ground, launching him forward in a burst of speed. Panther''s Agility! The flames exploded behind him with a deafening roar, sending shockwaves through the air. "Damn it! Slashblade, let''s help him!" shouted the Paladin from behind. Chapter 20 - 20: The Price of Arrogance Slashblade froze mid-step, staring at the whirlwind of motion ahead. Ethan, in his panther form, barreled toward the Shield Tank like a storm. The Shield Tank smirked, confident in his plan. Ethan would undoubtedly eat a Shield Bash, get knocked back, and become an easy target for Birdsoar and the others charging in from behind. It was an sharp strategy, or so they thought. They didn''t understand the mechanics of Shield Bash. The knockback effect didn''t just trigger automatically; it depended on the relative strength of the attacker and defender. If the target''s strength surpassed the Shield Tank''s, the knockback wouldn''t even activate. Ethan, of course, knew this. His forced stat allocation balanced growth points across all attributes, and with his Bloodline effect, it still gave him power equivalent to a player specializing solely in strength. Meanwhile, Shield Tanks prioritized endurance and vitality over raw power, strength was an afterthought at best. BANG! As Ethan approached, his rolling form extended, snapping back into panther shape. His momentum carried him headfirst into the bottom edge of the Shield Tank''s shield. "Ow¡­ damn, that hurt," Ethan muttered, gritting his teeth through the pain. The impact wasn''t just brute force, it was precision. His aim forced the shield upward, wrenching the Shield Tank''s arm high and exposing his vulnerable chest. The Shield Tank reacted quickly, swinging his one-handed sword in a desperate counterattack. But Ethan''s panther form granted him a 20% attack speed bonus. He was faster, much faster. Shred! -193! The hit didn''t finish the Tank off, he was a blood-soaked juggernaut of durability. But his health bar now hovered precariously low. Without hesitation, Ethan followed up with Rake, slashing the Tank across the chest before deftly dodging the retaliatory swing. Leaving the groaning Tank behind, Ethan lunged for the Warlock standing just beyond him. The Warlock''s face drained of color as he watched Ethan tear through his team in just seven seconds. His spellcasting faltered, and his Destruction Bolt fizzled mid-chant. Panic consumed him as he stumbled back, desperately trying to escape. Ethan wasn''t about to give him the chance. Pouncing mid-air, he pinned the Warlock to the ground, sinking his fangs into the back of his neck. Savage Bite! -262! (Critical Hit!) The Warlock dissolved into a lifeless corpse, his summoned Imps vanishing into thin air. "Damn, broke and useless," Ethan grumbled, glaring at the Warlock''s empty loot drop. The Warlock''s death triggered chaos. Moments later, the bloodied Shield Tank and the Rogue, despite downing a slow-regen potion and an instant-heal potion, collapsed in quick succession. Birdsoar, the final opponent, froze. Realizing he was outnumbered, he turned to flee. But just as he pivoted, a Judgement skill slammed into him, staggering his retreat. Slashblade and the nearby Paladin cut off his escape. Ethan grabbed the discarded shield left behind by the Tank and leapt into action. Slipping behind Birdsoar, he unleashed another Rake, carving a deep gash into his back. Blood poured from the wound as Birdsoar yelped in pain, hastily chugging a slow-regen potion. "You can kill me now," Birdsoar spat, glaring at Ethan and the rest, "but mark my words, when we''re out of the Starter Zone, you''ll regret this. None of you will survive!" -34, +16, -32, +16¡­ His health continued to decline, his bravado slowly draining along with it. Yet, even on the brink, he couldn''t help but issue empty threats. "Hey, give him a heal. Don''t let him die so soon," Ethan said, glancing at Slashblade. Before Ethan had collided with the Shield Tank earlier, he had noticed Slashblade holding a staff, a faint glow of white light gathering in his hands, the telltale sign of Basic Heal. When Ethan had emerged unscathed, Slashblade had canceled the spell mid-cast. Slashblade hesitated for a moment before nodding and casting Basic Heal on Birdsoar. Birdsoar''s health bar shot back to full instantly. Early-game Priests were absurdly powerful, one spell was all it took to restore a nearly dead tank. Seeing his health restored, Birdsoar smirked mockingly. "Oh, youre actually a Priest, huh? You hid it quite well. Well, lucky for you, you''requite smart." He gestured toward Ethan with forced confidence, masking his unease. "Still, your little trick doesn''t change the facts. That gear you just picked up, it''s worth more than you know. Hand it over and let''s forget about this whole mess with our dignity intact." Ethan chuckled, "You think we''re negotiating? His panther form twisted his grin into something chilling, his fangs glinting with a bloodthirsty light. Birdsoar flinched. "Uh¡­ on second thought, you can keep it. Consider it a gift!" He began inching backward, clearly preparing to bolt. Too late. Ethan surged forward, a streak of black lightning, tackling Birdsoar to the ground. Two swift Rake attacks slashed deep into his face, carving an "X" across his features as blood sprayed violently. Birdsoar''s screams filled the air, interspersed with curses and threats. Ethan wasn''t finished. He kept slashing. Rake. Rake. Even though the bleed effect didn''t stack, the scars did. His claws shredded Birdsoar''s chest, leaving crisscrossing wounds so deep that chunks of flesh began to peel away. "Hey, uh, I''m running low on mana!" Slashblade voice called out hesitantly, his forehead glistening with sweat. Nearby, the Paladin was crouched, his face etched with obvious shock. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Slashblade continued tossing Basic Heals on Birdsoar, terrified that if Ethan wasn''t satisfied, he might turn on them next. He didn''t want to find out how far Ethan''s sadism extended. "Keep it up, I''m almost done." Ethan said, not even glancing back. Slashblade reluctantly pulled out a mana potion, grimacing as he downed it. In the early game, mana potions cost 5 silver apiece, an outrageous price. This one had dropped from a kill earlier, and Slashblade would have never spent the money otherwise. Ethan swapped out his weapon, replacing his +10 Bronze-tier Heavy Warhammer with a basic starter mace. Though it dealt less damage, the pain it inflicted was no less severe. He aimed a vicious swipe at Birdsoar''s most sensitive region. A piercing shriek, ten times louder than before, tore through the area. Players nearby stopped what they were doing, glancing toward the source of the noise, but the dense underbrush concealed the carnage. Ethan struck again and again until Birdsoar''s screams ceased entirely. A 20-second countdown timer appeared above his head, forced logout. "Guess he called for help," Ethan muttered, realizing someone had forcibly removed Birdsoar''s VR headset in the real world. If Birdsoar had been using a high-end VR capsule, he would have logged out instantly, escaping with his gear intact. "That wasn''t enough," Ethan grumbled, quickly executing two Shred attacks to finish Birdsoar off. With a final gasp, Birdsoar''s body crumpled into white light. Clatter. His gear spilled across the ground, a glittering pile of loot. Chapter 21 - 21: The Swamp Leviathan Ethan knelt over the pile of loot on the ground, rummaging through it casually until his fingers brushed a ring. He inspected it briefly, confirming it was a perception-boosting accessory. No wonder Birdsoar had managed to locate him earlier. Sliding the ring onto his finger, Ethan tossed the shield from the loot pile to the side. "Tell Skyblade to switch to a Shield Tank," he said bluntly, his tone leaving no room for debate. He remembered how, in his previous life, Skyblade had regretted choosing the Weapon Master class. Toward the late game, Skyblade had been envious of Shield Tanks who could stand on the frontline, leading entire raid parties. Unfortunately, the stat allocation system didn''t allow for a reset. Even if a player''s level dropped back to one, their stat points would slowly revert to the previous build over time. Ethan glanced at the corpses of Birdsoar and his party, now dissolved into white light. They had likely respawned at the nearest revival point in the city. Seeing no immediate threats to the rest of Slashblade''s group, Ethan activated Stealth and slipped into the shadows, continuing toward his destination. Meanwhile, Slashblade and the Paladin were left standing amidst the scattered loot, momentarily stunned. "All he took was a ring?" the Paladin muttered, surprised. "And he just tossed out a shield, telling Skyblade to switch classes. Is he¡­ advising us?" Slashblade added. The duo exchanged puzzled glances. Was this person insane? Or just too rich to care about such valuable loot? Either way, his earlier behavior, mercilessly slaughtering Birdsoar''s team, hinted at something darker. A lunatic, perhaps. Whatever the case, Slashblade knew one thing for certain: they had hit the jackpot. Not only could they recover Skyblade''s losses, but they could even turn a tidy profit from the surplus gear. As Slashblade began gathering the scattered items, a thought crossed his mind. The brothers he had to care for, the families of his fallen comrades¡ªthey all depended on him. Money wasn''t just important; it was everything. Ethan, on the other hand, was nearing his target coordinates. He checked the minimap to confirm. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "This is the place." Standing at the base of a winding mountain trail, Ethan deactivated Stealth and broke into a sprint, his speed pushed to its limit. The trail climbed steeply, zigzagging toward the summit. It wasn''t long before he reached the edge of a cliff. Below lay a vast swamp, with crumbling high-rises draped in vines visible in the distance. This had once been a bustling metropolis, reduced to a decaying wasteland. The swamp itself had been the city''s sewage treatment facility. The mountain he now stood upon was a former landfill site, thrust skyward during the planetary collision that reshaped the world. Ethan recalled learning these details from a map description added in a later update. As he walked along the cliff''s edge, scanning the swamp below, his gaze locked onto a metallic pole resembling a lightning rod. Stopping beneath it, he muttered to himself, "This is the spot. Last time, I fell here and died." Shifting into his panther form, Ethan adjusted his stance carefully. He backed up a few steps, measuring the distance before leaping off the edge. This wasn''t a reckless act. Twenty meters below the cliff was a small ledge, just half a meter wide. He had discovered it in his past life when a pursuer''s attack sent him tumbling to his death. To his surprise, the ledge overlooked the hunting grounds of a hidden boss. Beneath that ledge lay the hunting grounds of the Swamp Leviathan, the ultimate boss of the starter zone. The Swamp Leviathan was a Level 20 boss, a treasure trove for new players. It dropped silver-tier weapons usable by any class and with no level restrictions. Despite their low entry requirements, these weapons boasted attributes equivalent to genuine Level 20 silver-tier equipment, making them a dream for early-game players. Better yet, the Leviathan''s loot included weapons with guaranteed fixed damage bonuses, a rarity. Players often wore these weapons well beyond Level 20, as their performance rivaled even Level 80 common iron gear or Level 60 bronze-tier gear. But there was a catch. The Swamp Leviathan only respawned when the servers rebooted, meaning players had one shot per day to claim its loot. Apart from weapons, it also dropped rare skill books, a treasure trove for anyone lucky enough to land a kill. In his previous life, the Swamp Leviathan had been one of the most sought-after bosses. Even in the late game, high-level players camped its spawn point, as it was the only silver-tier weapon that could be acquired with relative ease. Many casual players kept these weapons well past Level 100 due to their versatility. The area around the Leviathan had been a chaotic warzone. Players killed each other relentlessly, leaving the swamp littered with bodies and gear. The situation became so bad that Aeon Corporation had eventually patched the game, barring players over Level 15 from returning to the starter zones. Even after that, low-level players fought tooth and nail for the Leviathan. Every spawn resulted in dozens of deaths, and the collected loot often surpassed the value of the boss''s weapon. Each day, one lucky victor would walk away with a fortune. But killing the Swamp Leviathan wasn''t the hardest part. Nor was fending off competing players. The real challenge was reaching it. The swamp below was filled with Level 15 Lesser Crocodiles, passive creatures that posed no immediate threat unless disturbed. However, their sheer numbers were a nightmare. Step on one by accident, and it would let out a roar, alerting every crocodile within a 10x10-meter radius. A single misstep could awaken hundreds of them, resulting in a gruesome and immediate death. To make matters worse, any player killed in the swamp had their body classified as "destroyed." Resurrection at the nearest graveyard was the only option, which came with a level drop and a debilitating weakened status. It effectively removed them from the competition for the boss. Ethan''s body descended rapidly, his eyes fixed on the narrow outcropping below. As he approached, he switched to his owl form and activated Wingbeat, using it to steady his glide. Pressing himself against the cliff face, he managed to avoid drifting too far off course. With his heart pounding, Ethan landed on the ledge with a soft thud. He exhaled deeply in relief. If his jump had been even slightly off, he would''ve plummeted directly onto the Leviathan''s back¡ªa guaranteed death sentence. Finally, his feet touched solid ground. Relief washed over him. The ledge''s position was perfect, hidden from view unless someone stood directly on it. From here, he could see the Swamp Leviathan below, slumbering in the shallow swamp. Ethan''s lips curled into a smirk. This discovery had been his alone in his past life. By the time others found it, he''d already profited enough to move on to higher-level zones. The massive creature lay coiled in its muddy lair, its thick scales glinting faintly. With a health pool of over 40,000, it was no pushover. Ethan checked his spell rotation. With all his available spells, he could deal fixed damage per second, regardless of the target''s defense. Combined with Ethereal''s guarantee that spells always hit their target, it would take hours to whittle the boss down, but it was doable. Ethan glanced at the in-game clock. It was just past midnight. Seven hours remained before the server shutdown, more than enough time for the kill. Ethan cast his first spell, Moonfire, followed by Sunburn. The effects stacked immediately, and he began spamming Lunar Beam. The Swamp Leviathan roared, its body shaking as it rose, locking its gaze on Ethan. It lunged toward him, massive limbs creating tremors with each step. But the ledge was out of reach. It tried to climb the cliff, standing on its hind legs to roar in frustration. Even at full height, it was still meters below Ethan. Completely unfazed, Ethan continued casting Lunar Beam repeatedly. He didn''t bother keeping track of his balance bar, which shifted between lunar and solar energy. Every cast inflicted at least one point of damage, regardless of alignment, so he saw no need to overthink it. Minutes passed. Then Ethan noticed something strange¡ªhis mana bar had dipped slightly. "Huh?" He paused mid-cast and switched to Solar Flare. His mana stopped decreasing. Testing further, Ethan realized the issue: when the Balance Meter tipped toward lunar energy, casting lunar spells consumed mana. But when balanced or leaning solar, they were free. Understanding dawned. The Balance Meter wasn''t just for show; it was a core mechanic for sustain. By keeping both energies equal, he could avoid draining his mana entirely. Adjusting his rotation, Ethan recalculated his kill time. With Solar Flare taking 1.5 seconds per cast instead of one, he worried he might run out of time. But as long as he kept his balance, he''d make it. Chapter 22 - 22: A Womans Beauty Doesnt Matter Ethan checked the timer. He calculated quickly and sighed with relief, it should be enough. The last thing he wanted was to get booted offline mid-battle when the game''s mandatory rest period hit. That would be a waste. Although bosses didn''t regenerate health overnight, leaving the job half-finished would mean losing an entire refresh cycle. If he finished the kill today, tomorrow''s server reset would spawn a fresh one. Ethan kept hammering away, mindlessly grinding through the same repetitive motions. Thankfully, he was using the system''s free beginner skills. If he had to chant spells and trace hand gestures for every cast, he''d have gone insane. Bored out of his mind, Ethan opened his friend list and sent a video call request to Lyla. The screen flickered, and her familiar face appeared. Her attention was elsewhere, though, her focus entirely on the game. Ethan couldn''t help but stare, momentarily distracted by her profile. Lyla had chosen the Elf race. The pointed ears suited her delicate, sweet features, giving her an ethereal beauty that made her character look like it had stepped out of a fairytale. Curiosity got the better of him. "Lyla, what are you up to?" "I''m leveling up, duh. Whew, finally killed it!" Lyla spun around to face him, dimples flashing as she grinned. Ethan caught a glimpse of her surroundings. She was grinding in a Level 5 area. "Wait, you didn''t go to that spot I told you about?" Lyla launched another volley of arrows before replying, her hands busy. "I did! Took down that Wolf King, Hossman. It took two hours! So boring. And it drained my wallet, I''m nearly out of money for arrows!" Ethan sighed. Not everyone could tolerate the soul-crushing grind. He could hardly blame her. After all, here he was, wasting time on a video call instead of focusing. "What level are you now? Did it drop anything good?" Ethan asked, knowing that Hossman, a Level 5 leader-tier boss, had a guaranteed first-kill drop. "I''m almost Level 6. The kill boosted me by two and a half levels! Oh, and check this out!" Lyla held up a silver bow shimmering faintly under the in-game sunlight. Its elegant, wing-like design curved into a graceful arc. Ethan whistled. "A Silver weapon for your class? Damn, you''re lucky." He wasn''t exaggerating either. For a beginner, managing to solo a leader-tier boss, even with guidance, was impressive. His praise made Lyla''s cheeks turn red, and she shot him a playful glare. The teasing look sent Ethan''s heart racing. He quickly covered it with a joke. "Alright, back to it! Don''t go shooting random teammates again." "Ethan! I only misfired because you distracted me!" she hissed in a whisper, glancing nervously at her party. Her earlier accidental shot had drawn some good-natured grumbling from one of them. Ethan couldn''t stop laughing. "Sure, sure. Jealous of their beauty, weren''t you? That might have been deliberate!" "Hmph, I''m ending the call!" Lyla cut him off with a mock glare before shutting down the video call. Smirking, Ethan turned back to his own grind. With Lyla close to Level 6, he couldn''t afford to slack off. His XP bar sat at 98% toward Level 5. He opened the leaderboard. His name still topped the charts, with the second-place player trailing at Level 4 with 70% progress. Of course, these rankings were only temporary, limited to the Starter Zone. The leaderboard would expand to regional statistics once the first player left the zone, eventually unlocking a national ranking system after the first major faction war. Ethan eyed the names below his own. None rang a bell. From what he remembered, Zone 1314 hadn''t produced any standout players in his previous life. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ding¡­ [You have a new friend request. Please check] A system notification popped up. Curious, he opened it. It was a friend request from Skyblade. Ethan hesitated for a moment before accepting. He wasn''t exactly surprised. Being the only Druid in Zone 1314 made it pretty obvious who he was. A message followed almost immediately: Skyblade: "Hey! Um¡­ Legend. Why''d you tell me to switch to a Shield Tank?" Ethan winced at the title. Legend. Everyone had called him that during his first life, at least in the early days. Later, most people couldn''t wait to see him fail. Ethan replied curtly: "Follow your instincts." It wasn''t like he had a personal vendetta against Skyblade playing something else. In his previous life, he''d just gotten tired of hearing Skyblade complain nonstop and had offhandedly suggested the change. "Alright, I''ll do it. Shield Tank it is," Skyblade replied. Ethan was about to suggest that Skyblade think it over more carefully when another message popped up. Skyblade: "Um, we''re setting up a guild. Wanna join?" The words hit Ethan like d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Skyblade had said the exact same thing to him in his past life. Back then, Ethan had been a rogue, and their initial encounter hadn''t exactly been friendly. Skyblade had been flirting shamelessly with a girl who looked¡­ less than appealing. Ethan, thoroughly disgusted, had almost punched him. Somehow, that had evolved into Skyblade tagging along and dragging Ethan into his guild plans. The timing had been different, though. Last time, this hadn''t happened until most players reached Level 10. Why the sudden rush this time? And back then, Skyblade''s crew didn''t include Slashblade either. Was his rebirth already causing ripple effects? After a moment''s thought, Ethan replied: "Fine. But the guild name can''t be Avalon Vanguard, and I''m the leader. Also, are you about to ask me for money?" Skyblade froze when he read the message. "Leo, what''s up? Did the guy say yes?" asked Williams, the Paladin in their group, jabbing Skyblade''s side. Slashblade leaned over, equally curious. Without a word, Skyblade shared Ethan''s response in their party chat. For a moment, all three stared blankly at the screen. Just minutes ago, they''d been brainstorming their guild name and settled on Avalon Vanguard. They had marched straight to the Guild Registration Hall, only to discover it cost five gold coins to register a guild. Pooling their funds had left them with less than one gold coin. That was when Williams had suggested sending Skyblade to sweet-talk Ethan into joining them. At first, Skyblade had refused outright. But then Slashblade, with a threathning expression, leaned in and said, "You''ll go, or I''ll have my sister come and deal with you personally." Skyblade froze. He didn''t need the reminder of just how terrifying Slashblade''s sister could be. Sure, her curves were impossible to ignore, generous in all the right places, but everything else about her made him want to bolt. Built like a tank and radiating an aura of sheer dominance, she was more than just intimidating; she was suffocating. To Skyblade, beauty was a fleeting distraction, easily erased when the lights went out. But curves? Curves had staying power. They had a certain utility, an undeniable allure that transcended fear. Yet even his steadfast motto felt shaky when it came to her. Chapter 23 - 23: Renegade Alliance The three men stared at Ethan''s message, speechless for a solid minute. It was Williams who finally broke the silence, slapping Slashblade lightly on the shoulder and exclaiming, "Did I just see wrong?!" Slashblade nodded solemnly. "You saw it right." "Holy crap, he''s not just a pro, Is he a goddamn deity or something?" Williams shouted, his shock bubbling over. "Must''ve been dumb luck," Skyblade muttered, finally snapping out of his stupor. "Why don''t you try getting lucky like that?" Slashblade shot back. Ding¡­ [You have received new message.] Just as the group was scrambling for what to do next, Skyblade noticed a system notification pop up. The message read: "Let''s call it the Renegade Alliance." Attached to it were five gold coins. Sender: NotADruid. "...." --- Ethan smirked as he sent off the message, then refocused on his grinding. The massive swamp leviathan bellowed in frustration, slamming its head into the rocky walls of the ridge. It was down to half health now, but it was already 3:45 a.m. Ethan''s bloodshot eyes betrayed how long he had been at this, mindlessly repeating the same attack pattern like a machine. Finally, at 7:30 a.m., the leviathan let out a deafening death cry. Its body collapsed, belly-up, lifeless. Ding¡­ [You have slain the Swamp Leviathan. Overlevel kill bonus: 3000% experience boost. You have earned 124,000 XP (Base XP: 2,000; Overlevel Bonus: 60,000; Ability Growth Bonus: 62,000).] A cascade of golden light enveloped Ethan, signaling five consecutive level-ups. He was now level 10, with 78% of the experience bar already filled. Ding¡­ [Global announcement: Congratulations on achieving the world''s first kill of a level 20 field boss: Swamp Leviathan. Would you like to hide your character name?] "Hide it," Ethan confirmed without hesitation. More notifications followed in rapid succession, each carrying a reward he had long anticipated. As the leviathan''s massive corpse dissolved into faint light, it left behind a shimmering staff, two skill books, and several reinforcement stones. Ethan hovered down gracefully using Wingbeat, avoiding the swamp''s waters. "No lesser crocodiles in sight, good." He didn''t want to risk stepping on one. Landing near the loot, Ethan quickly swept it up: a silver-tier staff, two skill books (Precision Block and Rapidfire Barrage), fourteen reinforcement stones, and 1 gold, 52 silver coins. Not bad. Even though the skill books weren''t useful for him, Precision Block would be perfect for Skyblade''s shield class, and Rapidfire Barrage? That was going straight to Lyla. It was an advanced skill book with an abysmally low drop rate. In his last life, even players above level 100 who specialized in the Archer class rarely got their hands on it. If this book were sold after the game opened up its currency exchange system in the future, it could easily fetch $150,000. Right now, it was worth even more. But for Lyla, the woman he had sworn to protect? This amount meant nothing. Ethan shook his head at the thought of his past self. Back then, he had barely managed to scrape by. Even during his time at the top, all he''d cared about was the game itself, completely oblivious to the potential for profit. By the time he tried to make real money, it was too late, he''d already fallen from grace. Snapping back to the present, Ethan opened his inventory and attached Precision Block to a message for Skyblade. As for Rapidfire Barrage, he''d deliver it to Lyla in person after leaving the Starter Zone. The in-game message system only worked within the Starter Zone, a convenience that didn''t exist in the main game. No cross-zone mail. No exceptions. "Ah, thanks, Legend!" Skyblade sent him a quick message, brimming with gratitude. Ethan chuckled to himself but didn''t bother replying. He guessed the messages he had sent earlier had completely shocked them, making them think he was some sort of psychic who could for tell the future. With a grin, he opened his inbox to claim the First Kill rewards. As expected, the notifications didn''t disappoint. [System Notification: First Kill Rewards Claimed] Starter Zone First Kill: 3 Silver Coins Regional First Kill: 3 Gold Coins National First Kill: 30 Gold Coins Global First Kill: 300 Gold Coins The total was three times the reward of the Level 5 Boss. But beyond the gold, there were no extra items this time. It seemed bonus loot from First Kills was randomized. Ethan''s eyes practically sparkled as he stared at the hefty 333 gold coins. He could almost feel the weight of it in his hands. "I wonder if Trusty007 can handle this much," he mused. That guy was likely still struggling to offload the 100 gold Ethan sold him earlier. Hardly anyone in the Starter Zone had enough to spend at this stage of the game. But Ethan decided to hang on to the coins for now. "Who knows when I might need it?" he reasoned. Even if it devalued, it was better to be prepared, especially with the expenses of maintaining a guild. Next, he pulled out the Wishbound Relic and upgraded the new silver-tier weapon straight to +14. [Primal Warstaff +14] Grade: Silver Required Level: None Attack: 182¨C247 (Base: 76¨C103, Enhancement: +106¨C144) Special Attribute: Adds True Damage equal to Player Level ¡Á 2 per hit. Enhancement (Level 10 Bonus): Mastery +2 Faction Restriction: Survivor Class Restriction: Mage, Warlock, Priest, Druid Holding the weapon in his hand, Ethan''s confidence surged. Its damage potential, paired with its true damage attribute, would skyrocket his efficiency. Even if it couldn''t bypass the defense of tougher monsters, the added true damage alone would let him farm at twenty times his current speed. At Level 10, the bonus was already 20 true damage per attack. In three more days, Ethan was determined to break out of the Starter Zone. In his past life, the fastest player had managed the feat in eleven days. This time, Ethan was set on smashing that record. With a glance at the clock, he saw only ten minutes left until the server shut down. Ethan returned to the cliff where he''d discovered the hidden platform. Jumping with precision, he landed exactly where he intended. Thanks to his earlier attempt, he nailed it on the first try. "This spot will do." He logged out. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan emerged from the VR capsule and wandered to Lyla''s room. The soft hum of the machine confirmed she was still logged in. Without disturbing her, he headed downstairs, washed up, and stepped outside the villa. For reasons he couldn''t explain, he felt a sudden urge to jog. Ethan began with a slow pace around the villa complex, gradually speeding up. To his astonishment, he didn''t feel the slightest fatigue, even after several laps. "What the¡­ Since when do I have this kind of stamina?" he wondered. After college, he had become a recluse, a "professional shut-in." Running even a single lap in the past would have left him gasping for air. He pushed himself to go faster, running like the wind until the twelfth lap, when his energy finally waned. Slowing to a stop, Ethan took deep breaths of the crisp evening air. His body''s transformation stunned him. He could barely remember the last time he''d felt this alive. "How is this possible?" he murmured, baffled. But as the realization set in, a small smile tugged at his lips. No matter the reason, being able to run, truly run, felt incredible. For a moment, memories of his past life flooded his mind. The endless nights confined to a wheelchair after losing his legs above the knees. The days spent disconnected from hope, dreading the moments outside the game. Never again, Ethan vowed. That life was gone forever. Chapter 24 - 24: Global Frenzy Ethan took a break to catch his breath when his phone buzzed. Pulling it from his pocket, the caller ID showed Lyla. He smiled, answering with a relaxed tone. "Where''d you disappear to?" Lyla''s voice rang out on the other end. "What, worried I ran away?" Ethan teased, starting his walk back toward the villa. "Hmph, breakfast''s ready. Come eat if you want!" Lyla snapped back playfully before hanging up. Back at the villa, the dining table was laden with a perfectly plated breakfast. After eating with Lyla and enjoying her company, the rest of the day melted into an endless spree of wandering through shops. By the time the game servers were set to open in the evening, Ethan was already feeling the weight of exhaustion. Collapsing into his VR capsule, he exhaled deeply. "Shopping all day¡­ I swear, why do women never get tired of it?" --- Once logged back in, he was still standing on the swamp platform, where the Swamp Leviathan had just respawned. Without hesitation, Ethan threw two spells at the creature. -1! -20! He felt the satisfying effect of True Damage first hand, enhancing the spells. This caused a wide grin to appear on his face. Ding... [You''ve defeated the Swamp Leviathan. Bonus for over-level combat: +1500% EXP gain! Reward: 64,000 EXP (Base: 2,000; Over-Level Bonus: 30,000; Unique Talent Growth Bonus: 32,000).] A vibrant glow enveloped Ethan as two golden rings of light lifted him to Level 12, with 1% progress on his next bar. "Yesterday, my damage peaked at 180 per minute," Ethan mused. "Today, it''s soaring over 3,700 in the same timeframe." However, the smaller level gap meant less bonus EXP for overlevel kills. Still, this time it took less than 20 minutes to take down the Swamp Leviathan, a massive improvement in efficiency. Using the Wingbeat skill to descend, Ethan collected a silver-tier one-handed sword, a gold coin, and eleven reinforcement stones from the fallen beast. While druids could wield a wide variety of weapons, items like one-handed swords, hammers, bows, crossbows, and shields were incompatible with the class. Without hesitation, Ethan used all eleven reinforcement stones, upgrading his staff to +25. He took a moment to check his current stats: --- [[NotADruid] Class: Druid Race: Human Level: 12 Faction: Survivor Bloodline: King of Elves (Divine) Strength: 60 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Enhances physical attack. Intelligence: 60 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Increases magical attack and mana pool. Agility: 60 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Improves attack speed, movement speed, and energy recovery. Stamina: 60 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Boosts defense. Vitality: 60 (Growth Index: 20) ¨C Expands health capacity. Enhanced Stats: Omni +2, Mastery +4, Critical +4, Haste +3 Attack Power: 330¨C491 Defense: 126¨C228 Health: 1,200 Free Stat Points: 0 Experience: 1,211 / 44,000 Skills: Basic Appraisal: Analyze monsters up to 5 levels higher. Equipment: Weapon: Primal Warstaff (Leviathan) +25 Bracelet: Blazing Bracelet +30 Rings: Ring of True Sight, Ring of Detection Helmet: Pilot''s Hood Chest: Pilot''s Vest Pants: Pilot''s Leather Pants Gloves: Pilot''s Gloves Boots: Pilot''s Boots The slots for shoulders, wrists, belt, and necklace were still empty. Ethan couldn''t help but feel a swell of pride. "Most players my level would be lucky to deal even a quarter of my damage." Enhanced attributes in the game became accessible after upgrading bronze-tier or higher gear to +10, +20, or +30. Bronze gear provided +1, silver +2, and so on. For instance, Omni, which had gotten when he hit +10 for the bracelet. Critical Hits were straightforward, each point increased crit chance by 0.3%. Haste was split into physical and magical bonuses. One point added a 0.3% boost to attack speed for physical classes or casting speed for magic users. Mastery was a bit more complex, especially for druids, since it changed based on forms: Panther Form: +1% to Bleed and finishing move damage for every point. Owl Form: +1% to Astral damage. As for the other forms, Ethan didn''t know yet. In his previous life, druids were so rare that few players even managed to equip reinforced gear. Ethan could already start the quest to unlock Bear Form, but he decided not to waste time. Getting out of the Starter Zone as soon as possible was his priority; that''s where the real game began. Shifting into his druid form, Ethan sprinted forward. With his Agility stat, his base movement speed in human form was already at 106%. After transforming into Panther Form, it surged to 136%, making him absurdly fast. Most players received a 0.1% speed boost for every two Agility points. Thanks to Ethan''s divine growth, each point of his Agility provided a 0.1% boost. Ethan''s goal was simple: claim the first kills on both the Level 10 and Level 15 Starter Zone bosses. The gold rewards were nothing to scoff at. When He arrived at the Spectral Wolf''s Level 15 spawn zone, a system message popped up. [Incoming message from Skyblade.] "Hey, is that you at the top of the rankings?" Ethan had hidden his character name, but the leaderboard in Zone 1314 showed a Level 12 player at the top. The second-place player was barely Level 5. Speculation exploded in the global chat. Even Skyblade wasn''t entirely sure it was Ethan. He wasn''t the only one wondering. The situation was causing ripples not just in Zone 1314 but worldwide. An eighth-level European player, a paladin from the Survivor Faction, posted: "What? Someone''s already Level 12? How''s that even possible?" A seventh-level Japanese player with twin blades from the Carnage Faction chimed in: "No way I''m losing to a bunch of noobs. Must be some kind of cheat or perhaps, a bug..." A Korean Necromancer at Level 7, also Carnage Faction, confidently declared: "That player? Probably one of us. Koreans always dominate at this. They''re definitely grinding out of Dragonspire." Meanwhile, a hulking shield tank, Survivor Faction, muttered in a heavy accent before typing: "Hey, whoever you are, you''re sitting on some kind of trick for leveling. Don''t keep it to yourself, spill it." ¡ª Dragonspire, Starter Zone 1 A ninth-level archer had just brought down a massive Level 12 Savage Bear. Checking his private messages, he muttered, "Interesting," before preparing to kite his next target. His strategy was simple, stay mobile and out of melee range while whittling down enemies. Though his damage numbers were low, often single digits, his arrows inflicted bonus True Damage and applied various debuffs like slow effects. Had Ethan been there to witness this, he would have cursed the extravagance. Archers were known to be the fastest solo leveling class, but only for those with money. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. High-tier arrows with additional True Damage and debuff effects came at a steep price. Even the most basic enhancement arrows cost 5 silver coins per barrel, each containing 1,000 arrows, but their damage was mediocre. This archer''s attacks, however, packed an additional 100 True Damage per shot. While not the best on the market, such arrows still cost at least 5 gold coin per barrel. Every shot cost roughly 5 copper coins¡ªthat''s $9 in USD per shot. It was as if the player were burning cash for fun. This particular individual had single-handedly driven the gold-to-silver exchange rate in Dragonspire''s Eastern Zone Starter Area to a jaw-dropping $1,000 for a single silver coin. This was the infamous legend known as Feather. In Ethan''s previous life, a pretty reknown group of people had mocked his methods, spreading rumours that he was a Pay-to-Win Pin Cushion. The insult was short-lived, Feather had tracked down his critics, hunting and forcing them back to the starter zone. This had caused everyone to revere him as the God of Arrows. Chapter 25 - 25: Into the Fray. Just as Ethan was about to respond to Skyblade''s message, his interface chimed with a cascade of notifications. He opened his friends list and nearly groaned at the sight. His friend request inbox had exploded. Without hesitation, Ethan toggled on the auto-decline friend requests function and wiped the slate clean. By now, he had long set his privacy settings to block private messages from anyone who wasn''t already on his friends list. Denied a direct way to contact him, these people resorted to flooding him with friend requests instead. Most of them were players from Zone 1314. They must have guessed the mysterious leaderboard ranker was him and were trying to confirm it. Ethan sighed and opened the rankings panel, switching his visibility setting to hidden. This action caused a huge reaction from the world chat. [Anonymous]: "Hey, that Level 12 guy just disappeared from the list!" [Anonymous]: "Yeah, what''s happening? You think he exploited some glitch and got banned?" [Anonymous]: "Serves him right for showing off! Ban him for eternity!" Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Anonymous]: "I''m telling you, it''s that druid guy! He must''ve glitched his way into the starter zone!" Reading the world chat made Ethan roll his eyes. "Idiots," he muttered to himself. "You don''t even realize that hiding from the rankings is a privilege reserved for top players. That''s what we call staying low-profile." After handling the notifications, Ethan couldn''t be bothered to reply to Skyblade. Instead, he focused on the spectral wolf in front of him, Basic Appraisal. --- [Corrupted Spectral Wolf] Class: Common Level: 15 HP: 2400 Attack: 68¨C118 Defense: 59¨C98 Ability: Swift Stride (Increases movement speed by 70% for 10 seconds. Cooldown: 1 minute.) Description: A relentless minion of the dark world. No prey escapes its pursuit. --- Ethan frowned, recalling that the Wolf King also had the Swift Stride skill. He had originally planned to kite the boss using speed, wearing it down slowly. That tactic might not work here. He''d have to reconsider. Well, while he was here, he might as well grind. These spectral wolves may have been three levels above him, boosting their defense by 1.5 times, but his almost 500 attack power was more than enough to break through. As for their attacks? It was quite laughable. A three-level gap might triple their critical hit rate, but Ethereal''s crit multiplier was only 1.5x. Even at their best, they couldn''t scratch his defenses. With a predatory grin, Ethan muttered, "Let''s go big." In an instant, his form shifted into that of a panther. Without hesitation, he lunged straight into the pack of spectral wolves. The wolves exploded into a frenzy. Howls filled the night as the pack descended upon him. He glanced back to see a swarm of over ten wolves hot on his heels, some activating Swift Stride to snap at him relentlessly. Their bites barely grazed his 1,200 HP, chipping away tiny slivers at a time, utterly insignificant. Ethan darted left and right, controlling the group''s positioning. Then, shifting again into his owl form, he unleashed Sunburn into the heart of the pack. A vibrant 3x3 zone of burning flames engulfed the spectral wolves, applying a Burn Debuff. --- [Sunburn]: Deals burn damage equal to 35% of player attack power every second for 26 seconds. --- A cascade of damage floated above the wolves: -31, -24, -31, -24¡­ With each tick, an additional true damage of 24 points stacked on. In his owl form, Ethan''s defensive stats rose by 36%, making him untouchable. The only downside? Casting spells left him stationary. He gritted his teeth and stood his ground, layering Lunar Beam on each wolf. Switching back to panther form, he dashed through the pack, raking them with Rend to stack true damage. Unfortunately, Rend consumed 35 energy per cast, draining him after only three uses. Frustrated, Ethan abandoned the move. Thirty seconds later, the pack lay scattered across the ground, defeated. A flood of +300 XP notifications filled his interface. Checking his health, Ethan noted he''d lost over 400 points. Despite his high defense, sheer numbers still wore him down, ticking away ten points per second from minor hits. Ethan frowned, realizing the train-pulling method wasn''t efficient against Corrupted Spectral Wolves. Their high movement speed made it hard to gather them into a proper group for grinding. He''d need to find slower monsters to execute this strategy effectively. He scavenged the fallen wolves, pocketing a handful of single copper coins and tattered pelts. Though he had over 300 gold in his inventory, a huge fortune, it felt wrong to leave behind even small gains. A man who knows the value of every penny is a wise man. Every coin counts. While rummaging through one of the larger wolf corpses, something caught his eye, a book. A grin spread across his face. Skill books were rare, with drop rates of only 0.01% from common monsters. And yet, here it was: --- [Skill Book: Bramble Bind] Effect: Summons thorny vines under an enemy, rooting them in place and dealing damage equal to 10% of the player''s attack per second. Lasts 10 seconds. Cooldown: 1 minute. Notes: PvP: Affected players can destroy vines by attacking them. Vine HP equals 10% of the player''s max HP. Vulnerable to fire magic, which ignores durability and destroys vines instantly. Class: Druid (Owl Form specialization required) Level Requirement: 10 Cast Type: 1 chant syllable + 1 hand gesture --- Ethan''s grin widened. This is exactly what I needed! Only moments ago, he''d been worrying about how to take on the Wolf King. Now, this skill offered a solution. With its near-instant cast time, it was a perfect counter for the boss''s speed. He didn''t hesitate, one click and the skill was learned. Switching to Stealth, Ethan crept toward the hill''s center. Soon, he arrived at the Wolf King''s hunting grounds. Surveying the area, his brow furrowed. The terrain was too cramped, with Corrupted Spectral Wolves roaming on all sides. Fighting the boss would inevitably draw the others'' attention, making the battle nearly impossible. He''d have to clear out the small fry first. Four directions. Four groups. Ten minutes of grueling work. Eventually, he carved out a safe zone. During the process, Ethan tested his new skill and quickly realized a key detail: timing was everything. Bramble Bind had to be cast the moment the Wolf King activated its Swift Stride; otherwise, the boss''s enhanced speed would make dodging easy. Taking a deep breath, Ethan positioned himself 40 meters from the Wolf King, his max casting range. For the first time across two lifetimes, he''d attempt a solo fight against a commander-tier boss without exploiting terrain. Earlier, he''d used Basic Appraisal to check its stats. The Wolf King had 34,800 HP, over 600 attack, and a moderate 200 defense. ''This is going to be interesting.'' Ethan initiated the fight with Sunburn and Lunar Beam, casting both back-to-back. --- -1, -24! --- The Wolf King howled, taking two powerful strides toward Ethan before pausing, its hind legs bending in preparation for a leap. Now! Ethan''s hand moved swiftly. Bramble Bind! Thorny vines erupted from the ground, ensnaring the Wolf King''s paws just as the characteristic whirlwind of Swift Stride began to swirl around it. The boss struggled, growling furiously, but the vines held firm, preventing it from moving even an inch. Ten seconds passed. As the vines dissolved, the Swift Stride effect also faded, leaving the Wolf King to charge forward at its default speed. Though still fast, Ethan''s panther form had a slight edge. He kited the beast in wide circles, forcing it to chase him hopelessly while repeatedly. When safe, he shifted into his owl form to reapply debuffs before switching back to panther form to stay ahead. The Wolf King growked angrily, unable to navigate the terrain or cut him off directly. It was nothing more than a hulking mass of fur and frustration, endlessly eating Ethan''s dust. Ethan kept one eye on the Bramble Bind cooldown, knowing it was identical to the boss''s Swift Stride cooldown. As soon as the skill came off cooldown, he cast it again without hesitation. Timing would determine the success of this hunt. Chapter 26 - 26: Power-levelling The Group Forty minutes later, the Spectral Wolf King crashed to the ground, lifeless, its massive frame stirring up a cloud of dust. Four server-first kill notifications lit up the sky, but as usual, Ethan opted to stay anonymous. The experience points rewarded were just 12,000 in total. Quite disappointing, considering the risk. In Ethereal, experience gained from defeating monsters increased exponentially with level gaps. If a monster''s level exceeded a player''s by up to five levels, the system granted 100% bonus XP per additional level. From six to ten levels higher, the bonus jumped to 200%. Beyond ten levels? A staggering 300%. That''s why, when Ethan, at Level 5, took down the Level 20 Swamp Leviathan, he raked in an astonishing 3,000% XP bonus. For context, regular field monsters granted experience equal to ten times their level. Elite monsters offered fifty times their level, while Boss monsters rewarded a hundred times. Dungeon monsters, however, provided ten times the XP of their field counterparts but came with challenges that no average team could overcome without flawless teamwork. Despite the XP potential, solo grinding or dungeon diving was an option only for the most skilled or reckless players. The majority had to team up, dividing the spoils. The result? Experience gains so thin they were barely worth the effort. Ethan surveyed the loot scattered across the ground, feeling his excitement quickly fade. Nothing extraordinary. Not even a single silver-tiered item. All he got were a few Reinforcement Stones and a bronze-tiered belt that needed appraisal. Unlike high-tier items like the Blazing Bracelet, or the Primal Warstaff he''d looted from the Swamp Leviathan, lower-quality gear required appraisal. Without it, the items couldn''t even be equipped. Unfortunately, Ethan couldn''t return to town to appraise the belt. Right now, being a red-named player, he was barred from city gates, risking capture and imprisonment by the town guards until his Sin Value dropped to zero, a time sink he couldn''t afford. Not that it mattered. With his loot secured, Ethan moved on, setting his sights on the next target: the Level 10 Berserk Bear. Just as he was about to head out, a loud ding interrupted his thoughts. [Global Announcement: Player ''Feather'' has achieved the first kill of the Level 10 Boss ''Berserk Bear'' in the Eastern Sector of Dragonspire! Rewards will be distributed via inbox shortly.] Ethan froze, his heart sinking. Then another ding followed, this time, a national announcement. Looking up at the glowing text, Ethan groaned. He should''ve prioritized the lower-level Boss. Now, at least 100 gold coins worth of rewards had slipped through his fingers. "Feather, huh?" Ethan muttered, suppressing a pang of annoyance. "That Archer seems as good as ever even in this life. Guess the god of arrows lives up to his title." The system announcement''s wording made one thing clear: Feather had taken down the Berserk Bear solo. Team efforts had different phrasing, and Ethan knew it. Still grumbling over the missed opportunity, Ethan sprinted toward the Berserk Bear''s spawn point. The Boss''s stats flashed across his vision. It wasn''t much of a threat to him now. At Level 12, he had a two-level advantage over the Boss, giving him the edge. Without hesitation, he launched into battle. Minutes later, the Berserk Bear crumpled under Ethan''s relentless assault, netting him a regional first-kill bonus and over ten gold coins. Among the loot was a bronze-tiered cloak, visually striking but still unappraised. With two Bosses down, Ethan focused on strengthening his weapon. Using Reinforcement Stones from both battles, he pushed his weapon to +30. His attack power surged past 500, and his Mastery stat gained two points. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At Level 12 with 41% XP progress, Ethan knew he''d soon outgrow the Starter Zone. But first, he needed to grind enough to leave at the earliest opportunity. The Starter Dungeon required a ten-player team to bypass its intricate traps and mechanisms, and soloing it was impossible, even for him. If Feather could solo a Level 10 Boss, Ethan needed to reach the main city before him to claim the rewards waiting there. Time was of the essence. Ethan turned his attention to grinding. Pulling groups of Corrupted Bears using a train strategy, he lured small clusters toward him. Despite his attacks, the monsters frequently fled mid-combat, causing him to lose progress. To keep them engaged, Ethan allowed himself to take a few hits, ensuring they stayed in combat. The process was slow and grueling. After a few waves, he had to pause, catching his breath and recovering health before continuing. After finishing off the current wave of Corrupted Bears, Ethan opened his friend list and sent a message to Skyblade: "Get Slashblade and that Paladin guy. Meet me in the Level 12 monster zone. I''ll power-level you guys." He included his coordinates and told them to follow the main road until they reached the outer edges of the area, where he''d come to fetch them. With their pitiful Level 4 stats, those three couldn''t survive a single swipe from the Berserk Bear, let alone fend off the Corrupted Bears. The trio, thrilled by Ethan''s offer, scrambled to make their way to him. While waiting, Ethan kept busy farming more monsters. Over an hour later, a notification popped up from Skyblade: [We''re here.] Ethan walked out to meet them, and as expected, Skyblade looked as proud as ever. He strutted over, carrying a shield on his back and a single-handed sword at his hip. Looking at him, Ethan felt a flicker of regret about advising Skyblade to switch to a Shield Tank build. With that attitude, he''d probably cause chaos during any dungeon raid. "Hey, um, Legend!" Skyblade greeted him with a cheeky grin. Ethan ignored him and patted Slashblade on the shoulder. "Let''s go. With your heals, I''ll be fine. You two can head back." "What?! Skyblade and Williams blurted out in unison, their faces a mix of disbelief and indignation. "Uh¡­" Slashblade hesitated, caught off guard. Ethan burst into laughter. "Relax, I''m just messing with you. You two aren''t totally useless, you''ll help pull mobs." With a smirk, he sent out team invites. [Ding¡­ Slashblade has joined the party!] [Ding¡­ Skyblade has joined the party!] [Ding¡­ SeraphWarrior has joined the party!] It was only now that Ethan noticed Williams''s in-game name: SeraphWarrior. He froze for a moment. SeraphWarrior wasn''t just any player, he was a legend. Though he didn''t rise to prominence in the early days of Ethereal, he became a big name during the Great National War event. Along with Heaven''s Dawn, he was one of the elite players who had cemented their place in history. Ethan studied him curiously. Back then, during the game''s late phase, Ethan had been reduced to scavenging abandoned mines, hunting for Titanite to survive in the real world. He''d never heard Skyblade mention either Slashblade or SeraphWarrior. Did something happen to their group later? Pushing aside his doubts, Ethan led the group down the cleared path into the Corrupted Bear spawning grounds. He assigned Skyblade and SeraphWarrior to pull mobs, while Slashblade stayed close to Ethan as a mobile health reserve, healing him as needed. Surprisingly, the two lower-level players made excellent lures. From a distance, the monsters spotted them immediately, charging in packs toward the group. When the mobs entered Ethan''s attack range, he unleashed Sunburn, pulling their aggro toward himself. With the threat neutralized, the two players went off to pull more monsters. At first, Skyblade and SeraphWarrior screamed for help, their panicked cries echoing across the battlefield. But once the first wave of monsters fell, and the XP notifications started flooding their screens, their terror turned to delight. With the 700% bonus for level-gap kills, each player earned 378 XP per monster, a massive boost that skyrocketed their progress bars. For Ethan, the gains were very little. Solo, he would''ve earned 240 XP per kill. With a party, his share dropped to 108 XP. Still, the team bonus, 20% extra XP per additional party member, helped soften the blow. Without it, his losses would''ve been even greater. As the rest reveled in their rapid leveling, Ethan smirked. At least they were getting their fill. ___ Author: Twenty six chapters in. Please drop a review of what you think of the story so far. Don''t forget to leave some power stones. Chapter 27 - 27: Dominating the Starter Zone Experience gain had slightly decreased, but their efficiency had skyrocketed. As soon as the monsters entered Ethan''s attack range, they were instantly scorched by Sunburn. Most didn''t even make it halfway before they were reduced to ashes by his devastating damage output. With the massive over-level experience bonuses, the three of them hit Level 5 in just two minutes. The jump from Level 4 to 5 only required 2,720 experience points, after all. The monsters never got close enough to harm Ethan, and Slashblade, who was originally supposed to play a key role, ended up being mostly useless. Seeing that he wasn''t needed, Slashblade began clearing the battlefield and collecting loot. Eventually, he even started helping to lure monsters, but his slower speed as a healer made it a risky endeavor. At Ethan''s suggestion, Slashblade reluctantly returned to cleanup duty, occasionally venturing out to lure monsters when it was safe. Half an hour later, the group had reached Level 7. Their progress was nothing short of remarkable, and even Ethan felt a twinge of envy. If only someone could power-level him this quickly. But at Level 7, their speed began to slow. The over-level bonus had dropped to 400%, giving only 216 experience points per monster, while the experience needed for the next level had risen to 11,200 points. Still, it wasn''t too bad, just about fifty more monsters to go. However, Ethan noticed the number of monsters they were pulling had started to dwindle. It seemed they had nearly cleared the area. He proposed they switch locations and start pushing toward a higher-level zone. With his overwhelming damage output, not taking on higher-level monsters felt like a waste. Skyblade and the others had no objections. After experiencing the thrill of rapid leveling, they were more than willing to follow Ethan''s lead. After confirming their direction, the group advanced cautiously. Skyblade and SeraphWarrior moved ahead to lure monsters back to Ethan, who would obliterate them. Once an area was cleared, they pushed forward toward the next wave of enemies. By the time they reached the Level 13 monster zone, the entire group had hit Level 8, while Ethan''s experience bar was 80% of the way to Level 13. It was then that the in-game global chat exploded. Three Level 8 players had taken the top three spots on the leaderboard, sparking widespread attention. MadMarksman (Archer - Male): "Check the leaderboard! These three are leveling like crazy!" SunnyPiglet (Paladin - Female): "I know, right? I was partying with them earlier, they were only Level 4 then!" ChillMage (Warlock - Male): "Is this another bug? Someone, please tell me the trick!" SharpVantage (Rogue - Male): "They''re probably getting banned any second now." ¡ª Ethan and his party ignored the chatter entirely. By now, they had moved into the Level 14 Corrupted Spider zone. The spiders here were highly social, clustering in dense groups, making them perfect for their grinding strategy. The group decided to settle down and focus their efforts in the area. Ethan still benefited from the over-level bonuses, and with his Divine Abilities doubling his experience gains, his leveling speed surged further. Finally, Slashblade found a role for himself, occasionally healing Ethan when needed and continuing his battlefield cleanup. Four hours later¡­ "My inventory''s full again," Slashblade complained. "Same here," Skyblade added. "Don''t look at me," SeraphWarrior chimed in over the party chat. "I maxed out my bag during our first run back in town!" "I''m running out of inventory space too. How about we call it a day? The servers are shutting down in less than an hour anyway," Ethan said, glancing at the clock. It was already past 7 PM. "Aw, come on. Let''s grind until the very last second!" Skyblade protested, clearly addicted to the fast-paced leveling. By now, all three of them had hit Level 10, while Ethan had just reached Level 14. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the Zone 1314 leaderboard, the trio was dominating, four levels ahead of the fourth-place player. Ethan chuckled. "Keep dreaming. Everyone back to town!" Despite Skyblade''s reluctance to use his free teleport stone, Slashblade and SeraphWarrior cheerfully bid Ethan farewell and teleported back to town. Before they logged off, Ethan reminded them in the party chat, "Sort out the valuable loot in your inventory. Keep what you need and sell or trade the rest. Also, buy large-slot backpacks! Tomorrow, I''ll grind with you for one more day. After that, I''m leaving the Starter Zone." Ethan glanced at his freshly filled experience bar. Reaching Level 15 would require a hefty 65,520 experience points, but he felt confident. Taking out his once-per-day free teleport stone, Ethan activated it. The red name above his character, due to hours of monster grinding, had already disappeared. Back in the safety of Evercrest Town, the real-world sun had risen, but within Ethereal, it was sunset. The dim glow of streetlights reflected off the cement walls of the town''s buildings, casting long shadows. The streets were bustling as always. "Top-tier Level 1 Common Iron weapons! Perfect for all classes! 2 copper coins each, better than starter gear!" a Level 3 rogue shouted near the spawn area, drawing a crowd of new players to his makeshift stall. Newcomers, who started with 2 copper coins in seed money, often bought these weapons to get a slight advantage early on. They didn''t realize that the same Level 1 weapons were sold at the blacksmith shop on the north side of town for just 1 copper coin, a quick five-minute jog away. Ethan smirked as he passed by. People like this rogue existed everywhere, not exactly scammers, but opportunists. At least they saved you the trip. Pushing through the bustling streets, Ethan made his way to the Guild Hall. Earlier, when he met up with Skyblade and the others, they had sent him an invite to the newly created guild, and Slashblade had transferred the Guild Leader position to him. Since starter guilds didn''t have permanent bases, all administrative tasks had to be handled at the Guild Hall. The first thing Ethan did was painfully shell out 10 gold to unlock the first page of the guild''s shared vault. He deposited his unused equipment into the vault. The system automatically assessed the items'' attributes and assigned a contribution cost for guild members to claim them. Next, Ethan set up a dynamic contribution system for currency donations. The Ethereal AI would adjust the exchange rate based on the fluctuating market value of gold coins. Though Ethan didn''t know exactly how the system calculated it, it was impressively accurate. Finally, he configured the guild vault to allow item donations in exchange for contribution points. The system would automatically evaluate the gear''s attributes and assign appropriate rewards to encourage members to participate. Chapter 28 - 28: Taking The Bear Form Quest In Ethereal, it wasn''t as simple as throwing money around to get the gear you wanted. The best equipment was usually hoarded by elite guilds for their own members, rarely making it to the open market. When something did pop up for sale, it was often low-grade gear with absurd price tags, far beyond what the average player could afford. That''s where the Guild Vault System came into play. It was designed to address these problems perfectly. Players could earn contribution points for completing guild tasks, such as dungeon raids or quest objectives, and use those points to exchange for gear. The system evaluated the gear''s attributes and assigned a fair point value, ensuring absolute equity. Of course, there were limits. Any item withdrawn from the guild vault carried a unique tag, permanently linking it to the guild. If you left the guild, the system would reclaim the item, and the contribution points spent on it would not be refunded. This system prevented malicious players from exploiting the guild by grabbing cheap gear and flipping it on the market for profit. For those with legitimate reasons to leave the guild, the higher-ups could approve their departure. In such cases, the system would reclaim their items but compensate them with gold equivalent to their contribution, deducted directly from the guild''s coffers. However, players with strong loyalty to the guild rarely left, though exceptions existed. Rival guilds were always eager to poach skilled members. After finalizing the vault setup, Ethan reluctantly spent 100 gold coins to upgrade the guild to Level 2. A Level 1 guild could only accommodate 100 members, but at Level 2, the capacity increased to 1,000. During this early stage of the game, guilds could only upgrade to Level 2. Advancing to Level 3 required establishing a guild base, plus an exorbitant expansion fee of 1,000 gold. Not that it mattered. Ethan didn''t have a base, or anywhere near that kind of amount. A thousand gold? That was $1,800,000 in real-world currency! With everything set up, Ethan sent a message to Skyblade and Slashblade, telling them they could start recruiting. Given their current fame on the leaderboards, it wouldn''t be hard to attract players. After all, for every 10 copper coins a guild member earned in the field, the guild''s vault automatically gained 1 copper. Sure, members received only a negligible boost to their contribution points from this system, but it was a win-win situation. The more members they had, the more funds the guild could collect. Ethan had no intention of footing the massive guild upgrade costs on his own. As for vetting recruits? That could wait. It was too early in the game to judge anyone''s character. However, Ethan did send a list of player names to Skyblade and Slashblade, warning them to keep these people out of the guild at all costs. Those names belonged to infamous scammers and cheaters from Ethan''s previous life, players who had earned a reputation for being absolute scum. Topping the list were Zachary (game ID: Overlord) and Ivy (game ID: Nightfall). With everything settled, Ethan glanced at the timer. Only 40 minutes left until the servers shut down for the day. Chanting a teleportation spell, he prepared to return to the Forest of Nature to complete his Bear Form quest. His body shimmered and reappeared on the shores of Lunar Lake. The breathtaking view and crisp, fresh air helped clear his mind after hours of grinding monsters. But time was running out. He didn''t linger to admire the scenery, heading straight to the camp to find the NPC who issued the Bear Form transformation quest. As he searched, Ethan prayed he wouldn''t encounter another eccentric NPC like the one from before. That guy, in Owl Form, had started rapping at him with a voice that souded like nails on a chalkboard. If the performance had been remotely decent, Ethan might have let it slide, but it wasn''t. It was pure noise pollution. Thankfully, the Bear Form druid turned out to be more grounded. After asking around, Ethan finally located the NPC, a bear-shaped druid dozing in a cave. The glowing golden exclamation mark above its head confirmed its identity. Ethan approached but didn''t disturb its sleep. Instead, he waited quietly, stealing nervous glances at the clock. Only 20 minutes remained until the servers went offline. This quest was something Ethan had overheard about in his previous life, a rare hidden event. If he woke the Bear Druid directly, it would issue the standard transformation quest: gather a few items, complete the task, and unlock Bear Form. But if he waited patiently for the druid to wake up on its own, he''d unlock a different quest, one that awarded a rare title, Dreamwalker. As Ethan anxiously watched the seconds tick by, he tried to recall where he''d first heard about this hidden quest. The details eluded him, but a nagging instinct told him this was the right approach. "Greetings, outsider." The deep rumble of a voice startled him. With just two minutes left before the servers shut down, the massive bear rolled over and stood up, towering above him. "Honored Bear Druid," Ethan began, carefully enunciating the quest activation phrase, "I''ve come to take on the Bear Form quest." The druid turned to face him, its golden eyes gleaming. "You have waited without disturbing my rest, unlike so many others. Because of this, I have finally seen my dreams clearly. My kin, a distant group of druids have been calling to me, appearing in my dreams. I do not understand why. Will you enter my dreamscape and uncover the truth?" Ethan nodded without hesitation. "It would be my honor, Druid. How should I proceed?" The druid scratched at the ground thoughtfully. "Return tomorrow. I will seek out the Elder Tree to craft a Dream Potion for you." As the server timer ticked down to mere seconds, Ethan grinned wryly. The timing was too perfect to be coincidence, definitely a system design. He bid the Bear Druid farewell and logged out directly from the same spot, ensuring he could resume the quest as soon as he logged back in. --- After freshening up, Ethan left his room and noticed that Lyla''s door was already open. Then it hit him, it was Monday. School was in session, and she''d mentioned yesterday that she had a class during the second period. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Glancing at the clock, he cursed. 8:05 AM. He bolted downstairs, just in time to see Lyla emerging from the open kitchen, balancing two white porcelain plates. On each plate: toast, milk, and ham. "Uh¡­ Miss Silverwood, don''t tell me this is the only thing you know how to make. At least throw in a fried egg!" Ethan teased. He wasn''t a fan of this kind of breakfast, he much preferred something hearty, like a breakfast burrito. Hearing his comment, Lyla''s cheeks flushed red as she shot him a sharp glare. Realizing he''d put his foot in his mouth, Ethan gave a sheepish laugh and quickly took the plate from her. For someone as pampered as Lyla, who likely hadn''t cooked a day in her life, making breakfast at all was already impressive. He couldn''t really complain. "Hey Ethie, I heard you disappeared from the leaderboard," Lyla said as she sat down across from him. "Don''t tell me the system actually booted you?" Ethan choked slightly, not at the question itself but at how quickly her tone had shifted. She''d started out calling him Ethan, and now suddenly it was Ethie. The abrupt change made the hair on his arms stand on end. "What''s wrong?" Lyla asked, noticing his discomfort. "Could you¡­ not call me that?" Ethan said, clearly uneasy. "Why not? That''s what I called you when we were kids! If you hadn''t insisted on going back to the orphanage, my parents would''ve adopted you, and you''d be my brother for real," she said, matter-of-factly. Ethan was at a loss for words. How was he supposed to argue with that? "Fine, fine," he relented. "Anyway, I''m not off the leaderboards. I''m just hidden, only the top rankers get that privilege." Chapter 29 - 29: Focus Of Envy "Oh!" Ethan wasn''t sure if Lyla was responding to the fact that he agreed he could have been her brother, or to his commentary about the game. Either way, she lowered her head to continue eating, her eyes glinting briefly with a sly amusement. After finishing breakfast, the two of them hopped into the car to head for school. Ethan, who had earned his driver''s license long ago, had once worked part-time as a designated driver to cover his tuition and living expenses. When they reached the garage and the metal door rolled up, Ethan froze in place, his jaw dropping in disbelief. The colossal beast of a vehicle that greeted him left Ethan rubbing his eyes, convinced he was seeing things. His mind dug for an explanation before the name hit him: the "Predator Beast X." This thing was billed as "the world''s most unstoppable vehicle," capable of plowing through obstacles with ridiculous ease. Its armor was resilient enough to withstand an RPG blast, its undercarriage tough enough to endure the force of a 15-pound explosive, and its tires, even if punctured by 50-caliber rounds, could still manage another 30 miles without issue. "This¡­ this is your car?" Ethan stammered, his face plastered with disbelief. The image of Lyla driving this monster was impossible to reconcile in his head. "Yep! Cool, huh?" Lyla beamed, practically glowing with pride. "I saw it on TV once and thought it looked badass, so I casually mentioned it to my dad. I didn''t think he''d actually get me one as a gift for coming to Harmony City for college!" "You''re sure it''s street-legal?" Ethan asked skeptically. As far as he knew, vehicles like this weren''t sold stateside, they were the kind of thing you''d only see in war-torn regions. He doubted this was something you could just casually drive down the street. "Why wouldn''t it be? I''ve driven it plenty of times!" Lyla replied, her tone puzzled by his doubt. "Well¡­ fair enough. Forget I asked. Your dad''s something else, huh!" Ethan muttered. If this thing was on the road, her dad must''ve pulled some serious strings. He climbed into the driver''s seat, only to find that the interior was¡­ disturbingly girly. Pink seat covers, floral air fresheners, and a plush unicorn hanging from the rearview mirror. As he prepared to start the engine, he noticed Lyla still standing outside, pouting with puffed cheeks and glaring at him. Ethan instantly realized he''d said something wrong again. Leaning out of the window, he quickly corrected himself. "Our dad is amazing! Now get in the car, my dear sister!" Her frown melted into a bright grin as she hopped into the passenger seat. The engine roared to life with a thunderous growl, though the sound was impressively muted once the doors and windows were sealed. It wasn''t completely silent, but it was quiet enough to feel comfortable. Ethan glanced at the speedometer, 240 mph. That couldn''t be right. The manufacturer specs for this thing capped out at 120 mph, didn''t they? It clicked. Not only had Lyla''s dad pulled strings to legalize this tank of a vehicle, but he''d also had it modified. The Predator Beast X rumbled onto the streets, attracting every set of eyes. At over 20 feet long, nearly 9 feet wide, and standing 8.7 feet tall, this beast didn''t belong on city roads. "What the hell is that?" "Looks like a military vehicle¡­ but it''s got civilian plates?" "Must be some rich kid showing off." "Man, karma''s gonna strike this dude fast." "This thing''s insane! I wish my old man buy me one too!" Even the most aggressive SUVs on the road seemed to shrink back, hurriedly clearing a path for the rolling behemoth. Traffic cops stood dumbfounded, frantically checking their systems to confirm the vehicle''s legality. Soon, they arrived near the campus. Lyla suggested parking in the lot closest to the school, not wanting to attract too much attention. Ethan couldn''t help but smirk. ''You? Not wanting to attract attention? Sure. Your dad gave you a tank just because you thought it was cool.'' He shook his head, amused. It''s just a ride to school, not an invasion. It took several laps around the parking lot before Ethan finally found a spot. Well, not exactly a spot, more like three spots. The Predator Beast X ate up every inch of space, leaving the lot manager staring slack-jawed as Ethan and Lyla casually strolled away. The two entered the university campus, laughing and chatting as they made their way to Lyla''s lecture hall. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As they got closer to the building, Ethan noticed people staring and whispering as they passed. "Hey, is that girl from our department?" "Don''t you know her? She transferred in about a month ago." "She''s gorgeous! Easily rivals Ivy in looks." "Pfft, you must be out of the loop. Ivy''s just a department queen. This freshman, Lyla Silverwood, is dominating the campus forums. She''s giving even Miss Hawthorne a run for her money!" "Wait, Celeste Hawthorne? The Ice Queen of the whole campus?" "Shh! Keep your voice down. Do you want to attract trouble?" "Uh¡­ but who''s the guy? Is he her boyfriend?" Their whispered gossip reached Ethan''s ears loud and clear, startling him. Since when had his hearing become so sharp? Now that he thought about it, his stamina had also been off the charts lately. It all seemed to trace back to moving into the villa and using the VR capsule. Ethan turned toward the group of whisperers and shot a knowing smile at the one who''d asked if he was Lyla''s boyfriend. "D-Did he just smile at me? Did you guys see that? You think he heard us talking?" "Get real. There''s no way he could hear us from that far. Anyway, what level are you at now?" one of them asked, shifting the topic to Ethereal as Ethan and Lyla walked closer. "I''m Level 5. You guys should be around the same, right? I heard the class rep hit Level 6 already, crazy, huh?" said a bespectacled student in a striped gray shirt, speaking louder this time. Ethan and Lyla exchanged a glance, stifling their amusement. Lyla''s thoughts danced with pride. ''They have no idea. The first player in the world to hit Level 14 just walked past them. And I''m already at Level 8, all thanks to him.'' Her dimples deepened as a small, smug smile lit up her face. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around Ethan''s and walked past the group, radiating confidence. The students stared after them, frozen in stunned silence. Ethan wasn''t the type to keep a low profile. In his past life, his arrogance had drawn plenty of attention, eventually leading to his fall from grace. This time around, he''d learned to be more cautious and protective of himself. But stirring up a little envy now and then? That was still fair game. Besides, he wasn''t exactly complaining about the way Lyla pressed herself against his arm. Whether she was doing it on purpose or not, Ethan couldn''t tell, and honestly, he didn''t care to find out. "I''ll walk you to your classroom," Ethan offered. "Don''t you have class?" Lyla asked, tilting her head. "Do I look like the type to pick morning classes?" Ethan replied with a smirk. "Good point. Someone like you would definitely load up on afternoon classes, game all night, and sleep until noon," Lyla teased, feigning a look of disgust. "Oh yeah? What about you?" Ethan shot back, putting on an exaggeratedly menacing expression. "You''re one to talk. Have you ever signed up for a first-period class? Aren''t you the queen of sleeping in?" With that, he wrapped an arm around her waist, his hand accidentally slipping towards her lower abdomen. Lyla stiffened for a moment but didn''t pull away. Instead, she playfully swatted his hand away with a mock glare. "Bro, that''s called beauty sleep, thank you very much!" Ethan shivered at her calling him Bro, goosebumps prickling his skin. He couldn''t decide whether he loved it or hated it. Lyla noticed his flustered expression and burst out laughing. "Come on, aren''t you supposed to walk me to class? We''re gonna be late if you keep stalling!" Chapter 30 - 30: Sweet Revenge The two strolled along the lakeside path, heading toward the School of Finance building. It was like every other department building on campus, modern, well-equipped, and bustling with activity. What set these buildings apart, however, were the training rooms on every floor, a mandatory addition made nationwide the year prior. Physical fitness and combat training had become a compulsory subject for all college students, surpassing even the most theoretical cultural courses in importance. Inside the classroom Lyla was heading to, Ethan peeked through the window. His brow lifted. Sure enough, the rumors were true, this department was packed with women. Out of a class of forty students, only three were male. Ethan couldn''t help but wonder: did those guys end up adapting to the estrogen-heavy environment, or did it eventually turn them into cross-dressing divas? He chuckled to himself, though a pang of bitter nostalgia hit him. His ex-girlfriend, Ivy, had been the campus "queen" in this department. Not once had she let him accompany her to class, making this his first time seeing the "paradise" she used to describe. But as Lyla waved goodbye and walked into the room, the charm of the place dimmed. The other women paled in comparison to Lyla''s graceful elegance, like a rare orchid amidst ordinary blooms. Yet Ethan knew better than to be fooled by appearances. Lyla wasn''t just some harmless girl-next-door type. He''d seen the truth in his last life. Three thugs had burst into his old apartment, pinning him down and shattering his legs. But Lyla had been there too, and she''d snapped. One slap cracked a thug''s skull. One punch left an arm bent at an insane angle. One kick shattered a kneecap. In the end, the three assailants walked away worse off than Ethan himself. And then there was him, a failure at combat training, barely passing his freshman year. Now a sophomore, he still wasn''t sure how to scrape through this year''s classes. His problem? He''d grown up malnourished, his body never properly developing. Sure, it wasn''t immediately obvious from his height, but inside? He was weak. Even Celeste Hawthorne, the cold and merciless senior who served as the combat class assistant, didn''t have the heart to go hard on him. Her verdict? "Hopeless." Desperate, Ethan had once sought advice from a local holistic doctor. The old man''s diagnosis still rang in his ears: "Congenital malnourishment, compounded by years of neglect. Exercise lightly or risk permanent damage." He shook his head, banishing the thoughts. If weakness defined his past, it wouldn''t dictate his future. Ethan wandered out of the finance building, found a shady bench by the lake, and sat. His classes didn''t start until the afternoon, so he figured he''d wait for Lyla to finish her lecture and grab lunch together. The campus was picturesque, with a sprawling lake at its center. Teaching buildings circled the water, while lush gardens lined its shores. Rows of willow trees swayed gently in the breeze, their reflection rippling across the lake''s surface. At the lake''s heart lay an island covered in peach trees. Every spring, the blossoms filled the air with their sweet fragrance, earning the spot its nickname, Peach Blossom Island. Everything looked just as he remembered, yet it all felt different now. His rebirth had altered more than just the timeline; it had fractured the nostalgia that clung to this place. As he rested on the bench, the quiet serenity of campus life began to lull him to sleep. --- Ethan didn''t know how much time had passed when a sudden kick jolted him awake. Blinking, he looked up, half-expecting to see Lyla. Instead, his stomach dropped. "Ivy?" The familiar face froze him in place, stirring a mix of disbelief and resentment. Memories he''d tried to bury surged to the surface, and Ethan shot to his feet. Before he could speak, Ivy''s sharp voice cut him down. "We''re done, Ethan! Why are you here? Stalking me won''t change anything!" She jabbed a finger at him, her expression twisted with disdain. "Do yourself a favor and disappear. Now!" Ethan''s hands trembled as he fought the urge to retaliate. Logic told him to let it go, to rise above the pettiness. But another part of him wanted to lash out, to make her pay. If it hadn''t been for her spilling his address to Zachary, he wouldn''t have ended up living like a stray dog. Nearby whispers reached his ears: "Wait, that''s Ivy''s ex?" "No way! I thought she was dating Zachary now?" The whispers from the crowd grew louder. "Hey, wasn''t that guy always hanging out with Zachary? Weren''t they, like, best friends?" "Oh, yeah! Now that you mention it¡­" "Wow, this is some juicy gossip. The student council president, Zachary, picking up his own buddy''s leftovers? Talk about scandalous." The murmurs clearly reached Ivy''s ears as her face stiffened. Ethan stood silently, watching her expression shift between anger and embarrassment. She''d always kept their relationship hidden, even when they''d dated for a year. No one had known except Zachary. At that moment, a sleek sports car pulled up nearby. It idled for a moment, the low hum of its engine drawing everyone''s attention, before driving off without anyone getting out. Ethan''s eyes narrowed. He knew exactly who was in that car, Zachary. Ivy must''ve realized it too. Her face paled, then darkened, and she pointed at Ethan, her voice trembling with fury. "You¡ª" Before she could finish, someone bumped into her from behind, sending her stumbling. Her sunglasses fell to the ground, and she nearly lost her balance. "Oh no! I''m so sorry, ma''am!" A cheerful, apologetic voice rang out. Ivy''s anger flared as she spun to face the intruder. But before she could unleash her fury, her face froze in shock. A young woman, stunning, radiant, and easily outshining Ivy in every way, was now holding Ethan''s arm, their fingers interlocked as if they''d done it countless times before. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Who are you¡ª?" Ivy''s voice faltered. It was Lyla. "Bro, why''s this lady screaming?" Lyla''s sweet smile was laced with playful innocence. She clung tighter to Ethan''s arm, dimples forming on her cheeks as she looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. Ethan''s anger melted in an instant, replaced by amusement. The way she held his arm¡­ tickled him. "She''s your sister?" Ivy asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Yes." "No!" Ethan and Lyla spoke at the same time. Lyla grinned mischievously and tilted her head. "Ma''am, are you feeling okay? Do you really think siblings act like this?" she teased, snuggling even closer to Ethan. Ethan froze as he felt her pressing against him. His arm, caught between her, told him all he needed to know, Lyla had Ivy beat in more ways than one. Ivy''s face turned pale, then flushed red with frustration. Ethan had seen enough. "Let''s go grab lunch, Lyla." "Sure, Ethie!" Lyla chirped, tugging on Ethan''s arm as they turned to leave. But as Ethan stepped forward, a loud crunch echoed under his foot. Everyone''s eyes turned to the ground. Ivy''s sunglasses, now in two shattered pieces, lay beneath his shoe. "Oh no!" Lyla gasped, quickly crouching down to pick them up. She examined the broken frames, feigning curiosity. "Wow, these are LessThanHuman glasses! Ma''am, I didn''t expect you to have such good taste. But¡­ why are they different from the pair Ethie bought me?" Ethan blinked. ''When did I ever buy her sunglasses?'' But he couldn''t ruin her act now. Lyla reached into her small bag as if to grab something, continuing her charade. Chapter 31 - 31: Humiliation Pulling out a pair of sunglasses identical to the broken one in her hands, Lyla held it up in front of Ethan with a mischievous grin. "Hey, Ethie, check this out. This one has a serial number engraved on the screw, but hers doesn''t. Weird, huh?" Ethan instantly understood her meaning. This wasn''t just a casual observation, this was a verbal slap in the face, delivered with precision. Every time Ivy tried to speak, Lyla cut her off with playful jabs, each sharper than the last. "Ma''am, I''m so sorry. How about I just give you these instead?" Lyla offered the sunglasses in her hand, her tone sweet and apologetic as she held them out. Ivy hesitated, momentarily caught off guard, and instinctively reached for the glasses. But just as Ivy''s fingers brushed the frame, Lyla yanked them back and declared, "Wait, no. These were a gift from Ethie. How about we compensate you instead?" With that, she reached into Ethan''s pocket. Ethan assumed she was grabbing his phone to transfer the money and was about to tell her it was in the other pocket, but before he could, Lyla pulled out a thick wad of cash. His jaw dropped. Not only was it a bundle of neatly folded hundred-dollar bills, but there were smaller denominations and even a single dime tucked under the yellow leather strap binding the stack together. Ethan blinked, stunned. When did he start carrying that kind of money? Lyla turned back to Ivy, holding up the cash with a grin. "Ma''am, I have no idea what your knockoff glasses are worth, but let''s compensate you at the price of the real deal. Here''s $1,357.20. The original store don''t give discounts, so you''ll need every bit of it." Before Ivy could respond, Lyla tossed the bundle with unerring accuracy. It smacked Ivy square in the face before falling to the ground. The crowd fell silent. The buzzing murmurs of onlookers were replaced by a stunned hush. Jaws dropped, and eyes widened as everyone stared at Ivy, her face bright red with embarrassment and now sporting a crisp red mark from the impact. If Lyla''s earlier words were a slap to Ivy''s pride, this was a full-on knockout. Lyla tilted her head, pretending to notice something amiss. "Oh, Ma''am, what happened to your nose?" The spectators, who had been holding their breath, turned their gazes to Ivy''s face. About to explode with rage, Ivy froze at the question. Her hand shot up to her nose as she reflexively touched it. Then, without another word, she spun on her heel and bolted. But not before everyone saw it, her nose was crooked. No blood, just bent at an odd angle. The realization hit the crowd all at once: her nose was probably fake. "Ma''am, wait!" Lyla called after her, feigning concern. "You forgot your money! Those fake sunglasses aren''t expensive, but fixing your nose? That''s gotta cost quite a lot!" The crowd erupted in laughter, though a few onlookers shook their heads at the sheer audacity. Ivy stumbled as she fled, her unsteady steps betraying her humiliation. Ethan could only gape at the scene. Was this¡­ was this Lyla''s true nature? A devil in disguise? "Ethan, hurry and help me! I lost a dime!" Lyla crouched down, waving the money at Ethan as she sifted through the scattered bills. Ethan stepped forward, about to tell her to forget it, when a low, magnetic voice cut through the noise. "Looking for this?" Ethan turned, his body stiffening as his eyes landed on the speaker. No way. It''s her. "Thank you, miss!" Lyla stood, taking the dime from the woman''s slender fingers with a bright smile. The woman arched a brow, the corner of her mouth curving upward. "I thought you were going to call me Ma''am too." Around them, the crowd gasped in unison. "She smiled!" "No way. Am I dreaming?" "Ow! Why''d you pinch me?!" As the murmurs grew louder, the woman turned and cast a single sweeping glance at the crowd. The noise ceased instantly, and the onlookers scattered like startled birds. Some in the crowd shielded their faces with whatever they could find, hoping she wouldn''t notice them. Lyla saw the reactions and turned to the woman beside her with a bright smile. "Miss Hawthorne, how could someone as stunning as you ever be called Ma''am?" Celeste Hawthorne, with her usual icy demeanor, ignored the comment. Instead, she shifted the subject. "So, you''re the new transfer, Lyla Silverwood. Judging by that little stunt earlier, you''ve clearly had some training." "Training? Oh, no, no! That was just a lucky throw!" Lyla stammered, her nerves showing as she faced Celeste. After all, the rumors about this so-called "Ice Queen" were no joke. Celeste''s lips curved into a faint smirk as she saw through Lyla''s unease. "You''ve skipped all the combat classes this month. Don''t miss the next one." Then, her gaze flicked to Ethan. "And you, Ethan¡­ eat more vitamins or something. Wouldn''t want all this effort to go to waste." She shot a meaningful glance at Lyla, her tone dripping with insinuation, before walking away. Ethan, who had been staring at the sky, trying to remain uninvolved, was left utterly speechless. "What does she mean by ''waste''?" Lyla asked curiously, tilting her head at Ethan. "Uh¡­ nothing! Don''t worry about it! Ethan quickly waved it off, desperate to change the subject. "Let''s grab some food, I''m starving!" Still puzzled, Lyla followed Ethan as they made their way to the campus dining hall, her face full of questions. --- After finishing their meal, Ethan headed off to class, while Lyla had plans to meet her friends for a study session. When Ethan stepped into the classroom, he was immediately greeted by a chorus of howls and laughter. "Ethan, you little shit." boomed a towering figure who threw an arm around his shoulders. It was Rowan Kane, his dorm mate and the so called "leader" of their group. Back when they''d first arrived on campus, Rowan had looked out for him. "What happened?" Ethan asked, genuinely confused. "Don''t play dumb," Rowan said, laughing. "Everyone knows by now. Ex-girlfriend? Queen of the finance department. Current girl? Top candidate for campus beauty queen." A skinny, bespectacled guy joined in, smirking. "Seriously, Ethan. Two god tier girls? How''d you pull that off?" This was Greg, another dorm mate. Despite his quiet, studious demeanor, he was infamous for his dry sense of humor. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Ah¡­" Ethan thought. So word really had spread. It hadn''t taken long for today''s drama to circulate across campus. "Hey, Third Bro, come on. Share your secrets with us!" chimed in JJ, the youngest in their dorm, who had taken to calling Ethan "Third Bro" based on his dorm rank. "Yeah, spill it, Ethan!" The others joined in, voices overlapping as they closed in. Ethan, a software engineering major, looked around the room. It was a classic case of wolves circling in a land of scraps. In their department, eligible women were few and far between. And most weren''t exactly what you''d call desirable. Before Ethan could even attempt an answer, a voice thundered from the front of the room. "Quiet down! This is a university, not a marketplace" The balding professor at the podium glared at them, his white shirt straining against a considerable belly. "If you''re not seated in the next sixty seconds, you''ll all be marked absent!" The classroom fell into chaos as everyone scrambled to their seats. Ethan glanced at the professor, trying to place the man''s face. After all these years, he couldn''t quite remember who this was, but like everyone else, he quickly found a seat before the man''s patience ran out. --- The afternoon dragged on painfully. Bored out of his mind, Ethan found himself missing the freedom of his previous life. Eventually, exhaustion took over. He dozed off, sleeping through both back-to-back classes in the same room. Thankfully, both classes were in the same room, sparing him the indignity of being left behind in his deep sleep. --- That evening, Ethan and Lyla went out for a lavish dinner. Full and satisfied, they returned home in the sleek Predator Beast X, their car gleaming under the streetlights as they pulled up to the villa. After a round of playful bickering, the two retreated to their respective rooms. The clock ticked closer to midnight, the highly anticipated server resumption time of Ethereal. Settling into his VR capsule, Ethan took a deep breath. Time to enter the game. Chapter 32 - 32: The Dreamwalker’s Trial Ethan logged into the game and immediately sent a message to Skyblade and the others, asking them to grind levels on their own for a while, he had a task to handle first. But there was no reply. Curious, Ethan opened the guild system to check on things, and the sheer number of players online surprised him. Over 400 members were currently active, with new ones logging in every minute. He scanned the guild roster: 700 members in total. "How is that even possible?" Ethan muttered, recalling that just yesterday, when he''d set up the guild system and told Skyblade they could start recruiting, there were only 40 minutes left before the servers shut down. Ethan hadn''t paid much attention to the guild after that, as he was busy tracking down the Bear Druid. But in just 40 minutes, they''d recruited 700 people? That was insane. What Ethan didn''t realize was that his reputation in Zone 1314 had skyrocketed. Even though his level was hidden in the guild, he was already a well-known figure in the Starter Zone. Coupled with the fact that the top three players on the leaderboard were in his guild, the draw was irresistible. Add in the 10% experience bonus from their Level 2 guild, and recruitment had practically taken care of itself. "Ah, brave one, you''ve arrived!" As Ethan scanned through the guild stats, he reached the depths of the Beast''s Den and found himself face-to-face with the towering Bear Druid. This time, the massive creature wasn''t asleep but greeted him with a deep, resonant voice. "Honored Bear Druid, what can I do to help you?" Ethan asked respectfully. "Brave one, we must drink the Dream Potion together," the Bear Druid rumbled, gesturing to the glowing vial on the nearby table. "Our souls will enter my dreamscape, where the real trial begins. From there, you''re on your own." "Let''s get started," Ethan said, eager to begin. As soon as the potion touched his lips, darkness enveloped him. --- A faint light pierced the black void, slowly growing until the entire world was bathed in a dense, hazy mist. The eerie silence felt suffocating, and all system interfaces had disappeared. For a moment, it was as if he''d returned to the real world. Ethan started walking, but no matter how far he went, nothing changed. The oppressive mist bore down on him, his chest tightening as though a heavy stone rested on it. He tried shouting but found himself voiceless. The fog''s oppressive weight gnawed at him, leaving only a faint, inexplicable pull to guide his steps. Trusting that unseen force, Ethan pressed forward, though the mist seemed endless. Without his usual Panther form or any game mechanics to rely on, he could only trudge forward as a human. At first, he moved cautiously, expecting danger to leap out at any moment. Eventually, he broke into a run, hoping speed might carry him through. Time stretched on, but the scenery never changed. Exhausted and aimless, Ethan slowed to a crawl, his resolve fading. His hair grew long, trailing past his waist. His clothes withered, his shoes disintegrated, and yet he trudged on, barefoot. Eons seemed to pass. His youthful features gave way to an emaciated, hunched figure with skeletal hands. His body, once full of strength and vigor, became frail and stooped. He screamed for the system to let him log out, but the interface remained silent. He hoped the server would shut down and forcibly kick him out, but that too was a futile dream. Despair clawed at him. He had been reborn to rewrite his life, to right the wrongs of the past. He wanted to make up for what he owed Lyla, the girl who had always been by his side. He wanted revenge against Zachary and Ivy, the ones who betrayed him so cruelly. But now, the fog stretched endlessly, hope flickering like a candle about to go out. Looking at his withered hands, Ethan touched his gaunt face and thought bitterly, ''Even if I escape, what kind of world will I return to? Will everything I knew be gone?'' The weight of his despair broke him. He collapsed onto the cold ground, his body trembling as his consciousness slipped away. --- Ding¡­ [System Alert: Congratulations on completing the Dreamwalker''s Trial. Completion rate: 536%. Surpassed the 1,000-year trial benchmark! Reward: Soul Power increased by 5.36x! Bonus Reward: Level +1.] Ethan, who had lost consciousness moments before, was jolted awake by the familiar chime of the system notification. When he opened his eyes, he found himself back in the Beast''s Den. The Bear Druid was standing tall, stretching as though a great burden had been lifted. "Thank you, brave one. Your efforts have shattered the fog, allowing me to receive the guidance of the Druid ancestors." Ethan blinked, still disoriented. To him, it felt like eons had passed, he''d aged, grown weak, and even perished in that endless haze. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Bear Druid continued speaking, but Ethan, overwhelmed by the memories of his ordeal, couldn''t respond right away. Eventually, the Bear Druid''s words began to make sense. It seemed that when they drank the Dream Potion, both their souls entered the dreamscape, amplified by a shared increase in Soul Power. However, Ethan hadn''t appeared in the Bear Druid''s dream. Instead, the Druid had connected with a far-off realm, the ancestral homeland of the Druids, a place known as the Dreamwood Grove. The Bear Druid explained that the Forest of Nature, where they now stood, was not the origin of the Druids as they once believed. Thousands of years ago, during the Cataclysm, the connection between the Forest of Nature and the Dreamwood Grove had been severed. This disruption left the Druids in the Forest of Nature isolated, their power waning over time. The Dreamwood Grove had never stopped trying to reestablish contact. But they were facing their own crisis: several demigods had disappeared, leaving only one ancient Bear Demigod, Ursar, to maintain the link. Ursar''s weakened bloodline could barely reach the Bear Druid, who lacked the pure soul strength required to connect properly. Every previous attempt had failed. Ethan listened, his thoughts racing. When he glanced at the system clock, it was only 1:00 a.m, barely five hours had passed. So this is what they mean by a dream that spans a millennium. He glanced at the trial''s completion rate, 536%. A test meant to last 1,000 years had stretched into 5,360 years for him. But what exactly was "Soul Power"? Neither in this life nor the last could he recall encountering anything like it. While Ethan pondered the reward, the Bear Druid''s explanation came to a close. "Brave one, will you accept the role of emissary between the Dreamwood Grove and the Forest of Nature?" --- Ding¡­ [System Alert: Do you accept the Bear Druid''s request? Upon acceptance, your skill "Teleport: Forest of Nature" will be replaced with "Teleport: Dreamwood Grove," granting you access to learn directly from the Grand Druids of the ancestral homeland!] "I accept!" Ethan said without hesitation. After enduring 5,000 years of despair and hopeless wandering, he wasn''t about to pass up the opportunity to grow stronger. For him, this was more than a mission, it was a renewal of his resolve to live, to reconnect with those he loved, and to gain the strength to change his fate. --- Ding¡­ [System Alert: Task complete! Reward: Skills "Transform: Bear Form" and "Teleport: Dreamwood Grove." Additional reward: Title "Dreamwalker."] --- Skill Unlocked: Transform: Bear Form Description: Assume the form of a mighty bear. Dodge Chance: Increased by Agility boost. Defense: +300%. Stamina: +350%. Immune to polymorph effects. Unlocks exclusive bear-form skills. Additional Effect: Removes all polymorph and movement restrictions on the caster upon transformation. Chapter 33 - 33: First Level 15 Player [Title: Dreamwalker] Attributes: All Druid NPCs'' Favorability: +300. Dark creatures targeted by your attacks: -8% attributes. Panther Form: Energy consumption reduced by 10%. Bear Form: Healing received increased by 10%. Owl Form: Attack range increased by 10%. Tree Form: Mana consumption reduced by 10%. Description: As the chosen envoy of the Druids, their loyalty to you is unwavering! The stats were insane. Just the 8% reduction to Dark creatures'' stats alone was a game-changer. Given how most Carnage Faction players were aligned with Dark creatures, this perk was a direct counter. Add the other boosts, and this title felt like a gift straight from the heavens, providing an all-around upgrade to the Druid class. And that favorability bonus? It wasn''t trivial, NPC relationships capped at 1,000 points, and this title handed over 300 points for free. Essentially, every Druid NPC he encountered would start off respecting him. Still, Ethan wasn''t grinding favorability just yet. He had bigger priorities, getting to the Main City. It was the gateway to better quests, gear, and growth opportunities. Sure, favorability mattered, but it could be farmed later. Missing out on early-game rewards locked behind level requirements? Now that was a mistake you couldn''t undo. He opened the guild chat. The usual chatter filled the channel, voices buzzing with excitement. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It had only been five hours in the real world since Ethan''s Soul Journey, but for him, it felt like he had lived over 5,000 years. Seeing their conversations now gave him a sense of surreal detachment, as if he were watching a distant echo of his past. Switching to his private messages, he noticed a note from Skyblade: "Boss, handle your stuff first. We''re taking some of the newbies to tackle a Level 5 boss today." Ethan nodded to himself. Skyblade was as dependable as ever, just like in his last life. Even though they had reached Level 10, their gear was still lacking. Taking on a Level 5 boss would be challenging but manageable. He didn''t bother offering advice. They''d appreciate their success more if they earned it through struggle. Finally, he opened his friends list and noticed Moonbeam still online. Ethan hesitated before initiating a video call. It rang for a long time with no answer. He figured Lyla was busy fighting or handling quests, so he was about to end the call when it connected. The moment her screen appeared, Ethan froze. Lyla''s in-game name was glowing dark red, indicating a severe Sin Value. How many players did she have to kill to reach that level? "What''s going on? Why are you flagged?" Ethan asked urgently. Lyla was running, firing occasional shots over her shoulder. She spared him a glance before replying. "Some psychos showed up at the training grounds near the Starter Zone. They started slaughtering everyone in sight. My team got wiped, and they came after me too. I''ve taken out over twenty of them, but now I''m almost out of arrows with added damage effects. What should I do?" "Who are they?" Ethan pressed, alarmed. "They''re from a guild called Unity Hall. At first, it was just one woman leading a team of thirty, killing anyone they saw in the Level 6 zones. But when players started fighting back, they brought reinforcements, around a hundred members. Now they''re massacring everyone." Unity Hall? A woman leading the charge? Could it be... "Was the leader a Priest named Nightfall?" Ethan asked carefully. Lyla froze mid-step, then glanced at him in shock. "Yeah. How did you know? Do you know her?" Ethan sighed, a wry smile creeping onto his face. Of all the people he could run into, it had to be her. Fate really had a twisted sense of humor. "Lyla, I''m sending you coordinates. Go there immediately and make sure no one follows you. Stay hidden and wait for me." He sent her the location of an old hideout he had once used while being hunted. It was well-concealed and defensible, with multiple escape routes. As long as she wasn''t tailed, it was the perfect place to lay low. "Got it, I''m heading there now. But, Ethan, are you already Level 15? Can you come help right away? And who the hell is Nightfall? How do you even know someone that psychotic?" Ethan hesitated for a moment before responding. "You know her too, Lyla. And trust me, her psychopathy might have something to do with you." "Wait, what?!" Lyla stared at him in shock. Ethan chuckled bitterly before nodding. Her expression turned from confusion to realization in an instant. "No way¡­ Is it Ivy?" His smile tightened as he nodded. He reminded her to stay cautious and to notify him once she reached the safehouse. Then he ended the call, ignoring the stunned look on her face. Afterward, Ethan opened his private messaging interface and sent a quick note to Skyblade. "Skyblade, I''m leaving the Starter Zone. You''re in charge for now. Keep leveling up, though, reach Level 15 as soon as possible so we can regroup at the Main City." Skyblade''s response came swiftly: "Don''t worry, Boss. We''ve got this. Everything''s under control here." Ethan didn''t doubt it. Their guild, the only Level 2 guild in Zone 1314, had already reached its member cap of 1,000 players. In fact, demand for spots was so high that players were willing to pay for a membership slot. They were unquestionably the dominant force in the area. Ethan''s message was more a formality than anything else. In his last life, Skyblade had almost single-handedly built their guild into a powerhouse. By the time they reached Harmony City, it had become one of the most recognized guilds, even taking down rivals like Unity Hall. Unfortunately, the guild''s success had attracted unwanted attention. Back then, Zachary had used underhanded methods to inject large sums of money into the guild during a round of financing. By the time Ethan realized what was happening, it was too late. Zachary had seized control, rebranding the guild as Overlord. This time, Ethan wasn''t going to let history repeat itself. No outside investments. He would build the guild with his own two hands. Determined, Ethan cast a teleportation spell, leaving the Forest of Nature and returning to Zone 1314. --- Ding¡­ [Global Announcement: The world''s first Level 15 Survivor Faction player has emerged. The new expansion, "Conquest of the Main City," is now live!] The announcement blazed across the skies of every Starter Zone. Players everywhere stopped what they were doing to stare up in awe. Ding¡­ [System Notification: Congratulations on becoming the first Level 15 player. You now have the privilege to post one global message, anonymously or under your real name. Would you like to use this privilege now?] Ethan considered it. Messages like these didn''t come cheap later in the game. Posting a national message would cost a million gold coins; global ones were priced at ten million. In the end, he decided against it. It was too early to draw attention. Better to keep a low profile for now. Ding¡­ [System Notification: You have reached Level 15. You are now eligible to leave the Starter Zone. Beyond lies a greater world. Good luck, brave warrior!] The familiar prompt echoed in his ears as Ethan made his way to the teleportation platform. It was deserted, unsurprising, since only Level 15 players could use it, and he was the only one currently. As the platform lit up, dazzling light engulfed him. Moments later, the glow faded, and Ethan found himself in Harmony City. He exhaled slowly, taking in the sprawling metropolis. He wasn''t a stranger to this place. In his past life, he''d been here countless times, fleeing from pursuers and being forcibly teleported back to the Starter Zone when he dropped below Level 15. The cycle had repeated more times than he cared to remember. But this time was different. Chapter 34 - 34: Arrival in Harmony Harmony City, one of the three primary strongholds in the Northern Frontier Region, sat atop the sprawling Gornath Hills. Despite being labeled as "hills," the terrain was more like a series of elevated knolls. Ten thousand years of renewal after the Cataclysm had allowed the planet to recover, leaving only the Starter Zones as haunting remnants of the devastation. A green canopy blanketed the hills, its serene appearance concealing countless dangers beneath. Within Harmony, rows of grand buildings showcased a regal, old-world charm. These rare architectural designs, steeped in history, were distinguished by their warm golden-red hues. At the city''s northernmost edge stood a towering spire of pure white, surrounded by nine colossal statues, each hundreds of feet tall. The statues depicted the ultimate champions of the Survivor Faction, nine legendary heroes hailed as the protectors of Azure. The spire and its statues were iconic features of every Survivor stronghold, symbols of resilience and hope. Harmony''s strategic location on the Gornath Hills made it a bustling hub, equipped with countless teleportation points connecting to cities, towns, and villages across the continent. A simple payment and the utterance of a destination allowed for instant travel. --- Ding¡­ [System Notice: Congratulations! You are the first player in the world to reach a main city. Reward: +200 Reputation Points for all main cities. Additionally, you have earned a top-tier land deed for this city.] Ding¡­ [System Notice: You are the first to reach Harmony City. Reward: +200 Reputation Points for Harmony City.] Ding¡­ [System Notice: As the world''s first player and a Level-2 Guild Leader to arrive at a main city, you are awarded a guild estate.] Ding¡­ [System Notice: The City Lord has summoned you. Please proceed to the Town Hall to receive your reward personally.] Ethan smirked at the notifications. He had rushed to reach the city for these rewards, but the City Lord''s personal summons was a pleasant surprise. The streets of Harmony were eerily quiet. Apart from the patrolling NPC guards, there wasn''t a single soul in sight. Each guard was an elite soldier above Level 120, a reminder of the city''s fortified status. Standing in the heart of the city near the teleportation array, destined to become the busiest area in the future, Ethan made his way north toward the towering spire. This was where the Town Hall resided. At the spire''s entrance, the guards didn''t challenge him. His impressive 400 Reputation Points ensured they treated him with courtesy. One of the guards stepped forward and offered to escort him inside. Ethan followed the guard through the towering spire''s grand entrance. Almost immediately, a figure in gleaming gold armor approached, a commanding presence. Ethan instinctively cast his Basic Appraisal skill. Only the NPC''s level 210, appeared, while the rest of the details were obscured by question marks. His name, however, was visible: Roland Carter, Captain of Harmony''s First Guard Squadron (Elite) "Honored traveler," Roland greeted with a polite nod. "The City Lord is expecting you. Please, follow me." Reputation Points were a marvelous thing. In his previous life, Ethan had never managed to accumulate this much, even after years of effort. Naturally, he had never received such VIP treatment. The guard captain led Ethan into a vast hall. At its center, a holographic projection of Harmony''s terrain glowed faintly. Standing before it was an elderly man in simple, unassuming clothes. Ethan glanced at the name hovering above the man''s head, which revealed his identity: Gregor Darnell, City Lord of Harmony (Demigod) Seeing the name, Ethan struggled to suppress a laugh. Gregor''s name sounded strangely mundane for someone of his stature. But the title Demigod left him speechless. He hadn''t expected the leader of a Level-5 city to possess such immense power. Curious, Ethan cast another appraisal skill. It failed. Gregor turned to face him, a knowing smile on his lips. "Young man, though age has taken its toll on me, the divine aura of a demigod still protects me. Perhaps you should reconsider using such basic tricks on someone like me." Ethan scratched his head awkwardly. "Apologies, City Lord. I was merely curious as to why someone of your caliber would lead a humble city like this." Gregor chuckled heartily. "Ah, youth. You''re bold enough to ask an old man about his regrets. Are you not afraid I might revoke your reward?" For a fleeting moment, cold light flashed in Gregor''s weary eyes. Behind Ethan, Roland instinctively placed a hand on the hilt of his blade. Ethan thought to himself, When did NPCs start acting this lifelike? His memories of them were nothing but mechanical responses and scripted dialogue. Despite his thoughts, Ethan bowed slightly and said, "Lord Gregor, your rebuke is deserved. My ignorance led to offense." As he spoke, he observed the City Lord''s reaction carefully. While Gregor''s tone carried the weight of authority, Ethan wasn''t too concerned. The system''s reward didn''t technically require the City Lord''s involvement, which meant the summons likely had more to do with triggering a hidden event. Lowering his posture might yield an unexpected opportunity. Gregor let out a hearty laugh. "A sharp tongue and a flexible will, traits that promise great achievements. If only I had such patience in my youth, perhaps I wouldn''t have been ousted from Central Dominion." Ethan caught a glimpse of Captain Roland easing his grip on the hilt of his blade. Straightening his posture, Ethan grinned and replied, "You flatter me, Lord Gregor. Truthfully, I''m just afraid of dying!" Gregor chuckled again, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Come, lad. Pick a plot of land as your reward," he said, gesturing toward the holographic map in the center of the hall. Ethan stepped forward eagerly. He had meticulously studied the city''s prime locations in his past life and already knew where to stake his claim. The teleportation hub and the surrounding properties were destined to become the city''s busiest and most valuable areas. Three plots encircled the hub in a triangular formation, and Ethan had his eye on one of them. Pointing to the plot closest to the hub, Ethan declared, "I''ll take this one." Gregor''s eyes gleamed with a sharpness that belied his age. "A fine choice, young man. This is the most coveted golden zone in all of Harmony, valued at 1,200 gold. You''ve got an eye for opportunity!" Though the official price of land wasn''t exorbitant, the city''s main source of income came from future taxes, 1% of daily revenue paid to the City Administration. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Feigning confidence, Ethan replied, "Is the Lord unwilling to part with it?" Internally, however, he was uncertain. The system may have promised him a land deed, but the specifics of which plot remained at Gregor''s discretion. After all, in his previous life, the first player to reach Harmony had settled for a plot near the southern gate rather than in the prime location. Instead of answering, Gregor pointed to two adjacent plots near the teleportation hub. "What do you think of these two instead?" Ethan frowned slightly, confused. "Are you asking me to choose between these two?" The alternate plots, while smaller than the one Ethan had chosen, were still prime real estate. In his original plan, Ethan intended to purchase these plots after accumulating enough gold, as they were priced at 750 gold each. Gregor leaned back slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "If you can accomplish a task for me, I''ll give you both plots as well." ''Here it comes, a hidden event!'' Ethan''s excitement surged. Two prime plots worth 750 gold each were no small reward. At current market rates, their combined value was close to $3 million in USD, and their future value would skyrocket at least fiftyfold. "What task would you have me undertake, Lord Gregor?" Ethan asked, his eyes alight with interest. Gregor''s smile widened. "Do you know of the two other main cities north of Harmony? I want you to travel there, purchase the golden properties in those cities, and transfer the ownership to me." Ethan''s mind raced as he processed the implications. This old fox wasn''t just ambitious; he was looking to control the economic lifelines of the entire region! He recalled a similar mission from his past life. A player had once taken on a similar land-transfer task, only to suffer severe consequences. Their Reputation Points in the targeted cities had plummeted by 300, leaving them a pariah. While they avoided imprisonment or execution, they couldn''t walk the streets without harassment. NPCs refused to sell goods or provide quests, and shop prices were inflated by 30%. It was a miserable existence. Chapter 35 - 35: Guild War That guy in his previous life eventually had no choice but to scrape by in a different region. Now that Ethan had earned the full 400 Reputation Points in Harmony city, he could easily be the first to reach the other two major cities. There was even a bonus of additional Reputation Points for being the first to arrive. However, a single misstep could result in a huge setback, possibly even dropping his standing to zero. The value of the two golden properties up for grabs was undeniable. But with his current resources, Ethan believed he could secure enough funds soon enough. All he had to do was act before the other players started leaving the Starter Zone. Glancing at the leaderboard, Ethan noted that the top-ranked players in the Northern Frontier Region were only at Level 11. Gaining those last four levels wasn''t easy, the experience required was exponentially higher than for previous levels. Given his situation, Ethan decided against taking on the task. Setting aside the potential loss of Reputation Points, he simply didn''t have the funds to purchase golden properties in two major cities. Just as Ethan was about to decline, the city lord, spoke again. "Young man, don''t worry about the funding. I''ll personally cover all costs. Additionally, as a token of gratitude, I''ll give you something I acquired during my younger days." Gregor paused for a moment, then added with a sly smile, "In return, I''ll allow you to use the property deeds, but I want fifty percent of all pure profits from your operations. Does that sound fair?" Ethan accepted the item Gregor handed him. It was thin and delicate, practically weightless. Looking closer, he realized it was a mask. [Disguise Mask] Effect: Allows the wearer to mimic the appearance of any player. Durability: 12/100 uses. Usage: Press onto the face. Special Item ¨C Does not occupy any equipment slot. Upon seeing the item''s description, Ethan''s mind immediately began crafting a plan. Dropping his initial intent to refuse, he raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Five percent." Gregor froze, his expression incredulous. After a moment of stunned silence, he finally responded, "Forty-five percent. I''m fronting all the money, and all you have to do is manage the shops." Ethan leaned forward, his grin widening. "Once you secure the golden property deeds for Springhaven and Blackridge, I want exclusive use of the Harmony city deeds around the teleportation hub. I''ll accept giving you ten percent of the net profits from the shops in the other two cities, but you''ll cover fifty percent of any future upgrade costs." Gregor stared at Ethan as though he''d grown another head. "Do you realize how ridiculous you sound? In ten days, others might arrive at the main stronghold. By then, you''ll be lucky to keep even a fraction of this deal. This is your chance, don''t blow it." Ethan shrugged. "Then I won''t take the task. No big deal." The sheer audacity of Ethan''s counteroffer left Gregor speechless. Players rarely dared to haggle with an NPC of his calibre, and certainly not with this level of confidence. After a long pause, Gregor''s face turned red. "I''ll cover ten percent of future upgrade costs and take twenty percent of the profits." "Ten percent profits for Springhaven and Blackridge," Ethan countered, his tone calm but firm. "Fifteen percent." Ethan leaned back, crossing his arms. "You know what? I''ve changed my mind, five percent." Gregor''s hands clenched into fists as his breathing turned heavy. After several tense moments, he finally exhaled sharply. "Fine¡­ Ten percent it is." Before Gregor could finish, Ethan waved his hand, summoning the system''s contract interface. The transparent screen floated between them as Ethan gestured toward it. "Here''s a recording of our conversation. Let''s seal the deal, Lord Darnell." Gregor reluctantly reviewed the recording, his jaw tightening as he played back Ethan''s words: "Once you secure the golden property deeds for Springhaven and Blackridge¡­" Gregor shut the recording off before it could aggravate him further. Grabbing the system''s quill, he sighed heavily and signed his name. Ethan chuckled as he added his own signature, a subtle spark gleaming in his eyes. --- Ding¡­ [Contract Activated: Gregor Darnell, City Lord of Harmony Stronghold, has commissioned Ethan to purchase golden property deeds in Springhaven and Blackridge. Upon successful completion, Ethan will be rewarded with the 2nd and 3rd golden property deeds near Harmony Stronghold''s teleportation hub. Additionally, Ethan is granted free access to properties in Springhaven and Blackridge and Gregor Darnell will receive 5% of their pure profits. City Lord Gregor will also cover 10% of all future shop upgrade costs under Ethan''s name. Any violation of this contract will result in punishment by the system.] Ding¡­ [System Notification: You have accepted the task: "Gregor Darnell''s Commission." Received: 20,000 Gold Coins. If the task fails, the gold will automatically be deducted.] "What?!" Gregor''s voice exploded in fury. "Ten percent of all shop upgrades?! When did I agree to cover all of them?!" His face turned so red that even the creases on his skin seemed to smooth out. "And¡­ didn''t we agree 10% net profit renumeration?" Ethan gave a casual shrug, feigning innocence. "I did try to warn you to review the recording carefully. You were the one who insisted you were the one who proceeded without double-check. As for the clause about net profit¡­ well, I may have mentioned 5%, and you didn''t object." Gregor''s glare could have melted steel, and Ethan wisely decided to change the subject. "Lord Darnell, about Property Deed #1 and the Guild Base I''ve selected, could you finalize the paperwork for me?" "Hmph! Handle it yourself! Go to the Property Office and Guild Hall!" Gregor barked before dismissing Ethan with a wave of his hand. Captain Roland stepped forward, motioning for Ethan to follow. "This way, please." And just like that, Ethan was escorted out of the Town Hall. --- Outside, Ethan chuckled as he reviewed the stamped contract in his system interface. "Trying to play word games with me? Not a chance, Gregor. You''re just a digital NPC, don''t mess with a real-life hustler." Still, he couldn''t shake the nagging feeling that something was off. The NPCs in this timeline felt unnervingly lifelike compared to his previous run. He hurried to the Property Office to finalize the deed transfer, then visited the Guild Hall to claim the best-positioned guild base available, an advantage reserved for top-level players like him. After securing the base, Ethan checked his inventory. The system had deposited 20,485 gold coins. Smirking, he thought, ''Borrowing a little shouldn''t hurt, right?'' Ethan strolled to the Guild Upgrade Desk and confidently submitted an application to upgrade his guild. Ding! [Insufficient funds. Upgrade denied.] "Damn it!" Ethan muttered under his breath. Apparently, Gregor''s 20,000 gold was locked for property purchases only. Frustrated but undeterred, Ethan turned his attention to another opportunity. He approached an NPC administrator. "Is it possible to apply for a guild war right now?" The NPC bowed slightly. "Honored leader of Renegade Alliance, although we are currently in a ceasefire period, your guild is the first in this region to reach Level 2. As such, you are entitled to one free declaration of war, bypassing the ceasefire restrictions. Would you like to use this privilege now?" Ethan''s eyes lit up. "Absolutely! I''m glad I asked. If I''d just marched into Lyla''s Starter Zone for revenge, I''d have ended up flagged with a black-level Sin Value." He grimaced at the thought of the endless grind to clear such a stain, which would delay his quest and give others a chance to claim the rewards. Still, there was no way Ethan would let his enemies off the hook for bullying Lyla. "No one messes with my girl," he muttered under his breath. "Time to settle the score." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Proceed with the war declaration," Ethan instructed. "Understood. Please specify the target guild and your declaration message. You may also set a start time. Note: the free declaration grants a twelve-hour conflict window. Extending the duration will require additional payment." Ethan smirked. Twelve hours was more than enough. He filled out the form, submitted it, and sprinted to the teleportation hub. Since city regulations prohibited the use of magic or transformation skills within its borders, Ethan had to travel in his human form. Chapter 36 - 36: Rally the Troops Teleporting to Zone 1370 from Zone 1314 had cost Ethan 10 gold coins, essentially daylight robbery. The amount, equivalent to $18,000, made his heart ache. But for Lyla, it was worth every cent. Or so Ethan told himself as he tried to justify the expense. As the teleportation effect faded, Ethan immediately sent Lyla a video call request. She picked up quickly, her expression serious but calm. He checked her location, she was already at the designated hiding spot. "How''s it going on your end?" Ethan asked. "I''m fine," Lyla replied. "But my classmates told me those guys are still camping on the main road outside the town. They''re killing any players trying to leave to level up. It''s disgusting!" S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Good to hear you''re safe. Stay put, I''m coming to get you," Ethan said firmly. The hiding spot wasn''t far from the small town. Thanks to his Stag Form, which required no quest to unlock, Ethan had activated it back when he hit Level 15. With a +200% movement speed boost, added to his base 107%, Ethan''s Stag Form allowed him to blitz across the terrain at an incredible 214% speed. In just ten minutes, he reached the location. This was their first in-game meeting since the reset. Seeing Lyla''s spirited outfit, identical to how she looked in his past life, hit Ethan with a wave of nostalgia. Switching back to human form, Ethan strode forward and pulled Lyla into a fierce hug. It was the release of 5,000 years of yearning and suppressed emotion. During those endless years in the dreamworld, Lyla had been his emotional anchor. Even at the bitter end, his final wish had been to hold her one last time. "Ethan?" Lyla''s voice trembled as she pushed lightly against his chest. "What''s gotten into you?" Her startled expression reminded Ethan of a frightened doe. Embarrassed, he let go and laughed it off. "Nothing important. It''s all in the past now." Seeing his reddened eyes, Lyla hesitated before stepping closer and gently hugging his arm. "Whatever it is, I''ll always be here for you." "Ha! Come on, I''m supposed to be rescuing you! Why does it feel like you''re the one comforting me?" Ethan teased, brushing the moment aside. "Is that so?" Lyla said with a playful smirk. She made a face at him, the same mischievous expression she''d worn as a child. "Hey, who was the crybaby back then, huh?" Ethan muttered under his breath. But under Lyla''s glare, he quickly added, "Never mind that, let''s get moving. You up for some real action?" "What kind of action?" Lyla asked, intrigued. "You''ll see," Ethan said with a sly grin, sending her a party invite. Moments later, a system notification appeared in the skies above. --- System Announcement [Guild War Declaration: Zone 1314''s Renegade Alliance declares war on Zone 1370''s Unity Hall. Kills will not increase Sin Value. Duration: 12 hours.] Declaration: ''Unity Hall will drown in blood. Quit your guild and you''ll be spared. Stay, and none will survive!'' ¨C Declaration by Guild Leader: NotADruid --- The announcement echoed in every player''s ears. Blood-red letters stretched across the skies, visible no matter where anyone was in the game. --- Player Reactions in Zone 1370 [Anonymous]: "Finally, someone''s standing up for us! Get the popcorn ready!" [Anonymous]: "But how are they even getting here?" [Anonymous]: "No idea. Maybe they''re just bluffing?" --- Ethan smirked as he glanced at the sky. His bloodthirsty grin sent a chill down Lyla''s spine. "How many do we have coming?" Ethan asked in a private message to Skyblade. On the way to Zone 1370, Ethan had already contacted Skyblade, Slashblade, and SeraphWarrior, instructing them to rally the guild. "Nearly the entire guild," Skyblade replied enthusiastically. "We''ve got 963 members total, and aside from about 20 offline, everyone else is grouped into three major parties. The rest formed smaller teams to squeeze in." "Good. Keep track of everyone who participates. After this, each member gets 10 contribution points. Anyone who dies in battle will receive an additional 5 silver coins as compensation," Ethan instructed. "Ten contribution points? Isn''t that a bit much?" Skyblade asked hesitantly. "It''s worth it," Ethan replied. "This is our first battle, we need to make a statement." Ethan''s mind burned with a dual purpose: defending Lyla and crushing his enemies, Zachary and Ivy. This first clash wasn''t just about pride, it was about erasing Unity Hall before they could even grow roots in the Starter Zone. Skyblade relayed Ethan''s orders to the Renegade Alliance, word for word. The guild''s chat system was in chaos, excitement mingling with confusion. [Anonymous]: "Guild leader is a legend! Bloodbath Unity Hall!" [Anonymous]: "But¡­ how are we supposed to cross zones?" [Anonymous]: "Yeah, what''s the plan?" "Quiet!" Skyblade barked. "Boss has it all figured out. Just wait for his signal!" Ethan pulled out a scroll from his inventory, a special reward he''d received after initiating the guild war. Since this was the first guild war in the entire game, the system had granted him a one-time-use item: the Guildwide Summoning Scroll. Initially, Ethan had planned to charge in solo, but the scroll came with a time limit. If unused within 12 hours, it would vanish. This wasn''t something he could waste. Guildwide Summoning Scrolls were almost mythical in the later stages of the game, capable of turning the tide of entire wars. And this one was even more unique, allowing the summoning of his entire guild to his location. When Ethan had first seen it, he''d considered skipping the guild war altogether and using it to teleport everyone to the Main City instead. Unfortunately, the scroll''s usage was restricted to Zone 1370, forcing him to revise his plan. --- Meanwhile, in Unity Hall''s camp, chaos reigned. When the war declaration popped up, panic spread like wildfire. Unity Hall''s leaders, Overlord and Nightfall, scrambled to organize their members. With over 700 players, they were a decent mid-tier guild. However, their membership fees, a steep 5 silver coins, meant most joined purely for the experience bonuses, not loyalty. Like most guilds at this stage, Unity Hall lacked cohesion. The high cost of forming a guild meant they''d prioritized financial stability over trust or unity. Only players with deeper pockets could afford to join, ensuring a stronger roster but weaker bonds. Thirty minutes later, Zone 1370 was eerily quiet. The initial tension among Unity Hall members gave way to skepticism. [Anonymous]: "They''re just bluffing. Nothing''s happening." [Anonymous]: "Exactly. I''m heading out to grind levels." Another thirty minutes passed, and even Overlord and Nightfall began to relax. Eventually, they disbanded the raid groups, convinced the Renegade Alliance wasn''t coming. --- "Boss, our scouts in the town report that Unity Hall has disbanded their groups. Most of their members are heading out," Slashblade informed Ethan. "Good," Ethan replied. "Tell the scouts to stay vigilant and be ready to act." Turning to SeraphWarrior, Ethan asked, "Are the rogues in position at the resurrection points?" SeraphWarrior checked his messages. "All set. In the Level 1¨C7 zones, as per your coordinates. At least ten rogues stationed at each location." "Perfect. Skyblade, rally the main force with me. Slashblade, give the signal for the scouts in the town to move!" Shifting into Stag Form, Ethan called out, "Lyla, hop on!" The Stag Form allowed him to carry one passenger. Lyla hesitated for a moment before nodding and climbing onto his back. As Ethan sprinted forward, Lyla clung to him, still in shock. She couldn''t fathom how Ethan had summoned so many players from outside their zone. Gazing down at the glowing stag beneath her, she couldn''t help but smile, a rare, soft expression of happiness lighting up her face. --- Back in the town, the spectators who''d gathered to watch the chaos began to disperse, losing interest. Outside the walls, on the only road leading to the leveling area, Nightfall and over a hundred red-named players continued ambushing anyone trying to leave. Trapped players inside the town fumed, grinding their teeth in frustration. On the walls, a group of bored onlookers scanned the horizon. Suddenly, one of them shouted, "Hey, what''s that?" Chapter 37 - 37: Strategic Clash As the shout echoed through the streets, a lone figure caught everyone''s attention. A female elf, specializing as an archer, rode swiftly down the road on the back of a massive stag. Her name glowed a sinister dark red above her head, marking her as a known killer. Her speed was impressive, and within moments, she had entered the semicircular formation of over a hundred members led by Nightfall. She stopped abruptly about a hundred meters away, her piercing gaze scanning her enemies. Most of Nightfall''s group bore red names themselves, a clear indicator of their own bloody deeds. However, from Ethan''s perspective, they were nothing but walking treasures. Their gear, especially Nightfall''s, gleamed with an otherworldly brilliance. Her weapon and robes radiated a white, shimmering aura that spoke of high-tier craftsmanship. "Well, if it isn''t the little runaway who made me chase her halfway across the map," Nightfall sneered, her voice dripping with mockery as she turned to Lyla. "What''s wrong, sweetheart? Decided running wasn''t worth it and came back to surrender?" Lyla didn''t bother responding. Instead, she gave Nightfall a dismissive glance, her lips curling in slight disdain. Nightfall raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Riding a stag, are we? Seems like you''ve had a bit of luck lately. How about this, I''ll let you live if you hand over that pretty mount of yours. Deal?" Ethan rolled his eyes. "She really thinks I''m a mount," he muttered under his breath. "Not that she hasn''t ridden me before¡­ wait!" He shook off the intrusive thought and quickly glanced at Lyla, relieved to see she hadn''t noticed. "Move!" Ethan ordered in the guild chat. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A sudden commotion erupted from the direction of the nearby town. In an orderly and disciplined fashion, 53 shield tanks marched out, their formation tight and precise. Those with tower shields planted them firmly into the ground, creating a defensive wall. Others with smaller round shields raised them overhead, forming a protective canopy for their comrades. The shield wall was positioned perfectly at the town''s only gate, with the soldiers'' boots safely within the neutral zone and their shields extending just beyond its boundaries. Ethan smirked at their flawless execution. "Not bad. All I gave them was the coordinates, and they nailed it." Nightfall noticed the movement and raised a curious eyebrow but quickly dismissed it with a sneer. "Impressive. You''ve got something up your sleeve. But what can these walking slabs of beef really do? Bludgeon us with their shields?" She laughed mockingly. "Boss Lady, something feels off," murmured a sniper standing beside her, his tone cautious. "What''s off? That pitiful bunch of tin cans? Give me a break," Nightfall snapped, glaring at him. The sniper hesitated but wisely kept quiet, not wanting to provoke her further. Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by the sound of thunderous footsteps approaching from the horizon. The players on the walls turned their heads, their eyes widening as a massive force came into view. A group of over two hundred players, a mix of all classes, sprinted toward Lyla''s position with unwavering determination. Before the onlookers could process what was happening, the reinforcements stopped behind Lyla in a unified line. In the midst of the chaos, Lyla calmly dismounted, stowing away her stag. The crowd failed to notice Ethan vanishing into stealth mode in that brief moment. The sniper''s unease grew, his eyes locking onto the insignias on the newcomers'' chests. The words "Renegade Alliance" burned into his mind. Now he understood the nagging feeling from earlier. When the shield tanks had first appeared, their swift and efficient formation was suspicious. But now, with the arrival of the Alliance reinforcements, it all made sense. "Close ranks! Protect Boss Lady! Send word to the guild leader, we need backup now! The Renegade Alliance is here!" the sniper ordered, his voice firm despite the growing tension. Despite being outnumbered, Nightfall''s team showed little fear. Each of the 100-plus players was a guild elite, all at level 7, equipped with at least one piece of silver gear and three pieces of bronze. By contrast, the Renegade Alliance''s reinforcements were a mixed bag, their levels ranging from 4 to 5. Many of them wore patched-up gear, with several still clad in the basic novice attire. Under the sniper''s orders, Nightfall''s team began tightening their formation, retracting the wide semicircle they had formed earlier to trap players attempting to leave the town. Meanwhile, Lyla raised a silver-tipped arrow, nocking it against her gleaming bowstring. Her target? Nightfall herself. Nightfall''s confident smirk faltered for a moment before she regained her composure. Glancing at the 100-meter gap between them, she scoffed. "Too far. She''s out of range," Nightfall muttered, letting her guard down again. But Lyla just smiled sweetly. With deliberate precision, she raised her bow higher and loosed the arrow. On the town walls, a few onlookers leaned in, confused. "What''s she doing?" one player asked. "Looks like a¡­ long shot?" another replied hesitantly. Before they could finish speculating, a loud explosion echoed across the battlefield as the arrow burst into a brilliant, fiery detonation at its peak. "Attack!" From the left flank, a shield tank charged forward, using nearby animals as targets to continuously activate his Charge skill and build momentum. From the right, a knight gripped a massive greatsword in reverse, sprinting full tilt toward Nightfall''s forces. Each of them was followed by over a hundred warriors and knights, their armor gleaming as they advanced with frightening coordination. Though most of these reinforcements were below level 6, their equipment was leagues ahead of the ragged attire worn by the irregulars pushing forward from the center. Leading the charge were Skyblade and SeraphWarrior, both at level 10. Their intimidating presence was unmistakable. Behind SeraphWarrior''s group of knights, two priests trailed closely, one of them a burly man, Slashblade, while the other was an unfamiliar yet striking woman. Similarly, three priests supported Skyblade''s group of warriors, a man and two women Ethan didn''t recognize. These five priests were the guild''s only players capable of casting beginner healing spells. Meanwhile, Lyla''s force of over 200 pressed forward as well, albeit without a full-on charge. Nightfall''s team, under the sniper''s calm yet urgent command, adjusted their formation further, shielding Nightfall in the center. As the pressure from the frontal assault increased, they began retreating slowly toward the town, careful not to cross the 10-meter boundary that would trigger the town''s automated guards to attack them. The sniper carefully calculated the distance of the advancing flanks. "All ranged units, prepare to fire! Target the flanks as soon as they''re in range. Focus fire on those melee fighters, blast them down!" On the walls, the spectators were nearly vibrating with excitement, craning their necks to take in every detail of the impending clash. "It''s about to go down!" someone shouted. "Look! The ranged units from Unity Hall are setting up!" another exclaimed. "Think those warriors and knights will even make it to the front lines?" "Hard to say. Unity Hall''s gear is way better, but the Renegade Alliance has numbers. And then there''s Lyla''s militia pushing from the center. It''s going to be a bloodbath!" The chatter was abruptly interrupted by a sharp command. "Fire!" The startled spectators flinched as a wave of spells, arrows, and cannon blasts erupted from their midst. Dozens of players, all bearing the insignia of the Renegade Alliance, had secretly positioned themselves among the wall''s defenders. Now they unleashed a devastating barrage of attacks. Their targets? The heart of Nightfall''s formation. At this distance, it shouldn''t have been possible to land a single hit. Even the players casting spells doubted their attacks would connect, expecting their projectiles to fizzle harmlessly into the air. But the strikes landed flawlessly, blasting into Nightfall''s tightly packed team with devastating precision. Chapter 38 - 38: Devastation The group of players watched as their attacks landed on the enemy. A realization dawned on them, elevated positions significantly boosted their range. "Damn," one of them muttered, watching their leader coordinate the chaos below. "The Guildmaster''s always thinking ahead. That''s why he''s number one on the leaderboard." The group''s confidence in Ethan swelled. Energized, they attacked with reckless abandon, flinging skills and projectiles as if they were free. Below, their enemies scrambled. Despite being well-geared, the opposing side couldn''t withstand the focused assault from over fifty ranged classes. Within seconds, ten players were down, their fallen bodies scattering loot across the battlefield. A few nearby teammates rushed forward to claim the spoils, but the items vanished into thin air. "Shit, they''ve got a rogue clearing the battlefield!" someone shouted from Nightfall''s squad. The sniper cursed under his breath. "Priests who can cast Holy Light, scatter illumination spells now! We''ll flush out that rogue!" "There''s¡­ there''s no one left!" a panicked player stammered. "The priests are all dead¡­ except for her!" He gestured toward Nightfall. "Damn!" the sniper thought bitterly. They were entirely at the mercy of the enemy now. His only hope was that the Guildmaster would arrive soon. Surveying the chaos, the sniper barked orders. "Shift formation! Head further from the town walls!" Waiting for reinforcements was pointless. Without priests, there was no way to sustain the fight. Their only option was to leverage their higher levels and gear to break through and regroup. Nightfall, caught in the middle of the chaos, hesitated. As the group pivoted toward Lyla''s position, the rising tension was palpable. Clutching her longbow, Lyla''s hands trembled slightly. She was nervous, anyone would be. But she had a job to do, one Ethan had entrusted to her: gauge the enemy''s range and lead the counteroffensive. As the only Level 8 sniper in their group, she was the only one with the Hawk''s Eye ability. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hawk''s Eye was a passive skill exclusive to snipers and marksmen, capable of gauging target distance and boosting skill accuracy. At higher levels, it even increased range. Narrowing her eyes, Lyla gauged the distance. Ninety meters¡­ eighty¡­ seventy-five¡­ Now! "All snipers and marksmen, fire upward at a thirty-five-degree angle! Use normal attacks, suppressive fire! Keep going, no breaks!" she commanded. "Mages and warlocks, forty-degree angle! Use low-damage instant-cast spells and follow up with AoEs once they''re in range. Target their front line!" Her voice trembled slightly, whether from fear or excitement, even she wasn''t sure. As Lyla''s orders spread through the group, the enemy squad closed to seventy meters, their tight formation faltering under the rain of arrows and spells. At first, the attacks only did minor damage, with single-digit numbers floating above the enemy''s heads. Yet the relentless hail of projectiles forced the advancing players to pause, stumbling as stray hits threw off their rhythm. The enemy sniper noticed the weakened impact and shouted, "They''re using weak attacks! Push through! Their damage is negligible!" Focused entirely on breaking through, the enemy squad didn''t notice the warriors and paladins closing in from both flanks. Pressing forward, they ignored the volleys of arrows, even as they struggled to maintain formation. Players hit less often surged ahead, while those struck repeatedly lagged behind. Their once-cohesive formation stretched, round and tight at first, into a fragile, elongated oval. Another ten meters forward, and then it hit. A barrage of instant-cast spells rained down. Fireballs, Ice Spikes, Shadow Bolts, and even Holy Smite spells exploded among them. Though still low in damage, the impact was devastating. Ice Spikes left a layer of frost on anyone hit, slowing their movement by 20%. "Dispel the slow effects!" the enemy sniper shouted to Nightfall. "Focus on clearing the path!" Caught off guard, Nightfall glared at him, irritation flashing across her face. ''You dare yell at me? Just wait till the Guildmaster hears about this¡­'' The Sniper had no idea that his efforts to protect Nightfall were earning him nothing but her resentment. He quickly scanned the surroundings. The enemy flanking them was still 90 yards away, while the ragtag group ahead was less than 60 yards. If they reached the group before being surrounded, they could punch through with ease. With those low-level, poorly-geared players, it''ll take less than five seconds to carve a path out, he thought confidently. At the front of their formation, several teammates had already lost a sixth of their health but didn''t care. They kept charging, heads down, rage simmering beneath the surface. Initially, they had tried mimicking the enemy''s volley technique, launching a few attacks of their own. But their accuracy was terrible. Even when two or three skills found their way toward the enemy, the group scattered like startled birds, avoiding all damage. Many of them were big names in the real world, wealthy professionals or seasoned players. Their high-end gear and ability to pay the 5-silver membership fee for the guild made that clear. Truth be told, they hadn''t wanted to waste time slaughtering low-level players today. But promises of lucrative rewards had convinced them to come. Now, being pinned down and hammered mercilessly, their pride was wounded. All they wanted was to close the gap and smash their opponents to pieces. "55 yards¡­ 50¡­ 40¡­" The first few ranged players in the formation raised their staves, preparing to cast as soon as they were in range. But before they could unleash their spells, the enemy beat them to it. Boom! A coordinated barrage of area-of-effect attacks descended upon them. Over a hundred players unleashed their skills simultaneously, drowning the front line in explosions and elemental chaos. Mages hurled Explosive Fireballs and Blizzards. Warlocks rained down Meteor Showers. Sharpshooters fired Cannon Bombs. Archers let loose a devastating Arrow Storm. From a distance, the overlapping magic created a dazzling sphere of light, vibrant and chaotic. But for the 20 players caught in the onslaught, there was no time to admire the spectacle. Agonizing pain wracked their bodies as the spells hit. Screams echoed as they tried to turn back, only to find themselves pinned to the ground by the sheer impact of the magic. Hundreds of spells continued to rain down, many dealing persistent damage. Each tick of forced 1-point health loss piled up rapidly. In less than five seconds, the 20 players were obliterated, their bodies dissolving into glowing loot scattered across the battlefield. "Keep the AoE pressure up! Blanket the gear with spells! No one stops until I say so!" Moonbeam barked through gritted teeth, firing another Arrow Storm. The sight of top-tier equipment littering the ground made everyone drool with greed. "Go grab the loot!" Nightfall shouted. "Don''t¡ª" the Sniper began, but his warning came too late. A dozen players charged into the glowing sphere of magic, only to suffer the same fate as those before them. Their health bars plummeted, and within seconds, they joined the pile of corpses. Nightfall, preparing to snap at the Sniper for questioning her command, froze mid-thought as she watched the carnage unfold. "What¡­ what do we do now?" she stammered, momentarily stunned. The Sniper''s attention snapped to the warriors and paladins closing in from both sides. The delay had cost them dearly, the enemy was now only 30 yards away. ''It''s over,'' he thought grimly. Trying to circle around the magical killing field was no longer an option. They simply didn''t have the time. And just as he feared, their doom was imminent. Boom! Two unstoppable waves of enemies collided with their formation, smashing into them with devastating force. Chapter 39 - 39: Tactical Genius As the Knights and Warriors encircled their targets, Ethan''s voice rang out on the guild''s command channel, "Focus fire! Kill the ones without red names first!" It was the first time anyone in the guild had ever heard him speak. A brief silence followed before comprehension hit. He wasn''t leaving them with even a single scrap! Through the lingering haze of magical light, they could see the loot scattered across the ground. All of it was their spoils of war, treasures they''d soon be able to exchange for guild contribution points. Like predators in a frenzy, the guild members charged at the players without red names, slashing and stabbing with ruthless precision. Their prey barely had time to react before falling, dismembered under the flurry of blades. Within mere moments, over twenty players lay dead, their bodies fading into flashes of white light. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Sniper who had been coordinating their enemy''s counterattack was now paralyzed with fear. ''Who is commanding this group?'' he thought. ''Could it be that girl¡ªthe one with the sharp eyes and deadly aim?'' But he quickly dismissed the idea. ''She''s nervous herself, clearly struggling to stay composed. There''s no way she''s orchestrating this chaos.'' His mind reeled as he recalled the sequence of events. First, the shield tanks had sealed off the town gates, locking his team in. Then, their flanking ambush had been countered, and their healers systematically assassinated. Even now, rogue players scoured the battlefield, ensuring no survivors could escape with the loot. Their movements were coordinated, methodical, and ruthless. Each step of their strategy was a calculated blow, leaving him scrambling for answers. The Sniper clenched his fists. The shield tanks at the gates, they weren''t even moving! What were they planning? "ThreeShot!" a teammate shouted. "The guild leader''s sending reinforcements, over 200 players are on their way!" ThreeShot, was the nickname of the Sniper, taken from his in-game name: OnlyThreeShots. He snapped out of his thoughts, his lips curling in frustration. "Two hundred? We won''t last another minute!" he barked back. "Tell him to bring body bags instead!" "The guild leader said most of our players wouldn''t come back after waiting over an hour earlier. They think the enemy''s bluffing!" "Damn it!" ThreeShot cursed, his frustration boiling over. But there was no time for regret. Just then, two figures broke through the defensive line: Skyblade and SeraphWarrior. A chill ran down ThreeShot''s spine. He was a long-range fighter, and now, two melee specialists were closing in fast. With no room to maneuver, he was a sitting duck. SeraphWarrior struck first, unleashing a barrage of Judgment and Shock skills that left ThreeShot staggered and retreating. Before he could recover, Skyblade charged forward, triggering a stun effect and following up with a powerful shield bash. ThreeShot hit the ground hard, dazed and helpless. SeraphWarrior wasted no time, raising his greatsword high and bringing it down in a devastating arc. Pinned and unable to dodge, ThreeShot could only watch as the blade descended. A flash of cold steel, and his head was severed cleanly from his shoulders. The system notification rang out: [Critical hit! Weak point assassination triggered. Target eliminated.] Even with half his health remaining, the critical hit left no chance for survival. This rare system feature, a weak point fatality, was nearly impossible to execute, but the duo''s flawless coordination made it happen. [Achievement Unlocked: Decapitation] Skyblade and SeraphWarrior exchanged brief nods before moving on to their next targets. With ThreeShot eliminated, the enemy forces descended into chaos. In under a minute, their 200-strong force had been reduced to fewer than 80 players, who were swiftly wiped out by Ethan''s 300-man army. The battlefield was strewn with loot, yet no one dared pick up a single item. It was Ethan''s decree: all gear would be added to the guild vault for redistribution through contribution points. No exceptions. At first, not everyone was eager to follow Ethan''s orders. But after this battle, their doubts had been erased. Under normal circumstances, going up against an enemy armed with Silver and Bronze-tiered gear would''ve been a death sentence. Simply surviving would''ve been a miracle, let alone wiping out the entire opposing force. Yet, somehow, they had not only survived but crushed their foes with minimal casualties. It was all thanks to Ethan''s meticulous strategy. As Ethan stepped out of stealth and joined the crowd, Lyla led the group of ranged fighters over. Every single person was buzzing with excitement, their adrenaline still coursing from the victory. The moment they saw Ethan, they greeted him with a unified cheer: "BOSS!" Skyblade, ever the joker, grinned and called out to Lyla, "Hey there, First Lady of the guild!" Lyla blushed deeply but didn''t respond, her eyes darting anywhere but at Skyblade. Ethan smirked and shot Skyblade an approving look. Skyblade tilted his head in return, grinning smugly as if to say, ''I''ve got your back, boss.'' "Skyblade," Ethan ordered, "organize the battlefield. Have some of the members carry the loot back to town. It all goes into the guild vault." He turned to the other direction. "Slashblade, tally the casualties. Give each fallen player five silver coins as compensation." Then he addressed SeraphWarrior and Lyla: "You two, come with me to clean up the stragglers. Their elite forces are down, what''s left won''t be a threat." Ethan rattled off commands with precision, each one sending the group into motion. Skyblade, however, couldn''t resist. "Why not let First Lady handle the loot sorting? I want to get out there and crush some enemies!" He flashed a toothy grin at Lyla, who ignored him completely. Ethan raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with amusement. "Sure, go ahead, if you can convince SeraphWarrior to trade position with you." SeraphWarrior didn''t miss a beat, interjecting smoothly, "Skyblade, quit whining and get to work. Unless, of course, you want Slashblade''s sister paying you a visit tomorrow?" Skyblade''s bravado faltered, and he straightened up. "Ugh, not this again. Can''t you come up with a better threat? And for the record, it''s Slashblade''s sister, not yours. Who says she''ll even listen to you?" Ignoring him entirely, SeraphWarrior turned and walked away. Just then, Slashblade appeared, clapping Skyblade on the shoulder. "By the way, my sister says she''s looking forward to seeing you." Skyblade groaned, muttering under his breath as he turned and left to count the casualties, leaving Skyblade spluttering behind him. The banter among Ethan''s team was lighthearted, but over at Unity Hall''s camp, the atmosphere was grim. "Guild Leader, we''ve been wiped out!" "Help us! There''s a group of rogues camping the graveyard, we can''t even revive!" "Damn it, I''ve been killed twice now! I''m down to Level 5!" "Yeah, why does every death drop a full level, and why do we keep reviving at the graveyard without a choice?" "Let''s quit the guild! The rogues keep shouting they''ll let us go if we leave!" The Unity Hall guild chat was in utter chaos. Notifications of members quitting flooded the system. Zachary, known in the game as Overlord, guild leader of Unity Hall. He sat in stunned silence, helpless as over a hundred players, everyone wiped out by Ethan''s team, left the guild in quick succession. Chapter 40 - 40: The Fall Of Unity Hall Unity Hall was in chaos. Over a hundred elite members had been wiped out, and forced to quit the guild. Overlord led a group of over two hundred toward the outskirts of the small town, but cracks were already forming within his ranks. Members were silently leaving the group one by one, and his attempts to stabilize morale fell flat. Who could blame them? A team of over a hundred top players, many around Level 7 or 8, had been utterly crushed. Some had even been ambushed and killed at the graveyard, losing at least three levels each. For the second-string members left in the group, hope was a luxury they couldn''t afford. With just over two hundred players, how could they possibly win this fight? Most decided to wait and see, or even quit the guild entirely to protect their gear and experience. A few of them even found reasons to celebrate. With the elites out of the picture, players like them might suddenly find themselves at the top of Zone 1370''s food chain. As the group approached the outskirts of town, their numbers shrank instead of growing. By the time they reached the town gates, only 183 players remained. Then Overlord caught sight of the enemy: a wall of shield tanks from the Renegade Alliance, standing guard at the town''s entrance. Unity Hall''s guild chat exploded with activity. Scattered players leveling up in the wilderness were under attack from Renegade Alliance. Every ambusher from Renegade Alliance shouted the same thing before striking: sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Quit Unity Hall, and we won''t kill you!" Not that they ever gave their victims a chance to leave the guild. They attacked on sight. Once a player was killed, their ghost was automatically resurrected at the nearby graveyard. But there, rouges would be waiting in ambush, delivering another swift death. Normally, players in ghost form could talk to the Angel of Resurrection or return to their corpse to revive. But this time, neither option worked. Ethan knew exactly why. In a guild war, the system altered the mechanics. Players without a guild base would revive at the nearest respawn point. Meanwhile, guilds with bases saw their players resurrected directly at their headquarters. In this case, Unity Hall had no base in Zone 1370. Their respawns were stuck in the nearby graveyard. Renegade Alliance''s strategic advantage was obvious, and Ethan couldn''t help but smirk at his handiwork. According to Slashblade''s tally, Renegade Alliance had suffered 37 casualties. Their opponents'' equipment was solid; if not for Ethan''s careful planning, this battle might''ve turned out very differently. Even so, Renegade Alliance had taken some losses, 37 players out of over 300 during the final push. Guild war deaths came with heavy penalties: losing a level and, for non-red-named players, one piece of equipment. Unity Hall had suffered catastrophic losses. In contrast, Renegade Alliance was thriving, using battles to fuel its growth. When Overlord''s group was just a few hundred meters from the town, they were forced to change direction. They split up to respond to distress calls from members in nearby leveling areas. But it was a futile effort; by the time they arrived, Renegade Alliance had already vanished. This success was largely thanks to Ethan. Using his experience from a past life and an uncanny understanding of the map, he tracked Overlord''s group and predicted their movements with pinpoint accuracy. Normally, rogue skills like Stealth significantly reduced movement speed before being upgraded. For most players, that meant stealth wasn''t a viable option for reconnaissance. But Ethan, with his refined techniques and cheatlike abilities could maintain 83.5% of his speed while staying hidden, just enough to tail the enemy. One fight after another, and Unity Hall''s players were ready to call it quits. They began teleporting back to town en masse. Some tried logging out, hoping to escape the relentless ambushes. But the system informed them that logging out was disabled during guild wars. They''d have to wait until the game entered its sleep phase at 8 a.m. Some Unity Hall players were fortunate; their free teleport stones weren''t on cooldown, allowing them to return safely to the town''s sanctuary. Others weren''t so lucky. Without teleport stones, they could only run toward the town on foot. Even members of Overlord''s own team began deserting him. Some used their teleport stones, while others fled in the direction of the town. In the end, only his most loyal supporters stayed. The group had dwindled to fewer than fifty. "Boss, we should retreat too," one of Overlord''s personal bodyguards suggested. "Retreat? Where exactly do you think we''re going to run? Those shield tanks at the gate aren''t just decorations," Overlord snapped. His eyes glinted coldly. "And what about that ''NotADruid''? Any updates?" "We looked into it, but nothing came up. Aeon Corporation''s security protocols are impenetrable," the bodyguard admitted. "Impenetrable? What else?" Overlord pressed. "Well¡­ we couldn''t even locate their headquarters. All we know is that their regional offices are scattered across different countries, and those are just manufacturing facilities for VR headsets and capsules." "Impressive," Overlord muttered, a mix of frustration and admiration in his voice. "Keep digging. Report to me the moment you find something." --- At the gates of the town, a large crowd of Unity Hall players had gathered. They kept their distance, standing about seventy meters from the entrance. Fear was written across their faces. Earlier, they had watched a group of guildmates attempt to break through the shield wall that Renegade Alliance had formed at the gate. Despite the combined force of dozens of players, the shield wall barely trembled. Moments later, a barrage of magic, arrows, and cannon fire from the town walls obliterated them. As the dust settled, a gap opened in the shield wall, and a single shield tank sauntered out. After casually looting the corpses, he turned toward the Unity Hall players and mockingly gestured for them to come closer. Then, without a word, he retreated behind the shields, and the wall closed again. In the crowd, ThreeShot, watched the scene unfold. He was now a Level 3 player, having quit the guild after being repeatedly killed and losing five levels. "Well played," he muttered to himself. "It''s all deliberate¡­ their leader must be a genius tactician. That top-ranked druid player, if it''s him, then it''s no wonder." Shaking his head in frustration, he started walking toward the town gates. At least he''d managed to keep some of his gear intact, having avoided the penalties of being red-named. "Hey, isn''t that ThreeShot, our former vice-leader?" "Yeah, it''s him. But he''s left the guild!" "What''s he doing now? Walking to his death?" The whispers grew louder as ThreeShot approached the shield wall, coming within three meters. Suddenly, a gap opened in the wall. Without hesitation, he stepped through. "Wait, did you see that? He went in!" "Is he a spy for the enemy guild?" "Doesn''t look like it¡ªhe''s barely Level 3 now." The murmurs of the Unity Hall players grew into a frenzy. Seeing ThreeShot''s safe passage, a handful of sharp-witted players bolted toward the town while quickly quitting the guild. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, these players were allowed through the gates without incident. Realization dawned. One by one, players began quitting Unity Hall and running toward Evercrest Town. Not all attempts were successful. Some opportunists tried to play smart by removing their guild badges and hiding their player names, hoping to sneak through unnoticed. But they were wrong. While regular players couldn''t see their names, members of Renegade Alliance could. These disguised players were mercilessly cut down at the gates. "Why don''t we just kill them all? It''s free money, after all," a mage named RadiantJester grumbled from his position on the town wall, standing beside Ethan. Chapter 41 - 41: Heartstrings "These are just regular players, no good loot on them," Ethan remarked. "The others should be in position by now, right?" "Yeah, Ryan and Slashblade are ready over there," RadiantJester replied. "But the enemy hasn''t made a move yet. No idea what they''re waiting for." Ethan frowned. Could they have already given up? He opened the guild chat and confirmed the situation with Skyblade. Then, his expression hardened. "It''s time. The enemy has been forcibly logged out, but during a guild war, their in-game avatars remain online. Tell the rogues stationed at their respawn points to keep killing them until they''re down to Level 1. After that, keep going until their gear stops dropping." Originally, Ethan had been brainstorming ways to turn the entire enemy guild red-named. Now, there was no need. Under Ethan''s leadership, this guild war had become a near-flawless victory. With minimal losses, Renegade Alliance had decimated Unity Hall''s leadership and top players. The fallout was immediate. Dozens of players quit Unity Hall, leaving the guild in disarray. Their reputation, already tarnished by bullying local players, turned public sentiment fully against them. In the days to come, Unity Hall would face relentless revenge from the entire Zone 1370 player base. Without their core members, Overlord''s Unity Hall was on the brink of collapse. It might survive, but only after the players moved out of the starter zone, where they could attempt to rebuild. Seeing that his presence was no longer needed, Ethan bid farewell to Lyla and her group of rowdy friends. Amid their playful teasing, he stepped onto the teleportation array in the starter zone and returned to Harmony City. Little did Ethan know, the guild war had become a global sensation. A player had uploaded video footage to Aeon Corporation''s official forums, specifically in the player discussion section. Within minutes, the post had over a million views, and the count continued to climb. The comments section exploded. Some cheered, saying Unity Hall deserved its fate. Others praised Renegade Alliance as righteous avengers. Still, others argued that not all Unity Hall players were at fault, accusing Renegade Alliance of going too far. The debate quickly escalated. Insults were hurled, and the conversation spiraled into personal attacks and even regional prejudice. Aeon Corporation was eventually forced to intervene, locking the thread to prevent further chaos. Ethan, oblivious to the online uproar, had transformed into his stag form and was galloping down the main road leading north to Springhaven. Originally, his plan was simple: return to Harmony City from the starter zone, spend some money to teleport to the two other cities, buy the plots of land he needed, and return to complete his quest. What he hadn''t expected was this: Ding! [System Notification: "Teleportation to Springhaven is currently unavailable!"] He stared at the message, cursing under his breath. Was the teleportation array genuinely out of service, or was the city lord, Gregor Darnell, deliberately making things difficult for him? sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In his stag form, it would take him six hours of running to reach Springhaven. From there, it was another ten-hour trek to Blackridge. If the teleportation arrays in Blackridge were also unusable, he''d waste nearly three days just traveling. The thought was infuriating, especially since the second-ranked player on the leaderboard had already hit Level 9. He had no idea what the top players in other regions were doing. But one thing was certain: in his previous life, that archer, Feather had left the starter zone in just ten days. If Ethan couldn''t use teleportation, he might only barely make it back before Feather left the zone. With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Ethan continued his long run until the game''s scheduled shutdown forced him offline. --- After logging out, Ethan wasted no time. He went straight to Lyla''s room and knocked on her door. Today, she hadn''t logged off early, no doubt because the guild war had been exhilarating for her. His guess was spot on. When Lyla opened the door, she launched into an excited recap, talking about how precise her commands had been, how flawlessly she''d timed everything, and so on. They sat at the dining table near the floor-to-ceiling windows, enjoying breakfast. Ethan listened to her storytelling, a faint smile on his face. After enduring five thousand years of solitude in the dream world, this peaceful reality was nothing short of beautiful. Ethan couldn''t help but recall a moment from his previous life, a drunken night in the game with Moonbeam that had changed everything. Now, as he watched Lyla standing before him in nothing but a silk camisole, bathed in the golden glow of morning sunlight, those memories surged forward. The light caressed her face and shoulders, making her skin shimmer with an almost ethereal softness. Every detail¡ªher lashes, the smooth curve of her neck, the faint flush on her cheeks, seemed impossibly perfect. Ethan''s chest tightened, a heat stirring within him. Beneath his gaze, Lyla seemed to sense his thoughts. Flustered, she grabbed a piece of bread from her plate and stuffed it into her mouth. "I''m done eating," she mumbled, rising to take her plate to the open-plan kitchen. As she passed by him, Ethan reached out and caught her wrist. Lyla froze, her breath hitching, unsure of what to do. Without a word, Ethan gently took the plate from her hand, setting it back on the table. Then, with a firm tug, he pulled her into his arms. Last night in the game, holding Lyla had been a starkly different experience, her armor was an obstacle. Now, it was the opposite. Her warmth, her softness¡ªit was intoxicating. In his embrace, Lyla felt a reassuring strength that went beyond physicality. She had already made her choice to be with him. She wouldn''t have sacrificed so much or moved to Harmony City to find him otherwise. For years, she had quietly followed Ethan''s life, never stepping forward, though her feelings had grown deeper with every passing moment. But this time was different. This was her chance, one she''d fought hard to have. Ethan''s hold on her tightened. A part of him wanted nothing more than to claim her entirely. Yet, he also knew it wasn''t the right time, not yet. Lyla shifted slightly in his arms, her gaze soft and uncertain. Ethan sighed inwardly. He knew if he made a move now, she wouldn''t resist. The realization quickened his heartbeat. Were they already more than just friends? Were they finally¡­ something more? "Lyla¡­" Ethan murmured near her ear. "Yeah?" she whispered back, her voice barely audible. With a sudden motion, Ethan lifted her off her feet and set her on the dining table. Lyla gasped, wrapping her arms around his neck, her legs instinctively tightening around his waist. The faint floral scent of her hair filled Ethan''s senses as he held her close. In her mind, Lyla''s thoughts raced. Was he really going to¡ª? She let out a soft sound, her entire body trembling, unable to muster the strength to move. Ethan''s mind flashed back to his past life. How had she felt then, during those moments they had sex in the game? Surely, she had known it was him. She must have. He had told her his in-game ID, hadn''t he? Looking at her now, vulnerable and trusting in his arms, Ethan ran his hand slowly along her back, feeling her shiver beneath his touch. He leaned in, his voice low and steady in her ear. "Should we¡­ take this¡­ further?" Chapter 42 - 42: Deceptive Moves Ethan''s hand glided over the silky fabric of Lyla''s nightgown, tracing up to her neck. His fingers tangled gently in her hair. "We¡­ we''re going to be late¡­ for class!" he teased, his other hand landing a playful smack on her rounded curve. "Mmm¡­" Lyla felt the heat of his touch and the warmth of his breath brushing against her ear. Her body shivered, caught between pleasure and nervous anticipation. She squirmed in his arms, desperately trying to ground herself. But when the tension inside her finally broke, she trembled violently, her voice escaping in a soft, melodic gasp. Her strength left her completely. Even her arms, which had been tightly wrapped around Ethan, slackened as she slipped downward, boneless and flushed. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan froze, startled by her sensitivity. Moments later, Lyla''s face burned red as a wave of embarrassment overwhelmed her. She pushed him away, flustered. "I¡­ I''m going to freshen up!" she stammered before hurriedly making her way upstairs. But as she reached the staircase, her shaky legs betrayed her, nearly causing her to stumble. She gripped the banister tightly, not daring to look back at Ethan, and fled up the spiral staircase as though running for her life. Watching her retreating figure, Ethan glanced at the edge of the dining table, which for some reason now had a dark patch, as though something had spilled there. "I didn''t even do anything," he muttered to himself, though his thoughts betrayed him. Images of the moment replayed in his mind, tempting and vivid. Upstairs, he could only imagine what Lyla was doing behind the closed door. A short while later, Lyla returned, her expression a mix of awkwardness and determination. Ethan had already tidied up and was waiting for her. When their eyes met, her cheeks flushed again, and she shot him a glare. "Hurry up, we''re going to be late for class!" Despite her tone, her embarrassment was clear, and her face grew even redder as she spoke. Ethan, simply rubbed his nose and avoided teasing her further. He opened the door, and the two of them stepped out of the villa, one after the other. --- At school, it was another boring day for Ethan. The buzz around campus was all about last night''s guild war. Ethan, the mastermind behind it all, listened quietly as a bystander, smiling but offering no comments. --- That evening, Ethan logged back into the game and spent five hours traveling on foot. At last, he reached Springhaven. The moment he stepped into the city, a system notification popped up. Ding! [System Notification: You are the first player to reach Springhaven. Reputation with Springhaven +200.] Ding! [Zone Announcement: Player **** is the first to reach Springhaven. All city functions are now unlocked.] Smiling to himself, Ethan immediately equipped the Disguise Mask that Gregor Darnell had given him. Ding! [Disguise functionality activated. Please select your disguise type: Player, NPC, or Monster.] "Player," Ethan chose. Ding! [Player disguise confirmed. Please select a player name to copy.] "Overlord," Ethan said with a mischievous grin. Ding! [Copy successful. Disguise Mask usage -1. Remaining uses: 11. Duration: 3 hours.] [During the disguise duration, you cannot access the original player''s assets, equipment, or items. Any items obtained during this period can be traded or transferred. However, all items acquired during this time will transfer to the original player when the disguise ends.] As the notification faded, white mist enveloped Ethan''s body. When it cleared, he raised his hand to inspect himself. Sure enough, his appearance had changed to that of Overlord, complete with a mage''s robes. Even his displayed name matched. Satisfied with the disguise, Ethan hurried toward the Property Office, his heart racing. Halfway there, a realization struck him like a lightning bolt. The system prompt had said the disguise only lasted three hours. That wasn''t enough time to make it back to Harmony City. If he didn''t adjust his plan, he''d be handing Overlord a free fortune! Cursing under his breath, Ethan turned back and made a beeline for the teleportation hub. Reaching the array, he activated the control panel and tested his options. The teleportation array to Blackridge was still unavailable, but the option to return to Harmony City had finally opened. It seemed Gregor Darnell wasn''t sabotaging him after all. It was likely that the main city hadn''t been fully activated yet, which explained the restricted teleportation. With Harmony City now accessible, Ethan felt a wave of relief. He wouldn''t have to reveal his real identity to complete his schemes. If worst came to worst, he could abandon this region entirely. Still, missing the chance to frustrate Overlord gnawed at him. Shaking off the thought, Ethan made his way back to the Property Office. Without wasting time, he approached the receptionist and began selecting plots of land. By the end, he''d spent a staggering 9,980 gold to purchase 14 prime locations in Springhaven. Meanwhile, far away in Zone 1370''s starter village, Overlord''s system notifications were going wild. Ding! [Congratulations! You have purchased Plot #1 in Springhaven¡­] Ding! [Congratulations! You have purchased Plot #2 in Springhaven¡­] At first, Overlord was bewildered. But as the messages continued to roll in, each detailing the acquisition of valuable land under his name, his confusion turned to elation. A veteran gamer, he understood the massive potential of in-game real estate. Properties bought cheaply from the system could skyrocket in value, sometimes increasing a hundredfold, mirroring real-world real estate trends. After being utterly humiliated by Renegade Alliance the previous day, his guild shattered, his loyal followers beaten back to Level 1, and his equipment stripped, he had been on the verge of a breakdown. But now? This unexpected fortune felt like a lifeline. With so much prime land under his control, Overlord was already imagining his triumphant return to power. He saw himself rising above his past defeats, absorbing smaller guilds, and building a sprawling empire. He even entertained the thought of breaking free from the financial backer who had been manipulating him for years. With enough resources, he could finally forge his own path. His renewed energy was evident to his subordinates, who watched in shock as he dove headfirst into monster packs, fighting with an intensity they had never seen before. "What''s gotten into the boss?" one muttered. "He usually hangs back to leech experience¡­" --- Twenty minutes later, Ethan exited the Property Office and headed straight for the teleportation hub. The trip back to Harmony City cost him a hefty 20 gold. Were it not for his substantial savings, he might''ve been forced to abandon this entire scheme. Once in Harmony City, Ethan approached the Town Hall, though he worried about how to meet the City Lord. Ordinary players couldn''t simply stroll into such places without a specific quest. Attempting to force their way in would result in being executed by the guards and tossed into the dungeon. To his surprise, the Captain of the Guard, Roland Carter, was stationed at the entrance. The moment Roland spotted Ethan, now disguised as Overlord, he wasted no time escorting him inside. Apparently, Gregor Darnell had left orders: for the next ten days, any player who came to the Town Hall was to be granted immediate access to meet him. Ethan realized this arrangement was designed specifically for his task. With no other players expected to show up during this window, Gregor had cleared the path to ensure Ethan could complete his objective without interference. Still, the undercurrents of NPC politics intrigued him. What exactly was Gregor gaining from this maneuver? Once in Gregor''s office, Ethan didn''t waste words. Using his Overlord disguise, he handed over the deeds to the land he''d purchased in Springhaven. Gregor accepted the documents without much ceremony. He barely spoke, likely avoiding drawing the system''s attention. After finalizing the transfer, Ethan removed the Disguise Mask. Ding! [Congratulations! You have completed Part 1 of "Gregor Darnell''s Request." Reputation with Gregor Darnell +150. Current Reputation: 0.] Hearing the notification, Ethan chuckled. "So I started in the negatives with him, huh?" Despite completing the task, Gregor''s demeanor shifted. His previously lifelike interactions gave way to a cold, mechanical presence. It was as if the system had reasserted control over him, dampening his humanity. Chapter 43 - 43: A Costly Endeavor Ethan exited the Town Hall, hesitating at the steep teleportation costs. He briefly debated walking to Blackridge, but the only route passed through Springhaven. Clenching his teeth, he reluctantly spent 20 gold coins to return to Springhaven. From there, he resumed his journey on foot. As Ethan trekked through the sprawling roads, someone else was facing his own storm of emotions. Zachary had logged out of the game. Inside his room, chaos reigned¡ªevery item lay shattered across the floor. Even his high-tech VR capsule had been bashed nearly out of shape by the relentless blows of a baseball bat. The reason for his tantrum? Simple. While Ethan, bearing Zachary''s name in-game, continually transferred land titles to new owners, the system notifications flooded in. By the end, not only had Zachary lost every land deed he owned, but his reputation in Springhaven had plummeted by 4,200 points. Although he had no clue what a city''s reputation stat affected, he knew it couldn''t be good. His initial joy had soured into bitterness. The rollercoaster of emotions left Zachary unhinged. After venting his fury on the furniture, Zachary sank into a chair, his eyes glowing with venomous hatred. His thoughts spun. There was only one person capable of reaching the main city to pull off this betrayal. He pulled out his phone, hesitated, then dialed a number. On the other end, a voice answered in a clipped foreign accent: "Who are you looking for?" Switching to fluent Japanese, Zachary responded, "I need you to find someone for me..." Unbeknownst to Ethan, his rebirth had accelerated certain events, nudging them beyond his control. --- Running tirelessly, Ethan made his way closer to Blackridge before the game''s servers went offline. The following day at school, life remained uneventful. Even Lyla, who had always been unusually friendly toward him, now maintained a distant, almost hesitant demeanor after recent events. Whenever Ethan''s gaze landed on her, she froze as if caught mid-step. The tension was enough to make Ethan wonder if he had gone too far. Yet every time he saw Lyla, the image of wet stains on the dining table flashed in his mind, bringing back a tide of emotions. Still, he couldn''t figure out what he''d done. After all, he hadn''t really done anything... right? When night fell, Ethan logged back into the game, finally making it to Blackridge after over an hour of travel. Claiming the reputation rewards tied to his real name, Ethan once again donned his Disguise Mask. This time, he chose to mimic the username "Nightfall." As the white mist faded, Ethan glanced down. His brows furrowed as he noticed two... large additions to his chest. He took a tentative step, immediately feeling off balance, leaning forward slightly. Struggling to adjust, he had a sudden thought. Glancing around to ensure no one was nearby, Ethan carefully slipped a hand into his waistband. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Whew¡­ still here!" he muttered in relief. A strange mix of emotions surfaced, relief followed by a pang of disappointment. Shaking his head, Ethan instinctively reached for his newly "enhanced" chest, giving it a light squeeze. "Huh, didn''t feel this big before," he mused. Quickly shaking off the moment, Ethan confirmed once more that no one was around before briskly heading to Blackridge''s Property Office. After wrapping up the paperwork, he spent nearly all the 20,000 gold coins gifted by Lord Gregor, leaving only three coins to his name. Satisfied, he strutted toward the teleportation hub, spending a staggering 53 gold coins to return to Harmony City. The farther the distance, the steeper the teleportation fees. By late-game, such expenses were a luxury few players could afford. Many would rather endure grueling treks than burn their savings on teleportation. Back in Harmony City, Ethan checked his inventory. Only 95 gold coins remained, and three of those were task-restricted coins from Lord Gregor, meaning they couldn''t be spent freely. Ethan sighed deeply. "Making money''s hard. Spending it? That''s way too easy." The recent guild battle had been costly. He had spent a small fortune compensating his fallen comrades. Sure, Unity Hall had been completely crippled, and their looted equipment, once converted, would undoubtedly yield a hefty profit. But the repeated teleportation fees alone had eaten through most of the earnings. Although Ethan had secured usage rights for multiple properties, turning them into a source of income required time. Other players would need to reach the main city, develop the economy, and create demand. Until then, the land would sit idle. If he wanted to make money now, he''d need to think of something himself. "What can I do to make money without halting my progress?" Ethan muttered, racking his brain for ideas. He thought long and hard. Unfortunately, every idea required other players to arrive in the main city first. No choice. He''d just have to focus on leveling up for now. Ethan returned to the Town Hall, where he met with Lord Gregor to complete his task. His favourability with Gregor increased by another 300 points, and Ethan noticed a subtle change in the city lord''s demeanor, his tone was warmer, though still mechanical. Gone was the spirited, human-like debate they''d had a few days ago. Puzzled but unwilling to linger on it, Ethan left the Town Hall. As he prepared to search for a life-skills trainer, a video call notification flashed across his screen. It was Leo, known in-game as Skyblade. "Boss! We''re stuck in the dungeon. Help us out!" Leo blurted the moment Ethan accepted the call, his face a mix of urgency and frustration. "You guys went to clear the Murky Swamp?" Ethan asked, raising a brow. "Yeah. The three of us took a bunch of level 10 guildmates to tackle it. We''ve been at it all night, and we still can''t finish!" Leo groaned. The Murky Swamp was the first dungeon in the Starter Zone and the only one available there. The dungeon had five difficulty modes: Easy, Normal, Hard, Expert, and Hell. The harder the difficulty, the better the loot and experience rewards. However, it also required tighter teamwork, better coordination, and higher-quality gear. The Easy mode could be run endlessly, but its loot drop rate was comparable to the wilds, offering only marginally higher experience. Still, completing it awarded bonus experience upon clearing. Normal mode allowed one run per day, resetting after the server rebooted the following day. Hard mode could only be cleared once per week, resetting every Monday at 6:00 PM. Expert mode refreshed monthly, unlocking on the first day of each month. Hell mode was unique. It had a strict time limit and required a flawless five-star completion rating to earn rewards. The guaranteed reward? A piece of gold-tier equipment. Achieving a five-star rating, however, was incredibly difficult. While beating the time limit wasn''t too challenging, earning maximum stars required perfection, flawless execution and attention to every detail. Even in the late game, when teams returned to clear low-level dungeons, achieving a perfect score on Hell mode was rare. For many top-tier groups, managing it once in ten attempts was considered impressive. This was the reality of dungeon mechanics in the world of Ethereal. As for how to achieve a five-star rating? Ethan knew all the tricks. He was confident that with a disciplined team that followed his commands to the letter, earning five stars in Hell mode wouldn''t be an issue. But dungeons were only as strong as their weakest link. A team''s success depended on its players'' skill levels, execution, and overall awareness. Ethan couldn''t help but shake his head when Leo admitted they were running the Easy mode of Murky Swamp. "How many people do you have? And what are their levels?" Ethan asked after a moment of thought. Leo sighed. "It''s me, SeraphWarrior, and Slashblade, we''re all level 11 now. The rest are 27 guild members who just hit level 10." Chapter 44 - 44: The Plan for Profit Ethan frowned as he read Skyblade''s message. "What''s the breakdown of classes and numbers?" Skyblade quickly responded: "Thirty people in total¡ªthree Shield Tanks, three Greatsword Warriors, two Dual-Blade Rogues, three Paladins, five Priests, two Assassins, five Archers, five Mages, and two Warlocks." He also sent Ethan the full team composition for review. "Out of your Shield Tanks, who has the highest health and defense?" Ethan asked. "That''d be me," Skyblade replied confidently. "In defensive stance, my health is 1,108, and my defense is 792. The other two just hit level 10 and upgraded their gear through the guild, so their health is around 980, and defense is in the 500s." Shield Tanks in their defensive stance didn''t have the raw health boost that Druids gained from their Bear Form, but their defense multiplier¡ª480%, along with shield blocks and other mechanics, made them reliable main tanks in dungeons. "Here''s what you should do: split into two teams. With your health and defense stats, you can tank this dungeon solo without needing an off-tank. If it gets too rough, have SeraphWarrior equip a shield and switch to defensive aura to cover you now and then. The other two tanks meet the defense and health thresholds, so they''re fine as backups," Ethan explained. "Why split into two teams? Wouldn''t more players mean clearing faster?" Skyblade sounded confused. "Most dungeons in Ethereal scale dynamically. The more players you bring, the higher the monsters'' health and defense. If some of your damage dealers can''t output enough to compensate for the increased stats, you''ll actually clear slower, or worse, fail," Ethan said bluntly. This was something most players didn''t know yet, as they were still stuck in the mindset of older games. "Alright, we''ll give it a shot. Any other tips or tricks for the dungeon?" Skyblade asked, his tone more trusting now. "You''re doing Easy mode. There''s no need for fancy tactics, just brute force your way through. Easy and Normal modes allow 12 to 30 players. For the smoothest and fastest run, stick with 18 players. That''s the sweet spot for minimal scaling at this difficulty," Ethan explained. "Really? We''ve wiped so many times already. If we fail again, someone''s going to drop back to level 9," Skyblade muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. And there it was, the real reason for his urgency. "Don''t worry. You can''t lose a level in dungeons. Once your experience hits zero, it won''t drop any further," Ethan replied, rolling his eyes at Skyblade''s panic. In Ethereal, dungeon deaths didn''t cost gear or levels, but each death deducted 5% of a player''s experience. If their experience hit zero, it couldn''t drop further, ensuring players didn''t get locked out of dungeons due to level requirements. That''s why most teams started dungeons immediately after leveling up. With minimal experience to lose, deaths didn''t sting as much. Still, repeated deaths could add up to significant losses if players weren''t careful. Shutting off the chat, a sudden idea struck Ethan. "Wait a minute¡­" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If Skyblade and his crew were already clearing the Murky Swamp, then other players had to be attempting it too. While Easy mode was little more than an XP farm with negligible loot, Normal mode presented a bit of a challenge. Hard and Expert modes required well-coordinated teams. As for Hell mode? At this level, beating the timer was a pipe dream, let alone earning a five-star rating and claiming the top-tier rewards. But that gave Ethan an idea, what if he sold dungeon strategies? He already had all the dungeon mechanics and boss patterns mapped out in his head. That kind of information could be converted into gold, lots of gold. The idea lit a spark in Ethan''s mind. However, the details of how to implement it still needed work. After all, there was no way for him to directly broadcast his strategy to players scattered across so many Starter Zones. If he wanted to profit, he had to act fast. The early rush of dungeon activity was the prime window, before players figured out the strategies themselves and devalued his knowledge. There was another problem: once he sold even a single copy, it could spread quickly. While in-game confidentiality contracts existed, nothing stopped players from sharing strategies in the real world. Pondering his options, Ethan recalled someone who might be the key: Trusty007. Ethan knew Trusty007 wasn''t just an individual but the face of a well-organized team. They had operatives stationed in multiple Starter Zones, managing gold transactions and other services. If anyone could help him advertise dungeon strategies across a wide range of players, it was them. Without hesitation, Ethan opened his friend list and sent a message to Trusty007: "Got a business proposal. Lots of profit potential. Message me if you''re interested." With that handled, Ethan made his way to the life-skills trainers. He approached the Herbalism Trainer and paid five copper coins to learn Basic Herbalism, which allowed him to gather low-level herbs. As he walked past the Mining Trainer, a booming voice called out: "Come on, learn Mining! A guaranteed gold mine! No investment, high returns! The perfect path to wealth and success!" Ethan didn''t even glance his way. "Screw that," he thought. "I mined for three years in my past life, and where did that get me? Stuck in a pitch-black cave, barely scraping by on instant noodles." With two secondary skill slots still open, Ethan pondered his options. He wasn''t planning to invest too much time in secondary professions, Herbalism was already a practical choice for harvesting rare herbs in the wild. The rest of the professions required dedicated practice and, often, sacrificing combat time to make progress. After some thought, Ethan spent another five copper coins to learn Skinning, which allowed him to harvest pelts from defeated beasts, a decent way to earn extra income. Naturally, he also picked up Leatherworking, figuring it would pair well with Skinning. He knew the locations of two valuable leather armor blueprints, one for mid-game gear and another for powerful late-game armor. Satisfied with his new skills, Ethan glanced at his inventory. There, tucked away, was the pilot''s watch he had looted from the wrecked plane back in the Starter Zone. "Guess it''s time to wrap up this little side quest," he murmured. Teleporting to Cogden Village cost just one copper coin, teleports within Harmony City''s jurisdiction were relatively cheap. Cogden Village was nestled in the Gornath Hills, a modest area just outside the Starter Zone. After leaving behind the futuristic remnants of the crash site, everything here felt old-fashioned and primitive. NPCs lived in simple, earthen homes with a rustic, pastoral vibe that reminded Ethan of something out of a frontier town. The place was quiet now, but Ethan knew it wouldn''t stay that way for long. The monsters surrounding the village ranged from levels 15 to 20. For newly freed players leaving the Starter Zone, this was the first proper leveling area. Before long, players from across the Northern Frontier Region who had chosen Harmony City as their first main hub would flock here. Ethan could still remember the crowds from his previous life¡ªstreets packed with players forming parties, the constant chatter, and the palpable excitement of exploring new territory. Just walking through the village felt like wading through a bustling marketplace. Chapter 45 - 45: Into the Plaguelands Ethan wandered around the quiet village, relying on his memory to navigate. After several minutes, he finally found what he was looking for, a dilapidated shack. The place looked barely functional, with broken windows and a door that seemed to hang by a thread, just sturdy enough to block out the wind and rain. "This should be it," Ethan muttered, stepping inside. In the small courtyard, he spotted a young girl, no older than 11 or 12, sitting on the porch. She rested her chin in her hands, her gaze fixed on the sky. "That''s her," Ethan confirmed to himself. Walking closer, he said, "Hey there, little one. Still waiting for the plane today?" The girl''s eyes lit up as she heard him, her face bright with curiosity. "You know about planes too?" Ethan smiled. Her reaction sparked a bit of confidence in him, this was how the side quest was supposed to begin, though he couldn''t help feeling nervous. After all, in his past life, he hadn''t completed this quest personally. "Of course I do," Ethan replied. "I''ve even flown on one myself!" The girl shot up to her feet, her excitement palpable. "Really? My dad''s a pilot! He promised he''d come back one day in his plane to pick me up. But nobody in the village believes me. They all say planes don''t exist." Ethan pulled out the pilot''s watch from his inventory and held it out to her. "Planes are real," he said gently. "Your dad''s just really busy right now. Thousands of people need to ride his plane every day. But he knows how much you miss him, so he asked me to bring this watch to you." Ethan''s approach was drastically different from the original path taken by the person who had completed this quest in his past life. That player had told the girl the harsh truth, that her father had died. After accepting the watch, the girl had given that player a silver-tier bracer she''d found in the forest. Later, when the game developers released a detailed guide for this quest, it revealed an alternate route: conceal the pilot''s death and leave the girl with hope for the future. Choosing this path would unlock a follow-up quest. The player who had taken the harsher approach had regretted it bitterly after seeing the guide. The girl took the watch eagerly, her eyes brimming with excitement. "It''s really my dad''s! Look, my name is engraved on the back. Thank you so much, big bro. I haven''t heard from my dad in over a year, and I''ve missed him so much. Here, take this as a thank-you! I found it in the forest while playing with my friends." Ding¡­ [System Notification: You''ve received an item: Sorenth''s Token.] Ding¡­ [System Notification: With Sorenth''s Token, travel to the Plaguelands and find Archmage Sorenth to unlock the next quest!] Smiling, Ethan bid the girl farewell. The Plaguelands, a level 40 zone. Fortunately, there was a small town there with a teleportation hub he could use. As Ethan made his way to the teleportation point, a private message popped up in his chat. It was from Trusty007. "Got a good business opportunity? Let''s hear it!" "Murky Swamp dungeon strategy," Ethan replied. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He hadn''t expected a fast response, but Trusty007 immediately sent a video call request. Accepting the call, Ethan was met with a polite greeting from Trusty007, who then got straight to the point. "Strategies can be tricky to sell. They''re a one-time purchase, and once someone leaks it, it spreads like wildfire," Trusty007 said, his tone matter-of-fact. "I know," Ethan replied, grinning. "That''s why I came to you, to handle the operation." "Oh?" Trusty007''s eyes gleamed with interest. "Looks like you already have a plan. Let''s hear it." "It''s not a complicated idea," Ethan began. "I think my reputation, and the notoriety of Renegade Alliance, should still carry some weight, right?" He paused, letting his words settle. Trusty007 chuckled. "Some weight? That''s an understatement, Sir NotADruid" Ethan smirked. "Good. Here''s the plan: using my name, announce the sale of a guide for the Expert mode of the Murky Swamp dungeon in every Starter Zone you can cover. Include all lower difficulty guides as a bonus. "As for the price, I''m setting it at two gold coins per copy. Start taking payments the moment you release the announcement. After three days, distribute the guide to everyone who''s paid." Trusty007 thought it over, his expression intrigued. "That actually sounds doable." The two struck a deal and signed an in-game authorization contract. This way, Trusty007''s team could present proof that they were officially licensed to sell the guide under Ethan''s name. With the arrangements in place, Ethan let the matter go. It wasn''t his concern how many copies sold or how far it spread, any income would be a welcome bonus at this point. Arriving at the teleportation hub, Ethan paid ten silver coins to travel to a small town in the Plaguelands. The teleportation array lit up with dazzling colors. When the flash subsided, Ethan found himself in a withered forest. Towering trees stretched high into the gray skies, their branches holding a network of rickety treehouses. Years of rain and wind had left the structures barely standing. The town in the Plaguelands was a forsaken, desolate place. Long ago, it had served as a quarantine zone for those suffering from incurable infectious diseases. The treehouses had been their homes, and over time, the sick had become the region''s permanent inhabitants. Now, the place was nearly abandoned. A hunched NPC dressed in tattered burlap, with a longbow slung across his back, glared at Ethan. The figure radiated an unsettling, dangerous aura. Ethan quickly lowered his head and walked away, understanding the unspoken rule here. The locals considered themselves cursed and punished by the gods, eternally suffering from their afflictions. Strangers were unwelcome, and even the wrong glance could provoke a violent response. The NPC who had glared at Ethan might not have looked impressive, but he was a level 40 elite. In fact, none of the NPCs here were below level 40, making the town an extremely dangerous place for Ethan. Armed with memories from his past life, Ethan moved cautiously, knowing how to avoid drawing attention. Various NPCs passed by as Ethan navigated the town, always keeping his head down and his posture humble. He maintained a steady pace, carefully slipping past the eerie inhabitants until he finally made it out of the town. Exhaling in relief, Ethan activated his transformation ability: Deer Form. His body shifted, becoming sleeker and more agile. Without wasting time, he sprinted down the forest path. The trees in the Plaguelands were unhealthy shades of ashen gray, their skeletal branches tightly packed together. The dense canopy blocked nearly all light, save for a few dim beams that slipped through the claw-like gaps in the branches. On the forest floor, these beams formed fragmented, ominous patterns. The oppressive atmosphere was suffocating, with twisted roots and overgrown thickets creating a labyrinth of decay. The monsters here were no joke, with most being level 35 or higher. Ethan remained hyper-focused, his ears tuned to the faintest sound. As he neared the monster respawn zone, Ethan switch to panther from and entered stealth mode, his movements becoming virtually undetectable. Outside the Plaguelands, the world of Ethereal was bright and sunny. But here, the perpetual gloom turned the forest into an eerie twilight. The faint shafts of light only served to deepen the sense of dread, casting shadows that danced like specters on the ground. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional creak of branches in the wind. To Ethan, none of this was overwhelming. He had endured over five thousand years of trials in the dreamscape, this was nothing in comparison. Then, a faint rustling sound reached his ears. He froze, focusing on the noise coming from nearby. Chapter 46 - 46: The River of Blood Ethan froze, halting mid-step as the faint rustling reached his ears. He glanced toward the sound, peering through the gaps between the gnarled tree trunks. A massive scorpion, monstrous and menacing, emerged from the shadows, its dark-gray body blending seamlessly with the ashen soil. Its enormous stinger glimmered with a faint blue hue, exuding a lethal aura. If not for the noise it made, Ethan might never have noticed it. Remaining in his Panther Form, Ethan crouched low. He didn''t dare make a move. The creature was a Deathstalker Scorpion, a fast and deadly predator. Not even his enhanced agility in Panther Form could guarantee an escape. Its venom-coated stinger inflicted a fatal poison, one that would persist until death unless treated with a rare antidote. It was no wonder that even level 40 players avoided farming monsters in this area. These scorpions sensed prey through vibrations in the ground. One wrong step, and they''d deliver a swift and fatal strike. Ethan''s gaze lingered on the forest floor, knowing countless other Deathstalkers could be lying in wait beneath the dirt. When the scorpion finally burrowed into the soil and disappeared, Ethan exhaled quietly and slipped away, careful not to disturb the earth beneath his feet. As he ventured deeper into the forest, the beaten path disappeared entirely. The dense undergrowth grew thicker, forcing him to slow his pace. "Almost there," Ethan muttered, checking the coordinates. The closer he got to his destination, the more vigilant he became. After pushing through a cluster of thorny brambles, he emerged into a small clearing. At its center stood an ancient altar, and beside it, a lean figure busied himself with some mysterious tasks. Ethan deactivated his stealth and approached cautiously. The name above the NPC''s head glowed faintly in his vision: Archmage Sorenth. As Ethan drew closer, Sorenth fixed him with a sharp, hostile glare. Ethan quickly retrieved the token from his inventory, holding it out as an offering. The archmage''s expression shifted from hostility to curiosity. "The scent of a healthy mortal... You come from beyond the Plaguelands. Tell me, how did you come by my token?" Ethan let out a breath of relief, grateful that Sorenth hadn''t attacked him on sight. This NPC was a level 55 elite, one blow from him would have been instant death. Still, Ethan couldn''t tell the truth. Admitting he''d received the token from a little girl wouldn''t sit well in this situation. Drawing on his past-life knowledge of the questline, Ethan said, "Honored Archmage Sorenth, this was passed down to me by my ancestors." "Oh? A descendant of the people from Cogden Village, are you?" Sorenth''s voice was cold and emotionless. "You''ve journeyed far, bearing my token. Do you wish to enter the Necrotic Domain and undertake its trial?" Ding¡­ [System Notification: Do you accept the trial of the Necrotic Domain?] "Uh¡­ yes!" Ethan replied, answering both the system prompt and Sorenth''s question. He hesitated briefly. This didn''t align with the quest guide he remembered from his past life. Back then, the quest simply required returning the token to Sorenth to receive a reward: a golden-tier item called the Boots of the Dead, which came with a speed-boosting skill. Most side quests were straightforward, find an item, return it, and get your reward. It was rare for them to involve combat or trials. Those that did, however, always offered exceptional rewards. "Have I triggered an alternate questline?" Ethan wondered, his mind racing. Sorenth handed the token back to Ethan. Its weathered, rust-covered surface was now pristine, transformed into a silver medallion. [Sorenth''s Emblem] Effect: Protects the wearer from the corrupting miasma of the Necrotic Domain. Slot: Chest Description: A unique item that doesn''t occupy equipment slots. Seeing Ethan equip the emblem, Sorenth raised his staff and waved it toward the altar. Chanting in an ancient, indecipherable language, he conjured a swirling rift of violet and black energy. The portal stabilized at the altar''s center, crackling ominously. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Enter," Sorenth commanded. Ethan glanced at the swirling portal, then back at Sorenth. "When I return, will I come back here?" Sorenth grinned at Ethan''s question, revealing a mouthful of jagged, razor-sharp teeth. "I can only open the entrance. As for how you return? That''s entirely up to you." "What?" Ethan froze in shock. This wasn''t part of the plan. Before he could decide whether to step through the portal, a powerful force yanked him forward. Sorenth''s bony hand gripped Ethan''s shoulder and hurled him into the rift without hesitation. "The ritual has begun. Without a sacrifice, the backlash will destroy me. My master, take solace in the emblem and absorb the essence of death¡­" Sorenth muttered to himself. Ethan, of course, heard none of this. He was swallowed whole by the darkness, a vast void stretching endlessly in all directions. Time and space ceased to exist. Floating aimlessly, Ethan felt as though he''d been trapped inside the maw of some incomprehensible creature. The weightlessness was disorienting. He flailed his limbs, attempting to propel himself in any direction, but no matter how hard he tried, he remained suspended in the same spot. "So, this is the Necrotic Domain?" Ethan wondered, his voice lost in the silence. "Is this going to be like the Dreamscape Trial all over again?" As he struggled to orient himself, a faint glow appeared ahead. A portal began to materialize, its edges forming a narrow crack that allowed a single beam of light to pierce the darkness. In this void, the light was blindingly bright. Before Ethan could react, an invisible force pulled him forward, dragging him through the portal and into the unknown. On the other side, he found himself standing on a massive floating bridge. What stunned him even more was the sight of countless NPCs wandering aimlessly across the bridge. Their movements were slow, their expressions vacant, and their eyes hollow. Before Ethan could fully process the scene, something bumped into him from behind. He turned to see another NPC, shuffling forward from the still-active portal. The NPC that had collided with him stopped abruptly, staring at him with lifeless, unfocused eyes. The eerie gaze sent a shiver down Ethan''s spine. Without thinking, he sidestepped, allowing the NPC to continue its journey. Freed of the obstruction, the NPC resumed walking, joining the throng of others heading toward the bridge. The procession was surreal. Humans, beasts, and monstrous hybrids of the two marched in a steady line. Their vacant expressions and mechanical movements made them resemble mindless automatons. Ethan hesitated, but curiosity got the better of him. He followed the crowd, keeping a cautious distance. As he reached the edge of the bridge, he glanced downward. Beneath the bridge lay a vast abyss, and within it flowed a river of red liquid. The stench of iron and decay hit him like a wave. "Is¡­ that blood?" Ethan whispered, recoiling a step. The abyss seemed endless, and the river below churned with crimson fluid, its surface thick and sluggish. A river of blood, stretching into the depths of the unknown. Looking ahead, Ethan''s gaze fell on a sign at the bridge''s entrance, etched with three ominous words in deep red: Blood Abyss Bridge. On the far side of the bridge stood a towering figure, clad in strange, tattered robes. He wielded a long, pitch-black chain, the end of which held a massive anchor. Even from a distance, Ethan could feel the sharp, menacing aura radiating from the weapon. The figure swung the chain with terrifying precision, cutting down the NPCs that reached him. But the mindless NPCs showed no fear. Even as those ahead fell, the others continued to march forward, indifferent to their fate. Chapter 47 - 47: Red-haired Woman Ethan crouched behind a massive boulder at the edge of Blood Abyss Bridge, his sharp eyes scanning the chaos beyond. The towering figure on the other side continued his rampage, tearing through the NPCs without mercy. Yet, even with its relentless slaughter, a few managed to slip by, crossing the bridge and disappearing into the misty expanse ahead. After a while, Ethan sighed. Staying hidden wasn''t going to solve anything. Just as he debated whether to make a run for it, the sound of creaking echoed behind him. A faint movement drew his attention to the massive iron gates far behind. A red-haired woman stepped through the gap, her fiery hair catching the dim light like a flicker of flame. Ethan''s heart skipped. She was tall, easily a head taller than him, and her slitted pupils, reminiscent of a lizard''s, glowed faintly in the shadows. Unlike the others, she didn''t seem mindless. No, this one was sharp, focused. The moment the woman appeared, a wave of heat rolled over the area, making Ethan instinctively tense. Her eyes scanned the surroundings briefly before locking onto the bridge. Without hesitation, she began walking forward, her expression calm but deliberate. When her gaze landed on the rampaging brute, her slitted pupils flashed red. A faint beam of light shot from her eyes, crossing the bridge and landing squarely on the figure. Ethan froze. "That''s¡­ some kind of scanning ability, isn''t it?" The brute, oblivious to the beam, continued his carnage as if nothing had happened. But the red-haired woman''s expression shifted, a flicker of unease crossing her face. She hesitated for a moment before slipping into the crowd of NPCs, blending in seamlessly. As she reached the bridge''s edge, her eyes swept the area, and landed directly on Ethan. Ethan''s breath hitched. How? He was in stealth, carefully hidden behind the stone boulder, with only his head peeking out. For a second, the woman seemed puzzled. Then, she turned to face him directly. Panic shot through Ethan. ''Did she see me?'' He immediately cast Appraisal on her, hoping to get some information. --- Name: ??? Level: ??? Attack: ??? Defense: ??? --- Nothing. Not even her name. Ethan frowned. Normally, even if an appraisal failed, the target''s name would still appear. But this¡­ this was completely blank. The woman''s brow furrowed slightly, as if sensing something. She muttered a series of guttural sounds, her eyes flashing red again. This time, a beam of light shot toward Ethan. In an instant, his stealth shattered. He was completely exposed. She pointed directly at him, barking something unintelligible in her strange language. "Uh¡­ you speak English?" Ethan asked hesitantly. The red-haired woman tilted her head, clearly not understanding. In the next instant, she closed the distance between them with alarming speed, her hand darting toward him. Ethan barely managed to sidestep. Her hand grasped at empty air, but she didn''t stop. She kept lunging for him, relentless. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" Ethan shouted, dodging again. He retaliated with Rake, following it up with Shred. Both skills connected, but there was no reaction. No health bar drop. No bleed effect. Nothing. She didn''t even flinch. Ethan''s attacks, with over 500 damage output, hadn''t scratched her. Not even the system''s forced damage reduction worked. "What kind of monster are you?" he muttered, narrowly avoiding another grab. Every time she reached for him, it was always the same target, his tail. "That''s it! You''re insane!" Ethan growled, transforming into his human form mid-dodge. "Stop trying to grab my tail, you¡­" The woman abruptly halted her pursuit. Her lizard-like eyes flicked to something behind him, her expression shifting slightly. She barked another string of incomprehensible sounds, pointing toward Ethan with growing frustration. From her gestures, Ethan guessed she was demanding something. Does she think I''m hiding something? When Ethan didn''t respond, her face twisted into a scowl. Flames erupted in her hand, blazing violently as she hurled a fireball at him without warning. The instant the fire ignited, Ethan''s instincts screamed at him. Danger. The kind of danger that, in his previous life, had always been followed by death. Without hesitation, he transformed into Bear Form, charging toward the far end of the bridge where a cluster of NPCs huddled. BOOM! The fireball exploded where Ethan had stood just moments ago, leaving behind a charred, smoldering patch of stone. Despite the solid construction of the bridge, the impact was enough to make it tremble slightly. Ethan glanced back mid-charge, his heart pounding. If that had hit him directly, he wouldn''t have survived. Not even a chance. "What the hell is she?" he muttered under his breath, pushing himself to run faster. Ethan''s charge ended with a sharp stop, his massive bear form slamming into an NPC, pinning it in place. The path he''d carved was littered with chaos, NPCs scattered like bowling pins, some unfortunate enough to be knocked clean off the bridge. They plunged into the River of Blood below, where the surging crimson torrent swallowed them instantly. The red-haired woman narrowed her glowing eyes as her fireball missed its mark. Without hesitation, she conjured flames in both hands, hurling them toward the bridge in twin arcs. "Shit!" Ethan cursed. "This is a wooden bridge! One hit and this whole thing will go up in flames!" Without wasting a second, he transformed into Panther Form, leaping into the air. His paws landed on the shoulders of crowded NPCs as he darted across their heads, weaving through the chaotic mass. BOOM! BOOM! The fireballs detonated behind him, engulfing dozens of NPCs in an instant. Ethan braced himself for the sight of flames consuming the bridge, but to his surprise, the wooden planks remained intact, not even a scorch mark. His eyes widened. "What the¡­? This wood''s incredible!" If he could rip a few of these planks off and give them to that master blacksmith, he could forge some fire-immune gear! The thought lingered briefly before reality smacked him back into focus. The red-haired woman had spotted him again. This time, her form shifted into that of a black panther, looking sleek and dangerous, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she sprinted toward him. Surprised, ethan leapt ahead, landing nimbly atop a cluster of NPCs. He glanced back to see her attempt to jump, only to be pressed back down as though an invisible force restrained her. She hissed in frustration, her claws tearing at the air. So, there''s an anti-airfield here, Ethan thought. He had noticed the faint barrier earlier, it was close enough to his back that he could practically feel its edge. The woman, unable to leap after him, pushed through the throng of NPCs instead. Perched on an NPC''s shoulder, Ethan muttered under his breath, "Just what does she want, why does she keep chasing me?" sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The commotion drew the attention of the tall brute on the far side of the bridge. The creature turned, his blank, bloodthirsty gaze locking onto the chaos. Slowly, the brute began moving across the bridge toward them, slaughtering NPCs in his path with wide sweeps of his massive chain spear. Ethan''s chest tightened as the brute''s gaze flickered between him and the red-haired woman. The brute''s expression shifted, it was the look of a predator who''d just found new prey. Ethan gritted his teeth, weighing his odds. Trapped between two lethal enemies, he forced himself to remain calm. He took a deep breath and made his decision. He ran. Turning on his heel, he bolted toward the brute, using the crowd of NPCs as cover. Behind him, the woman pursued relentlessly, while ahead, the brute''s chain spear twirled menacingly. The distance between them shrank with every second. When the brute was just ten meters away, he swung his weapon. The chain, impossibly short just moments before, extended in an instant, snaking through the air like a living thing. Ethan''s heart stopped as the massive hook at the end of the chain shot toward him. Every instinct screamed at him to move. His fur stood on end, and his body stiffened in terror. At the last moment, Ethan dove headfirst into the crowd of NPCs, disappearing among them. The chain hook, now hurtling toward the red-haired woman, changed course. Ethan''s careful positioning had perfectly aligned his two enemies. The woman''s focus had been locked on Ethan, her claws outstretched to grab his tail. When he suddenly vanished into the crowd, her expression froze in surprise. It was too late. The brute''s chain weapon closed the distance in a heartbeat. The woman reacted quickly, crossing her arms as a fiery red shield materialized in front of her. BANG! BOOM! The hook smashed into the shield with a deafening impact. The shield cracked, then shattered in a fiery explosion. The resulting shockwave blasted everything in a ten-meter radius into oblivion. NPCs close to the blast were reduced to ash, while those farther away were thrown into the air. Some landed back on the bridge, battered but alive; others weren''t so lucky, plunging into the River of Blood below. The red-haired woman stood her ground despite the devastating impact. Though her shield was destroyed, she didn''t move an inch, her feet planted firmly on the bridge. The brute reeled in his chain weapon, the weapon glinting faintly as glowing runes danced along its length. Ethan, hiding among the NPCs, stole a glance at the two figures. "What the hell have I gotten myself into¡­" Chapter 48 - 48: The Underworld Ethan didn''t bother paying attention to the battle between the two figures¡ªit wasn''t something he could interfere with. Keeping low, he crawled forward under the cover of the chaos, inching closer to the bridge on the other side. A quick glance at his skill cooldowns showed Charge would be ready in three seconds. As the timer hit zero, he shifted. Bear Form. He charged again, targeting the farthest NPC within range. Swoosh. The massive form of his bear avatar became a blur as it bolted across the bridge, landing on the opposite side. But just as his paws hit the ground¡ª BOOM! A fiery explosion blasted Ethan off his feet, the force sending his hulking form flying through the air. -3,549! A massive damage number floated above his head. Ethan''s health had plummeted, leaving him with just 201 HP. His heart raced as he realized how close he had come to death. If it hadn''t been for the additional health and defense Bear Form provided, boosting his health to 3,750, he would''ve been one-shot. The bridge was now eerily empty, all the wandering NPCs obliterated into fine powder. A gray mist lingered in the air, casting a ghostly haze over the area. The bridge itself, however, remained intact, swaying violently for a moment before settling into stillness. At the center of the bridge stood the fiery red-haired woman, her left arm now completely gone. In contrast, the hulking man, remained unscathed. The only sign of damage was the dimming glow of the chains and massive hook he wielded. Ethan noticed something strange. As the NPCs disintegrated, the gray mist that remained was flowing toward the man''s weapon, as if being absorbed. Unbeknownst to Ethan, the emblem on his chest was also drawing in the mist, though the effect was subtle, nearly imperceptible. The red-haired woman was in bad shape. After taking that hit, she turned and bolted, heading straight for the massive doors they had entered through. But just as she reached the threshold, the monstrous man''s chains extended once more, surging forward like a serpent. With a sickening thud, the hook pierced through her body just as she was about to escape. Her scream was bloodcurdling, and in an instant, her body withered away, collapsing into a gray vapor that the hook devoured greedily. The man retracted his chain, turning his gaze toward Ethan. "Oh, hell no," Ethan muttered, turning on his heel. He broke into a full sprint, knowing full well he didn''t stand a chance against something that had crushed the red-haired woman so easily. He made it across the bridge, where the wandering NPCs were noticeably fewer. Shifting into Stag Form, he galloped away as fast as his legs could carry him. As he ran, thoughts raced through his mind. What kind of trial was this? There were no quest prompts, no objectives to follow. Aside from those two absurdly strong figures, all he''d encountered were Level 1 NPCs. Earlier, he had done some tests by taking out a couple of NPCs, but there were no quest updates or rewards. Using his Appraisal skill, he learned they were all Level 1, though their health varied. Those with higher HP left behind thicker clouds of gray mist when killed. The lack of clarity left Ethan frustrated, but he had no choice but to press on. As he pushed forward, weaving past the NPCs, he found himself at the edge of a pitch-black lake. The water was thick and inky, like liquid tar, hiding whatever lay beneath its surface. Ethan studied the scene. A series of floating logs stretched across the lake, forming a precarious path to the other side. But he hesitated. The NPCs attempting to cross were frequently attacked by silver-scaled fish that leapt from the water. Walking closer to the shore, Ethan crouched and inspected the lake. The moment one of the fish dragged an NPC into the water, the dark liquid didn''t simply swallow them whole. It corroded them. Dissolved them. The NPCs opened their mouths in silent screams, their agony palpable, though no sound escaped. A shiver ran down Ethan''s spine as he backed away from the water''s edge. After observing the silver fish for a while, he realized their attacks weren''t particularly strong. Even the defenseless Level 1 NPCs weren''t killed outright. The fish''s true goal was clear, they aimed to knock their prey into the lake. The real danger wasn''t the silver-scaled fish leaping from the water, it was the tiny black ones beneath the surface. When NPCs fell in, they were instantly swarmed. At first, Ethan assumed the lake water itself was corrosive. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But after closer observation, he realized it was these black fish, each no bigger than a fingernail, that devoured the NPCs. The black water and the black fish blended together, making them nearly impossible to notice at first glance. But once Ethan spotted them, the sheer density of the swarm sent a shudder down his spine. Anyone with a fear of clusters would have passed out on the spot. Unlike the aimless NPCs, Ethan wasn''t about to let himself get knocked into the water by the silver-scaled fish. Deciding to take the initiative, he shifted into Panther Form and leapt onto the first floating log. His movements were agile, a series of quick leaps and dodges as he navigated the unstable path. Several times, the silver fish lunged at him, but he managed to evade every attack. Midway across, curiosity got the better of him. He slashed at one of the fish, sinking his claws into its body. -1,632! No critical hit. The fish lost about one percent of its health. That meant it had nearly 160,000 HP. The lack of defense surprised him, but before he could finish the creature off, it disappeared back into the water, leaving him no chance to land another hit. Ethan sighed in frustration, wondering how much experience he would have gained from killing one of them. With that much health, its level was bound to be high. The thought of taking one down was tantalizing. As he lingered on the log, several NPCs arrived behind him. They wandered aimlessly, bumping into one another and making the log wobble dangerously. Cursing under his breath, Ethan jumped to the next log. The NPCs he left behind weren''t as lucky. Splash. Splash. Splash. One by one, they tumbled into the water. Ethan glanced back and gave a sheepish shrug before turning away. But the silver-scaled fish weren''t done with him. A cluster of them darted toward him, their attacks growing more relentless. Oddly enough, the NPCs behind him weren''t targeted anymore. "These little bastards hold grudges? What are you, bees?" Ethan muttered under his breath, dodging another strike. Not daring to slow down, he quickened his pace, his panther form darting from log to log with precision. Finally, he reached the stone platform on the other side of the lake. Carved into the stone was an ominous message: "Path of Souls." Ethan frowned, muttering the words aloud. Despite the eerie symbols not resembling any language he knew, he somehow understood them. Necrotic Domain, Blood Abyss Bridge, Path of Souls. "Is this¡­ the Underworld?" Ethan wondered. The world of Ethereal seemed to have thought of everything. Looking back at the wandering NPCs, a thought struck him. Were these the souls of the dead, their spirits drawn to the Underworld? And if he kept moving forward¡­ would he reach some version of the Gates of the hell? And beyond that¡­ His imagination ran wild. At this point, Ethan hardly cared about the trial itself. The curiosity gnawed at him, pulling him forward. Oddly enough, he realized that, apart from the mindless NPCs, this Underworld wasn''t as dangerous as it seemed. The terrifying demons, ghostly guards, and nightmarish creatures from mythology were nowhere to be seen. Then he thought back to the hulking figure from the Blood Abyss Bridge, the one with the massive hook and chains. He resembled the grim reaper spoken of in legends, the ones tasked with dragging souls into the afterlife. Chapter 49 - 49: Ethereal Bloom Curiosity burning, Ethan continued down the lone path, the terrain growing stranger with each step. While he was wandering, marveling at the sights, he remained blissfully unaware that, somewhere deep within the world of Ethereal, chaos was brewing. The ragged old man, the NPC he had encountered when he started the game, was searching for him with frantic desperation. "Where did that kid go? Where the hell did he run off to?" A glowing interface hovered in front of the old man, its projection shifting rapidly as his hands manipulated it. Ethereal''s map flickered like a slideshow, zooming in and out across different regions. Finally, with an exasperated gesture, the old man brought up an image, Ethan lying unconscious inside his VR capsule. "He''s in deep sleep, fully immersed in the game. But why can''t I sense his soul energy anymore?" The old man, usually laid-back and carefree, now wore a grave expression. Gripping the flask strapped to his waist, he muttered, "Damn it. I take one little nap, and I lose track of him." He scowled. "It took me thousands of years to find a soul as uniquely flawed as his, and now he''s gone?" With another flick of his hand, the interface paused on a region Ethan had passed through earlier: the Plaguelands. Zooming in further, the old man focused on a altar within the Plaguewood Forest. The area was eerily calm, long abandoned by its once formidable guardian, Archmage Sorenth. The old man vanished in a flash and reappeared at the altar. "This is his energy¡­ and traces of the Underworld too." His eyes narrowed. "Could it be¡­" --- Meanwhile, Ethan entered a narrow valley, the ground beneath his feet glowing with a deep crimson hue. As he moved forward, he realized why, the valley was filled with an endless sea of blood-red flowers, their petals spreading in intricate, radiant patterns. Fascinated, Ethan reached out to touch one of the blossoms. Ding! [You''ve discovered a rare herb: Ethereal Bloom. Would you like to use Harvesting?] "Yes!" Ethan said without hesitation. Ding! sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Harvest successful. You''ve obtained Ethereal Bloom.] Ding! [You''ve gained 50 experience points!] The notification startled Ethan. Opening his inventory, he inspected the flower: Ethereal Bloom: Rarity: Rare Properties: Adds additional effects when used in alchemy. Effects are unspecified. Can also be consumed to increase soul energy. Description: The Ethereal Bloom is a flower that blooms at the end of all seasons, thriving where life meets oblivion. It takes a thousand years to bloom and another thousand to wither, never meeting its own leaves. Ethan was overjoyed, not because of the flowers properties, which he barely understood, but because harvesting it gave experience points. Normally, gathering herbs outside the game''s wild zones didn''t offer any XP rewards. "I''m so glad I leveled up my Herbology skill while working on that land acquisition quest. Otherwise, I wouldn''t be able to harvest this!" Thanks to his diligence, his harvesting skill had reached a level where rare herbs like this could be collected. If he hadn''t leveled it, all this experience would''ve gone to waste. Looking across the endless sea of Ethereal Blooms, Ethan felt like he''d struck gold. "Man, it''s great being a Druid. Other classes take 2.5 seconds to harvest a flower. I can do it in one." One flower. Another flower. And another. +50 XP¡­ +50 XP¡­ +50 XP¡­ Ethan dove into the field, relentlessly harvesting blooms, the experience rolling in far faster than fighting monsters ever could. As his XP bar climbed steadily, his inventory began filling up with flowers. Ding! [Your inventory is full. Unable to harvest more items!] Annoyed, Ethan opened his bag to see the problem. Each of his four 12-slot bags was crammed with random junk from monster drops, but the majority of the space was taken up by Ethereal Blooms. Packed into stacks of 20, the flowers filled every slot. Checking his XP bar, he grinned. Level 15: 83,742/156,800 XP. In just a short time, he''d gained over 80,000 XP. Ethan had never found leveling up so easy. Gazing at the endless field of Ethereal Blooms ahead, his excitement was beyond words. He began to wonder, could he just keep going until he hit Level 100? Maybe Level 200? Or even higher? This time, he took a closer look at the bloom''s properties and noticed something interesting, it could be consumed directly, boosting soul energy. He wasn''t entirely sure what "soul energy" did, but he remembered it being a reward in the Dream Trial. Even now, its purpose remained a mystery. "Well, it can''t hurt," Ethan muttered, pulling one of the blooms from his inventory. He popped it into his mouth, chewing absentmindedly. To his surprise, it dissolved instantly, leaving no flavor behind. Without hesitation, he began a rhythm of harvesting and eating, figuring it was better to consume them than leave them unused. Ding! [Congratulations! You''ve reached Level 16.] Ethan did some quick math. He had eaten at least 1,500 blooms by now and was relieved to find that he didn''t feel even slightly full. With his worries put to rest, he returned to his harvesting and snacking routine. Ding! [Congratulations! You''ve reached Level 17.] Ding! [Congratulations! You''ve reached Level 18.] ¡­ Ding! [Congratulations! You''ve reached Level 21.] He had no idea how much time had passed. The constant system notifications had dulled his excitement into monotony. "What the hell are you doing?" The voice caught him off guard. "Harvesting flowers," Ethan replied instinctively, not bothering to look up. A moment later, he froze. Slowly standing, he scanned the area, but there was no one in sight. Was he hallucinating? "You fool, you''ve been harvesting flowers in the Underworld! Don''t you value your life?" Just as Ethan bent down to continue, the voice came again, sharp and furious. His eyes widened. That voice¡­ "Old man? What, are you here to cause trouble again?" Ethan snapped, annoyance bubbling to the surface. "First, you force me into this class, then you mess with my stat allocation, and now you''re interrupting my leveling? Seriously, find someone else to bother!" In the swirling chaos of Ethereal, the old man stared blankly, momentarily stunned by Ethan''s outburst. He took a deep breath to steady his patience. It had been eons since anyone dared speak to him like this. Still, he knew Ethan''s personality too well, this kid thrived on defiance. Push too hard, and he''d dig in like a stubborn mule. "Well, uh, listen, I intervened those last two times to keep you from screwing up your progression. But¡­" "But what?" Ethan interrupted, glaring at the empty air. "Spit it out. I''ve got flowers to pick and levels to grind." The old man sighed audibly, deciding to get straight to the point. "Do you even know how long you''ve been in the Underworld?" Pausing, Ethan shoved another Ethereal Bloom into his mouth. He glanced at the in-game clock and mumbled, "The timer hasn''t moved. How should I know?" "You''ve been here for three days," the old man said, keeping his tone calm. "Did you know that?" "Three days? So what?" Ethan muttered, waving him off. The old man''s voice grew sharper. "You have four days left. If you don''t leave by then, your body in the real world will be sent to the mortuary." Ethan froze mid-chew. "What the hell? You''re joking, right?" he asked, his voice unsteady as a sinking feeling crept over him. Chapter 50 - 50: Gates Of The Underworld Hearing the old man''s words, Ethan glanced at his level: 21. Experience: 3,661,650/3,808,000. From memory, he calculated that leveling from 15 to 21 required roughly 5.2 million experience points. Adding in the 3.6 million already in his experience pool, he realized he''d accumulated close to 9 million experience points in total. With his Gathering skill casting at one-second intervals, he earned 3,000 experience points per minute, or 180,000 per hour. That meant he''d been here for at least 50 hours. Of course, gathering wasn''t a constant process; there were interruptions. The old man had said he''d been here for three days. That was probably accurate. Which meant he hadn''t logged out in three days. "So¡­ you''re saying my body in the real world is¡­" Ethan hesitated, asking the question he dreaded. "Yes," the old man confirmed. "On Earth?" Ethan pressed. "Yes." "Uh¡­ so what now? How do I get out?" Ethan could already imagine Lyla panicking if he''d been stuck in the game for three whole days. "Getting worried now, are we?" the old man sneered. "Y-yeah¡­ Sir, please, just pull me out already!" Ethan pleaded, nodding vigorously. "Hmph. Too late for that," the old man huffed. "The Underworld operates under its own rules. I can''t break them. I''m just here to let you know, you''ve got four days left. After that, even if you log out, your body will be beyond saving. Not even I can bring you back then." The old man''s tone softened for a moment, as if giving a final warning. "And remember, kid, my name is Morzan. Don''t forget it!" "Uh¡­ okay. But what am I supposed to do?" Ethan didn''t dare provoke the old man further. "Retrace your steps. Leave the Underworld through the main gate, and make your way to the Plaguelands. From there, I can pull you out¡­" Morzan''s voice began to break up, cutting in and out. "Don''t¡­ go¡­ forward¡­ to the Throne Hall¡­ just¡­" His voice faded entirely. Ethan caught the gist: retrace his steps. But that meant going past that creepy figure wielding that chain weapon. Not exactly an easy task. As if on cue, Morzan''s voice flickered back to life for one last message. "Oh, one more thing! Don''t forget¡­ that emblem on your chest¡­ throw it away before you leave¡­" Ethan frowned. "And what if the death aura here corrupts me?" Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Such lies! Forget¡­ Just¡­ Never¡­" Morzan''s voice trailed off completely this time. Four days, huh? Ethan thought to himself, glancing at the endless field of glowing flowers he''d been harvesting. He''d barely scratched the surface of this place. Gritting his teeth, he bent down to gather more. If Morzan had seen this, he would''ve flown into a rage, cursing Ethan for his priorities. Another system notification chimed as Ethan reached Level 22. His bag was now stuffed full of Ethereal Blooms. Finally, he stood up, gazing back at the way he''d come. Then he turned toward the distant end of the canyon. At its farthest edge, a massive curtain of water stretched from sky to ground. He''d been gathering here for so long, he''d always wondered what lay beyond that waterfall. Ethan''s eyes flickered with indecision. Heading back without exploring further seemed like a waste. The canyon was surrounded by towering cliffs that vanished into the sky. The only notable feature was that mysterious waterfall, which seemed to hang impossibly in mid-air. I''ve got four days. Might as well take a look. It''s only half a day''s journey back anyway. Shifting into Stag Form, Ethan dashed through the field of flowers, racing toward the waterfall at full speed. As he approached, the massive water curtain grew even more imposing. Up close, its sheer size was breathtaking. The moment he reached its base, the water unexpectedly parted, creating a narrow gap just wide enough for him to pass through. Ethan peered beyond the gap and saw a vertical staircase of clouds leading downward. Should I go? What if I can''t come back? Ethan hesitated, stepping back. As he retreated, the gap in the waterfall closed. Curious, he stepped forward again, and the gap reopened, like an automatic door. After some deliberation, he remembered Morzan''s fragmented warning. "Don''t go forward¡­ Throne Hall¡­" Could this be an alternate exit? If Morzan had known Ethan was interpreting his words this way, he''d have berated himself for even planting the idea. Morzan had been trying to warn Ethan. His actual words had been: "Don''t go forward! If you enter the Throne Hall, you''ll be thrown into the Cycle of reincarnation. You might even come out as an animal in your next life." Ethan ignored his doubts and began descending the cloud staircase. When he reached the bottom, he was shocked to see that the waterfall here flowed upward, defying all logic in a surreal loop. By all reasoning, he should''ve been underground by now. Yet the area was brightly lit, with no discernible source of light. The entire world emitted a faint golden glow, as if the light existed naturally within the space. Looking up, Ethan saw not soil or rock but a sky, a hazy yellow expanse, reminiscent of a sandstorm. At the end of the path stood a massive fortress gate. The towering structure reached into the sky, its walls seemingly endless. Inscribed on the gate were five massive words. They weren''t written in English, yet Ethan understood them clearly: "The Gates of the Underworld." The fortress was colossal, connecting the sky and the earth. Its walls extended beyond the horizon, cutting across the entire world. As Ethan approached, he noticed the gate itself was slightly ajar. Unlike most gates, which opened outward, this one opened inward. The iron doors, dark as midnight, were held together with massive rivets, each larger than Ethan could fathom. Standing before the gate, Ethan realized how insignificant he was, like an ant before a mountain. Beyond the doors lay pitch-black darkness, dividing the glowing world from a void of mystery. There were no demons or wandering spirits, just the eerie contrast between the two realms. In the distance, Ethan noticed two figures entering the darkness, but they were too far away to make out. ''One step through the Gates of the Underworld, and the living don''t return,'' Ethan recalled a saying from folklore. "Damn it, Morzan. You better not be messing with me," he thought nervously. Morzan, in some corner of Ethereal: "Ah, this boy! Didn''t you even listen properly? You''ll get yourself killed with that reckless attitude!" Ethan took a step forward¡ª "Ahhh!" Suddenly, he was falling. When he finally hit the ground, he stood up and looked around in confusion. "Wait¡­ is this¡­ the Gates of the Underworld?" Ethan mumbled. Hadn''t he just gone inside? Rubbing his head, Ethan noticed something in his hand: a jet-black pendant, smooth and unadorned, resembling a piece of polished obsidian. Where did this come from? he wondered. I just walked through the gate. How did I end up back outside? No matter how hard he tried, Ethan couldn''t recall what had happened beyond the gate. It was as if a piece of his memory had been erased. But he did remember one thing vividly: a gentle voice telling him, You don''t have enough time. You need to leave. The warmth in that voice was unlike anything Ethan had ever experienced before. "What¡­ what was that?" he murmured, utterly baffled. Yet, despite his confusion, the voice was crystal clear in his mind. Shaking off the lingering thoughts, Ethan stepped forward again. He was determined to reenter the Gates of the Underworld and recover his missing memories. Chapter 51 - 51: The Path to Strength Meanwhile, within the towering fortress inside the Gates of the Underworld... At the topmost platform, overlooking the grand gates, stood a figure clad entirely in ornate black armor. The figure''s body was completely hidden beneath the metal, save for two sharp eyes peeking through the helmet''s visor. "What a foolish child," a voice that sounded neither male nor female murmured. Just as Ethan''s foot was about to graze the barrier, the armored figure raised a hand with a casual flick. Boom! Ethan''s body jolted violently before being launched into the air. He soared backward, the world around him a blur. The misty staircase, the fields of Ethereal Blooms, the black lake, the Blood Abyss, all of it zipped past him as he hurtled uncontrollably. He shot through the shimmering gap in the waterfall, the very one he had entered through. Then, all went dark. --- Ember City General Hospital, ICU Ethan lay motionless in the intensive care unit, his body unnaturally still, connected to an array of machines. Outside the glass window, Lyla stood vigil, exhaustion etched into her pale face. For three days and nights, she hadn''t slept. She simply remained there, staring at Ethan''s lifeless body through the windowpane. "Miss Silverwood," a young nurse approached her, holding a clipboard. "The head physician wanted me to inform you¡­ Mr. Carter''s body functions have almost completely shut down. There''s minimal brain activity, and his heartbeat is barely detectable. At most¡­ he has one day left." The nurse hesitated before handing Lyla the clipboard. "We need your signature here." Lyla''s trembling fingers took the clipboard. Her eyes blurred with tears as she read the bold header: Critical Condition Notification. Her chest tightened. She''d cried so much over the past few days that she thought she had no tears left. But seeing those words, fresh streams began flowing down her cheeks. She stared at the signature line, pen hovering over the paper. Her hand shook so violently that the pen pierced through the page. She couldn''t bring herself to sign. A single teardrop fell, landing on the paper with a soft plop. Taking a deep, shaky breath, she steadied her hand. Just as the pen began tracing the first stroke of her name, a loud, droning noise pierced the air. "Beeeeep¡ª" The machines in the ICU began blaring alarms, their red lights flashing urgently. "Call the doctors! Hurry!" Lyla shouted, shoving the clipboard into the nurse''s hands before rushing to the window, her face pressed against the glass. Inside, chaos erupted. Every monitor in the room flashed red, the heart rate monitor displaying a flat green line. The doctors arrived quickly. Too quickly, it seemed, as they exited just as fast. Lyla turned to the lead physician, her tear-streaked face brimming with desperate hope. But the man shook his head solemnly. Inside, the medical staff began shutting down the equipment. The flatlined monitors were turned off, one by one. Ethan''s body was covered with a white sheet, signaling the end. "You can go in and say your goodbyes," the lead doctor said softly before turning to leave. But as he did, a series of shrill screams erupted from inside the ICU. "Ah¡ª! Ahhh¡ª!" Everyone froze. Lyla clamped a hand over her mouth, her wide eyes glued to the scene before her. Then, without hesitation, she burst through the door, rushing inside. "What¡­ how is this possible?" the doctor stammered, rushing back in behind her. Ethan sat upright, dazed, his upper body exposed as the white sheet fell away. His eyes, once lifeless, now gleamed with renewed clarity. As Lyla threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably, his gaze softened. Slowly, he reached up and stroked her hair. "Don''t cry," he murmured. "See? I''m fine now." "You scared me! You scared me to death!" Lyla cried, burying her face into his chest before fainting from sheer exhaustion. Ethan blinked, startled. Before he could react, the lead doctor stepped forward and quickly checked on her condition. "She''s fine, just passed out. Poor girl hasn''t slept or eaten for days," the doctor said, shaking his head. "Get her on a bed, hook up a nutrient IV, and let her rest properly." The nurses hurried to follow his instructions, gently taking Lyla from Ethan''s arms. "Mr. Carter," the doctor said, turning back to him with a look that made Ethan shudder. His gaze was unsettling, like a starving man eyeing a steak. "Uh¡­ is something wrong?" Ethan asked warily, feeling an inexplicable urge to cover his chest. "We need to run some tests," the doctor replied, his tone far too eager. --- Three days later, Ethan was finally "released" from the hospital. Yes, released. In those three days, the doctors had poked, prodded, scanned, and examined him to within an inch of his life. They seemed ready to cut him open and study him under a microscope. In the end, the results were baffling: not only was Ethan perfectly healthy, but his physical condition was comparable to that of a world-class athlete in their prime. He walked out of the hospital with a clean bill of health, but not without a newfound appreciation for the word freedom. Lyla was still weak from the ordeal of the past few days. Her body was fragile, her steps unsteady, and she clung tightly to Ethan''s arm as they made their way back to the villa. She hadn''t let go of him even once. "I''ll take you to your room so you can rest," Ethan said gently, glancing at her pale face. "Okay," Lyla murmured softly. Once she was settled in her room, Ethan ensured she was comfortable. The doctors had been clear, she needed proper rest and nourishment to recover fully. With Lyla resting, Ethan finally had some time to himself. It was just past noon, and he still had the entire afternoon before he could log back into Ethereal. His mind drifted back to Morzan''s cryptic words just after he was hurled out of the Gates of the Underworld: "Your soul has grown too strong because of the Ethereal Blooms. Your body, however, hasn''t kept up. Strengthen it, or the imbalance will cost you." Ethan had learned a lot from that brief conversation. The currents of energy from the VR capsule had been gradually enhancing his physical body. Still, Morzan had warned that the process wasn''t enough. Ethan needed to bridge the gap between his powerful soul and his mortal body through rigorous physical training. Determined, Ethan hopped into the car and drove to a fitness equipment store, returning with bags full of gear and supplies. He wasted no time setting up a makeshift training area in the villa''s spacious living room. He strapped a ten-kilogram weight vest to his torso, feeling the immediate strain on his legs. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Let''s see how far I can push this," he muttered. Hands clasped behind his head, Ethan lowered himself into a squat, then rose slowly. One¡­ two¡­ ten¡­ twenty¡­ By the time he completed fifty squats, there wasn''t even a hint of fatigue. Frowning, he grabbed four additional weights, increasing the load to fifty kilograms. One¡­ two¡­ ten¡­ At twenty, his legs trembled under the strain. Sweat poured down his face, his breaths coming in short, ragged bursts. Grabbing a nutrition shake from his earlier purchase, Ethan downed it in one go, resting for a few minutes. The fatigue quickly faded, replaced by a renewed sense of energy. "Again," he said to himself, lowering into another round of squats. Despite the grueling effort, Ethan found himself impressed by his stamina and strength. Not long ago, the so-called "Ice Queen," Celeste Hawthorne, had written him off as worthless, a title he now intended to erase entirely. In his past life, he had suffered alone, powerless and abandoned. But this life was different. He had Lyla by his side, a happiness he had never known before. He would protect it at all costs, both in the real world and in Ethereal. And then there was the Underworld. The strange warmth in that voice still lingered in his mind. It was unlike anything he''d ever felt before, filling a void he hadn''t realized existed. He had to uncover the truth, about the voice, about what had happened in the Underworld, and about the powers Morzan hinted at. "Strength is the only way forward," Morzan had said. In that brief return to Ethereal earlier, Morzan had revealed another unsettling truth: the game was far more than just a virtual escape. Hidden forces, powerful individuals, and secret factions operated in both the game and the real world, and they would stop at nothing to exploit its resources. If Ethan wanted to survive, he had to grow stronger. Otherwise, he and those he cared about would be nothing more than stepping stones for others. "One¡­ two¡­ three¡­" In the living room, Ethan''s labored breathing echoed with each rep. To him, this wasn''t just physical training, it was a battle of will. It was why he had been able to complete the grueling quest, ''The Angel''s Salvation,'' in the first place. The monotony of repetitive movements didn''t bother him. He had always had resilience. Before, he lacked talent. But now? Now he had both. "Eighty¡­ ninety¡­ one hundred¡­" Sweat dripped onto the floor. His legs screamed in protest, every muscle burning. Yet his powerful soul kept him moving, its strength bolstering his will. "One hundred and ninety¡­ two hundred!" With a guttural roar, Ethan''s legs gave out, and he crashed onto the floor with a loud thud. He lay there, gasping for breath, staring at the ceiling as his heart pounded in his chest. Chapter 52 - 52: Strange Pendant Bang! Ethan''s door flew open with a crash, startling him out of his haze. At the doorway stood Lyla, her face pale but filled with alarm. She spotted him sprawled on the floor and immediately rushed to his side. "Ethan! What''s wrong?" she asked, panicked. Wincing through the pain, Ethan forced himself to sit up. "I''m fine¡­ just overdid it with the workout." Lyla''s gaze swept over the room, taking in the assortment of fitness equipment strewn about. She exhaled deeply, holding back tears, and punched Ethan square in the chest. "Ow!" he gasped, clutching his ribs. For someone still recovering, her punch carried enough force to knock the wind out of him. If she had been at full strength, Ethan was certain she could''ve broken a few bones. It always surprised him how much power Lyla could pack into her tiny frame. He knew she was capable, but he never imagined how intense her training must''ve been. What Ethan didn''t know was that after he left her behind as a child, Lyla had immersed herself in learning combat and self-defense, eventually undergoing systematic training to become the formidable woman she was now. Noticing his grimace, Lyla softened. Realizing she''d gone too far, she quickly helped him to his feet. After some rest and another round of nutrient shakes, Ethan''s strength began to recover. But his stomach growled loudly, nutrient shakes weren''t exactly filling. Neither of them felt like cooking, so they opted for the ultimate solution: ordering a home delivery. By the time they finished their meal, it was evening, and the game servers were about to go online. Lyla wasn''t thrilled about Ethan logging back in so soon. "Are you sure this is a good idea? You just recovered," she said, crossing her arms. "I''ll be fine, I promise," Ethan said, coaxing her with reassurances until she finally relented. As he prepared to enter his game capsule, a thought struck him. He turned to Lyla with a puzzled expression. "Hey, Lyla, how did you even get my game pod open in the first place? It''s supposed to be fully locked and blast-proof." "At first, I couldn''t," she admitted. "But then¡­ I don''t know. I just touched it, and it opened on its own." Ethan frowned, pondering her response. Could this have been Morzan''s doing? It was the only explanation that made sense. --- Back in Ethereal: Ding! [System Notification: Offline XP bonus has accumulated to 98.8% of your current level. Bonus will automatically apply when killing monsters. Offline time: 9 days, 18 hours, 23 minutes.] Ethan froze. Nine days? It hit him: his time in the Underworld had counted as being offline in Ethereal. Then he remembered the Ethereal Blooms he''d been harvesting. Opening his character panel, he exhaled in relief. His levels were intact, and his bag was still full of Ethereal Blooms. But then he remembered something else, the black pendant. He searched through his equipment and inventory but came up empty. It wasn''t there. Frowning, Ethan logged out of the game and went straight to Lyla''s room, knocking on her door. "What''s up?" she asked, opening the door slightly. "Did you see a black pendant anywhere?" Ethan asked. "Uh¡­ well¡­" Lyla hesitated, her face betraying guilt. Ethan raised a brow but gestured for her to take her time. "It''s fine. Just tell me." Sighing, Lyla muttered, "Alright, fine." She lowered her head, tugged at her collar, to reveal the pendant nestled just beneath her shirt. "It''s here. Take it," she said, pouting slightly as her cheeks turned pink. Ethan''s jaw dropped. "Wait¡­ you mean it''s¡­ there? And I have to¡­?" "What are you gawking at? I can''t get it off on my own. Just take it already!" Lyla snapped, her blush deepening. Ethan couldn''t help but laugh internally at her command. This situation felt absurdly awkward yet amusing. "Well, if you insist¡­" he said, suppressing a smirk as he reached out. His hand touched nothing but her soft boobs. Lyla shuddered and let out a soft gasp. "Ah! You pervert! Ethan, you jerk!" she yelped, recoiling in surprise. WHAM! Before Ethan could react, Lyla delivered a kick that literally sent him flying out of her room. He crashed into the hallway wall, sliding to the floor with a groan. Ethan sat up, rubbing his back with a wry grin. "She''s got a mean kick, I''ll give her that." He sat stunned for a moment before snapping to his feet and charging back to Lyla''s door. His frustration boiled over as he shouted, "Didn''t you tell me to grab it myself? Why''d you kick me?" "I didn''t!" Lyla said, her voice trembling with hurt. "What do you mean you didn''t? You literally told me to grab it, and the next thing I know, I''m flying across the hallway!" Ethan retorted, his anger mounting. He was getting tired of her recent habit of hitting him, and the fact that he couldn''t fight back. "I said I didn''t kick you!" Lyla shot back, her voice cracking as her eyes filled with tears. "Why are you yelling at me?" Ethan froze. Seeing her reaction, he realized he might''ve gone too far. Taking a deep breath, he lowered his voice. "Okay, okay¡­ I''m sorry. If it wasn''t you, then what, did I just launch myself out the door?" He hadn''t meant to snap at her. After all, getting flung into the hallway for no apparent reason had left him rattled. "It wasn''t me," Lyla said again, her voice soft. "It was¡­ it was this!" She stepped closer to him, pointing at her chest. Ethan blinked, his brain short-circuiting as his gaze inadvertently shifted to the area she was gesturing toward. For a brief moment, he was struck dumb. Wait, what is happening right now? She was close enough that he could see every detail of her flushed face, and his mind began to spiral. "Lyla¡­" he stammered, his voice shaky. "If you''re trying to¡­ uh¡­ make a point, you don''t have to¡ª" "Not that! Look here!" Lyla snapped, her cheeks practically glowing as she pointed to a spot just above her collarbone. "Wait, what?" Ethan''s focus shifted to where she was pointing. "That pendant of yours!" she said, exasperated. "The black one you had when you woke up. It flew onto me, and now I can''t get it off!" Ethan frowned, suddenly serious. "It flew onto you? What are you talking about?" Lyla sighed. "Right after you woke up, I came in to talk to you. The pendant was on your chest, and before I could even say a word, it flew right onto me! I passed out, and when I woke up, it was here," she explained, tapping the spot again. "It even changed, it''s white now. But no matter how much I try, I can''t take it off." Ethan''s eyes narrowed as he processed her words. He hadn''t noticed any pendant on him when he woke up, let alone one that could fly. Yet Lyla''s expression was too genuine for him to dismiss. "Wait," he said, stepping closer. "Are you sure it''s still there?" "Of course I''m sure! Here, see for yourself," Lyla replied, pointing to the spot again. Cautiously, Ethan reached out and ran his fingers over the area she indicated. He felt nothing but her soft skin. No pendant, no texture, nothing. "Uh, Lyla¡­ I don''t see or feel anything," he said, his brow furrowed. "What? How is that possible?!" Lyla looked genuinely surprised. She glanced down at her chest, frowning as if she could still see or sense the object. Ethan thought back to Morzan''s warnings and the supernatural nature of the Underworld. He sighed, realizing there might be forces at play far beyond his comprehension. "Well, if it''s invisible to me but harmless to you, and it can apparently protect you¡­ I guess it''s fine for you to keep it," he said finally. Lyla fiddled with the invisible object, her fingers gripping at something Ethan couldn''t see. She tugged at it a few times before giving up. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Alright," Ethan said, turning to leave. "Stop messing with it, though. It''s not going anywhere. I''m heading back to my room." "Fine, but seriously, what is this thing?" Lyla called after him. Ethan paused at the door, shaking his head. "I don''t know either." He shut her door and returned to his room, Sliding into his game pod. Chapter 53 - 53: A Surprise Windfall Back in the VR capsule, Ethan brought his hand to his nose and sniffed. A sweet, floral scent lingered, one that carried a hint of feminine allure. A grin spread across his face before he finally logged back into the game. "Loading¡­ Entering the game¡­" The progress bar finished, but Ethan''s screen remained black, his vision still adjusting. His thoughts drifted back to the two figures he had gripped earlier, their presence like twin roses swaying in the breeze, delicate, tempting, utterly captivating. The tantalizing feel was enough to incite any man''s desire. A rapid series of chimes pulled him out of his daze. "What the¡ªwho''s blowing up my inbox like this?" Ethan opened his inbox and scrolled through the flood of messages. They were all from Skyblade. The first read: "Boss, where''ve you been? It''s been ten days since you logged in, and you dropped out as soon as you came on earlier!" The second: "Boss, if you don''t show up soon, we''re all gonna get wiped out." And the third: "You''re back? Finally! We''re at coordinates: 32465.59872.6551. Hurry, we need backup!" Ethan typed back a quick reply: "You guys already left the Starter Zone?" The message had barely sent when Skyblade''s response popped up almost instantly: "The three of us hit level 15 already. We''ve got over 300 guild members in Harmony City now. Boss, you have to come! We''re getting boxed in by Marcus Skeiner and his crew!" Hearing that name, Ethan''s expression darkened. Marcus Skeiner, the infamous leader of the Blade Syndicate, Harmony City''s number one guild in his previous life. Blade Syndicate had its roots in an old MMO game, but whatever respect it once commanded had long since withered. These days, Blade Syndicate was nothing more than a band of toxic, glory-chasing idiots who thrived on griefing others. By the time they migrated to Ethereal, they were nothing more than a band of troublemakers who thrived on ruining everyone else''s experience. Their signature move? Ganking low-level players en masse and running away the moment the tide turned against them. If outnumbered, they''d flee without hesitation. If a boss fight required teamwork, they''d scatter like headless flies. They''d exploit bugs, cheat the system, and leave behind a trail of chaos and misery. Despite their incompetence, they somehow managed to recruit thousands of like-minded trolls into one guild. Ethan could never understand it. One or two dimwits? Sure, that was par for the course. But to gather thousands of them in one place, all with the same abysmal level of skill? That was a feat of collective idiocy unmatched in gaming history. Ethan vividly remembered his own encounter with them during his past life. It was in the Starter Zone. A Blade Syndicate squad had joined his party for a raid on the Murky Swamp. They spent an entire night trying, and failing to defeat the Ancient Tree King, the dungeon''s most basic boss. By the time dawn broke, their party leader, in sheer frustration, rage-quit the raid, leaving the rest of them stranded. The memories were humiliating. Ethan could still hear the leader''s shouts: "Position to the left! What the hell are you doing spinning in circles?!" "Hold your ground at the choke point! Why are you hiding behind the healers?!" "STOP running into the group with an exploding debuff!" It was less of a raid party and more of a synchronized display of collective idiocy. And yet, somehow, this clown fiesta persisted. But Marcus Skeiner wasn''t their only problem. Ethan remembered another guild, Judgment. Initially, they were rivals to Blade Syndicate, but it didn''t take long for them to fold. Judgment quickly devolved into glorified snitches, leaking the coordinates of their own guild players to Blade Syndicate for favors. Back then, they were infamous for being traitors, mercenaries for hire with no sense of honor. Ethan couldn''t help but smirk as he thought about the nickname they earned: The Backstabbers. In Ethereal, the reason Blade Syndicate managed to dominate Harmony City as its top guild wasn''t due to skill or strategy, it was because they had numbers. And numbers came from money. Lots of it. The kind of guild full of rich idiots who spent their way to the top. Ethan had long suspected that Blade Syndicate had backing from some shadowy corporate group. Perhaps even Zachary and his crew. The thought made his jaw tighten as he sprinted toward the coordinates Skyblade had sent him, memories of his past life bubbling to the surface. "Survivor Faction has to deal with Blade Syndicate here," he mused. "I wonder if the Carnage Faction has its own version?" He wouldn''t have known in his past life. Back then, his latter days were spent toiling away in an abandoned mine, and he didn''t even gain the qualification to participate in cross-faction wars. This time around, Ethan had logged back in right outside Harmony City''s gates, which made his journey to the teleportation hub quick and efficient. Skyblade''s coordinates pointed to a spot near Cogden Village, a small outpost where Ethan vaguely remembered delivering a side quest to a young NPC girl. The village bordered a hunting zone filled with Level 15-20 monsters, perfect for grinding after leaving the Starter Zone. Just as Ethan arrived at the teleportation hub, a flickering envelope icon above the mailbox nearby caught his eye. Mail? Who''s sending me mail? Curiosity piqued, Ethan veered off course and opened the mailbox. To his surprise, the sender was Trusty007. For a moment, he froze, memories snapping into focus. Right, he had worked out a deal with Trusty before venturing into the Necrotic Domain. Worried that something might go wrong, Ethan had given him a detailed guide for delivering it. Guess it worked out after all. Excitement thrummed through Ethan''s veins as he opened the mail. Ding¡­ S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [System Alert: You''ve received 14,256 gold coins.] "What the¡ª?!" Ethan stared at the number, dumbfounded. That much gold?! Attached to the mail was a note from Trusty007: --- "Big Boss, we''ve hit the jackpot! This is the total revenue from selling your guide across 2,000 Starter Zones in the Northern Frontier Region. We sold 7,129 copies in total. One of those was to Skyblade from Renegade Alliance, but I didn''t charge him since, you know, he''s one of yours. That leaves 7,128 paid copies, bringing in 14,256 gold coins. I''ve also sold guides in other regions where gold couldn''t be transferred, so I converted it to cash and deposited it into your bank account. We sold 3,562 copies there, at the current rate of $1,800 per gold coin. Total cash transfer: $12,823,200. This is the most profitable deal we''ve ever done! If you''ve got another guide in the works, let me know, there''s already demand for the next copy!" --- Ethan nearly jumped for joy as he finished reading. Fourteen thousand gold and over 12 million in cash?! If he sold off the gold at market rates, he''d have nearly $40million total in his account! All this from a single dungeon guide for a Starter Zone. He couldn''t help but smile at Trusty''s enthusiasm. It was clear the guy had made some decent amount himself, though Ethan didn''t bother wondering how much Trusty charged per guide. He had only asked for two gold per copy and wasn''t about to get greedy. With a spring in his step, Ethan walked onto the teleportation platform and selected Cogden Village as his destination. The cost of one copper for the teleport barely registered, it was a drop in the ocean now. Chapter 54 - 54: The Fight for Survival As Ethan traveled through the winding forest paths, he kept asking Skyblade for details. It turned out that right after they had left the Starter Zone, they encountered members of the Blade Syndicate. Ethan had been offline for days, and his level had stagnated at 15, gradually slipping down the leaderboard. Blade Syndicate, seeing members of the Renegade Alliance, couldn''t resist mocking them. "Your guild leader''s lost his edge! Without exploiting bugs, he''s just a washed-up nobody!" they jeered, their taunts escalating into direct confrontation. At first, it was only verbal abuse, but soon enough, Blade Syndicate resorted to sneak attacks. They targeted isolated members of the guild, especially those returning from supply runs. A few unfortunate members were ambushed and taken down. Skyblade, furious, rallied dozens of guild members to retaliate against Blade Syndicate''s force of over a hundred players. Predictably, their players, relying more on sheer numbers than skill, were no match for the coordinated assault. While Renegade Alliance suffered minor losses, the fight ended in a decisive victory with over a hundred Blade Syndicate members wiped out. And so, the war began. Over the past two days, fights of various sizes erupted countless times. The relentless attacks had severely slowed Renegade Alliance''s progress. Many members had not only failed to level up after leaving the Starter Zone but had even dropped back to level 14, forcing them to retreat to the zone for protection. Although players at level 15 benefitted from the Starter Zone''s protection system, which revived them directly at the graveyard without losing a level, the weakness penalty that followed each death wasted precious time. Worse, if a player died more than ten times, the protection system ceased to function. Some members had already hit that limit. Being targeted by such persistent harassment was frustrating, significantly hindering the guild''s growth. Ethan''s prolonged absence didn''t help either, prompting some members to quit the guild. While leaving incurred steep penalties losing contribution points and guild-issued gear, players retained their levels and could continue progressing, albeit more slowly, with basic iron-tier equipment. Hearing Skyblade''s recounting, Ethan frowned. Was Blade Syndicate targeting them because he had drawn too much attention to the guild? In his memory, Blade Syndicate''s players were obnoxious, but they had never focused on any particular group. Their usual behavior was forming large groups to bully low-level players or ganging up on lone targets. They rarely confronted guilds or organized groups head-on. If met with resistance, they scattered like cowards, looking for easier prey. This current strategy was completely out of character for them. Ethan opened the leaderboard, scanning the rankings. Blade Syndicate was now a level-four guild, sitting firmly at the top of the regional leaderboard. Advancing a guild to level three required obtaining a guild base, something money alone couldn''t buy. It required a guild team to clear dungeons and accumulate points, which could then be exchanged for a basic guild base in the main city. With Blade Syndicate''s usual incompetence, there was no way they could have achieved this through their own efforts. In his past life, they had always hired professional players to join their guild temporarily and earn the required points for them. Each time their guild base was upgraded, it followed the same pay-to-win formula. Leveling a guild from two to three also cost 1,000 gold, expanding its capacity to 5,000 members. Reaching level four required 5,000 gold and expanded the capacity to 10,000 members. In the early stages of the game, 6,000 gold was no small sum. Converted to real-world currency, it equaled a staggering $10.8 million. Ethan found it hard to believe that Marcus Skeiner, the leader of Blade Syndicate, could afford such an amount on his own. In his past life, rumors had circulated that while Marcus had some wealth in the real world, he was far from rich enough to casually throw millions into upgrading a guild. As they approached the outskirts of the battlefield, Skyblade updated Ethan on the situation. Marcus himself had brought over 1,500 members to surround their force of barely 200 players. Those 200 represented Renegade Alliance''s strongest players, the core group that had managed to reach the main city after days of relentless battles. They were the veterans of Zone 1370 battle and had followed Skyblade, Slashblade, and SeraphWarrior through the treacherous Murky Swamp dungeon, earning gear and experience that set them apart from the average player. Currently, the typical player level hovered between 13 and 14, but this elite group had leveled up significantly faster. Despite their numerical disadvantage, the 200 Renegade Alliance members had managed to evade a full encirclement thanks to the poor coordination of Blade Syndicate''s players. Under Skyblade''s leadership, they had been weaving through enemy forces, launching counterattacks, and breaking out of traps. Still, the overwhelming numbers were taking their toll. The day before, the battles raged until the game servers shut down, leaving the Alliance''s forces severely weakened. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If things continued like this, it was only a matter of time before they were completely surrounded and wiped out. Even SeraphWarrior, who had always been a resilient fighter, had died 11 times. He had barely enough experience left to avoid dropping a level after another death. If he fell again, he''d be forced to return to the Starter Zone to grind back to level 15 before he could rejoin the fight. As they pressed onward, Ethan noticed groups of players from other guilds and some unaffiliated rogues lurking nearby. Their stealth abilities, due to their lower levels, were entirely ineffective against Ethan''s sharp eyes. Most of them were inching toward the battlefield, recording videos for their own entertainment. But the oddest sight was a group of players led by a striking woman holding a microphone purchased from the in-game store. She appeared to be live streaming. "Everyone, look! Past the forest behind me is Larson Basin, where Renegade Alliance''s elite forces are reportedly trapped. This is a battle of overwhelming odds, who will emerge victorious? Rumors suggest that the Renegade Alliance leader, once a dominant figure on the leaderboard, hasn''t logged in for ten days due to a real-life tragedy. Without his leadership, can they achieve the same glory they did during the Zone 1370 battle? Follow me as we witness the action unfold. This is WCC News bringing you live coverage from the world of Ethereal. I''m your host, Trina Starr!" Ethan couldn''t help but curse under his breath as he passed by. "Real-life tragedy? You wish. Your whole family wishes!" He nearly burst out laughing when he heard the ridiculous name she used for her channel. WCC? Why not just call it WC? And her name, Trina Starr, sounded so forced it was almost comical. Still, her broadcast revealed one crucial piece of information: Larson Basin. Skyblade and the others, clearly disoriented from the constant battles, had no idea where they were. They had been relaying coordinates to Ethan without realizing their exact location. But now that Ethan had heard it, his memory of the terrain came flooding back. His eyes gleamed with a sudden idea. Ethan sent a message to Skyblade, urging them to hold their ground and avoid getting fully surrounded. He also forwarded them a set of coordinates, instructing them to make their way toward that location. "Blade Syndicate," Ethan muttered, a sharp grin spreading across his face. "You want to play the numbers game? Fine. Let''s see who has more fun." Chapter 55 - 55: Only Five People Needed Larson Basin was a peculiar region. Apart from a small plain at its very center, the rest of it was densely forested, making it a natural labyrinth. This was precisely why Skyblade and his crew had avoided being completely surrounded all this time. Ethan could already predict Blade Syndicate''s plan. Their forces were likely scattered across the basin, stationed like a spiderweb, ready to catch any stray members of Renegade Alliance. If any squad or camp was discovered, reinforcements from all directions would rush to that point, creating the illusion of an inescapable siege. Skyblade and his men were likely darting through the basin in panic, changing direction constantly to evade capture, falling deeper into Blade Syndicate''s trap. It was a clever tactic, send small teams to stall the Renegades, then overwhelm them as more reinforcements arrived. But the basin was vast, and while Blade Syndicate had over 1,500 players deployed, spreading them out had thinned their defenses. They underestimated the 200 members of the Renegade Alliance. Ethan figured Marcus Skeiner, the leader of Blade Syndicate, was already mobilizing additional reinforcements. Once those reinforcements arrived, Skyblade and the others would be in serious trouble. Ethan had already encountered multiple Blade Syndicate scouts on his way here, undoubtedly part of Marcus''s backup. The coordinates Ethan sent to Skyblade marked an area near a cliff¡ªa natural dead-end within the basin. The location was perfect; it was deep in the basin, surrounded by sheer rock walls on one side, making it the only truly inescapable spot. Unlike the other directions, which had gradual slopes and forest paths leading out, this place was a deadlock. No sane strategist would station their troops there. As Ethan made his way toward the cliff, passing several ambush points hidden within the forest, his theory proved accurate. The closer he got to the cliff, the fewer Syndicate players he encountered. Eventually, there were none at all¡ªnot even a single scout. When he finally reached the area, he spotted some sentries hidden among the trees. To his relief, they weren''t Syndicate players, they were Renegades. It seemed Skyblade''s team had made it. Ethan smirked. Skyblade knew what he was doing after all. Placing sentries here was a smart move, given how dangerous the situation was. Surviving this long against such overwhelming numbers was no small feat. In his past life, Skyblade had spent years working alongside Ethan, but his potential had been wasted under poor leadership. Stepping out of the forest, Ethan found himself in a small clearing. In the middle of it, a modest pond shimmered under the dim sunlight, its surface still and reflective. Beyond the pond was the cliff face, imposing and unscalable. Over 200 Renegade members were camped near the water, their presence filling the air with tension. Ethan exited Stealth Mode, returning to his human form, and stepped into their line of sight. The reaction was instantaneous. Weapons were drawn in perfect unison. The sheer intensity of their collective glare hit Ethan like a wave. The air seemed to buzz with an almost tangible killing intent, a focused energy that was overwhelming. Ethan froze for a moment, genuinely impressed. This group of 200 fighters had managed to form a unified aura, a rare phenomenon in large-scale battles. In the late stages of the game, only the most disciplined warbands could achieve this level of synchronization. And here they were, already showing glimpses of such potential. This was the foundation of a true battle-hardened force. With their presence, the Renegade Alliance could mold new recruits into disciplined warriors, creating an army capable of holding its own against the world''s strongest guilds. On any battlefield, a group like this would crush an equally equipped and numbered enemy force lacking such cohesion. The moment the first charge landed, an unorganized squad would collapse like sand under a tidal wave. Snapping out of his thoughts, Ethan smiled and stepped forward. The tension eased as the group recognized him. Their faces lit up with excitement. Even though Ethan rarely showed up, his leadership was the heart of the Renegade Alliance. His decisive actions during the legendary Battle of Zone 1370 had solidified his reputation. To these players, Ethan was their anchor. The crowd restrained themselves, but the guild chat was alive with chatter. "Guild leader is here!" "Finally! I thought you were never coming back, Boss!" "Guild leader, we missed you!" "Now that you''re here, let''s tear Blade Syndicate apart!" Dozens of excited messages poured in, each one brimming with enthusiasm. "Quiet down! Let''s see what the boss has planned first," Skyblade typed in the chat. The guild channel fell silent instantly. It was clear Skyblade''s authority within the group was second only to Ethan''s. Ethan typed a few words of thanks in the guild chat, short and polite, without mentioning any specifics about his battle plans. He couldn''t assume every guild member was trustworthy. There could easily be spies, either Blade Syndicate operatives or agents from rival guilds. Identifying them was impossible for now. Instead, he created a private chat group with Skyblade, Slashblade, and SeraphWarrior. The three exchanged glances, quickly realizing the importance of this private conversation. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Do we have a trustworthy warlock in our ranks?" Ethan asked bluntly. Slashblade paused for a moment before pointing to a boy among the group, looking no older than fifteen or sixteen. In the private chat, Slashblade wrote: "His name is Meatball. He joined on the first day we founded the guild. He''s been with us ever since, leveling up, running dungeons, always reliable. I''d trust him." First day? Ethan nodded in approval. It was unlikely for a guild mole to have been planted that early, especially a teenager. Such a young recruit wouldn''t normally be chosen for a spie. "Ask him if he''s learned the Aquatic Breathing skill," Ethan instructed. After a moment, Slashblade replied, "He has." "Good. Disband your party and have him leave his, too. I''ll invite you all into mine," Ethan said. Skyblade and the others gave their orders in the group, then disbanded their party. Ethan quickly sent invitations to Skyblade, Slashblade, SeraphWarrior, and Meatball, forming a five-man team. "We also need an archer with the Swift Stride skill. Someone reliable," Ethan added. SeraphWarrior hesitated before speaking in the private chat: "That''s tough. Swift Stride is a Level 15 skill, and the drop rate for the skill book is ridiculously low. We''ve been getting harassed by those Blade Syndicate idiots nonstop, so we haven''t been able to grind enough monsters for it." Ethan frowned but wasn''t surprised. Skills above Level 15 were notoriously rare, and under their current circumstances, finding someone with the ability was a long shot. Realizing the party would remain one member short, Ethan decided to move forward regardless. "You''ve been here for over 20 minutes, right? That should mean everyone''s out of combat now. Have the rest of the team use Return Stones to teleport back to the city. Tell them to unequip their guild crests and hide their usernames. Once that''s done, have them regroup at the basin''s outskirts and wait for further instructions," Ethan ordered Skyblade. "What? Just like that?" SeraphWarrior blurted out, clearly shocked. "What will the others think?" Before Ethan could answer, Skyblade had already followed the order, sending a message to the guild chat. The chat immediately exploded. "Guild leader, we''ve been holed up here for days, fighting nonstop, and now you want us to retreat?" "Yeah, let''s just go all in. We''re not afraid of dying. Worst-case scenario, we respawn at the starter zone!" "What the hell? I thought the Guild Leader was supposed to lead us to victory. Turns out he''s just a coward." The notifications came rapidly after that: Ding... Ding... Ding. Several players left the guild in protest. Ethan stared at the messages silently. After a moment, the guild chat calmed as no more players quit. Then he typed a simple sentence: "This fight only requires the five of us." Silence. The guild chat fell completely still. Eight words, yet they carried a weight that stunned everyone. Some players wondered if they had misread it. Two hundred players had spent days struggling to survive, failing to break free from the Syndicate''s pursuit, and now their Guild Leader claimed that five people would be enough? Then it hit them. The combat disengagement timer. In Ethereal, players locked in PvP combat had to avoid any hostile actions for over 20 minutes to be considered out of combat. The realization dawned on them: the Guild Leader''s plan had worked. By directing them to this coordinate and stalling for time, he''d ensured that everyone was no longer under combat restrictions. They could now safely use their Return Stones. He hadn''t just said those words to sound cool. With nothing more than a single coordinate, he had freed them all. As this sank in, the expressions of the remaining players began to shift. The anger and frustration faded, replaced by awe and admiration. They looked at Ethan with a new fire in their eyes. Chapter 56 - 56: Secret Passage In no time, the remaining guild members activated their Return Stones and disappeared from the area. After two days of continuous combat, they had long passed the cooldown period for using the stones. Now, only Ethan and his four companions remained by the pond. Ethan glanced at the group, taking note of their varied expressions: Skyblade looked positively thrilled, his excitement practically bursting out of him. Clearly, Ethan''s earlier words: "This fight only requires the five of us." had ignited a fire in him. Ethan knew him too well. Skyblade was the kind of hot-blooded youth who could be roused to action with just one sentence. Slashblade maintained his usual stony demeanor, unreadable as ever. If he had any strong opinions about their suicidal-sounding mission, he didn''t show it. SeraphWarrior, however, wore his doubts on his face. He clearly found the idea of five players taking on fifteen hundred hard to swallow. Then there was Meatball, the youngest of the group. His round face showed a mix of fear and exhilaration. He was clearly nervous but also thrilled to be chosen by Ethan for this mission. Ethan chuckled when his eyes landed on Meatball. The kid was a warlock class, but he was nothing like the typical image people associated with the class. Most people expected warlocks to have a sinister air, tall, thin, draped in dark, ominous robes, their outfits often featuring deep red or black tones. They were portrayed with oversized hoods, and an aura of mystery and dread. The Warlock players in the game had a similar intimidating vibe, most players leaned into the stereotype, mimicking the style. But Meatball? He was the complete opposite. Chubby and fair-skinned, he gave more of a younger brother vibe than a dark sorcerer. To top it off, he wore black-rimmed glasses, frames only, no lenses, adding to his harmless appearance. And then there was his outfit. Instead of the usual warlock attire, his gear had been transmogged into something absurdly wholesome. Transmogrification was a premium feature in the game, allowing players to alter their gear''s appearance to suit their tastes. But it wasn''t cheap. First, you needed to buy outfit templates, which were essentially virtual "skins" sold at absurd prices in the in-game clothing store. Clearly, Meatball came from money. Ethan could only sum him up in five words: "Chubby kid in black glasses." Ethan let out a small laugh. "Alright, it''s just us now. Let''s get started." "How are we doing this, Boss? Just say the word!" Skyblade said, practically vibrating with anticipation. Ethan shot him a pointed look. "First off, you need to follow orders. No charging in without thinking." He directed the remark at Skyblade specifically. Ethan knew him all too well, once the fighting started, Skyblade had a bad habit of losing his head and going full berserk. "Got it, got it!" Skyblade nodded enthusiastically. Ethan continued, "We''re going to be racking up a lot of red names after this. It''ll be a long time before we can safely return to any city..." "Doesn''t matter!" Skyblade interrupted. "We''ll have the guild supply us in the field. Who needs cities anyway?" Ethan ignored him and turned to Slashblade. "If Skyblade interrupts me one more time, feel free to invite your sister to hang out with him tomorrow." S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Slashblade nodded without hesitation. "Understood." Skyblade opened his mouth, but whatever he was about to say died in his throat. Ethan smirked at the sight and addressed the group. "Alright, no need to be nervous. Meatball, your job is to apply Aquatic Breathing to everyone but me. Slashblade, you focus on healing and dispelling debuffs, especially anything that slows or roots us. The rest of you, stay close to me. I assume you know how to swing a weapon?" The group nodded, but the mention of Aquatic Breathing left them puzzled. They couldn''t figure out why a water-breathing buff would be relevant to a fight. Still, Meatball quickly cast the spell on the team, blue runes circling each member as the buff activated. When he turned to Ethan to apply it to him, Ethan waved him off. "I don''t need it," Ethan said, before leaping into the pond without another word. "Follow me!" he shouted back. The group exchanged confused looks. What was this? Wasn''t this supposed to be a fight? Why were they suddenly going for a swim? Hesitantly, they followed him into the water. [Aquatic Breathing: Grants the ability to breathe underwater, increases swimming speed by 20%. Duration: 20 minutes.] As they submerged, they looked around but couldn''t spot Ethan. Instead, a seal circled them. "Follow me," Ethan''s voice came through the party chat. The group finally realized, the seal was Ethan. At Level 20, Ethan''s skill [Transform: Stag Form] had automatically upgraded to [Transform: Travel Form]. [Transform: Travel Form: On land: Transform into a stag, capable of carrying one passenger. Movement speed increased by 200%. In water: Transform into a seal. Swimming speed equals or exceeds base movement speed. In flying zones: Transform into an eagle. Flight speed increased by 500%.] Travel Form was one of the perks of being a druid. Even before the game introduced mounts, druids could enjoy enhanced mobility for free. While other players had to spend gold to learn riding skills and buy mounts, druids could transform and outrun most ground mounts without spending a dime. And this wasn''t limited to just land. With forms for land, sea, and air, druids had unparalleled versatility. For regular players, entering the water reduced movement speed to 40%. Even with the Aquatic Breathing buff, it only increased to 60%. But Ethan''s swimming speed, boosted by Travel Form, remained at 110%, meaning he had to frequently stop and wait for the others to catch up. About 30 meters underwater, Ethan paused by a cave entrance. "This way. Follow me," he directed through the party chat. The group entered the underwater cavern, the narrow path forcing them to swim single file. They encountered countless branching paths along the way, but Ethan scouted ahead at every turn, returning to guide them down the correct route. After nearly ten minutes of navigating the labyrinthine tunnels, they finally emerged into another pond, breaking through a new exit. Ethan gestured for them to wait. Without explaining, he submerged again and swam toward the surface alone. At about three meters from the waterline, he activated [Transform: Panther Form] and entered Stealth Mode before slowly ascending further. The moment he reverted from Panther Form, the game''s breathing timer appeared¡ªa countdown bar indicating how long he could stay underwater without air. Just as the timer reached halfway, Ethan broke through the surface. As soon as his head emerged, he spotted a small campsite near the water''s edge. About fifty players were stationed there. "It''s been almost half an hour. Where the hell are those Renegade Alliance guys?" one player asked irritably. "How should I know?" another snapped. "They probably used their Return Stones already. Combat cooldown expired over twenty minutes ago. If I were them, I''d have done the same," said a player with a bit of common sense. "Exactly. I don''t get why the Guild Leader has us sitting around here. Let''s just go find some low-level players to kill. Way more fun," another chimed in, clearly annoyed. Ethan silently observed the camp. The composition of the group was telling, most of them were priests, with only a few damage-dealers standing guard. Priests, with their slower movement speed, weren''t suited for mobile operations. Their presence here likely meant this was a support unit, stationed to respond to orders and provide backup when needed. Ethan began clearing the area of potential threats, starting with a few rogues lurking in stealth. He even dealt with two druids in panther Form, their stealth rendered useless against him. Thanks to several pieces of gear that enhanced his stealth detection, Ethan could easily spot their faint outlines within five meters. Even without the gear, his level advantage¡ªseven levels higher, meant their stealth was practically ineffective against him. Meanwhile, the rest of his team had crept up just below the water''s surface, hovering less than ten centimeters beneath. Pressed against the pond''s edge, they waited for Ethan''s signal. Even Meatball had summoned his Demonic Guardian, the towering creature poised for action, awaiting orders. Once Ethan confirmed all hidden threats had been eliminated, he typed a single word in the party chat: "Attack." Chapter 57 - 57: Wiped in Three Minutes Four figures sprang into action instantly. Skyblade led the charge, closing the distance to the group gathered by the shore in the blink of an eye. With a shield bash, he floored one of the players in the crowd, following up with a flurry of attacks: Heroic Strike, Death Blow, and Colossus Smash. Each hit landed cleanly, carving away half the warrior''s health in mere seconds. The group had been laughing and exchanging gists, blissfully unaware of the storm about to descend on them. "Whoa, look at DumbAce getting pounded!" someone jeered. "Serves him right. He probably hit on another guildie''s girlfriend!" another chimed in, their tone laced with mockery. But as Skyblade''s relentless assault reduced DumbAce''s health to dangerous levels, one of them finally noticed something was off. "Wait a second... That''s Skyblade from Renegade Alliance!" The name alone was enough to shake them out of their stupor. They immediately drew their weapons in a panic, but it was too late. Skyblade stomped his foot with a thundering roar, unleashing Thunder Stomp, which shook the ground. Lightning crackled outward, immobilizing everyone nearby with a three-second stun. And then it appeared, a towering Demonic Guardian wielding dual greatswords. With an inhuman roar, it charged into the stunned crowd, its devastating Blade Storm sweeping through them. The Demonic Guardian spun in place, its blades carving through flesh and armor with terrifying precision. Players caught within its four-meter reach could only watch helplessly as their health bars plummeted. "Damn it!" Skyblade spat, landing an execution skill on DumbAce that instantly reduced him to zero health. He dropped to the ground, crouching just in time to avoid the spinning blades, the Demonic Guardian''s whirlwind attack slicing through the air above him. Cold sweat ran down Skyblade''s back. If he had hesitated even for a moment, he would have been shredded like minced meat. Not far off, SeraphWarrior had paused mid-charge. Turning to glance behind him, he shouted, "Meatball! Get that damn demon under control before it wipes us all out!" On the shoreline, Meatball, true to his name, bore the appearance of a bloated chicken as he replied through the team chat, "I can''t! I can only command it to attack or retreat. The rest depends on its AI, it''s above my control level! You''ve got to get out of there yourself!" "You¡­" Skyblade began, but before he could finish, SeraphWarrior had already plunged into the fray on the opposite side of the field. Shockwave. Judgement. Leaping Strike. One enemy fell, then another, as SeraphWarrior''s massive greatsword delivered merciless justice. Skyblade gritted his teeth, remembering their earlier wager about who would rack up the most kills. He quickly crawled out of the Demonic Guardian''s Blade Storm range, intent on reclaiming his lead. But just as he prepared to charge, he realized that Meatball''s demon had already stolen six kills in its opening strike. He cursed under his breath. "I''m the vice-leader! How the hell am I being overshadowed by that oversized kid?" Meanwhile, SeraphWarrior had already downed three more enemies, and even Slashblade had managed to snipe one with a combination of Smite and Curse of Agony. Skyblade''s patience snapped. He lunged forward with a Charge, following up with Heroic Strike as he barreled into the melee. His sword glinted with a savage red light as he cleaved through a mage, sending the unfortunate caster flying backward. Without missing a beat, Skyblade chased after the mage''s crumpling form. Death Blow activated, his one-handed sword glowing fiercely as it struck the target mid-air. The mage collapsed on impact, their body dissolving into light. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Skyblade turned toward his next victim, his eyes blazing with ruthless determination. Gone was the carefree, joking player they all knew. Skyblade tore through six, seven enemies in quick succession. His skill rotation was seamless, not a single interruption breaking the flow. He didn''t even bother with basic attacks; every move was calculated to perfection, his cooldown management a masterclass in efficiency. SeraphWarrior was no slouch either. With Crusader Strike, Shockwave, Judgement, and his signature Executioner''s Cleave, he carved through the enemy ranks like a hot knife through butter. Executioner''s Cleave had been his favorite move since their first raid on Zone 1370, where he fell in love with its brutal finality. By chaining the stagger effects of Shockwave and Judgement, each lasting only fractions of a second, he created an opening to land decapitating blows on his enemies. Granted, this trick worked best against poorly equipped opponents. Most of the players here were cloth-wearing classes, easy prey for his blade. Once players started donning full armor sets later in the game, this flashy move would lose its effectiveness. But for now, against newbie players in starter gear? Executioner''s Cleave was a guaranteed one-shot kill. Spells rained down around them, explosions of fire and lightning erupting in bursts of chaos. Yet neither Skyblade nor SeraphWarrior flinched. With their guild''s number one healer, Slashblade, watching their backs, they had nothing to fear. As guild officers, their gear was among the best Renegade Alliance had to offer. Even Meatball, the Warlock, sported high-tier gear thanks to his habit of donating money in exchange for contribution points. Against this weak rabble of Blade Syndicate who were mostly priests, it was a massacre. In moments, over twenty Syndicate players were downed, their bodies scattered across the battlefield. Panic erupted among the survivors. The few priests who hadn''t been killed outright turned and ran, shouting warnings as they fled. "Enemies!" "It''s Renegade Alliance! We can''t win this¡ªRUN!" The camp descended into chaos. At first, Blade Syndicate had fought back, landing enough hits to chip away at the attackers'' health. But with Slashblade''s healing keeping their team alive, and the Syndicate players too busy scrambling to defend themselves, the resistance quickly fell apart. Now, most of them were focused solely on running. Ethan, having shifted into Panther Form, darted around the camp like a predator herding prey. Moving at blinding speed, he intercepted anyone trying to escape, killing them with a single Savage Bite. The sight of one of their own being instantly killed caused even more chaos among the fleeing players. Those in the back had no idea what was happening up front, leading to panicked shoving and collisions. Skyblade and the rest of the team became wolves among a flock of panicked sheep, cutting down anyone in their path. By the end of the battle, Blade Syndicate''s players were completely annihilated. Not a single one dared attempt a corpse revival, too afraid that Renegade Alliance would camp their bodies. Instead, they respawned at the graveyard, enduring the experience reduction penalty as they waited for the killers to leave. It had taken less than three minutes for fifty-seven Syndicate players to be wiped out. The five victors regrouped, their names glowing bright red from the Sin Value they''d accumulated. The bloodthirst in their eyes betrayed how much they''d enjoyed the fight. "Slashblade, did you record it?" Skyblade asked, glancing at the priest, who had stayed back to maintain a full view of the battlefield. "Yeah, I got the whole thing¡­ But¡­" Slashblade trailed off, throwing a sheepish look at Skyblade. Skyblade cut in quickly. "Uh¡­ Boss, when you post the video, could you maybe¡­ blur the part where I was crawling on the ground? Just, you know, for¡­em, image sake." The group burst into laughter. Everyone knew Ethan planned to post the video online. Skyblade, knowing he couldn''t stop him, could only plead for some dignity. "Sure, no problem," Ethan replied with a grin. "Slashblade, send me the video." Chapter 58 - 58: Words vs. Deeds "Blade Syndicate, I don''t care who''s backing you. If you want to play, let''s play big." Ethan opened the official Ethereal forums. Normally, two guilds butting heads was nothing unusual. But this time, things were different. The leader of Renegade Alliance, known as NotADruid, had been dominating the leaderboards since the game''s launch. First kills? He''d claimed nearly all of them. And now, the newly crowned top guild in the Northern Frontier, Blade Syndicate, had decided to pick a fight. It wasn''t just any fight, it was a full-blown guild war. The forums buzzed with chatter. Blade Syndicate''s leader, Marcus Skeiner, had posted a taunting video earlier. It showed off his team''s flashy combat skills, capped with a challenge. The post exploded with comments, holding the top spot on the forum. Ethan clicked the Create Post button. His title was simple and bold: "Renegade Alliance doesn''t rely on numbers. To crush Blade Syndicate, five are enough." He attached a video, followed by a single caption: "Timestamp: 21:43. Kills: 57." Initially, the post was drowned in the flood of forum activity. Barely anyone noticed it. But ten minutes later, curiosity prevailed. It resurfaced, drawing attention for one reason: the poster''s name¡ªNotADruid. That name carried weight. It was the rookie legend everyone had been talking about. The video started with Skyblade charging into battle. His back was turned, but the intensity was palpable. Then came the carnage. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A Warlock''s summoned Demonic Guardian unleashed a Blade Storm, cutting down six enemies in seconds. The Shield Tank flowed effortlessly through combat, each skill landing with pinpoint precision, every enemy move preempted. A Paladin''s basic strikes drove foes into disarray, capitalizing on milliseconds of stagger to deliver devastating executions. The screen flared red as decapitated heads rolled, blood spraying like fireworks. And then there was the black panther. Its every strike was a kill, its damage numbers absurdly high. It appeared and vanished like a shadow, spreading panic in the opposing ranks. In contrast, Blade Syndicate''s players were chaos incarnate. They shoved, scrambled, and collapsed like a herd of panicked sheep. The difference in skill was striking. A particular highlight was the Warlock in glasses, a plump and very young figure. His summoning skills were overwhelming. One Demonic Guardian, two Void Lords, three Succubi, four Hellhounds, and ten Imps. His summons were a literal demon army. But he wasn''t just a summoner. His Destruction Bolt reduced health bars to slivers. Though its casting time left him vulnerable, the power behind it was unmatched. This was the strength of Renegade Alliance. Among the chaos, Ethan stood out in his understated way. Unlike the others, he wasn''t flashy. He didn''t need to be. His panther form tore through enemies like a whirlwind, his kills precise and methodical. No one escaped. And yet, anyone with an eye for combat could tell: this fight''s pace was dictated by the panther. It exploited fear, scattering Blade Syndicate''s formation until they were herded together like cattle. When the dust settled, Blade Syndicate''s 57 players were wiped out in under three minutes, a feat unheard of in Ethereal''s early stages, where gear wasn''t strong enough to dominate so completely. At the center of it all was Ethan, the panther. NotADruid. It seemed to hint at another battle on the horizon. Their five-man performance wasn''t over yet. And then there was the title of Ethan''s post: "Renegade Alliance doesn''t rely on numbers. To crush Blade Syndicate, five are enough." A single sentence, arrogant, bold, and brimming with confidence. It stirred something in people, making their blood pump faster. In no time, Ethan''s post and Marcus Skeiner''s earlier taunt became the hottest topics on the Ethereal forums. Players abandoned their quests and rushed back to safe zones just to refresh the thread, desperate to see how things would end. Ethan''s post wasn''t just a declaration. It was a slap in the face to Blade Syndicate, whose reputation relied on overwhelming numbers. It was like saying: "You like ganging up on smaller groups, huh? Fine. We''ll leave just five of us to deal with you." Everyone knew how this started. Blade Syndicate had picked the fight, killing Renegade Alliance players unprovoked. Skyblade led a counterattack with a few dozen players, wiping out over a hundred from Blade Syndicate. Humiliated, Blade Syndicate retaliated. They rallied over 1,500 members to hunt down Renegade Alliance''s 200. The odds seemed impossible, and many expected a swift end to the fight. But it didn''t end. The battle raged for an entire day. Renegade Alliance lost a few dozen players, but no one knew how many Blade Syndicate had lost in return. While Renegade Alliance members fought and dodged pursuit, Blade Syndicate filled the forums with boasts. They even started spreading rumors about Ethan. The stories were absurd: NotADruid had supposedly been hospitalized after being caught with another man''s wife. Some claimed he''d been hit by a car. The insults and curses were endless. Newer players still stuck in Starter Zones tried to defend Renegade Alliance on the forums, but they were drowned out by Blade Syndicate''s constant trolling. It was impossible to argue with them, these people didn''t think before they spoke. They''d say anything, no matter how ridiculous. Ironically, it was Blade Syndicate''s hate-filled replies that pushed Ethan''s post to the top of the forums. Ethan read through the comments, a cold smile tugging at his lips. ''Keep talking. You''ll be eating your words soon enough.'' The post reignited Renegade Alliance''s morale. They cheered. Even if Ethan did nothing else after this, they wouldn''t blame him. As for those who had left the guild, regret began to creep in. They reached out to old teammates, hoping to smooth things over and rejoin. But the replies they got were far from welcoming. "Piss off!" one particularly fiery former member shot back through a private chat. --- Ethan and his team were already back underwater, navigating through the submerged caves. Ten minutes later, they surfaced in another pond, emerging near a larger camp. As before, Ethan went ahead to eliminate the sentries while Skyblade and the others prepared for the assault. This time, the camp was far larger than the previous one. The enemies weren''t just weak Priest-class players. The camp was packed with 129 enemies, with 34 sentries alone. The numbers were overwhelming. Even with Skyblade''s well-equipped team, they couldn''t ignore such a massive gap. Chapter 59 - 59: God Of Slaughter Ethan couldn''t repeat his previous battle tactic of picking off stragglers from the edges of the fight. This time, to protect his team, he stepped onto the battlefield, targeting anyone who posed a threat. Five minutes later, the chaos was over. Out of 129 enemies, only 11 escaped. Skyblade took down 13. SeraphWarrior eliminated 15. Slashblade snatched three kills. And Meatball surprisingly managed to rack up 24 kills, second only to Ethan himself. Ethan, however, was in a league of his own, slaying a staggering 63 players from the Carnage Faction. His sharp gaze lingered briefly on Meatball, impressed by his performance despite his unassuming appearance. Afterward, Ethan updated his forum post, adding a new video beneath the one he had uploaded earlier. He appended a single sentence: "Time: 22:07. Total kills: 118. Blade Syndicate, show your proof, or your words are nothing but a joke." The forum exploded. As they had expected, this fight wasn''t over. Earlier, after Ethan''s first video, Marcus Skeiner had edited his own post, boasting about taking down 58 members of Renegade Alliance. The implication was clear, he wanted to overshadow Ethan''s achievement. Forum replies poured in, demanding Marcus upload proof. Ethan''s update made his stance equally clear: no proof, no bragging rights. After finishing his post, Ethan glanced at his teammates. Slashblade and the others were busy looting the battlefield, so he joined in, aiming to wrap up quickly and move to the next location. But then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed movement. From the nearby woods, another squad of over 70 Blade Syndicate players emerged, heading straight for them. This was a backup unit, stationed closest to the camp. They had assumed the original 100-plus players stationed here could hold their ground for a while. But as they stepped out of the trees and onto the open plains near the pond, they froze, stunned. This wasn''t what they had expected. It had only been five minutes since they received the distress call. And yet, the camp had been annihilated. The only players left on the battlefield were five from the Renegade Alliance, calmly gathering loot. Their names floated above them, written in a blood-red hue so dark it seemed almost black. The sight was chilling, like a nightmare made real. Ethan moved instantly. Before the enemy could react, he activated Stealth, charging toward the group with blinding speed. If not for his Stealth ability, they would have seen what looked like a streak of black lightning. By the time Ethan reappeared, he was already in their midst. Rake! Blood sprayed across the faces of nearby players. The Priest Ethan ambushed clutched his throat, collapsing lifelessly to the ground. Ethan had learned something during these battles: every skill had hidden techniques that could amplify its effectiveness. In his previous life, he had played as a Rogue, mastering the intricacies of the class''s abilities. But this time, the system, or rather, that nosy old man from had forced him into the Druid class. At first, he thought his Rogue tricks wouldn''t apply to a Druid. But after several fights, Ethan discovered that wasn''t entirely true. Take Rake, for example. When used in Stealth, the skill caused both a stun and a bleed effect. Officially, it wasn''t supposed to deal any direct damage. However, during an earlier fight, Ethan instinctively treated it like a Rogue''s throat-slitting skill. To his surprise, the results were incredible. When he raked his claws across his opponent''s neck, it caused direct damage. A critical hit, no less. Unfortunately, these enemies were so poorly geared that they couldn''t withstand even a single attack. It made it impossible for Ethan to gauge the upper limits of his critical damage potential. Most of these players had between 360 and 400 HP. As damage-dealing classes, they rarely invested stat points into Stamina, relying instead on the two attribute points granted per level to boost their stats. At Level 15, that left them with only about 30 Stamina. And with a standard growth rate of 12 HP per Stamina point, their health pools were laughably small. Ethan, on the other hand, was on a completely different level. Thanks to the Divine Bloodline he''d acquired at the start, his growth rate was 20 HP per Stamina point. His durability was leagues above theirs. After his ambush on the first Priest ended in an instant kill, Ethan faded into Stealth again before anyone could react. Reappearing beside a second Priest, he unleashed a brutal swipe. Squelch. Blood sprayed like a fountain as Ethan''s claws tore through the Priest''s chest, splitting it open with terrifying force. The group of over 70 players froze in horror. This Druid wasn''t just strong, he was downright savage. One moment, Ethan had been dozens of meters away. The next, he was in their midst, delivering two attacks that instantly killed two of their Priests. The first kill was shocking enough, with the Priest''s throat torn open. But the second? It was a scene of pure carnage. The Priest''s chest had been ripped apart, blood drenching everyone nearby. The metallic stench of it filled the air, making their stomachs churn. And then there was Ethan''s red name, glowing ominously above his head, a sign of just how many players he had killed. The fear was palpable. The group instinctively began retreating, shuffling backward as they hurled desperate attacks in Ethan''s direction. A flurry of spells shot toward him, their glowing streaks of light exploding on contact. Boom! Boom! Boom! -1¡­ -1¡­ -1¡­ The damage notifications floated mockingly above Ethan''s head. He was seven levels above them, with multiple pieces of gear enhanced to +30. Their attacks barely scratched him, reduced to the minimum forced damage. Ethan charged headlong into the crowd, ignoring the onslaught of spells and arrows. Like a ferocious panther tearing through a helpless flock, he slaughtered them without mercy. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wherever he passed, players scattered like leaves in the wind, desperate to escape. Due to his Panther Form, Ethan''s movement speed had soared to 140%. There was no way they could outrun him. Ding¡­ [System Notification: Kills have reached 100. You''ve earned the unique achievement title: ''God of Slaughter''!] Ethan''s heart skipped a beat. God of Slaughter? Was this the same title from his previous life? Still in the thick of combat, he quickly brought up the title details. [Title: God of Slaughter (Unique)] Hidden Attribute: Grants freedom to fight with your body, no longer limited by skill constraints. (If the player has already ascended, this attribute increases physical control by 50%.) Description: The mantle of a God of Slaughter demands exceptional Soul Power to wield. Ethan frowned. In his past life, this title hadn''t offered any attributes. What had changed? "Exceptional Soul Power," he muttered. Could it be that the previous titleholder hadn''t had enough Soul Power to unlock its hidden potential? It made sense. Perhaps the Soul Power he had accumulated in this life had finally found its use here. As he pieced it together, Ethan couldn''t help but grin. With this title, his freedom in combat would skyrocket, effectively giving him abilities that should only be available post-ascension. Normally, to gain such combat freedom, players needed to ascend to advanced classes. For example, a Rogue would need to become a Shadow Dancer, freeing their skills from rigid activation requirements and granting the ability to chain moves fluidly, or even create custom combos. But ascension wasn''t easy. Players had to pass multiple trials and complete a Divine-level quest to earn the system''s recognition. And that wasn''t the worst of it. The final step required collecting rare materials, with varying levels of difficulty. The harder the difficulty, the more resources were needed. Of course, that brought another factor into play: wealth. If you were broke? Fine. You could settle for the easiest ascension route. But taking the easiest path meant your post-ascension attributes and rewards would pale in comparison to those who could afford the higher difficulties. Chapter 60 - 60: Predator’s Dance What came after a Druid''s advancement? Ethan had no idea. In his past life, across four years, he had never once heard of a successful Druid class transition. Shrugging off the thought, he equipped his God of Slaughter title and flexed his Panther Form, moving with effortless agility. He shifted between different stances, testing the limits of his body, weaving in and out of movement seamlessly. At one point, he even started messing around. Fighting with moves that shouldn''t even count as attacks. Like now¡ª With a casual flick of his tail, he whipped a player''s legs out from under them. The guy crashed to the ground hard, and somehow took damage. Ethan blinked. ''Wait. That worked?'' Sure, it wasn''t much, but that was just a tail swipe! Chuckling, he finished the poor bastard off with two basic claw strikes. Then, leaping into the air, he landed directly on another player''s shoulders, his hind legs locking around their neck. Before they could react, his claws flashed¡­ Throat slit. The moment he hit the ground, he kicked off with his back legs, sending another enemy flying as they tried to run. His movements were fluid, perfectly instinctual. A true hunter at work. And Ethan? He was feeling himself. But to Slashblade and the others watching? It looked like something else entirely. "That¡­ that''s a Druid?" Skyblade stared, his brain struggling to comprehend what he was seeing. Even Slashblade, normally unshakable, wore an expression of pure disbelief. "Slash, you recording this?" asked SeraphWarrior, eyes locked on the action. "Of course I am," Slashblade muttered. SeraphWarrior exhaled in relief. "Good. Because this is the moment Boss shuts everyone up." People had always mocked him. Called him a bug abuser, a player with zero real skill, relying only on exploits. Now? ''Let''s see what they had to say after this.'' Meanwhile, Meatball practically had stars in his eyes. It was Pure admiration. "¡­Should we help?" Skyblade asked, gripping his weapon. Slashblade scoffed. "Help? Are you blind? Look at him. Boss is having the time of his life." Besides¡ª There were barely any enemies left. And the fact that Slashblade just casually called Ethan ''boss''? Yeah. Skyblade and SeraphWarrior definitely noticed. He wasn''t the type to casually refer to anyone with such honorifics. They exchanged knowing glances, but before either could comment, Slashblade scratched his nose. "What''re you two looking at? Just enjoy the damn show¡ªoh, nice combo! Smooth. Real smooth." And yeah, their attention did snap back to the fight. Because Ethan had switched things up again. Now, he wasn''t just relying on Panther Form. The last remaining Blade Syndicate player had gotten a head start, sprinting away. Ethan transformed mid-run. Night Owl Form. With a flick of his feather, he cast Bramble Bind. He preemptively cast it half a meter in front of the fleeing target. The moment they stepped on it, the vines snapped tight. This guy was smarter than the others. Instead of panicking, he immediately drew his sword and started hacking at the brambles. But Ethan had already shifted back to Panther Form, rapidly closing the distance. And the second the vines were destroyed¡ª Bear Form. The guy barely had time to process it before Ethan charged. Boom! The force of the impact pinned them in place. [Charge] activated! Target immobilized. +15 Rage. Now for the finisher. Swipe. [Maul] activated! The massive bear rose onto its hind legs. Ethan brought both paws down, directly on the player''s skull, bursting his head like a rotten fruit. Blood splattered across his furred chest, streaks of red and yellow painting the coarse hair. He exhaled. Yeah. That felt right. As he suspected, none of his bear skills mentioned dealing direct damage. But if you knew what you were doing? You didn''t need a damage number to kill someone. Just likeSeraphWarrior, who loved decapitating people, Ethan had his own style. And right now? He was just getting started. Ethan was getting the hang of it. And it showed. His excitement was barely contained as he moved effortlessly through the chaos. Minutes later¡ª He edited his third post on the game''s official forums. This time, he added a new video beneath the previous one. With a simple caption: Time: 22:29. Kills: 78 And the Renegade Alliance Five were still going. The numbers kept rising, and every time Ethan updated the post with another kill count and another video. The entire player base was left in shock. "Renegade Alliance¡­ these guys are insane." Was this even real? Players couldn''t forget how Renegade Alliance had declared war the moment they left the Starter Zone. Their first guild battle igniting a server-wide conflict. But after that? Things had been quiet.Until now. Until Blade Syndicate made the mistake of mocking them, assuming Renegade Alliance had gone soft after their guild master disappeared for ten whole days. And then, today happened. The moment NotADruid, the most-renowned rising star of the game, came back online¡­ Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was already level 22. Instantly reclaiming the #1 spot on the level leaderboard. The rumors of cheating spread again, people accused him of using exploits, hacks, hidden mechanics. But then, the videos dropped. And suddenly, the entire forum fell silent. No one spoke. Because what they saw, was something they had never imagined possible A Druid¡­ using what looked like martial arts. A one-man slaughterhouse. People were already blown away when they saw SeraphWarrior''s clean executions in the first video, his flawless decapitations leaving enemies crumpled before they even realized what happened. But then they saw Ethan. And the conversation ended. Because no one could say shit anymore. Meanwhile, Marcus Skeiner was losing his mind. He had taken bribes to slow down Renegade Alliance, confident that Ethan''s 10-day absence had made him irrelevant. In his head, even if Ethan came back, he''d be so far behind that he wouldn''t matter anymore. But reality? Not only was Ethan still on top, he had a 7-level lead over Blade Syndicate''s strongest players. There was a very real chance that, at this moment, Ethan was the highest-leveled player in the world. And that wasn''t even the worst part. Marcus Skeiner couldn''t understand how Ethan''s damage and defense were this high. What kind of gear did he have?! What kind of build was this?! Of course, what Marcus Skeiner didn''t know, was that Ethan''s armor wasn''t even fully equipped. His ridiculous stats came from a few +30 enhanced pieces, nothing more. And now, the five of them had turned this entire war upside down. The moment Ethan posted those videos to the official forums, marcus Skeiner had lost control of the narrative. He had gone from hunter to hunted. And now? He was stuck. If he attacked, he wouldn''t even know where to find them. If he retreated, the humiliation would be permanent. Renegade Alliance would never let him live it down. His entire guild would be labeled as the 1,500-man army that got chased away by just five players. His entire career would be finished. There was only one way forward. Find them. Kill them. Erase this humiliation. Marcus Skeiner clenched his jaw. He issued the order. "Lock down the entire Larson Basin. No one gets in or out." His 7,000 guild members, all called to one place. "I don''t care how strong they are. I don''t care what tricks they pull. With this many people, we''ll turn the whole damn map upside down if we have to. They can''t hide forever. " Meanwhile¡ª Ethan and his team kept striking. With every ambush, the kill count soared. By the time Ethan updated the forums again, the number had reached 570. An entire third of Blade Syndicate''s reported participants had been wiped out. By five players. And the craziest part? Out of those 570 kills, Ethan alone was responsible for over 400. Back at the Starter Zone¡ª The Renegade Alliance recruits were losing their minds. Someone shouted in the guild chat¡ª "What the hell are we doing just standing here?! Guild leader is out there fighting for us, and we''re just sitting here like cowards?!" Another voice cut in¡ª "We have over 200 people there! What are they waiting for? A personal invitation?!" "You guys seriously call yourselves part of this guild?! Guild leader is out there getting revenge for all of us, and you''re just gonna sit here and watch?!" More and more voices joined in. Soon, the entire chat was filled with outraged messages. Chapter 61 - 61: Five Vs Seven Thousand The morale of Renegade Alliance players was at an all-time low. Particularly those in the starter zones, they couldn''t even bear to visit the forums. Occasionally, a few hotheads would try to counter the mocking posts from Blade Syndicate, only to be drowned in insults and ridicule. Even out in the wild while leveling up, they were constantly mocked. "Look, it''s one of those Renegade Alliance guys. Thought they were hotshots, huh? Now they''re just Blade Syndicate''s chew toys!" "Yeah, their guild leader hasn''t even logged in for ten days. Guess he''s abandoned them!" "More like he''s too scared to show his face." The constant jeers left Renegade Alliance players unable to lift their heads in pride. They suppressed their frustration, but the absence of their guild leader made it impossible to stay optimistic. Many began losing hope. That was until Ethan''s first video was released. For the first time in days, the players felt their hearts swell with emotion, some even had tears in their eyes. Their leader was back. Many players who had fought in the legendary Battle of Zone 1370 still held deep feelings for Renegade Alliance. They didn''t want to see their guild become the server''s laughingstock. They only wished they could level up faster and fight alongside their comrades. After watching Ethan''s video, their spirits ignited. Slashblade even posted a guild-wide message, explaining that Blade Syndicate had set a trap in the Larson Basin and that Ethan had decided to face them with just five players instead of risking the entire guild. But even with Slashblade''s message, chaos erupted in the guild chat. The 200 players stationed outside Larson Basin, awaiting orders, clamored to charge back in and fight alongside their leader. Some tried to reason with them, but Ethan and his team had no time to manage the chaos. That''s when Lyla spoke up. "Everyone, calm down. The guild leader ordered you to withdraw because he doesn''t want you to die needlessly. He left us behind for a reason. If you go back in now, you''ll only mess up his plan. Stick to the leader''s orders. Players in the starter zones, focus on leveling up. If the guild leader needs you, he''ll call for you!" Her words silenced the uproar, though many players felt a newfound admiration for her. Still, Lyla wasn''t immune to their enthusiasm. The sheer passion of the guild members moved her deeply. But she knew Ethan well, he always had a plan. It wasn''t her place to stir things up. "Yes, miss! We''ll listen!" "Understood, boss lady! I''m heading back to level up now!" "No worries, we won''t disrupt the plan!" "Where are you, boss lady? Want to grind in the Murky Swamp with us?" The entire guild was well aware of Ethan and Lyla''s relationship. With her taking charge, no one dared disobey. By this time, the Northern Frontier''s three main cities had been activated, and the barrier between starter zones 1 to 2000 had been lifted. For a fee, players could now teleport between starter zones. Lyla had already teleported to Zone 1314, Renegade Alliance''s main base of operations. Everything was more convenient there, especially since many of her close friends had also joined the guild. As for the players who had crossed into Zone 1370 for the earlier war, they''d been sent back to their original zones by the system when their group teleport scrolls expired. Now at Level 10, Lyla saw that the guild chat had quieted down. She gathered her friends to run dungeons and level up. What seemed like a simple guild war had captured the attention of countless players. Many couldn''t resist checking the forums for updates every few minutes. For Renegade Alliance members, it was almost obsessive. After killing just one monster, they''d refresh the homepage to check on the battle''s progress. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They all wanted to know: would Ethan and his team be defeated and forced to respawn? Or would they really manage to destroy Blade Syndicate? Even if Ethan and his team lost, it would still be an honorable defeat. Five players taking on 500? That alone was an unimaginable feat. Under Ethan''s forum post, countless players left comments, many expressing their desire to join Renegade Alliance. "Who wouldn''t want a leader like this?" they wrote. "When you''re bullied, your leader steps up, slaughtering hundreds for you! Isn''t that the kind of leader everyone wants?" --- On the outskirts of Larson Basin, Marcus Skeiner was restless. Annoyed, he grabbed the waist of a female player nearby, eliciting a coquettish gasp from her. Reports kept flooding in about guild members being ambushed and killed. Each notification stoked his irritation. "How many are there?" Marcus snapped. "From what the survivors said¡­ only five." "Five? Five of them killed over 500 of you? And you couldn''t even fall a single one? Useless idiots!" Marcus roared, wishing the number his scouts reported was anything but five. He angrily opened the forums, watching the videos in disbelief. He recognized Skyblade and SeraphWarrior immediately. That black panther? Definitely NotADruid. The one recording? Slashblade, no doubt. As for the chubby guy with glasses, Marcus didn''t know him, but judging by his absurd damage output, he was geared to the teeth. Where did Renegade Alliance even find players like this? Marcus thought. Their equipment was top-tier, their skills practically professional. He glanced at his own guild. Sure, they had numbers, but aside from himself, they didn''t have a single skilled player. If Ethan knew what Marcus was thinking, he''d probably die laughing. Marcus? Skilled? The only place he could claim being a skilled professional was his dreams. --- As Blade Syndicate players flooded Larson Basin, Ethan''s team faced increasingly difficult challenges. Every encounter involved no fewer than 200 enemies, and reinforcements arrived within minutes. In the basin''s depths, Ethan and his team barely had time to grab loot before reinforcements, nearly 400 strong, closed in. "Retreat!" Ethan ordered. They dove into the water, abandoning any hope of looting. Finally, Blade Syndicate figured out where they were emerging from. When Marcus heard the news, he was ecstatic. "Finally, we''ve got them!" He ordered his entire guild to converge on the waterhole within Larson Basin. Everyone who hadn''t been respawned back to the starter zones, and even those who had died once, were summoned back. Slowly but surely, the 7,000 members of Blade Syndicate mobilized. They thought they were moving efficiently, but in reality, these 7,000 headless chickens couldn''t even find the nearest waterhole. Marcus, however, reveled in the feeling of controlling such a massive force. One command from him and thousands swiftly obeyed. Grinning, he pulled the female player closer, his fingers exploring the opening of her dress as he fondled her plump breasts. "Ah¡­ Careful, not so rough." she cooed, her voice carrying an odd accent. "Hah! Let''s see where you run now!" Marcus sneered, convinced of his victory as his grip tightened. Meanwhile, Ethan''s kill count updates continued to roll in on the forums. "Time: 01:12 ¨C 587 kills." "Time: 01:25 ¨C 592 kills." "Time: 01:47 ¨C 601 kills." Although the numbers weren''t as dramatic as before, the steady rise in Blade Syndicate casualties left players stunned. And despite everything, Ethan''s team still hadn''t been wiped out. Around this time, a new post hit the forums, quickly climbing to the top of the trending list: "Ethereal WCC Livestream: Renegade Alliance vs. Blade Syndicate ¨C 5 vs. 7,439. Who will win? Watch now!" Players clicked on it in disbelief. Weren''t there only 1,500 players before? How did it grow to 7,000? The link led to a livestream, not a replay. Chapter 62 - 62: A Desperate Decision The first thing the livestream audience saw was a gorgeous woman holding a microphone. "Hello, everyone! I''m Trina Starr, and standing next to me is a member of Blade Syndicate. Let''s hear what he has to say!" The camera panned to a flashy-looking young man, who struck a pose he probably thought was cool. "Hey, everyone! I''m DumbAce. I can say with absolute confidence that we deployed 7,439 players into the basin. Aside from the 398 still grinding levels in the Starter Zone, the rest are all here." Trina raised an eyebrow at his words. "So, Renegade Alliance only has five players, but you sent in 7,439? Isn''t that a little¡­ embarrassing?" "Embarrassing? Not at all!" DumbAce puffed out his chest. "We have the numbers, we have the strength, what''s there to be ashamed of? Our leader, Marcus Skeiner, always says, Crushing the weak is our pride, and overwhelming force is our greatest asset!''" Trina smiled knowingly. "Interesting. But I heard you''ve already lost over 500 players." DumbAce scoffed. "So what? Losers die. That''s just how it is." "Oh?" Trina''s smirk widened. "But isn''t it true that you were the first one Skyblade took out?" "Yeah, so what? I suck. Big deal!" DumbAce said without a hint of shame. "Even our guild leader, Marcus Skeiner, is a total noob. He''s died more times grinding in the Starter Zone than anyone else!" At that exact moment, Marcus Skeiner was watching the livestream. His face darkened as he heard DumbAce''s words. "Kick that idiot out of the guild!" he roared. Before DumbAce could say another word, the Blade Syndicate logo vanished from under his character''s name. DumbAce froze in shock. Trina smoothly took back the microphone, pushing him out of the frame. Facing the camera, she flashed a professional grin. "Looks like Blade Syndicate just lost one more member. Let''s continue." The broadcast team packed up their gear and left, while DumbAce stood there in the wind, completely lost. As time passed, Ethan''s kill count grew steadily. The numbers weren''t massive, but each one sent ripples of fear through Blade Syndicate. Their casualties kept piling up, while Ethan''s team of five remained completely untouched. Everyone watching was in awe. Five players had pushed a seven-thousand-strong guild to the brink. This wasn''t just impressive, it was legendary. The Blade Syndicate players were terrified. Their nerves were stretched to the breaking point. They had no idea when Ethan and his team would strike next. They were like ghosts in the water. Every time they emerged, another handful of Syndicate members died before anyone could react. Then, before a counterattack could even land, they were gone. At one point, in sheer frustration, Marcus Skeiner gave the order: "Chase them into the water!" That decision alone cost him over a hundred more players. Most drowned. Even with Warlocks in the group, Aquatic Breathing wasn''t a widespread skill, most Warlocks never even bothered learning it because it was almost practically useless. If only a small squad went in after them, they might as well have thrown themselves into a meat grinder. And then there was the cavern system. Ethan and his team moved like they knew every twist and turn, vanishing into tunnels before their pursuers could catch up. Players who followed them in got lost, unable to find their way back out. In the end, most had no choice but to commit suicide and revive back in town. Marcus Skeiner was on the verge of losing his mind. "How the hell do they know these caves so well?! What kind of bullshit is this?!" Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He clenched his fists, staring at the ever-growing list of casualties. If this went on any longer, Ethan and his team would rack up an even higher kill count. They refused to fight fair. They never stuck around long enough to be overwhelmed. Just that one mistake, sending players into the water, had already pushed Ethan''s kill count past seven hundred. If they reached a thousand¡­ The title of The Thousand Slayer would be carved into Ethereal''s history. And that would make Ethan a legend. Meanwhile, Blade Syndicate would become nothing more than a laughingstock. And if that happened¡­ Marcus Skeiner knew his guild wouldn''t survive. No matter how many promises that person made him, none of it would matter if he lost his footing in Ethereal. If things kept going this way, he might have no choice but to pull out. At least he had done what was asked of him, right? Marcus Skeiner clenched his jaw, feeling increasingly uncertain. But what he didn''t know was that at that very moment, Zachary wasn''t even in the game. He was busy venting his frustration on Ivy. "Trash. Trash. TRASH! You Blade Syndicate morons are all useless¡ª" Three seconds later, he climbed off her, completely ignoring the resentment in Ivy''s eyes as he slipped into his VR capsule. Beneath the surface of a secluded pool, Ethan and his four teammates were taking a short break. He had been keeping up with the WCC news reports. Over seven thousand players now? ''Good.'' The real show was about to begin. "You see this tunnel?" Ethan gestured at an underwater passage at the very edge of the basin. "Follow it straight. Don''t take any turns, no matter what. It leads outside the basin." After leading them to the most remote exit point, he sent a message to the team chat. "What about you?" Skyblade asked. Ethan smirked. "Just sit back and enjoy the show. You guys get out of here, or you''ll end up dead, too." With that, he kicked his seal-like body into motion, slicing through the water toward the surface. Skyblade exchanged glances with the others before silently following Ethan''s instructions, vanishing into the cavern system. Now alone, Ethan moved fast. The moment he hit land, he changed to panther from and activated Stealth. The Blade Syndicate players never even noticed him slipping past their encirclement. Ducking low, he moved in a straight line toward the heart of the basin. The highest-level monsters here barely reached level 20, not nearly strong enough to detect him. In theory, staying underwater would have been faster. But the cave tunnels weren''t straight; the winding paths would slow him down. So, he stuck to land. Thirty minutes later, Ethan reached the basin''s center, where the largest lake sprawled out before him. Without hesitation, he leaped in and shifted forms. Transform: Seal Form. He plunged deep, descending for over ten minutes before finally reaching the lakebed. Pressing close to the bottom, he scanned his surroundings. Eventually, near the center, he spotted what he was looking for¡ªan underwater spring. A powerful current surged upward from its depths. Gritting his teeth, Ethan fought against the force, diving straight into the source. The pressure was immense, but after a grueling struggle, he felt his body suddenly lighten. He had arrived. A hidden chamber beneath the lake. And despite being deep underwater¡­ There was no water inside. Ethan stepped forward, glancing around. The space was small, but something about it defied logic, water flowed up the walls, running along the stone as if gravity itself had been flipped. At the top, the streams merged at the very spring he had just come through, then funneled back into the lake above. It was a bizarre, otherworldly sight. As he exited the spring, he realized he was suspended in midair, thirty meters above the ground. Transform: Night Owl Form. Wingbeat! A round-bodied bird flapped its stubby wings and slowly drifted to the chamber floor. The moment his feet touched down, his eyes landed on a Silver-Tiered treasure chest lying right at his feet. Ethan let out a quiet sigh. ''If only I were a Rogue¡­'' This place was rumored to be filled with treasure chests, some of them containing rare artifacts, and at least one holding a Pseudo-Divine Chest. But right now, all he could do was look. The entire underground labyrinth was eerily silent. Shifting into Panther Form, Ethan stalked forward, weaving through the corridors. Every time he stepped into a new chamber, more treasure chests came into view. One gold. Two gold. One dark gold. Two dark gold¡­ He tried to force himself to ignore them, but he couldn''t help counting as he passed. ''Once gold prices drop, I swear I''m coming back here with a bag full of keys.'' Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he came to a stop in front of the Pseudo-Divine Chest. His breath hitched. Chapter 63 - 63: Frostbound Legacy This chest guaranteed a Dark Gold-tier item. If lucky, maybe even a Legendary treasure. And yet, Ethan couldn''t open it. He ran his fingers over the prismatic glow of the chest, reluctant to step away. But there was no choice. He''d have to come back later. Ethan moved through another passageway, the air turning sharp with biting cold. He was getting close. Stepping out of the tunnel, he entered a vast chamber. The ground stretched before him, nearly encased in ice. Right at the passage''s entrance, a crimson orb floated in midair, radiating heat that clashed violently against the surrounding frost. Without it, the entire space would have been a frozen tomb. Below the orb, a circular hole had melted into the ice, where water trickled into an unseen abyss. And in the heart of the chamber, floating above the frozen ground, was a translucent blue longbow. Its entire form shimmered like sculpted ice, a weapon of exquisite craftsmanship. The bow''s graceful arc gleamed under the dim light, its body etched with ancient, intricate runes. A name hovered above it. [Frostbound Reverie] Near the entrance, opposite the bow, was the crimson orb. [Infernal Core] A Legendary weapon and a Divine-tier material. Legendary gear exceeded even Divine-tier equipment in significance. Though the stats might be similar, only weapons and armor once wielded, were granted the title of Legendary. And Frostbound Reverie? It had belonged to The Winter Queen. Once, she had ruled over her own dominion, carrying the solemn duty of maintaining the Cycle of Renewal. It was her sacred mission, to guide the souls of fallen nature spirits, long-forgotten demigods, and the wild gods of old back into the mortal realm. Her domain, Azure Expanse, was revered as a sanctuary, the final resting place for all departed spirits of nature. Unlike the underworlds of other realms, there was no suffering here, only peace. Then came the catastrophe. When Terra and Azure collided, Terra was cast into eternal darkness. Azure Expanse was shattered. With no choice, the Winter Queen led her people and her beloved companion to Azure, seeking refuge. But safety was an illusion. For a thousand years, they waged war against the abyssal horrors that spilled forth from the wreckage of Terra. They carved out a place for themselves on Azure, finally earning a fragile peace. But war was never the true threat. It was humanity. With no more external enemies, Azure''s native inhabitants turned their gaze inward¡ªtoward the Queen and her kind. Their fascination with the Queen''s eternal life soon twisted into an obsession. Scholars and warlords alike sought to uncover the secret of immortality by dissecting her people. And when mere study failed, they took the next step. Using forbidden sorcery, technology, and the remains of eldritch creatures, humanity created a being of unfathomable destruction¡ª [The Infernal Tyrant] They drove the monstrosity into the Queen''s domain, its flames scorching everything in its path. The inhabitants of Azure Expanse perished in droves. The Queen, already weakened by centuries of war, fought back with the last of her strength. With one final arrow, she slew the Infernal Tyrant, and vanished into nothingness. But her companion, driven mad with grief, became a beast of calamity. It unleashed a toxic flood, drowning every last human within a thousand miles. Just as terror reached its peak, the floodwaters mysteriously receded. From that day on, no one dared set foot in the ruined lands. Millennia passed. The world changed. And now, deep beneath the earth, Ethan stood within those very ruins. The Infernal Core before him? The last remnant of the Tyrant''s destruction. And that beautiful bow? The final legacy of the Winter Queen. In his past life, the game''s lore had described this place with a single, haunting line: "Though she perished, the Winter Queen could not bear to let her companion wreak havoc upon the world. With the last of her strength, she sealed it beneath the earth, using the power of Frostbound Reverie." The Infernal Core contained boundless fire toxicity. While it partially weakened the freezing seal, it also neutralized the poison in the water, creating a bizarre, self-sustaining cycle. Two divine artifacts, neither interfering with the other, yet together providing an endless water source. At his current level, Ethan had no way of claiming either. Getting too close to either relic would result in instant, devastating death. But he already had a plan. Transform: Night Owl Form. Wingbeat! When used on the ground, Wingbeat allowed him to hover in place or adjust his movement midair. Perfect for avoiding the lethal frost coating the floor. Skill Activation: Tempest! [Tempest] ¨C Summon wind energy, creating a violent gust that repels enemies within a 5-meter radius, knocking them back 1-10 meters and stunning them for 6 seconds. Usable in any form except human. Cooldown: 30 seconds. A Druid ability, automatically unlocked at level 20. Ethan aimed at the Infernal Core and unleashed Tempest. The crimson orb trembled, then nudged ever so slightly inward. His heart pounded. It moved! Keeping his hovering stance, he waited for the cooldown to reset, then cast Tempest again. Little by little, the Infernal Core drifted closer to Frostbound Reverie. As they neared, their opposing energies clashed, one red, one white, forming a glowing barrier where heat and frost collided. Steam erupted, quickly filling the entire chamber with a dense fog. Ethan kept at it, maintaining his aerial maneuvering while carefully adjusting the relics'' positions. Finally, the gap between them shrank to just 1.5 meters. He flapped his wings, cautiously approaching the narrow space between them. The residual heat from the Infernal Core counterbalanced the frost from Frostbound Reverie. For the first time, the temperature was stable. Safe enough for him to move freely. But Ethan didn''t rush to grab them. Claiming both at once was risky. If he miscalculated¡ªif he touched either artifact at the wrong moment, he''d be obliterated on the spot. So he tested the waters. Edging closer to the Infernal Core, he monitored his health. The initial contact inflicted minimal damage, but the closer he got, the worse it became, eventually hitting 800+ HP per tick when he was just 2 meters away. He gulped down a Medium grade Instant Recovery Potion and a Medium grade Gradual Regen Potion, restoring his HP to full. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then he repeated the process with Frostbound Reverie. At 2 meters away, the damage spiked to 1,200+ HP per tick. Another potion. Another retreat. Two test runs. Over 30 gold burned in potions alone. But being overprepared was a habit from his past life, one that had saved him more times than he could count. At this point, he only had one High-Grade Instant Recovery Potion and two Medium Gradual Regen Potions left. His current max HP? 2,200. But in Bear Form? That shot up to 5,500. More importantly, he''d heard a rumor in his past life. During transformation, there was a 0.1-second invulnerability window. Was it true? He had no idea. But there was no time for doubt. Positioning himself at the neutral zone between the relics, Ethan took a deep breath. The moment he grabbed them, he''d take a direct hit. No way around it. But with 5,500 HP and a 2.5-meter reach, he just needed to touch them both. ''If I die but manage to store them in my inventory¡ªit''s worth it.'' Items in his bag wouldn''t drop on death. At worst, he''d lose the Wishbound Relic, but he could always come back and retrieve it. Besides, the water''s toxicity? He could deal with that. He had plenty of antidotes. And right now, he had money to burn. Ethan clenched his jaw. No turning back now. Transform: Bear Form! Chapter 64 - 64: The Awakening Two opposing forces struck Ethan from both sides¡ª Boom! His Bear Form nearly collapsed under the pressure, his massive frame feeling like it was about to be crushed. -3,289! -2,192! Collect! Ding¡­ [System Notification: You have obtained Frostbound Reverie x1.] Ding¡­ [System Notification: You have obtained Infernal Core x1.] At the same time, two massive damage values floated above Ethan''s head. His health bar vanished in an instant. For a brief moment, he swore his soul was about to float away with those numbers. He had expected to die for this, sure, but actually seeing his HP plummet like that? His heart nearly gave out. When his vision stabilized, he saw a single number remaining. 19 HP. Nineteen. His stomach dropped. Without hesitation, Ethan pulled out his High-Grade Instant Recovery Potion. A single bottle of this stuff cost 50 gold in stores. Did he care? Not even a little. He chugged it down instantly. Beneath his feet, the once-lethal frost had melted into ordinary ice¡ªharmless, but rapidly turning into water. The water level was rising fast. No hesitation. Transform: Panther Form! He bolted. Only an idiot would stay here. Something else was still lurking below. Just as Ethan dashed into the Hidden Chamber, a deafening boom erupted behind him, followed by a scream of pure rage. "You wretched humans! I''ll tear you apart!" Ethan did not look back. Nope. Instead, he sprinted even faster, heading straight for the exit. Behind him, the sound of rushing water roared through the tunnels, closing in. The flood surged violently, slamming into the chamber walls with terrifying force. Thank god he ran early. If he had hesitated for even a second, he''d be part of that flood. Because the Winter Queen''s companion wasn''t just a pet. It was a dragon. A monstrous, dual-element beast of water and poison, her most trusted steed. But after her death, it had succumbed to corruption, transforming into an unstoppable nightmare. For ten thousand years, it had been locked away. But now, It was free. And it was furious. Ethan barely had time to process this as he reached the entry chamber, spotting a stone outcrop near the wall. He dove for cover just as the first wave of floodwater slammed into the room. BOOM! The impact shook the entire chamber. If he hadn''t found shelter? He''d be nothing but a splat mark on the wall. As the first surge passed, Ethan felt cold water engulf him. He immediately transformed. Transform: Seal Form! Kicking off, he swam upward, breaking through the turbulent current. As he surfaced, he caught sight of his escape route, the underground spring where all this water was pouring out. All he had to do was wait for the water level to rise high enough¡ªthen slip through. Within seconds, the rising flood had carried him toward the ceiling. From 20 meters below the top, to 3 meters in just two breaths. And then¡ª Ethan saw it. A dark green haze swirling into the water. Poison. The entire water supply was being contaminated. His instincts screamed at him¡ªMOVE. He had only about ten meters before the toxin reached him. And only half a meter before hitting the ceiling. Ethan exhaled sharply, diving for momentum before launching straight up. Swoosh! He broke through the surface, shooting into the spring''s opening. Ethan swam upward, pushing against the flow. The same force that had slowed him earlier now aided his escape. His small Seal Form rocketed through the narrow passage like a torpedo, reaching the lakebed above. But just as he emerged, a massive force exploded from below. Before he could react, he was launched upward. The sheer momentum hurled him toward the lake''s surface, his body completely out of control. And at that exact moment¡ª The players from Blade Syndicate, still searching for him above, felt the ground begin to quake. The ground trembled violently. For a moment, it felt like an earthquake. Players panicked. "Wait, earthquakes exist in this game?!" Then, they saw it. A massive pillar of water erupted from the center of the basin, shooting straight into the sky, nearly a kilometer high. Moments later, every pool of water in the basin followed suit, geysers bursting upward like synchronized fountains. The sight was breathtaking and terrifying. "What the hell is that?!" It wasn''t just Blade Syndicate that was stunned. The sheer size of the central water column made it visible from miles away. Every player in the region stopped what they were doing, their only thought¡ªWhat just happened? Meanwhile¡­ At the very top of that kilometer-high water column¡ª Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan. When the pressure launched him into the air, he continued rising another hundred meters before reaching the peak of his ascent. The moment he felt gravity kick in¡ª Transform: Night Owl Form! Wingbeat! ''God, I love this skill.'' At first, he had dismissed it as a cute little flapping move, but it had saved his life so many times. There was no way in hell he was falling straight back down into that poison-infested water. Below, the once-clear water had turned murky green, a lethal mix of toxicity and death. And Ethan? He had zero antidotes left. No resistance potions. No purification spells. One dip in that water, and he was done. So, he made a different choice¡­ Glide. With controlled movements, he maneuvered away from the poisoned basin, smoothly drifting toward the outer edge. From his aerial vantage point, he could see everything. Players scattering in terror, their tiny figures frantically sprinting for their lives. Some made it. Most didn''t. The poison spread too fast. As he activated Wingbeat, Ethan also activated his recording function. Every second of this massacre was captured. Slowly descending, he reached the outer perimeter of the basin. Here, the terrain was higher, meaning the poison hadn''t reached it yet. Now just under 100 meters from the ground, he surveyed the scene below. And that''s when he saw them. A group of over 400 Blade Syndicate players, gathered around a makeshift command platform. On it, a single man, surrounded by women. Ethan narrowed his eyes. ''Son of a bitch.'' The bastard who had been commanding the hunt for him, Sitting comfortably, enjoying himself, while his guild was dying in agony. Ethan clenched his jaw. That man? Marcus Skeiner, the guild master of Blade Syndicate. Marcus Skeiner''s gaze remained locked on the basin, his expression twisting in horror. Seven thousand of his guild members, drowning, poisoned, dying. He watched their desperate struggles, their bodies floating to the surface one by one. A total wipeout. Where had this water even come from?! And why the hell was it poisoned?! Panic clawed at his mind. ''How the hell am I supposed to recover from this?!'' Seven thousand deaths, each member losing one level and one piece of equipment. How was he supposed to compensate that?! First thought? He won''t pay them back. Second thought? If he didn''t, they''ll riot. Even with all the bribes he''d taken, it wasn''t enough to cover the losses. His legs gave out, and he collapsed into his chair. Then¡ª "Look! Up there!" A player pointed toward the sky. A fat bird was descending slowly toward the cliffs. All eyes turned. Marcus Skeiner followed their gaze¡ª And saw Ethan. Ethan landed on a high ridge, standing above them all. With 400 Blade Syndicate players watching, he shifted back to human form. He raised his hand, and pointed directly at Marcus Skeiner. Then¡ª Thumbs down. A slow, deliberate motion. Before he ran his finger across his throat. A declaration of war. And a promise. ''This fight ends here.'' Silence prevailed. Then¡ª "That''s Renegade Alliance''s guild leader!" The words hit Marcus Skeiner like a slap to the face. His rage boiled over. "KILL HIM!" His face contorted with fury, veins bulging as he screamed. Did that bastard actually think that he could take him on? With 400 people against him?! ''You arrogant son of a¡ª!'' "GO!" The Blade Syndicate players charged toward Ethan, only to blink in confusion. Because, he was gone. One second he was there, the next? The ridge was empty. "Protect Guild leader! Priests, use Illumination! Find him!" One of Marcus Skeiner subordinates snapped into action. Immediately, the remaining players rushed to form a protective circle around him. Chapter 65 - 65: Unbreakable? Think Again Everyone had lost sight of Ethan. In his panther form, he moved like a black phantom, vanishing without a trace. The priests in the area cast Radiant Illumination, bathing the platform and its surroundings in light with no blind spots. Still, there was no sign of him. Where was he? "Knights with True Sight skills, find him for me!" Marcus Skeiner bellowed from the platform. Among the 400 players present, only three knights possessed the skill. At Marcus'' command, their eyes glimmered with a golden glow, scanning the area. They looked around, their gazes sharp and focused, but even with True Sight, Ethan remained undetected. Normally, such a skill should reveal someone in stealth, or at least leave a trace. Unless Ethan''s stealth level vastly exceeded their detection range. While the knights were focused on the front, one of them suddenly turned his head. A faint shadow, like a wisp of lightning, darted through the air. "There he is!" the knight shouted. Everyone spun around. This time, Ethan, caught in the golden light of True Sight, appeared as a blurred, almost transparent figure. How was he so fast? A hundred meters in just six or seven seconds? That kind of speed was unheard of. In Ethereal, the standard running speed was 9 meters per second, meaning 100 meters should take at least 12 seconds, especially since stealth reduced movement speed by 50%. How was Ethan this quick? But Ethan''s panther form gave him a 140% movement speed boost, and even in stealth, he retained 90% of that speed. Additionally, as someone who had spent his past life constantly running for survival, Ethan''s inventory was always stocked with essential escape tools. He had three Speed Scrolls, worth ten gold coins each, which granted a 60% movement speed boost. He even carried two Size Reduction Scrolls, a rarely used item that halved his size for better mobility. In Ethereal, once player-run shops opened, the system stopped selling certain items. Essentials like these scrolls would either disappear or be sold at exorbitant prices by players. Back then, a scroll that cost ten gold coins early on could fetch thousands, or even tens of thousands of gold later, depending on demand and material costs. If the system hadn''t imposed purchase limits, Ethan might''ve stockpiled scrolls just to resell them at a higher price later. As Marcus'' squad moved sluggishly to execute their anti-stealth strategy, Ethan activated a Speed Scroll. Before their skills could even begin to take effect, Ethan had already slipped behind their formation with ease. Though the priests'' Radiant Illumination eventually covered every angle, their casting was staggered, leaving brief gaps. Ethan weaved through them with quick leaps and rolls, reaching the platform below. By the time the knights activated True Sight, Ethan was already standing on the platform. Now, only a few scantily-clad women stood between Ethan and Marcus. In black panther form, he grinned, his sharp teeth gleaming like polished ivory under the light, exuding a predatory, bloodthirsty aura. The women screamed in unison, scrambling down from the platform in terror. Players from Marcus'' guild surged forward to defend their leader, but collided with the fleeing women. Chaos erupted as both groups tangled together, tumbling to the ground. In the confusion, some players "accidentally" tripped, falling onto the women and seizing the opportunity to grope them, sparking another round of panicked shrieks. Meanwhile, Marcus raised his shield, unfazed by the chaos below. "The so-called Newbie King,'' huh? I''ve heard your attack power''s impressive. Let''s see if you can break through my defense!" Ethan didn''t bother responding. Without a word, he vanished into stealth again. In the split second it took Marcus to brace his shield, Ethan reappeared behind him. Rake! Marcus froze, stunned, and a Bleed effect began draining his health. Ethan prepared to follow up with Shred. But Marcus twitched, recovering slightly, and spun around with a sudden shield bash. ''So, he has a crowd-control removal skill,'' Ethan thought. Not that it was surprising. As the leader of Blade Syndicate, Marcus Skeiner would obviously have access to the best resources. Without them, he''d never have earned the title of Harmony City''s top guild master. Ethan shifted into bear form, gaining 10 Rage upon transformation. He cast Maul! A skill requiring 10 Rage points. The massive bear reared up, slamming one paw against Marcus'' shield with explosive force. BAM! Marcus stumbled back three steps. Meanwhile, Ethan''s bear form barely wavered. -31, -44! In just one second of combat, Marcus had only taken bleed damage from Ethan''s Rake and the True Damage effect on Ethan''s weapon. Seeing the damage numbers, Ethan thought grimly, His defense is insanely high. Without my Divine Ability [Focus], I might not have been able to break through at all. The moment Marcus took his first step back, Ethan shifted into owl form. Without missing a beat, he unleashed two debuff spells in quick succession: Sunburn and Moonfire. -31, -44! -1, -44! -1, -44! Three sets of damage numbers hovered over Marcus'' head. As Marcus took his third step back, Ethan shifted back into panther form, darting to his side. Shred! Marcus steadied himself and swung his shield into position just in time. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clang! The sound of metal rang out as the shield successfully blocked Ethan''s attack. -1, -44! The shield reduced incoming damage by 30%, leaving Ethan frustrated. His attack power was close to 600, and with Shred and his Divine Talent bonuses, his skill damage was tripled, amounting to roughly 1,800. Yet Marcus'' shield reduced it to nearly nothing, forcing a measly one-point deduction alongside bleed damage. ''This guy''s defense is ridiculous. He''s the perfect example of a tank, a shield warrior with insane gear. Looks like I need an upgrade soon,'' Ethan thought. This was the first time in this life that he hadn''t instantly taken down an opponent. Even as he analyzed the situation, Ethan brushed past Marcus, only to whip around mid-motion. His tail lashed out, striking Marcus'' ankle. It wasn''t a skill, just a move Ethan improvised, aided by his unique God of Slaughter title. The tail swipe threw Marcus off balance, and before he could recover, Ethan''s panther form darted behind him. With a powerful kick from his hind legs, Ethan sent Marcus'' staggering body into the air. Ethan flipped back, his claws gleaming. Shred! His claws raked down Marcus'' back, a perfect, clean hit. There was no shield to block, no parry, no evasion. -546, -44! Two massive damage numbers appeared above Marcus, followed by ongoing debuff effects and the consistent drain from True Damage. Marcus'' health bar dropped by one-sixth in an instant. The realization hit Ethan like a freight train: This guy has close to 4,000 HP! "Priests, heal me!" Marcus roared into the guild''s command channel. "Boss, you''re on the platform, and it''s blocking our line of sight. We can''t reach you," a priest replied. At that moment, the priest''s hands weren''t on his staff, they were busy wandering over one of the fallen women. "Damn it! What are you all doing down there? Get up here and kill him already!" Marcus bellowed in frustration. Ethan''s 500+ damage burst, coupled with his relentless maneuvers, had pushed him to the brink. "Uh¡­" The Blade Syndicate players, who were still busy groping and molesting the women below, finally seemed to realise that their leader was in serious trouble. Chapter 66 - 66: The Fall of Blade Syndicate The players from Blade Syndicate reluctantly pulled themselves away from the women and rushed back toward the platform. During the brief moment Marcus Skeiner was still in mid-air, Ethan followed up with three Shred attacks to his back. The last Shred was a critical hit. -989! A red critical damage number floated above Marcus. By the time Marcus hit the ground, his health had dropped to a quarter, just over 1,000 points. Clutching a potion in his hand, he was about to chug it down. Ethan noticed the priests rushing up from below and the potion in Marcus'' hand. He calculated quickly: ''If he drinks that potion and holds out until the priests reach him, killing him will be nearly impossible. High-defense shield warriors with elite gear are a nightmare to deal with.'' The decision took only a moment. Ethan shifted into bear form. Slam! The bear form''s crowd-control skill stunned Marcus for three seconds, enough time to end this. ''There''s no way he has a second crowd-control removal skill,'' Ethan thought. Bam! Just as he expected, Marcus was stunned on the spot. His hand, holding the potion, froze just a centimeter from his lips. ''This is it¡­ It''s over. Time to die,'' Ethan thought grimly. Shifting back into panther form, he used a Five-Star Savage Bite. Ethan adjusted his angle carefully, aiming for the middle of Marcus'' throat. Crunch! -2698! (including 1458 overkill damage). Completion: Perfect. With a loud clang, Marcus'' shield fell from his hand, crashing to the ground. Ethan snatched the shield up, activated stealth, and leapt off the platform. His passive ability, Panther''s Grace, triggered, allowing him to land without taking any damage. By the time Blade Syndicate''s players crowded onto the platform, Ethan had already disappeared. All that remained was Marcus'' lifeless body. Marcus, now in his ghostly form, was furiously screaming in the guild chat. Meanwhile, Ethan opened the guild chat for Renegade Alliance and sent a single message: "Attack!" He had already contacted Skyblade and the others while descending from the platform, instructing them to gather their forces and close in. Now, over 200 Renegade Alliance players had formed a circle around the area. With Marcus dead, the battle was as good as over. The remaining 400 Blade Syndicate players were left to the guild. Ethan figured they could use this as a chance to vent their pent-up frustrations. As the Blade Syndicate players reached the platform and stood frozen in shock, a deafening battle cry echoed from the distance. Over 200 Renegade Alliance players charged in with unrelenting ferocity, like a blade piercing through the enemy formation, tearing their lines apart. While the numbers, 400 versus 200, might have been close enough for a fair fight, the events leading up to this had already broken the Blade Syndicate''s morale. First, their 7,000-strong force had been wiped out. Then, their leader Marcus was killed in a one-on-one duel. With their leader gone and their spirits crushed, the Blade Syndicate players had no will to fight. Despite outnumbering their opponents two-to-one, their only thought was to run. In a matter of thirty seconds, the battle turned into a one-sided slaughter. The 400 remaining Blade Syndicate players were wiped out. Ethan climbed back onto the platform, beckoning Skyblade, Slashblade, SeraphWarrior, and Meatball to join him. "Let''s take a group photo," Ethan suggested. "Hell yeah!" Skyblade said enthusiastically. "Everyone, put on your guild emblems and turn off your character names. Line up for a group shot!" Ethan shouted to the players below. A few minutes later, Ethan''s post went live. The first video was a top-down view of the battlefield, showing Ethan''s tactical movements. The caption read: "Time: 05:25 ¨C Blade Syndicate, 7,000+ players annihilated!" The second clip was from Ethan''s perspective, featuring his duel with Marcus Skeiner. The caption read: "Time: 05:31 ¨C Marcus Skeiner defeated!" The final video showed 200 Renegade Alliance players massacring 400 Blade Syndicate members. The caption read: "Time: 05:33 ¨C Blade Syndicate, 400+ players obliterated!" The final image in Ethan''s post was the group photo. The five of them stood at the edge of the platform, their names glowing a sinister black-red, like congealed blood, as they flashed harmless-looking smiles. Below them, over 200 Renegade Alliance players raised their weapons, roaring in unison. Their mouths clearly formed a single word: "Kill!" After Ethan updated the official forums, players across the server learned the shocking truth: the toxic water that had flooded the entire basin and wiped out 7,000 Blade Syndicate players? That was all his doing. A single act of mass destruction. Terrifying. Then there was his duel with Marcus Skeiner. His fluid, precise movements and masterful control had left everyone in awe. Who would dare claim now that the title of Newbie King was just a fluke or the result of exploiting bugs and cheats? Such flawless combos and lightning-fast reactions, how many could even come close to matching him? And yet, some were equally stunned that Marcus had managed to survive several rounds against Ethan''s relentless assault. Adding fuel to the frenzy, the WCC live stream had captured the entire battle between Ethan and Marcus from start to finish, in high-definition panoramic glory. While most players were still glued to their screens, replaying the videos in shock, Ethan stood silently at the edge of the high ground, staring at the now-still waters below. Something''s not right¡­ This isn''t how it happened in my previous life. In his past life, the player who triggered the event with the two divine artifacts had been a Level 180 rogue. Back then, the toxic water had spread far beyond the basin, covering over ten kilometers. It was then that a terrifying dual-element dragon had descended, annihilating countless villages and towns. That event had forced countless top-tier guilds to mobilize tens of thousands of players. After suffering massive losses, they''d finally managed to bring down the dragon. But now? This time, it was eerily quiet. The toxic water had stopped rising. And the water¡­ Ethan squinted. Its color was clear, crystalline. The toxins were gone. Ethan inspected the scene more closely, trying to figure out what was different. Could it be¡­? His thoughts were interrupted by Skyblade, who stood beside him, enthusiastically recounting his past exploits to the team, talking endlessly without pause. Suddenly, Ethan lifted his leg and kicked him. "What you don''t understand is, back then, I¡ªwhoa!" Skyblade''s story was cut short as he tumbled off the platform. Splash! The abrupt kick sent Skyblade spinning uncontrollably into the water below. Everyone froze. Wasn''t this water supposed to be toxic? Falling in meant certain death! Ethan casually called out, "Hey, how''s the water? Still poisonous?" Skyblade surfaced, coughing and sputtering. The moment his head popped above the surface, he heard Ethan''s question. "It''s¡­ it''s not toxic!" he blurted out, stunned. Then, shouting furiously, he added, "Who the hell kicked me in?!" Skyblade hadn''t even seen Ethan''s kick coming. Now, still flailing in the water, he yelled in frustration. Ethan ignored him, scanning the horizon. The massive boss dragon he''d expected still hadn''t appeared. Could it have gotten lost? Or maybe it didn''t spawn at all? Ethan wondered, his brow furrowed. The players around him stared, dumbfounded. Was this really the same guild leader known for his cold precision and deadly efficiency? The silent killer who left no survivors? "Split into teams and assign a warlock with the Aquatic Breathing skill to each group! Start looting the water for gear!" Ethan shouted, his eyes sparkling with excitement at the thought of all the equipment waiting below. Hearing this, the Renegade Alliance players snapped out of their stupor. After a second''s hesitation, excitement spread like wildfire. Teams formed quickly, diving into the water. Some warlocks, lacking the skill, rushed back to the city to purchase Aquatic Breathing spellbooks and learn the skill on the spot. The guild''s players worked like a well-oiled machine. Red-named players were tasked with diving and retrieving the gear, while those without red names shuttled the recovered equipment back to the city. Ethan assigned Slashblade and two other trustworthy players as temporary officers. Their job was to oversee the transportation of the looted gear to the guild vault. As for Ethan and the other red-named players, they couldn''t risk entering the city. At first, Ethan worried that Blade Syndicate might retaliate. But after some time passed, he noticed that their players had completely disappeared, no sign of them anywhere. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Relaxing, he handed the high-tier shield Marcus had dropped to Skyblade. Now, free of immediate threats, Ethan decided it was time to find a good spot to grind mobs and clear his red name status. Chapter 67 - 67: High School Flashback Ethan lingered for a while longer, his eyes scanning the area. No sign of Blade Syndicate, not even a scout. Everything was already in place, with Skyblade and the others handling things. Ethan didn''t need to concern himself further. He left the area alone, planning to find a spot to farm monsters and grind out some experience. More importantly, he needed to clear his red-named status. Opening his stats panel, his eyes locked on the Sin Value section, which now displayed a glaring "Max!" "What the hell does that even mean?" Ethan muttered, baffled. Was it maxed out? How long would it take to clear this? For a brief moment, despair crept into his heart. He glanced at the time, it was already past six in the morning. Frustrated by the thought of grinding for hours, Ethan logged out of the game. It was time to work out anyway. Leaving the villa, Ethan began jogging down the quiet streets of Eastwood Manor. It didn''t take long before he spotted a gym just a few blocks away. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, he noticed a surprising number of people already working out, even this early in the morning. By 2024, fitness had become a national trend in America. For the past three years, practically everyone had embraced exercise as part of their daily lives. High schools had added physical training to their curriculum, and by the time students graduated, physical fitness scores carried significant weight in college admissions. In universities, martial arts and combat techniques were mandatory courses, carrying more credit weight than academic subjects. Without passing these courses, you couldn''t even graduate. This boom in fitness culture had turned gyms, martial arts schools, and combat academies into thriving businesses. Ten years ago, gyms were rare, and combat schools were practically nonexistent in urban areas. But now, almost every neighborhood had multiple gyms competing for members, and at least one martial arts or combat studio on every street. With advances in technology reducing work hours, people had more free time, and hitting the gym became the go-to pastime. Knowing a few combat moves wasn''t just trendy, it earned you respect. For young men, showing off some martial skills made socializing, especially with women, much easier. And for those looking to meet someone, gyms were often filled with stunningly fit individuals, making them ideal spots. In his previous life, Ethan never had the chance to set foot in such places. Although they were widespread, memberships were ridiculously expensive. Before Ethereal''s launch, he had been a struggling orphan, barely able to scrape together two meals a day. His frail body had always held him back in school fitness courses, let alone in high-end gyms where he would''ve been out of place and humiliated. When Ethereal launched, he had a brief taste of glory. But within six months, it all crumbled. His legs were taken from him in a cruel betrayal, plunging him into a deeper abyss. Self-care became a daily struggle, and by the time of his rebirth, he had survived solely by earning a meager living through Ethereal. Now, standing in front of the gym, Ethan paused, realization dawning. He hadn''t tested his strength in ages. Approaching the gym entrance, he noticed a small sign taped to the door: "For Sale." He shrugged it off. For sale didn''t mean closed. He pushed open the door and stepped inside. The interior was impressive, with state-of-the-art equipment neatly arranged. It was far better equipped than anything he''d seen at his old school. "Two hours, please," Ethan said, pulling out a hundred dollars and placing it on the front counter. He hadn''t even glanced at the person behind the desk, his eyes busy taking in the gym''s impressive layout. "Ethan?" Hearing someone call his name, he turned toward the counter, his brow furrowing. The woman standing there stared at him with a mix of surprise and smugness. For a moment, Ethan couldn''t place her. But then, recognition flickered in his mind. "Jade Taylor?" Ethan ventured hesitantly, unsure. The heavy makeup made it difficult to be certain, but the face seemed familiar. Her exaggerated expression morphed into a teasing smirk. "Oh, so now you''re pretending we just happened to bump into each other?" she sneered, crossing her arms and leaning forward. Jade Taylor, Ethan''s old high school classmate. She had always been somewhat attractive, with smooth cheeks, long eyeliner flicking up at the corners, and delicately arched brows. Her eyes, in particular, were mesmerizing. If she didn''t speak and people didn''t know her true nature, many would be captivated by her at first glance. Back in high school, she was even called the school''s second-most beautiful girl. But adding Ethan''s previous life to his current one, he was now effectively five years older than her. His perspective had naturally shifted. If it came to makeup, Jade didn''t hold a candle to Ivy. And without makeup, she was leagues away from Lyla. Lyla was effortlessly stunning, the kind of beauty who could outshine everyone even in a massive university. Compared to her, the title of ''second most beautiful girl'' in a small high school seemed utterly insignificant. After high school, Ethan had heard Jade didn''t go to college but jumped straight into the workforce. It wasn''t surprising, given her behavior during high school. She had spent most of her time hanging out with thugs, skipping class, or outright ditching school. Getting into college would''ve been a pipe dream for her. The only reason she even graduated high school was because her family had money. Rumor had it her parents had bribed the principal to keep her enrolled. But right before the college entrance exams, her family went bankrupt. After that, she disappeared from school entirely. "I said, give me two hours," Ethan repeated, his tone cold as his eyes flicked over Jade. He hadn''t expected to find her working here, of all places. He genuinely disliked her. Ethan rarely hated people outright, but Jade might have been the exception. Even Zachary and Ivy, he didn''t hate them; he resented them. But Jade? She was different. That hatred stemmed from something that happened years ago, during his first year of high school. At the time, Ethan had developed a crush on a quiet, studious Asian girl named Rainie Chen. There was something about her reserved demeanor that reminded him of Lyla. Like any teenager with a newfound infatuation, Ethan had written a love letter. But before he could summon the courage to give it to her, the letter, tucked away in his desk, somehow ended up in Jade''s hands. The timing was painfully ironic, Jade had been sitting a row behind Rainie in class, and someone had mistakenly assumed the letter was meant for her, despite the fact that Ethan had started it with, "Rain¡­" which he felt was quite a poetic opening, as it matched Rainie''s name. Jade, however, took the letter and went around telling everyone that Ethan had a crush on her. Worse, she made a huge scene, publicly "rejecting" him in the most humiliating way possible. She had mocked him relentlessly, calling him a parentless stray and saying he was like a dog, biting more than he could chew. That incident left a scar on Ethan, one he carried through all three years of high school. He couldn''t shake the embarrassment, and it showed in his grades, which remained mediocre throughout. Thankfully, Ethan still managed to scrape into college. Jade, however, vanished after their graduation. Ethan had tried to find her a few times, but not out of any sense of closure. It was because she had stolen something precious from him. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A bracelet, a simple one that Ethan always carried. It had been too small for his wrist, so he usually kept it in his pocket. One day, he left his jacket in the classroom to use the bathroom. When he returned, the bracelet was gone. Some classmates said they''d seen Jade rummaging through his things. Chapter 68 - 68: Resurgence That bracelet¡­ Ethan hadn''t thought about it in years. Lyla had given it to him during their time in the hospital together. He''d been six years old then and had treated it as his most cherished possession ever since. But today, seeing Jade Taylor again, the memory of the bracelet resurfaced, sharp and unexpected. After reuniting with Lyla, she hadn''t mentioned it, perhaps because she''d forgotten about it entirely. --- "Ethan, I heard you were looking for me after graduation? What for? Still can''t let go after all these years?" Jade''s voice was sharp, each word slicing through the air. "I told you back in high school, don''t waste your time chasing after me. Just look at you, a broke loser trying to hit the gym. Where''d you even scrounge up the money for this? Found it in a trash can?" She scoffed, ignoring the crumpled bills Ethan had placed on the counter. Her questions came rapid-fire, giving him no chance to respond. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, another girl approached, tugging at Jade''s arm. She whispered something quickly, her tone more cautious. "Jade, who is this? No matter who he is, he''s still a customer. Maybe tone it down a bit?" The girl then turned to Ethan, offering him a polite smile. Picking up the sweaty, slightly damp cash he''d placed on the counter, she hesitated briefly, her gaze flicking to him with mild curiosity. Ethan had stuffed the money into his pocket before running here, the dampness a mix of sweat and nerves. Though he''d worn a small belt bag during his jog, old habits had him instinctively reach for his pants pocket. "Quinn!" Jade hissed, grabbing the girl''s arm to stop her. Her intent was clear¡ªdon''t process his payment. Quinn patted Jade''s shoulder dismissively. "Relax, will you?" With practiced efficiency, she swiped a card through the reader, entered a few details on the computer, and handed a gym access card to Ethan. "You''ve got two hours. Enjoy your time here." Ethan accepted the card with a smile. "Thanks." Jade opened her mouth, clearly ready to say something else, but Ethan was already walking away. Her words died in her throat, and she could only glare at his back. Seconds later, she muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Ethan to hear, "An orphan, a stray without a family, acting like he belongs here. What a joke¡­" Those words¡­ the same cutting remarks she''d made years ago in front of everyone. Ethan felt a flicker of anger. The old him, hot-headed and impulsive, would have stormed back to confront her, maybe even slap her across the face. But he wasn''t that teenager anymore. Four years of hardship had tempered him. He turned back toward the counter, his expression calm as he addressed Quinn. "Excuse me. Is your manager here?" Quinn froze for a moment, thinking Ethan was about to lodge a complaint against Jade. She immediately tried to diffuse the situation. "Sir, I''m sorry. Jade usually isn''t like this¡­" Ethan raised a hand, cutting her off. "Don''t worry. I''m not here to complain." Quinn hesitated, then glanced at Jade with a sigh before picking up the desk intercom. Moments later, a muscular man descended from the upstairs office. His well-defined physique hinted at years of dedicated training, making Ethan painfully aware of his own scrawny build. He felt out of place standing there, with his thin arms and legs. The man approached, his steps confident. "Good evening, sir. I''m Todd. Is there something I can help you with?" Todd exchanged a quick glance with Quinn, who subtly gestured toward Ethan. Understanding the situation, Todd turned his full attention to the young man. Ethan nodded toward the notice board near the entrance. "I saw the sign by the door. You''re looking to sell this place? What''s your asking price?" Ethan''s words left everyone stunned. Jade was the first to recover, scoffing loudly. "What''s this loser talking about? He''s going to buy the whole gym? Yeah, right. What a joke." Her voice carried across the room, loud enough for Ethan and the manager to hear. Todd, the manager, shot her a warning glance but didn''t say anything. He could tell there was some tension between Ethan and Jade. His gaze lingered on Ethan for a moment before he spoke. "The asking price is $2,100,000. That includes six months of remaining rent." Ethan didn''t hesitate. "I''ll take it. Do you have the paperwork ready?" "What?" Todd froze, staring at Ethan like he hadn''t heard him correctly. For three months, that notice had been pinned on the door, ignored by everyone. He''d almost given up on finding a buyer, already preparing to shut the gym down when the lease ended. His plan had been to sell off the equipment and dive full-time into Ethereal. The location wasn''t ideal, too far from the bustling city center. When he first opened, Todd had expected the nearby affluent neighborhoods to provide a steady stream of high-paying clients. Things had been promising, at least until Ethereal launched. As Todd predicted, the game''s release had drained foot traffic. He''d seen it coming, but even he hadn''t expected the drop to be so severe. Now, with Ethan suddenly offering to buy the place, Todd couldn''t help but feel overjoyed. "The contract''s at a law office just down the street. I''ll call them right now." Ethan nodded. "Sounds good." Jade, meanwhile, looked like she''d been hit over the head. Her expression twisted with disbelief. There was no way Ethan could afford to buy the gym. She clung to that thought, determined to see him humiliated. "Fine, let''s see how far you can take this act," she muttered under her breath. "When the lawyers show up, I''ll watch you squirm." While Todd stepped aside to make the call, Ethan wandered deeper into the gym. Todd quickly followed, not wanting to leave him unsupervised. Quinn, who''d been quietly observing, leaned toward Jade. "What''s wrong with you today? You''re just looking for trouble, aren''t you?" Jade rolled her eyes. "Trouble? Please. He''s just putting on a show. Let''s see how he makes a fool of himself later." Quinn sighed, shaking her head in exasperation. "You''re impossible." At that moment, a red-haired man strolled up to the counter. Without asking, he reached over and grabbed a bottle of water from behind the bar, twisting it open and taking a long drink. "Who''s that guy?" he asked, jerking his chin in Ethan''s direction. "Just an old classmate," Jade replied, her tone dripping with disdain. "He used to write me love letters in high school. I turned him down, obviously." The red-haired man burst out laughing. "A lovesick puppy, huh? Look at him, skinny arms, legs like twigs. I could knock him out with one punch. Unlike him, I''ve got the stamina, baby. What do you say, Jade? Come over tonight, I''ve got a king-sized bed waiting for us." As he spoke, his hand disappeared behind the counter, out of sight. Jade squealed and swatted at him, half-heartedly trying to push him away. "Stop it, Len! We''re in the gym, it''s the middle of the day!" she protested, her voice high-pitched and teasing. "Seriously, quit messing around!" From across the room, Ethan caught every word and every giggle. His sharp hearing picked up the whispered exchange, and he felt nothing but contempt. ''Stupid.'' He turned his attention to the grip strength tester in front of him. Wrapping his hand around the handle, he squeezed slowly, increasing the pressure. The mechanical arm began to tremble, bending under the force of his grip. Chapter 69 - 69: Testing Limits The mechanical arm of the grip strength tester creaked as Ethan steadily increased the pressure. Numbers on the display began to climb rapidly. 66 pounds¡­ 110 pounds¡­ 154 pounds¡­ He''d already surpassed the strength of an average person, but Ethan wasn''t done yet. He continued to exert force, pushing the mechanical arm further. 198 pounds¡­ 243 pounds¡­ 330 pounds¡­ Finally, with a sharp exhale, Ethan released the handle. The display froze at an impressive 346 pounds. Right then, Todd walked over, catching sight of the number. His eyebrows rose as he glanced at Ethan, a mix of surprise and curiosity crossing his face. Not bad, Todd thought to himself. His own record was 370 pounds. But this scrawny-looking kid? With barely any visible muscle? How on Earth had he managed that? Ethan stared at the display, equally astonished. He remembered his grip strength from before, barely 105 pounds, the lower end of average. Now, he''d added over 200 pounds to that. How could he not feel a rush of excitement? Still, he kept his expression neutral as Todd approached, walking calmly to the squat rack. Without hesitation, he slid the barbell onto his shoulders and began a deep squat. The display lit up, numbers climbing steadily. 198 pounds¡­ 220 pounds¡­ The weight increased, but Ethan showed no signs of strain. "This is insane," Todd muttered, his eyes glued to the display. 330 pounds¡­ 385 pounds¡­ Ethan''s lean frame seemed completely unfazed, despite lifting several times his own body weight. For an average person, attempting to squat even close to this much without proper conditioning would be a death wish. But Ethan? He wasn''t even breaking a sweat. Finally, the numbers stopped at 458 pounds. Ethan straightened up, his face slightly flushed but otherwise composed. Suppressing the surge of exhilaration, he thought to himself, ''My body really has changed. This isn''t just a minor improvement.'' In recent years, fitness culture had exploded worldwide, with records reaching impossible heights. Ethan had seen videos of professional athletes squatting over 2,200 pounds. Compared to them, his achievement wasn''t groundbreaking. But for someone who, until recently, could barely squat 44 pounds? A tenfold increase in strength was incredible. Time to test his punching power. Ethan moved to the punching machine, settling into a proper stance. He stepped forward, fist crashing into the target. Bam! 196 pounds. He frowned, something feeling off. The punch didn''t land quite right. Lowering his head, he closed his eyes, recalling a specific moment from the game. The bear form in Ethereal¡­ the way it executed its attack during the clash with Marcus Skeiner. The bear''s technique relied on¡­ Ethan adjusted his stance, mimicking the bear''s movement. This time, his punch came from his core, the motion fluid yet powerful. Boom! The punching machine let out a series of warning beeps, its sensors overloaded. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Every head in the gym turned toward the sound, including Jade, Len, and Quinn at the front desk. "Holy shit," Len blurted, staring in disbelief. "How is that even possible?" Jade muttered, her eyes wide with shock. Quinn, on the other hand, gasped, her hands covering her mouth. As for Todd? Standing right behind Ethan, his jaw hung open, practically touching the floor. 492 pounds. The number flashed on the screen, breaking the machine''s previous record by a mile. No wonder it had started blaring. Todd vaguely remembered the old record¡ª246 pounds, set by some rich client who rarely cared about fitness. Their gym''s clientele, after all, was mostly wealthy people who prioritized luxury over physical performance. Ethan''s punch strength wasn''t just impressive, it was terrifying. Even in a professional boxing gym, it would place him among the top contenders. But he didn''t stop there. He moved from machine to machine, testing his abilities. A leg press? 690 pounds. Record broken. Reaction speed? The machine''s hardest difficulty? Cleared effortlessly. Record broken. Sprinting? 100 meters in 8.78 seconds. Record broken. That was faster than the world''s top sprinters. Ethan stared at the sprint results, his mind reeling. How was he this fast? From start to full speed, it took him less than four seconds, something that brought to mind nature''s fastest predator: the cheetah. Jade Taylor watched him silently, her emotions a whirlwind. This wasn''t the Ethan she remembered. To her, Ethan had always been that frail, awkward boy, a gust of wind away from toppling over. Back in school, she used to pick on him relentlessly. And when she''d discovered those love letters he''d written her, it only made her bullying worse. The more humiliated he looked, the happier she felt. Before moving away, she''d even stolen something precious from him just for the thrill of it. Now, seeing him shatter record after record, Jade felt an unsettling discomfort in her chest. "This guy¡­ he''s scary," Len muttered, his voice trembling as he stared at Ethan. He glanced sideways at Jade, edging slightly away from her. ''Better keep my distance from Jade,''Len thought. ''If she''s crossed this guy in the past, the last thing I need is for him to drag me into it.'' Len''s eyes flickered with hesitation. Ethan mentioned buying this gym, should he warn Leon about it? Leon had been eyeing the place for months, waiting for the price to drop. With that thought, Len slowly crept toward the door, slipping out unnoticed. Meanwhile, Ethan had tested almost every piece of equipment in the gym. The reaction speed tester was particularly frustrating, it wasn''t advanced enough to truly push his limits. In combat, reaction speed could determine everything. No matter how strong or powerful your punches were, if your reactions lagged behind, you''d never land a hit. Even in Ethereal, reflexes were critical. Reaction speed and mental agility were the defining traits separating professional players from casual ones. By now, every pair of eyes in the gym was locked on Ethan. People whispered among themselves, wondering who this impossibly strong and fast man could be. In the center of the gym, a raised boxing ring caught Ethan''s attention. Two massive men stood atop it, their muscles bulging like overinflated balloons. Both were over six feet tall, their thick, chiseled frames radiating raw power. Ethan''s lips curled into a faint smile. He felt a sudden urge to test himself against them. For years, he''d dreaded combat training in school. Every session had been a nightmare, an opportunity for him to embarrass himself in front of his classmates. He would always hide in the back, avoiding the instructors'' attention. Everything changed when the infamous Ice Queen, Celeste Hawthorne, became their assistant instructor. Unlike the previous coaches, who used Ethan as their personal punching bag to "teach lessons," Celeste never singled him out or mocked him. Ethan still remembered the day she became the assistant. One clean kick had sent the previous instructor to the hospital. After that, Celeste took over all their classes. Though technically an assistant, she was the only one left to train them. Strangely enough, Ethan didn''t fear her the way others did. If anything, he felt a sliver of gratitude toward her. She never humiliated him, never used him as a scapegoat. For once, he could attend class without the anxiety of becoming a public spectacle. Back in the present, Ethan''s grin widened as he called out to the two men in the ring. "Hey! Want to play a round?" This was a first for him. Never before had he willingly wanted to step into a ring. Chapter 70 - 70: Deal Sealed The two muscle-bound men in the ring exchanged uneasy glances. The one in blue boxing shorts immediately climbed down and waved his hands. "Nope, I''m out. Not doing this!" The other, wearing red athletic pants, quickly followed suit, pulling off his gloves with a nervous laugh. "Yeah, same here. I''ll pass!" They weren''t idiots. A guy with over 490 pounds of punch force and leg power exceeding 680 pounds? That was pro-level. If this guy so much as grazed them, they''d probably be laid up in a hospital bed for months. Ethan sighed, disappointed. He''d been looking forward to testing himself. Still, there was always the combat training class later in the afternoon. He could find someone there to spar with. Just then, Todd approached. "Uh¡­ sir, the lawyer is here with the paperwork." "Call me Ethan," he said with a smile. "Sure thing, Ethan. Let''s go sign the contract," Todd replied, leading him toward the front desk. Ethan chuckled quietly. Being called sir, felt a bit too¡­ Instead,he would rather be referred to by his name. Back at the desk, a lawyer stood waiting, his professional demeanor betraying none of the awkwardness in the room. Todd gestured toward the staircase. "We can go upstairs to finalize everything¡ª" "No need," Ethan interrupted. "We can do it here." He couldn''t help but feel a pang of regret. ''What am I doing spending $2,100,000 on a gym I don''t even have time to run?'' Still, backing out now wasn''t an option. No way he was giving Jade Taylor the satisfaction of watching him fail. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The lawyer handed Ethan the transfer contract. Flipping through the dense, jargon-filled pages, Ethan''s eyes glazed over. He had no patience for legalese. Shrugging, he grabbed the pen. Under the lawyer''s guidance, he scrawled his name and pressed his fingerprint onto the document. Todd signed his own copy, and they swapped papers, signing again where needed. Once both contracts were complete, the lawyer spoke. "This is the preliminary agreement. Mr. Todd, you''ll receive the payment now, and please issue a receipt for Mr. Ethan. We''ll handle all the formalities for the transfer, including the licenses and other documentation." Behind the desk, Jade perked up at the mention of payment. ''Let''s see you try to fake your way out of this one,'' she thought smugly. Under her watchful eye, Ethan pulled out his ID card from his belt bag. By 2024, all transactions were streamlined into a single system. ID cards doubled as bank cards, making payments seamless. Todd retrieved his own ID, and the lawyer placed both cards into a compact portable terminal. After Ethan entered his password, a pleasant chime rang out. "Transaction successful. Amount transferred: $2,100,000." The machine''s confirmation message echoed through the gym. Todd''s phone buzzed almost immediately. Checking the notification, he broke into a grin, shaking Ethan''s hand enthusiastically. "Ethan, the gym''s officially yours now. Oh, by the way, you play Ethereal, don''t you? I''m planning to go full-time as a pro gamer after this. Business is just too stressful. My in-game name''s LuckIsASkill. What about you?" "Hm? Ethan froze, his hand still in Todd''s grip. LuckIsASkill? Wasn''t that the guy he''d killed on Ethereal''s launch day? The one who he''d stumbled across near that hollow tree when he went for the Wishbound Relic? Ethan gave Todd a strange look. Suddenly, spending $2,100,000 on the gym didn''t feel so painful. In this life, Ethan had taken the opportunity that might have originally belonged to Todd. Giving it back now felt like a fair trade, an act of karmic balance. "Alright, I''ll add you later," Ethan said casually, avoiding mentioning his in-game username in front of everyone. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Jade at the counter. Her face was frozen in shock, tinged with regret. ''Regret all you want now, it''s too late.'' Ethan turned to the lawyer and asked, "According to the contracts you drafted for this gym and its employees, if I fire her, what''s the cost?" He pointed directly at Jade. The lawyer, who had handled all the gym''s legal agreements, glanced at her before replying. Jade''s temper flared the moment she realized what Ethan meant. "You can''t just fire me! You''ll have to compensate me!" The lawyer nodded. "She''s right. Unless an employee has caused significant damage to the business, firing them will require compensation. In this case, you''d owe her six months'' salary." Ethan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "What if she resigns on her own?" "If she resigns voluntarily, as per the contract, she needs to give one month''s notice. After that, you''d pay her for the month she worked and the one month''s salary you''re holding as a deposit¡ª$8,000 total." The lawyer pulled a copy of the employment contract from his bag, showing it to Ethan. "What?" Ethan blinked in surprise. "Her monthly salary is $4,000? For a front desk worker?" The lawyer nodded. "Yes, that''s correct." Ethan raised an eyebrow and asked, "What happens if she quits without notice?" "In that case, per the contract, you''d keep the one-month deposit. Additionally, you could file a labor arbitration claim for damages caused by her sudden departure. As for the damages¡­" The lawyer paused, clearly catching on to Ethan''s intent. "Well, the amount would depend on what you claim, though¡­" "Though what?" Ethan prompted, curious. The lawyer sighed. "Most employers wouldn''t go that far. Usually, they just keep the deposit and let it go at that." Ethan smirked. "Well, that''s not happening here. If she leaves without notice, file the claim. I''ll back it up." The lawyer hesitated but ultimately nodded. "Understood. Just contact me if that happens." Jade''s face turned pale as she listened. The lawyer''s explanation and Ethan''s response left her speechless. She opened her mouth to shout, "I quit!" but the words caught in her throat. Her confidence crumbled as reality set in. Tears almost welled up in her eyes, and she pointed at Ethan, trembling, but no words came out. Ethan didn''t even spare her a glance. "How long is her contract?" he asked the lawyer. The lawyer flipped through his files. "Six months remaining." Jade finally broke down, slumping over the counter in tears. Ethan, unaffected, nodded calmly. Her sobs didn''t stir even the slightest hint of sympathy in him. At that moment, a janitor stepped out of the restroom with a mop in hand. Chapter 71 - 71: A Debt of the Past Ethan blinked in surprise. The girl who had just walked out was small, even younger than Lyla by a few years. "Uh..." He didn''t know her name, so he simply gestured for her to come closer. "You, switch clothes with her. From now on, you''ll be working at the front desk," Ethan said, before turning to Jade. "And you¡­ what was your name again? Oh, right¡ªJade Taylor. You''ll be in charge of cleaning from now on." The young girl looked at Ethan, then turned to Todd with a questioning gaze. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but Todd spoke first. "Ethan, she''s only here temporarily. She comes in the morning and evening to clean, but the rest of the time, she''s in school." "Yeah," the young girl quickly added. "I''m a senior in high school. I can''t work full-time." Ethan shrugged. "Fine. Then you handle cleaning outside. As for Jade, she''s on permanent restroom duty. No need for her to come out. Just seeing her annoys me." His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. Jade stiffened, looking as if she wanted to protest. But before she could speak, Ethan continued. "By the way, if you want to quit, now''s the time to say it. I''ll approve it immediately. But if you do, you still have to finish out the month. Otherwise, feel free to take it up with labor arbitration." The onlookers exchanged glances. This was brutal. Jade was seriously out of luck. Even if she quit now, she was stuck scrubbing toilets for another month. Ethan turned to the lawyer. "There''s nothing in her contract that specifies what job she has to do here, right?" "Correct." "Which means if I assign her to a task and she refuses, I can fire her without paying severance?" "That''s right." "And if she insults me, I can fire her on the spot, no compensation needed?" At that moment, Ethan caught Jade out of the corner of his eye. She had just stood up, face red with anger, her hand raised as if about to point at him and let loose a string of curses. "Yes," the lawyer answered. "If she verbally attacks you, not only can you fire her, but you''d also have grounds to sue for defamation." The lawyer''s tone was professional, but his face was twitching like he was trying to hold back laughter. "Good to know. Thanks. If I need anything else, I''ll have someone call you." Ethan gave the lawyer a polite nod. "Sure," the lawyer said before making a quick exit. If he stayed any longer, he was sure he''d suffocate trying not to laugh. This Ethan guy was a real piece of work. What he didn''t know was that, to Ethan, Jade wasn''t just some random employee. She was the reason his high school years had been a nightmare. Three years of misery. Three years of humiliation. All because of her. Now, she stood there, trembling with rage, finger still raised, but no words came out. The spectators were speechless. This guy bought an entire business just to mess with someone? Over a severance payout he clearly didn''t even need? If she annoyed him so much, why not just fire her outright? Why go through all this trouble? What they didn''t understand was that Ethan had endured three years of torment because of her. One month? That was nothing. "I¡­ I quit!" Jade spat through gritted teeth. "Great. Approved. Restroom''s that way." Ethan''s expression didn''t change. Jade slammed her hand onto the counter with a loud thud. Ethan didn''t let up. "Got a problem?" "N-No," she stammered, suddenly unsure of herself. Her bravado faded as she walked toward the restrooms, silent tears sliding down her face. She couldn''t afford to break her contract. Even if Ethan didn''t drag her to labor court, he could slap her with a bogus lawsuit and take away two months'' worth of pay. And payday was only a few days away. She had credit card bills, impending loan payments. She had fought hard for this high-paying job. And somehow, she had ended up working for him. Years of scraping by in the real world had hardened her. She had thought she wasn''t that naive high school girl anymore. So why, the moment she saw Ethan again, had she fallen right back into the same cycle? She had no idea. She had run into plenty of old classmates over the years, but none of them ever made her feel this way. But every time Jade saw Ethan, she couldn''t help herself. She had to mock him. Insult him. Look down on him. It was a habit. A compulsion. As she walked, she tried to push the thoughts away. Just endure it for a month. In the meantime, I''ll find another job. But then¡ª "Wait." Ethan''s voice rang out just as she reached the restroom door. Jade clenched her fists, an unexplainable irritation bubbling up inside her. She turned around, scowling. "What now?" "Give me back what you took," Ethan said coolly. "Do that, and I might let you walk away right now. With your full paycheck." Jade frowned. "What are you talking about?" Ethan raised his arm and tapped his wrist. Her expression shifted. The furrow in her brow smoothed out. "You''re serious?" Ethan''s heart skipped. So she really does have it. And judging by her reaction, she might even know where it is. "Yes," he confirmed. "Give it back, and I''ll settle your pay right now." Jade hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I''ll go look for it." "You can find it?" Ethan pressed. "I think so," she muttered. "Good. I''m coming with you." Without waiting for a response, he walked straight out of the gym. Jade hesitated, but after a brief pause, she followed. The crowd was left staring, dumbfounded, as the two disappeared around the corner. What the hell just happened? What was so important that Ethan, who had been dead set on making Jade''s life miserable, was suddenly willing to let her go? Nobody could have guessed. Because the item in question wasn''t some priceless artifact or rare collectible. It was just a cheap, childish bracelet. Fate was a strange thing. All these years, Jade had barely thought about it. Back then, she had snatched it from Ethan and tossed it into a box filled with random trinkets. When her family lost everything, the bank seized nearly all their belongings. The only thing she managed to take with her was that box. --- An hour later, Ethan and Jade returned to the gym. The moment they stepped inside, Ethan spotted Todd downstairs and called out, "Settle her paycheck." Todd raised an eyebrow. "Actually, I was just about to talk to you about something. We should go over the handover process." "Handover¡­?" Ethan blinked. He had completely forgotten about that part. The realization hit, he had absolutely no clue how to run this place. Seeing his blank expression, Todd smirked. "If you don''t want to manage it yourself, you could always hire someone to do it for you." Hire someone? Who? Ethan ran through a mental list of people he knew¡­ and came up with nothing. His social circle was tiny. He had always been a homebody, barely interacting with anyone outside of school. Other than a handful of classmates, he didn''t really know anyone. ''Crap.'' Just as he was starting to stress, a lady passed by, leading a tray of customers. It was Quinn. Ethan''s eyes lit up. "Hey, Quinn!" he called out. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She turned, looking confused. "Yeah?" "Go over the handover process with Todd. You''re the new manager now." Quinn froze. Todd barely managed to keep a straight face. ''Ethan really just does whatever he wants, huh?'' "Wait, what?" Quinn stammered. "Yeah, you''re in charge now. Here." Ethan grabbed a napkin, scribbled his number on it, and handed it to her. "Call me if something major happens. Otherwise, just run the place however you see fit. I don''t care if it makes money, just don''t let it go under." "I¡­ uh¡­" Quinn took the napkin, still looking stunned and unable to figure out what to say next¡­ Chapter 72 - 72: Reckoning Todd, Quinn, and Jade stood at the entrance of the gym, watching Ethan leave with a noticeable spring in his step. He seemed to be in a good mood. Todd tilted his head thoughtfully. "Ethan''s unbelievable. Who throws out two million just like that?" Hearing Todd''s comment, Quinn made a silent vow. ''I''ll make sure to handle this gym better than ever for him,'' she resolved internally. Jade, on the other hand, stood quietly, a swirl of emotions she couldn''t quite pin down settling deep within her chest. By the time Ethan returned to the villa, it was already past eleven. Pulling out his phone, he was surprised to see that Lyla hadn''t called him. "That girl, she''s oddly considerate, never one to check in unnecessarily," he mused with a grin. But there was one text waiting for him, from her. "Hey, went to school on my own this morning. When you get back, stay put and rest, alright?" Ethan chuckled at her words, but they served as a timely reminder. "Oh right¡­ I have combat training class this afternoon!" Excitement surged in his chest. Ever since the morning''s performance test, he had been itching to get back into action. Tossing his things together, he prepared to head to campus. For the first time in ages, Ethan felt a burning eagerness for class. Heading to the garage, he stared at the sleek Predator X, but ultimately shook his head. "Too flashy. Better keep things low-key," he muttered to himself. Taking the bus instead, Ethan endured a nearly two-hour trip to school. By the time he arrived at the east entrance, his phone clocked in just three minutes before class began. Today''s session was across campus at the west entrance''s training hall. Ethan gulped nervously. Memories of Celeste Hawthorne flashed vividly through his mind. Her strict attitude towards late students could turn even grown men to jelly. "Not happening today," he muttered, breaking into a sprint. A snarky voice from a fellow student nearly stopped him in his tracks as he passed. "What''s the rush, man? Chasing your next life?" ''Chasing my life? Try managing yours,'' Ethan thought grimly but didn''t waste time responding aloud. He tore ahead, leaving the stunned student behind. The east gate to the west gate wasn''t exactly a straight shot. The school''s large central lake meant Ethan had to circle halfway around it, adding an extra distance to his dash. Plus, the training hall was on the third floor of the building. Huffing and puffing, he launched himself into the room just as the class bell rang. Ethan silently thanked his morning stamina test for preparing him, but even so, his lungs burned, and sweat poured off him as he leaned against the doorway to catch his breath. "Pfft, look who made it, our resident slacker," a nasal voice jeered from the back of the room. "Heard you were laid up in the hospital. Feeling strong enough now?" Ignoring the insult, Ethan wiped his brow and took his place. His calm composure, however, didn''t seem to sit well with Celeste Hawthorne, who was watching from her position. Her lips pursed in displeasure, clearly unimpressed by his refusal to engage with the heckling. Her eyes narrowed. ''That''s it? If it were me, I''d send anyone talking like that straight to the infirmary,'' her expression seemed to say. Standing in the center of the training room, Celeste''s voice broke through the low hum of the room. "Alright, everyone''s here. The usual warmup to start, followed by open sparring. Then, as always, I''ll offer individual guidance." A collective groan filled the room. "What? Again? Didn''t you guide us last class?" "Yeah, you used to only give guidance once a month. Are we starting a new weekly schedule or something?" sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The scathing glare Celeste shot them was enough to shut everyone up. Like cockroaches scattering under a spotlight, the students immediately split up, diligently diving into their warmup exercises. Ethan picked a corner of the training hall and slumped down into a seat. Warming up was the last thing on his mind. After a grueling workout at the gym earlier that morning, plus a mad long distance sprint to class, he figured he''d done more than enough to get his blood pumping. From his quiet corner, Ethan surveyed his bustling classmates. On the far side of the room, Celeste Hawthorne was doing her warm-up stretches near the wall. For the first time, Ethan allowed himself to really observe her. It hit him then: this was the woman who, for two years straight, had topped the campus ''most beautiful'' rankings, until Lyla arrived, of course. Her figure was flawless. Tight, athletic, yet feminine in all the right places. She had the kind of face that could launch a thousand bad decisions, and her toned waist emphasized her lean, graceful build. But it was her legs, long, straight, smooth, and almost unnaturally perfect¡ªthat really caught Ethan''s eye. ''What on earth does she eat to look like that?'' he thought absently. He watched her move with fluidity and grace, every stretch highlighting her incredible flexibility. At one point, as she bent particularly low, Ethan found his thoughts drifting. Then her eyes locked onto his. A chill ran down Ethan''s spine as a wave of palpable hostility radiated from her direction. Instinctively, he broke eye contact, pretending to focus on the blank wall behind her. ''Jeez,'' he thought, his pulse still racing. ''How are her senses that sharp? All I did was look at her for a few seconds!'' As Ethan diverted his gaze, an annoying and eerily familiar voice broke his train of thought. "Ethan, care to spar with me? I''ve been working on some new moves and thought I''d give you some guidance since you''ve been out of class for a bit." The voice belonged to Trent, one of Ethan''s least favorite people. He had served as an assistant instructor under the previous coach before Celeste had taken over, and back then, his favorite pastime had been making Ethan''s life miserable. Hearing the challenge, Ethan''s expression darkened briefly before returning to his usual neutral smile. ''Oh, sure, if it''s a beating you''re after, I''ll be happy to oblige. It''s about time I settled this anyway.'' His thoughts were laced with venom. The anger from past humiliations flared in Ethan''s chest as he remembered Trent''s past torment. Once, during their first year, Trent had goaded Ethan into a fight in front of the entire class. The result? Ethan was battered to the ground, his face stomped on, forced to surrender amidst jeers and laughter. For weeks afterward, the shame had kept Ethan from showing his face in class. Since Celeste''s arrival, Trent had toned down his antics. After all, she had literally hospitalized their previous coach during her takeover. Still, Trent had never stopped searching for opportunities to pick on Ethan. ''If you''re so eager, I''m more than happy to take out the trash,'' Ethan thought grimly, a flash of menace flickering in his eyes. Despite his resolve, he kept his tone light. "Nah, let''s not. You know I''m not much of a match for you," he said with a sheepish smile. His refusal disappointed the classmates who''d been watching, anticipating a spectacle. But Ethan had a rule on his side: one of the first decrees Celeste had implemented in her classes was that no one could be forced into a sparring match. This alone had been enough to make her Ethan''s hero. Still, Trent felt unease creep into his chest as he looked into Ethan''s eyes. For a moment, he thought he saw something sharp, dangerous even, but when he looked again, Ethan''s expression was as relaxed and unassuming as ever. Shaking off the momentary doubt, Trent continued to push. "Hey, it''s just practice. No hard feelings either way, right? If you''re rusty, I can help get you back on track. I won''t go too hard, promise." Before Ethan could respond, another voice chimed in, a shrill, grating sound that he instantly recognized as Liam, Trent''s loyal lackey. "Yeah, Ethan, come on! It''s been days since you''ve had a proper workout. Do you really want Celeste herself to have to baby you?" Liam added with an oily chuckle, hoping to rile Ethan up. The sight of Liam, a wiry guy who always hovered around Trent like an overeager puppy, made Ethan''s blood boil. He could hardly count the number of times Liam had piled onto Trent''s harassment. Together, the pair had been a thorn in his side since his first day on campus. Just as Ethan was preparing another polite refusal, a group of five other students strode over, interrupting the tension. "How about we keep things fair?" one of them suggested with a smirk. "If you''re dead set on sparring, Trent, we''re happy to jump in too. It''s only fair someone''s got Ethan''s back, right?" Chapter 73 - 73: No Holding Back The people who just stepped out were none other than Ethan''s college dormmates. Seeing them, a warmth spread through his chest. They knew full well they weren''t a match for Trent, yet they still showed up to back him up. "And who the hell do you five think you are? Trent''s just trying to give Ethan some guidance. Why don''t you all go chill somewhere else?" Ethan had been worried that Trent would actually clash with his five dorm mates, because if that happened, there''d be no easy way to deal with the guy afterward. But right in cue, Liam stepped forward and ran his mouth. "Liam''s right. None of us can beat Trent, so no matter who steps up, we''ll just lose. I might as well be his punching bag and help him get some practice in." Ethan spoke without hesitation. "Ethan¡­" Rowan grabbed his arm. "It''s fine, big guy," Ethan interrupted. "Trent said he just wants to give me some guidance, right?" "Yeah, yeah, we''ll keep it light." Trent put on a magnanimous act, but a glint of malice flashed through his eyes. ''You little punk, I''m going to humiliate you again. Damn it, both your ex and your current girl¡­ What a waste on someone like you.'' If Ethan knew that this whole grudge started because of that, he honestly wouldn''t know whether to be amused or just plain amused¡­ or really amused. The training hall buzzed with excitement. Once the crowd realized Ethan and Trent were about to throw down, they quickly backed up, clearing the center of the floor for the fight. At that moment, Celeste Hawthorne walked over, her expression unreadable. She looked at Ethan and spoke in a low voice. "You''re aware that in-class sparring has strict regulations. If someone sustains serious injuries or worse, the consequences remain the same, right?" Ethan nodded. "I know." "Good." She turned to leave but, as she passed him, she muttered something under her breath. Ethan froze. He stood there, staring at her back, completely dumbfounded. Celeste didn''t acknowledge his reaction. She walked to the edge of the training hall and turned around, her usual icy demeanor firmly in place. "What are you standing there for?" Trent snapped. Ethan exhaled sharply and smirked. "Alright then, why don''t we go all out? Otherwise, you won''t enjoy yourself, right? It''s just a fight. If we get banged up, we''ll just heal up at home. We''re young, nothing to be afraid of." Trent''s eyes gleamed with excitement. ''That''s exactly what I wanted. Even if you didn''t suggest it, I wasn''t planning to hold back anyway.'' "Fine by me. Let''s do this for real." He grinned before turning to the crowd. "You all heard him, right? Ethan agreed to an all-out match. If anything happens, don''t blame me!" "Ethan, are you insane?" "Dude, don''t mess around!" "Come on, don''t do this!" His dormmates were in shock, voices overlapping as they tried to dissuade him. But Ethan? He simply clasped his hands together and gave Trent a respectful bow. Trent hesitated for a second before following suit. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As he bowed, Ethan caught sight of the opening, a sharp grin curling at his lips. Normally, in-class sparring didn''t require formal gestures. There was an official global regulation for competitive combat courses: If both fighters willingly performed a ceremonial bow before a match, it was no longer just a spar, it became an official fight. As long as neither party surrendered, there were no restrictions on injuries. Even death. However, if one fighter conceded or was knocked out, any further attacks would still be considered a criminal offense. The moment Ethan and Trent completed the ceremonial bow, the entire training hall fell silent. "...Are they actually serious?" Everyone knew what that gesture meant. After a brief silence, the hall erupted into hushed murmurs. "Ethan¡­ is he trying to get himself killed?" "Has he lost his mind?" "Who knows? Either way, this is straight-up suicide." "Who do you think''s gonna win?" "Is that even a question? Obviously, it''s Trent!" No one had expected Ethan to initiate the bow first. He had just cut off his own escape route. Amidst the chatter, Celeste''s lips curled into the faintest smile. But with all eyes glued to the fighters in the center, no one noticed. If they had, they would have been utterly dumbfounded. The Ice Queen¡­ smiling? Meanwhile, Trent''s eyes gleamed with ruthless intent. ''Since you''re so eager to get wrecked, I won''t hold back. If I don''t put you in the hospital for a month, I''ll livestream myself eating dirt.'' Of course, he only said that in his head. If he had spoken out loud, Ethan would have made him sign a written agreement on the spot. And then? Well, Trent would''ve had to follow through. "Let''s get started," Trent said. With a sudden burst of speed, he charged at Ethan. To the spectators, he was lightning-fast. Many of them clenched their fists, nervous for Ethan. But in Ethan''s eyes, Trent was moving like a sluggish snail. He hadn''t fully realized it yet, but his enhanced soul power had drastically sharpened his perception. As Trent closed in, he threw a punch straight at Ethan''s chest. Earlier, Rowan had warned him about Trent''s latest strength test results, 115 kg punch force, 235 kg leg strength, and a 152 kg squat. Ethan analyzed Trent''s movements in an instant. His stance was riddled with openings. He could think of at least a dozen ways to knock him down. But if Trent went down too quickly and refused to get back up¡­ where was the fun in that? Instead, Ethan simply pivoted left, brushing past Trent''s right side with ease. Trent reacted quickly, swinging his arm in a desperate attempt to catch Ethan. Too bad. Ethan sidestepped effortlessly, now positioned behind him. Using the momentum of his turn, he drove his elbow into the center of Trent''s back. Thud. A dull, heavy sound echoed through the hall. Trent staggered forward, his whole body seizing up. For a brief moment, just a fraction of a second, his blood circulation stalled. Then, under the sudden pressure from his heart, everything surged violently. That one hit had already caused serious internal damage. Ethan hadn''t held back. A strike to the spine was no joke, if Trent wasn''t one of the physically strongest in the class, he might have blacked out on the spot. Still, his heart had taken a direct hit. Even if he recovered, he could probably kiss any intense physical activity goodbye. Just as he was struggling to regain his balance, Ethan moved again. A sharp gust of wind cut through the air. Trent, still reeling from his momentary cardiac arrest, was too dazed to react. Then¡ª Smack. A loud, crisp slap landed across his face, sending him stumbling sideways. Before he could collapse, Ethan was already on the move. Smack. Another slap, this time to his left cheek, straightening him back up. Ethan wasn''t done yet. He wasn''t about to let Trent hit the floor, not until he had landed the finishing blow. Chapter 74 - 74: The Fall of a King At this point, how could Trent not realize that Ethan had been toying with him? In fact, he even suspected that Ethan had been playing the fool for over a year, just for this moment, to finally turn the tables. But¡­ that didn''t make sense. Last time, he had literally stomped Ethan''s head into the ground. The guy hadn''t even been able to fight back. "I¡­" Trent barely got a word out. He had already made up his mind to surrender. Thud. Ethan''s fist shot forward, drilling into Trent''s stomach with pinpoint force. The words died in Trent''s throat, swallowed by the shock and pain. His body folded like a shrimp, bending sharply at the waist. Just as he doubled over, Ethan''s knee came rocketing up. Boom! The impact sent Trent airborne. Before he could even start to fall, Ethan followed up with a powerful kick to his chest. Thud. A deep, gut-wrenching sound echoed through the hall as Trent''s body was launched backward. He crashed hard, tumbling nearly six meters before coming to a stop. Blood spewed from his mouth as he struggled for a moment¡­ then stopped moving altogether. Ethan dusted off his hands, admiring his final kick. Perfect form. The entire hall was dead silent. No one had expected the fight to end so quickly. And no one, absolutely no one, had expected Trent to be the one lying on the floor, utterly defenseless. When had Ethan become this strong? Everyone in the room had some combat training. They could tell, just from that last kick alone¡ªthat Ethan had easily generated over 300 kg of force. The thought sent a chill down their spines. That kind of power was on par with professional fighters. If Trent had really taken that full-force kick¡­ who knew how bad his injuries were? Just thinking about it was terrifying. Ethan, however, was feeling incredibly satisfied. Trent had always been considered the second-best fighter in their class, right behind Celeste. But now? That reputation had just been obliterated. Flat on his back, completely motionless, Trent was no longer a king. Ethan turned to the stunned crowd, his face a picture of innocence. "Uh¡­ so, does anyone know where to find a doctor? I swear, I didn''t mean to. I had no idea he was this weak!" As if on cue, two school medics pushed through the crowd, heading straight for the fallen Trent. Every combat class had medics stationed outside, just in case of emergencies. These two had been watching the fight from the doorway, and the moment Trent collapsed, they had sprinted in with a stretcher. One of them¡ªa guy with glasses, walked past Ethan and muttered, "Damn, that was brutal. I''d say he''s gonna be bedridden for at least six months." Ethan scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Uh¡­ that was an accident. I swear! Who knew he was this fragile?" The medic gave him a thumbs-up. "Dude, if you''re not acting, then Hollywood''s missing out big time." Ethan could only laugh awkwardly as they carried Trent away. His five dormmates immediately swarmed him. "Ethan, that was insane!" "Damn, man! Playing dumb for so long, just to strike when it mattered? Absolute genius!" "That last kick¡­ brutal. Just brutal." The other students crowded around, chatting excitedly. Ethan shrugged. "I mean¡­ maybe he just had food poisoning last night? Probably wasn''t feeling his best today." Everyone shot him a look of pure disbelief. Before they could call him out on his nonsense, Celeste''s cold voice cut through the air. "Alright, everyone, get back to training. Ethan, stay after class." The crowd instantly fell silent. All eyes turned to Ethan, who could only sigh. Looks like he wasn''t getting out of this one. Everyone''s gaze on Ethan had a mix of sympathy and amusement. He just got called out by the Ice Queen. ''Serves you right for acting all innocent, what, you think we''re blind? Good luck, buddy.'' Even his dormmates patted him on the shoulder one by one. "Stay strong, man." Ethan was speechless. Were they really enjoying his misery? Damn it. Hopefully, it wouldn''t be too bad. Then he remembered Celeste''s whispered words before the fight. Maybe she wouldn''t be too hard on him? Still, something didn''t add up. Hadn''t she just stood there, watching the fight unfold? What if Trent had actually beaten him half to death? Did she not care? Or¡­ did she already know he had gotten stronger? He had heard before that top-tier fighters could gauge someone''s strength just from their aura alone. Had Celeste reached that level? No way. She wasn''t much older than him. That would be insane. A thousand questions swirled in his mind before his thoughts landed back on what she had whispered: "After the bow, don''t hold back." That short phrase had made everything click. That was why he initiated the ceremonial bow first. He knew that once he did, Trent wouldn''t pass up the chance to humiliate him and would follow suit. And Celeste had probably predicted that too. That''s why she had warned him. Now, as she went around coaching other students, Ethan took another long look at her. Who was she, really? With her skills, there was no way she was supposed to be here, in an ordinary University. Pushing those thoughts aside, Ethan decided to look for a sparring partner. But before he could even ask, the other students shook their heads, practically backing away. No one wanted to be the next Trent. Especially after hearing the medic''s passing remark¡ª"Well, at least he''s still breathing." What did that even mean? That Trent had almost died? At that moment, Ethan officially became the last person anyone wanted to mess with. Even scarier than the Ice Queen herself. Celeste might break your body, leave you bruised, and push you to your limits¡­ But Ethan? That guy would smile at you like a friend, then send you straight to a hospital bed. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Two years without fighting, and the moment he did, he left someone barely conscious. Yeah. Best to stay far away from him. That was the collective decision of everyone in the room. Ethan, meanwhile, was starting to feel¡­ bored. So this was the loneliness of being too strong? Left with nothing else to do, he turned his attention to the training equipment. He started testing his strength on the machines, one after another, breaking records as he went. Alarms blared. Machines groaned under the strain. His classmates, who had been trying to ignore him, now stared in horrified silence. Yup. Time to cherish their lives and stay the hell away from Ethan. Not far away, Celeste watched with bright, interested eyes. She was eager to finish the lesson and talk to him. But if Ethan had known he was once again drawing her attention, he''d probably be cursing himself. The entire class passed with a strange mix of anxiety and relief. For the first time, Celeste didn''t call anyone out for one-on-one sparring. And Ethan? His initial excitement had slowly turned into full-blown panic. Because the whole afternoon, Celeste had been staring at him. Unwavering. Unrelenting. Eventually, he couldn''t take it anymore and slipped away to a corner where she couldn''t see him. That gaze of hers was lethal. As soon as the bell rang, he was going to blend into the crowd and escape. Chapter 75 - 75: The Ninth Division As soon as the class ended, the entire room erupted into motion. No hesitation. No second thoughts. Everyone rushed toward the exit. "Stop." Celeste''s cold, slightly irritated voice rang out. The crowd froze mid-step, turning back in confusion. Following her gaze, they finally saw what she meant. Ethan was hunched over, desperately trying to squeeze his way through the mass of bodies. Even with his ridiculous strength, there was no way to bulldoze through over a hundred people in such tight space. And now? Now everyone knew exactly who Celeste was talking to. No one said a word. Then, whether it was one person or several acting together, someone gave a hard shove. Ethan was immediately pushed out of the crowd, stumbling into the open. As he turned back, helpless, his classmates simply looked at him with a silent and collectively pitiful expressions. Then, in a wave of motion, they all bolted from the training hall. Someone even took the time to close the door behind them. Ethan slowly turned around, awkwardly facing Celeste. "Uh¡­ M-Miss Celeste," he stammered. "So, uh¡­ it''s dinner time, right? How about¡­ we, uh¡­ talk over a meal?" As he spoke, Celeste steadily walked toward him. Her face was unreadable. Ethan, however, was very aware of how many times he had witnessed her absolutely destroy their classmates in sparring sessions. Tension gripped his entire body. She stopped just half a meter away. For a moment, she simply stared at him. Then, to his utter disbelief, her lips curved slightly. "You''re buying." "¡­Huh?" Ethan''s brain spun. Celeste had already opened the door and walked out before he managed to react. He quickly followed, trailing behind as they left the building in silence. The atmosphere felt unbearably awkward, so Ethan finally broke it. "So¡­ where are we going?" "You''re paying. You decide." Celeste didn''t even turn her head. "Uh¡­ there''s this burger joint by the west gate. They make a good double cheeseburger." Celeste stopped in her tracks and looked back at him. "¡­Uh," Ethan blinked. He realized his mistake immediately. She was the most sought-after girl on campus. Guys would probably line up around the lake just to take her to a fancy restaurant. And what did he suggest? A greasy burger joint? Yeah. Not his best moment. "Or, uh... we could get some sea food?" he blurted, his brain scrambling for an alternative. To his surprise, the Ice Queen actually smirked. "I have to say, your taste is incredibly low. Seriously, how did you even manage to date Lyla?" Ethan opened his mouth to protest, but then¡ª "But seafood sound good," Celeste continued. "Haven''t had them in a while. Let''s go." And just like that, she wasn''t walking ahead of him anymore. Instead, she walked beside him, shoulder to shoulder. Ethan blinked. Wait. Was this the second time he had seen her smile? And¡­ it actually looked nice on her. Of course, he wasn''t dumb enough to say that out loud. As they walked together, students around them whispered frantically. Within minutes, the news spread like wildfire. The Ice Queen¡­ was leaving campus with a guy. And not just any exit. The west gate. Everyone knew what the west gate was famous for. Hotels. Motels. A whole street lined with them. So when Celeste suddenly spoke, Ethan wasn''t surprised at all. "Shouldn''t you check in with your girlfriend first?" she asked. He had already noticed the stares. Even some teachers were giving them strange looks. Apparently, Celeste''s reputation on campus was that powerful. Ethan cleared his throat. "Uh¡­ I''ll just ask Lyla if she''s eaten yet." Ethan wasn''t usually the paranoid type, but he really didn''t want this situation to be misunderstood by Lyla. Things were finally progressing between them, he couldn''t afford any unnecessary drama. "Good timing," Celeste said casually. "I was planning to find Lyla anyway. Quite the surprise running into both of you like this. If she''s free, have her join us." Ethan wasn''t really paying attention to her wording. Under Celeste''s half-smirking gaze, he quickly pulled out his phone and dialed Lyla''s number. "Hey, Lyla, have you eaten yet?" "Not yet. I was actually heading home to eat with you." "Uh¡­ I''m still on campus. Senior Celeste invited us to dinner." There was a brief pause. "Celeste invited us to dinner?" Lyla sounded genuinely surprised. "Alright. Where are you? I''ll come meet you." After giving her the location, Ethan hung up. Lyla didn''t take long to arrive. And just like that, the three of them walked out of the school gates together. The scene they created? Absolutely eye-catching. Ethan, flanked by two of the most stunning girls on campus, was now the center of attention. They found a casual seafood restaurant and took a table near the window. This time of the day, the place wasn''t crowded. Soon, their table was filled with plates of fresh oysters, grilled fish, and crispy calamari. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Celeste, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke. "Do you know why I invited you here?" She didn''t bother with small talk. Ethan and Lyla exchanged glances. Then, they both shook their heads. Seeing how stiff they looked, Celeste suddenly smiled, a genuine, beautiful smile. "Relax, you two." That only made them more tense. Celeste never smiled. It was part of the reason she was called the Ice Queen. And according to rumors, anyone who had ever seen her smile¡­ hadn''t ended up in a good place. Because when Celeste smiled, it usually meant she was about to wreck someone. "Actually," she continued, "I''m not really a student here." That got Lyla''s attention. "Wait, but I heard you transferred in later. Where were you before?" Instead of answering, Celeste asked, "Have you heard of Recruitment Officers?" Ethan blinked. Recruitment Officers? Sounded like¡­ military recruiters? Lyla, on the other hand, looked genuinely surprised. "Wait, you''re our school''s Recruitment Officer?" Ethan turned to her. "Okay, hold up. What''s a Recruitment Officer?" Lyla hesitated, then glanced at Celeste. Surprisingly, Celeste, who had been nothing but cold and distant in class, now had the demeanor of a friendly older sister. She nodded. "Go ahead. It''s not really a secret." Getting her approval, Lyla explained. "Recruitment Officers were basically military recruiters, but with a twist. Instead of enlisting for the army, they scouted for a special government division." "The Ninth Division." Lyla didn''t go into detail, only saying that it was a classified national organization. Every major university had at least one Recruitment Officer stationed to identify and recruit promising talent. When she finished, Celeste studied her closely. "Sounds like you know quite a bit about them. Has someone tried to recruit you before?" Lyla nodded. "Yeah. Before I transferred here, someone approached me. But¡­ I have a Silverwood surname." That last part sounded cryptic to Ethan. What does having that surname have to do with anything? Celeste, however, immediately understood. She gave a small nod, though a hint of regret crossed her face. Then she turned to Ethan. "So? Are you interested in joining the Ninth Division?" Ethan stared at her, baffled. "The Ninth Division? What the hell even is that? Why do you guys talk about it like it''s some top secret?" Chapter 76 - 76: Keeping Them Apart Ethan had no idea what was going on. Just as he spoke, Lyla blurted out, "Celeste, you''ve got to be kidding, right? There''s no way they''d recruit him into the Ninth Division." As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt a little guilty. That was a bit too harsh, wasn''t it? She peeked at Ethan, stuck out her tongue, and made a silly face, hoping to lighten the mood. Celeste, however, just laughed. "Lyla, you really don''t know Ethan, do you? He had quite the moment today." "Huh? What happened? Tell me!" Lyla''s curiosity was instantly piqued. Celeste shrugged. "Nothing much. He just wrecked the guy I was considering for the spot." Lyla''s eyes widened. "Wait, seriously? You? That strong?" She turned to Ethan, her face full of disbelief. "I thought they called you a weakling." Ethan groaned internally. ''Can''t this girl ever just hold back? Give me some dignity, please.'' Lyla, clearly amused by his reaction, covered her mouth as she giggled uncontrollably. "So, Celeste, how bad did he get beat?" To be honest, she felt proud. She didn''t know how Ethan had suddenly become so strong, but that didn''t matter. If he was getting stronger¡­ maybe¡­ A little idea was starting to take root in her mind. Celeste smirked. "Oh, nothing serious. Just five broken ribs, six missing teeth, a severe concussion¡ªno idea when he''ll wake up. Oh, and his heart took some damage, so no more intense exercise. In fact¡­ let''s just say, certain bedroom activities are off the table for him now." "Uh¡­" Lyla had been staring at Ethan in shock, even squeezing his arm as if to check if he was actually that strong. But Celeste''s last comment¡ªwell, that had her blushing furiously. Ethan, on the other hand, was just as shocked. He hadn''t expected to do that much damage. Still, regret? Not a chance. That guy had it coming. He was lucky Ethan hadn''t finished the job. But Celeste cracking jokes like that? That threw him off. He gave her a suspicious once-over. ''Did she have a twin I didn''t know about?'' Noticing his gaze, Celeste casually added, "Don''t look at me like that." Then, in full view of everyone, she grabbed Lyla''s hand and said, "Lyla, even if you can''t join the Ninth Division, we should still stay in touch. Come hang out with me sometime." Ethan stiffened, goosebumps crawling over his skin. Wait. What? Even the fork in his hand trembled before slipping through his fingers and hitting the table. For some reason, his brain conjured up a smut filled scene, two stunning women, wrapped up in nothing but silk sheets, their smooth skins glistening with sweat as they explored each other''s bodies, their soft moans filling the air¡­ "Uh¡­" Lyla subtly pulled her hand back, her cheeks still flushed. "Yeah, sure. I''ll, um, hang out with you sometime." She stole a glance at Ethan, who looked like he''d just been flash-frozen. What the hell? Not only did she agree, but she looked shy about it?! "No way!" Ethan shot to his feet. Ethan''s outburst was loud, loud enough that half the street probably heard him. Realizing he''d just made a scene, he quickly sat back down, feeling a little embarrassed. To cover up, he grabbed Lyla''s hand and, under Celeste''s amused gaze, blurted out, "Uh, can I, uh¡­ join you guys when you hang out? Wait, no¡ªwhat I meant was, you can''t hang out together!" Celeste rolled her eyes, while Lyla covered her mouth, giggling. "Why not, Ethie? Are you jealous? You can join us if you really want." Ethan wasn''t falling for it. That scheming little look in Celeste''s her eyes was a dead giveaway. She was setting a trap. He straightened up and answered with full seriousness, "Assistant Instructor Hawthorne is a very busy person. She doesn''t have time to mess around with you, right, Celeste?" Celeste didn''t even bother replying. She just let out a soft hum, clearly unimpressed. Dinner went on after that, but the mood had shifted. Conversation turned awkward, mostly because Ethan spent the rest of the meal keeping a wary eye on Celeste, making sure she wasn''t getting any funny ideas about Lyla. Eventually, though, Celeste cut to the point. "So, about the Ninth Division. Have you thought it over?" "I don''t even know what you guys do. And more importantly, what''s in it for me?" Celeste smirked. "Ask Lyla when you get home. Once you''ve made up your mind, let me know." And just like that, her usual icy demeanor returned. She stood up, said her goodbyes to Lyla, reminded her again to definitely hang out sometime, then left. For some reason, as soon as she was gone, Ethan felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his chest. He trusted Lyla, sure. But Celeste was a wild card. If she kept hanging around, what if she¡­ converted his precious little Lyla? Worse, what if Lyla wanted to be converted? Nope. Not happening. Keeping them apart was now a priority. At least they hadn''t exchanged numbers. After Celeste left, Ethan and Lyla ate a little more. Ethan was stuffed, he hadn''t eaten all day. Morning had been spent working out, followed by a brutal commute to school, then an afternoon of combat training. Even if he hadn''t moved around much, going a whole day without food had taken its toll. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now that he had money, he could finally eat like a king. Honestly, he almost felt like ordering extra food just to throw it away, just because he could. His past self never had this luxury. Back then, it was instant noodles, if he was lucky. Sometimes, he just went hungry. As they ate, Ethan told Lyla everything that had happened earlier. He even pulled out the bracelet, showing it off like some rare treasure. Lyla was beyond thrilled. She was so touched she nearly teared up. After dinner, the two of them made their way back near the villa. But before heading home, Ethan decided to give his future lady a tour of the gym he''d just bought. Back at the gym, Todd was gone, but Quinn was handling things surprisingly well. Everything was running smoothly. At night, the gym was much busier. With Jade gone, Quinn had to manage the entire place herself, acting as both the manager and the front desk staff. She was completely swamped. Ethan told her to put up a hiring notice. Two new employees would take over her and Jade''s old responsibilities, so she could focus solely on managing the gym. If any problems popped up, she''d just call him. After that, he dragged Lyla, who was still busy checking everything out, back to the villa. Ethereal was about to go online. Chapter 77 - 77: Overpowered Doesn’t Even Cover It The moment Ethan logged into the game, a video call from Lyla popped up. ''Already?''He smirked. ''We just separated a few minutes ago, and she''s already missing me? Guess my charm really is something else.'' Feeling pleased with himself, he answered. "Check the leaderboard," Lyla said immediately. "The pet rankings." "What''s up?" Ethan asked, already skeptical. The pet system hadn''t even been unlocked yet, nobody should have a pet right now. "Just look!" Lyla insisted. Giving in, Ethan opened the leaderboard and navigated to the pet category. And sure enough, there was one pet listed. The only one. Standing there all alone at the top. Pet Name: Myrga Nair Species: Dragonkin Description: A powerful dragon with mastery over poison and water magic. Owner: Moonbeam Ethan blinked. That name looked familiar. Then he read the description and bam, it clicked. Wasn''t this the Winter Queen''s pet?! Seeing the owner''s name, Ethan froze for a second before excitement surged through him. "Lyla! How the hell did you get her?!" In Ethereal, it was possible to tame wild creatures, but nobody had ever managed to tame a boss before. Once the pet system opened, 99.99% of players would get their pets by purchasing an egg and paying a ridiculous amount to have it hatched by a pet trainer. But Lyla? She somehow got a top-tier boss to pledge loyalty to her. Ethan was ecstatic. Through the video, he saw the little dragon perched on Lyla''s shoulder, chubby, deep green, and looking adorably smug. "I have no idea," Lyla said, equally amazed. "I logged in, and the system just told me I had a pet." Ethan finally understood why the boss hadn''t shown up at Larson Basin yesterday. It was off finding its new master instead. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The real question was why. What kind of ability did Lyla have to make a monstrous creature willingly swear loyalty? First, there was that pendant from the Underworld that bound itself to her. Now, the Winter Queen''s pet had done the same. Was there some connection between them? Ethan was starting to think that maybe Lyla was the real chosen one here. And him? He was just¡­ some guy. For a moment, he didn''t even know what to say. Eventually, he just told Lyla to start leveling up with her new pet. Sure, it''d slow down her experience gain, but once it grew stronger, it''d be a massive asset, strong enough to help her fight enemies way beyond her level. Lyla, of course, didn''t seem too worried about her level. "I don''t mind leveling slowly. It''s nice having a little pet to keep me company." She sounded casual, but Ethan didn''t feel the same way. No way he was letting her stay low-leveled. Especially not when he had a legendary weapon meant just for her. They were supposed to fight side by side, carve out a legend together, make every single single player in the game jealous. If he wanted Lyla to level up faster, there was only one solution, getting her a unique growth ability. Ethan already knew where to find one. Problem was, that place was currently out of his reach. Walking in now would be the same as signing his own death warrant. But as for finding a low tier growth ability, That wasn''t a problem. Lyla getting this pet had Ethan in such a good mood that even his Sin Value being maxed out didn''t bother him anymore. Sin Value could be cleared eventually. Speaking of which, he quickly reminded Lyla not to let her pet die. If its Loyalty dropped too low, things could get ugly. Pets with low loyalty didn''t just disobey orders, they could turn on their own masters. And that was a mess neither of them wanted to deal with. In his previous life, Ethan had seen plenty of players get killed when their pets suddenly turned on them. But Lyla? She didn''t seem worried at all. "It''s fine," she said casually. "Her loyalty stat doesn''t have a number. It just says ''Cannot Decrease.''" Ethan''s jaw nearly hit the floor. He''d never heard of that before. Regression was really messing with his understanding of the game. Since Lyla didn''t need him worrying about her, Ethan said his goodbyes. He had his own problem to deal with, washing away his Sin Value. In Ethereal, simply staying online gradually reduced Sin Value over time. But at max Sin Value? That would take forever. He didn''t even want to think about how long it''d take to clear it naturally. Farming monsters was a much faster option. Speaking of farming, he suddenly thought of a place where monsters dropped Mutated Cores, an item that boosted pet growth. Excited, he called Lyla again. She picked up instantly. "Ethie, again? We just hung up." "I know, I know, but listen. Don''t level up your pet yet. Put her away and focus on getting to level fifteen first. I''m heading out to clear my red name, and while I''m at it, I''ll see if I can farm some Mutated Cores. If I get some, it''ll boost her growth before she levels up, making her even stronger." Lyla considered this for a moment. "Alright, but¡­ her Growth Stat already says ''(50) Max.'' Can it even go higher?" "¡­What?" Ethan froze. "Yeah, it says 50 Max," Lyla confirmed. "¡­Forget everything I just said. Go ahead and level her up," Ethan sighed, feeling completely defeated. In his previous life, he''d heard that the highest possible Growth Stat for a pet was 50. It worked similarly to a player''s Star Growth system. Every time a pet leveled up, all its attributes would increase according to its Growth Stat. That meant Lyla''s pet¡ªthis absurd Growth 50 freak, would gain fifty points in every single stat per level-up. For context, the strongest pet in the previous timeline, the number one ranked pet in the entire game, had a Growth Stat of 35. Fifty was beyond insane. The higher her level got, the bigger the gap between her and every other pet in existence. That''s why most players, upon obtaining a pet, didn''t rush to level it up right away. Instead, they focused on increasing its growth potential first. After all, each player could only ever have one pet for life. Even if a pet betrayed its master, the player couldn''t obtain a new one. The only solution? Never summon it again and try to restore its loyalty, an obscenely expensive process involving a high-tier pet trainer. Losing a pet meant losing a huge combat advantage. After ending the call, Ethan set off toward Ashen Gorge. It was a level 20¨C30 monster zone, perfect for grinding and lowering his Sin Value. The moment he stepped inside, the name made perfect sense. The entire landscape was cast in shadow. Unlike the Plaguewood Forest, where darkness came from an eerie atmosphere, Ashen Gorge was dim because of the towering trees. Their thick, interwoven branches completely blocked out the sunlight. Yet despite the lack of light, the gorge was lush, vibrant greenery, rare flowers, and exotic herbs filled every corner. Chapter 78 - 78: The Hunter’s Gamble In a short while, players who had learned herbalism would flood this area. After gathering herbs, they would supply alchemists, who in turn crafted potions, elixirs, and tonics. Most alchemists preferred joining a guild rather than working for a shop. Guilds ensured a steady demand for their products, while shops depended on foot traffic, something that could be unreliable if the location wasn''t ideal. Pure crafting professions weren''t as unprofitable as many assumed. In fact, dedicated artisans could earn more than an average job in the real world. In his past life, Ethan had been a miner. By all logic, his life shouldn''t have been so miserable. Most miners partnered with guilds to excavate resource-rich sites, securing stable income. Ethan, however, had spent years working alone, digging through abandoned mines for rare crystals, always guided by quest hints. The problem? Those crystals were buried deep, requiring him to practically tunnel through an entire mine just to retrieve one. As a result, he had been dirt poor. Instant noodles had been his staple, and there were days he couldn''t even afford that. Now, standing at the edge of Ashen Gorge, Ethan reminded himself not to be fooled by its deceiving beauty. There was no safe zone here. Monsters could appear anywhere, at any time. Especially Dire Wolves, creatures known as Prairie Stalkers. These beasts possessed advanced stealth abilities, patrolled the entire map unpredictably, and every single one of them was elite-ranked. Countless players had died to their claws while attempting to gather materials in this area. Ethan had chosen this place for two reasons. First, the dense monster population made it ideal for farming Sin Value. Second, he wanted to hunt Prairie Stalkers in hopes of obtaining an advanced Stealth Skill Book, something that could significantly raise his stealth level. Only by improving his stealth ability could he explore high-level zones that were currently beyond his reach. Not long after entering, Ethan suddenly felt a chill crawl up his spine. Something was lurking. A stealth unit! It wasn''t another player, he was certain of that. The minimum level for monsters in Ashen Gorge was twenty. Any rogue who tried sneaking in at this level would be exposed and instantly sent back to the revival point. That meant it could only be a Prairie Stalker. But drawing out a Prairie Stalker wasn''t easy. At level twenty-five, these elite beasts had a Silent Step ability that made them even harder to detect. They were three levels above Ethan. He had no way of spotting them first. The only solution? Let it see him first. Transform: Bear Form. Ethan trusted his own defenses in this form. With over 5,500 HP, he wasn''t worried about getting one-shot. Plus, Prairie Stalkers lacked stun abilities. He didn''t have to worry about being locked down. Once it revealed itself, he''d find a way to take it down. The moment Ethan shifted into Bear Form, his instincts proved right. A massive Dire Wolf lunged at him from the shadows. -89! "Damn, that''s a lot of damage!" Ethan muttered, realizing just how strong a level twenty-five elite was. Without hesitation, he retaliated. Maul. His Bear Form stun ability landed clean, locking the beast in place for three seconds. Then, he immediately shifted into Owl Form, dropping Bramble Bind in front of it, layering two debuffs, Moonfire and Sunburst. Two seconds had passed. Switching once more, Ethan took Panther Form and slashed. -35, -44! -38, -44! -78, -44! Three bleed effects ticked above its head. Just as the Prairie Stalker''s stun wore off, Ethan took a step back, and the Prairie Stalker immediately lunged forward. But the moment it stepped down, its paw got caught in the Bramble Bind he had set earlier. The biggest weakness of beast-type monsters? They never tried to break free from control effects. With its legs tangled, the Dire Wolf couldn''t turn around. Ethan wasted no time. He slipped behind it and slashed. Shred. Shred. -978! -1586! Massive damage numbers popped up. Even though Ethan''s attacks hit hard, the Prairie Stalker had a massive 60,000 HP pool. There was no way he could kill it within Bramble Bind''s eight-second duration. In Panther Form, his attacks consumed Energy Points. His max Energy was 100, and even with its regeneration speed, he could only pull off three Shred attacks in a row. Each Shred cost 40 Energy per strike. To keep up the assault, Ethan threw in a few basic claw attacks in between. By the time Bramble Bind wore off, he had landed five Bleed Effects, stacking up over 10,000 total damage. With the other debuffs, the Prairie Stalker had lost a full third of its health. Just before Bramble Bind expired, Ethan unleashed Typhoon in Panther Form. A sudden gust launched the Dire Wolf backward, six meters away. Thanks to Typhoon''s special effect, the beast was now slowed by 70% for ten seconds. Ethan shifted into Owl Form, immediately reapplying Moonfire and Sunburst, extending their duration. With all his control skills on cooldown, Ethan rushed forward. Dodging the Dire Wolf''s vicious swipes with nimble footwork, he only switched to Bear Form when an attack was unavoidable, soaking up the damage instead of taking direct hits. Before long, the Dire Wolf let out a dying wail and collapsed. Ethan glanced at the time. It had taken him a full minute to take down the elite. Then again, considering he had soloed a higher-level elite, he felt pretty damn proud. Most players at his level wouldn''t even stand a chance. With that thought, Ethan pulled up his status window for the first time in a while. --- [NotADruid] Class: Druid Race: Human Level: 22 Faction: Survivors Bloodline: King of Elves (Divine) Attributes: Strength: 110 (+20) ¨C Increases physical attack. Intelligence: 110 (+20) ¨C Increases magic attack and mana pool. Agility: 110 (+20) ¨C Increases attack speed, movement speed, and energy regen. Stamina: 110 (+20) ¨C Increases defense. Vitality: 110 (+20) ¨C Increases max HP. Special Stats: Omni +2 | Mastery +4 | Critical +4 | Haste +3 Combat Stats: Attack Power: 524-632 Defense: 226-328 Health: 2200 Free Points: 0 General Skills: Basic Appraisal ¨C Can inspect monsters up to 5 levels higher. Background: The peace-loving Elven race has left an indelible mark on every recorded Holy War. Though they cherish tranquility, their valor in battle is unparalleled. --- Ethan hadn''t changed his gear much, but his weapon had been upgraded to level 30. With these stats, he was confident. His attack power was likely among the highest in the world. Grinning, he scooped up the copper coins dropped by the Prairie Stalker and started searching for his next prey. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 79 - 79: The Gamble Pays Off Author: There was a mix-up with chapter uploads. Chapter 76 was actually uploaded as 79. This has been corrected. If you unlocked the incorrect chapter, please feel free to go back and read the real 76. So sorry for the confusion. ___ Seven days passed in the blink of an eye. Two days ago, Ethan had finally cleared his red name status, but the Advanced Stealth Skill Book had yet to drop. So, he had remained in Ashen Gorge for another two days. After countless Prairie Stalker kills, the very last one finally dropped: [Skill Book: Stealth (Advanced)] Usable by: Rogue, Druid (Panther Form) Description: Enhances the existing Stealth skill upon use. Seven days. Three entire levels gained. And only now did he finally get it. The drop rate was insanely low. Without hesitation, Ethan grabbed the skill book and learned it immediately. Opening his skill panel, he checked his progress: Panther Form: Stealth LV1 (XP: 1/100) Finally. He could now level up his stealth. Mastering stealth mechanics had been the foundation of his rogue gameplay in his past life. With a high enough stealth level, he could drastically reduce the chances of being detected. Now that his red name status was cleared, Ethan pulled out a Teleport Stone and returned to Harmony City. --- The moment he arrived, Ethan was struck by the sheer difference from when he had first stepped foot here. The city was packed. At the teleportation hub, voices overlapped as players hawked their wares, many of them sitting on the ground, selling items at makeshift stalls. The three prime shop locations around the teleportation hub? They were all his. It was time to upgrade them into actual storefronts and officially kick off his business. With over 14,000 gold in his pocket, he had the capital to get things rolling and establish a reputation. Ethan left the teleport hub and made his way straight to the Shop Upgrade Center. On the way, a heated argument caught his attention. He glanced over and saw a commotion in front of the Master Engineer Guild. One of the men, dressed in novice gear, had a badge pinned to his chest, the mark of an Engineer Apprentice. A single star on the badge indicated his rank. He looked to be in his mid-thirties, but his weathered face made him seem older. The other man was a warrior with a greatsword strapped to his back. His small stature made the massive weapon look utterly ridiculous. A Dwarf Warrior, no doubt. "This failure wasn''t my fault," the Engineer Apprentice said quietly, head lowered. "Oh? So it''s my fault now?" The Dwarf Warrior sneered, looking up at him. "I swear, someone tampered with my materials before I started." "Shut it." The dwarf waved him off dismissively. "Our guild gave you so many resources, and you still made this garbage? You didn''t even break even. And you still call yourself some hidden class Master of Demonic Engineering? Hah! You''re just a delusional fool." Then, without warning, the Dwarf Warrior jumped up and slapped the Engineer Apprentice across the face. Since they were inside the city, PvP attacks had no damage, but the Apprentice''s low-level status meant the impact still knocked him off balance. His crafting tools clattered to the ground. Three days ago, the system had officially opened the Main City access to crafting-class players. The reason? Some Starter Zones had reached the 5,000-player threshold, triggering the requirement to allow life-skill players into the city. For pure crafting players, hitting 75 proficiency points in their trade skill was enough to qualify for the transfer. This was a quality-of-life update for non-combatants. Currently, in the Northern Frontier Region, most Starter Zones had already exceeded the 5,000-player mark. Only a handful of zones still hadn''t met the requirement. Most crafting-class players who made it into the Main City immediately headed to their respective Trade Guilds, where they could use system-provided crafting rooms to work on their creations. Of course, these rooms required rent, nothing came for free. Most crafting players joined recruiting guilds to keep their income stable. Guilds provided the materials, and in return, these players crafted items and earned a steady wage. The Engineer Apprentice quietly stepped back, gathering his scattered tools. His eyes burned with hatred as he glared at the Dwarf Warrior. "What the hell are you looking at? Get lost before I slap you again!" The dwarf puffed up his chest, trying to look intimidating. His beady eyes widened aggressively, but to everyone else, it just looked nothing more than an angry turtle trying to act fierce. The Engineer Apprentice took a deep breath, turned around, and walked away in silence. "Coward." The Dwarf Warrior spat in disgust. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The crowd murmured. "He didn''t even fight back? Took a slap and just walked off?" "If that were me, I''d be calling the guards right now." "Maybe he''s just biding his time," Ethan commented casually, his eyes flashing with interest. "The ones who endure the longest? They''re usually the scariest when they finally strike back." Some players glanced at him, but most dismissed the remark. A few even scoffed. The commotion died down, and the crowd dispersed. Only Ethan remained, watching the Engineer Apprentice''s retreating figure, deep in thought. "Well, well¡­ Never thought I''d run into him this early." Ethan muttered under his breath. This apprentice was someone he knew. Not as a friend. But as an enemy. In his past life, this man had been one of Zachary''s most loyal lackeys. After Zachary secretly invested in Avalon Vanguard, seizing control of the guild, this engineer had joined him. From that point on, Avalon Vanguard became infamous for its bizarre engineered weapons, all thanks to this guy. Demonic Counter Shields. Homing Explosive Bombs. Enhanced Jump Boots. Fragmentation Magic Rounds. The worst of them all? The Counter Shield. That thing had caused Ethan to go red-named more times than he could count. It could be used on yourself or given to others. The catch? Reflected damage didn''t trigger system aggression rules. Ethan had no intention of fighting, yet enemies would activate the shield, baiting him into attacking. The system then flagged him as the aggressor, branding him with a gray name. A gray-named player in the open world? Free game for everyone. Suddenly, he was hunted by mobs of opportunists, many of them armed with Enhanced Jump Boots. With no escape route, Ethan had been forced to fight back, killing the ones blocking his path. And just like that, he was a red name again. Eventually, Zachary''s guild sent Shadowstrike after him, initiating an endless cycle of assassinations. And this "apprentice"? This nobody had been responsible for all of it. And that was only a fraction of his work. Later on, he even developed a Demonic War Machine, a giant mobile fortress that crushed entire enemy forces. During one of the biggest siege wars, this machine single-handedly wiped out an entire army of Dragonspire''s elite players. And it all started with this pathetic, beaten-down apprentice, now walking away in disgrace. ID: NoPaperOnTheBigOne Ethan''s lips curled into a smirk. Fate sure had a funny way of bringing people back together. Chapter 80 - 80: The Mad Engineer Because his original in-game name was ridiculous, players in Avalon Vanguard had once given him a new title¡ªThe Mad Engineer. Right now, NoPaperOnTheBigOne had just been kicked out of another guild. He hadn''t yet been discovered by Zachary, the man who, in his lowest moments, had extended a hand and shown him genuine appreciation. That moment of kindness had earned Zachary his absolute loyalty. It was that loyalty that later led to him designing weapons that slaughtered Dragonspire''s top-ranked players, turning the tide of entire wars. By the end, he was known as nothing more than a traitor, reviled by thousands. Looking back, NoPaperOnTheBigOne wasn''t inherently a bad person. He had just followed the wrong leader. "A Mad Engineer, still in his apprentice phase¡­ is he worth investing in?" Ethan murmured to himself. Back then, NoPaperOnTheBigOne had only succeeded because of Avalon Vanguard''s resources. Zachary had thrown an endless supply of materials his way, allowing him to refine his craft and rise to power. That title, Mad Engineer, had once carried real weight. Right now, in terms of personal wealth, Ethan was likely one of the richest players in the Northern Frontier Region. If Zachary could fund a Mad Engineer into existence¡­ Why couldn''t he? And if he couldn''t train him, then at the very least, he''d make sure this guy never fell into enemy hands. With that thought, Ethan picked up his pace, falling into step beside NoPaperOnTheBigOne. "What''s that dwarf''s name?" he asked casually. "Mediterran, why do you care?" The engineer glanced at him, his voice flat. "You here to gloat?" "You feel humiliated, don''t you?" Ethan replied with a smirk. "But let me tell you something, weak people always get looked down on. That''s just the way the world works. Join me. I can make you powerful. Powerful enough to make them regret what they did today." NoPaperOnTheBigOne narrowed his eyes. "Who the hell are you? That was a Tier 2 Guild. And you, some random nobody, think you can say a few words and expect me to follow you?" To him, this was some random player spouting nonsense, trying to pick up a discarded piece of trash just because he''d been thrown out. "What makes you think you''re worth following?" Ethan chuckled. "This." With a flick of his hand, he disabled his name concealment, his true identity flashing above his head for exactly three seconds before vanishing again. NotADruid. Then, he shrugged. "You''ve got nothing left. If I wanted to scam you, what exactly would I be after?" Ethan asked indifferently. "I see potential in you. If you don''t want to come, fine by me." And with that, Ethan turned and walked away. If NoPaperOnTheBigOne was smart, he''d take the opportunity. If not, Ethan wouldn''t waste time begging. That would mean giving up control of the situation, something he had no intention of doing. As he watched Ethan''s departing figure, NoPaperOnTheBigOne''s expression twisted. Getting kicked out of his guild and publicly humiliated had been one of the worst moments of his life. Something he''d never forget. And now, NotADruid had shown up, offering him a lifeline at the most coincidental moment possible. Too convenient. Was there some ulterior motive behind it? But then, he thought about it. The Newbie King title. The series of game-breaking events Ethan had triggered since launch. Would a player like him really go out of his way to mess with a broke nobody? Or¡­ Did Ethan really believe he was worth something? His real-life struggles mirrored his failures in the game, broke, aimless, and barely scraping by. If he let this opportunity slip, who knew when the next one would come? He had nothing to lose. Even if this was a scam, it was still better than wandering around with nowhere to go. "W-Wait a second!" Hearing the voice behind him, Ethan smirked. Hook, line, and sinker. NoPaperOnTheBigOne caught up quickly. "What do you need me to do?" Engineering was the only thing he was good at, but because of his hidden subclass, even simple creations failed constantly. The wasted materials were why he had been kicked out of the guild. "Simple. You''ll be crafting engineering gear," Ethan replied as they walked. "What''s your hidden subclass ability?" "¡­Demonic Engineering," NoPaperOnTheBigOne muttered, scratching his head. Ethan noticed his hesitation. "Go on," he encouraged. In his past life, he had only known that NoPaperOnTheBigOne could create demonic-tech items. The exact mechanics had been a closely guarded secret, probably only known to him and Zachary. "My trait is Research & Development¡­ But that''s also the problem," the engineer admitted. "With engineering, if one component is wrong, the entire thing fails¡­ or explodes. And this damn trait constantly interferes, forcing me to experiment and ''innovate'' whether I want to or not." His expression darkened with frustration. The constant interference made his normal engineering skills unreliable. He could barely complete basic projects without the trait sabotaging him. Ethan''s eyes gleamed with interest. "Oh? And what''s the success rate after innovating?" he pressed. "I¡­ I don''t know. Engineering is never stable. I have to experiment over and over, fail repeatedly, and refine the process before I can craft something usable. Honestly, I regret choosing this path, but at the same time¡­ I can''t let it go. Even as a kid, I loved tinkering with machines." Ethan gave him a strange look. Engineering was one of the least popular crafting professions in the game. It was a money pit. In most games, combat classes only picked up engineering as a secondary skill. The phrase "Once you dive into engineering, say goodbye to your savings" existed for a reason. Sure, some gadgets were great for PvP combat, and a few helped with player convenience¡ªlike wormholes for instant travel. But most of it? Toys. A long time ago, in an old MMO game, players obsessed over engineering''s quirky inventions and poured their resources into mastering it. The problem? Everything failed. A lot. Creating even a basic item took multiple failed attempts. And the more someone invested, the deeper they fell, constantly chasing the next breakthrough, unable to stop themselves from experimenting. To make matters worse, engineering products were expensive. Only a small market could afford them, meaning most engineers never broke even. That''s why, in later MMOs, players avoided engineering like the plague. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And yet, NoPaperOnTheBigOne had chosen it willingly. Even doubling down on it with a hidden subclass. Ethan eyed him curiously. "You''ve¡­ never played MMOs before, have you?" The engineer looked embarrassed. "N-No¡­ This is my first game." Ethan stopped mid-step. "¡­Wait, what?" He studied the guy''s face. At least thirty-five years old. And this was his first MMO? How the hell was that even possible? Chapter 81 - 81: The Auction House "I''m seventeen." Ethan almost lost it. This guy was seventeen? No way. He looked way too old for his age. Ethan gave him a closer look. He didn''t seem to be messing around, but Ethan still had to ask, "Are you serious?" NoPaperOnTheBigOne looked more embarrassed. "Yeah, really. I just¡­ look a bit older than I am." Ethan thought to himself, ''A bit older? No, this is much more than that.'' As they chatted, they arrived at the Property Management Center. "Wait here," Ethan said before heading inside alone. With the guidance of the system NPC, he walked up to a 3D holographic map. Six golden-highlighted plots were displayed, indicating they were available for use. These were the six prime-location properties Ethan owned in Harmony City. Plot #1 had been a reward for being the first player to reach the Main City. Plots #2 and #3 had been given to him for completing the City Lord''s special quests. Plots #4, #5, and #6? He had bought those with his own money. After some thought, Ethan selected Plot #2 first and built an Engineering Shop. Engineering was a gold mine. Bullets, mechanical arrows, and cannon rounds were consumables, and with so many Archers and Gunners in the game, demand would always be high. Even if a player wasn''t hardcore about Engineering as a trade, mindlessly mass-producing ammo could still be a profitable business. Why? Because player-crafted bullets and arrows hit harder than system-generated ones. On top of that, they could be customized with different effects based on buyer requests. That alone could build an entire premium market. After setting up the Engineering Shop, Ethan moved on to Plot #3 and opened a Potion Store. Potions were an absolute necessity in Ethereal. If you didn''t have a Priest in your party while grinding, you needed potions to stay alive. If Engineering ammo was a gold mine for Archers and Gunners, then a Potion Store catered to everyone. Whether it was solo grinding or raiding dungeons, potions were always in demand. Ethan had planned the Potion Store in advance, the Engineering Shop had been a last-minute idea. Setting up each store cost 50 gold, meaning the total was 100 gold. However, Ethan only had to pay 90 gold. Why? Because under his contract with the City Lord, the city covered 10% of his construction costs. Meanwhile, outside at the teleportation hub, players were going about their business, some setting up stalls, others just hanging around. Suddenly, a squad of city guards marched in. One of them unrolled a notice and announced, "As per Harmony City''s Urban Management Laws, no private stalls are permitted within 500 meters of a Level 2 store. Violators will be detained for three days. You have three minutes to pack up and leave." The crowd was stunned. "What the hell? There''s no Level 2 shop around here!" someone voiced what everyone was thinking. But before anyone could argue, a group of NPC workers arrived, hauling wood and tools. They went straight to the designated locations and, without even laying a foundation, started tapping their tools on the ground. Then, before the players'' eyes, two buildings started rising out of the ground, assembling themselves section by section like magic. Within seconds, two brand-new two-story buildings stood there. The crowd stared at the shop signs. "All-You-Need Potions" "All-You-Need Engineering" Someone muttered in disbelief, "This guy must be loaded¡­ He named both stores the same thing." "Forget rich, do you know how much these plots are worth? Yesterday, someone offered 3,000 gold for one of them!" "Yeah, I saw that too. Either the owner refused to sell or he was the original buyer all along." "Holy, 3,000 gold?! That''s 5.4 million dollars!" "Yeah, if it were me, I would''ve sold it. No way that plot cost more than a thousand gold when bought from the system." "That''s why you have no vision. Only an idiot would sell! But seriously, this guy''s naming sense is¡­ something else." "Forget that, just the construction cost alone is insane. Upgrading to a Level 2 store takes 550 gold!" "Whatever, man. We''re the ones getting screwed. This was the best spot to set up stalls, and now we''re banned? That''s some real bull¡ª" As players vented their frustration, their emotions ranged from admiration to jealousy, and, of course, resentment. Ethan? He didn''t care. He knew exactly what the Urban Management Laws allowed, and he could already guess what was running through those stall owners'' heads. No place to set up meant no sales. Moving somewhere else? Useless. Sooner or later, new stores would pop up, pushing them out again. In the end, they''d have no choice but to relocate to the Market District, the only area designated for player-run stalls. That''s precisely why Ethan immediately upgraded his stores to Level 2, to make the gap between him and the others feel even wider. Now, he turned his attention to Plot #1 and selected another construction project. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By the time the NPC laborers finished the first two buildings, the displaced vendors had already packed up and moved to the northern side of the plaza. The central plaza spanned about 1,000 meters, and the 500-meter shop restriction hadn''t covered the entire space. But with everyone now crammed into a smaller section, things were a mess. There were more sellers than buyers. Just as the stall owners began setting up again, they noticed something. The NPC workers were heading straight for them. Eyes widened in shock as the workers reached Plot #1 and started hammering away at the ground once more. BOOM. A structure even larger than the first two began rising from the earth. Since Plot #1 was massive to begin with, this new building looked downright imposing. The golden sign gleamed under the sunlight: "All-You-Need Auction House" Silence. Then... "Holy¡ªANOTHER All-You-Need store?! AND IT''S AN AUCTION HOUSE?!" Someone in the crowd yelled, voice full of disbelief. "I knew it! This was the only spot in all of Harmony City big enough to house an auction house." "Knew it? Bro, everyone knew. You don''t get points for calling the obvious." "Exactly! The real shocker is the cost. 200 gold just for Level 1! Upgrading to Level 2? 2,000 gold! And it''s the same guy running it!" "Three prime-location stores¡­ Just how rich is this guy?" As the crowd reeled from the sheer amount of money involved, a sudden cry rang out¡ª "Hey! What the hell, why are you grabbing me?!" Everyone turned toward the voice. Their faces paled. A player had just been seized by the city guards, his hands shackled in iron restraints. A second player was arrested seconds later. Only then did it hit everyone, they had forgotten to pack up their stalls! The unlucky ones caught near the guards were immediately detained. Three days in jail. And if they didn''t log in during that time? The sentence extended further. Three days of zero progress. The financial losses would be massive. Within moments, the entire crowd scrambled to clear their stalls, no one daring to resist. But even as they packed up, despair sank in. Anywhere else, selling would be twice as slow. What now? Use the auction house instead? But auctions had fees, didn''t they? Then again, consigning items meant they wouldn''t have to sit around selling, they could go back to leveling or questing instead. As everyone hesitated, a figure cloaked in black appeared. Beside him was a man in his thirties. The two strode into the auction house. Moments later, a system message flashed above the entrance: "Auction House Trial Run: No Fees for the Next 7 Days!" Chapter 82 - 82: Sealing the Deal Beneath the black cloak was, of course, Ethan. On his way back, he had stopped by a tailor''s shop and picked out the largest hooded robe he could find. For now, he wasn''t ready to reveal that he was the owner behind all three major stores. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he and NoPaperOnTheBigOne exited the Auction House and headed straight for All-You-Need Potions. Soon, a notice was posted: Hiring alchemists. Buying herbs. Minutes later, a similar announcement went up at All-You-Need Engineering: Hiring engineers. Buying minerals and various materials. Ethan left alone this time. The future Mad Engineer was staying behind, now entrusted with managing both the potion and engineering stores. To get him started, Ethan handed him 1,000 gold in funds and granted him administrative access to both shops. His primary task? Hiring staff. As for material purchases, Ethan had already set the prices and hired NPCs to handle transactions. Players would only need to craft items and put them up for sale, NPCs would manage everything else. And the auction house? That required even less effort. With the fee structure in place, the system handled everything automatically, eliminating any risk of scams or corruption. No need to worry about shady operators skimming off consigned gear. Opening a shop in the game was easy, as long as you had money. With everything set, Ethan said his goodbyes to the still-dazed NoPaperOnTheBigOne. Everything was in order, and he had a manager in place. Did it matter whether this guy was truly loyal? Not really. Ethan had the contract. No one was running away from a signed deal. Even Ethan winced a little reading over the contract details, this poor guy had no idea what he had just agreed to. Completely overwhelmed by Ethan''s financial display, the future Mad Engineer had absentmindedly signed a 200-year contract. The key terms? 1. Everything he crafted belonged to Ethan. 2. He would receive 15% of the profit from any sales. 3. Ethan would supply all the materials needed. Additionally, as acting manager of the potion and engineering stores, he would earn 0.5% of the net profits from both. However, Ethan reserved the right to replace him at any time, no questions asked. Honestly, aside from the ridiculous more than a lifetime employment clause, the profit split was incredibly generous. Most guilds capped commissions at 10%, some as low as 5%. Here, he was getting 15%. So, when NoPaperOnTheBigOne read the contract, his eyes went wide with shock. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You''re seriously letting me sign this?" he asked, still in disbelief. "Yeah. Any problems?" "You¡­ might not know this, but I suck at crafting. Half the time, I lose money making stuff. And even when I do manage to sell something, I barely break even. That''s why I got kicked from my old guild. If I end up losing you money, don''t blame me." Despite his words, his hands were shaking slightly as he gripped the contract. He wanted this deal. Badly. Ethan just smirked. "You think I''m short on funds? Even if I take a loss, I''ll live. Besides¡­" He crossed his arms. "I have a good eye for people. I trust you." Ethan''s words hit deep. The future Mad Engineer felt a wave of emotions surge inside him. It wasn''t about money. It wasn''t about opportunity. It was about recognition. When a person was at their lowest, they didn''t need pity or charity. They needed someone to believe in them. Sometimes, all it took was a single sentence. Ethan''s casual remark shattered his defenses, cutting straight to his core. With trembling hands, he hesitated at the signature line. Then, after a pause, he looked up at Ethan. "Fifteen percent feels a little too high. Most crafting players in guilds only get ten percent, and that''s considered generous." "Quit complaining and sign it. You''re worth it!" Ethan snapped, pretending to be annoyed. But to the Mad Engineer, those words felt incredibly warm. As soon as his name was signed, Ethan grinned. "Alright, you''re mine now. And by the way, your name sucks. From now on, you''re just Mad Engineer. Keep an eye on the shop. I''ve got things to do." Before the guy could respond, Ethan had already left the Engineering Store. --- The plaza was as busy as ever, though much quieter than before. The scattered player-run stalls were gone. Across from him, the Auction House had a steady stream of players coming and going. Next door, the Potion Store was just as active, with customers trading herbs and potions with NPCs. Ethan stood there, taking it all in. Three stores. All his. He had no doubt, money would never be a problem again. Sure, the initial investment had been huge¡ª4,000 gold, but in time, these businesses would become unstoppable money machines. The game''s real-money trading system wouldn''t go live for another six months. That was when players could officially buy and sell in-game assets for real-world currency. When that happened, plots of land, stores, even auction houses would finally be up for sale. But Ethan had beaten everyone to it. By the time the rest of the world caught up, his stores would already be established. Players would be used to shopping at his stores. Latecomers? They''d be picking up scraps. And once corporations and investors started flooding into the game? If they wanted a piece of his business, they''d pay through the nose for it. If he had more gold, he would''ve already expanded into the two other cities. But right now, he had 10,000 gold left, and he needed it for something else, the guild. Currently, Renegade Alliance was only a Level 2 Guild, capped at 1,000 members. The roster had been full for a while now. He would''ve upgraded it sooner, but being red-named had kept him from entering the city. Now that he was back? It was time. A Level 4 Guild could hold 10,000 members, but it would cost 6,000 gold. Expensive? Yes. Necessary? Absolutely. If he wanted power, he needed his own force. Ethan strode into the Guild Hall, didn''t waste a second, and slammed down 6,000 gold. Renegade Alliance instantly became the second Level 4 Guild in Harmony City. With all his business handled, it was time for gear upgrades. His current equipment were garbage. And he wasn''t about to waste the Wishbound Relic on trash-tier gear. A quick glance through the Guild Vault revealed nothing worth taking. So, he turned around and headed straight for his own Auction House to browse the listings. As he walked, something flickered in his peripheral vision. A shadow. A figure. Someone was watching him. Chapter 83 - 83: A Familiar Face ''It''s him¡­'' The world really was small. Just a few days ago, Ethan had beaten this guy half to death in the real world. And now? He ran into him in-game. That guy was none other than Trent. Last time Ethan had seen Celeste, she mentioned Trent was in a coma from a severe concussion. No one knew when he''d wake up. Ethan had spent seven days grinding mobs in Ashen Gorge since then. That must''ve been enough time for Trent to wake up and log back in. Ethan still recognized Trent''s in-game avatar, they had teamed up in dungeons before, back in his previous life. Now, watching him walk into the Auction House, Ethan smirked and sent a message to Skyblade: "Send a few rogues my way. I''m at the Harmony City Auction House." The reply came almost instantly. "Got four nearby. They''ll be there soon. Need more?" "That''s enough. By the way, the guild''s upgraded, we''re at Level 4 now. We can hold 10,000 members." "Yeah, we noticed. Check how many we''ve got already." Curious, Ethan opened the Guild System. [Renegade Alliance] Guild Level: 4 Members: 3,569 / 10,000 Base Level: 1 (Harmony City) Fortresses: None Team Points: 265 Guild Funds: 1,358 gold, 92 silver, 26 copper Ethan raised an eyebrow. Over 3,500 members already? And still climbing? He had only walked from the Guild Hall to the Auction House, just a few minutes and the numbers had jumped. Then again, Renegade Alliance was the hottest guild right now. After the battle Larson basin, plenty of players had been waiting for recruitment to open. Seeing the guild grow, Ethan let out a small smile. This time around, he would build an empire with his own hands. As for the guild funds, it wasn''t much, but every bit had been earned, through grinding, donations, and contribution exchanges. Once membership hit the cap, daily guild earnings would be substantial. But Ethan wouldn''t touch that money lightly. Guild raids, wars, fortress sieges, every coin would be needed. In fact, he''d probably have to pour in even more of his own funds down the line. Building a strong guild took time. Right now, there was still a ceasefire period, and fortress battles were months away. But once real-money transactions launched, everything would change. The moment Ethereal''s first fortress war ended, in-game currency would be linked to real-world cash. That''s when corporations and investors would flood in, throwing money at any guild with control over a fortress or city. A total power shift. Many guilds would sell out. Ethan had no intention of letting Renegade Alliance fall into corporate hands. He was confident they''d secure at least one fortress, and he wouldn''t accept a single outside investor. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As he planned, four rogues approached, each wearing the Renegade Alliance emblem. Ethan raised a hand. They spotted him immediately. Seeing Ethan lift his hood slightly, their eyes widened. ''It''s Guild leader'' Skyblade had only told them to report to the Auction House for a mission. Now, seeing Ethan himself, they knew this wasn''t just some routine task. In Renegade Alliance, completing missions meant earning contribution points. And if they died during a mission? The guild compensated them. This was going to be worth it. The moment they received the order, the four rogues sprinted over. What they hadn''t expected? The one waiting for them was none other than the guild leader himself, the infamous Newbie King, NotADruid. What Ethan didn''t know was that he had gained another title among the player base: Druid God. The God of Druids. If Ethan knew about this title he had been given, he would have been dumbfounded. He was well aware that the true Druid God in Ethereal was Elyune, the Lunar Goddess, one of the Firstborn, and the Winter Queen''s younger sister. Hell, she ranked even higher than the Titan Forgers in the game''s lore. That said, in the player world, if anyone deserved to be called the Druid God, it was Ethan. "Boss! What do you need us to do?" one of the rogues asked eagerly. "Follow me." Ethan led them into the Auction House and stopped near the entrance. He motioned toward a player inside, Trent''s in-game avatar. "Memorize his face," Ethan said. "Track him. The moment he leaves the city, kill him. Send him back to the Starter Zone." The rogues'' eyes lit up. Corpse camping? Their favorite pastime. This was exactly why they chose the rogue class. One of them smirked. "Boss, just send him back once? That''s nothing. He''ll be out again in no time." Ethan grinned. These guys spoke his language. "If you''ve got nothing better to do," he said, "escort him all the way to Level 1." The rogues laughed. "Understood, boss! Leave it to us." Bounty hunting was one of the best money-making gigs for rogues. Unless the mission required handing over specific loot, whatever the target dropped was theirs to keep. Plus, they''d earn guild contribution points on top of that. This was exactly the kind of job rogues loved. With everything arranged, Ethan gave Trent one last merciless glance before turning back to his own business. He browsed the Auction House for gear but found nothing worthwhile. Probably because the auction house was still new, and most players hadn''t listed their items yet. Instead, he switched to the materials section and checked the Reinforcement Stones listings. There were already plenty, and the prices were only 1 silver each. Ethan bought them all. Right now, only a few players could afford gear enhancements, so prices were still low. But once players started hitting Level 30, the demand for Reinforcement Stones would explode. Prices would skyrocket from 1 silver to 50 silver per stone. Before Ethan''s rebirth, Reinforcement Stones had peaked at 35 gold each. By the time he finished, he had spent 200 gold, acquiring around 2,000 stones. A solid investment. But now? His inventory was full. It was only then that Ethan remembered, he was still stuck with a basic 12-slot bag. Even his personal bank storage hadn''t been expanded yet. Everything in this game cost money. With no choice, he ran to the Bank, paid another 500 gold to expand his storage, and hauled the Reinforcement Stones over in multiple trips. And that''s when he spotted it¡­ A weapon he had almost forgotten. [Wraithbinder''s Staff]. Chapter 84 - 84: The One and Only Ethan placed the staff at the very top of the guild vault, adjusting the contribution price to 999,999,999 points. Then, he attached a note: "High tier staff, viewing only. Available upon request for those who have made significant contributions to the guild." Just to make sure everyone saw it, he copied the message into the guild chat, along with the staff''s stats. The once lively guild chat fell into a brief, stunned silence. Then, all hell broke loose. "Holy crap! Boss, where did you even find this? This thing''s insane!" "A dark gold-tier weapon?! Damn, guild leader, you''re built different!" "guild leader never disappoints." "Boss is boss, as always!" The chat was flooded with admiration, praise, and the occasional shameless flattery. Ethan chuckled, enjoying the moment, but he didn''t linger on it. No need to rub it in. He opened his inventory and focused on a fiery red orb. [Infernal Core] Tier: Artifact S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Effect 1: Generates a 50x50 ft fire barrier, making all within it completely immune to fire-based attacks. Lasts 5 minutes, cooldown 24 hours. Effect 2: Can pacify all unstable fire elements. Effect 3: Can be socketed into any gear with a gem slot. Effect 4: Can be used as crafting material to forge any fire-based weapon or armor, instantly upgrading it to Artifact-tier. Restriction 1: Cannot be used by anyone with less than 20% fire resistance. Restriction 2: Anyone with less than 40% fire resistance will suffer continuous HP drain. Description: The heart of the Infernal Tyrant, brimming with unimaginable power, but also laced with an endless, corrosive fire. ... ''What kind of joke is this?!'' A level 200 player in full fire resistance gear wouldn''t even reach 20%, let alone 40%. ''Might as well just tell me I''ll never be able to use it.'' Ethan closed his inventory with a sigh. No point fantasizing. A treasure too rare to use, yet too valuable to throw away. ''Looks like it''s just gonna sit there, gathering dust.'' By the time he finished checking his inventory, he had already made his way back to the central teleportation platform. Just then, a private message popped up. Lyla had finally hit level 15. She should''ve left the Starter Zone long ago, but her pet had been leeching part of her XP, slowing her down. Still, thanks to her meticulous care, that little dragon had already reached level 9. At their agreed meeting spot, Ethan spotted Lyla from a distance. Even just standing there, she was impossible to miss, a stunning figure in the middle of the plaza. Male players couldn''t help but steal glances, some even taking the long way around just to get another look. A grin tugged at Ethan''s lips as he walked over, hidden beneath his black cloak. "Waiting for someone, pretty girl?" Lyla instantly recognized his voice, her face lighting up with a playful smile. "Yep! Who are you? Why are you hiding under that cloak? You must be up to no good!" She had been attracting attention for a while now. Plenty of guys had wanted to approach her but were too hesitant. Now, seeing Ethan casually walk up and make her smile like that, they all froze in place. A few of them, who had already circled the plaza several times just to build up the courage, stopped dead in their tracks. Then, they heard Lyla''s crystal-clear voice. "You must be a bad guy!" A collective, murderous aura surged in the air. "Did¡­ did that guy just steal our chance?" Ethan could almost feel the waves of resentment rolling toward him. Just as he was about to speak, a sudden shout rang out from the crowd. "Hey! You there! Let go of that girl, you creep!" Ethan raised an eyebrow. ''Let go? I haven''t even touched her. But now that you mention it¡­'' A mischievous thought crossed his mind. Very, very slowly, he reached out, dragging the moment for full effect, before wrapping an arm around Lyla''s waist. ''Let''s see how many of these guys I can piss off.'' "What? I''m not letting go." Ethan smirked, his voice dripping with mock arrogance. Lyla couldn''t see his expression under the cloak, but his tone alone made her almost burst into laughter. "Get that creep!" someone in the crowd shouted. In an instant, dozens of players charged at Ethan. Not that he was worried. Combat abilities were disabled in the city, meaning any fight had to be purely physical. Still, he wasn''t about to waste his energy on them. If anything, their jealousy was a compliment, after all, if this many people were fawning over Lyla, it only proved how amazing she was. Why should he be the one getting mad? "Guards!" Ethan suddenly shouted. The group instinctively flinched. Within three seconds, a squad of city guards stormed over. The would-be attackers awkwardly froze, silently thinking, ''We haven''t even done anything yet! Let''s see what the guards do to you first.'' A commanding officer, clearly someone important, stepped forward and frowned. "Who called for the guards?" Ethan''s grin widened. An old acquaintance. Roland Carter, Captain of Harmony City''s First Guard Squadron. Looked like he had been patrolling nearby and heard Ethan''s shout. Before Ethan could say anything, one of the players quickly pointed at him. "It was him! He was harassing this lady, so we stepped in to help. But he called the guards first!" Roland turned to Lyla. "Miss, as a warrior from another world, I must ask, was this man bothering you?" He glanced down at Ethan''s hand still wrapped around Lyla''s waist. Lyla''s mischievous expression didn''t waver. "Not at all! He''s my brother!" The crowd fell silent. "...Brother?!" They were all dumbfounded. ''Brother, my ass! Who would believe that? You two are clearly flirting!'' The tension fizzled out instantly. The would-be heroes grumbled among themselves, disappointed, with many preparing to leave. But just as they turned away, Ethan spoke up. "Captain Roland, these people are loitering within ten meters of my shop while carrying weapons. I have reason to suspect they were planning to rob my store. Please, arrest them all for questioning!" Roland''s face darkened. "According to city laws, carrying weapons within ten meters of a shop is prohibited. If the shop owner wishes to press charges, offenders will be detained for three to twelve hours. Guards, take them away for investigation." "Yes, sir!" The guards instantly surrounded the group. The crowd lost their minds. "He''s the owner of All-You-Need?!" They had been waiting to see Ethan get arrested, but somehow they were the ones in trouble instead. Why the hell did they pull out their weapons?! "Wait! No, this is a misunderstanding! We were just trying to help!" "Yeah! Sir, please! I have a guild event soon, if I miss it, I''ll be kicked out!" The guards didn''t care. With sharp spears pressed against their backs, the players were escorted away, their wails fading into the distance. Ethan casually flipped his hood back and looked at Lyla. "Satisfied?" She scrunched her nose playfully. "Hmph! That''s what they get for staring too much!" "And you weren''t afraid they''d all gang up on me and beat me up?" Lyla giggled. "No way! Ethie is the best!" Ethan sighed, shaking his head. ''Trouble magnet.'' But, well, a ridiculously clever one. "Alright, here." Ethan sent a trade request, offering Frostbound Reverie to her. The weapon was strange, inside his inventory, none of its stats were visible. Even after upgrading it thirty times, the details remained a mystery. Worse, each upgrade required fifty reinforcement stones, five times the normal amount. [Frostbound Reverie +30] Level: ??? Tier: ??? Attack: ??? Attributes: ??? Class Restriction: Archer, Hunter, Windstrider Faction Restriction: Survivor Description: Frostbound Reverie was born alongside the Firstborn, the Winter Queen. It is a manifestation of her essence, only those it deems worthy may wield it. After reading the description, Ethan wasn''t optimistic. The weapon itself had to "approve" of the user? But how did one earn its approval? There were no clues. Chapter 85 - 85: The Chosen Archer If the bow required a quest to gain its approval, that would be manageable. But if it was based purely on luck, then there was nothing he could do. In his previous life, Frostbound Reverie had remained nothing more than a legend, no one had ever actually equipped it. Eventually, it ended up in the hands of Feather, the so-called God of Arrows, but even he never used it. And yet¡ª "Whoa! +30 Enhancement?! A legendary-tier bow?! Ethie, you''re the best! Mwah~!" Lyla planted a kiss on his cheek before he could react. At that very moment, her old bow vanished, instantly replaced by a new one. And the design¡­ The entire bow looked as if it was forged from pure ice, radiating a restrained yet overwhelming chill. Its wings curved into a graceful arc, and intricate, ancient runes were etched across its body. Most striking of all was the brilliant golden aura, proof of its +30 enhancement. "You¡­ You actually¡­ equipped it?!" Ethan stammered. "Yep! And its stats are insane!" Lyla beamed as she checked her inventory. "Well? Show me the details!" Ethan was just as eager. This weapon was supposedly born alongside the Firstborn, the Winter Queen, its power had to be extraordinary. But while he was excited, he was also confused. Lyla had bonded with the Winter Queen''s pet immediately. Now, she could equip the Winter Queen''s weapon without issue. What was going on? Lyla sent the stats over in a private message. Ethan quickly opened it. And then¡­ Nothing. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just like in his inventory, every stat was still a string of question marks. "...I can''t see anything," Ethan muttered in frustration. "You''ll have to read it out to me." "Really? Alright!" Lyla cleared her throat and began listing off the attributes. As Ethan listened, a clear picture formed in his mind. --- [Frostbound Reverie +30] Tier: Legendary Required Level: 15 (Grows with the user) Attack Power: 704 - 1156 (Base Damage: 176 - 303) (+30 Enhancement Bonus: 528 - 909) Agility: +150 Strength: +150 Passive Abilities: Frost Infusion: All attacks gain ice attributes, reducing enemy movement speed by 25% for 2 seconds. Endless Arrows: The bow automatically generates magical arrows, with damage matching the highest-level arrows available. Mimic Arrow: Can replicate the effects of special arrows. Stores up to five at a time. If a new effect is added, a random existing effect is erased. Stronger effects override weaker ones of the same type. Dynamic Abilities: Frostbolt Trigger: Every 10th attack fires an ice arrow, dealing 150 True Damage. Summon: Winter Queen: Summons a phantom of the Winter Queen, lasting 1.5 seconds. The phantom wields 0.15% of her real power. (Cooldown: 30 days) Forbidden: Winter''s End: Unleashes an ice storm, freezing and damaging all enemies nearby. The damage radius scales with charge time. While charging, 1% HP is lost per second. (Max charge time: 5 minutes | Cooldown: 30 days) Enhancement Bonuses: +10: Mastery +6 +20: Omni +6 +30: Haste +6 Class Restriction: Archer, Hunter, Windstrider Faction Restriction: Survivor Bound Owner: Moonbeam (Cannot be dropped or destroyed. If wielded by an unapproved user, they will be instantly frozen into crystal and unable to revive for 10 days.) --- "...Holy hell." Ethan stared at Lyla, dumbfounded. This bow wasn''t just powerful, it was ridiculous. But one thing was clear: It had chosen her. Frostbound Reverie was born alongside the Firstborn, the Winter Queen, formed from the very essence of her frozen soul. It could only be wielded by one it deemed worthy. ¡­ Ethan was stunned after hearing Lyla''s breakdown of the weapon. Forget the abilities for a second, just its base attack alone was an absurd 303 points. And this was at level 15. On top of that, the weapon grew stronger with its wielder, meaning its stats scaled as Lyla leveled up. It had six attributes, and three of them were dynamic, meaning they''d automatically improve as she gained levels. Then there was the Winter Queen''s Summon, it granted a phantom with 0.15% of the real Winter Queen''s strength. How strong was that? No one knew. No one had ever used it before. And then there was Forbidden: Winter''s End, just the name alone sounded catastrophic. But the 1% HP drain per second during charge-up? That was brutal. If Lyla fully charged it for 5 minutes, she''d drop dead before even firing it off. Yeah, she was gonna need a healer babysitting her for that one. Ethan frowned. If she was level 15 and the max charge time was 5 minutes, did that mean at level 100, she''d have to charge for 33 minutes? Of course, this was just his guess, but regardless, this bow was beyond broken. Even its first three abilities were insane. A 25% slow on every attack? For an archer, that was a godsend. Archers were glass cannons, meaning they needed to keep enemies at a distance. If every arrow crippled movement, getting jumped by melee attackers became way less likely. Sure, the slow only lasted two seconds, but an archer''s attack speed was fast enough to keep it nearly permanent. And the automatic magic arrows? That was basically printing money. Archers and gunners were notoriously expensive classes. Sure, their bullets and arrows had special properties, allowing them to punch above their level and deal high burst damage. But all that cost gold, a lot of gold. Even a basic, no-effect barrel of 1,000 arrows cost 1 copper. At higher levels, however, basic arrows weren''t even an option. Lyla was level 15 now, meaning proper arrows for her would cost around 3 copper per barrel. With the in-game exchange rate, that was about $54 per barrel. And in real combat, a barrel only lasted around three hours. Do the math, a single day of intense grinding would cost at least $200 in ammo alone. But now? With Mimic Arrow, she could copy the effects of special arrows, and combine that with the infinite supply from the bow itself¡­ Unlimited ammunition. No more gold sink. Ethan sighed. He had thought his +30 silver-tier weapon was strong, certain that no one in the game could outdamage him. His entire gear set combined barely totaled 600 attack power. Lyla''s bow alone outclassed that. He stared at the weapon, practically drooling. He had planned on helping Lyla level up, but now? Looks like he was the one about to get carried. Chapter 86 - 86: A Surprise Wedding As soon as Ethan heard Lyla''s forbidden spell ability, an idea struck him. "Lyla, let''s test out that spell of yours!" he said, his tone filled with excitement. "Sure! Where are we going?" "Come on, I''ll take you there! But we''ll need a healer too, otherwise, you won''t be able to finish charging it." "Alright! I''ll listen to you!" Lyla chirped sweetly, clinging to Ethan''s arm and nuzzling against him. Ethan let out a helpless chuckle. This girl was like a completely different person in-game compared to real life. While she was pretty obedient offline, she was a total menace in-game. She knew that no matter what she did here, he couldn''t do anything about it. Thinking back to his previous life, the things they had done, in taverns, out in the wild, even inside dungeons¡­ his mind drifted. And suddenly, heat surged through him, and a growing bulge tented his pants. ''Damn it.'' Right now, he really wanted to drag her to somewhere private to unleash the pent-up tension he felt within. Unfortunately, the game had strict rules. Any kind of intimate interaction required mutual consent, otherwise, the system would immediately kill you on the spot. Pushing aside those thoughts, Ethan opened his friend list and sent a message. "Slashblade, you busy?" "Just got back to town with Ryan and Williams for supplies," Slashblade replied. "Meet me at the central teleportation hub. We''re forming a party." "We''re already here!" Just as Ethan read the message, he spotted four figures approaching. "What a coincidence," he muttered, recognizing them immediately¡ªSlashblade, Skyblade, SeraphWarrior, and Meatball. He hadn''t expected them to already be grouped together. With himself and Lyla, that made a full party. "Coincidence? You two stand out like a sore thumb, one dressed head-to-toe in black, the other drop-dead gorgeous. Hard not to notice!" Slashblade joked. It had been a few days since they last met, and Ethan noticed something different about him. Slashblade, usually reserved and brooding, seemed... talkative. Ethan raised a brow. "Slash, you''ve changed." "Hah! Told you he''d notice!" Skyblade laughed, slapping SeraphWarrior on the back. "Alright, pay up. You too, Meatball, no backing out!" Ethan was thoroughly confused. "What''s going on?" Skyblade grinned. "Boss, Slashblade''s getting married!" "What? No way!" Lyla gasped, rushing forward. "Congrats, Slashblade!" Ethan, however, had a very different reaction. "Wait¡­ married? Second marriage?" he blurted out without thinking. The group fell silent for a split second. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. SeraphWarrior immediately covered his face, his shaking shoulders betraying his suppressed laughter. Meatball struggled to keep a straight face, his expression turning an unnatural shade of purple. Slashblade, on the other hand, looked utterly mortified, glaring at Ethan with a mix of frustration and disbelief. Realizing his blunder, Ethan quickly tried to recover. "Uh¡­ I just thought you were already married, that''s all." That only made things worse. Skyblade doubled over laughing. "I knew it! I knew Boss would assume Slash was divorced! Alright, pay up, everyone!" He even gave Slashblade a shove, demanding his winnings. Slashblade looked like he was seriously considering murder. Still grinning, Skyblade turned back to Ethan. "Boss, you don''t know the half of it. Slashblade dedicated his whole life to serving the country. Got injured in the line of duty, retired, and spent years taking care of his fallen comrades'' families¡ªwidows, orphans, the works. Never had time for his own life. "But there was this one girl, met him when she was sixteen. Waited over ten years for him. Now she''s almost thirty, and the guy finally gave in. Talk about a long game!" Ethan glanced at Slashblade, his respect for the man deepening. After hearing about Slashblade''s past, he couldn''t help but reflect on his own situation with Lyla. His eyes shifted toward her, a flicker of unspoken emotion passing through his gaze. Lyla met his eyes and, as if sensing his thoughts, smiled softly. Without a word, she squeezed his hand just a little tighter. "Oh ho! Something''s going on here!" Skyblade''s sharp eyes caught the exchange immediately. "Nothing''s going on," Ethan deflected, quickly shifting the focus. "Let''s talk about Slash instead. When''s the big day?" "The day after tomorrow," Slashblade answered, looking a little embarrassed. "That soon?" Ethan was taken aback. "Boss, First lady, you guys coming?" Skyblade asked with a grin. Ethan actually wanted to go, but instead of answering right away, he turned to Lyla to see what she thought. "First lady, you should come! Look at Meatball, we''ve barely known him for a few days, and even he''s coming," Skyblade added, clearly playing the persuasion game. "Where''s the wedding? If it''s too far, we might have to leave early in the morning," Lyla pointed out. She had already figured out that Ethan wanted to go. "No need to worry! Even if it''s far, you can just take a flight!" "I get air sick," Lyla admitted with a sheepish look. "I''ll send you the address in a bit," Slashblade said. He really wanted Ethan to be there. If it weren''t for Ethan, he wouldn''t have had the courage to pursue this relationship at all. Slashblade had only joined Ethereal on a whim, never expecting to run into Ethan. But under his leadership, their group had climbed higher than they ever imagined. And on top of that, Ethan paid his three core members a generous salary, 10 silver coins per day. That translated to a daily wage of about $1,800. Before retiring from the military, Slashblade had only earned around $8,000 a month. Now, he kept just $1,000 for himself and sent the rest to the families of his fallen comrades. It wasn''t much, but it was enough for them to live a simple but stable life in the countryside. He never really thought about himself, never allowed himself to. Slashblade wasn''t the expressive type, but he carried a deep gratitude toward Ethan. He never spoke about it, but he felt it every time they met. And ever since he had called Ethan "Boss" for the first time, his loyalty had already been sealed. Hearing that Ethan and Lyla were coming, Slashblade couldn''t help but feel a wave of happiness. Without delay, he sent them the address. Ethan took a quick look. "Not bad, it''s not too far. Should take about six hours by car." "Boss, where are you guys right now?" Skyblade asked. "Ember City," Ethan replied. "Holy¡ªThat''s not far at all! Shouldn''t take more than four or five hours. What, did you just get your license? Six hours¡ªwhat are you driving, a tractor?" Skyblade teased. Ethan shot him a look. "Our car probably can''t take the highway. We''ll have to use the backroads." "What kind of car?" "A Predator Beast X," Ethan said casually. There was a brief moment of silence. Even SeraphWarrior, who had been quiet the whole time, finally spoke up in shock. "Wait... you''re kidding, right?" "There''s no way..." Chapter 87 - 87: Into the Iron Mountains Ethan''s joke was getting out of hand. A Predator Beast X? That car was something out of a sci-fi fantasy. Forget about highways, even if he took it on regular roads, a convoy of armed SWAT units would probably surround him within minutes. Skyblade watched Ethan''s cryptic smile and shook his head. ''Yeah, right. He''s totally messing with us.'' "Alright, let''s squad up. I''ll take you guys to level up," Ethan said, sending out party invites. With six members, the team was full. Once they were all in, Ethan noticed that the four of them had already hit level 20. Not exactly record-breaking, but still within the top tier of players. "Since you guys are level 20 now, you should start upgrading your gear. You can probably handle the Howling Caverns dungeon," Ethan suggested. "Yeah, but we don''t have enough guild members at level 20 to form a full raid team yet. Boss, are you running it with us?" Skyblade asked. Ethan thought for a moment. Howling Caverns¡­ That dungeon drops a three-piece druid gear set. It wouldn''t hurt to grab some upgrades, and honestly, his current equipment could use an overhaul. "Yeah, call me when you''re forming the party. Let''s also get Moonbeam to level 20 so she can join. There''s a rare archer treasure that drops there, it boosts attack speed." "First lady''s only level 15? By the time she hits 20, we''ll probably have already cleared the dungeon. But we can power-level her after," Skyblade said. "Excuse me, are you looking down on me?" Lyla snapped. "Uh¡­ No way!" Skyblade forced a grin, clearly sensing danger. With their team set, Ethan led the group to the teleportation hub. He activated the squad teleport function, instantly transporting everyone to Blazestar Outpost in the Scorched Plains. "Where are we?" Lyla asked, glancing around. "This is the Scorched Plains, a level 30 zone," Ethan replied. "We''re grinding on level 30 mobs? That''s fifteen levels higher than me," Lyla said, sounding doubtful. "Don''t worry, First lady Back in the Starter Zone, Boss had us farming over-leveled mobs all the time. The EXP was insane," Skyblade reassured her. "This time, I''m not carrying you guys," Ethan smirked. "Moonbeam''s the key here. And we''re not hunting level 30 mobs." He left them hanging, turning toward the north. Beyond the outpost, a massive mountain range loomed in the distance, its peaks piercing the clouds. "That''s our real destination," Ethan said, pointing at it. They were headed for the Iron Mountains. Blazestar Outpost was the closest teleportation hub to their goal. The path ahead was mostly safe, but since their levels were still on the low side, Lyla managed to attract an enemy, a Flame Draconian. A level 30 elite. Good thing they had a full party, or even Ethan would''ve struggled to take this thing down alone. --- [Flame Draconian] Quality: Elite Level: 30 Magic Attack: 824 Physical Defense: 1200 Magic Defense: 1100 Health: 80,000 Skill 1: Fireball ¨C Deals 120% magic damage to the target. Cast time: 3.5 seconds. Skill 2: Inferno Blast ¨C Deals 200% magic damage. Cast time: 10 seconds. Cooldown: 1 minute. --- For Skyblade, a shield tank with no fire resistance gear, this type of magic-based enemy was a nightmare. Physical armor meant nothing against it, every hit would deal full damage. As soon as Lyla aggroed the monster, Skyblade immediately switched to defensive stance. He charged forward, taunting the Draconian before slamming a fist into its chest, interrupting its Fireball cast. The Draconian''s spell was interrupted, silencing it for five seconds. Unable to cast magic, it resorted to swinging its staff at Skyblade, landing two normal attacks. Each hit dealt only 1 damage. It couldn''t even break through Skyblade''s defenses. "Hah! Level 30 mobs aren''t all that tough. Can''t even scratch me!" Skyblade boasted. Seeing that their tank could hold the line, the rest of the party relaxed and launched their attacks. -1! -1! -1! -658, -50! -3,698! Everyone paused as the Draconian''s health bar ticked down. The first three weak hits were from Skyblade, SeraphWarrior, and Meatball, expected results given the level gap. But those last two numbers? All eyes turned to Ethan. "Uh¡­ The 600-something was mine," Ethan admitted. He was just as stunned as everyone else. But the 3,698? That was Moonbeam''s. That damage was insane. She was hitting a monster 15 levels above her, and it still landed that hard? "First lady, what the hell was that?!" Skyblade gawked at Lyla. "This is my highest single-hit skill, Aimed Shot. It does 500% base damage but has a 4-second charge time and a 1-minute cooldown," Lyla explained, just as shocked as the others. She suddenly realized how powerful the weapon Ethan had given her really was. A 4-second charge time was brutal for an archer. Staying rooted that long in battle was practically asking for death. But in their amazement, they had all overlooked one important fact¡ªLyla was only level 15. Against a level 30 monster, the system''s level suppression should have heavily reduced her damage. So how was she hitting that hard? "Skyblade, watch out!" Ethan shouted. "Huh?" Skyblade blinked in confusion. The five-second silence wore off. While everyone had been busy marveling at Lyla''s attack, the Draconian had already completed casting its Fireball. Boom! S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The blast hit Skyblade directly. -2,256! Skyblade''s health bar instantly vanished, and he collapsed to the ground. Being level 20, he was already at a 10-level disadvantage. Even in defensive stance, his max HP barely reached 2,200. The Fireball outright one-shot him. ''Damn, I got careless.'' "Shifting, Bear Form! Taunt!" Ethan roared, instantly transforming and pulling aggro onto himself. "Skyblade, corpse run!" he ordered. "On it!" Skyblade responded in party chat. Ethan cursed inwardly. ''Damn it, I forgot this thing is pure magic-based.'' Earlier, when its spell got interrupted and it was forced to use normal attacks, it barely dealt any damage. That had lulled him into a false sense of security. "Slashblade, keep me healed!" Ethan called out. "Got it!" Slashblade replied. "Anyone else have an interrupt? We need to stop its Inferno Blast. Ignore Fireball, it''s not worth wasting an interrupt on," Ethan said. "The only interrupt skill we have is Skyblade''s Punch," SeraphWarrior informed him. "Boss, can you tank this thing?" Skyblade asked while running back. "Relax," Slashblade cut in. "Boss is way more solid than you." "How?! He''s a druid! Even in Bear Form, his health is only about the same as mine. You''ve healed druid tanks before, you know they''re not that sturdy," Skyblade argued. Ethan smirked, his eyes locked on the Draconian. "You''ll see." Chapter 88 - 88: Breaking Limits Slashblade chuckled at Skyblade''s disbelief. "Hah, that''s why Boss is Boss. He''s got 6,250 HP, that''s three times yours! And his movement? Flawless." Ethan weaved through the battlefield, dodging most of the Flame Draconian''s Fireballs with precise footwork. He only took a hit when there was absolutely no way around it, giving Slashblade plenty of time to keep his health topped up. "You''ve gotta be joking," Skyblade muttered. "Less talking, more running. Get back here and help interrupt its spells. Inferno Blast will take out half my health, I don''t think Slashblade can heal me fast enough if I take the full hit," Ethan said in party chat. Even with his dodging, the few Fireballs that did connect were hitting him for over 1,800 damage each. The monster was five levels higher than him, and being pure magic-based, its damage was brutal. Ethan hadn''t had time to collect skill books yet, he didn''t even have the druid interrupt skill Skull Bash. "Moonbeam, simulate your strongest true-damage arrow," Ethan called out. With others around, he always used her in-game name. "Got it!" Lyla responded instantly. "Wait, what about Rapidfire Barrage?" Ethan asked. He distinctly remembered giving her an advanced archer skill book that she should''ve learned. "Oh, crap! I just hit level 15 and forgot to learn it! One sec!" As she spoke, the Flame Draconian began casting Inferno Blast. Ten seconds. The spell was almost complete. Heavy Strike! Ethan launched a stun attack, knocking the Draconian out for three seconds. As soon as the stun wore off, the monster resumed casting. Typhoon! A burst of wind sent the Draconian stumbling eight meters backward, interrupting the spell again. The third cast began. Out of nowhere, a massive warhammer crashed down on the Draconian''s skull. Hammer of Judgment! SeraphWarrior''s control skill landed, stunning the Draconian for five seconds. But as soon as the stun ended, the monster started casting Inferno Blast yet again. Ethan knew there were no more interrupts left. This time, the spell was going to hit. Damn it, I won''t be able to dodge this one. A massive fireball, the size of a bathtub, blasted toward him at breakneck speed. Ethan had already sprinted ten meters away, trying to create an escape window, but he had underestimated Inferno Blast''s speed. The moment he reacted, the fireball was already in his face. Boom! -5,756! A critical hit. If not for his high HP and Slashblade''s constant healing, he would''ve suffered the same fate as Skyblade. Gritting his teeth, Ethan chugged a Medium Instant Healing Potion. +4,250! He was back in the fight. Slashblade, however, had already burned through a third of his mana, and the battle had only lasted a minute. Even with Ethan dodging most attacks, the damage was too high. Slashblade''s main healing spell only restored about 400 HP per cast, meaning he had to cast four times just to recover from a single hit. "Skyblade, how much longer till you get back?" Ethan asked. "It''s a long way. At least five more minutes," Skyblade replied. Ethan was starting to feel the pressure. The Flame Draconian had only lost a fifth of its health. At this rate, it would take at least five more minutes to kill it. If Slashblade ran out of mana, Ethan would be the first to die, then the whole team would follow. If things got worse, he''d have to call for a retreat. "Boss, don''t worry. I haven''t even used a mana potion yet. I still have one Medium Slow Mana Recovery Potion, it should be enough to finish this fight," Slashblade reassured him. "Wasting a Medium Slow Mana Recovery Potion on a single elite? That''s a loss," Ethan muttered. Mana potions were five times the price of health potions. A Medium Slow Health Recovery Potion cost 2 gold, while a mana potion of the same level was 10 gold. Just the Medium Instant Healing Potion he drank earlier had cost him 15 gold¡ªabout 27,000 dollars in real-world currency. Even with his wealth, he couldn''t just throw money around. And this wasn''t even a boss, just a regular elite. If they kept going like this, who knew how much it would cost to clear stronger enemies? "Bro, just hold on for one more minute, I''ll finish it off," Lyla suddenly spoke up. "You sure? If not, you guys should retreat. I can afford to die once, but I''m not wasting any more potions on a bad deal," Ethan said firmly. "I got this. I just learned Rapidfire Barrage, nine consecutive attacks, each dealing 200% damage. It only has a 10-second cooldown, and as long as I keep charging, the effective cooldown is just five seconds!" Lyla explained. As she spoke, she activated Double Shot, a buff that allowed her to fire two arrows in quick succession. Then, she began charging Aimed Shot. Whoosh! Two arrows flew. -3,698, -89! S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. -5,547, -89! -150! The second Aimed Shot landed a critical hit, and her bow''s passive ability¡ªtriggering true damage every ten consecutive attacks, activated. The Flame Draconian''s health dropped drastically. Lyla didn''t stop. Her fingers pulled the bowstring again and again, releasing a relentless flurry of arrows over the next five seconds. -1,290, -1,290, -1,935¡­ The monster''s HP plummeted to half. Ethan immediately realized, she wouldn''t even need a full minute. Two more rounds, and the Draconian would be dead. At this point, SeraphWarrior and Meatball had completely stopped attacking. After watching their puny 1-damage attacks while Lyla casually dealt thousands, they felt utterly useless. They were level 20, and she was only 15. Yet she was carrying them. If word got out, they''d never hear the end of it. But something wasn''t right. How was Lyla''s damage this high? Their eyes drifted toward her bow. Its golden glow practically screamed high-grade enhancement. "First lady, is that a +30 weapon?" Meatball finally asked, unable to contain his curiosity. "Mhm, Guild leader gave it to me," Lyla said casually. "What?! Boss, hook me up with one too!" Meatball immediately turned to Ethan, pleading. "Sure, but you''ll need to supply your own Enhancement Stones. And just so you know, enhancing to +30 won''t be cheap," Ethan smirked. Meatball had been about to agree enthusiastically¡ªuntil he heard the second part. His excitement froze. "Wait¡­ You''re serious? You can actually enhance to +30?" He had only been hoping for something around +15. He hadn''t even considered +30. Chapter 89 - 89: The Art of Enhancement As a veteran gamer, he knew exactly how ruthless the enhancement system could be. Right now, his weapon was at +5 enhancement. At one point, he had pushed it to +11. But greed had cost him. One failed attempt later, the enhancement level dropped, and he never managed to bring it back above ten. He had poured at least a hundred gold into enhancing this weapon alone. For a solo player to afford that much in the early stages, it spoke volumes about his deep pockets. If he could push it to +30? Forget a hundred gold, he''d pay a thousand without hesitation. "Boss, name your price. As long as you can get it to +30 and it''s within reason, I''ll pay up!" Meatball declared. He was a gaming fanatic, the kind of player who threw money at the best gear without a second thought. Hearing Meatball''s words, a thought sparked in Ethan''s mind. With the Wishbound Relic, could he create an elite squad? Why hadn''t he considered this before? Instead of just focusing on himself, he could equip his closest allies, people he trusted, with high-tier, enhanced gear. While he was lost in thought, Lyla fired off a Double Shot, followed by a Rapidfire Barrage. Eighteen arrows slammed directly into the Flame Draconian''s head. The creature let out a final roar before collapsing. Ethan bent down and picked up three copper coins from the loot. "What a loss. One life and a Medium Instant Health Potion, and all we get is three coppers?" Ethan muttered in the party chat. "Yeah, and it was the weakest one who died too!" SeraphWarrior chimed in. "Then why don''t you tank next time if you''re so good?" Skyblade shot back. "Alright, when we get back, stock up on Reinforcement Stones. I''ll enhance your gear for free," Ethan announced. Meatball''s eyes lit up instantly. "Boss, have you figured out some secret enhancement method? What''s the success rate?" he asked eagerly. Having spent a fortune on enhancements in past games, he was no stranger to the process. He had always relied on experts to enhance his gear. "Uh¡­ let''s call it a trick. It''s a hundred percent success rate. You believe me?" Ethan smirked. "Nope!" Meatball blurted out, then added, "Boss, I''ve got a hundred Reinforcement Stones here. See how far you can push this weapon. How much gold do you need?" Ethan took the stones, studying Meatball in silence. Meatball stared right back at him. A few seconds passed before Ethan finally spoke. "Give it to me." "Huh?" "The weapon. You expect me to enhance air?" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You need it now? I thought we''d do this back in town. If I give it to you now, I''ll be unarmed!" Meatball groaned. Still, he handed over his weapon. By now, the rest of the group had gathered around, curiosity piqued. Ethan hesitated. If he used the Wishbound Relic in front of them, could he trust these people? He weighed his options carefully. He hadn''t known them for long, but he had heard enough about them. Skyblade was a given, Ethan already trusted him in his past life. Slashblade, from what Skyblade had told him, was a retired soldier, loyal and honorable. SeraphWarrior and Skyblade had both served under Slashblade in real life. If Skyblade trusted them, Ethan had no reason to doubt them either. Meatball was the only uncertain one. But Ethan knew one thing, this guy had money to burn. And more importantly, he wasn''t the competitive type. He was a casual, solo player, someone who played for fun rather than rankings. People like that rarely got jealous of others'' success. With that in mind, Ethan finally pulled out the Wishbound Relic. His teammates watched in confusion as he placed Meatball''s Golden Warstaff inside. Ethan glanced at the weapon''s stats, Gold-tier, worth at least fifty gold. Yeah, Meatball really was loaded. Ethan tossed the Reinforcement Stones into the Wishbound Relic, one by one. He didn''t stop until he had used twenty-five of them. This time, his luck was absurd, every single attempt had succeeded. Under the stunned gazes of his teammates, Ethan pulled the weapon from the relic and handed it to Meatball. "This¡­ this¡­" Meatball stammered, his hands trembling as he held the weapon. "It''s really at +30? Boss, this thing¡­?" His eyes flicked to the relic in Ethan''s hands. "This is my biggest secret," Ethan said seriously, locking eyes with everyone. "I trust you to keep it." Meatball froze for a moment before his expression shifted. It wasn''t the heated look of envy or greed, it was something else entirely. Trust. For the first time, someone wasn''t trying to take something from him. Instead, Ethan was giving him something and asking for nothing but discretion in return. "Boss, you have my word," Meatball said, his voice firm. Despite how carefree he seemed, Meatball wasn''t from this region originally. He had grown up in the Capital, but tired of its endless noise and chaos, he moved to the coast, to a city known for its romance and laid-back lifestyle. As for his wealth? Even he didn''t know how much he had. All he knew was that he owned a ridiculous number of properties. The exact count? No clue. They were all managed by real estate firms, and his phone buzzed with transaction alerts every single day. He was an ultimate landlord. Where did all those properties come from? Inheritance. In other words, he was a real estate heir. But unlike most, he had no interest in high society. He only cared about games, living the life of a shut-in. The few people who stuck around were always after something. This was the first time he had met someone who wanted nothing from him, who simply asked for his trust. And that filled a part of him he never knew was empty. "Meatball, show us the stats!" SeraphWarrior urged. "What are you guys talking about?" Skyblade grumbled. He was still running back after Revival and had no idea what was happening. "Alright," Meatball replied, posting the weapon''s details in the chat. A moment of silence followed. Then¡­ "Holy¡ª" Everyone inhaled sharply at the absurd stats on display. SeraphWarrior and Slashblade turned to Ethan, their expressions a mix of shock and something else, something eager. Without a word, SeraphWarrior unsheathed the Greatsword on his back and strode toward Ethan. "What are you doing?" Ethan asked warily. He knew exactly what was coming, but the way SeraphWarrior was approaching¡­ it looked like he was about to start swinging. "Boss, do mine too!" "Boss, same for me!" Both Slashblade and SeraphWarrior thrust their weapons toward him, their eyes practically burning. A quick inventory check revealed they barely had a dozen Reinforcement Stones between them. "Boss, use my extras for them!" Meatball said, still buzzing with excitement as he held his now radiant, golden warstaff. A few dozen stones weren''t worth much to him. And considering he had spent over a hundred gold just to get his weapon to +5, this was practically nothing. Moments later, Slashblade and SeraphWarrior retrieved their newly enhanced weapons. The power boost was immediate. "Boss, any stones left? Enhance my shield too!" Skyblade had finally caught up, having pieced together what was happening through the chat. Now, he was practically howling. Chapter 90 - 90: The Floating Fortress After all the enhancement, Ethan realized something unsettling, he now had the second-lowest attack power in the party. Of course, the title of the lowest still officially belonged to Skyblade, their Shield Tank. His recent trip to the Underworld had cost him too much time. Though he still held the highest level, his gear had completely fallen behind. The others had been grinding non-stop, leveling up and farming loot, while he was still decked out in Starter Zone gear. Now that their weapons had caught up to his enhancements, his damage had plummeted in comparison. If not for his Unique Abilities, he might''ve been dead weight in the squad. Luckily, the extra attribute points and growth boost kept him useful, at least as a frontline tank. Skyblade, on the other hand, had fully embraced his role as the designated spectator and errand boy. His main job? Landing interrupts with his Heavy Strike. As they moved forward, they ran into a few more Flame Draconians blocking the path. This time, it was effortless. Not even a full minute, and the creatures were wiped out. At this rate, they could easily grind Draconians for XP and loot. But Ethan had a different plan. He led them north, pressing onward. Soon, they neared the base of the Iron Mountains. In the distance, they could see a massive Rotating Bridge, cast entirely from molten iron and forged into a spiraling structure. It led directly to an enormous iron gate, towering so high that it reached nearly halfway up the mountain. The sheer size of the double-doored gate was overwhelming, its ancient craftsmanship exuding both power and elegance. "This is our destination," Ethan informed the group. "Every monster inside starts at level 40." Before stepping forward, he gave them a quick rundown of the Iron Mountains'' history. Ten thousand years ago, a catastrophic collision between Azure and Terra reshaped the land. Mountains trembled. Vegetation withered. Flames devoured the earth, leaving only ashes in their wake. A massive volcano erupted, carving the landscape into what they now knew as the Iron Mountains, a volatile range stretching from the Scorched Plains in the south to Fire Canyon in the north. And right in front of them stood the volcano''s mouth, the Gate of the Iron Mountains. This gate had been forged by the Dwarves. The entire mountain range had once been a Dwarven stronghold, with vast underground halls carved into the stone. But over time, the Dwarves lost control. Their downfall? Curiosity. Like reckless miners, they dug deeper and deeper, until they unknowingly tunneled straight into another realm. From that breach, countless nightmarish creatures poured into their world. Another great war erupted. Only through a desperate alliance between the survivors of Terra and the natives of Azure were they able to push the invaders back. The Dwarves, realizing their mistake, swore an oath. Now, they remained in the depths of the Iron Mountains, acting as eternal wardens, guarding the gates to those otherworldly rifts. "That war¡­ the Winter Queen fought in it," Ethan said, glancing at Lyla. "She was the original owner of your bow¡­ and your pet." Lyla''s eyes widened. "How do you know all this?" Ethan smirked. "Did you forget? I told you before¡ªI''m¡­" He trailed off, knowing Lyla would understand. The others, meanwhile, were too caught up in the story to question him further. "Alright, let''s move," Ethan said, waving them forward. They crossed the Rotating Bridge, stepping into the shadow of the colossal gate. As they neared the Gate of the Iron Mountains, they noticed something surprising. The massive iron doors weren''t actually closed. A narrow gap had been left open, though from a distance, the sheer size of the doors created an optical illusion that made it seem fully shut. Stepping through the opening, they were immediately hit by a wave of scorching heat. Inside, the Iron Mountains were completely hollowed out. Iron-forged pathways spiraled upward along the inner walls, crisscrossing through the vast cavern like veins of molten steel. The group approached the edge and looked down. Thousands of meters below, a sea of bubbling magma churned, glowing with an ominous red hue. Looking up, the sky was nothing more than a distant pinprick, a well-like opening at the peak of the mountain. Their path, however, wound both upward and downward, following the spiraling structure. In the center of the cavern, suspended above the lava, was a massive floating platform. Thick iron chains, seven or eight of them, each as thick as a house, anchored the platform to the mountain walls. Whether the platform itself was naturally levitating or entirely supported by these chains remained a mystery. Ethan pointed toward it. "That''s our destination." "How the hell do we get over there?" Skyblade asked, frowning. "Simple. We walk the chains," Ethan replied, leading them toward the nearest one. Only now did the team realize the sheer scale of the chains, each was at least twenty meters in diameter. More than wide enough for them to cross without issue. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once they reached the platform, everyone took a moment to look around. The sheer craftsmanship of the Dwarven engineering was astonishing. "This thing is massive," Skyblade muttered in awe. "How the hell did they even build this? How much manpower would it take?" "This is nothing," Ethan said with a smirk. "Once you guys level up and make it to Central Dominion, then you''ll see something truly spectacular." "How spectacular?" "You''ll find out when you get there," Ethan teased. "Boss, are you sure you''re not an insider at Aeon?" Meatball asked curiously. "You seem to know way too much about this game." "Uh¡­ I was involved in development at some point," Ethan replied vaguely, realizing he had already said too much. So far, Ethereal''s official website had barely revealed anything about the game''s deeper lore. He couldn''t exactly tell them he was a regressed player who had already lived through this world. Only Lyla knew the truth. And while she had said she believed him, Ethan couldn''t be sure if she actually did. Still, thinking back to the jade pendant incident, she hadn''t seemed particularly surprised. For the first time, Ethan found himself unable to fully read her. And then there was her conversation with Celeste Hawthorne, where she had deliberately emphasized that her surname was also Silverwood. Why? As Ethan pondered this, another thought struck him. Right, Celeste had told Lyla to update him about the Ninth Division. That had been days ago, and neither of them had brought it up since. Maybe it was time to ask her about it. Just as that thought settled, a voice suddenly rang inside his head, an old, gruff voice. "The Ninth Division already contacted you?" Ethan froze. He had been walking at the front, leading the way. Skyblade, who had been busy admiring the surroundings, hadn''t noticed and walked straight into him. "Boss? We stopping here?" Skyblade asked. "No, just checking our bearings," Ethan said quickly, glancing around as if surveying the area before continuing forward. At the same time, he had already recognized the voice in his head. It was Morzan, that old geezer. Chapter 91 - 91: The Iron Horde Ethan kept walking, his mind racing. ''Damn old man, why are you talking to me now? I''ve got people around me, how the hell am I supposed to respond?'' "You just called me an old geezer. Want me to send you back to your previous life?" Ethan froze. ''Wait¡­ he can hear my thoughts?!'' "Try calling me that again, you little brat." ''Old geezer old geezer old geezer! Ethan chanted in his head with amusement.'' "You¡ª!" ''What?" Ethan asked, completely unfazed by the supposed threat. "You''ve got guts, kid. I''m asking you, did the Ninth Division contact you?" Morzan finally calmed down. "I ran into a recruiter. You know about the Ninth Division?" Ethan responded mentally. "Of course I do. How could I not?" Morzan''s voice carried an unmistakable grudge. Ethan caught on immediately. "What, you got beef with them?" "Just join if you get the chance. I''ll have a job for you when the time comes," Morzan said, and then went completely silent. Ethan frowned. "The hell is that place anyway?" "Hey, you still there?" "Old man?" Nothing. "Tch¡­ for someone who needs a favor, you sure have a bad attitude." No matter how many times he called out, Morzan refused to answer. Ethan wasn''t intimidated, though. He knew Morzan hadn''t regressed him out of kindness. He had been chosen for something. For what? No clue. But whatever it was, it had to be big, something only he could do. And if that was the case, there was no way he was going to just blindly obey. If he had leverage, he was going to use it. "Hmph, whatever. I''ll ask Lyla about it later." ''The Ninth Division, huh?'' S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now, Ethan was genuinely curious. By now, the group had descended into the depths of the Iron Mountains, following a spiral staircase through a narrow passage. It was clearly built for Dwarves, the ceiling was so low they had to hunch over just to fit. Ethan, however, smoothly shifted into Panther Form, glancing back at them. "Heh, maybe you guys should crawl too," he teased. "You wanna die?" Lyla shot back from up ahead. "Almost there!" Ethan ignored the threat and bounded forward, slipping through a cave opening. On the other side was a wide platform, big enough for the entire team. "That''s a lot of enemies," SeraphWarrior muttered, peering down. "Keep your voice down!" Ethan hissed, dragging them behind a low stone wall for cover. Just in time. A Dwarven patrol squad, at least fifty of them¡ªimmediately turned their heads toward the sound. For a tense moment, they scanned the area. Then, finding nothing, they resumed their rounds. Skyblade turned to SeraphWarrior, shaking his head. "Were you trying to get us killed?" "I¡­ I¡­ okay, my bad," SeraphWarrior admitted. "It''s fine," Ethan reassured him. "First time I came here, I was just as shocked." Once the patrol moved away, they stood up and took in the view. A massive underground plaza stretched before them, nearly a kilometer wide. And it was packed with Dwarves. The Dwarves below looked nearly identical to the ones they had seen in Harmony City, except for one key difference. Their skin was pitch black, charred as if burned. Many of them had mechanical limbs, some even with fully mechanical heads, making them appear more machine than flesh. Curious, the group quietly activated Appraisal. But every single one returned question marks. "Why are so many monsters gathered in one place?" Meatball muttered. "Yeah, and in such a tight formation¡­ no way any team could clear them all at once," SeraphWarrior added. As they spoke, drill-shaped constructs suddenly emerged from the ground across the plaza. Once they surfaced, their outer shells split open, revealing hatch-like doors. Then, from within, more of these half-mechanical Dwarves stepped out in organized ranks. Everyone watched in stunned silence. The sheer technological advancement on display was far beyond anything they had seen before. "These Iron Dwarves aren''t normal Dwarves," Ethan explained. "They''re hybrids, part machine, part reanimated corpse. After the war, the Black Iron Dwarves used fallen warriors to create them." "They''re using the dead for this?" Skyblade frowned. "The Dwarves in Iron Mountain aren''t the same as the ones on the surface," Ethan continued. "This place has been taken over by the Black Iron Dwarves, a war-driven offshoot of their race." Ethan knew this all too well. In his past life, the Northern Frontier Region had been hit by a Black Iron Dwarf Invasion. Two months from now, this very army would march on human cities, launching a global siege event. Every region faced its own invasion: Here, it was the Black Iron Dwarves. In the Eastern Region, it was the Tide of Sea Beasts. Other zones had their own monstrous threats, each one devastating in scale. The Black Iron Dwarves were different from other invaders, though. They were master engineers. Their forges churned out endless waves of mechanical soldiers, which were then deployed to the battlefield in droves. Back then, Ethan had led a massive rogue faction to infiltrate this very stronghold. But all they could do was watch. No matter how many times they scouted, no matter how carefully they planned, the Black Iron Dwarves continued mass-producing their army without pause. When the invasion finally began, players were helpless. At level 30, they barely stood a chance against these level 40 mechanical soldiers, let alone the elite level 45 units. Even with an army of ten thousand rogues, Ethan''s faction had been forced to retreat. The invasion left major cities in ruins. NPC strongholds were shattered. In the end, only legendary-tier NPCs could suppress the attack, barely turning the tide of war. Because of that disaster, humanity built fortresses across every major region, ensuring that future monster sieges wouldn''t reach the cities so easily. And once the fortresses were complete, Ethereal''s system updated, unlocking Fortress Wars, where factions could battle for control over these new strongholds. But Ethan had come here for a different reason. This place was perfect for testing Lyla''s Forbidden Spell. First, because this was one of the most monster-dense areas he knew. Second, because the enemies were high-level. If he used the spell on weaker mobs, they''d die instantly, making it impossible to gauge the spell''s true damage potential. Skyblade, however, was starting to sweat. "Boss¡­ we''re not actually planning to fight these things, right? If we pull one, the entire army is going to aggro on us!" Ethan glanced at him. "We are fighting them," he confirmed. "But not in a direct battle." "Then¡­ how do we do it?" Skyblade asked hesitantly. Ethan simply pointed to something in the distance. "Watch that." Chapter 92 - 92: A Familiar Sight The group followed Ethan''s gaze and found themselves staring at a massive dwarven statue, towering over the distance. "All we need to do is attack from up there. Even if we only chip away one point of health at a time, we''ll eventually take them down," Ethan explained. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Chip away? Boss, don''t tell me this is how you always level up?" Slashblade asked, looking skeptical. Ethan nodded. "Pretty much." The entire group turned to stare at him like he''d lost his mind. They understood the concept of monster kiting, after all, they had used similar strategies in other games. But while it was an efficient way to level up, spending hours, or even days, whittling away at a single enemy was a level of patience most people didn''t have. Most players preferred forming parties to clear out mobs at their level or even slightly below. It was slower, but at least it was social. They could chat, joke around, and make the grind bearable. Solo grinding high-level monsters with absolute focus? That was the definition of suffering. "Boss, your patience is insane. You and Slashblade are basically the same kind of people," Skyblade muttered, looking pained. Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "You don''t know? Back in the day, Slashblade once had to complete a mission where he lay in a tree for nineteen days straight. When he got back, his chest had fused with his shirt, and they had to surgically remove it," Skyblade explained. Ethan turned to Slashblade. "Sniper?" Slashblade shrugged, his tone indifferent. "That was a long time ago." But despite his casual words, there was a glint of nostalgia in his eyes. The missions had been brutal, but those days in the military had been the best of his life. If he had a choice, he''d still be out there. "Boss, your plan might work, but how are we supposed to get over there?" Meatball asked, eyeing the ground below. "Yeah, even if we make it, how do we climb up?" Lyla added. Ethan grinned. "That''s where Slashblade comes in. Let''s move." Without further explanation, he led the group up the spiral staircase, returning to a raised platform. Once there, he double-checked their position before heading a few hundred meters forward, stopping at the edge of a dark pit. "This is it. Slashblade, give everyone a Levitation spell." Without waiting for a response, Ethan shifted into his Night Owl form. With a powerful beat of his wings, he dove straight into the abyss. The group exchanged uncertain glances. "What the hell is he doing?" Seeing their leader had already gone in, Slashblade cast Levitation on everyone before stepping into the void himself. The spell lasted ten minutes, and they spent a full seven drifting downwards. The opening was barely a meter wide, forcing them into a controlled descent. "Holy shit, Boss is a genius," Skyblade murmured in the party chat as they emerged. Because now, they were directly above the statue''s head. Normally, Levitation allowed for gradual gliding, but the long, uninterrupted fall had worked like a bullet fired from a barrel, keeping them in a perfect downward trajectory. Ethan was already waiting, standing atop the statue, waving them over. One by one, they landed, looking at Ethan with newfound admiration. Finding a spot like this? They had no idea how he did it. "Well, looks like I''m finally useful," Skyblade muttered. Everyone stared at Skyblade, completely lost. He grinned mischievously, then pulled something from his inventory and tossed it onto the ground. With a thud, the item expanded instantly, transforming into a full-sized bed. The entire group, including Ethan, blinked in disbelief. It was a bed. A real, full-sized bed. Meatball pointed a shaking finger at him. "You¡ª" "You what? Get to work. Hey, Williams, come on, let''s relax," Skyblade said smugly, flopping onto the bed and motioning for SeraphWarrior to join him. "I¡­" SeraphWarrior hesitated. "I what? We''re both melee fighters, and we can''t hit anything from here. What else are we supposed to do, stare at the fight like idiots?" Skyblade reasoned, then casually pulled out a cigar and lit it. Slashblade winced. "You actually spent ten silver on a system cigar? Are you insane?" Skyblade ignored him, pulling out another one and tossing it to Ethan. "Boss, you want one?" Ethan caught it, his fingers tightening slightly around the familiar object. This scene¡­ It was just like before. In his past life, Skyblade always carried that ridiculous bed. Every time they escaped from a pursuit, every time they found themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere, he''d throw it down, stretch out, and smoke his overpriced cigars without a care in the world. Back then, if it weren''t for Skyblade''s company, Ethan might not have made it through those years. Him¡­ and Lyla. Ethan clenched the cigar in his hand, suppressing the wave of memories. "Boss, should we kick him out of the party?" SeraphWarrior suggested. Ethan chuckled. "No need. You two can rest. You''re right, melee fighters aren''t much use here. But before you get too comfortable, let''s have Moonbeam put on a little show for us first." At his words, everyone turned expectantly to Lyla. She shifted uncomfortably under their collective gaze before pulling Frostbound Reverie from her back. "Just drop it in the center of the plaza. That''s where they''re most concentrated," Ethan instructed. He was more than familiar with Forbidden Spells. He had never obtained one himself in his past life, but he knew their mechanics well. They had an absurd range, especially area-of-effect ones, which could reach distances of up to a kilometer. After all, if a Forbidden Spell had a short casting range, it would be the equivalent of throwing a grenade at your own feet. Lyla nodded and pulled back her bowstring, murmuring an incantation in an ancient language no one else understood. "Slashblade, keep her healed," Ethan reminded. As Lyla finished her chant, the conjured arrow trembled violently, a white vortex forming at its tip. A freezing aura began spiraling outward, as if the vortex had punctured a hole into another realm, drawing pure, chilling energy into the physical world. Gradually, the icy mist condensed into a massive arrowhead. From their perch atop the hundred-meter-tall statue, the dwarves below sensed something strange in the air but remained oblivious to the presence of humans above their revered monument. Two minutes passed. The enormous ice arrow solidified, its lethal form shimmering in the air¡­ Chapter 93 - 93: Winter’s End Lyla''s arm trembled slightly as she held her bowstring taut. Then, to everyone''s surprise, the massive ice arrow began to shrink. Before their eyes, it condensed into a normal-sized arrow, its entire shaft glowing with a pale blue light. A cold aura swirled around Lyla, forming a spiraling current of frost. Slowly, she started to rise. The force of the icy wind pushed everyone back to the edge of the statue''s head. Ethan watched in awe as Lyla hovered midair, her entire figure radiating pure, crystalline brilliance. She looked like an ice goddess, surrounded by an endless chill. For a moment, Ethan was completely entranced. She''s¡­ beautiful. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Damn, First Lady, what kind of skill is this? This is insane!" Skyblade shouted, barely managing to pack away his bed before it was blown off the statue. No one answered him. They were all too stunned to speak. Then, Lyla''s voice rang out, chilling and commanding. "Forbidden: Winter''s End." Her usual clear, bell-like voice now carried an icy sharpness, freezing them to the core. As she spoke the final syllable, she released the bowstring. Whoosh! A streak of white tore through the air as the ice arrow shot forward, leaving a trail of frost in its wake. Then¡ªding. The arrow landed at the very center of the plaza, disappearing into the dark metal ground. That tiny sound was enough to catch the attention of every dwarf nearby. They all turned toward the spot in confusion. Crack¡­ crack¡­ A strange noise echoed from beneath the ground. From their vantage point, the team could see it clearly, starting from the arrow''s impact point, a wave of frost spread outward at terrifying speed. In the blink of an eye, over six hundred meters of the ground was consumed by an icy wasteland. Even the statue they stood on wasn''t spared, more than half of it was now encased in shimmering frost. For a moment, Ethan considered calling for an emergency teleport. But thankfully, the freezing wave stopped just short of seventy meters high. Realizing they were safe, the group exhaled in relief and turned their attention back to the battlefield. The once dark, metallic plaza was now an ocean of ice, stretching out in every direction. Every single half-mechanical dwarf within the frozen zone had been turned into a perfect crystal sculpture, their last moments forever preserved. Then Lyla, still floating midair, spoke again. "Shatter." Her voice was the trigger. Boom! Boom! Boom! Below, the battlefield erupted as frozen dwarves shattered into thousands of glittering fragments. Ding! [You have slain a Clockwork Dwarf Warrior. Overlevel kill bonus: 3000%. Gained 8,004 EXP (Party Bonus: +87 EXP, Overlevel Kill Bonus: +2,610 EXP, Unique Ability Bonus: +5,394 EXP).] Ding! [You have slain a Clockwork Dwarf Construct. Overlevel kill bonus: 3000%. Gained 8,004 EXP (Party Bonus: +87 EXP, Overlevel Kill Bonus: +2,610 EXP, Unique Ability Bonus: +5,394 EXP).] Ding! The barrage of notifications made Ethan''s head spin. Ding! Congratulations! You have reached Level 26! Ding! Congratulations! You have reached Level 27! One after another, golden light flashed across their bodies as they leveled up repeatedly. It wasn''t until a full ten seconds had passed that the team finally snapped out of their shock. Ethan checked his status. He was now Level 31. "I¡ªI''m at 80% of Level 28!" Skyblade stammered. "Same here," Meatball said. Slashblade and SeraphWarrior checked their status, like the others, their experience bars were nearly identical. "I just hit Level 28, 15% in," Lyla added. She had been five levels behind before, but now, in a single moment, she had caught up. Although her experience was slightly lower, her level was now on par with the rest. "This¡­ did we really just wipe them all out?" Meatball muttered in disbelief. Ethan turned to Lyla. "Moonveam, how much damage did that skill do?" "No damage numbers showed up," she replied. Ethan let out a breath. "I underestimated it." The others understood what he meant, he had underestimated Winter''s End. The once monster-infested plaza was now eerily empty, except for a few stragglers on the outskirts that had been outside the spell''s range. Ethan''s eyes swept over the entire ground. The ground was littered with loot, and among them, he spotted several pieces gleaming with golden light. Silver-tier items were everywhere, and bronze ones were practically carpeting the floor. "Slashblade, give everyone Levitation. We''re going down," Ethan ordered. Without hesitation, he leaped off the statue, heading straight for the golden-glowing items. These were Gold-Tiered pieces. Even if they required Level 30 or higher, they would only increase in value over time. The entire field was clear of corpses, every enemy had been shattered into dust. When the frost finally faded, their remains had disappeared along with it, leaving only loot behind. "Only grab Gold and Silver-Tiered items," Ethan called out as he saw Skyblade stuffing everything into his bag. "We won''t have enough space otherwise." Then, something at the far edge of the battlefield caught his eye¡ªa faint gleam of Dark Gold. Ethan darted toward it, waiting for a patrolling monster to move away before scooping it up and rushing back. Opening his inventory, he found a Dark Gold-Tiered Quest Scroll. His heart skipped a beat. Quest Scrolls were already rare, but Dark Gold ones? Those were practically extinct. He didn''t have time to examine it now, though. There was still too much loot to gather. While Slashblade and the others focused on collecting gear, Ethan kept searching for hidden valuables. It paid off, he found two Engineering Blueprints. Without checking their details, he stashed them away, intending to hand them over to NoPaperOnTheBigOne later. He also discovered a strange, multicolored stone, radiating a soft, shifting glow. Based on its colors, it had to be at least Artifact-Tier, but oddly, it had no name or description. There was no time to investigate. He bagged everything and kept moving. Before the next Drill Emergence event triggered, they needed to clear out, otherwise, another swarm of Clockwork Dwarves would surface. It might not be as overwhelming as before, but it was still too dangerous to face alone. "Boss, I''m out of space!" Skyblade called out. "Then we''re leaving," Ethan ordered. "But there''s still so much left," Slashblade groaned, visibly pained. Ethan was about to respond when a low, mechanical hum filled the air. From beneath the ground, several large drills began rising. "Move! Now!" Ethan shouted. Chapter 94 - 94: The Spoils of Battle No one needed Ethan''s warning. They all pulled out their Return Stones without hesitation. Just at that moment, as the massive drills fully emerged, their hatches opened, releasing wave after wave of Clockwork Dwarves in perfect formation. Before the swarm could react, Ethan''s party vanished in streaks of white light. --- Harmony City ¨C Teleportation Hub "That was too close. I thought I wasn''t gonna make it," SeraphWarrior muttered, his heart still racing. He hadn''t been slow, just greedy. Staying behind a few extra seconds to grab a Gold-Tiered piece had almost cost him his life. Ethan glanced at the group. "How''d everyone do?" "Seven Gold-Tiered pieces, twenty-six Silver-Tiered," Slashblade reported. "Seven? I got eleven," Skyblade said smugly. Meatball smirked. "Heh, I got a Dark Gold item. Can you believe it?" "You actually found Dark Gold gear?" Ethan raised an eyebrow. He had run across the entire battlefield, making sure that nothing valuable was left behind. Yet somehow, Meatball had managed to snag one. "Let''s find a place to split the loot," Ethan said. With that, he led them straight to the Guild Hall. The meeting room inside was off-limits to outsiders unless he gave permission. Once they were inside, everyone emptied their inventories, piling the equipment in the center. "Keep anything you can use. Anything else goes into the Guild Vault," Ethan instructed, already scanning through the loot. "Boss, this one''s for you." Meatball pulled out the Dark Gold item and handed it over. Ethan checked the stats. [Strider''s Boots] Rarity: Dark Gold Level Requirement: 30 Defense: 79¨C105 Agility: +30 S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Strength: +30 Intelligence: +30 Stamina: +30 Endurance: +30 Abilities: 1. Swift Stride ¨C Increases movement speed by 70% for 15 seconds. Cooldown: 5 minutes. 2. Leap ¨C Increases jump height by 300% for 10 seconds. Cooldown: 10 minutes. 3. Double Jump ¨C Allows a second jump mid-air. Cooldown: 1 minute. Class Restriction: Druid Faction Restriction: Survivor A Druid-exclusive piece? It was practically made for him. Ethan shared the stats with the group. "This is garbage," SeraphWarrior scoffed. "Yeah, balanced stats and three escape skills? Trash," Skyblade agreed. Meatball rolled his eyes. "You two are hopeless." "What''d you say, Meatball?" Skyblade shot back. Ethan ignored them, eyes locked on the boots. Most Druids avoided class-locked gear, preferring unrestricted equipment that fit their specialized playstyles. Since Druids usually focused on one form specialization, they had no use for balanced stats. But Ethan was different. His balanced build was intentional, and thanks to his Unique Ability, every stat point had amplified effects. To him, these boots weren''t garbage. They were perfect. Most players had a 12-star growth rate. Ethan had 20-star growth. But that wasn''t even the best part. The Swift Stride, Leap, and Double Jump skills turned these boots into an absolute god-tier item. If upgraded properly, this could be a lifelong piece of gear. Without hesitation, he equipped them, tossing aside his Pilot''s Boots. It felt like upgrading from a rusted pistol to a state-of-the-art rifle. After sorting through their loot, everyone was now decked out in Silver-Tiered gear, with a few Gold-Tiered pieces. Ethan replaced his old Starter Gear, boosting his defense past 500 points, and that was without any enhancements. The only downside? Not a single weapon had dropped. His attack power hadn''t increased at all. Originally, Ethan had planned to enhance everyone''s gear, but a quick glance at the in-game clock told him it was almost time to log off. So, he made plans to do it tomorrow. He was building an elite squad, and once their gear was upgraded, they''d finally be ready for bigger objectives. At that moment, the Northern Frontier Region leaderboards updated. The top six spots were all held by Renegade Alliance''s elite, with NotADruid still sitting at #1¡ªLevel 31. The next five had all reached Level 28, though their experience varied slightly. Meanwhile, #7 was only Level 21, completely left in the dust. The entire server was buzzing. How had these six players skyrocketed in levels so quickly? No one could have guessed that Lyla''s single Forbidden Spell had wiped out a hoarde of Clockwork Dwarves, creatures that had been stockpiled for ages. And they weren''t just regular mobs, they were all Level 40+, with many elites among them. Ethan wished he could experience that kind of power leveling again, but for now, he had other priorities. He was already Level 31, but as soon as the guild had enough members, they were heading into Howling Caverns. What he hadn''t told the others? He planned to challenge Expert Mode. With a fully enhanced squad and an entire raid team, Ethan was confident they could clear it. Expert-level dungeons required strategy, not just raw stats. Unlike Easy or Normal modes, where brute force could carry a team through, Expert mode demanded precise execution. --- Back to Reality Logging out, Ethan knocked on Lyla''s door. "Hey, let''s grab breakfast," he called out. He also wanted to ask her about Ninth Division. The fact that Morzan knew about it had piqued his curiosity. More than that, he wanted to know: who exactly was Morzan? Maybe Ninth Division held the answers. Lyla cracked the door open. "I just need to use the bathroom real quick." Before he could respond, she darted inside, clearly in a hurry. Ethan shrugged and stepped into her room to wait. Taking a few steps forward, he suddenly froze. On her bed, two very personal pieces of clothing were lying there. Underwear. ''¡­She wasn''t wearing anything under her night dress?!'' A wave of heat rushed through him. Instinctively, his gaze flicked toward the bathroom door. Right at that moment, Lyla stepped out. Her eyes landed on Ethan, then on the bed behind him. For a second, silence. Then, her face turned red. She rushed forward, snatching the items and shoving them under her pillow. Before she could react further, Ethan stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. As he leaned in, his breath brushed against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. Her knees nearly buckled. Chapter 95 - 95: A Simple Wedding Lyla''s breath hitched as Ethan''s arms tightened around her waist. Her body tensed for a brief second before she exhaled, sinking against his warmth. "Ethan¡­" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. His grip loosened just enough for her to turn around in his hold. Her face was still flushed, her lips slightly parted as if she wanted to say something but couldn''t quite find the words. Ethan met her gaze, searching. There was something in her expression, hesitation, maybe even longing, but before he could figure it out, she suddenly pushed lightly against his chest. "Breakfast," she mumbled, looking away. A small chuckle escaped him as he stepped back, letting her go. "Alright, alright. But first¡ª" He reached for the nightstand and picked up a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Lyla blinked, confused. "What are you¡ª" "You''ve been rubbing your ear a lot," Ethan said, his tone soft but firm. "Let me clean it before it gets worse." She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Fine¡­ but be gentle." Ethan smirked. "I always am." As she sat on the edge of the bed, he reached out and grabbed a cotton swab and dipped it into the hydrogen peroxide solution. "I''m going in. It might hurt a little at first," Ethan said, watching Lyla''s delicate face. Lyla closed her eyes at his words, clearly still a little nervous. "Okay, Ethan, I''m ready." Ethan carefully inserted the cotton swab into her ear, slowly and gently. "Mmm¡­" Lyla let out a small whimper. "Does it hurt?" Ethan asked, his voice full of concern. Lyla frowned and opened her eyes, a hint of tears forming in them. "A little¡­ Take it out," she pleaded. He quickly pulled it out with a soft pop. Ethan looked down at the cotton swab, now stained with a small trace of blood. "You''re bleeding a little. Should we see a doctor?" He held up the swab so she could see. Lyla studied it carefully before shaking her head. "I already went. The doctor said it''s just mild ear inflammation, probably from using earbuds too much. I just need to stop using them for a while." "Got it," Ethan replied, tossing the swab into the trash. He flexed his wrist to shake off the stiffness, then picked up a clean cotton swab to check her other ear. "No need, it''s only the one that''s itchy," Lyla said quickly. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She stood up, the hem of her snug cotton nightdress shifting as she moved. The white fabric clung to her form, reaching just above her knees. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, her waist so slim it seemed as if a breeze could break it. She stepped lightly on the plush pink carpet, her bare feet delicate like a porcelain doll''s. "Lyla¡­" Ethan swallowed hard. His gaze darkened as his thoughts wandered to the two things she had just hidden. Lyla noticed the way he was looking at her, like a predator eyeing its prey. His stare burned with an intensity that made her heart race. For a brief moment, panic flickered across her face, but she quickly steadied herself. She bit her lip, took a deep breath, and stepped closer, pressing her body lightly against his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Ethan¡­ I''ll always be yours. But you need to wait. I have things I need to take care of first. After that¡­ anything you want." The softness against him sent a wave of heat through Ethan''s body. ''So, she really wasn''t wearing anything underneath.'' Her words doused the fire in his chest, snapping him back to reality. "Things to take care of? What things?" he asked. His mind raced back to his past life. In reality, Lyla had never been with him. Instead, she had hidden her identity and stayed by his side in the game as Moonbeam. Was it because, back then, she hadn''t been able to resolve things in her real life? Was that why she had disappeared, only able to accompany him in the game? Lost in thought, Ethan didn''t realize Lyla had already pulled away and changed the subject. "Let''s eat! I''m starving," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him downstairs to the dining room. "I''ll cook today. If I leave it to you, it''s either toast or fried eggs, with the wrong seasoning," Ethan teased, ruffling her hair. "Hmph! You were the first person to ever eat my cooking, and you''re already complaining? Fine! Breakfast is officially your responsibility from now on," Lyla huffed, pretending to be angry. Ethan couldn''t help but chuckle at the sight of her pouting like a little cub. Despite her feisty act, her body was soft and delicate, her angelic face making her look anything but threatening. He smirked. "I''ll do it, I''ll do it. Just sit back and enjoy," Ethan said, his throat suddenly dry. His eyes flicked over her form, taking in every curve beneath the thin fabric. Without thinking, he reached out, wrapping an arm around her waist. His hand accidentally landed right where his gaze had been seconds before. And to his surprise, she didn''t resist. Lyla''s face flushed as she shot Ethan a glare, but she didn''t pull away. Ethan just chuckled sheepishly, keeping an arm around her as he led her to the dining table. She could tell exactly what he was thinking, it was written all over his face. It was funny, really. Ethan never pushed too far, just sneaking in small moments here and there. Not that she minded. Half the time, she let him. And every single time, he''d act like he just pulled off a huge achievement. Lyla shook her head, amused. Meanwhile, Ethan had already stepped into the open kitchen, getting to work. Lyla sat there, zoning out for a moment, before her gaze drifted toward the table. Her cheeks burned. She suddenly remembered that day, right here, on this very table, when she had¡­ A shiver ran down her spine. That was the first time she had ever felt something like that. Her heart pounded as she peeked at Ethan, who was busy cooking. She quickly patted her chest, relieved. Luckily, he hadn''t noticed the look on her face. What the hell was she even thinking? --- Over breakfast, the two of them discussed whether they should head out early to meet Slashblade and the others. In the end, they decided to go today and help out before the wedding. Before logging off last night, Skyblade had mentioned that if Moonbeam had time, she could stand in as a bridesmaid. Slashblade''s fianc¨¦e, Celia, had lost both her parents ten years ago. She had no real family in his city, no friends besides a few coworkers. Without a proper bridal party, the wedding would feel painfully empty. Out of everyone they knew, there were barely any women to ask. Slashblade''s younger sister was an option, but she was¡­ well, let''s just say she had twice the waist size of Skyblade. And asking a groom''s sister to be the bridesmaid? That didn''t feel right either. So in the end, Celia decided to skip the bridesmaids altogether and keep things simple. But Slashblade felt guilty about that. After all, Celia was thirty-nine now. She had followed him for ten years, waiting for him for ten years. She was only sixteen when she first met him. Back then, she had looked him in the eye and said, "When I grow up, I''m going to marry you." Everyone thought she was just joking. Three years later, she reappeared, no longer a little girl, but a grown woman. No one really knew why a teenager had fallen so hard for a man over ten years her senior. Ethan and the others had no idea what kind of spell Slashblade had cast on her. One day, they were going to get him drunk and make him spill the truth. Even after all these years, their relationship had never been clearly defined. They had never officially gotten together, never crossed any lines. And yet, keeping the wedding this simple still didn''t sit right with Slashblade. He wouldn''t say it, but Skyblade saw right through him. So before logging off, he had privately asked Ethan and Lyla to consider helping out. Since it was Saturday and they had no classes, Ethan and Lyla decided to make the trip right away. With their VR headsets packed, they hopped into the Predator Beast X and hit the highway. Naturally, they turned heads the whole way there. More than a few rich kids probably went home that day begging their parents for the same car. He could only imagine the stupefied looks they would earn as a result. Ethan, though, was still a little nervous as they reached the highway entrance. This car was ridiculously flashy. Would they even be allowed on the freeway? Chapter 96 - 96: The Target To Ethan''s surprise, they weren''t stopped. The car sailed smoothly past the checkpoint and onto the freeway. Once again, he found himself stunned by Lyla''s father''s influence. He had seen the traffic officers checking his car, speaking into their radios, clearly verifying its details. Ethan had been sure they''d be pulled over. He had even considered suggesting to Lyla, Maybe we should swap cars? After all, he had enough money to buy another one, it was just the paperwork that would take time. Worst case? They could ditch the car and take the Bullet Express instead. It''d be faster and way less exhausting. Because if there was one downside to the Predator Beast X, it was that driving it was a workout. The sheer size of the thing made handling a nightmare. --- "They''re on Interstate 715." Unbeknownst to Ethan and Lyla, a black sedan trailed them at a distance. Inside, a scruffy-looking man held a phone to his ear, relaying every detail of their movements. "Find an opportunity to take him out. Make it clean, an accident would be best." A cold voice came through the receiver. "Understood, Boss. But¡­ taking him out on the freeway won''t be easy. That car? Even if it collided with a tanker truck, it''d probably come out without a scratch." sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hmph. Predator Beast X, huh? Didn''t think that girl had this kind of backing. Figure it out, but don''t harm her." "Got it, Boss." The man hung up, his eyes locking onto the beast of a vehicle ahead. This job was going to be tricky. There was no way a regular college student should be driving a car like that. His employer had told him the guy was just some freeloader, but he wasn''t buying it. With the kind of power that girl''s family had, would they really let a nobody leech off her? Would they allow him to live under the same roof? If that were true, and the family didn''t approve, the guy would''ve vanished long ago. The man wasn''t stupid. He had been in this line of work long enough to know, if you''re still alive, you''re not an idiot. He carefully calculated his next move. Meanwhile, Ethan and Lyla remained blissfully unaware. They had no idea someone was already plotting against them. Ethan certainly didn''t expect Zachary to have traced his identity so quickly. In his past life, it had taken much longer, back then, he had been drunk when he accidentally revealed he was the owner of the Wishbound Relic. That was when Zachary had set him up. But this time, after just a few encounters in the game, Zachary was already holding a grudge. He had even pulled strings he wouldn''t have used in the previous timeline just to track down NotADruid''s real-life identity. And Lyla had no idea that Ethan''s exposure was partially her fault. --- Four hours later, they finally exited the freeway. City driving was a nightmare with this car, but on the highway? Pure bliss. Ethan had flown down the open road, overtaking everything in sight. Even massive trucks had moved aside to let him through. Before long, they arrived at the address Slashblade had sent them. Ethan picked up his phone and dialed Skyblade. "Yo, we''re here." "Got it, boss! We''re coming to meet you now." They pulled over, and soon enough, a group emerged from the gated community across the street. At first glance, Ethan immediately spotted Skyblade. "Is that them?" Lyla asked. Ethan nodded. The three men approaching them carried themselves like soldiers, it was no wonder Lyla had spotted them instantly. Other people walked casually, but these three? Backs straight, steps in sync, as if they were still in formation. Except for Skyblade. He was just as upright, but something about his posture had a cocky, relaxed swagger that set him apart. As they stepped out of the gated community, they glanced around before spotting Ethan''s car. Skyblade visibly froze. Then, with an exaggerated expression, he mouthed: Holy shit! Without hesitation, the three of them strode over. Ethan and Lyla stepped out of the car to meet them. "Boss?" Skyblade looked at Ethan, still stunned. "Just call me Ethan. Don''t make it sound like some mobster title," Ethan chuckled. Skyblade''s eyes flicked to Lyla. "Wait¡­ is this Moonbeam?" His tone was like someone discovering a new continent. Lyla smiled politely. "I''m Lyla Silverwood, Moonbeam. Nice to meet you." "Damn, sis in-law, you''re even prettier than in the game," Skyblade blurted out. Lyla blushed slightly, stepping closer to Ethan, unsure how to respond. Before she could think of something, Skyblade kept going. "Hey, you got any single friends? I''m not picky, face doesn''t matter, just a great body will do! You know, as long as¡ª" "As long as my ass," Ethan cut him off swiftly. "Stop calling her sis in law like we''re some married couple." He shot a quick glance at Lyla, thankful he hadn''t let Skyblade finish the sentence. He already knew what he was about to say: As long as the lights are off, it''s all the same. This guy had zero shame, his mouth ran faster than a speeding train. "Alright, alright. So what should I call her?" Skyblade said grinning. "Just Lyla," she replied, still curious why Ethan had interrupted him. She studied Skyblade for a moment. He was a good-looking guy with a strong military presence, finding a girlfriend shouldn''t be hard for him. At that moment, Slashblade stepped forward. "Victor." He didn''t say much, but his genuine happiness was clear. Skyblade suddenly turned and called out, "Hey, Williams, what are you doing?" Ethan followed his gaze and saw SeraphWarrior staring at the car like he was in love. Skyblade chuckled. "Ethan, Williams used to be our designated driver back in the day." His real name was Kyle Jensen. Back in the army, during basic training, a drill sergeant, notorious for his poor memory, struggled to remember all the new recruits. He''d mistakenly called Kyle Williams after confusing him with another recruit. The name, though incorrect, became a running joke within the unit, and eventually, it stuck. Hearing his name, Williams quickly snapped out of it and turned to Ethan. "Ethan, is this car legit? Not a custom build? No, wait¡­ even if the body is modified, you''d still get flagged driving this thing." "It''s not mine, it''s Lyla''s," Ethan said casually. Williams blinked. "Huh? Lyla¡­ uh, mind if I take it for a spin?" He awkwardly adjusted his glasses before turning to Lyla with hopeful eyes. Lyla laughed and pulled Ethan aside, making space. "Keys are in the car." "Thanks, sis!" Williams hopped in immediately. "Damn, I''m coming too!" Skyblade shouted, rushing in after him. Victor, watching them, smiled apologetically at Ethan and Lyla. "They haven''t been out of the military for long. It''s been a while since they''ve touched a machine like this." "It''s fine. Let them have fun," Lyla said with a grin. "Let''s go check on the bride!" Victor hesitated for a second, his face slightly awkward. Chapter 97 - 97: A Close Call Just as Ethan and Lyla were about to speak, a black sedan came speeding toward them. Ethan reacted instantly. He grabbed Lyla and pulled her aside, switching places with her. The car tore past them, missing Ethan by inches. But he wasn''t fast enough to avoid the side mirror. Crack! The mirror snapped off and clattered onto the pavement. Ethan stumbled back, a sharp pain shooting through his waist. "Damn it, that hurts!" he groaned, clutching his lower back. The car didn''t stop. It sped off, disappearing down the road. Victor and Lyla rushed to his side. "Ethan, are you okay?" "I''ll live," Ethan muttered, then shot Victor a look. "Is this how people drive around here?" Hearing him joke, both Lyla and Victor let out small sighs of relief. "Should we take you to a hospital?" Victor asked, still a little concerned. "Nah, just a scratch," Ethan waved him off. Victor nodded and pulled out his phone. "Leo, a black sedan just flew past your way. Have Williams stop it. License plate is¡­" S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan watched Victor calmly recite the plate number. Even at that speed, he memorized it? ''Damn¡­ guess that''s what makes an ace sniper.'' Lyla had wanted to take Ethan to Victor''s place to rest, but Victor told them to wait, Williams had the apartment keys. A few minutes later, the Predator Beast X pulled up. Skyblade stepped out, shaking his head. "It''s over. Williams lost his touch. Couldn''t even chase down some lousy sedan." "Damn it, give me a break!" Williams jumped out, glaring at Skyblade. "What was I supposed to do, plow through traffic with that beast? It''s not a damn bulldozer!" Ethan smirked. "Forget it." Skyblade, however, wasn''t ready to drop it. "No way. That wasn''t random, it was clearly intentional. I''ll run the plate number later¡ªsee who''s behind this." That word, intentional, made Ethan''s expression darken. His mind replayed the moment the car passed him. He had seen the driver''s face. The guy wasn''t panicked. He wasn''t reckless. He was calm. Too calm. "What is it?" Lyla asked softly. Ethan forced a smile. "Nothing." He really wanted to believe he was just overthinking it. "Come on, Ethan, I got you." Skyblade took over from Lyla, helping Ethan walk. Hand on his waist, Ethan followed them into the building. They climbed flight after flight of stairs. Ethan assumed they were heading to the sixth floor. But they didn''t stop. They kept going, all the way to the rooftop. When they finally stepped outside, Ethan froze. It was a makeshift rooftop shack, steel sheets patched together, blue paint peeling from years of decay. "You guys live here?" Lyla asked, frowning. Ethan''s chest tightened. How could he have forgotten? This was the very place Skyblade had brought him in his past life, when he was on the run from Zachary. He had spent years hiding here. Never once stepping outside. Back then, Skyblade had brought him food every day. He had told Ethan this place used to belong to a close friend. A friend who was now dead. Was he talking about Williams? That would explain why, back when Ethan first met Skyblade, he had been alone. Victor and Williams weren''t there. Now it made sense. "Victor, before you joined Ethereal, you were planning to leave the country, weren''t you?" Ethan asked suddenly. The room went silent. Even Victor looked taken aback. But after a brief pause, he gave a slow nod. "Yeah." That confirmed it. Ethan finally understood why, in his past life, Victor and Williams were nowhere to be found. And after piecing things together from what Skyblade had mentioned in-game, he could make a solid guess: They had become mercenaries. As for Williams death¡­ it wasn''t hard to figure out. He must have died on a mission. Whether Victor had survived or not, Ethan didn''t know. Skyblade had never mentioned it. He hadn''t even told Ethan about Williams''s death. This was something Ethan had only realized after arriving here. "Victor, listen to me. Don''t go. If you want to know why, I''ll tell you, because he''s going to die." Ethan pointed straight at Williams. Victor didn''t say a word. He just stared at Ethan, eyes dark and unreadable. "Holy shit, Ethan, how do you know about our plan?" Skyblade blurted out, stunned. Ethan shot him a glance. "Not you. Them." Skyblade turned to look at Victor and Williams. The two men exchanged glances, then, suddenly, they laughed. Williams gave Ethan an amused look. "Boss, don''t tell me you''re psychic?" "What the hell?" Skyblade scowled. "You two weren''t planning to bring me along?!" His face turned red, real anger flashing in his eyes. He grabbed Williams by the collar. "Answer me!" Williams didn''t resist, but Victor immediately stepped in, prying Skyblade off him. "Leo, listen. You have parents. Williams and I don''t. That''s why we never planned to bring you." Lyla shot Ethan a glare. Her eyes practically screamed: Really? You just got here, and now you''re making them fight? Is this what you''re good at? Ethan awkwardly scratched his nose. "Ahem¡­ Skyblade, chill. Why not take it easy? I''m sure Lyla can find you a nice girl instead." That immediately snapped Skyblade''s attention away. He let go of Williams''s collar and turned to Lyla. "For real, sis?" Lyla''s fingers pinched Ethan''s waist, hard. Cold sweat beaded on Ethan''s forehead, but he kept a straight face. "There are plenty of beautiful girls," Lyla said sweetly, still twisting Ethan''s side. "I just hope you can handle one." Skyblade scoffed. "Handle? Do you know how steady my hands are? I''ve handled pistols just fine, how big would she have to be for me to not handle her?" He even mimed gripping something in front of him. Ethan burst out laughing. "Pfft¡ª" A second later¡ªbam! Lyla''s small fist struck his waist. Right on the spot where the side mirror had hit him earlier. And she didn''t just hit, she used precise force. Pain shot through Ethan''s body like a lightning bolt. His legs nearly buckled. That punch hurt way more than the car. Chapter 98 - 98: Hidden Threat Ethan winced at the pain, and Lyla grabbed his arm. "Ethan, I''m sorry! Let me see." She looked genuinely concerned. She hadn''t hit him that hard, but he had still gotten hurt¡ªbecause of her. Lyla stepped behind him and lifted his shirt without hesitation. Williams, Victor, and Leo all leaned in to take a look. "What the hell are you guys looking at?" Ethan shot them a glare and shoved them away. The three exchanged confused looks. Weren''t they just worried about him? They turned back to Ethan, only to see him wiggling his eyebrows and making faces at them. "Wait a second¡­ Oh¡ª" Before Leo could finish, Victor smacked the back of his head. "Shut up and get some food." "Oh¡­ Got it, got it!" Leo scurried off, but not before turning back to give Ethan a thumbs-up and a couple of exaggerated winks. Ethan sighed. This guy. He was quite smart, but his mouth never knew when to stop. If Victor hadn''t interrupted, Leo would''ve probably spilled everything. Just then, Lyla''s cold fingers touched the sore spot on his lower back, gently massaging it. The sensation was so comfortable that Ethan nearly melted on the spot. Acting soft¡­ it always triggered a woman''s nurturing instincts. A universal truth. And Lyla? Right now, she was the perfect example. Fussing over him, rubbing his injury, whispering in his ear with concern. ''Oh, Lyla¡­ You think you can mess with me? When it''s just us, you''re all sweet, clinging to me like you can''t help yourself. But the moment people are around, you turn cocky, you mess with me, you act tough. Well, guess what? Two can play this game.'' Ethan smirked to himself. If Lyla knew what he was thinking, she''d probably kick him on the spot. She was too focused, though her expression was soft, almost like a kitten''s. Ethan''s hand moved on its own. A light smack landed on her backside. Lyla froze. Her face turned bright red. She quickly glanced at Victor and Williams, thankfully, they weren''t paying attention. Shooting Ethan a deadly glare, she clenched her fists. But just as she was about to land a punch, she remembered he was injured. With an exasperated sigh, she let it go and continued massaging his back. Ethan grinned. A new plan took shape in his mind, he was going to tame this kitten right in front of everyone. "Heh¡­" "Ethan, why are you laughing like that?" Lyla squinted at him. "Oh¡­ nothing. You just hit a ticklish spot." He covered up quickly. He had gotten so pleased with himself that he had let it slip. Lyla didn''t seem suspicious, so he continued scheming. Meanwhile, Victor and Williams kept chatting with him. An hour passed. "¡­Where the hell is Leo? He left to grab food ages ago." Williams frowned and pulled out his phone, calling him. No answer. Frowning, Williams dialed again. Still nothing. By the fifth attempt, Leo finally picked up. "Bro, where the hell are you?" Williams asked, putting the call on speaker. Through the phone, Leo''s heavy breathing filled the silence. "I''m¡­ I''m on my way back. But listen¡ªon my way home, I saw that car." Williams'' expression darkened. "The one that hit Ethan?" Ethan looked up sharply. "Yeah," Leo confirmed. "It was parked near the back entrance of the complex. When I saw it, I got closer and peeked through the window. No one was inside. But just as I looked up, I spotted this guy¡ªscruffy beard, rough-looking, walking out of our building. He saw me standing by his car¡­ and bolted. I took off after him. Chased him for blocks, but he lost me." Leo was still breathing heavily on the other end. Victor scowled. "Get back here. This isn''t normal. If he outran you, that means he''s no ordinary guy." "Yeah¡­ I figured." Leo coughed. "By the way, I lost the food in the chase. Should I grab more on my way back?" "No need. We''ll go eat out." Ethan cut in. "Got it, boss." Leo hung up. Williams turned to Victor. "What do you think?" But Victor wasn''t looking at him. He was watching Ethan and Lyla. "¡­Did you two piss off someone?" he asked. Lyla blinked, then scoffed. "Who, us? What kind of trouble could we possibly get into?" "What about your family?" Victor pressed. Lyla hesitated. She reached for her phone. "I can call my dad and¡ª" "No need." Ethan''s voice had turned ice-cold. "This is about me." His eyes were just as cold. The group fell silent. "What do you mean?" Williams frowned. "I don''t have proof," Ethan admitted. "But I have a pretty good guess." He turned to Lyla. "Has anyone been asking about me? Either in real life or in-game?" Lyla frowned, deep in thought. After a long pause, she shook her head. "No, I don''t think so." Ethan''s eyes narrowed. If it wasn''t about him¡­ Lyla''s voice suddenly cut through his thoughts. "Wait." She sat up straighter, a flicker of unease crossing her face. "I just remembered something." Ethan watched as she hesitated, piecing something together in real-time. "My old classmate from high school, she''s studying overseas now. A few days ago, she sent me a private message while we were running a dungeon." Lyla''s brows drew together. "She asked me something weird. She said, ''Lyla, are you dating NotADruid, the leader of Renegade Alliance?" Ethan felt a slow, sinking sensation in his chest. "I was in the middle of a fight, so I didn''t think much of it," Lyla admitted. "I just laughed and said, ''What? He''s my brother, don''t be ridiculous.'' And then¡­ she logged off." It hadn''t meant anything to her at the time. But now, looking back, the way her friend had just vanished after hearing that, like she had gotten the confirmation she needed¡ªsent a chill down her spine. "This all makes sense now," Ethan muttered. Before he could finish, Victor and Williams interrupted him in unison. "Wait¡ªaren''t you two dating?" Ethan froze. Of all the things to focus on¡­ "I almost got assassinated, and that''s what you''re worried about?" Ethan snapped. "Relax, boss," Williams waved him off. "This is just some in-game grudge spilling over. Someone wants payback but can''t get to you, so they''re coming for your girl instead. No big deal. It''s not like they can fly over here and blow up our place. Besides, with the three of us around, what''s there to worry about?" Williams looked completely unfazed. "Still crazy, though. Never thought I''d see the day someone tried to kill over a game." Ethan didn''t respond. He just stared at them, then at Victor. And on Victor''s face¡­ was something different. Unlike Williams, Victor wasn''t so sure. And that meant he could feel it. This wasn''t just some harmless grudge match. This was real. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 99 - 99: Strange Feeling Ethan understood why Williams was so confident. He was young and had just left the military and still had unshaken faith in his country. But if even Victor thought the same way, then there was a problem. Victor should know by now that the world wasn''t as simple as it seemed. "Ethan, I don''t think you pissed off just any random guy," Victor said. "Whoever it is, they''ve been following you." "What makes you say that?" "If they were locals, they wouldn''t have spotted you the moment you arrived. And if they were just some ordinary thugs, they''d have taken one look at your car and known better than to mess with you." Victor laid it out in a few simple words. "You''re right," Ethan admitted. "If this mess ruins your wedding, I''ll owe you big time." Victor laughed and patted Ethan''s shoulder. "Don''t worry about it. No idea what kind of trouble you''re in, but you''ve got the three of us with you." Ethan was about to say something when Leo came back, gulping down a bottle of water in one go. "Damn it. That guy''s fast." "Did you find anything?" Victor asked. "No fight, no clues," Leo replied. Just then, Lyla walked over after finishing a phone call on the rooftop. "Ethan," she said. "What is it?" "Dad''s looking into it for us. He told us to be careful." Ethan nodded. "Let''s grab some dinner first." --- That night, at Victor''s insistence, no one stayed at a hotel. Instead, they set up a military-style tent on the rooftop. Ethan and Lyla slept inside the prefab steel cabin, while the other three took turns keeping watch outside. Fortunately, the night passed without incident. The next morning, Meatball dropped by, intending to stay the night with them, but Leo promptly kicked him out. His excuse? "You literally live in this city. What are you sticking around for?" In truth, they just didn''t want Meatball getting caught up in any danger. Ethan had originally planned to help Victor arrange an extravagant, high-class wedding. But after what happened, Victor and Celia decided to stick with their original plans. Lyla, having been invited as a bridesmaid, stole the spotlight in her dress. If it weren''t for Celia''s own stunning looks and her mature charm, Lyla might have completely overshadowed her. Even so, Lyla''s youthful energy was just as dazzling. Ethan, for his part, was momentarily stunned. He''d never seen Celia before the wedding. Victor had insisted she was traditional and refused to meet the groom before the big day. So when Celia finally appeared, Ethan couldn''t help but think, Damn, Victor really lucked out. The celebrations carried on late into the night at the hotel. When things finally wound down, Ethan, Lyla, Leo, and Williams returned to the rooftop. "Looks like it''s just us two tonight," Leo said to Williams. "Our captain found his happiness. We should be happy for him," Williams replied, slightly drunk. Inside the prefab cabin, Lyla had already put on her VR headset and logged into the game. Ethan sat on the floor, staring at the spot where she was lying. It was the same spot where he''d spent four years sleeping. Was this¡­ some kind of time-warped shared bed situation? He hadn''t logged into the game for the past two days, staying on high alert instead. Tonight, though, something felt off. It was the same sensation he got in the game when a stealth-class player lurked nearby, an eerie awareness that someone was hovering just outside his line of sight. A wave of unease crept up on Ethan, coming and going without warning. Every time he tried to pinpoint the source, it slipped away like a ghost. Something was going to happen tonight, he could feel it. That was why, at Victor''s wedding, he hadn''t touched a single drop of alcohol. Earlier that day, he had told Victor about his hunch. So when it came time for toasts, Victor discreetly had Ethan''s drink swapped for juice. Leo and Williams''s drinks were switched as well, though Williams, for whatever reason, decided to down several bottles of beer anyway. Maybe he was just too happy. No one stopped him. By the time it was past 1 a.m., Ethan was lying on the rooftop floor, half-asleep. Then¡­ Rustle, Rustle, Rustle¡ª The faint sound of footsteps echoed from the stairwell. In an instant, he rolled over and got to his feet. Stepping outside, he spotted Leo crouched near the stairwell entrance, peering out cautiously. Ethan moved toward him quietly. Leo gestured for silence. The footsteps grew closer. Whoever it was, they were heading straight for the rooftop. Just as a dark figure appeared at the top of the stairs, Leo launched a kick straight at their face. Thud! The intruder raised an arm, blocking the attack. "It''s me!" Hearing the voice, Ethan halted, just as he was about to rush in. Leo also froze, then flicked on a flashlight. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The beam illuminated the figure''s face. "Holy shit, Victor?! What are you doing here?" Leo blurted. "I couldn''t shake the feeling something was off, so I came to check on you," Victor said. Ethan felt a warmth in his chest. Tonight was Victor''s wedding night, yet he had left his bride behind to come here because he was worried. As Ethan was still processing that thought, the flashlight suddenly clicked off. Then.. Shing! Out of nowhere, Leo drew a knife and slashed at Victor''s face. The sudden loss of light threw Victor off for a second. Instinctively, he twisted to the side. Rip! Even so, the blade still managed to graze his shoulder, tearing through his jacket and skin. "Leo, what the hell?!" Ethan shouted. "That''s not Victor," Leo said, lunging forward for another strike. Hearing the commotion, Williams groggily got up. "What''s going on?" he asked, blinking at the sight of Leo attacking Victor. "Wrong passphrase," Leo answered between attacks. Williams''s expression changed instantly. Without hesitation, he pulled out his own knife and joined the fight. Ethan stood there, dumbfounded. Passphrase? What passphrase?! Whoever this fake Victor was, he was far more skilled than Leo and Williams. As Williams charged, the imposter moved even faster, leaping high into the air, dodging Leo''s blade with such speed that his form seemed to blur. Midair, he twisted and brought his foot crashing down toward Williams. Williams lost his balance and fell hard. The imposter prepared to stomp down on the back of Williams''s head, but Leo struck again, aiming straight for his heart. Forced to retreat, the imposter dodged, but now he was on the defensive. Williams quickly rolled back to his feet, and the two of them pressed forward, attacking in sync. Even though they couldn''t land a decisive hit, they managed to keep the imposter occupied, leaving him no chance to counterattack. Ethan watched the fight unfold. Leo and Williams weren''t just throwing punches, they were aiming to kill. This was nothing like the combat techniques Ethan had learned in his training classes. Just as he hesitated, wondering whether to jump in, something chilling happened. Chapter 100 - 100: Eyes Everywhere The figure took a step back, nearly ten fee, his arms hanging limply at his sides. A sinister crimson glow spread across his hands. Then, right before their eyes, his hands began to change from the inside out, elongating, morphing into two razor-sharp, blood-red blades. Ethan froze. Leo and Williams saw it too, but instead of reacting with shock, they exchanged a brief glance. Raising their knives defensively, they didn''t pursue. "Ethan, take Lyla and get out of here! This guy isn''t someone we can handle easily," Leo warned, eyes locked on the transforming figure. There was no panic in their voices, no disbelief. This wasn''t the first time they had seen something like this. Ethan hesitated. Were they actually saying they couldn''t take this guy down? Worse, that they might not even make it out in one piece? Just as that thought crossed his mind¡ª Bang! Boom! Two deafening gunshots rang out in near-perfect unison. In that split second, Ethan felt something snap inside him. His heartbeat surged, his head buzzed like a struck bell, and then¡ª Everything changed. His vision expanded. Not just left and right, but everywhere. A full 360-degree view. In front of him, a bullet¡ª5.8mm, smooth round tip, coated in red, ripped through the air. Its trajectory wasn''t aimed at him but at the mutated Victor. The bullet''s path led to a rooftop less than a hundred meters away. Standing there was a woman dressed entirely in black, mask, sunglasses, baseball cap, holding a M110 Semi-Automatic sniper rifle. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan couldn''t see her face. At the same time, behind him, another bullet approached. This one was huge, 12.7mm. The second, heavier gunshot had come from this direction. Its source? A bearded man, perched over 400 meters away on a high-rise rooftop. A massive Barrett M95 sniper rifle rested on its bipod, aimed right at Ethan''s back. The moment Ethan laid eyes on him, recognition struck. This was the guy who had tried to run him down with a car. The same guy Leo had been chasing. And his target now? Ethan''s heart. ''You''ve got to be kidding me!'' Ethan wasn''t reeling from the fact that someone was shooting at him. No. What shocked him was himself. Had he just turned into some kind of human radar? He could see in all directions¡ª360 degrees, a radius of 1,300 meters. And everything around him was moving in slow motion. Even the high-caliber bullet hurtling toward him looked like it was swimming through thick liquid. Ethan twisted aside. The 12.7mm round passed so close to his face that he could see the grooves in the metal. Meanwhile, the woman''s bullet struck the mutant dead-on. Boom! The anti-materiel round crashed into the rooftop''s concrete ledge, blasting out a hole the size of a soup bowl. As for the mutant¡ª The instant the shot hit, flames erupted from the wound, engulfing his entire body in an inferno. A fire round. Without a second thought, Ethan darted into the nearest blind spot, dodging out of the sniper''s line of sight. Leo and Williams, momentarily stunned by the sight of the burning mutant, quickly followed suit, scrambling for cover. Then, another figure burst out from the stairwell. Ethan''s eyes snapped to them. Victor. "What the hell, Victor?! What are you doing here?" Leo shouted. The exact same words he had yelled earlier. Victor, clearly pissed, barked back, "Why the hell does it matter to you if I''m here or not?!" Ethan blinked. "What''s with Victor? Why''s he so pissed?" "That''s the real Victor," Williams confirmed. Ethan froze. ''Wait¡­ so that phrase earlier was a passphrase?'' "What the hell happened?" Victor demanded. "I heard two gunshots in the stairwell, one from an M110 Semi-Automatic sniper, another from a Barrett M95 heavy sniper! Who the hell thinks they can pull this crap here?" He still had that soldier''s instinct, like he was back in the military, ready to defend the honor of his homeland. But before anyone could respond¡ª Bang! Bang! Bang! Three more shots from the M110 sniper rifle. That strange awareness Ethan had earlier? Gone. But judging by the direction of the shots, the bullets had landed on the rooftop 400 meters away, right where the bearded man had been. Boom! The heavy sniper fired back, as if answering the challenge. Then¡­ Bang! Bang! Two more rapid shots from the woman''s position. It was like a duel in the heart of the city. Shot for shot, neither side giving an inch. Within minutes, the wailing of police sirens echoed in the distance, closing in fast. Ethan yanked Lyla from inside, pulling her into the shadows with him. "Whoever that is, their reload speed is insane," Victor muttered. "Faster than yours?" Leo asked. Victor nodded, eyes filled with something rare, genuine shock. From enlistment to discharge, he had never met anyone who could reload faster than him. Then, from Ethan''s pocket, a sweet, overly cutesy voice rang out: "Ethie, pick up the phone already~" Ethan winced. ''Damn it.'' That was the custom ringtone Lyla had recorded for him. She had explicitly warned him: Change it, and we''re done. With three men staring at him with a mix of confusion and amusement, Ethan awkwardly fished out his phone. An unknown number. He answered. A woman''s voice sounded, firm and urgent: "Get downstairs. Now." Ethan hesitated. "Celeste?" "No time. Move." The call cut off. But Ethan knew. That voice, it was undoubtedly Celeste. And if she was here¡­ then that sniper on the rooftop had to be her. No wonder she had looked familiar. On the rooftop, Celeste kept her eye through the scope, watching the bearded man''s position over 500 meters away. Gone. With a sharp exhale, she pulled back. "Time to move." If the cops arrived, it''d be a mess. From her shadowed vantage point, she kept watch until she saw Ethan and the others exit the apartment complex. Then, without hesitation, she packed up her M110 sniper, secured it in a case, slung it over her back, and jumped. Straight off the six-story rooftop. No ropes. No safety gear. A normal person would''ve died from a fall like that. Ethan and the others made it out of the complex and reached the Predator Beast X. He opened the car door, ushering Lyla inside first. Just as he pulled out his phone, intending to call the number back¡ª "Get in." That same familiar voice, this time right behind him. Ethan turned. Celeste stood there. Same outfit. Same sniper case on her back. The rooftop sniper and Celeste Hawthorne were one and the same. Ethan reached for the driver''s seat, only to get yanked back. "Backseat." Before he could react, Celeste had already climbed into the driver''s seat and slammed the door shut. Her sniper case? She didn''t even bother keeping it. She just tossed it straight into Victor''s lap in the backseat. ___ Author: Wow, we hit 100 chapters! I honestly didn''t expect to get this far, but here we are. Huge thanks to everyone who''s been reading, commenting, and supporting this story. As a little celebration, I dropped 4 chapters today, hope you enjoyed! Also, there aren''t many reviews on the book yet, so if you''ve been enjoying (or even just tolerating) the story, I''d really appreciate it if you left a review. It helps me know what''s working, what isn''t, and how I can make this even better. Thanks again! Chapter 101 - 101: No Room for Refusal Once inside the car, Ethan finally felt a bit more at ease. Forget snipers, he was sure even a rocket launcher wouldn''t get through this beast of a vehicle. No one spoke. Leo and Williams still looked rattled. It was hard to believe that, in this day and age, someone had the audacity to fire sniper rounds from a rooftop in the heart of the city. And not just any sniper, a Barrett M95. How the hell had they smuggled something like that in? And what about the woman driving? She clearly wasn''t just some random acquaintance. Both Ethan and Lyla seemed to know her. After more than ten minutes of silence, Lyla finally spoke up. "Celeste, what are you doing here?" "Protecting your precious boyfriend, obviously," Celeste replied. She had already ditched her mask, sunglasses now perched atop her head. Dressed in sleek black combat gear, she had an undeniable presence¡ªcool, sharp, and utterly unfazed. "Your boyfriend, by the way, has pissed off some very dangerous people." "You know who''s after me?" Ethan asked. Celeste glanced at him from the driver''s seat. "Want to know?" "That classified intel. Join the Ninth Division, and you''ll have clearance." Ethan rolled his eyes. "I don''t need you to tell me. I already know who it is." "Oh?" Celeste arched a brow. "Zachary." Ethan''s voice was steady. The second he said the name, Celeste slammed on the brakes. "So, you do know a thing or two," she said, eyes sharp. "Then tell me, do you know what he really is?" S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan leaned back, unbothered. "A sleeper agent from Serpent Isle, planted here for infiltration. What, you guys didn''t know?" In his previous life, Zachary''s cover had been blown after he orchestrated a massacre of elite players from Dragonspire. But by then, his mission was already complete. That incident had nearly collapsed the national economy. The top guilds suffered heavy losses, and soon after, waves of foreign players flooded in, pillaging strongholds, looting resources, and decimating key infrastructure within Ethereal. The economic damage bled into the real world. Corporations invested in the game lost millions. Panic spread. Serpent Isle seized the opportunity, launching a full-scale economic war against Dragonspire. Celeste''s expression darkened. "Are you sure?" That confirmed it. They had no idea about Zachary''s true identity. So much for "protecting" him. They weren''t guarding him, they had just been tracking Zachary and happened to stumble across his target. Ethan smirked. "You say you''re here to protect me, but let''s be real, you just wanted an excuse to recruit me into the Ninth Division." Celeste opened her mouth to respond, but Ethan didn''t let her. "You were only after the mutant." He gestured toward the backseat. "If you were really here for me, your first shot would''ve been aimed at the other rooftop. That''s where the real threat was." Celeste stayed silent. "And don''t even try to deny it," Ethan continued. "You fired first. The sniper on the other roof fired after. You had no idea he was there." Leo and Williams exchanged looks. Celeste gripped the steering wheel tighter. "You were sent to eliminate the mutant, and only then did you realize he was after us." Still, Celeste said nothing. "And that fire round?" Ethan leaned forward slightly. "Standard incendiary rounds don''t turn bones to ash. Your bullet was a custom job, something only the Ninth Division would have access to." Before Celeste could argue, Ethan smirked. "Relax. I never said I wouldn''t join. But if I do¡­ what''s in it for me?" His words hit like a barrage, giving Celeste no room to cut in. Victor finally spoke up. "You''re with the Ninth Division?" Celeste''s face darkened, clearly irritated at being called out. Instead of addressing Victor''s question, she turned to him with an icy gaze and said: "Victor Grant. Callsign: Slashblade. Served in the Northern Frontier Region for seventeen years. One year in boot camp, sixteen years in black ops. Medically discharged at thirty-five due to injury. Took a job as a mall security guard. Exceptional track record in classified missions. On one of those missions, you saved a sixteen-year-old girl named Celia Clair, now your wife. Applied to the Ninth Division eighteen times over five years. Seventeen rejections. Retired with the rank of Major General but refused a cushy government position. Instead, you chose to work as a security guard. A month ago, you attempted to leave the country in secret. You''ve been in contact with mercenary groups from the Sablon Republic. All because of your fallen comrades'' orphaned children. Tell me, Victor, was throwing away your life really worth it?" Her words hit like a hammer. Celeste wasn''t just venting her frustration from Ethan shutting her down earlier, she was pissed. Victor let out a bitter laugh. "Damn, you Ninth Division people really do your homework." He leaned back, exhaling slowly. "I turned down the government position because I knew I wasn''t fit for it. What else am I good at besides killing? I don''t have the patience to play office politics. And as for those kids... I made a promise." "You don''t need to explain anything," Celeste cut him off. She gestured to the case sitting on Victor''s lap. "Open it. Inside is your eighteenth application form." Victor hesitated. He already knew what was inside. The moment Celeste had tossed the case to him, he''d recognized the weight, the unmistakable heft of an M110 sniper rifle. But when he opened it, there it was. A document. Four years ago, it had been his final application to join the Ninth Division. Stamped across the bottom, one bold word: APPROVED. Victor stared at it. The unshakable soldier, hardened through war and bloodshed, suddenly had red-rimmed eyes. He took a deep breath. Then, after a long pause, he placed the document back in the case and slowly closed it. "It''s too late," he muttered. "I''m married now. And¡­" He glanced at Ethan. Celeste smirked. "Him? Don''t worry about him. He''s joining the Ninth Division too. As for your lovely wife, she was picked up by our people the moment you left the hotel. We protect our own." Victor immediately pulled out his phone. Ethan already knew who he was calling. A few seconds later, Victor''s breath hitched. Whatever Celia said on the other end made his eyes well up for real this time. When he finally hung up, he looked like he wanted to say something, but no words came out. Celeste turned to Williams and Leo. "And you two, don''t even think about running." "Huh? Us?" "Don''t play dumb. You think that mutant was after Ethan?" Celeste crossed her arms. "I had two missions. One, recruit you three into the Ninth Division. Two, eliminate that target. But guess what? Turns out that target was after you. I''m guessing it''s because you two bailed on your meeting with the Sablon Republic mercenary group. They sent someone to take you out." She said it so casually, like it was just another day at work. "Wait, hold on." Ethan suddenly snapped. "What do you mean? What am I, some disposable extra? And don''t think I didn''t hear you trying to poach my guys. That''s not happening." Celeste raised a brow. Ethan glared. Back in school, she was the one who had stuck him with the nickname Weakling. Now, not only had she made the decision of him joining the Ninth Division, she was trying to take his people? Like hell he was going to agree to that. Chapter 102 - 102: The Choice Seeing Ethan and Celeste on the verge of a fallout, Lyla finally spoke up. "Celeste, he might not be able to join the Ninth Division. He''s going to be the heir to the Silverwood family." Ethan and Celeste turned to her at the same time. "Are you serious?" "What heir?" They both spoke in unison. "I''m serious, Ethan. I''ll explain everything to you later," Lyla replied, addressing both of them at once. Celeste turned away. Sitting in the driver''s seat, she pulled out a pack of slim cigarettes and lit one up. Taking a slow drag, she exhaled and spoke evenly. "Lyla, do you even realize what you''re doing? You''re putting him right in the crosshairs. He could end up dead. You''re setting him up for that." "That''s still better than him joining your division and meeting some horrible end," Lyla said calmly. "The country needs us. We accept that we might not make it back. That''s our duty." Celeste''s voice turned icy. "I don''t care about all that. In the Silverwood family, I can protect him." Celeste let out a dry laugh. "Protect him? The first people who''ll want him dead will be your own family." Lyla froze. A few seconds passed before she finally spoke. "What do you mean by that?" The others in the car had gone completely silent, watching the argument unfold. Ethan, especially, felt at a loss for words. They were arguing about him, and he hadn''t even wrapped his head around the situation yet. Lyla''s stance was clear now. No wonder she hadn''t mentioned the Ninth Division to him lately. She never wanted him to join. Instead, she wanted him to take over the Silverwood family. And from what she was saying, it sounded like being in the Ninth Division was a death sentence. But Celeste claimed it was about duty. Was the Ninth Division some kind of covert agency handling special assignments? Like those secret organizations in spy thrillers? But why him? What could he possibly have that made Celeste want to recruit him? Celeste took another drag from her cigarette, then flicked the butt out the window. Ethan was caught off guard. A woman like her¡ªcold, distant, always composed, smoking? If anyone from school saw this, they''d be shocked. After a long pause, Celeste''s tone softened slightly. "Lyla, I know you care about him. There are things I can''t tell you, but I can say this much." No one interrupted. Celeste took her time before continuing. "There''s something at the Ninth Division headquarters, a relic, called the Soulstone. You know what it does, right?" Lyla nodded. "At first, I only thought Ethan''s physical abilities had improved enough to meet our recruitment standards. That''s why I invited him." "But then, I got a report. The Soulstone has reacted three times in the past month." "The first two times, it detected a soul sense within Ember City." "The first time, I wasn''t sure if it had anything to do with Ethan." "But after the second event, he showed up at school and wrecked Trent." "And the third time?" She exhaled. "Just now. I just got word from the organization. The Soulstone reacted again, this time, it was right when I fired my first shot." She turned to Ethan. "I don''t know what you did at that moment, but I''m certain of one thing, the Soulstone reacted to you. Because the moment I pulled the trigger, I felt a shift in consciousness. A ripple." Lyla''s expression changed, shock evident in her eyes. Ethan''s mind raced. Was it because of that moment? When he got that panoramic, 360-degree vision? Could that be what she meant by ''soul sense''? "You''re saying¡­ his soul strength is more than five times that of a normal person?" Lyla asked. "More than that." Celeste''s voice was steady. "The first reaction was weak, barely within the Soulstone''s detection range. The second was over ten times stronger." "And just now, I got word that the intensity increased again. Since I was already in Blackridge for a mission, they contacted me directly, told me to keep an eye out." She turned to Ethan. "Did you feel anything strange just now? And don''t tell me dodging a shot from an M95 sniper rifle was just luck." Ethan had been about to deny it, but hearing her say that, he rubbed his nose. "I just¡­ suddenly saw everything within a full kilometer around me. A full 360-degree view, no blind spots. And everything slowed down¡­ like a hundred times slower." Lyla sank into her seat, her voice weak. "Soul sense¡­ it really is soul sense. How is this even possible?" Her hands trembled. "A person who can release soul sense, someone like that has a soul strength dozens of times greater than a normal person. That''s the kind of person the Silverwood family would never allow to live." Celeste leaned back, watching her. "Well, Lyla, do you still think you can protect him?" Her voice was calm but sharp. "The Silverwood family built itself on strength. You know that. And you also know that soul-wielders¡ªpeople who are naturally gifted in combat, are a threat to them." "A hundred years ago, your great-great-grandfather''s generation fought against a soul-wielder. Nearly wiped out the entire family. Ever since then, the Silverwoods have hunted them down, one by one." "So tell me, how would they ever allow Ethan, a soul-wielder, to become the heir?" Celeste exhaled, watching Lyla''s face darken. "You think just because you''re the family heir''s daughter, you can protect him?" "If they find out what he is, your own father might be the first to go after him." "And if he doesn''t, your uncles will make sure he loses his position before he even gets the chance." Celeste''s words hit like a sledgehammer, shattering whatever resistance Lyla had left. Tears welled in her eyes. She wasn''t someone who held onto old grudges. The family''s vendetta against soul-wielders was ancient history to her. But rules were rules. And those rules were absolute. She had already fought so hard just to be here with Ethan. She had three years, an agreement her father had negotiated on her behalf. Three years before she would have to return to the family. At first, she had a plan. If they forced her into that marriage, she would rather die than go along with it. Then Celeste appeared, and she thought maybe Ethan had another way out. If the Ninth Division valued him enough, they could shield him. The Silverwoods had clashed with the division before, trying to recruit the same people. As long as Ethan joined the family, she and her father could support him, help him rise in the ranks, and win a place in the Noble Eight Lineage'' power struggle. If he succeeded, her father''s position would strengthen, and no one would dare force her into that marriage. But now¡­ Now, she knew the truth. Ethan wasn''t just valuable, he was a target. Celeste had been right all along. If the Silverwood family found out, there wouldn''t even be a struggle. They''d kill him on the spot. If he joined the Ninth Division, at least he had a chance. "Listen," Celeste said, her tone gentler now. "A family, no matter how powerful, is still just a family. The Ninth Division belongs to the country. If Ethan joins us, he won''t be untouchable, but he won''t be easy to deal with either." "And right now¡­ the only people who know he''s a soul-wielder are the ones in this car." A brief silence fell over them. Then¡ª "Ow! My ears are still ringing from that sniper shot, I can barely hear anything!" Leo suddenly clutched his head, groaning dramatically. "What?" Williams shouted, cupping a hand around his ear. Victor shook his head, laughing at the two of them. "Relax. None of us are saying a word about this." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lyla finally gave in. Celeste was right. The Ninth Division was dangerous. But it was still better than a guaranteed death sentence. A small laugh escaped her lips at Leo and Victor''s antics. Then she turned to Ethan, who was still frozen, trying to process everything. "Ethan¡­" Her voice was quiet. Chapter 103 - 103: Cursed Ones Ethan sat there in silence, listening to everything they were saying. Soul-Wielders. This was a term he was hearing for the first time. And apparently¡­ he was one of them. Lyla''s family¡ªthe Silverwoods, seemed to have a deep hatred for Soul-Wielders. Lyla herself was the daughter of their family head. Just the fact that they were riding in this high-security vehicle right now said a lot about how powerful the Silverwoods were. As for the Ninth Division, it was clearly a government-backed organization. Only those with unique abilities were chosen to join. From the way Celeste spoke, it seemed like she was the only one in the division who knew what he was. She hadn''t reported it yet. And her message was clear: the Ninth Division could protect him from the Silverwoods. In this life, Ethan had encountered things he never would have dreamed of before. He had gone from being a cripple¡­ to becoming something the world feared. Did Soul-Wielders really only have stronger souls? Was that all there was to it? Celeste had said the Soulstone had reacted three times. The first time must have been when he woke from that five-thousand-year dream, when the system had rewarded him with five times the soul power. The second was when he returned from the Underworld after consuming countless Ethereal Blooms, further strengthening his soul. And the third¡­ was just now, when he had accidentally released his soul sense. That meant there was no mistake. Lyla''s voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Ethan¡­" He turned to her. "What exactly is a Soul-Wielder?" sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The one best suited to answer that is the Silverwood heiress herself," Celeste said, glancing at Lyla. Lyla hesitated only briefly before speaking. "A Soul-Wielder is anyone whose soul strength is at least five times that of an ordinary person." "No one knows exactly when or why that number became the standard, but history has shown one thing, anyone who surpasses that threshold¡­ meets a tragic end." "Some mutilate themselves. Some lose their minds and start killing indiscriminately. Some even die physically, but their souls become so powerful that they linger, causing chaos." "There are many different outcomes, but they all share one thing." Lyla''s voice dropped slightly. "They lose control." "Some say Soul-Wielders are cursed. That they were never meant to exist in this world." "As for why my family hunts them down¡­" She took a deep breath. "It''s because a Soul-Wielding warrior once almost slaughtered the entire Silverwood household." "The family head at the time lost his wife and children to that man. The Silverwoods nearly collapsed. It wasn''t until my grandfather''s generation that we finally rebuilt our strength." "That''s why my family despises Soul-Wielders." "But it''s not just the Silverwoods. Many people will kill a Soul-Wielder the moment they encounter one." "Part of it is jealousy. The other part is self-righteousness." "If a Soul-Wielder takes up combat training, their growth is ridiculously fast." "And yet, the noble families, secret societies, and elite academies all use soul strength as their main selection criteria. The standard is 1.5 times that of a normal person." "It''s a contradiction. They want prodigies¡­ but they refuse to accept anyone who surpasses five times the normal soul strength." Celeste, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke. "That ''curse'' isn''t absolute." Lyla looked at her. "You mean¡­" Celeste nodded. "The founder of the Ninth Division was a Soul-Wielder. No one knows his exact strength, but in the end¡­ he just disappeared." "But even after he disappeared, there were no reports of him wreaking havoc. And our current Director''s soul strength measures at 5.1, he''s well past seventy now, and still perfectly fine." Celeste countered Lyla''s argument about Soul-Wielders being cursed. "Maybe disappearing is just another form of misfortune," Lyla said lightly. "As for Director Vaughn¡­ he never married, has no children, no family. Isn''t that a misfortune in itself? Who can say for sure?" Celeste shot her a sharp glare. The word misfortune echoed in Ethan''s mind. Never marrying¡­ no children¡­ Ethan looked at Lyla. ''That won''t happen to me¡­ right?'' A voice suddenly rang in his head. "It won''t." "Holy¡ª" Ethan nearly jumped out of his seat. It was the first time he had ever heard Morzan''s voice outside the game. His startled reaction made everyone else in the car turn and stare. "N-No, it''s nothing," Ethan quickly covered. "I was just¡­ feeling sorry for Director Vaughn.That''s a rough life." That seemed to satisfy them. Meanwhile, he focused on the voice in his head. At this point, he didn''t even want to question how Morzan was capable of doing things like this. The old guy clearly had powers beyond his understanding. Considering his name, and the fact that Morzan had been responsible for bringing him back to the past, Ethan wouldn''t even be surprised if the entire game was something he created. But why? What was the point of making a game like this? Morzan never explained, and Ethan never asked. "You''re saying I won''t bring misfortune?" he asked in his mind. "Correct. Your soul strength was granted to you after rebirth." "Does that make a difference?" "Human soul strength comes from the soul itself. And where do souls come from?" "Where?" Ethan asked. "Are you an idiot? You''ve been there." Ethan''s eyes widened. "Wait¡­ you mean The Underworld?" Morzan ignored him and continued. "By their measurement standards, souls allowed to reincarnate from The Underworld are capped at a maximum soul strength of 4.9." "An average person has a soul strength of 1." "Those above 1 are usually powerful beings who resisted The Underworld''s laws through sheer force." "But no matter how strong they were in life, when it comes time for reincarnation, their souls are ground down to 4.9 or lower. That''s the hard limit." "The stronger the soul, the longer it has to remain in The Underworld before reincarnation." "And those who exceed 5? They''re usually escapees¡­ fugitives who broke out through unnatural means." "That''s why they bring misfortune. Even if nothing happens to them externally, their physical bodies can''t handle a soul that powerful. It always leads to disaster." "This is one of the reasons I had you choose the Druid class and distribute your stats evenly." "So¡­ you''re saying I really won''t bring misfortune?" Ethan asked again. "¡­ Just don''t get cocky," Morzan said vaguely. "What the hell does that mean? When have I ever been cocky?" Ethan shot back. "It means don''t go throwing your soul power around before you''re strong enough. If something notices you¡­ well, even I won''t be able to help you then." Ethan paused. Morzan''s tone was¡­ oddly serious. It almost sounded like he was worried about him. Feeling the moment was right, Ethan asked, "Then how do I get stronger?" "Your biggest priority right now is fully awakening your bloodline power." "Seriously? I''m already level thirty-something, and I still haven''t unlocked it?" Morzan clicked his tongue. "That''s what I''m saying. You''ve been slacking off." "¡­Well, how do I awaken it?" "You really need me to tell you? Think about it, haven''t you been ignoring a certain quest?" And with that, the voice disappeared. Chapter 104 - 104: No Way Out Ethan was still deep in thought when Celeste glanced around the car. "If no one has anything else to handle, we''re heading back to Ember city now. If you need to deal with something, you can meet me there in three days." No one objected. Only Leo made a quick phone call to check in with his family. As the car rolled forward, Ethan turned to Celeste. "That sniper, did you take him out?" "No. He got away. Sniping isn''t my specialty," Celeste replied casually. Victor nearly facepalmed. Not her specialty? ''If that insane reload speed isn''t specialized, then what the hell am I?'' Does she even realize how much of a confidence-crusher that statement is for an actual sniper? Victor kept those thoughts to himself, his military discipline told him to follow orders without question. If the Ninth Division had approved his recruitment, there had to be a reason. Leo, on the other hand, had no such restraint. His mind worked in unpredictable ways, and during his time in the military, he had caused his fair share of trouble, including openly arguing with his commanding officers. So naturally, he spoke his mind. "What exactly are we doing in this Ninth Division, anyway? I already retired from the military. I barely got a few years of peace, and now they''re throwing me back into some special ops nonsense?" "I''m telling you right now, if this means spending weeks camping out in some godforsaken forest again, I''m out. I nearly lost my mind living out there." Before he could continue ranting, Celeste slammed the brakes. The car, which had been cruising at nearly eighty miles per hour, came to an abrupt halt. Everyone nearly flew out of their seats. Leo barely had time to process what happened before Celeste snapped at him. "You think you get to decide?" Her voice was sharp, cold. "If you don''t want in, get out. But don''t think for a second that this recruitment was the higher-ups'' decision." She sneered. "If I wasn''t planning to cut off Ethan''s other options, do you really think you three would even qualify?" "If I had confirmed earlier that he was a Soul-Wielder, I wouldn''t have wasted my time with this. I''d already be halfway to the beach with some cute girls, enjoying life." Williams raised a brow. "Cute girls?" S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Victor blinked. "Beach trip?" Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Cut off my options?" Leo, on the other hand, blurted out the worst possible reaction¡­ "What, you into chicks or something? That explains a lot." Victor quickly wrapped an arm around Leo''s neck, clamping a hand over his mouth before he could dig himself into an even deeper hole. The tension in the car was suffocating. Celeste radiated a chilling aura, the temperature seemingly dropping to freezing levels. The only one unfazed was Ethan. He locked eyes with her. "Explain. What do you mean by ''cutting off my options''? What do you mean my friends ''don''t qualify''?" Celeste kept staring at Leo for a few more seconds, as if memorizing his face for later punishment, before finally turning away. She started the car again and answered nonchalantly. "You''ve been running that little guild in Ethereal, haven''t you? Renegade Alliance, or whatever you call it." "Living the good life, gaming all day, avoiding responsibility. So, I decided to bring these three in." "Then, I planned to drop them off in some isolated mountain where even a satellite connection wouldn''t work." "No guild management. No reinforcements. Eventually, Renegade Alliance would collapse, and with all the enemies you''ve made, your time in Ethereal would be over." "And once Lyla left, you''d have no choice but to follow me into the Ninth Division." Ethan stared at her, then burst out¡ª "That''s it? That''s your master plan? You really think taking them out of the game means I can''t find new people?" "And what do you mean Lyla''s leaving? You better explain that right now." Celeste didn''t even blink. "Go ahead. Recruit more. I''ll just make them disappear, too." Ethan''s frustration boiled over. "The hell is your problem?! Before you even knew I was a Soul-Wielder, why were you so hellbent on dragging me into this?" Celeste scoffed, but didn''t answer. Instead, she glanced at the rearview mirror, right at Lyla. That split-second look said more than words ever could. And Ethan saw it. His mind connected the dots instantly. Lyla. Leaving. His vision blurred for a moment, his blood surging. Without thinking, his hands gripped the seat. Then, his legs shot forward. BANG! Celeste had never expected him to attack her directly. His foot smashed into the side of her face. Her head jerked from the impact, slamming against the car window with a loud thud. Ethan yanked the gear shift into neutral. He lunged forward, throwing a punch straight at Celeste''s face. Each hit landed with a furious rhythm. "You think you can just do whatever you want? Huh? Huh!?" "Damn shame, too. You''re actually pretty, but you just love making enemies, don''t you? Acting all high and mighty. Pretending you don''t like guys." "I''m telling you right now, Lyla is mine. Stay the hell away from her." Celeste fought back, but she was at a disadvantage. Pinned in the driver''s seat, she had no space to move. All her combat skills were useless in such a tight spot. And Ethan? He felt like he was made of steel. She landed a few hits on him, but her hands went numb from the impact. He didn''t even flinch. With no way to dodge or block, her flawless face was soon bruised and bloody. Ethan kept hitting, voice sharp with rage. "You think just because you''re a woman, I won''t hit you? If you were normal, I might hold back. But no, you had to pull this shit. Trying to mess with my life. Trying to ruin my friends. Who the hell do you think you are?" "You''re just a pretty face with a rotten heart." No one had expected Ethan to snap like this. Not even Lyla. She had seen the way Celeste looked at her, but never imagined Ethan would react so violently over one glance. This was a complete reversal. Celeste had been the top-ranked fighter in school, while Ethan was the guy everyone wrote off as useless. Yet here he was, pinning her down and beating the hell out of her. For a moment, everyone forgot to intervene. Half a minute passed before Lyla finally snapped out of it. "Ethan!" She rushed forward, trying to pull him off. But then she realized something, Ethan was too strong. There had been a time when she could easily kick him across a room. Now? She couldn''t even budge him. "Help me!" she shouted at the others. That snapped them out of their shock. It took all four of them to finally pry Ethan away. As they held him back, Celeste took the opportunity to throw one last punch¡ª Crack. Blood gushed from Ethan''s nose. Then, she followed up with a brutal kick to his gut, stopping just shy of full force. Celeste wiped the blood from her mouth and glared at him. "You actually hit a woman, you bastard!" She turned to Lyla. "You see this? This is your dear boyfriend. No class, no control. He actually hit a woman." "You call yourself a woman?" Ethan snarled. He struggled against the three guys holding him back. "Let go of me! Get your hands off Lyla! You don''t get to touch her!" Even with three people restraining him, it felt like he might break free at any moment. Ethan''s voice was hoarse with rage. "I don''t care who else you mess with, but you stay the hell away from Lyla." "If you ever try to get near her again, don''t think I won''t go out and find the nastiest bunch of lowlifes to¡ª" "Ethan!" Lyla cut him off. His words were going too far. As soon as he stopped talking, Celeste''s eyes widened, she suddenly slumped in her seat, curled up, and¡­ Started sobbing. Lyla quickly sat beside her, trying to comfort her. Ethan, meanwhile, was sitting in the back, still fuming, until he caught something out of the corner of his eye. Celeste, head lowered, arms wrapped around her knees¡­ Turned slightly and shot him a smirk. Then, just as quickly, she buried her face again. It was only for a split second. But Ethan saw it. And he realized¡ª ''Shit. I got played.'' Chapter 105 - 105: A Small Test Ethan instantly shut up when he saw Celeste in tears. He knew he''d been tricked, but there was nothing he could do about it. He slouched in the last row of the Predator Beast X, still fuming but also realizing he might have gone too far. Even if Celeste had provoked him, she was still a girl. Good thing Lyla had cut him off earlier, otherwise, he wouldn''t have known how to back out of that mess. Up front, Victor shot Williams a look. Williams got the message, heading to the front to take the driver''s seat. Lyla helped Celeste into the second row, gently patting her back as she sobbed. "Ethan, you were a little harsh back there," Leo murmured from beside him. "Harsh? Did you not hear what she said about you guys?" "Yeah, but did you have to hit her like that? Look at that face, what a waste¡­" Leo sighed dramatically. Ethan side-eyed him. "Oh? You developed some feelings for her?" "I¡ªWhat? Hell no!" Leo nearly jumped up, his face stiffening as he straightened his back. Victor and Ethan tilted their heads, looking up at him. Ethan smirked. "Relax, man, I was just messing with you. No need to get all worked up." Victor chuckled, then leaned in to whisper something in Ethan''s ear. Ethan turned to him, then back at Leo, who looked suspiciously uncomfortable in his seat. No way¡­ Ethan thought. Victor gave him a firm nod. "Oh yeah. No doubt about it. The guy''s got it bad for Celeste." Ethan was stunned. "That''s a hell of a situation. Celeste doesn''t even like men, Leo''s got zero chance." "By the way, Vic, where''s your sister?" Ethan had heard plenty about Victor''s sister, but she was nowhere to be seen at the wedding. Considering how late Victor was getting married, wouldn''t his sister have been the first to show up? Victor glanced at Leo, who had conveniently moved to the row behind Celeste, then pulled out his phone. He opened a picture. In it, a younger Victor stood amid a wreckage, his arm around a girl who looked about twenty. The girl had a round face, a stocky build, and at a rough guess, twice Leo''s size. Ethan frowned. "Wait¡­ You got married, and she didn''t show up?" Victor chuckled. "This is Celia. I took this photo when she was sixteen, right after I pulled her out of the rubble." Ethan was stunned. "Wait¡­ this is¡ª" He''d met Celia before. She was drop-dead gorgeous, second only to Lyla and Celeste. But at sixteen? She''d been massive. And somehow, she looked way older than she was. Victor put his phone away, grinning. "Back when we were in the military, Leo saw this picture and asked me who she was. I casually said she was my sister." "After that, Williams kept using it to mess with him. To this day, Leo still doesn''t know the truth." Ethan facepalmed. ''Leo''s brain, man¡­'' Sometimes, the guy was way too sharp. Other times? Clueless. Still, Ethan couldn''t help but feel a bit envious. Victor had two solid friends watching his back. Then again, wasn''t Leo the same for him? In his last life, Leo had looked after him for four years. This time around, it was Ethan''s turn to return the favor. And as for the Ninth Division¡­ He''d see for himself what kind of place it really was. ___ The highway stretched endlessly ahead. Victor and Leo had already dozed off. Even Celeste seemed asleep. Ethan sat alone in the back row, watching the world blur past the window. Lyla quietly slipped into the seat beside him. Without a word, she reached for his arm and pulled it close, hugging it to her chest. Lyla leaned against Ethan''s shoulder. "Ethie, find some time to apologize to Celeste, okay?" "I''m not¡ªOw!" Ethan yelped as a sharp pain shot through his waist. Williams glanced back from the driver''s seat, smirking before turning forward again. Victor simply pulled his jacket over his head, pretending to be asleep. "What the hell¡­" Ethan grumbled. Celeste had thrown a few punches at him earlier, and he''d barely felt them. But Lyla? Just two fingers, and it hurt like hell. As soon as the pressure on his waist disappeared, Ethan muttered, "Fine. I''ll do it if she stops plotting against me." "Don''t worry, I''ve got it handled!" Lyla declared proudly. "You? Handled it?" Ethan turned his head and found her face right in front of his. "Mhm¡ª" Before she could finish, Ethan leaned in. Their lips met. Lyla froze completely, her body stiff as a board before melting like water. It was just a light kiss, nothing more. Ethan pulled away, meeting her wide, stunned eyes. Lyla''s cheeks turned bright pink as she ducked her head, too embarrassed to look at him. But instead of letting go of his arm, she held onto it even tighter. "So? How''d you handle it? You haven''t said." Ethan grinned, teasing her. "Hmph! Not telling. Just know that it''s done." They stayed close, quietly wrapped up in their own little world, until Victor suddenly stood up. "Don''t mind me, carry on," he said before heading to the front seat. Lyla buried her face in Ethan''s arm in embarrassment, while he just laughed, unbothered. ___ Ethan wasn''t sure how much time had passed, but when he opened his eyes, sunlight was streaming into the car. He''d actually fallen asleep. It had been years since he slept like this. In his last life, ever since Ethereal launched, he had spent every night in the game. Real sleep? He had almost forgotten what that felt like. Lyla was still curled up against him, breathing softly. Glancing outside, he noticed they had left the highway and were now parked by the roadside. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Carefully, he laid Lyla down in the backseat so she could rest properly, then climbed to the front. Williams was still in the driver''s seat, but instead of driving, he had his VR headset on, fully immersed in the game. Victor and Leo were the same. Ethan checked the time¡ªjust past six. Since Ethereal''s servers were still online, they had probably stopped in Ember City while he was asleep and logged in to grind levels. Celeste sat in the second row, wearing sunglasses and a black mask. Ethan wasn''t sure if she was asleep or just ignoring him. Stepping out of the Predator Beast X, he stretched, letting out a sigh. As he turned around, Celeste followed him out. Guess she was awake after all. "Um¡­ I''m sorry. I was wrong last night. I shouldn''t have¡ª" Celeste ignored him. She pulled out a cigarette, lowered her mask, and lit up. Ethan noticed the bruise at the corner of her mouth. His attempt at an apology was met with cold indifference. Awkward. "You weren''t wrong," Celeste finally spoke, exhaling a thin stream of smoke. "I was. If someone set me up like that, I''d have reacted the same way." "If you hadn''t fought back, I''d actually look down on you." Her voice was flat, unreadable. "I need people like you. People who''d do anything for their friends, for the ones they love." "This was just a small test." She took another drag of her cigarette. "I used to have friends like that. Teammates." "They''re gone now." Ethan''s expression shifted. "Gone?" Celeste nodded. "Dead." A heavy silence hung between them. Ethan hesitated before asking, "Killed in action?" Celeste was quiet for a moment. "If that were the case, it wouldn''t be so bad." She exhaled slowly. "But no. They were betrayed." Chapter 106 - 106: Hidden Game As their conversation continued, Ethan started to understand Celeste a little better. She had joined the Ninth Division at just fifteen. Her abilities weren''t those of a typical fighter, she was something else. A Controller. Through her, Ethan learned about the hidden world lurking beneath the surface of society. Controllers, in simple terms, were people with unique abilities. The thing they encountered last night? That was a Mutant. Mutants could alter their bodies in different ways, adapting to their abilities. Some could morph their limbs into weapons, like the guy they fought yesterday. Others could transform into beasts or take on entirely new forms. Celeste explained that the one they encountered wasn''t particularly strong. He could only change his arm into a blade. But that blade had a unique ability. The crimson glow surrounding it wasn''t just for show, it absorbed blood, converting it into energy. The more he killed, the stronger he became. Then, Celeste revealed her own power. Air. Her speed and strength? Not innate. She manipulated the air around her, reducing resistance, increasing force, or propelling herself forward. However, her ability had limits. She could only affect the air in her immediate surroundings. True long-range manipulation, the kind found in fantasy movies, hadn''t been seen in ages. These days, whether it was Controllers, Mutants, or even Soul-Wielders, their power was measured by physical combat ability. Their unique skills? Just support tools. Celeste admitted that she hadn''t sensed Ethan''s strength through some advanced perception. It was when they brushed past each other in the training room, she had felt an unnatural shift in the air. At first, she assumed he had awakened a speed or strength-based ability. But looking at things now¡­ Ethan had awakened Soul Power. And that was unheard of. Celeste had never heard of anyone awakening Soul Power. Normally, it manifested naturally, by the age of six, a person either had it or didn''t. Ethan frowned. "So that means¡­ the people the Silverwood family and others hunted down, were all kids?" Celeste was silent for a moment before nodding. She then added, "But in the past century, no Soul-Wielders have been hunted. Lyla''s father''s generation never had to get their hands dirty." "The last known Soul-Wielder is our division head, Director Vaughn." "Of course, that doesn''t mean there aren''t any others out there. But the Soulstone has remained dormant for over a hundred years." Ethan nodded, taking it all in. With that explanation out of the way, Celeste moved on to something else, the Ninth Division itself. "Ethan, you need to know, this isn''t the same Ninth Division as before." She met his gaze, her expression dark. "I told you my squadmates were killed by our own people. That''s because there was a traitor inside." "To survive, I had to play dumb for years." Celeste''s voice was steady, but there was something cold beneath it. "Our unit was ambushed. Our entire operation had been leaked. We walked straight into a trap." "My captain¡­ my team¡­ they all died." She took a breath, her fingers curling slightly. "They used their own bodies to get me out." Ethan didn''t speak. He just listened. Celeste exhaled slowly, her voice quieter now. "The last thing my captain ever told me? No matter what it takes¡ªlive. And avenge us." "So, after I came back, I played dumb, spent over two years locked up in a psych ward." Celeste''s voice was calm, but her words were anything but. "I was only released recently, right before coming to your school." Ethan frowned. "And you''re not afraid they''ll come after you again?" Celeste shook her head. "I told you¡ªI was only released after being evaluated." "The so-called evaluation was actually a memory wipe." "But what they don''t know¡­ is that before I was released, Director Vaughn met with me in secret. He told me it was time to get back to work." "That''s when I understood, he knew I was faking it all along." "So, I played along, pretended to gradually recover. Then, one night, they arranged for my memories to be erased." She smirked. "Except¡­ they weren''t." "Director Vaughn used Soul Power to create a firewall in my mind. They thought they erased my memories, but they didn''t. They also implanted¡­ let''s just call it a ''preference'' for women." "He was going to undo that part, but I refused. I figured, why not? If it helps me stay hidden, it''s worth keeping." She turned to Ethan. "Now, I just need one thing from you. Help me. Or walk away." Ethan was stunned. A memory wipe? A mental firewall? Implanting a preference into someone''s mind? That was some sci-fi-level insanity. Stuff like this only happened in movies or novels. Then again¡­ He had literally been reborn. At this point, what wasn''t possible? "How do I help you?" Ethan asked. Celeste''s gaze sharpened. "Director Vaughn gave me one mission: Find someone I can completely trust, bring them into the Ninth Division, and uncover the mastermind trying to take control of it." "We need to root out the traitors inside." "For you, it''s simple, just join the Ninth Division naturally. Don''t do anything suspicious. Just observe." "If someone tries to recruit or bribe you, play along. If possible, infiltrate their inner circle and find out who''s pulling the strings." Ethan raised an eyebrow. "So¡­ you want me to be a spy?" S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "And you just trust me like that? What if they offer me something too good to refuse?" Celeste smirked. "You can try. Just don''t blame me if I steal Lyla from you." Even behind her dark sunglasses, the way her lips curled up was undeniably attractive. "Tch. Once I figure out how to use Soul Power, I''ll erase that weird quirk of yours. Maybe even give you a thing for¡ªoh, I dunno¡ªflirting with every guy you see." "You wouldn''t dare¡ª" "Why wouldn''t I? Remember, I''m a Soul-Wielder now. You should be a little more respectful." Ethan snatched the cigarette from her fingers and lit one for himself. Celeste rolled her eyes. "You think Soul Power is that easy to control? You can''t just edit someone''s mind whenever you feel like it." "If the target resists, the backlash could kill you. Best-case scenario, you''d be coughing up blood for a week. Worst-case? Your soul shatters completely." She exhaled slowly. "Soul Power is strong. But dangerous doesn''t even begin to describe it. Focus on training. Get stronger as a fighter first. If you mistakenly expose your identity as a Soul-wielder, I guarantee you won''t be able to survive for¡­" She lifted a finger. Ethan narrowed his eyes. "One day?" Celeste shook her head. "One hour." Ethan almost laughed. "Come on. You''re exaggerating." "Try me." Ethan scoffed internally. An hour? Please. I have Old Man Morzan watching over me. And as if on cue, a voice echoed in his mind. "She''s right." Ethan nearly jumped. ''Damn it, old man! Can you stop popping out of nowhere?! You''re gonna scare me to death one of these days!'' Chapter 107 - 107: A Place to Stay Ethan grumbled to himself but got no response. Morzan had only spoken that one cryptic phrase before going completely silent. It seemed like he was agreeing with Celeste''s warning. Ethan sighed and turned to her. "Alright, but what about my guys? If you really planned on tossing them into an isolated mountain, we''d have a serious problem." Celeste glanced at the car. "They may not have special abilities, but they''re top-tier military talent. They won''t be part of the Ninth Division''s core, but they qualify for squad roles." "With them, that makes five of us. We just need one more to form a full task force. Most squads in the Ninth Division have a similar setup. It''s not like every team is full of Controllers or Mutants, people with special abilities are rare." Ethan thought for a moment. "And outside of missions, what do we actually do?" He had a reason for asking. After all, he still needed to play Ethereal. His strength came from the game. Morzan had told him that growing stronger in Ethereal would make him stronger in reality, too. Not to mention, he had a Divine Bloodline. Once activated, who knew what kind of abilities it would unlock? Celeste shrugged. "Unless there''s a mission, you''re free to do whatever you want. You''ve got that gym, right? Just have them work there." Ethan blinked. Was she seriously suggesting that he hire the guys she dragged into this mess? "You''re telling me I have to put them on my payroll?" he asked, deadpan. Celeste rolled her eyes, though with her sunglasses on, he couldn''t see it. "Since they''re in the Ninth Division, they''ll get paid. Don''t worry, the benefits are solid." And with that, she climbed into the car. Ethan sighed, pulling out his phone. Ethereal''s communication system was linked to reality. Text messages, calls, anything he received in real life would show up in-game as well. He sent Leo a quick message: "We''re all up. If you guys aren''t busy, log out. Let''s grab some food and figure out our next steps." After finishing his cigarette, Ethan climbed into the car just as Leo, Victor, and Williams were taking off their VR headsets. He settled into the front seat and gave Williams directions. Their destination? His gym. ___ The gym''s third floor had several empty rooms meant for staff housing. But since most of the employees had their own places nearby, the space had been sitting unused. Ethan led the group inside. "For now, you guys can stay here. The place is empty anyway. Not much to do besides keeping an eye on things, but Quinn manages most of it, so just help out when needed." "I''ll find you all a proper place soon, and I''ll get each of you a VR Capsule. But for now, just make do." After sorting that out, he turned to Celeste. "By the way, where''s Celia?" Victor had just gotten married, splitting them up after only a day didn''t seem right. Celeste answered flatly, "At your house." "What? And you''re just telling me now?" Ethan grabbed Victor and the others, rushing back to the villa. ___ As they pulled up, Ethan immediately spotted Celia standing outside the house. She wasn''t alone. Three people stood with her, clearly security. They were probably the bodyguards Celeste had assigned to protect her. Victor frowned. "Didn''t you say Celia would be sent somewhere safe?" His tone was sharp, when it came to her safety, he wasn''t going to compromise. Celeste, unfazed, replied, "She is safe. This place has one of the most advanced security systems money can buy¡ªcost over a hundred million. You tell me, safe or not?" Ethan raised a brow. He hadn''t known that. He glanced at Lyla, who simply nodded. Clearly she was aware. Right at that moment, Celeste stepped out of the car. "Alright, we''re out." And just like that, she left. No further explanation. No concern. Ethan opened his mouth, then closed it. ''So you''re just gonna dump Celia here, huh?'' But he couldn''t say that out loud, not in front of Victor and Celia. It would sound like he was kicking them out. Truth be told, he wasn''t thrilled about the idea of someone else living here. He and Lyla, this was their own private world. A third person? That just made things¡­ awkward. Victor must have caught on, though, because he scratched his head awkwardly. "Maybe Celia should just stay at the gym with us," he offered. "We''ll be together, and there won''t be any issues." "Daytime, sure," Ethan said. "But what about at night? Everyone''s in Ethereal then." He wasn''t just speaking hypothetically. In his last life, being attacked while in the game had happened more than once. And more recently was right before his rebirth. VR headsets had motion detectors, so they''d issue a warning if someone approached. Problem was, the first time it happened, Ethan had been renting a tiny shared apartment. The walls were so thin, the alert went off constantly from his neighbors moving around. By the time he realized the real threat¡­ it had been too late. Lyla, sensing his discomfort, stepped forward and took his hand. "Forget the gym. You guys can just stay across the street." Victor blinked. "Huh?" "I was half-asleep in the car earlier, so I forgot to mention it. There are a few empty villas nearby." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She pointed to a house across from theirs. "Same security setup as this place. Victor, you and Celia can take the biggest room on the second floor. Consider it your honeymoon suite." Then, she turned to Leo and Williams. "As for you two? Third floor. You wouldn''t want to get in the way of their alone time, right?" Ethan noticed how she emphasized those last two words. Wait. Did she just say ''a few'' empty villas? He''d been living here for a while and never saw neighbors. ''Hold up¡­ are all these houses Lyla''s?!'' Leo and Williams exchanged glances, then groaned. "So what, single people don''t get rights?" Lyla grinned mischievously. "Nope! But hey, if you guys ever find girlfriends, I''ll let you pick one of those two villas." She pointed to the homes on either side of Victor''s. Leo and Williams turned to inspect them, then looked back at her. "¡­Lyla, you got any sisters?" Leo asked hopefully. "Yeah," Williams added. "Older? Younger? Maybe a cousin?" Lyla rolled her eyes. "Dream on." Leo threw up his hands. "This isn''t fair. Ethan''s not as tall as me, not as handsome, and somehow he gets to live the good life." Ethan''s foot met Leo''s shin. "You calling me a freeloader?!" he laughed. Leo stumbled back, clutching his leg dramatically. "DID I LIE?! You''re literally living off her, man!" "I''ll show you who''s freeloading¡ª" Ethan lunged at him. Victor, Celia, and Williams stood off to the side, shaking their heads, laughing. The tension from the night before finally faded, washed away by the morning sun. Only Lyla, though she was smiling, still had something on her mind. And Ethan? Even as he joked around, his thoughts drifted to Celeste''s request. ''How exactly do you play the role of a spy?'' Chapter 108 - 108: Recruiting Heavens Dawn Now back in his own territory, Ethan naturally took charge, treating everyone to a full day of fun with plenty of good food, of course. By the afternoon, after stocking up on household supplies, Leo and Williams tactfully decided not to stay at the villa. Instead, they headed to the gym. As Williams put it, "Better than crashing in some sketchy rooftop shack." The two gaming capsules Ethan had ordered for them arrived at the gym''s third floor and were set up without a hitch. As for why there were only two capsules, Ethan had bluntly stated to Victor: "Why would you waste your three days off gaming? This is a very important period for your married life. Besides, your custom-built dual capsule will be ready by then." Victor had been so touched by those words that he looked like he might cry, while Celia''s face turned bright red. She quickly dragged Lyla away for some girl talk. Lyla, having company, was in high spirits. The two of them spent the entire afternoon shopping, loading up on little trinkets. Meanwhile, the three guys were utterly exhausted. Their feet ached, and they couldn''t wrap their heads around how women could walk so much in high heels. "Vic, I kinda miss the jungle," Leo muttered. Williams nodded in agreement. "Right? How is walking around the city more exhausting than running through the jungle all day? Next time you guys go shopping, count us out. We''ll leave you two lovebirds to it." "Yeah, yeah, we''re out," Leo added before grabbing Williams and making a break for it. Ethan and Victor exchanged looks¡ªdefeated, resigned, and utterly spent. Ahead, Lyla turned around and asked, "Where are those two weirdos?" She was referring to Skyblade and SeraphWarrior, the nicknames she had given them. Lyla had spent a lot of time with them back in the Starter Zone. In fact, she had been with them in-game more often than she had been with Ethan. While Ethan had left the Starter Zone early, Lyla and the others had stuck around, grinding dungeons together. Skyblade and the others never went anywhere without her. But while Ethan had been stuck in the Underworld for several days, Lyla had been in the hospital, taking care of him, missing a lot of game time. That gap had left her behind in levels. Not that it lasted long. A single forbidden spell, and she caught up in an instant. Though, in her rush, she had forgotten to summon her pet. Otherwise, that little guy would have leveled up quite a bit too. Ethan and Victor suffered through the rest of the shopping trip until, to their horror, the girls suggested a movie. Finally, a break. Even two men as physically strong as them had been reduced to shambling wrecks after a day of shopping. At the theater, they both passed out, snoring lightly, only to be rudely awakened by sharp pinches to their sides. Ethan shot up. "Movie''s over? Time to go home!" Lyla''s sharp glare brought him back to reality. "Uh¡­ I mean, last night was exhausting. Really exhausting¡­" Failing to come up with a better excuse, he awkwardly shut up. By the time they got back to the villa, it was already past ten. Ethereal had been online for over four hours. After changing into his sleepwear, Ethan slipped into Lyla''s room, messing around with her until she fled to the bathroom to clean up. Satisfied, he returned to his own room, showered, and climbed into the gaming capsule. Logging into Ethereal, the first thing Ethan did was check the leaderboard. Three days had passed, and quite a few players had already reached level 22. Most were at least level 20 by now. That old man Morzan claimed he still had an unfinished task, which was why he couldn''t officially awaken the Divine Bloodline yet. What task was it exactly? Ethan had no clue. The moment he logged in, a message from Skyblade popped up. "Boss, I heard a lot of guilds are trying to clear Howling Caverns." "Let them have fun clearing it," Ethan replied casually. "So when are we running it?" Skyblade asked. Ethan checked the time. "Aside from the six of us, gather 24 more. Meet at the dungeon entrance at midnight." "We''re down to five. Without Slashblade, we''re short a solid healer, which makes things harder." Right. Ethan had forgotten Victor was busy with his honeymoon night and wouldn''t be logging in today. Just as he was about to reply, a system notification popped up. Ding! [Private message received from Heaven''s Dawn.] Heaven''s Dawn? Ethan paused for a second before remembering, it was that teenage girl he had met at the Crowling Nest. Ethan opened the message. Heaven''s Dawn: "Big bro, can your guild take me in? I tried joining a few, but they all said I was too young and wouldn''t bring me to raids." Ethan chuckled to himself. He had already planned on recruiting top-tier players, and Heaven''s Dawn was at the top of his list. He''d given Victor and the others a list of names to recruit, but the trio had been too busy leveling, grinding for loot, and leading dungeon runs to focus on the task. Now, it was clear, he needed someone to handle logistics for him. He and his officers were frontline fighters, but they had a glaring hole in their operations: no one to run the back-end of the guild. Unfortunately, he didn''t have a trustworthy candidate for that yet. He''d have to take things one step at a time. "Sure, we''re about to raid Howling Caverns. We need a strong healer, want in?" Ethan replied. In his past life, once Heaven''s Dawn became famous, people had dug up her history. She had been seen as someone blessed by the game itself. Despite choosing a so-called weak class¡ªDruid, she had always managed to get her hands on top-tier gear. Her healing output regularly outperformed same-level Priests in every raid team she joined. Heaven''s Dawn: "Yes! Finally, I can do a real dungeon!" They set up a meeting spot, and she arrived quickly. After officially joining the guild, Ethan messaged Skyblade again. "I found a Druid for healer. Just bring 24 more." Skyblade''s reply came instantly. "A Druid? Ugh, fine." Clearly, he wasn''t convinced. Most players still considered Druids second-rate healers. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan, however, knew better. Standing beside him, Heaven''s Dawn looked petite, but her gear told a different story. Several pieces of Gold-tier equipment shimmered faintly on her. More importantly, her entire set was enhanced to +10. Ethan''s eyes widened slightly. Gear at +10 enhancement was no joke. If not for his Wishbound Relic, he couldn''t guarantee getting his own gear to +10 at this stage. A perfect example was Meatball. He had poured over 100 gold into upgrading his staff, and yet, after all that, it had only reached +5. Chapter 109 - 109: The Druids Awakening Ethan was watching Heaven''s Dawn when Lyla logged in. Coincidentally, she appeared right next to him. "Heh, did you really need to take that long cleaning up?" Ethan asked, grinning. Lyla immediately knew what he meant. She rolled her eyes hard. "You''re the worst! Next time, keep your hands to yourself." "Oh¡­ next¡­ time?" Ethan deliberately emphasized the words. "You''re so annoying! There is no next time!" Lyla waved her small fists at him, pretending to be furious. A sudden voice interrupted them. "Big bro, who''s this pretty lady?" Ethan froze. He had completely forgotten about the little girl beside him. Awkwardly rubbing his nose, he introduced them. "Moonbeam, this is Heaven''s Dawn. She just joined our guild." With that, the two of them got acquainted. But with the Heaven''s Dawn tagging along, Ethan couldn''t exactly keep teasing Lyla. "Big bro, what''s your tree form like? Mine looks so ugly after I transform!" Heaven''s Dawn pouted, clearly unhappy with her own appearance in-game. "My tree form¡­" Ethan started but then stopped. Tree form? Hell, he didn''t even have one yet. He hadn''t completed the transformation quest. Was this the quest Morzan had mentioned? The one for druids to unlock their tree form? "I haven''t done the quest yet," Ethan admitted. "By the way, how long does it take?" He glanced at the time, it was already 10:50 PM. He had promised Skyblade and the others to meet at the dungeon entrance by midnight. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If the quest took too long, he''d just do it after finishing the dungeon run. "About half an hour," Heaven''s Dawn answered. "Not that long." Hearing that, Ethan decided he had enough time. "Moonbeam, take her to find Skyblade and the others. I''ll finish my tree form quest and meet you at the dungeon." "Alright, go ahead." Lyla nodded. "Bye, big bro! I''ll be waiting for you with Moonbeam!" Heaven''s Dawn waved excitedly. Ethan smiled and activated his teleportation skill. This was his first time using [Teleport: Dreamwood Grove]. He had obtained the skill a while ago but never used it. According to the description, it would send him to the birthplace of Druids. A flash of light. Darkness filled his vision for a split second. Then, he arrived in Dreamwood Grove. Or rather, the outskirts of it. Ding! [Server Announcement: Congratulations to player ''NotADruid'' for being the first to reach Dreamwood Grove! The Dreamwood Grove map is now unlocked. All Druids''[Teleport: Forest of Nature]skill has been upgraded.] Ding! [Server Announcement: Congratulations to player ''NotADruid'' for reaching Dreamwood Grove and establishing a connection with the Ancestral Homeland. The first Druid sanctuary has been activated.] Ding! [Server Announcement: System upgrade in progress. The Ancestral Blessing has been introduced to Ethereal. All Druids'' growth stat has increased to 12-star (previously 10-star).] Ding! [Server Announcement: Ethereal will undergo a restart at midnight. The restart will last 10 minutes. After the update, Druid growth stats and teleportation skills will be officially implemented.] A flood of server-wide notifications. Every player froze. Him. Again. The moment the name ''NotADruid'' popped up, everyone had the same thought, how was it always him? Meanwhile, Druid players across the server were overwhelmed with joy. A 12-star growth rate. For so long, they had been at a disadvantage. Without connections, it was nearly impossible to find a good team. Now, finally, they could stand on equal footing with other classes. NotADruid wasn''t just a top player, he was their savior. In an instant, forum posts exploded. One thread surged to the top: "Calling all Druids¡ªProtect the Druid God!" And 99% of the replies came from Druids. Within moments, millions of replies flooded the forum. First comment: "Swear to defend the Druid God!" 11,000th comment: "Mess with the Druid God, and you mess with all Druids." 153,100th comment: "Just say the word, Druid God, and we''ll follow you to the ends of the earth!" Ethan had no idea. He had done something so casually, yet somehow, he had gained an army of followers. He could never have imagined that, one day, these very Druids would willingly throw themselves into battle for him. Even if all they could do was buy him 0.001 seconds, they would charge ahead without hesitation, like moths drawn to a flame. At that moment, a seed was planted. And from that seed, something massive began to take shape. In the game, a new channel was created: The Druid Order. To join, one had to be a Druid, and an unwavering supporter of NotADruid. But Ethan hadn''t just brought fortune to every Druid player. He himself had received an incredible reward. Ding! [System Notification: Congratulations! You have earned the title: Grand Druid. (Unique)] [System Notification: Congratulations! You have obtained the Druid-exclusive weapons: Claw of Sok, Fang of Shaman, Lunar Scythe, Mother''s Tree.] [System Notification: Congratulations! You have unlocked the Grand Druid exclusive quest: Twilight War Spear.] Three back-to-back system messages. Ethan opened his inventory. Four weapons, glowing with multicolored radiance, lay inside. Artifact-tier. The kind of glow only an Artifact could have. ''All this¡­ just from using a teleport skill?'' And not just any Artifacts, these were Unique weapons, bound to him alone. At this moment, Ethan felt like he had four priceless objects lying before him. No choosing, no second-guessing. They were all his. With shaky hands, he inspected the stats of Claw of Sok. [Claw of Sok:] Requirement: Strength, Stamina, Endurance ¨C 10,000 points "¡­What the hell?" His jaw dropped. He quickly checked the other three. "¡­Are you kidding me?" [Fang of Shaman]: Requirement: Strength, Agility ¨C 15,000 points [Lunar Scythe] Requirement: Intelligence ¨C 30,000 points [Mother''s Tree] Requirement: Intelligence ¨C 10,000 points Ethan stared at the absurd requirements. He didn''t even bother looking at the stats. Was this a joke? 30,000 Intelligence?! If he had that, he wouldn''t need a weapon. He could probably one-shot a demigod level boss with his bare hands! And Mother''s Tree¡­ A healer''s weapon? Oh, how generous. Only 10,000 Intelligence required? ''Why not just hand me the points directly so I can boost my intelligence first?'' From euphoria to despair, he could feel his brain cells dying. This was the kind of stress that lowered intelligence, right? All this excitement, only to end up with weapons he couldn''t even use. Ethan sighed and pinned his last hope on the Grand Druid exclusive quest: Twilight War Spear. With trembling hands, he opened the quest panel. This time, his hands weren''t trembling from excitement. They were trembling from fear. Chapter 110 - 110: The Living Stone Quest: [Twilight War Spear] Objective: Prismatic Stone 1/3 Description: The Prismatic Stone exists somewhere in the world of Ethereal. No one knows its origins or its true name. It was given this title based purely on its appearance. Gather three Prismatic Stones to fuse the Druid-exclusive Artifacts into the Grand Druid''s Ultimate Weapon: Twilight War Spear. Reward: Twilight War Spear is forged from the four Druid Artifacts, embodying the ultimate balance of destruction, healing, protection, and bloodlust. It is a weapon that grows alongside you, adapting to your strength and granting you the greatest possible assistance. ¡ª Ethan skimmed the entire quest description, but his eyes locked onto just four words: "A weapon that grows." Finally. A stroke of luck. Lyla''s bow, Frostbound Reverie, was a growth weapon. He had been the one who found it and handed it to her, but he had always been a little jealous of its power. Watching her unleash a Forbidden Spell with a single shot was incredibly satisfying. Now, if he completed this quest, he would have one too, a Druid-exclusive growth weapon. How could he not be thrilled? A moment ago, he had been sulking over the four useless Artifacts in his bag. Now, his spirits were soaring. It turned out those Artifacts were just materials to craft the Twilight War Spear. If four Artifacts were merely the ingredients, what tier would the final weapon be? At minimum, Legendary-tier, right? No one had ever heard of anything stronger in Ethereal. But if this was a fusion process, then it might surpass even Legendary. Ethan wasn''t going to overthink it. Right now, he had a bigger problem. What exactly was a Prismatic Stone? In his previous life, he had never heard of such an item. He glanced at the quest objective: 1/3. ''¡­Huh?'' That meant he already had one in his inventory. Hurriedly, he opened his bag. His eyes landed on a strange, multicolored stone he had picked up in the Iron Mountains. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan was certain¡ªthis had to be a Prismatic Stone. Back then, he had found it odd that the stone had no name. And just like the quest description stated, no one knew its origins. ''So that''s how it was.'' If he had found one in the Iron Mountains, then¡­ could more be obtained there? But the moment he had that thought, reality slapped him in the face. That stone had only dropped after Lyla wiped out tens of thousands of monsters with a single Forbidden Spell¡ªWinter''s End. If he had to farm them the normal way, who knew how long it would take? This drop rate was insane. Ethan let out a sigh and pulled the stone from his inventory. The instant it was exposed to open air, a violent gust of wind erupted. A terrifying suction force surged forth. The surrounding grass and flowers withered at a speed visible to the naked eye. The Dreamwood Grove trembled as chaos spread. Several Grove Sentinels rushed toward him. At that moment, Ethan wanted nothing more than to throw the stone away and tell the soldiers, I swear this has nothing to do with me! In the Forest of Nature, any destruction of the land resulted in forced exile or immediate execution. But when he tried shaking it off, the stone refused to leave his hand. Luckily, when the first soldier¡ªa Cervidian Guardian, whose lower body resembled a stag and upper body a human, approached, he simply bowed. "Honored Grand Druid, do you require assistance?" Ethan exhaled sharply. Whew. At least that title was worth something. Trying to play it cool, he nodded. "No issues. The Prismatic Stone is just¡­ absorbing energy. It''ll be done soon." He had no idea if that was true, but he had to say something. Though, judging by the stone''s reaction, it did seem to be drawing in the life energy around it. Its glow was growing even more intense. ¡­But how long would this take? "Honored Grand Druid," the Cervidian Guardian spoke again. "A Prismatic Stone requires six elemental forces to awaken¡ªGold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, and Life." He gestured toward the stone in Ethan''s hand. "Yours is still missing Water and Life. You may visit the Lunar Well, it contains both elements." Ethan stared blankly. "Awaken?" Awaken what? ___ Ethan followed the guardian to the Lunar Well. As soon as they arrived, he could see the energy radiating from the well, pure life force flowing into the Prismatic Stone in his hand. Along with it, water vapor from the well also fused into the stone. Fifteen minutes passed. The absorption slowed, and the stone seemed to reach its limit. Ding! [System Notification: Hidden Quest Activated ¨C The Awakening of the Prismatic Stone] Ethan barely had time to check his quest log before¡ª Crunch! The stone bit his finger. A sharp pain shot through his hand. Instinctively, he flung it away. Ding! [System Notification: Hidden Quest ¨C The Awakening of the Prismatic Stone ¨C Phase One: Bonding Complete.] ''What the hell?'' And just like that, the bonding process was done? Before he could react, the stone he had tossed away whooshed through the air and flew right back to him. It didn''t just return, it burrowed into his hand. Ethan stared at it in horror. The stone could fly? Was it trying to become sentient?! He immediately threw it again. This time, when the force wore off, the stone didn''t fly back. Instead, it simply vanished. The next moment¡ªpoof¡ªit reappeared on his head. Then it started nestling into his hair, like a bird settling into a nest. Ethan sighed in defeat. Grabbing the stone from his head, he shoved it into his inventory. Thankfully, this time, it stayed put. Now, time to check the quest. --- [Quest: The Awakening of the Prismatic Stone] Type: Hidden Quest Progress: Phase Two ¨C Feeding Description: The Prismatic Stone must be nourished with various minerals to advance to the next phase. The rarer the mineral, the faster the evolution. That was it. No extra details. Ethan''s curiosity was piqued. ''Evolution?'' What could it possibly evolve into? Was it going to pop out some mythical creature or something? Whatever, he just had to feed it minerals. That could wait. For now, it was time to handle his Tree Form transformation quest. ___ The Dreamwood Grove was enormous. After asking several guardians for directions, Ethan finally arrived at a massive ancient tree, just ten meters behind him the whole time. Looking up, he noticed a golden exclamation mark floating above its crown. He groaned. How had he not found it the whole time? it had just been right behind him. Was there some sort of mysterious phenomenon at play here? No matter how much he thought of it, he couldn''t come to a conclusion. Ethan approached the tree and initiated a conversation. Quest Received: [Transform: Tree Form] The task was ridiculously simple: Find injured soldiers in the grove. Use the given Rejuvenation Spell and Healing Spell to restore them. Purge their diseases using the Purification Spell. For the next thirty minutes, he ran all over Dreamwood Grove, healing every last soldier and villager he could find. Finally, with just 15 minutes left until midnight, he was done. There was still enough time to return to the Ancient Tree and turn in the quest. And just as expected, in the final ten seconds before the game reboot, He reached the tree and swiftly completed the dialogue. Ding! [Quest Complete: Transform ¨C Tree Form] Ding! [Congratulations! You have unlocked all Druid transformation forms and successfully activated: Prim¡ª Chapter 111 - 111: Race for First Clear Before the system notification even finished ringing in Ethan''s ears, his screen went black. Ethereal was rebooting. All players were kicked from the game, left waiting on the login screen. With nothing to do, Ethan browsed the official forums and stumbled upon the Druid player rally post. Opening it up, he found it flooded with Druid comments, all fired up and pledging their loyalty. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He chuckled. It was entertaining to read through. Since he was there, he left a quick reply, just a simple thank you to his new followers. Time passed quickly. Ding! [System Upgrade Complete. You may now log back in.] Ethan closed the forums and re-entered the game. There weren''t many visible changes at first. But within seconds, Dreamwood Grove was packed with Druids teleporting in. The place, once quiet and peaceful, was now buzzing with players exploring their newly enhanced abilities. Ethan barely spared them a glance. Without hesitation, he activated his teleportation skill and returned to Harmony City. Skyblade had already messaged him, everyone was assembled and waiting at the dungeon entrance. Ethan replied: "On my way." As he moved, he mentally reviewed the dungeon layout. They weren''t going for the easy version of Howling Caverns, they were tackling the Expert Mode. --- Expert Mode dungeons could only be cleared once per week. Once completed, players had to wait until the next Monday afternoon for another attempt. Currently, most players were just reaching level 20, and every major guild was rushing to form teams to challenge Howling Caverns. The dungeon entrance was packed, a sea of players, all looking for groups. Voices filled the air: "UnspokenTruth: Full Intelligence Mage, 315 spell power, looking for a group!" "Nightwind: High-attack Sharpshooter, 394 physical attack¡ªanyone running Easy Mode?" "FleetingDust: Running first clear, need one high-healing Priest. Must be good, one slot left!" Meanwhile, Skyblade and the others stood by the dungeon gate, repeatedly turning players away. Many asked if they needed extra members, but the answer remained the same: "Party''s full." Ethan didn''t head straight to the dungeon. Instead, he made a quick stop in Harmony City''s Market District to check on his businesses. --- First, he dropped by All-You-Need Potions, his alchemy shop. It had finally stabilized, several apprentice alchemists had been hired, and while production speed wasn''t high, at least there were potions available for sale. Then, he visited All-You-Need Engineering. The store shelves now carried bullets and arrowheads. Heading to the back, he peeked into the workshop, a few apprentices were busy crafting equipment. And, as expected, the future Mad Engineer, NoPaperOnTheBigOne, was in his personal workspace, tinkering with who knows what. Ethan didn''t bother disturbing him. Leaving the shop, he made his way to the Auction House. The place was packed. Checking the recent transaction logs, he saw that thousands of items had been traded daily. Right now, there were no listing fees, but once that changed, even if the fee was just 1 Copper per item, the revenue would be staggering. Of course, auction fees were based on item value. The Auction House was a gold mine, it made life easier for everyone. Right now, free listings were bait. Once players got used to the convenience, even a small fee wouldn''t stop them from using it. After all, why waste time setting up a stall when you could be leveling up, farming loot, or chatting up NPCs? --- Remembering the Prismatic Stone quest, Ethan searched the Auction House and spent 2 Gold on a pile of minerals. Then, he made a final stop at the System Alchemy Shop. Currently, All-You-Need Potions only stocked Basic Healing Potions and Mana Recovery Potions. So, he bought three bottles of Size Enhancement Elixir. Now, he was finally ready. [Size Enhancement Elixir]: Increases body size by 500% for 5 seconds. (Strength increases proportionally, but no attribute bonuses are granted.) After grabbing the elixirs, Ethan made a stop at the System Engineering Shop, purchasing two grappling launchers, each costing a painful 50 Gold. With his wallet significantly lighter, he made his way to the teleportation array, selecting the closest town to Howling Caverns. --- Draped in a black cloak, Ethan strode down the main road leading out of town. As he walked, a conversation between two players up ahead caught his attention. A short-statured Mage spoke first. "Did you hear? Guild leader hired a pro team to clear Expert Mode. They''ve already taken down two bosses." A burly Warrior beside him scoffed. "Yeah, I heard. Those guys are professionals. Not like us, we can''t even beat the second boss in Easy Mode. We''ve been wiped over forty times already." "And that so-called Leaf Guild? They''ve been wiped twenty times on the third boss. And guess what? We have to chip in for their repair fees. Bunch of freeloaders." "Quit complaining. They got through the second boss after ten or so tries. They''ll probably clear the third soon." Hearing this, Ethan narrowed his eyes. Someone was already attempting Expert Mode, and they were on the third boss? Leaf Guild¡­ It was them. In his previous life, this guild had secured world-first clears on numerous dungeons. And he clearly remembered Howling Caverns was one of their trophies. Picking up his pace, Ethan overtook the two players and glanced at the guild emblem on their chests. Two bold words stood out: Blade Syndicate. His pupils contracted. ''Marcus Skeiner.'' That guy actually hired Leaf Guild to help their team secure the first clear? If Blade Syndicate snagged the world-first completion reward, their arrogance would know no bound. Not only that, but it would also be a direct challenge to Renegade Alliance''s reputation. Ethan clenched his fists. So, they were already on Boss #3¡­ What about Skyblade''s raid team? Would they be able to keep up? He wasn''t sure. But one thing was certain, his team had the strongest core players. Five of them were already equipped with +30 enhanced gear and had reached level 28. A level 20 Expert Mode dungeon shouldn''t pose a serious challenge. Lyla alone could probably match the damage output of half a raid group. Even Meatball''s damage wasn''t to be underestimated. Skyblade was an unshakable tank, capable of soloing a boss, though certain one-shot mechanics would require teamwork to survive. However, Howling Caverns had a unique defensive mechanic, one that made Expert Mode brutal. Instead of a flat defense stat, bosses had percentage-based damage reduction. This system significantly weakened high-attack, high-gear setups. Easy Mode Bosses: 20% damage reduction. (If you hit for 100 damage, only 80 goes through.) Expert Mode Bosses: 80% damage reduction. (A 100-damage attack would deal only 20 damage.) This meant high attack power still helped, but the actual damage gap between players was drastically reduced. For example: A player with 100 attack would deal 20 damage. A player with 200 attack would deal 40 damage. The higher attack still had an advantage, but the difference wasn''t as huge as in normal fights. Ethereal''s dungeon system was built for balance. And in Expert Mode, raw strength alone wasn''t enough. Chapter 112 - 112: Hidden Judgment If not for this system rule, Ethan would have dared to take a six-man team and challenge an expert-level dungeon by now. Just imagine Lyla''s explosive damage output, facing a boss with zero defense, wouldn''t she wipe it out in seconds? The percentage-based damage reduction system ensured a balance between elite and regular players. It highlighted the status of top-tier players while still allowing casual players to participate. After all, zero defense meant that even those without high-tier gear could break through. But at the same time, it prevented overpowered players from solo-clearing dungeons. Ethan quickened his pace, heading straight for the dungeon entrance. He wasn''t just aiming for a simple clear, he wanted a five-star rating. A five-star clear guaranteed at least one gold-tier item, with a chance of even scoring dark gold loot. And more importantly, securing the world''s first five-star clear meant earning a huge amount of guild points, far more than a standard dungeon run. Guild upgrades required increasing the level of their stronghold, and stronghold upgrades consumed guild points. The only way to earn guild points? Guild members had to form teams and clear dungeons together. Of course, even a regular dungeon clear awarded some points, but the amount was small. It would take a ridiculous amount of runs just to upgrade the stronghold once. That''s why guilds looking to dominate the game always fought for first clears. By the time Ethan reached the Howling Caverns dungeon entrance, the place was packed, it was more crowded than a street market. He had to squeeze his way through, pushing past groups of players, before finally reaching Skyblade''s team. As soon as he accepted Skyblade''s party invite, leadership and raid command permissions were instantly transferred to him. "Boss!" "Guild leader is here!" The party members greeted him one after another. Ethan nodded back at them and checked the raid lineup: Damage dealers: Archers (4) Gunners (2) Mages (4) Warriors (3) Rogues (4) Warlocks (2) Paladin (1) Healers: Paladins (2) Priests (3) Druid (1) Tanks: Shield Tanks (2) Guardian knight (1) Total: 29 players. Including himself, that made a full 30-man raid. As Ethan scanned the group, he suddenly noticed something odd¡ªSeraphWarrior had somehow blended into the healer squad. Wait¡­ Had that guy switched to a healing class? He pulled up the party window. SeraphWarrior''s icon still showed him as a Retribution Paladin. Frowning, Ethan turned to Skyblade. "Sky, what''s going on?" Skyblade chuckled, clearly expecting the question. Leaning in, he whispered, "Last night, after logging in, he stumbled into a side quest and unlocked a hidden class¡ªJudicator of Light." Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Judicator of Light?" "It''s a fusion class, a mix of Retribution and Holy Paladin," Skyblade explained. "Any time he uses a Retribution skill, he gains Holy Energy. He can then use that energy to cast any healing spell." "Oh, and the best part?" Skyblade smirked. "It doesn''t consume mana. Pretty insane, right? I swear, the guy must''ve stepped in some serious good luck." Ethan glanced over at SeraphWarrior again, his surprise evident. Judicator of Light, this hidden class had only been discovered in his past life by a top-tier Paladin named PlainWalker, and that was after hitting level 40. Now? SeraphWarrior had unlocked it this early?! It all but guaranteed that he was destined to become a legendary player. Skyblade noticed Ethan''s reaction and let out a low chuckle. "Don''t let the class fool you. SeraphWarrior has been stressing out over it." Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Why?" Skyblade grinned. "The class talent lets him use both Retribution and Holy Paladin skills, which sounds amazing, right?" Ethan nodded. "Well," Skyblade continued, "the trade-off? His attack power is permanently reduced by 35%. But his healing output is only 50% of a regular Holy Paladin. At best, he''s half a healer." "The only real advantage is that he doesn''t use mana, so he''s got insane endurance. But¡­ y''know, weak and pathetic. Hah!" Skyblade burst out laughing at his own joke. Ethan already knew that Judicator of Light wasn''t particularly impressive in the early game. But at level 60, when it advanced into Divine Judicator, it was a whole different story. That reminded him of something, because of his presence in this life, too many things had changed. The timeline wasn''t unfolding the way it had before. Even if he tried recruiting the same top players from his past life, there was no guarantee they''d even become top players this time around. So¡­ why not create his own legends instead? He turned to Skyblade with a burning gaze. Skyblade shuddered. "Uh¡­ Boss? What''s with that look? You''re staring at me like I''m some kind of prize or something." Ethan''s mind was already racing. ''Yeah¡­ I should take Skyblade to unlock the Iron Guardian hidden class for Shield Tanks.'' It had already been a month since Ethereal launched. He''d been way too busy, rushing to level up, making a trip to the Underworld, then fighting against Blade Syndicate, followed by seven days of clearing his red-name status. Now it was time to get back to serious business. But first, securing the first clear of this expert-level dungeon took priority. Originally, he''d planned on selling dungeon guides, but at this rate, that might not be profitable anymore. Ethereal had been live long enough that most top teams had already figured out the game''s mechanics. Plenty of high-profile guilds had moved in, and soon, selling guides wouldn''t be a viable business model. Ethan''s voice rang out in the raid chat. "Alright, everyone ready? We''re going in." The team gathered at the dungeon entrance as Ethan approached an NPC standing nearby. "Honorable Grand Druid, do you wish to enter the Howling Caverns?" "Yes." "Please select your difficulty: Easy, Normal, Hard, Expert, or Hell (locked)." "Expert," Ethan confirmed. "Understood. You and your party will be transported in ten seconds. Please stand by." Instead of stepping in immediately, Ethan stood his ground, watching the dungeon''s shimmering entrance. The rest of the team, including Skyblade, exchanged confused glances. "Uh¡­ Boss? What are we waiting for?" A few seconds later, the entrance flickered, shifting from white to deep purple, a massive, eerie skull forming over the portal. "Holy¡ªExpert mode!" Skyblade gasped. The rest of the players gawked in disbelief. They had experienced Expert dungeons before back in the Starter Zone, thanks to Ethan''s guides. So the color shift at the entrance was all too familiar. Ethan smirked. "What? You scared now?" "Scared my ass!" "Hell no, we''re not cowards." "Let''s do this! With you leading us, Guild leader, what''s the worst that could happen? Losing some EXP? Who cares!" Ethan chuckled. "Alright, listen up. Blade Syndicate hired a professional raid team to tackle this same dungeon on Expert. I got word on my way here, they''ve already reached the third boss. This dungeon only has seven bosses total. That means they''ve already cleared almost half of it." The room went dead silent. Ethan let that sink in for a moment before raising his voice. "But we''re not just aiming to beat them, we''re going for a five-star clear." Then, he fired off three questions in rapid succession: "Do you have the guts to keep Blade Syndicate beneath our feet forever?" S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Can you outperform professional raiders and make history in Ethereal?" "And when the dust settles, do you want to brag that you took the world''s first Expert dungeon clear¡ªwith a five-star rating?" A roaring battle cry erupted in the raid chat. "HELL YES!!" Even Heaven''s Dawn, the 12-year-old in the party, clenched her tiny fists and shouted along with them. Chapter 113 - 113: Unleashing the Firepower Out of the entire raid group, only one person didn''t join in on the battle cry. Lyla. Instead, she simply watched Ethan, her eyes brimming with warmth as he rallied the team. "Moonbeam, Big Bro is really good at hyping people up!" Heaven''s Dawn excitedly waved her tiny fists, turning to Lyla. Lyla sighed at the little girl''s enthusiasm. "You do realize he''s just hyping you all up, right? So why are you shouting along with him?" "I dunno! It just felt exciting!" Heaven''s Dawn beamed. Then, after a short pause, she suddenly declared, "Big Bro is so cool! When I grow up, I wanna marry him!" Lyla chuckled and ruffled the little girl''s hair. "Well, you''d better grow up fast then. Your Big Bro isn''t just a smooth talker, he''s also a huge bully." "Hey! Don''t mess up my hair! It''ll stunt my growth!" Heaven''s Dawn pouted and batted Lyla''s hand away. "Big Bro isn''t a bully! He''s nice to me!" Lyla smirked. "That''s because you don''t see what he''s like when no one''s watching." The little girl squinted at her suspiciously. "Wait a sec¡­ How do you know that? Unless you¡­?" Lyla''s smirk vanished, and her face turned red. "Stop talking nonsense!" "Heh! Moonbeam, you''re blushing!" As the two of them playfully bickered, Ethan took the first step into the dungeon portal, vanishing into the swirling purple light. One by one, the rest of the team followed. ¡ª The scene shifted. The moment they stepped through the portal, the group found themselves inside a massive underground cavern. Jagged rock formations jutted out in all directions, and a single winding path stretched forward. A chilling howl echoed through the cavern, the very sound that gave Howling Caverns its name. In truth, it wasn''t a monster''s cry at all, just the wind rushing through the tunnels, creating eerie, ghost-like wails. Ethan led the group forward. They walked for nearly a thousand meters, the empty path stretching on and on. Not a single monster in sight. Then, suddenly¡ªthe cavern opened up. Before them lay a hidden underground world, lush and green, filled with strange, towering trees. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A vast subterranean forest. High above, a massive hole in the cavern ceiling let in a beam of sunlight, illuminating the landscape in a golden glow. A shallow river flowed through the center of this hidden paradise, its crystal-clear waters reflecting the light. Ethan''s gaze swept across the scene. Then, his voice rang out. "Prepare for battle." The team froze. Wait¡­ there weren''t any monsters here yet. What were they supposed to fight? Then¡ª SPLASH. Upstream, a massive turtle slowly lumbered down the riverbank, its gigantic shell glistening under the sunlight. "Yo, Boss¡­ You''re not seriously planning to fight that thing, right?" Skyblade asked hesitantly. Ethan nodded. "Yeah. Why?" Skyblade grimaced. "That thing isn''t even a boss, but it''s got more HP than one. Why waste time fighting it? It''s a neutral monster, it''s not even blocking our path." Another player chimed in, "Yeah! Plus, I heard that when its HP drops to 50%, 30%, and 10%, it transforms into something massive. And if it lands on even a tank, it''s an instant kill." Ethan pulled out three bottles of Size Enhancement Elixirs and handed them to Skyblade. "Relax. I''ve got a plan. When I give the signal, drink one of these." Skyblade took the potions without questioning him. "...okay, if you say so." Ethan grinned. "Alright, everyone, clear the way for the bait¡ªuh, I mean, for Skyblade." Laughter broke out across the raid chat. The tension in the air lightened considerably. It was their first time tackling this dungeon on Expert Mode, and many players were feeling the pressure. A joke at the right moment? Priceless. "Damn you, Boss¡­" Skyblade sighed dramatically, but without hesitation, he activated Taunt and charged straight at the turtle. "Come at me, you bastard!" With a loud clang, his shield smashed against the turtle''s shell, drawing its attention. Ethan immediately broke into a cold sweat. Why did all tanks have to yell something dumb when they used Taunt? Was this some gaming ritual? Or was everyone just influenced by that one obnoxious bull-headed warrior from a certain old-school game? Pushing that thought aside, Ethan barked out orders. "All healers, focus on Skyblade." "Ranged DPS, start attacking." "Melee DPS, hold your positions, surround it, but don''t rush in yet." "Moonbeam, Meatball¡ªhold your fire until I give the signal." "SeraphWarrior¡ªget in there and manage aggro." The team sprang into action, charging into the shallow river, the water barely reaching their knees. The battle had begun. The shallow river turned murky as the team trampled through the water, their movements stirring up sediment from the riverbed. The giant turtle roared, its deep, guttural cries echoing through the cavern. But with the melee fighters locking its position, the creature couldn''t move an inch. This was basic raid strategy¡ªeveryone understood it. In Ethereal, bosses never just stood still and fought tanks head-on. They would constantly adjust their positioning, trying to circle behind the tank for an attack. That''s why melee DPS had to help box the boss in, while the two off-tanks assisted the main tank in keeping it in place. Ethan''s eyes flicked across the raid''s damage numbers. Most players were dealing around 50 damage per hit, meaning their total attack power was somewhere around 400, a high stat for this stage of the game. After all, at the dungeon entrance, players were shouting their attack stats to get picked for raid teams. Anyone with over 300 attack acted like they were hot cake, getting snapped up by strong teams. And if their stats were lower than the group''s average? They''d get instantly rejected. ''Looks like Skyblade gathered some of the guild''s strongest players for this run,'' Ethan thought. The damage numbers continued to float above the turtle''s shell, dozens of hits, ranging from tens to over a hundred. But two damage sources stood out. One was from SeraphWarrior¡ªhis Judicator of Light skill landed a staggering 400+ damage. The other? Skyblade himself. His silver-tier weapon, which Ethan had personally upgraded to +30, allowed him, a Shield Tank¡ªto hit really high with a single skill. "Holy crap! Who just hit for 400+?" A player shouted in disbelief. Most of them could only deal double-digit damage, with some breaking into the hundreds at best. Seeing 400+ appear out of nowhere was shocking. And that wasn''t all, SeraphWarrior''s basic attacks were already breaking 100 damage per hit. "Damn! That''s gotta be SeraphWarrior!" Another player confirmed. But Skyblade chuckled. "Oh? And who do you think just hit for 200+?" "Uh¡­ who?" The player actually fell for it and asked. Skyblade grinned. "Me, obviously!" The chat fell silent. Skyblade, a Shield Tank, was dealing this much damage? What were the DPS players supposed to do now? Were they even needed? One by one, the players turned to stare at Skyblade, their confidence shattered. Ethan, meanwhile, had been watching from stealth in Panther Form, studying the fight for a full minute. Skyblade had firmly secured aggro, meaning it was finally safe to attack. Ethan hadn''t joined the fight yet, nor had he allowed Lyla or Meatball to start. The reason? If they attacked too soon, they might steal aggro, throwing the fight into chaos. And if the turtle''s aggro reset, it could wipe the entire raid. Now, though, it was time. Ethan struck first, lunging forward with a Rake followed by a Shred. -578! -62! True Damage. Ignoring all armor. At level 31, his True Damage stat was already 62, nearly as much as other players'' full skill damage. He followed up with several more Shreds, draining his energy bar. As he waited for energy to recover, he swiftly shifted into Owl Form and cast Moonfire and Sunburn. It didn''t matter how much damage these spells did, the goal was to trigger his weapon''s True Damage effect. As Ethan entered the fight, the raid froze for a second. They had thought SeraphWarrior had already surpassed the Guild Leader in damage. But now? They realized¡ªEthan was still a step ahead. With just his star-gathering skills, he was already hitting for over 500 damage. That was the moment Ethan knew it was time to go all out. He raised his voice. "Moonbeam, Meatball¡ªget ready. Attack at will!" Chapter 114 - 114: A Second Chance The moment Ethan gave the command, Meatball who had already summoned his demonic army, snapped his fingers. A dozen summoned creatures surged forward, charging at the giant turtle in a frenzy. Leading the charge was a Demonic Guardian, dual-wielding massive cleavers. It activated Charge, closing the distance in an instant and landing directly behind the turtle. "Damn it, Meatball! Don''t let it spin like a damn fan blade!" Skyblade howled in alarm. He still had trauma from their previous fight in Larson Basin, where Meatball''s summon had unleashed an uncontrolled AOE attack, nearly turning Skyblade into ground beef. If he hadn''t reacted fast and hit the deck, he would''ve suffered the same brutal fate as those Blade Syndicate players. "Don''t worry, my Mastery is maxed out now. I have full control," Meatball reassured him. Meatball''s other summons didn''t deal high damage, but the sheer number of them made up for it. Ethan glanced at Meatball''s setup. A full summoner build. He knew someday, he''d truly command an unstoppable demon army. The giant turtle had a staggering 1.2 million HP, but with Meatball now fully engaged, its health noticeably started dropping faster. Meanwhile, Lyla had drawn back her bow, charging up a Double Shot combined with an Aimed Strike. She hadn''t released the arrows yet, but Ethan had been keeping an eye on her. He was eager to see just how much damage she could dish out. Back when she first obtained the Frostbound Reverie, she had been level 15. Now, at level 28, the weapon should have grown accordingly. Plus, her attack-boosting accessories had all been enhanced to +30. Ethan estimated that her attack power was now at least 3,000. Then¡ª Whoosh! Whoosh! -2178! -3267! (Critical Hit!) "¡­What?" "No way!" "Damn, Boss lady, you might as well solo this thing!" The entire raid team erupted in shock. The numbers were devastating. And before they could even process it¡ª Rapidfire Barrage! S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. -871, -871, -895, -1306¡­ Nine consecutive hits, damage piling up in waves. Even Ethan felt a pang of jealousy surge through him. So this was the power of a legendary weapon? Running a quick mental calculation, he realized Lyla''s total attack power had exceeded 3,400. In open-world PVP, she could one-shot most enemies with a single arrow. Even Feather, the so-called God of Arrows? He''d better step aside. Wealth? Skill? Maxed-out gear? None of it mattered if he didn''t have a legendary weapon like this. Ethan felt a mix of pride and envy. With Lyla and Meatball joining the fray, the giant turtle''s health bar plummeted at a steady rate. Ten minutes later, it was approaching the critical 50% threshold. That''s when Skyblade suddenly yelled out. "First Lady! Stop! STOP!" Ethan noticed it too¡ªsomething was wrong. The turtle was becoming restless, shifting aggressively within the melee circle. It was on the verge of losing aggro, about to OT (OverThreat). Skyblade had reacted too late. As a tank, he should have noticed sooner. Managing boss aggro wasn''t just about holding threat, it was about reading the enemy''s movements and knowing when to tell damage dealers to hold back. But Skyblade was still a rookie. By the time he realized the threat shift, it was already too late. At that exact moment, Lyla fired. Her Double Shot and Rapidfire Barrage had already been fully charged. Eighteen arrows streaked through the air in a perfect straight line. Thud! Thud! Thud! A massive 15,000 damage burst exploded onto the turtle''s shell. And then, the boss lost control. The giant turtle''s health had just dropped to 50%. Then¡ª Woooooo¡­ Its entire body suddenly expanded, nearly doubling in size. The melee players, Skyblade included, were violently knocked back, sent flying across the battlefield. "Shit." Ethan''s heart sank for a split second. Then, gritting his teeth, he shouted: "Everyone, scatter! Stay out from under it! Lyla, move away from the group!" The turtle''s stubby legs had now transformed into massive stone pillars, holding up its colossal frame as it charged straight for Lyla. For a brief moment, panic flashed across her face, but she quickly regained control, sprinting out of the crowd the moment she heard Ethan''s command. As expected, the turtle locked onto her, chasing her relentlessly. Skyblade didn''t even bother taunting this time, he knew it was pointless. Once aggro was lost, the only way to reset threat was for the targeted player to die. Taunts would be ignored. The turtle was immune to all aggro-control skills. And with its size increase, the next thing it was going to do was drop its instant-kill attack. If Skyblade somehow took back aggro now, the skill would hit him instead, and that would mean a full raid wipe. Lyla was fast, but the turtle was faster. In just two seconds, it had caught up, its massive shadow looming over her. Then¡ª It tucked in all four legs, its tail, and even its head, vanishing entirely into its shell. The next moment, the entire shell came crashing down. BOOM! The impact shook the entire cave. The very ground trembled. When the dust settled, the turtle''s shell slowly shrank back to normal size as its five limbs extended once more. Ethan''s voice rang out instantly. "Skyblade, take aggro! Keep attacking!" Skyblade didn''t even need the order, his Taunt was already flying through the air. "Come at me, you bastard!" But he knew, Lyla was dead. In dungeon fights, corpses couldn''t be revived manually. You couldn''t corpse-run back either. Priests could resurrect, but only after combat ended. Their revival spells weren''t meant to bring back players mid-battle, they were meant to reduce time lost running back from graveyards. Without Lyla, the raid''s total damage output would drop significantly. Ethan opened the damage statistics window provided by Ethereal. Lyla alone had dealt 450,000 damage. The rest of the 29 players combined? 150,000. She had tripled the entire team''s output. That''s when a voice pinged in raid chat. "Big Bro, do you need me to revive Lyla?" It was Heaven''s Dawn. Ethan blinked. "Wait¡­ You have a battle resurrection skill?" Battle res was one of the rarest healing abilities in the game. In his previous life, most Druids were only invited to high-level raid teams because of this exact spell. "Yup! Just learned it!" Ethan almost laughed in disbelief. This little girl was seriously blessed by the game itself. Most Druids barely unlocked battle res at level 100. She got it at level 20?! "Do it. Bring her back." The moment Ethan gave the order, Heaven''s Dawn began chanting. Vines and glowing flowers emerged from the ground, wrapping around Lyla''s corpse. Twenty seconds later¡ª The plants withered and faded, revealing Lyla, back on her feet with 20% HP. But the moment she came back, a new problem emerged. The turtle''s attack pattern had changed. For the first half of the fight, it only targeted the tank. Now? It started randomly casting Thunder Stomp, an AOE shockwave that hit all melee players nearby. The healers were struggling to keep up. Ethan''s voice rang out again. "Dawn, focus on healing! All other healers, stop attacking and keep melee players alive!" The real fight had just begun. Chapter 115 - 115: Pricey Gamble In the earlier battle, only Skyblade was taking damage. His gear had been reinforced by 30%, reducing the damage he took to less than 200 HP per hit. Any random healer could patch him up with a single cast. So Ethan had all the healers focus on dealing damage instead, leaving only SeraphWarrior to keep Skyblade alive, since his healing didn''t even consume mana. Once the boss dropped below half health, the incoming area-wide damage would require heavy healing. Until then, conserving resources was the priority. This time, Lyla didn''t dare to go all out, and Skyblade was now fully focused on studying the boss''s attack patterns. Earlier, Ethan had given him a basic guide on tanking basics via private message, and he was putting that knowledge to the test. On top of that, he felt guilty. Lyla had died because he lost control of the boss, and that didn''t sit well with him. He thought he was tough enough to tank anything, but clearly, his positioning was off. To distract himself, he started chatting with Lyla in private. She reassured him, "It''s fine! My damage was too high anyway. And since I got revived mid-fight, I didn''t even lose any experience. No big deal. But my gear durability dropped by 10%, so you''re covering my repair bill, yeah?" Skyblade chuckled, "Come on Boss lady, don''t flex on me like that. If your damage is insane, keep it to yourself, alright? You''re crushing my ego here. And forget 10%, even if your gear was completely broken, I got you." Ethan overheard this and smirked. "You''re gonna regret that." Sure enough, when Lyla told him the repair cost, Skyblade froze. Her weapon was Legendary-tier, and fixing just 10% of its durability cost 52 silver. Factoring in the rest of her gear, the total came to 54 silver. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Skyblade''s daily wage? 10 silver. Which meant he was now 44 silver in the hole. Higher-tier equipment had absurd repair costs. Ethan knew this, which was why he had warned him earlier. And Lyla''s weapon was only at level 28, its upkeep would get even worse as it leveled up. It was all part of Ethereal''s built-in gold sink, designed to drain currency from the economy. That''s why dying stung so much, it wasn''t just the lost experience, levels, and gear durability. Soon, the giant turtle''s health dropped to 30%, and it grew even larger. "Melee, back off! Skyblade, pop a potion! Healers, keep him topped off!" Ethan commanded. As the turtle shell loomed overhead, Skyblade threw the potion into his mouth and bit down. Crunch. The bottle shattered like candy, releasing a fruity aroma. The potion melted in his mouth, and he swallowed it down. Instantly, his body swelled in size. At the same time, the enormous turtle shell came crashing down. His giant shield, now also enlarged, rose to meet it Boom! The shell and shield collided with a thunderous impact. -1,892! Skyblade''s health dropped dangerously low¡ª But six healers were on him, and his HP shot back up in an instant. "Damn, that''s it? One potion handled it?" Skyblade muttered. Ethan rolled his eyes. "That one potion cost 12 gold. You''re paying me back." "...Boss, just leave me to die next time. It''ll be cheaper for both of us." The rest of the fight was much easier. When the giant turtle''s health dropped to 10%, it swelled in size again. Another potion. Another gulp. Another clean finish. Ethan glanced at Skyblade. "That''s 24 gold now." Skyblade nearly keeled over. Twenty-four gold. That was over $40,000 in real-world money. Where the hell was he supposed to get that kind of cash? The other players overheard and were just as shocked. Spending that much on a single mob? What was their guild leader thinking? Why not just go around it, clear the other mobs, and take down the main boss? Did this turtle drop some kind of god-tier loot? A few minutes later, the giant turtle crashed to the ground. Its massive body vanished, leaving a single item behind. Its shell. Ethan picked it up. Skyblade blinked. "Wait¡­ after all that effort, all we got was a turtle shell?" He had been convinced this thing would drop something insane. Ethan wouldn''t have spent a fortune killing it otherwise, right? "Boss, what''s the item''s stats?" someone asked. Ethan wasn''t bothered by the skepticism. He simply shared the item''s details with the team. [Hardened Shell] Use: Throw a reinforced shell to knock a target off their mount. Uses: (1) Only usable inside Howling Caverns. SeraphWarrior frowned. "...And what exactly does this do for us?" Everyone else was just as puzzled. Spending 24 gold, nearly 50 grand in real-world currency, for this? And if they hadn''t pulled aggro on it early, they would''ve needed another potion. That would''ve brought the cost up to 36 gold. "What a waste," Skyblade muttered under his breath. Ethan smirked. "You''ll see." With that, he rallied the group and led them across the river, toward the dense forest on the other side. The thirty-man team moved cautiously, warriors and paladins taking point while mages and ranged fighters stayed in the back. Under Ethan''s orders, everyone kept their spacing tight¡ªno more than a meter apart. After about 100 meters, Ethan called for a stop. "Rogues, scout ahead. Clear any branches or vines that could get in our way. We need to move through as a unit," Ethan instructed. The rogues exchanged puzzled looks but did as told, slipping into stealth and moving forward. They were used to scouting missions. This was standard procedure. But what they didn''t understand was why Ethan was so adamant about it. In lower difficulty runs, this path had been empty. Sure, the guild leader was strong, but was he just micromanaging to flex his leadership? Many players silently wondered if Ethan was just showing off. They failed to remember that the first-ever raid guide for the Starter Zone dungeon had come from Ethan himself. Watching from behind, Ethan observed the four rogues moving ahead, their movements precise yet lacking a certain sharpness. He sighed internally. They were decent. Mid-tier, at best. In his past life, he had played a rogue himself. And while he wasn''t really some god-tier pro, he had at least been high-level. The deeper they ventured, the denser the foliage became. This underground world was already dimly lit, but in this part of the forest, visibility dropped even further. A cold wind rustled through the undergrowth. And with it came an eerie sensation, like something unseen was watching them. Chapter 116 - 116: Trust the Process Ethan stretched lazily, stealing a glance toward the depths of the forest. Perched on a tree branch, blending perfectly with the bark, was a humanoid creature lurking in stealth. If Ethan hadn''t been level 31¡ªa full six levels above the dungeon''s mobs, he wouldn''t have even noticed it. A Demonhunter. But Ethan ignored it, pretending he hadn''t seen anything. Up ahead, the four rogues continued clearing the path. The terrain was narrow, almost claustrophobic. If they wanted to spread out, it wouldn''t be possible. The only way forward was single file. But marching in a straight line like that? A disaster waiting to happen. That was why the rogues were hacking away at the thick underbrush, cutting down overgrown branches and clearing tangled vines underfoot. And yet, they weren''t happy about it. Because when they had cleared this dungeon on Easy Mode, there had been no danger here. They had walked straight through without a problem. So why was the guild leader being so paranoid? Still, orders were orders. At this pace, did he really expect to push the world-first clear? "Damn it," one of the rogues muttered, kicking aside a thick vine blocking his path. Bad move. The vine snapped to life, coiling around his ankle and yanking him upside down into the air. "AHH¡ªHELP!" he screamed. His in-game name was PainBehindPromises. Ethan shook his head. The moment that vine had moved, he could have dodged in at least three different ways. "It''s a Vine Fiend. Lost, Eternal¡ªget in there!" Two tanks immediately stepped forward, one a Shield Tank, the other a Guardian Knight. "Melee, hold formation! Mages, focus fire on the vines! Doesn''t matter how much damage you deal, just keep them from grabbing anyone else!" Ethan commanded. Everyone followed his orders. As fire spells rained down, the Vine Fiend''s tendrils recoiled from the flames. PainBehindPromises was cut down, landing with a thud. Truth be told, Ethan had seen the monster long ago. He had sent the rogues forward on purpose, he wanted to see how they handled the situation. But he was disappointed. PainBehindPromises had walked straight into the trap, and the other three rogues? Instead of reacting, they turned and ran. "What do I do?" Skyblade asked. "Stay put." Ethan didn''t even look at him. The Vine Fiend was now fully surrounded. Melee fighters locked it in place while mages bombarded it with fire magic, keeping its vines at bay. Archers, gunners, and spellcasters unloaded their attacks, filling the air with a storm of arrows, bullets, and spells. Within two minutes, the Vine Fiend let out a final shriek before crumbling into dust. It had been just a basic mob. No way it could survive that kind of onslaught. "Any drops?" "Five copper." A monster like that? Not worth expecting good loot. "Watch out!" Ethan''s voice rang out just at that moment. But it was too late. The melee fighters, assuming the fight was over, had relaxed and wandered out of position. Two of them stepped directly into a hidden pit. Whip! Another vine lashed out from below, slamming into their bodies. Both players were sent flying. One landed face-first, eating a mouthful of dirt. That single hit took out half their health. Skyblade reacted instantly, charging forward to catch one of them. The other two tanks intercepted the second Vine Fiend. But now there was a problem. They only had four fire mages. And two Vine Fiends? Not enough firepower to keep both locked down. As the melee fighters kept getting swatted aside, the only thing keeping them alive was the healers frantically spamming their spells. At last, the team understood why Ethan had insisted on scouting ahead. On the surface, this path looked identical to the Normal Mode version of the dungeon. But in reality, it was riddled with hidden Vine Fiends and Tree Golems, lying in wait like ordinary plants, ready to snare anyone who walked into their traps. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If the entire team had lined up single file and walked through carelessly? A chain reaction of triggered traps would have wiped them out. These monsters feared fire, but with only four mages in the party, they were already struggling against two Vine Fiends. If three or five had attacked at once? Total disaster. After dealing with the current threat, Ethan personally took the lead. The truth was, they didn''t have to fight these monsters at all. As long as they disarmed the traps before triggering them, they could pass safely. But those four rogues? They had wandered aimlessly, completely failing to spot any traps. One of them had even kicked an obvious trigger like a complete idiot. Ethan sighed. He wasn''t a rogue, so he lacked Trap Detection. All he had was his past life''s experience to recall where each trap was. One by one, he pointed them out, guiding the rogues to scan and disable each one. This time, they took it seriously. With Ethan''s instructions, the four rogues meticulously searched and cleared the traps. The party advanced without triggering a single ambush. Even those who had doubted Ethan at first were now silent. By the time they reached the first boss, they had suffered zero casualties. The only death so far had been Lyla''s, back during the turtle fight, because her damage output was too high. This dungeon was one of Ethereal''s early-game instances. It wasn''t particularly difficult¡ªsuccess mostly depended on the tank''s durability and the DPS output. As for healers? If the tank could hold, healing pressure was minimal. The first boss went down effortlessly. With Lyla''s insane damage per second (DPS), they never had to worry about whether they could kill things fast enough. Instead, the only concern was whether she needed to hold back. Thankfully, Skyblade''s gear was no joke. At the very least, his weapon had a +30 reinforcement. That meant he could stably hold aggro. Under Ethan''s command, they cleared every single mob in the dungeon¡ªblocking their path or not, it didn''t matter. Along the way, they triggered two hidden minibosses and completed a Guardian Mission. The task? Defend an NPC digging a tunnel through 18 waves of enemies. When the tunnel was finally complete, the NPC escaped, marking the mission''s completion. By the time they reached the final boss''s entrance, it was already 7 AM. At this point, no one doubted Ethan''s leadership anymore. "Boss, I just got a message from a friend." A player spoke up in the team chat. He hesitated before continuing, "He said Blade Syndicate hired a pro team to run this dungeon, but they wiped 13 times. Every time, they failed at 5% HP." Everyone fell silent. "At 5% HP, the boss flies into the air." "Once it''s airborne, all damage becomes useless. And then¡­ it unleashes a dungeon-wide poison storm. Nothing works¡ªnot antidotes, not resistance potions. The boss never comes back down until everyone is dead." "So far, no one has figured out how to survive the poison phase." Murmurs broke out in the group. But Ethan just smiled. "If we can get to that point, we''ve basically won." His voice was calm. "Just because they failed, doesn''t mean we will." Then, his expression turned serious. "But listen up, today''s strategy does not leave this team. At least for the next few days, no leaks." Chapter 117 - 117: The Hidden Key Everyone swore they wouldn''t leak any information. Ethan didn''t press the issue. He knew it was only a matter of time before someone talked. But even if others killed the final boss with their own strategy, they''d only earn a four-star clear. What came next, wouldn''t require the whole team. Just him and Lyla. "You guys take this path," Ethan instructed, gesturing toward the left route. "Clear everything on the way to the boss and wait for us there." Skyblade nodded and led the team forward. Ethan, meanwhile, turned to Lyla and motioned for her to follow him down the right path. Everyone knew this side was empty. No enemies, no loot, just a dead-end cliff. Nobody understood why Ethan was heading that way. When they reached the edge of the path, Ethan pulled out the Grappling Launcher he had purchased from the Engineering Store and handed it to Lyla. "Watch where I aim. Follow me up," he instructed. [Grappling Launcher] Use: Fires a rope that can be climbed. Uses Left: 10/10 Ethan aimed at a ledge high above and fired. Thwip! The rope shot upward, its arrowhead sinking into the rock. Ethan climbed first, with Lyla right behind him. When she reached the top, she realized they were standing on a hidden platform. From below, the angle of the terrain had completely concealed it from view. A cave entrance was nestled against the mountainside. Ethan glanced at her. "Just focus on dealing damage. Don''t kill the target." Lyla nodded. Without another word, Ethan shifted into bear form and stepped inside. The cave wasn''t deep. After just a few steps, they spotted a dying campfire. It was empty. Lyla frowned. But before she could ask anything, Ethan suddenly charged at the far corner. She squinted and saw something lurking in the shadows. A faint, shifting blur. Thanks to her level 28 detection, she spotted it¡ª The Demonhunter. This was the same monster Ethan had seen after killing the giant turtle. With every other mob in the dungeon cleared, this was the last remaining enemy. And to achieve a five-star rating, they needed to capture it alive. Ethan''s charge stunned the Demonhunter, knocking it out of stealth. Before it could react, Ethan slammed his paw into its face, dazing it further. Lyla''s arrow followed immediately after. Ethan had warned her not to go all out. First, they needed to gauge how much damage she dealt. If she accidentally one-shot the target, they''d be screwed. The Demonhunter was a level 25 Elite. It had a massive 250,000 HP. Seeing the hefty health bar, Lyla stopped holding back. Meanwhile, Ethan held aggro, absorbing every hit. For his Bear Form, the damage was pathetic¡ªonly a few dozen points per attack. Each time his health dropped too low, Ethan would shift into Tree Form, cast a healing-over-time spell on himself, and then revert back to Bear Form to continue tanking. The Demonhunter stood no chance. When its health dropped to 1%, it suddenly leapt backward. "Stop attacking!" Ethan shouted. The monster raised its hands in surrender. "Warriors, please¡ªspare me! I''ll give you all my treasure! I can even tell you a secret of immense value!" Ethan shifted back into human form and smirked. "Hand it over. Now. Otherwise, I won''t hesitate to finish you off." The Demonhunter hesitated, watching them carefully before slowly walking over to a treasure chest. With cautious hands, it unlatched the lid. Ethan stepped forward, and reached inside. Inside were three gemstones and a necklace. "The treasure is yours, warrior! Now swear you won''t kill me, and I''ll reveal the sec¡ª" Before the Demonhunter could finish, eighteen arrows tore through the air. Lyla had instantly executed him. Ethan had already sent her a private message¡ªkill it before it speaks. It was part of the dungeon rating system. If the Demonhunter had revealed its secret, they would lose the chance for a five-star clear. But they couldn''t skip this encounter either. If the chest wasn''t opened, they wouldn''t qualify for five stars. And if the Demonhunter finished talking, its name would turn green, making it untargetable. That would mean one less kill, and again, they''d fail the five-star rating. Ethan motioned for Lyla to move. They rappelled down the cliff and sprinted back toward the main path. By now, Skyblade''s team should have already reached the final boss. When they arrived, Ethan''s guess was spot on. He checked the time, it was just past 7 AM. Ethereal''s servers shut down at 8 AM. They had just over 30 minutes left. Ethan quickly laid out a battle plan. And then, they pulled the boss. --- Final Boss: Falconer Triss Eugene HP: 3,700,000 The first phase wasn''t difficult. But as its health dropped, the pressure mounted, time was running out. At the 10-minute mark, the boss reached its flight phase. "You pathetic humans! Die!" Triss Eugene roared. With a mighty leap, she soared into the air. At the same time, a massive shadow fell over the battlefield. A colossal warhawk dived from above, and Triss landed perfectly on its back. The ranged players immediately opened fire. But the hawk was simply too massive¡ª Every attack landed on the bird instead of the boss. Immune! Immune! Immune! A stream of immune messages floated above the hawk. Even Lyla''s Aimed Shot was useless. "Damn it! We''re screwed!" "What do we do? We made it this far!" "Shit¡­ Even the pro team Blade Syndicate hired couldn''t clear this part." Just as despair set in¡ªa massive turtle shell flew into the sky. It came from Ethan. He had shifted back into human form, Hardened Shell in his hands. The spinning shell hurtled toward the warhawk, growing larger and larger. Boom! A thunderous impact rocked the battlefield. The hawk let out a piercing screech, flailing midair. Then, It plummeted. The entire raid team froze. "What the hell¡­?" Ethan''s voice snapped them out of it. "Stop gawking¡ªfinish the fight!" Triss Eugene and her warhawk slammed into the ground. A massive damage number floated above the hawk''s head¡ª -5,648,952! Instant kill. The hawk died on impact. Triss Eugene, meanwhile, was left with only 1% HP. The team swarmed her. Less than two minutes later, she collapsed. Victory. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Silence fell over the group. Everyone stared at Ethan like he had just pulled off some kind of black magic. He only smiled. No one had expected it. The key to defeating the final boss¡­was a random drop from the giant turtle. Without the Hardened Shell, the dungeon couldn''t be cleared. And Ethan had known it all along. Chapter 118 - 118: World First Timing was everything. If they threw too early, the Warhawk wouldn''t die from the fall, and then they''d have two bosses to deal with. On top of that, attacking the Warhawk wouldn''t even reduce its health. A wipe was inevitable. And since the Hardened Shell could only be used once per run, failing meant they''d have to wait until the dungeon reset the next day, defeat the giant Turtle again, and claim another Hardened Shell. If they threw too late, the Warhawk would fly too high, out of the Hardened Shell''s range¡ªanother guaranteed wipe. The group exchanged glances before turning back to Ethan, admiration clear in their eyes. How did their leader know all this? Had he cleared this dungeon before? He had every little detail memorized. Under his command, they had made it through from start to finish without a single wipe. ¡ª Ding! [Global Announcement: Congratulations to NotADruid and the Renegade Alliance guild for successfully clearing Howling Caverns (Expert Mode) with a five-star rating, achieving the World''s First Clear. Guild Points Rewarded: 30,000 Raid Leader Gold Reward: 2,000 Gold Raid Member Gold Reward: 20 Gold each Teamwide Bonus: +3 Levels Thanks to their efforts, Howling Caverns (Hell Mode) has been unlocked. Challengers, prepare yourselves!] ¡ª Ding! National Announcement... Ding! Regional Announcement... "We did it! World''s First!" "This is insane! I can brag about this for the rest of my life!" "Guild leader is a beast! Three first clears back to back, that''s 30 gold in rewards! I''m donating 1 gold to the guild!" "Pfft, just 1? I''m putting in 5!" "Five? That''s weak. I''ll donate 10!" Laughter and cheers filled the chat. Ethan smiled, watching his teammates celebrate as he bent down to loot the boss. Three Bronze items. Three Silver. One Gold. Seven pieces total. He immediately shared the loot with the raid. Any gear that dropped in a raid was first offered to the team. Members who wanted an item could bid for it using Guild Contribution Points, ensuring fair distribution. Auctioned points were split evenly among other members, a far better system than the Guild Vault, where the game simply deducted points without redistributing them. The Bronze and Silver gear was quickly claimed. Then, Ethan glanced at the Gold-tier item and hesitated. He wanted it. Badly. But just taking it for himself wouldn''t sit right. The usual solution was to bid for it, but in terms of contribution points, nobody in the guild could outmatch him. His points were technically infinite. Well, no point overthinking it. He posted it in the raid chat. ¡ª [Blazing Ring] Tier: Gold (Upgradeable) Level Requirement: 20 Attack Power: 54-77 Agility: +20 Strength: +20 Intelligence: +20 Effect: Increases physical and magical attack power by 10%. Set Bonus (1/3) [Inactive]: When equipped with Blazing Bracelet and Blazing Necklace, unlocks the skill Blazing Defense. Skill Description (Blazing Defense): Grants immunity to death once, reduces damage by 20% for 8 seconds, and fully restores health. (Cooldown: 3 days) ¡ª "This is insane! And it''s a set piece too?" "How many contribution points will this even cost?" "I want it so bad, but my points are kinda low..." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Without the full set bonus, it''s just decent, really." The chat exploded with discussion. Everyone wanted it, but no one wanted to be the first to bid. Ethan looked at the team and said, "I already have the Blazing Bracelet, so I''d like to keep this ring for myself. Any objections?" "I can trade for it with twice the market price in Guild Contribution Points, split evenly among you all. If you''d rather have gold, that works too." As he spoke, he posted the Blazing Bracelet in the chat. Seeing that he actually had part of the set, the team quickly voiced their opinions. Even if they spent all their contribution points, they still wouldn''t be able to afford the ring. Besides, if it went unclaimed, it would end up in the Guild Vault anyway, where anyone with enough points could claim it. And Ethan had already offered compensation, what was there to argue about? "No problem, boss. Without you, we wouldn''t have cleared this dungeon in the first place. Just take it." "Yeah, take it!" "Honestly, in my last guild, the leader and raid officers always took first pick. We only got leftovers." "Same. And they never compensated us for anything." Ethan smiled, thanking them before distributing the contribution points. "Alright, that''s it for today. See you all tomorrow!" By the time he logged out, there were less than two minutes before Ethereal''s daily shutdown. While Renegade Alliance was celebrating, things were much different on the other side. ¡ª Four players stood before Marcus Skeiner. These four were representatives from Leaf Guild, one of the top pro teams in the region. Marcus''s expression was pure fury. "You useless pieces of trash! Professional team? My ass! What did you promise me before? You swore you''d get the World First clear, and if not, at least Regional First!" "And now look at you! That pack of nobodies from Renegade Alliance took all three! World, National, and Regional!" "You lost to a bunch of casuals! CASUALS!" Marcus pointed at them, his voice growing sharper with every word. "Refund me. Right now. Every single cent. And I want compensation on top of that. If you don''t pay up, forget about doing business in Harmony City ever again." The man leading the Leaf Guild representatives could only offer a bitter smile. The three behind him were furious, but since their leader remained silent, they had no choice but to swallow their anger. His name was Leafshade, and he had led his team through years of blood and sweat. Every single member was elite-tier, handpicked for their skill and dedication. When Ethereal launched, Leafshade had thrown his entire fortune into building the strongest team possible. By all logic, they should have easily secured this dungeon''s first clear. After all, in the Northern Frontier Region, his team was undeniably top-tier. At the very least, they should have secured Regional First. Who could have predicted that some rookie guild leader would set a new record, snatching all three first clears? During the Starter Zone phase, Ethan hadn''t secured the first dungeon clear himself, although the strategy guide that made it possible had come from him. Leafshade had assumed that Ethan was strong, but his guild? No way they were elite-level. And yet, somehow, with a ragtag mix of casual players, he had managed to steal the kill right from under their noses. Clearly, Ethan wasn''t just individually strong, he could lead a team to victory, too. And that was what made him truly terrifying. Leafshade clenched his fists. The final boss of this dungeon entered an invulnerable phase when its health hit 5%. He was certain his team had been ahead, so how had Ethan pulled it off? Chapter 119 - 119: No Negotiation How had Ethan pulled it off? Not only had he cleared the dungeon first, but he''d done it with a five-star rating. How did he even get that rating? Leafshade barely heard Marcus Skeiner''s ranting in the background. He wasn''t listening. His mind was entirely focused on the dungeon. As soon as the system announcement appeared, he had his people start gathering intel. Maybe they could get some information from the Renegade Alliance players. As for Marcus, Leafshade had only come here to say one thing¡ªtheir contract was over. The agreement had been clear: even if they failed to secure the first clear, Leafshade''s team owed no refunds. No penalties. Marcus, the arrogant fool, had been the one begging Leafshade to help Blade Syndicate, not the other way around. Because of that, Leafshade had held all the bargaining power. If Marcus didn''t agree to his terms, there simply wouldn''t be a deal. So now, while Marcus fumed and cursed, Leafshade didn''t care in the slightest. His team specialized in PvE, dungeon-raiding, and high-level content. But that didn''t mean they were pushovers. Blade Syndicate? They were a joke. Marcus spat threats at him, but Leafshade only gave a casual reply: "If five Renegade Alliance players could wipe your entire guild, what do you think my real team could do?" Leafshade''s operation wasn''t some random in-game guild, it was a professional gaming studio with over a thousand employees. Not guild recruits. Not casuals. Paid professionals. And every single one of them was leagues above Blade Syndicate''s so-called "elite" players. "I just came to inform you," Leafshade said flatly. "Do whatever you want." With that, he turned and walked out of Blade Syndicate''s headquarters. The three teammates behind him each flipped Marcus off before following. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Fuck you, you bastards!" Marcus shouted after them. His fury was justified. He had spent 12 million dollars in advance payments just to get Leaf Guild under his banner. He had even promised that once they secured World First, he''d only take Guild Contribution Points and the raid guide, Leafshade''s team could keep all the other rewards. That was the deal that convinced them to join Blade Syndicate. And once they were in, Marcus had covered all raid expenses, potions, elixirs, everything. The total cost? He''d lost track. And now, he had nothing to show for it. No World First. No dungeon clear. His net worth had been cut in half overnight. Marcus had planned to use this as an opportunity to crush Renegade Alliance, secure new allies, and launch an all-out guild war. Now? Every single one of those dreams had gone up in smoke. Marcus clenched his fists. His hatred for Ethan and Leafshade had just reached a whole new level. ¡ª [Private Message to Trusty007] Ethan: "Here''s the raid guide. Sell it for however much you want. Just send my cut to my inbox." He didn''t expect to make much off it. Still, money was money. And with a huge guild to support, he needed every source of income he could get. Right now, his auction house and shops weren''t generating enough gold. He still had two entire cities where he hadn''t even built stores yet. Everything was going according to plan, but progress was slow. Without waiting for a response, Ethan logged off, climbed out of his VR capsule, and stepped into the real world. ¡ª A new morning. Ethan started his daily training routine. He had just begun his weighted squats when his phone rang. The caller ID flashed: Quinn. Ethan frowned. ''The gym? Something must have happened.'' As soon as he picked up, Quinn''s panicked voice came through. "Sir! You need to get down here¡ªnow! Ryan and Victor are fighting with some guys!" Ethan''s expression darkened. "What happened?" Quinn quickly explained: One of their VIP clients, a man named Leon, had been renting out the entire gym daily for the past week. Since he was paying well, Quinn had allowed it, though it meant their regulars couldn''t use the facility. Leon had promised he''d only book the place for seven days, so Quinn had notified all the regulars, offering them a 10-day extension on their membership and extra perks as compensation. That kept everyone happy, until today. Day eight. Quinn opened the gym as usual, expecting everything to return to normal. The regulars, who hadn''t been able to train all week, started coming back. Then Leon showed up again. With a group of men. And he demanded Quinn clear out the gym, again. This time, she refused. So Leon''s people blocked the entrance, stopping anyone else from getting in. The customers inside were furious, demanding refunds, threatening legal action, and causing a scene. That''s when Quinn realized, this had been Leon''s plan all along. He had bribed some of the regulars, turning them against the gym. "Did you call the cops?" Ethan asked. If these guys were physically blocking the business, the police should handle it. "I did! It''s been an hour, and no one''s come! Leon''s got connections around here, I think he paid them off." Quinn''s voice was shaking now. "Stay put. I''m on my way." Ethan hung up, grabbed his keys, and bolted out the door. He didn''t even bother changing, just basketball shorts and a tank top. As he ran across the street, he shouted for Victor, who was staying in the villa next door. The two of them jumped in the car and sped off toward the gym. ¡ª When they arrived, a crowd had already gathered outside. Dozens of onlookers were filming with their phones, whispering amongst themselves. Ethan shoved through the crowd and stepped inside. There were twenty-six men lying unconscious on the gym floor. No need to ask. Leon''s people. Ethan opened his mouth to speak, But then, the sound of police sirens echoed outside. The crowd parted as seven officers stormed in, hands hovering over their holsters like they were about to draw their weapons. The lead officer exchanged glances with one of his men, who immediately moved to the entrance and closed the security shutter behind them. Ethan''s eyes narrowed. The leader walked straight to Leon''s unconscious body, crouched down, and shook him twice. No response. But he was still breathing. Then, the officer stood up, coldly sweeping his gaze across the room. "You people have some nerve. Attacking a group of unarmed men in broad daylight?" "Cuff them," he ordered. Without hesitation, the officers drew their pistols with one hand and handcuffs with the other, stepping forward to arrest Ethan and his team. "Rainbow, hurry up and take them in! Ugh¡­ damn, this hurts¡­" A groaning voice came from the floor. One of the beaten men had managed to push himself upright, calling out to the lead officer. Ethan turned to look at him, and the moment he saw his face, his entire body stiffened. His mind went blank. Then, in an instant, rage exploded in his chest. His eyes turned bloodshot, his breathing sharp and ragged. One of the officers reached him, raising the handcuffs¡ª Ethan moved. His hand shot out, gripping the officer''s throat in a vice-like hold. Chapter 120 - 120: No More Games "Holy sh¡ª" The entire atmosphere froze. No one had expected Ethan to fight back. Leo and Williams saw him move, and immediately joined in. Victor was a second slower, but he didn''t hesitate either. In a flash, the three of them struck like lightning. With just a few motions, the officers'' pistols shattered into pieces, clattering to the floor like useless scraps. Less than a minute later, six groaning men lay sprawled out. Ethan turned toward the man who had spoken earlier. "You¡­ what are you doing?!" The man scrambled backward in terror. Ethan grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off the ground. Leo and Williams finished off the last two officers, just in time to see what Ethan was doing. It only took two seconds, the man''s eyes bulged, bloodshot and ready to pop from their sockets. Victor, realizing what was happening, rushed forward and grabbed Ethan''s arm. Leo and Williams followed suit, prying Ethan''s fingers apart. "Bro, let go! You''re gonna kill him!" Ethan snapped back to reality. His breath steadied, and he slowly released his grip. The man collapsed to the floor, unconscious. As he lay there, a wave of memories crashed into Ethan''s mind. ¡ª His past life, right before his rebirth. A rundown apartment, his legs shattered, pain burning through his body. And the one holding him by the hair? This man. The same pathetic scumbag now lying at his feet. For a split second, Ethan considered stomping his skull in, but his rational mind held him back. Instead, he took a deep breath, forcing his rage into a cold, controlled burn. ¡ª Leo kicked a pile of disassembled gun parts together, scowling. "These dumbasses. Walking in here, guns drawn, like they own the place." He shook his head. "Back in the day, people like that wouldn''t last a second." Victor sighed in frustration. "Ethan, man, you need to control yourself." Ethan''s voice was cold. "Forget it. I''ll take the blame for this." Williams, who had been quite, suddenly spoke up. "You serious right now? You think we''d let you do that?" "He''s right," Leo added. "What''s the worst they can do? Seven years inside? Big deal." Victor exhaled. "Fine. We handle this together. I''ll reach out to some old contacts, and try to smooth things over." He had nearly snapped when the cops pointed a gun at him, so for Ethan, who was still young, to actually fight back? That took balls. What Victor didn''t know, was that Ethan wasn''t just fighting cops. He was fighting a ghost from his past. Ethan forced a smile, but didn''t say a word. He had other things to think about. Something wasn''t adding up. He had never made enemies here, so why was this Leon guy targeting him? ¡ª "Open the gate," Ethan ordered. "We''re not staying locked in here." The security shutter slowly rolled up. As Ethan looked outside, he spotted a familiar figure lurking among the crowd. The moment their eyes met, the man flinched, turning to run. "Get him." Ethan pointed. Leo shot forward like a bullet, grabbing the guy by his bright red hair and dragging him back. "Help! They''re trying to kill me!" the guy screamed, but the bystanders stayed put. Nobody was dumb enough to step in, especially after seeing thirty men lying broken on the floor. Some continued filming, though. Ethan turned to Quinn. "Close the gate." No response. Or rather, she seemed too shocked to respond. "Quinn." Ethan''s voice hardened. She jolted upright behind the counter, trembling as she rushed to obey. Standing at the door, Leo held the red haired guy by the scalp, watching as Quinn stepped outside and pressed the button. The security gate slammed shut. Ethan''s disappointment was obvious. Not because Quinn had been scared. But because she had let the business get played like this in the first place. It''s been seven days since it started. If not for this mess, Ethan wouldn''t have even realized what had been happening under his nose. Letting a single VIP rent out the entire gym was never a good idea. Even without today''s incident, it would have driven away regular customers. Ethan took a step forward, stopping in front of the red haired guy who Leo held firmly. "You seem to know something," Ethan said calmly. The red haired guy sneered. "You idiots have no idea what you''ve done. You just beat up Leon? You think you''re walking away from this?" Ethan''s eyes flickered with recognition. He knew this guy. Back when he first came to the gym, this guy had been flirting with Jade. If he remembered correctly, his name was Len. Ethan had barely paid attention to him that day, he had assumed he was just another of her thug friends. If not for his obnoxious red hair and shady behavior today, Ethan wouldn''t have even remembered him. Leo cracked his knuckles. "Oh? So there''s more to this?" Williams smirked. "You''re running your mouth awfully fast for a guy in your position." "Boss, let me handle him. I know just how to make him ta¡ª" BANG! Williams never finished his sentence. Because Ethan had already moved. He grabbed Len by the back of the head and slammed his face into the marble countertop. A sickening thud echoed through the gym. "AHHH!" Len screamed in agony. When Ethan yanked him back up, his nose was bent at an unnatural angle, blood pouring down his face. Williams shut his mouth. He had not expected Ethan to be this ruthless. This didn''t look like questioning session, it was more like plain torture. "I¡ª" Len gasped. BANG! Another slam. By the time Ethan lifted him again, his nose was crushed flat, and blood dribbled from his mouth. "I¡ª" Len tried again. Ethan grabbed his jaw, forcing his mouth wide open, then pushed his teeth against the marble edge. And then, he shoved. CRACK. A gut-wrenching grinding noise filled the air, followed by the sharp sound of teeth shattering. Leo and Williams exchanged looks. Ethan''s sheer brutality sent a chill down their spines. Victor, who had been calm until now, stepped forward and grabbed Ethan''s wrist. "Bro. He''s trying to talk." Ethan let go of Len''s hair, turning to face his team. His expression was eerily calm. "I know." He smiled slightly. "I just wanted to see which was tougher, his teeth, or the countertop." Then, he dropped Len. On the bar counter, a small pile of shattered teeth lay in a bloodied mess.At least four front teeth were gone. Len slumped against the counter, his entire body shaking as he clutched his face. Leo, Williams, and Victor all felt a chill crawl up their spines. Who was Ethan, really? On the surface, he was just a college student. But this? This was not something a normal person would do. Victor had killed men before, but even he wasn''t this methodical. It was like Ethan had flipped a switch, turning into something inhuman the moment he recognized Len. And worst of all, he was completely unfazed by it. ¡ª "Talk," Ethan ordered. Len visibly flinched at his voice. "Are you still waiting? You want me to continue?" Ethan''s voice grew colder. Instantly, Len spoke with a trembling voice. "I-I''ll talk! I''ll talk!" He coughed, blood mixing with saliva, and finally started speaking. "I was here when you bought this place," he stammered. "Originally Leon told me to wait. He said the previous owner would give up soon and sell to him for cheap." "When I saw you sign the papers, I ran to tell Leon, but he wasn''t around. By the time he got back, the deal was already done." S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "So¡­ Leon told the boys to take over the gym. He wanted to study your customers, figure out who came in regularly. Then he started bribing them, telling them to demand refunds." "If enough people quit, you''d lose business and be forced to sell cheap." "I swear! That''s all I did! I was just following orders! I didn''t actually do anything!" Chapter 121 - 121: Change in Command Ethan frowned. All this over a gym worth just two million? Why go through so much trouble? Was this Leon guy that desperate for money? If Leon knew what Ethan was thinking, he''d probably explode in rage. Just two million? What kind of absurd logic was that? Did he think two million was that easy to make? Ethan himself had kind of lost touch with reality. Ever since he was reborn, he''d been raking in hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of gold in-game. When converted to real world currency, the money flooded in so fast that he started believing making money was just that simple. In truth, for most people, two million was a fortune, enough to work a lifetime for. Take Victor, for example. After leaving the military, he barely made a few grand a month. Williams drove a cab and wasn''t making much either. Otherwise, he wouldn''t be living in an illegal rooftop shack. At that moment, Leo held up his phone. "Ethan, I recorded everything he said. This can be used as evidence, right?" Ethan glanced at him and shook his head. "If we hadn''t attacked the cops, maybe. It''d be enough to file a report, but now, this recording isn''t going to do much." After saying that, he turned to Len. "This Leon guy¡­ who is he?" Len quickly responded, "I''m not sure. I don''t run with him, but I''ve heard he''s pretty tight with Commissioner Joe''s son." "Which Commissioner Joe?" "The Commissioner. The head of the police department," Len said. Ah. So that''s why. No wonder when Quinn called the cops earlier, they didn''t show up for over an hour. "Attention! You are surrounded! Release the hostages and surrender immediately!" A booming voice came from outside. Victor, watching the security monitors from behind the bar, saw that the crowd outside had been cleared out. Four SWAT vans had pulled up, dozens of officers already geared up and ready to storm in. "Ethan, what now?" Williams asked. "Fight¡ª" Leo started, but before he could finish, Ethan cut him off. "Fight who? You already punched a cop, and now you want to take on SWAT? You really think you won''t get your head blown off the second you make a move?" Leo grumbled. Of course, he knew Ethan was right, but still¡­ "So we just surrender? Damn it. If there''s one thing I learnt while in the army, surrendering is for cowards." "Yeah," Williams nodded in agreement. Just then, Ethan''s phone buzzed. He pulled it out, glanced at the message, and raised an eyebrow. Meanwhile, Victor was still watching the monitors. "They''re moving in," he said. Ethan took a deep breath. "Open the gate." The three of them froze. "Ethan¡ª" "Just do it." Ethan sighed. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing them hesitate, Quinn, shaking in fear, curled up in the corner. Ethan stepped forward and pressed the switch himself. The metal shutter slowly rolled up. Ethan stood at the entrance. Outside, three riot shields came into view, advancing steadily. At the same time, Ethan was completely exposed. Instantly, every gun locked onto him. A chill ran down his spine. He instinctively lifted his gaze, up high, a sniper''s barrel was aimed dead center at his forehead. Ethan stepped out of the gym. Two SWAT officers rushed forward, ready to subdue him. He glanced at them but didn''t resist. Didn''t struggle. The two officers grabbed Ethan''s arms, twisting hard, but nothing happened. They frowned, applied more force and still, he didn''t budge. One of them, frustrated, reached for his gun and raised it, ready to strike Ethan across the back of the head. Ethan turned his gaze toward him, his expression calm. "Ninth Division is handling this. If you hit me, I guarantee you''ll be turning in your badge by tomorrow." The officer froze, a flicker of uncertainty flashing in his eyes. Ethan immediately picked up on it, this guy clearly had no idea what the Ninth Division was. Damn. That complicated things. "I need to speak with your Captain," Ethan said. "Tell him we''re with the Ninth Division. This is a classified case, and we''re handling it." The SWAT officers exchanged glances. After a brief moment, one of them gave a slight nod before turning and jogging toward the armored vehicle. Not long after, a man, fully geared but without a helmet, around Victor''s age¡ªwalked over. He studied Ethan''s face for a moment before speaking in a low voice. "You''re saying you''re with Ninth Division?" Ethan didn''t reply. He just nodded. "Where''s your ID? And what exactly did these guys do? Also¡ª" the Captain''s tone sharpened as he gestured toward the officers lying on the ground, "¡ªeven if you''re Ninth Division, you can''t just go around roughing up cops, can you?" Ethan frowned, glancing back at the unconscious officers. Yeah. Just as he thought. As he considered how to respond, a sharp, commanding female voice cut through the tense air. "As of today, they are no longer police officers." Hearing that voice, Ethan felt a wave of relief. Finally. Every head turned in the direction of the voice. A woman in full military uniform strode toward them from the perimeter of the secured area. As she passed two SWAT officers, they immediately snapped to attention, saluting her with precision. Ethan had never seen Celeste in uniform before. And damn, he had to admit, it looked damn good on her. She carried a file in one hand, walking straight up to the SWAT Captain and shoving it against his chest. The man hesitated, glancing at the insignia on her shoulder. Two stars. One oak leaf. A Major General? His body reacted before his brain could catch up, he snapped into a salute. "All the evidence against them, along with our identification, is in there," Celeste stated flatly. She didn''t wait for a response, didn''t even acknowledge the Captain beyond that. Instead, she turned and shot Ethan a glare so sharp it could''ve drawn blood. Then, without another word, she brushed past him and entered the gym. Ethan let out a quiet chuckle. Saved by Celeste. Again. That text message he''d received earlier? It was from her, telling him to stall for time because she was on her way. He had no idea what was in that file, but one thing was clear¡ªthey were safe. Inside the gym, Celeste glanced around before settling her gaze on Leo and Williams. "You two are something else," she remarked. "Just the two of you, taking down thirty-plus guys?" Ethan, trailing behind her, had expected her to start chewing them out. Instead¡­ she sounded impressed? ''Wait. What?'' Just minutes ago, outside, she had practically lasered him with that death glare. Even Leo and Williams, who had braced themselves for a brutal scolding, were caught off guard. Was she just acting tough earlier, only to settle the score later? Celeste smirked. "Relax." Then, as if reading their minds, she added, "If you were my subordinates and you didn''t have the guts to fight back, then you''d be unworthy of your positions." Chapter 122 - 122: Ruthless Authority As Celeste spoke, the SWAT team captain entered the room. One hand held a file folder, the other gripped a stack of IDs. He handed them over. "Miss Hawthorne, if there''s nothing else, we''ll be taking our leave." "Everything verified?" Celeste asked as she took the IDs. "Yes, ma''am. These individuals are involved in organized crime. As for these officers, they''re accused of accepting bribes, delaying response times, and aiding criminal activities. They''ve already been dismissed from duty." The captain saluted after his report. "Take them all in," Celeste ordered. "As for the public fallout, that''s your department''s problem." "Understood. We''ll take care of it," the SWAT captain replied, now all smiles, completely different from his earlier stern demeanor. Celeste gave a curt nod. With her approval, the captain signaled his men, and one by one, the suspects on the ground were cuffed. Just then, Leon regained consciousness. Hearing the exchange between Celeste and the captain, he immediately erupted. "Do you even know who I work for?! You think you can charge me?!" He spat on the ground, his face twisted in rage. "Commissioner Joe won''t let you get away with this, you idiots! In a few days, I''ll be out, and when I am, you''re all dead!" Celeste didn''t bother replying. She simply kicked him. Crack. Her boot connected with his neck, producing the unmistakable sound of bone fracturing. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed. Even with restraint, Celeste''s strike had cracked his vertebrae. If she had put in just a little more force, she could have snapped his neck outright. The SWAT captain twitched. ''Damn¡­ she''s ruthless. No wonder nobody messes with the Ninth Division.'' He was relieved he hadn''t insisted on taking them in earlier. He still remembered last year, his unit had responded to an emergency call. Three suspects had nearly wrecked an entire shopping mall. The strange part? No one had seen who they were fighting. Yet, the trio had been carrying a case, and radiation detectors had picked up significant energy fluctuations from inside it. When the SWAT team arrived, the suspects presented Ninth Division credentials and claimed they were on an official mission. Their team leader, however, wasn''t having it. Ignoring their clearance, he insisted they surrender the case and tried to cuff them. What happened next was inevitable. In under five minutes, the entire SWAT team was down. There were even rumors that one of their snipers had taken a shot, straight to the forehead of one of the suspects. The bullet didn''t penetrate. And that sniper? He ended up far worse. His limbs were shattered, and the very finger he had pulled the trigger with had been snapped clean off. By the next day, the incident was buried. The SWAT team leader was reassigned to a quiet rural station as a ''retirement'' post. As for the rest of the unit? They were quietly scattered across different squads. The sniper, from what people said, had received a hefty compensation package and was reassigned to a desk job. That incident was exactly why, the moment Ethan had stepped out and claimed to be from the Ninth Division, the SWAT captain hadn''t proceeded with the assault. And then, right after, this woman showed up. "Captain, we''ve got a problem," one of the SWAT officers said as he approached. "What problem?" the captain turned to him. "Sir, we can''t transport them." The captain frowned. "Why not?" "Every single one of them has at least one broken bone. If we move them, we might cause further injuries. And we''ve only got three armored vans, there are over thirty of them here. No way we can fit them all." As he spoke, the officer''s gaze lingered on Leo and Williams. It had to be these two. The SWAT officer was certain. ''They look about my age, but damn, they went hard.'' Breaking someone''s leg with just their bare hands? That took serious skill. So, this Ninth Division¡­ just how terrifying are they? He was new, barely a year in the force. He hadn''t heard about what had happened to the previous SWAT team that had crossed paths with the Ninth division. "Call for ambulances," the captain ordered, wiping cold sweat from his forehead. These guys weren''t just tough¡ªthey were on another level. If only he had men like them under his command. Then again, that was wishful thinking. The country''s top combat specialists were either elite soldiers or part of the Ninth Division. The military ones? You''d never see them unless there was a war. But the Ninth Division? They lived among ordinary people, blending in. Their identities only surfaced when they were on a mission. Take Ethan, for example. On paper, he was just some small business owner running a local gym. But in reality? He was the vice-captain of the Ninth Division''s M-Squad. During verification, the captain had also learned something else, Ethan was a college sophomore. And this gym? He had just recently bought it out. The idiot who caused all this trouble, Leon, had no idea who he had provoked. Didn''t he stop to think? Someone who could casually drop two million dollars wasn''t just some random nobody. Leon had walked straight into a death trap. Of course, Leon wouldn''t have done it without some encouragement. The real instigator? That red-haired bastard, Len. Len had convinced Leon that Ethan had no real backing, just some spoiled rich kid with a bit of money. Leon had done some digging himself, found out Ethan wasn''t some trust fund brat, nor was he from an old money family. Sure, he lived in a villa, but rumors said he was just mooching off a woman. As for Lyla, she was just the daughter of a small-time business owner. No connections, no power. With that information, Leon felt safe. And why wouldn''t he? He had Commissioner Joe''s son backing him. Whatever happened, one word from the Commissioner. would make the problem disappear. It wasn''t the first time Leon had pulled this stunt. He''d done it plenty of times before, strong-arming businesses, raking in profits, splitting the cash with the commissioner''s son. This time, his plan was airtight. He had two hundred grand ready, planning to force Ethan into selling the gym. Once he flipped the property, he''d be walking away with a clean four-hundred-thousand-dollar profit. He''d already laid the groundwork, booking the place out for a full week while Ethan was supposedly out of town. Then yesterday, his guys had reported back, Ethan was finally back. So today, he made his move, ready to pressure Ethan into giving up the gym. But of all the things he had accounted for, he hadn''t factored in the two monsters Ethan had brought home with him. He barely even saw what happened before he blacked out. And when he woke up? S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His entire crew was face-down on the floor. Even the seven cops he had in his pocket were down and out, just like the rest of them. Chapter 123 - 123: The Cleanup At first, he was shocked. But that quickly turned into excitement. If things went as expected, he might have just saved himself two million dollars. He knew the SWAT team had the place surrounded, so when he woke up, he stayed quiet. But then he overheard the SWAT captain talking to Celeste, and that''s when the confusion set in. This wasn''t playing out the way he had imagined. Still, with powerful connections backing him, he sat up and threw out a few threats, assuming they''d hesitate. Instead, he got a brutal kick to the neck. From the way everyone looked at him, it was clear¡ª even if he survived, he''d probably end up paralyzed for life. Outside, ambulances lined up in a steady stream, operating like a factory assembly line. One after another, the injured were loaded up and driven away. Finally, once the last stretcher was carried out, the SWAT team wrapped up, lifting the lockdown. Only then did Lyla and Celia step inside. Ethan finally realized that the two of them had been right behind him when he arrived at the gym. When Lyla saw cops lying unconscious inside, she knew things had spiraled out of control and immediately called Celeste. As it turned out, Celeste had already been on her way, delivering their Ninth Division assignment documents. After getting Lyla''s call, she wasted no time. Within minutes, she contacted her team, launched an immediate investigation, and had the necessary files printed. The efficiency of the Ninth Division was no joke. In just over ten minutes, they had compiled records on over thirty people, including seven police officers¡ª tracing their entire family history. By the time Celeste pulled up to the scene, Lyla and Celia had only been waiting for a few minutes. Moments later, a man arrived with a file folder. She even took the time to change in her car, slipping into her uniform before stepping past the SWAT barricade. The man who delivered the files? He appeared out of nowhere and vanished just as fast. One moment, he handed over the folder, and by the time Lyla turned to thank him, he was already gone. Celia had rubbed her eyes, convinced she was seeing things. But when she spotted the folder in Celeste''s hands, she knew she wasn''t imagining it. She even glanced around, searching for the man, before turning to Lyla. "Where did he go?" Lyla shrugged. "I didn''t get a good look." But deep down, she knew the truth. That man was one of the Ninth Division''s elite operatives. The way he arrived and disappeared in an instant? It had to be some kind of speed-based ability. The Ninth Division was no joke. ... Soon, the internet was in chaos. First, videos surfaced showing Leo and Williams beating up a group of men. They were quickly labeled as violent criminals. Then, another video emerged¡ª Leo capturing Len, dragging him off. But within minutes, every single video disappeared. Not long after, a statement from the Ember City Police Department hit the trending page. "This morning, a criminal syndicate with ties to organized crime was apprehended. Several corrupt officers providing them with protection have also been taken into custody." The full report was filled with official jargon, detailing the crimes of the gang led by a man named Leon. It even referenced the video footage of Leo and Williams, with their faces blurred, clarifying that they were not criminals. Their identities remained classified. The report also warned citizens against spreading misinformation. Anyone caught distributing the original videos or related files would face legal consequences. And just like that, everything was handled. The dust had settled. ___ Somewhere in Ember City, inside a hotel room. A woman sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her phone, reading the same news article. "This... this can''t be real¡­ Ethan¡­" Her initial shock twisted into deep, seething hatred. If Ethan were here, he''d recognize her instantly¡ªit was Jade Taylor, the woman he had once spared. Furious, she shut off the video and threw her phone onto the bed. A moment later, she picked it back up, scrolled through her contacts, and dialed a number. "Hello? I need to speak with Mr. Henry Joe" ___ Meanwhile, Ethan and the others were treating Celeste to a well-deserved meal. After saving them twice¡ªwhatever her reasons, she deserved a proper thank-you. But what Ethan didn''t know was that a plan for revenge was already in motion, creeping toward him. Just before noon, Celeste glanced at the time and stood up. "I have class this afternoon, so I have to go." Before leaving, she gave them a warning. "Get ready. You''ll be getting an assignment soon." Ethan raised a brow. "How soon?" "Could be tomorrow. Could be in a few days," Celeste said with a shrug before walking off. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan couldn''t help but feel a surge of curiosity. His first mission, what would it be? Victor and Leo, on the other hand, were downright thrilled. After four years out of the military, they missed the rush of action. As for what the mission was? They didn''t care. They were just eager to jump in. ___ That afternoon, Ethan returned to the gym, which was still temporarily closed. He had already sent Quinn home for a break. After what happened that morning, she had been terrified. He figured she deserved a few days off. With a few calls, he had a cleanup crew take care of the mess Leo and Williams left behind, then hired someone to fix up the damage. Once everything was arranged, he settled behind the bar, flipping through the financial records on his laptop. A few minutes in, his head was already spinning. That''s when Celia walked over. "Ethan, need any help?" Ethan''s eyes lit up the moment he saw her. He remembered Victor mentioning her background, she had worked in HR for a foreign company and had a degree in accounting. Even though her job was in a different field, she had been doing well. If she hadn''t moved to Ember City, she was on track for a promotion. Without hesitation, he slid the ledger toward her. "Celia, this one''s all yours." Celia smirked. "I knew you''d struggle with this. Victor told me to stick around and help. So, tell me, Mr. Boss, does this count as an interview?" Ethan chuckled. "Are you kidding? I''d be lucky to have you. I just hope my little gym is big enough to keep someone like you around." After today''s chaos, Ethan had already considered replacing Quinn as the gym''s manager. Her intentions weren''t bad¡ªrenting out the gym for extra revenue, but her decision-making and execution were seriously flawed. Worse, she hadn''t even consulted him before making such a big call. Of course, even if she hadn''t booked the event, Leon would have found another way to make trouble. But still, not even running it by him? That crossed a line. Ethan didn''t care too much about the gym, but he wasn''t about to just shut it down either. If managed properly, it could still bring in good money. Chapter 124 - 124: The Gluttonous Stone If Celia was willing to help, Ethan was more than happy to have her on board. "I think we should let Celia handle logistics for the guild too," Lyla, who had just come in suggested, as she walked over with a serious expression. "Oh?" Ethan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Celia''s a life-skills player in the game¡ªalready a mid-tier alchemist. She spends way more time in the city than we do. Don''t you think she''d be perfect for managing the guild''s logistics?" Ethan considered it for a moment. Lyla had a point. He had been meaning to find someone reliable to help run the guild. "Alright, then. Tonight, Celia, you''re logging in and joining the guild. I''m giving you the title of Honorary Guild Leader!" Ethan said enthusiastically. Celia chuckled. "I''ve been in Renegade Alliance for a while now. But if I have to work for you both in-game and in real life, how much are you paying me?" "Uh¡­ talking about money hurts friendships," Ethan said, feigning a pained expression. "Besides, you and Victor are already making plenty off me!" Celia laughed. "Relax, I''m just messing with you. I''m happy to help." With that, she grabbed the ledger and playfully shooed Ethan away from the bar. Ethan, finally freed from paperwork, wasted no time escaping, making sure not to bring up salaries again. Of course, in his mind, he already had it figured out. There was no way he was letting Celia work for free. --- That night, after logging into Ethereal, the first thing Ethan did was open the guild management panel. With a few clicks, he promoted Celia''s character, Tears of the Fallen, to Honorary Guild Leader¡ªa position granting nearly the same authority as the actual guild leader, except for the ability to disband the guild. His second task was checking his Bloodline Attributes. That afternoon, he had suddenly remembered something, the night before, right before the game''s scheduled maintenance, he had completed the Tree Form quest. At the time, there had been a system notification mentioning that his bloodline had officially awakened. ¡ª Bloodline: [King of Elves (Divine) - Unique] Lv1 Special Trait: In human form, you can use certain Druid-form abilities at 20% effectiveness. (Not yet activated.) Passive Bonus: +10 Star Growth to all attributes. Abilities: Focus (Divine): +50% skill effectiveness Prophecy (Divine): +10 stat points per level Growth (Divine): Double XP from quests/kills Description: The peace-loving Elven race has left an indelible mark on every recorded Holy War. Though they cherish tranquility, their valor in battle is unparalleled. --- His bloodline was now upgradable, and a new special trait had appeared. But for some reason, it remained inactive. "Using certain Druid-form abilities in human form¡­ What does that even mean?" Curious, Ethan switched to his human form and attempted to cast a skill. Nothing. All of his abilities were grayed out, completely unusable. And sure enough, the new trait still showed inactive while in human form. Frustrated, he called out in his mind, "Morzan, care to explain what this nonsense is?!" Silence. No response. Ethan scowled, staring at the useless trait. Even if it worked, what good would 20% effectiveness be? Annoyed, he mentally ranted at Morzan for a while before eventually giving up. His frustration only grew. Sure, his real life had drastically improved since his rebirth. But in the game? It felt like things were only getting more irritating. And for some reason, once the thought of quitting Ethereal popped into his head, he couldn''t quite shake it away. Lyla had gone off with Heaven''s Dawn and her classmates for some dungeon runs, leaving Ethan alone. Trying to shake off his lingering frustration, he focused on upgrading the ring he had acquired the night before, reinforcing it to +30. --- [Blazing Ring +30] Tier: Gold (Upgradeable) Level Requirement: 20 Attack Power: 216-308 (Base: 54-77, Reinforcement: 162-231) Agility: +20 Strength: +20 S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Intelligence: +20 Effect: Increases both physical and magical attack power by 10%. Reinforcement Bonuses: Mastery +3 (at +10) Haste +3 (at +20) Critical Hit +3 (at +30) Set Bonus (2/3, Inactive): When equipped with Blazing Bracelet and Blazing Necklace, unlocks the skill Blazing Defense. Skill Description (Blazing Defense): Grants immunity to death once, reduces damage by 20% for 8 seconds, and fully restores health. (Cooldown: 3 days) --- This ring alone boosted Ethan''s attack power to 1,700¡ªa solid improvement. But compared to Lyla? He was still 2,000 points behind. If he wanted to craft his own personalized artifact, he needed Prismatic Stones. The problem? The drop rate in the Iron Mountains was atrocious. He wasn''t about to waste hours farming there. Besides, that area was a death trap for solo players. ''Wait¡­ wasn''t there a quest related to nurturing that Prismatic Stone?'' Remembering this, he pulled out the odd little floating stone from his inventory. Next, he grabbed some ore he had purchased earlier. "How am I even supposed to feed this thing?" As soon as he took out the ore, the Prismatic Stone darted from his left hand to his right, its tiny body suddenly splitting open into a comically oversized mouth¡ªeasily several times bigger than itself. Then, without hesitation, it chomped down on the basketball-sized ore in Ethan''s hand. Crunch. Crunch. The solid mineral shattered like popcorn. In just three bites, the entire chunk was gone. And yet, the stone''s size hadn''t changed at all. Ethan blinked. Then, still in shock, he pulled out another ore. Crunch. Crunch. Then another. Crunch. Crunch. And another. Crunch. Crunch. Ten ores later, Ethan finally stopped. The Prismatic Stone, now floating in front of his face, started bouncing up and down, almost as if urging him to keep going. Its movements practically screamed: "Come on! More! Keep ''em coming!" Ethan''s already foul mood soured even further. "Oh, so now even a rock is acting smug around me?" Fine. He''d show it. With a sinister grin, he emptied his entire ore stockpile into his hands, every single chunk of rock he had spent two gold on. A single low-grade ore barely cost a few copper coins, and even the better-quality ones were only worth a few dozen. Most mining players still had low skill levels, and the higher-tier mines were practically inaccessible without a cleared-out dungeon. The undead monsters inside made solo mining nearly impossible. Ethan had assumed this pile of ore would last a while. But the Prismatic Stone had other ideas. As soon as he dumped the pile out, it opened its mouth wide, and with a massive suction force, the entire mini-mountain of ore vanished in an instant. "...What the hell?! A second ago, you were taking tiny bites, were you just messing with me?!" Chapter 125 - 125: Strength in Numbers Ethan was about to teach this damn rock a lesson when he noticed something strange. The Prismatic Stone, which had been hovering confidently just moments ago, was now wobbling unsteadily, as if it were drunk. Then, without warning, it lurched sideways and plummeted to the ground. Ethan''s eyes widened. ''Did it eat too much? Did I actually overfeed it?!'' He had been hoping to see some kind of evolution, maybe even witness it hatching into something powerful¡ªwho knew, maybe it would pop out a miniature lifeform or something. Just as he stepped forward to check on it¡­ The Prismatic Stone began to contort, shifting between being long and flat, over and over. Then¡ª Pffft¡­ A weird noise. Fwshhh! Something shot out at high speed, whistling through the air straight for Ethan''s face. His reflexes kicked in, he raised his hand just in time to block it. A small, scorching-hot stone landed in his palm. At that moment, a system notification popped up. Ding! [You have obtained an item: "Prismatic Stone.] "Prismatic Stone?" Ethan frowned. Where did that even come from? He slowly opened his palm. The small projectile sitting there was indeed a Prismatic Stone, the very material he needed. Wait¡­ His gaze snapped back to the Prismatic Stone lying on the ground. Sure enough, a small hole was visible on its body, slowly closing up. "Oh, hell no¡ª" Ethan''s entire body shuddered in disgust. His fingers twitched, nearly hurling the rock away on instinct. But, in the end, logic won over revulsion. Taking a deep breath, he tossed the stone on his palm into his inventory. Checking his quest tracker, he saw: Prismatic Stones Collected: 1/3 He recalled that when he activated the hidden quest to awaken the Prismatic stone, it had reset his progress to 0/3. Now, with this¡­ er¡­ freshly produced stone, he was back on track. Suddenly, the Prismatic Stone in front of him didn''t seem like a cursed object anymore. Disgusting? Yes. But insanely useful. Wasting no time, Ethan scooped up the now slightly larger Prismatic Stone and sprinted straight to the auction house. This time, he wasn''t messing around, he dropped ten gold on high-quality ore, making sure to pick only the best grades available. Exiting the auction house, he didn''t even bother looking for a quiet spot. Sitting down right outside the entrance, he grabbed a chunk of ore in one hand and the Prismatic Stone in the other¡ªthen started force-feeding it. However¡­ No matter what he tried, the Prismatic Stone refused to eat. It kept its mouth firmly shut. Ethan poked, prodded, shook, and even tried prying it open¡ªnothing worked. At some point, the damn thing even sealed its mouth completely, leaving no visible opening at all. After exhausting himself with failed attempts, Ethan finally gave up, panting in frustration. ''Fine. Maybe it really is full. But how long would it take to digest? And more importantly¡­ could it "produce" two more before evolving?'' Just as he wondered, he heard murmuring around him. "What''s that guy doing, smashing two rocks together?" "No idea. Maybe he''s not quite right in the head?" "Hey, man! Need some help melting those ores? I can forge them together for you!" Ethan looked up. A blacksmith player was standing in front of him, genuinely offering assistance. Without a word, Ethan stood up and walked away. The blacksmith trailed after him, still talking, but Ethan ignored him completely, practically sprinting to the teleportation platform. Only after keeping quiet a distance did he allow himself to process the humiliation. ''Damn it. That was so freaking embarrassing.'' Standing there, smashing two rocks together in public, he must have looked like a complete moron. As Ethan sprinted toward the teleportation platform, he pulled up his character panel, realizing he had completely lost track of his level. --- [NotADruid] Class: Druid Race: Human Level: 34 Faction: Survivor Bloodline: King of Elves (Divine) Stats: Strength: 170 (+22 Growth Index) ¡ú Increases physical attack power. Intelligence: 170 (+22 Growth Index) ¡ú Increases magic attack power and mana capacity. Agility: 170 (+22 Growth Index) ¡ú Boosts attack speed, movement speed, and energy regeneration. Stamina: 170 (+22 Growth Index) ¡ú Enhances defense. Vitality: 170 (+22 Growth Index) ¡ú Increases max health. Special Attributes (Enhanced): Omni +7 Mastery +13 Critical Hit +10 Haste +6 Combat Stats: Attack Power: 1392-1725 Defense: 834-1012 Health Points: 3740 S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unallocated Stat Points: 0 Skills: Basic Appraisal ¨C Inspect monsters up to 5 levels above. --- He was already level 34. Just yesterday, they had five-star cleared an Expert-level dungeon, instantly rewarding every party member three whole levels. Victor had practically been dying of jealousy when he found out this morning. But he had zero regrets. Why? Well¡­ everyone understood the reason. Of course they all did¡­ Ethan also noticed his Growth Index had reached 22¡ªa reward he had earned in Dreamwood Grove, which boosted all Druid Growth Indexes by +2. Previously, Druids had the lowest Growth Index in the game at 10, while other classes had 12. Now, they were finally on equal footing. That also meant that, in his previous life, no one had ever unlocked Dreamwood Grove. This time, Ethan had paved the way for Druids to thrive, no longer doomed to be lowly extras. --- By now, Ethan had stepped onto the teleportation platform, but the blacksmith apprentice was still chasing after him. That''s when Ethan remembered¡ªhe did have a couple of items that needed upgrading. Glancing at his inventory, he took stock of his gear quality. Aside from a few high-end pieces, most of his gear was still trash-tier Bronze and Silver. And those pieces weren''t even worth upgrading. Right now, the only two items worth enhancing were: 1. [Ring of True Sight] (Iron-Tier, Level 1) 2. [Blazing Bracelet] (Gold-Tier, Level 5) --- [Ring of True Sight +30] Tier: Common Iron Required Level: 1 Attack Power: 8-20 (Base: 2-5, Reinforcement: 6-15) Passive Effect 1: Increases Stealth Detection Chance. Passive Effect 2 (Locked): Unlocks "True Sight" ability, allowing the wearer to detect invisible enemies within 3 meters for 10 seconds (Cooldown: 1 minute). (This ability will activate once upgraded to Bronze-Tier.) This ring was one-of-a-kind because of its detection ability, a rare and highly sought-after skill. In his previous life, the God of Assassins had used this ring''s True Sight skill to dominate every rogue in the game, earning his legendary status. But in this timeline, Ethan had looted this ring off him. He couldn''t help but wonder, without this item, would that guy still become the top rogue? Either way, if Ethan wanted this ring to reach its full potential, he needed to upgrade both its tier and level. --- [Blazing Bracelet] (Gold-Tier, Level 5) This item was already high quality, so he just needed to increase its level. Once upgraded to Level 20 or higher, it would unlock additional stat bonuses. --- Ethan wasn''t new to equipment upgrading. In Ethereal, forging enhancements was one of the game''s biggest gold sinks. That''s why he was so envious of Lyla''s weapon, a growth-type Legendary weapon. You couldn''t even upgrade Legendary weapons through forging. Not even Master Blacksmith Ryan, the greatest NPC forger in the game, could do it. Speaking of which¡­ Ethan suddenly remembered Ryan¡­ Chapter 126 - 126: Path to Godhood Ethan suddenly remembered a hidden quest. And it was connected to the Wishbound Relic. In his past life, just before his rebirth, he had heard that Zachary had stumbled upon this very quest right after obtaining the Wishbound Relic from him. But no one knew what the reward was. Zachary never completed the quest. That said, if it involved Master Blacksmith Ryan, a man with the title of ''Master,'' the reward couldn''t possibly be mediocre. "Hey, slow down! I said I can smelt the ore for you!" Ethan arrived at the Teleportation Hub, selecting his next destination. Behind him, the apprentice blacksmith, who had been chasing him persistently was calling out. Glancing back, Ethan thought to himself, ''This guy''s relentless.'' The teleportation array activated, and as the apprentice watched Ethan vanish, he muttered under his breath, "Damn, finally found someone who looked gullible, and he just ran off!" To trigger the hidden quest, Ethan first needed to locate Master Blacksmith Ryan. The problem? Ryan wasn''t on Azure. He was on Terra. And getting to Terra wasn''t easy. A Faction Barrier separated the two planets, and Ethan''s current level wasn''t high enough to pass through it. But he knew another way. In his inventory lay the key¡ªan Iron-Tier Necklace, Level 35, the only way he could reach Terra. This necklace was obtained from the Expert-Level Dungeon he had just cleared, specifically from the treasure chest dropped by that Demonhunter. Only the first person to open that chest could ever obtain this necklace. [Demonhunter''s Bonefang Necklace] Tier: Iron Level: 35 Dark Vision: +5 Attribute #1: Opens a portal to the Shadow Realm (only visible to the wearer). Portal lasts 5 minutes. Cooldown: 7 days. Attribute #2: Temporarily transforms the wearer into a Carnage Faction player. Duration: 30 minutes. Can be dispelled at will. Cooldown: 1 hour. After the Faction Barrier was officially unlocked later in the game, the first ability became pretty useless. But the second attribute? Absolute gold. Even in the late game, fewer than three pieces of equipment in the entire server had the ability to switch factions. This was why Ethan had prioritized clearing the Expert-Level Dungeon¡ªto obtain this item first. If someone else followed his strategy and killed the Demonhunter after him, they wouldn''t get the necklace. The first opening of the treasure chest was the only one that mattered. However, just having the necklace wasn''t enough to safely infiltrate enemy territory. To be truly prepared, he needed to acquire a Divine Ability first. Ethan''s next destination? The place where he could obtain [Teleportation]. [Teleportation] Allows the user to mark specific coordinates and instantly travel between them. Basic-Level Teleportation: Stores 3 coordinates. Travel range: within 5 km. Divine Teleportation: Stores 20 coordinates. Travel range: up to 100 km. The only restriction? Teleportation cannot be used in combat. If engaged in battle, the user must remain out of combat for five minutes before teleporting. According to legend, the game Ethereal contained twelve Divine Abilities. Eleven of them could be obtained within the game. And anyone who collected all eleven¡ªeach with a Divine Rating, would automatically unlock the twelfth and final Divine Ability. Legends spoke of a path to godhood, gather all twelve Divine Abilities, and one would ascend. Then, the final, twelfth ability? It was simply called [Divinity] (Divine). Its effects were unknown. No one had ever obtained all eleven abilities before. In his past life, even acquiring just one Divine Ability was a feat reserved for the top 0.01% of players. Ethan had known of only a few, and [Teleportation] was one of them. Anyone who possessed a Divine Ability was guaranteed a spot among the Top 100 Players worldwide. Of course, these abilities were powerful, but they all came with a catch. Upon picking one up, it couldn''t be used immediately. It also couldn''t be stored in the Guild Vault or any Personal Bank. The only option was to keep it in the inventory at all times. And that wasn''t even the worst part. If the player holding a Divine Ability Scroll was killed, the Scroll would drop 100% of the time. There was no safe zone protection¡ªit would fall the moment they entered one. The only way to keep it was to survive for twelve hours while the entire world tried to hunt you down. Once a Divine Ability appeared in Ethereal, the game would enter a No-Sleep Period¡ªmeaning it would no longer shut down at 8 AM. The servers would remain open until the ability was claimed and learned. That''s why the moment someone acquired one, all hell would break loose. Ethan still remembered the longest No-Sleep Period in Ethereal history¡ª79 days. The cause? A Divine Ability called [Fatal Strike], which granted a ridiculously high chance to deal 5x critical damage. A random Korean player had picked it up. Within hours, they were hunted down. The Scroll changed hands dozens of times, passing from one faction to another. Eventually, it ended up in the hands of Eros, the leader of Russia''s No.1 Guild¡ªbringing an end to the bloodbath. Divine Abilities weren''t unique, meaning they could appear multiple times. But whenever one spawned in a country''s Warzone, the entire region would become a battlefield. Players from other nations would launch full-scale invasions, seeking to claim the ability for themselves. Right now, however, the Warzone Borders hadn''t been unlocked yet. That meant Ethan had a rare window of opportunity. He could obtain [Teleportation] without worrying about players from other regions chasing him down. If it weren''t for the fact that Northern Frontier only had this one Divine Ability available at the moment, Ethan would''ve tried to grab as many as possible. In truth, there were two more Divine Abilities hidden within Northern Frontier. Each Warzone contained a total of eleven Divine Abilities, and whether a nation could hold onto them depended entirely on their strength. Back in his previous life, Dragonspire had nine players who wielded Divine Abilities. Among them, two players held two abilities each. And one madman? He had four. Six of these abilities were native to Dragonspire¡ªthe other five had been stolen from foreign warzones. These three players were the leaders of Dragonspire''s top-tier guilds. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for the other six abilities, they were scattered among various elite factions. Ethan had rarely seen these players in action, but the official game website had posted videos showcasing their power. He still remembered one battle vividly¡ª The player who held [Apocalypse] and [Quickstrike], the guild leader of Empire, was a Dual-Blade Berserker who had ascended to the advanced class of Ravager. During a Guild War, he had charged straight into the enemy forces. As a Ravager, he already had one of the fastest attack speeds in the game. But when combined with [Quickstrike], which further increased his attack rate, and [Apocalypse], which granted unlimited stat point allocation¡ª His speed and damage output became utterly terrifying. It was a massacre. One step, ten enemies fell. A hundred steps, a thousand were cut down. That battle cemented him as one of the strongest players in Ethereal history. And the other two Divine Ability holders? They each created legends of their own. Chapter 127 - 127: Into the Darkness The Guild Master of Abyss Order, a Fire Mage who had advanced to Flame Archmage, was a player infamous for his cunning nature, earning him the title of ''Sneaky Old Man''. And he wasn''t just some ordinary player. He wielded two Divine Abilities: [Focus] (Divine) and [Energy Conservation] (Divine). During the Undead Cataclysm, he unleashed four Forbidden Spells in succession, wiping out eight entire legions of undead in a single moment, securing his place as a legend in Ethereal. Then there was Little Horn, the Guild Master of Hand of God. As a Gunner, he had advanced to the terrifying Battlefield Dominator class. And his abilities? [Undying] (Divine), [Bloodlust] (Divine), [Fatal Strike] (Divine), and [Sundering Shot] (Divine). In one of the largest Nation Wars ever recorded, he faced off against an army of over ten thousand enemy players, alone. For seven straight hours, he fought without pause. Thanks to [Sundering Shot] and [Fatal Strike], he dished out devastating AoE critical hits, while [Bloodlust] kept his health replenishing nonstop. The result? He became a nightmare on the battlefield. As the battle raged on, the enemy kept sending reinforcements, increasing their numbers from ten thousand¡­ to a hundred and twenty thousand. Yet, using nothing but guerilla tactics, Little Horn single-handedly stalled a tenth of Russia''s entire war effort. Eventually, his ammunition ran dry. A full force of 120,000 ranged players finally managed to take him down. But that wasn''t the end. Because of [Undying], he resurrected on the spot,and for the next three minutes, he was completely invincible. Using those precious moments, he broke out of the encirclement, regrouped with his waiting guildmates, and together, they launched a devastating counterattack. By the time the dust settled, the entire 120,000-strong army had been wiped out, most of them ranged players. That day, he didn''t just win a battle. He became a legend. A true ruler of the battlefield. Even now, just thinking about it, Ethan could feel his blood boiling. In Ethereal, every Divine Ability had a known location. And when it came to the six abilities hidden within Dragonspire, Ethan knew exactly where to find them. Right now, his target was one of the Divine Abilities hidden in Northern Frontier¡ª[Teleportation]. He already had three Divine Abilities thanks to his King of Elves bloodline, and since bloodline abilities stacked with player-obtained ones, he had no reason to stop now. Besides, once he claimed it, taking it from him would be damn near impossible. Of course, no plan was foolproof, but [Teleportation] was the perfect first step. With enough teleportation points set, gathering more Divine Abilities in the future would become much easier. And worst case? ''If I can''t win¡­ I can just run.'' A 100-kilometer teleport? No one was catching him. Especially now, mounts hadn''t been unlocked yet, and thanks to his ability to transform into a Stag, Ethan was already the fastest player in the game. Moments later, he arrived at a pitch-black cave entrance. This was a Level 40 zone, and the creatures inside were Level 45. After making sure no one else was around, Ethan slipped into the darkness. Originally, he had planned to wait until he was higher level before attempting to claim [Teleportation]. At his current strength, the challenge would be brutal. But since he was already heading for Master Blacksmith Ryan, he figured¡ªwhy not take a shot at it? If he could secure [Teleportation], his survival chances in Carnage Faction territory would increase dramatically. With that thought, Ethan shifted into his panther form and silently padded forward. His sleek, shadowy body blended perfectly into the darkness. The cave was eerily silent, aside from the soft trickle of water echoing through the depths. After a ten-minute trek, the tunnel suddenly opened into a wide cavern. Four Armored Beetle Elites lurked within. The faint layers of dust on the ground marked the spots where they had burrowed underground, lying in wait. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Further ahead, a small underground pool stretched about twenty meters across. On the far side of the cavern, a narrow stream of water trickled down the rock face, feeding into the pool below. The source of the eerie water sounds was now clear. The four Armored Beetle Elites patrolled the path ahead, moving unpredictably beneath the ground. Every so often, one would burst from the earth, spreading its hardened shell to reveal the delicate, membranous wings underneath. A faint tremor would ripple through the air as it shook them out, dislodging swarms of tiny insects that scattered in all directions. Then, as if summoned by an unseen command, the swarm would return, vanishing back inside the beetle''s body as it snapped its shell shut. Ethan estimated the distance¡ªroughly thirty meters stood between him and the water''s edge. Unfortunately, this entire stretch was within their patrol zone. There was no sneaking past. Unless he eliminated all four, any attempt to cross would instantly trigger a chain reaction, pulling the entire group into combat. There was no way around it. Either he fought through, or he turned back. And Ethan wasn''t the kind of person to turn back. He understood the risk, but this wasn''t his first time doing something reckless. While things had been relatively safe in this life, in his previous one, he had thrived on danger. As a Rogue, he had lived for the thrill, doing things no sane player would attempt, pushing the limits of what was possible. Perhaps it was just in his nature. Risk, danger, the rush of the unknown. And yet, in this life, his Druid class had forced him to play things safer. That didn''t mean he had lost his reckless edge. Sure, Panther Form lacked the life-saving tricks of a Rogue, but Ethan wasn''t just some single-path Druid. He was a Full-Spec Druid, his sustain and survivability were leagues ahead of any Rogue. He quickly calculated the beetles'' detection radius¡ªlikely 3.5 meters under normal conditions.But since their level was 11 higher than his, their awareness would be boosted to around 5¨C6 meters. That meant one thing, if he stayed at least six meters away from any of them, he could slip through unnoticed. A shadow stirred from the cave''s entrance. The black panther emerged into the open, its sleek body pressing low to the ground. Breath steady. Steps silent. Ethan moved with precision, carefully threading his way through the danger zone toward the water. 1 meter to the left. 3 meters ahead. 2 meters to the right. Like a predator on the prowl, his body remained tense, shifting between stealthy crawls and careful sidesteps. Every movement was calculated. A loose rock on the cavern wall. A scattered pile of animal bones. The brittle remnants of dried grass. Anything that could cause an unexpected disturbance had to be accounted for. Caution was everything. In his past life, he had died over a thousand times while being hunted in the wild. Most of those deaths? Stupid mistakes. A careless footstep. A snap of a twig. A brief moment of hesitation. And in dungeons? He had lost count of how many times he had been wiped out. What he did know, though¡ªhe had died far more times inside dungeons than he ever had to other players. Chapter 128 - 128: The Depths of the Unknown In Ethereal, anyone who had never tasted death wasn''t a true expert. Dying in PvP battles, treasure hunts, or high-risk adventures¡ªit was inevitable. If a player had never died and had only grinded levels by farming monsters, even if they reached Rank 1 on the Leaderboards, even if they were the highest-level player in the world, to real veterans? They were still a rookie. True elites had forged their skills through countless deaths, refining their own unique combat styles through pain and experience. Right now, Ethan was six meters away from one of the Armored Beetle Elites. Suddenly, the creature stopped moving underground. Then, with a sharp twist, it burst out of the ground, turning its massive body toward Ethan''s position. He remained perfectly still. His black panther form was pressed tightly against the cavern wall, swallowed by the shadows. It was a near-perfect hiding spot. Ethan held his breath. His muscles tensed. But then¡ª The beetle spread its armored shell, letting out a sharp, high-pitched screech. A swarm of tiny insects erupted from its body, surging toward him. "Shit. I''ve been spotted!" Ethan sprang to his feet. Instantly, the insect swarm engulfed him, their bites leaving behind a flurry of tiny damage numbers¡ª -1, -1, -1¡­ Hundreds of tiny hits chipped away at his health. Without hesitation, Ethan cast¡ª [Tree Form] ¡ú [Rejuvenation] + [Wild Growth] Two instant-cast healing skills kicked in, granting him steady HP regeneration. But it wasn''t over. The other three Armored Beetle Elites had surfaced as well, charging straight for him. The first beetle slammed its razor-sharp beak into the ground, a spike of rock shot toward Ethan''s feet. He felt the stone beneath him shift, danger surged through his instincts. With a flicker of thought, he reverted to panther form and activated the Dark Gold boots'' skill¡ª[Leap]. [Leap] Increases jump height by 300% Duration: 10 seconds Cooldown: 10 minutes His hind legs coiled, and with a powerful push, he shot upward, soaring nearly four meters into the air. But that wasn''t high enough. For these massive beetles, four meters only brought him level with their backs. Without missing a beat, Ethan triggered his boots'' second skill¡ª [Double Jump]. Before [Leap] expired, he kicked off the air, gaining another four meters, and soared clean over the beetle''s head. The moment Ethan landed, the beetle spun around, and the other three rushed at him. [Swift Stride] activated¡ª +70% movement speed Duration: 15 seconds sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Cooldown: 5 minutes Ethan''s body blurred, dashing away at impossible speed. The four massive beetles crashed into each other¡ª BANG! Their sheer size and weight sent them tumbling backward, landing on their backs with all four legs flailing helplessly. For a moment, they were completely helpless. Unfortunately, their enormous bodies had nearly blocked off the entire cavern path. Ethan took advantage of his boosted speed, his movement was now over 200% faster than normal¡ªweaving through the narrow gaps between them. The swarm of insects still clung to his body, continuously draining his HP. But thanks to his two regeneration spells, his health remained stable. Without those, he would have already been eaten alive. Ethan''s health had dropped to just 10% by the time he reached the water''s edge. One of the Armored Beetle Elites had already flipped back onto its feet, and in the next instant, it spat a stream of venom straight at him. Ethan leaped aside, barely dodging, before diving headfirst into the water. Splash! Water erupted into the air as he plunged deep beneath the surface. The tiny insects that had been swarming him scattered instantly. Some reacted too slowly and were dragged underwater, their tiny bodies twitching for a moment before they floated lifelessly to the surface. Meanwhile, the four beetles lingered at the water''s edge, circling for a while before finally deciding against following him in. One by one, they burrowed back underground, disappearing into the earth. Ethan exhaled sharply, his heart pounding in his chest. "Damn¡­ that was close." If it weren''t for his Dark Gold boots, he wouldn''t have even considered coming here. Those boots had single-handedly covered his biggest weakness here, mobility. Now that he was submerged, he activated Travel Form¡ªhis body shifted into the sleek form of a Seal, and he dove deeper into the depths. The water was murky, and despite the vision boost from Seal Form, it was still hard to see anything clearly. The currents here were strong, constantly shifting the flow of water. Even with his improved swimming abilities, keeping his balance was difficult, every time he stopped moving, he felt himself being dragged backward. After stabilizing his posture, Ethan took a moment to observe his surroundings. No monsters in sight¡­ That was a good sign. In his past life, he had visited this place before, but by then, the game was already deep into the late stages. By that point, this area had been explored countless times. One of the core mechanics of Ethereal was that many locations were incredibly dangerous on a player''s first visit. These areas often had hidden guardian monsters that never respawned after being defeated. He wasn''t sure if this place had one. After ten minutes of swimming, Ethan finally spotted a faint glow up ahead. As he got closer, he realized¡ªIt was coming from a Silver-Tier Treasure Chest, wedged into the rocky wall. He had heard rumors about an unlocked chest hidden here, and it looked like he had finally found it. Reaching out, Ethan flipped the lid open and rummaged inside. His fingers brushed against something smooth. He pulled it out¡ªa Skill Book. His eyes lit up when he checked the details. It was a finishing move for Panther Form¡ª[Rend]. [Rend] Finishing Move ¨C Inflicts Bleed Damage over time. The more Energy Points consumed, the longer the effect lasts. 1 Energy Point: Deals 200% total attack damage over 8 seconds. Each additional Energy Point: Increases duration by 4 seconds and adds +100% attack damage. Skill Performance Rating affects total damage output. Usable by: Rogues & Druids A pleasant surprise. Ethan''s skill selection was severely lacking right now, and this would be a great addition. He recalled Heaven''s Dawn mentioning that she had never needed Skill Books. Every skill she had was automatically unlocked upon leveling up. She hadn''t even known that Skill Books existed. Everyone has their own unique encounters¡­ No wonder she eventually learned [Forbidden: Rebirth]. She probably just had to reach a certain level before the game gifted it to her. Without hesitation, Ethan absorbed the skill book, immediately unlocking [Rend]. Then, without pausing, he dived deeper into the lake, pushing further into the pitch-black abyss. The darkness became so absolute that he couldn''t see his own hands. All he could do was rely on touch to navigate. His body grazed the lakebed, and as he moved, a few jagged rocks scraped against him, causing a faint sting of pain. Then, his fingers brushed against something circular. Chapter 129 - 129: The Race for Power Ethan''s heart skipped a beat as his fingers brushed against the circular object, he had found it. Shifting back into human form, a countdown timer instantly appeared on his screen, warning him of his dwindling oxygen supply. If the timer hit zero, he would drown. No time to hesitate. Gripping the ring tightly, he yanked it upward. A chain trailed beneath it, slowly rising from the depths as he pulled. Click-click-click¡­ A mechanical grinding echoed through the water. Hearing the sound, Ethan instantly switched back into Seal Form, causing the oxygen timer to vanish. Now, he could breathe freely again. On the rocky wall beside him, a hidden door¡ªover two meters tall, began to slide open. A thin beam of light pierced the darkness, cutting through the murky lakebed like a beacon. Ethan swam toward it, the glow intensifying until¡ªsplash!¡ªhe broke through the surface. Wiping water from his face, he took in his surroundings. A small, secluded pool. The landscape around him was familiar. A breathtaking canyon stretched before him, its crystal-clear springs flowing gently through narrow ravines. Towering trees swayed in the breeze, their thick foliage forming a lush canopy. Vibrant wildflowers dotted the emerald carpet of grass, their delicate fragrance drifting through the air. Sheer cliffs surrounded the valley on all sides. Even with a flying mount, it was impossible to soar over these towering rock faces. The only way in or out was through the submerged entrance he had just emerged from. Ethan stepped onto dry land and made his way deeper into the forest. The sky above shimmered an unnatural shade of green, as if the heavens here were separate from the rest of the world. In reality, this phenomenon was known as an aurora. The luminous bands of emerald light rippled across the sky, giving the valley an otherworldly glow. After walking for about ten minutes along a narrow woodland path, Ethan ventured deeper into the dense jungle. The trees here were thicker, their ancient trunks stretching skyward. The further he went, the darker it became. A thick layer of fallen leaves blanketed the forest floor, stretching endlessly into the distance. As he stepped forward, the ground beneath him felt strangely unsteady, like walking on water. Then, through the tangled undergrowth, he spotted it. A pillar of light shot up from the earth, illuminating the gloom with a blinding radiance. A grin tugged at Ethan''s lips. Floating within the light, suspended in midair, was a Scroll. His target: [Teleportation (Divine)] Approaching the glowing beam, he hesitated. The records from his past life only confirmed that a Divine Ability could be found here, but they never detailed the method of obtaining it. Could it really be this easy? Ethan highly doubted it. The valley was sealed off, yes¡ªbut that didn''t mean the scroll was just lying around for anyone to take. There had to be a guardian. Something¡­ watching. Something that hadn''t been revealed in his past life. After a brief hesitation, Ethan extended his hand toward the light, moving slowly and cautiously. His entire body was tense, ready to react at a moment''s notice. Just then¡ª Ding! [Global Announcement: The player Blast from China and their guild AngelEmpire have officially become the first Level 6 Guild worldwide.] With this achievement, a new expansion has been unlocked: Town Conquest. All Level 4 and above guilds are now eligible to participate in Town Conquest battles. In any town, once a guild stationed 1,000 or more members, a countdown timer would begin. If the guild held their position for the required duration, they would claim ownership of the town. Ownership was permanent¡ªwith a catch. For as long as they controlled the town, 5% of all shop revenue would be funneled into the guild''s bank. However, after a three-month ceasefire period, other guilds would be free to challenge their claim and launch an attack to seize control. Ethan''s hand froze mid-air. A Level 6 guild already? He had more than enough points to upgrade his own guild after securing the world''s first major boss kill, but he had deliberately held off. He wanted someone else to take the lead. The first Level 6 guild reward wasn''t bad, actually, it was incredible. The benefits for guild members alone were tempting. But the cost of upgrading? That was another story. Advancing from Level 4 to Level 5 required 10,000 gold and increased the guild''s member cap to 30,000. Going from Level 5 to Level 6? 20,000 gold¡ªfor a 50,000-member cap. And every level beyond that? 50,000 gold per upgrade, each adding 50,000 more slots. Ethan only had a little over 4,000 gold right now, not nearly enough. As for the player Blast from China, Ethan knew him well. He had the backing of one of China''s largest financial groups, and more importantly, he was ruthlessly ambitious. In his past life, AngelEmpire had been one of the biggest threats to Dragonspire. They had led multiple Nation Wars, launching full-scale invasions against his homeland. Ethan opened his chat window and sent a private message to Skyblade. "Drop everything. Get every member back to the city. Set up in the towns. Take as many as you can. If you see another guild with 1,000+ members in a town, wipe them out." The final word in his message carried a chilling weight. Skyblade responded immediately. "Understood. But¡­ we can kill people inside towns?" Ethan smirked. "The Town Conquest system is now active. Once a guild has over 1,000 players in a town, they''re automatically placed in war mode against any other guild that meets the same criteria. Inside those towns? It''s a free-for-all." "Got it. I just got intel¡ªBlade Syndicate is already on the move. One group is heading for Duskridge, while the rest are splitting up to hit other small towns." Ethan chuckled. "Greedy bastards. They can''t take every town. Scout their numbers in Duskridge, that''s our main target. Looks like it''s time for another brawl with Blade Syndicate." "Understood. I''m taking my squad there now," Skyblade replied before going silent. With those orders handled, Ethan refocused on the scroll floating in the light pillar before him. Enough waiting. He snatched the scroll and tossed it into his inventory. Ding! [System Message: You have obtained Ability Scroll: Teleportation (Divine)] Suddenly¡ª The ground shuddered violently, deep fractures splitting the earth. Something massive was forcing its way up from below. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan didn''t wait to find out what it was. Spinning on his heel, he shifted into Stag Form and bolted toward the pool where he had entered. His incredible speed had him there in seconds. But when he arrived, he stopped dead. The pool was gone. Massive boulders had crashed down, completely sealing the exit. What the hell? How had the last guy who obtained the scroll escaped in his past life? Was there¡­ another exit? Before he could figure it out, a thunderous roar split the air. At the same time, a system notification flashed before his eyes. Chapter 130 - 130: Marked for Death Ding! [Global Announcement: Player ''NotADruid'' from the Northern Frontier Region (Dragonspire) has obtained Ability Scroll: Teleportation (Divine) at coordinates 54945.126574.36164. Holding Time: 0 hours, 10 minutes. If the scroll remains in possession for 12 hours, it will become usable. Until then, the holder''s coordinates will be broadcast every 10 minutes. Players, seize your chance to claim it! If the scroll changes hands, the timer resets. For the next 12 hours, Ethereal''s servers will remain online without shutdown.] The world barely had time to process the Level 6 guild announcement and the Town Conquest wars, and now, this. A Divine Ability Scroll had appeared, throwing the entire player base into chaos. For a brief moment, no one knew how to react. But Ethan had zero time to care about any of that. Because right behind him, a massive head emerged from the canyon''s fractured earth. Then, a hulking torso followed, its enormous frame clawing its way free. When the creature fully revealed itself, Ethan saw its name floating above its head: [Ancient Riftwalker] Ethan immediately activated Basic Appraisal. [Ancient Riftwalker] Rank: Elite Level: 69 HP: ??? Attack: ??? Defense: ??? That was all he could see, but it was enough. A Level 69 Elite? For Ethan, this thing was a world boss. Even if he shifted into Stag Form or Bear Form, he''d be one-shot instantly. There was no fighting this. The only option? Run. But the entrance was blocked. Where the hell was he supposed to go? "Roar! Foolish human, I''ve finally found you!" Ethan froze. ''It¡­ can talk?'' And what did it mean by finally found me? His eyes narrowed as he examined the Riftwalker more closely. Then, he spotted it. Perched atop the creature''s head was a shadowy figure, cloaked in deep violet and black mist. Something about it felt¡­ eerily familiar. "Caw, caw, caw¡­" Before Ethan could react, the shadow burst into mist and seeped into the Riftwalker''s body¡ªthrough its nostrils, mouth, and ears. The twenty-meter-tall Riftwalker let out an earth-shaking howl. Then, its body began to mutate. Wings. From its back, a pair of massive, pitch-black wings unfurled, like those of a raven. Ethan''s stomach dropped. Without thinking, he activated Appraisal again. [Evolved Ancient Riftwalker (Crowling God Anzu)] Rank: Commander Level: 99 Other stats: ??? Commander Rank. Level 99. This thing wasn''t just overpowered, it was a death sentence. "Crowling God?" Ethan''s mind raced. That shadowy figure must''ve been the real cause of the Riftwalker''s evolution. But why? It was already impossible to fight in its previous state, what was the point of making it even stronger? The newly evolved Riftwalker didn''t attack right away. Instead, it grinned mockingly and spoke in a deep, guttural voice. "Foolish human. I told you¡ªI remember your scent. Caw, caw, caw¡­" Ethan stiffened. Wait¡­ That voice. That phrase. Suddenly, it all clicked. Back when he was Level 5, he had done the Owl Form transformation quest. One of the quest bosses had been a Crowling creature, and after slaying it, he had looted an insanely powerful Warlock staff. At the time, the system had given him a special warning, because he had killed a clone of a Pseudo-Divine entity, it would remember him. And¡ª It would periodically descend into the world¡­ to hunt him down. So much time had passed without incident that Ethan had completely forgotten about the system warning. But now, staring at the monstrous figure before him, he remembered. That Pseudo-Divine entity? Its name was Crowling God Anzu. And the Ancient Riftwalker was merely a vessel for its descent. Ethan frowned. The creature wasn''t rushing to kill him, it was playing with him. A twisted game of cat and mouse. Taking the opportunity, he scanned his surroundings, desperately searching for an escape route. The possessed Riftwalker chuckled darkly, its deep voice echoing across the valley. "Foolish human, are you looking for a way out? Give up. I have already sealed the only exit, the water pool behind you. Caw, caw, caw¡­ Unless you control spatial magic, you have no way out. Now, be a good little pet and accept your fate as my slave!" Ethan''s heart sank. So it was true. That pool really was the only exit. In his past life, the player who had taken the Divine Ability Scroll had escaped through that very route. But now? That exit was buried, the entire pool collapsed under a pile of boulders. All because of this damn Crowling God. Was this really it? Was he really going to die here? More importantly¡ªhe''d drop the Wishbound Relic upon death. Would he ever get another chance to reclaim it? Opening his inventory, Ethan stared at the Wishbound Relic, still lying untouched in his bag. Would he lose it¡­ in this life, too? Just as despair began creeping in, his gaze landed on something else in his inventory. A dull gray scroll, sitting right next to the relic. Ethan''s eyes lit up. Then, his lips curled into a grin. How could he have forgotten about this? Without hesitation, he grabbed the scroll and clenched it in his fist. "You stupid bird!" Ethan sneered. "You think you can keep me here? Maybe in your next life!" Before Anzu could react, Ethan crushed the scroll in his hand. A wave of magic surged, wrapping around his entire body. A second later, he vanished. --- When Ethan reappeared, he was far away from the valley, standing atop a distant ridge. From here, he could see the towering cliffs that enclosed the hidden canyon. He exhaled sharply, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Made it out¡­" That had been way too close. His lifesaver? A Random Teleport Scroll. He had only ever found one, way back in the Starter Zone, after exploiting a bug to kill that rare giant rat boss. And now¡­ that 8,000 gold scroll was gone. The loss stung, but it was nothing compared to losing the Wishbound Relic. Shaking his head, Ethan turned toward the road leading downhill. Not far from here was Duskridge. Skyblade and his squad were probably already fighting for control of the town. Duskridge was the only town in the region spanning Levels 25 to 55, which made it a must-have. The player level range was broad, meaning this town would remain crowded for a long time. More importantly, its location was strategic. To the north: Direct access to Harmony City. To the west: A Level 25-35 hunting zone. To the east: A Level 35-50 hunting zone. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To the south: A Level 50-55 zone, with a barrier leading toward the Central Dominion. Most crucially, Duskridge housed the largest teleportation array outside of the main cities, capable of transporting thousands of players at once. Owning this town meant absolute control over future guild wars and even regional war campaigns. With that in mind, Ethan picked up his pace, heading toward Duskridge. But just as he started moving¡ª BOOM! A thunderous explosion erupted behind him. His heart skipped a beat. Spinning around, his eyes widened. Above the valley, a massive cloud of dark fire churned violently, blocking out the sky. A monstrous figure loomed within, its silhouette crackling with raw destruction, like a harbinger of death, risen straight from the abyss. Chapter 131 - 131: The Siege of Duskridge "Oh, come on¡­ it evolved AGAIN?!" Ethan''s stomach twisted as he stared at the monstrous figure looming within the swirling black clouds. There was no mistaking it, this was the same Ancient Riftwalker he had faced earlier. Except now, it had transformed once more. Its massive wings were fully spread, its entire body engulfed in violet-black flames. And then¡ª BOOM! It smashed straight through the canyon wall, bursting into the open sky. Ethan didn''t hesitate. He shifted into Stag Form and sprinted for his life. A Pseudo-Divine entity was already terrifying, but now, it had evolved twice. Was there even a limit to how many times it could evolve? For all Ethan knew, if this thing kept going, it might eventually summon its true body into the world. The sealed canyon wasn''t far from Duskridge, only about ten kilometers east of town. The area was mostly open plains, with the canyon''s rocky cliffs being the only major landmark in sight. But now, the earth trembled violently, sending shockwaves across the region. Over in Duskridge, thousands of players felt the tremors beneath their feet. A ripple of unease spread through the crowd. "What the hell is happening?" "Look! East! The mountain!" Above the distant cliffs, a storm of black fire churned restlessly. Within it, an enormous creature hovered in mid-air, its vast wings beating against the sky. Its body burned with twisted purple flames, radiating an aura of pure destruction. Then, a deep, guttural voice boomed across the land, carrying for kilometers. "Foolish human¡­ Caw, caw¡­" Even from ten kilometers away, every player in Duskridge heard it clearly. --- At that moment, inside Duskridge, Skyblade was leading over 3,000 Renegade Alliance members in an all-out battle against Blade Syndicate. Just as he prepared to strike down an enemy, a private message popped up on his screen. Frowning, he opened it. Then, he froze. "Retreat. Head north. Get to Harmony City. Now." Skyblade''s brow furrowed. "Boss, we''re about to take over Duskridge, why are we pulling out?" A second later, Ethan''s voice boomed through the team chat. "Shut up and RUN. If you don''t, you''re all dead." Without another word, Skyblade turned and sprinted toward the northern city gates. The rest of his guild hesitated. But when they saw their leader retreating, they gritted their teeth and followed. Abandoning the fight, 3,000 players surged out of Duskridge, retreating like a tidal wave. --- On the other side, the Blade Syndicate forces stood in stunned silence. They had been fighting tooth and nail, and now, their enemies were running away? Some players instinctively chased after them. "Idiots! Get back here!" A furious voice snapped them back to reality. Their leader¡ªMarcus Skeiner, stood tall, watching Skyblade''s retreat with a smug grin. "Cowards. One monster shows up, and you all scatter? Pathetic." To him, this was laughable. The highest-level monsters near Duskridge were only Level 50 Elites. Even if some freak boss had appeared, it couldn''t be stronger than Level 60. Besides, Duskridge''s city guards were all Level 79 Elites, and its Town Chief was a Level 89 Commander-tier NPC. As long as they stayed inside the town, what was there to fear? S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had no idea. The creature wasn''t Level 50. It wasn''t Level 60. Before its second evolution, it was already Level 99 Commander-tier. And now, It was something even worse. --- Back on the plains, Ethan was sprinting at full speed toward Duskridge. As much as he wanted to run straight to Harmony City, he knew he had no chance of outrunning the Riftwalker. His only hope was to reach Duskridge''s city guards, maybe they could hold the monster off for a while. Just long enough for him to escape. But before he could make it¡ª BOOM. A deafening explosion erupted behind him. Ethan''s heart pounded as he whipped around. Above the distant canyon, the black flames thickened, swirling into a monstrous storm. Then, a colossal figure emerged from the chaos. Its presence was overwhelming, its aura dripping with pure annihilation. It was like staring at a demon god, risen straight from the abyss. And now, It was coming for him. The guards in Harmony City weren''t just strong, each one was Level 200. But Ethan wasn''t there yet. And the mutated Ancient Riftwalker was gaining on him fast. The creature muttered an unknown spell, its deep voice resonating with an eerie power. Above, the black clouds swirled violently, condensing into a storm of blazing fireballs. A second later¡ª BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The ground shook violently as fiery projectiles rained from the sky, detonating on impact. Flames erupted everywhere, spreading rapidly across the plains. Ethan had teleported roughly two kilometers from Duskridge. That put him ten kilometers from the canyon, meaning he had only covered one kilometer since escaping. Meanwhile, the Riftwalker had already crossed five kilometers. At this rate, they would reach Duskridge at the same time. There was no time for strategy, he had to run. Ducking and weaving, Ethan dodged the relentless rain of black fireballs, sprinting full speed toward the town. But the attack''s range was too wide, even Duskridge itself was now being bombarded. One particularly massive fireball, wreathed in black flames, tore through the sky and slammed directly into Duskridge''s eastern district. --- [Duskridge Alert: A powerful (Demigod-Tier) entity has appeared east of town. All players are advised to evacuate immediately to avoid unnecessary casualties.] --- Ethan''s eyes twitched. Demigod-tier? He had expected Commander-tier, maybe even Pseudo-Divine. But Demigod?! Even Crowling God Anzu was only Pseudo-Divine, one rank below Demigod. Yet somehow, it had forced the Ancient Riftwalker to evolve straight to Demigod-tier? That was insane. In Duskridge, Marcus Skeiner stared in disbelief. A Demigod-tier monster wasn''t something a single guild, or even an army of NPC guards could handle. At that moment, he finally understood why Skyblade had ordered a retreat. "Damn it¡­" Marcus gritted his teeth. But was it too late to escape now? He wasn''t sure. Because the Riftwalker was less than a kilometer away. --- Ethan finally reached Duskridge''s outskirts, but he didn''t stop, he immediately veered toward the north gate''s teleportation array. However, before he could get there, a brilliant white light flashed ahead. From the teleportation array, a battalion of fully armored NPC soldiers materialized. They wore polished silver plate armor, their weapons gleaming under the dim sky. Emblazoned on their chest plates was a bold Silverhawk emblem. Over hundreds of them swiftly formed ranks in Duskridge''s central plaza. Ethan came to an abrupt halt. Because standing at the front of the formation, Was a man he recognized. Roland Carter, Captain of Harmony City''s First Guard Squadron. It seemed Harmony City had dispatched reinforcements after detecting the attack on Duskridge. --- Harmony City had two elite military forces: 1. The Northern Frontier Army ¨C A two-million-strong force, commanded by the Supreme General of the Northern Frontier. 2. The City Guard ¨C A smaller but elite force of 100,000, directly under Harmony City''s ruler. Though fewer in number, each City Guard soldier was a Level 200 Elite, not to be underestimated. And right now, Roland Carter had personally led a squad of them to defend Duskridge. --- Seeing the reinforcements, the players in Duskridge breathed a sigh of relief. All eyes turned to the colossal creature approaching the town''s gates. It had the body of a panther, the wings of a crow, and a fierce, storm-wreathed head, with eyes crackling like rolling thunder. Some players smirked. A Demigod-tier boss had spawned. A massive NPC army had arrived. A huge battle was about to erupt. Maybe, just maybe¡­ they could profit from this. Chapter 132 - 132: Wrath They weren''t the only ones who had that thought. The moment Marcus Skeiner spotted the incoming wave of NPCs, he wasted no time. He issued a rallying call in the guild, summoning every available member to Duskridge. Other players quickly followed suit, reporting the situation in their own guilds. Before long, the major guilds started mobilizing, sending reinforcements in droves. Everyone wanted a piece of the action. Within minutes, a flood of players teleported into Duskridge, overwhelming the once-quiet town. At first, some had retreated after hearing the system alert. But now, with reinforcements pouring in, the town became packed beyond belief. Guilds from Northern Frontier Region¡ªWasteland Dominion, Eternal Glory, Unrivaled Honor, Whispering Bamboo, and others, each sent thousands of members. Even Whispering Bamboo, a guild composed entirely of female players, showed up with an army of thousands, drawing the attention of every nearby player. A Demigod-tier monster dropping a single piece of gear was an opportunity no one could ignore. The entire town sprang into action. Towers extended their ballistae and cannons, ready for battle. Ethan looked up. The Evolved Ancient Riftwalker loomed above, its massive wings, dark as a raven''s, casting an ominous shadow over the town. A deep hum filled the air as the creature chanted a spell, black clouds rapidly consuming the sky. Yet, it didn''t attack immediately. It simply hovered there, scanning the town as if searching for something. For a long moment, neither side made a move. Then, the system alert rang out. Ding¡­ [System Alert: Player ''NotADruid'' is currently carrying a Divine Ability Scroll. Current coordinates: 56515.23674.15642. Remaining possession time: 30 minutes.] Ethan''s face darkened. "Oh, come on¡­" Of all times, the system had to broadcast his coordinates now? Everyone received the message. They checked the numbers. That was inside Duskridge. Was the monster here because of him? The Riftwalker was scanning the area like it was looking for something. Did NotADruid¡­ steal its treasure to get the Divine Ability Scroll? Speculation spread like wildfire. Then, the Riftwalker''s gaze locked onto a section of town. It uttered a guttural incantation, and the storm above thickened. A hail of black fireballs rained down like falling stars, engulfing the houses below. "Damn it! It found me?!" Ethan burst from a building just as a fireball obliterated it. Explosions rocked the ground. Each impact left a half-meter crater, debris flying everywhere. The earth scorched black. Without hesitation, Ethan shifted into Panther Form. He tracked the incoming fireballs, predicting their trajectory while weaving between safe spots. Luckily, the bombardment wasn''t overly dense, but the sheer power behind each blast was terrifying. Buildings collapsed, the streets shattered, and wooden shards and stone fragments pelted Ethan as he sprinted through the chaos. -1, -5, -4, -20, -8¡­ Numbers flooded his screen as minor injuries stacked up. And then, the Evolved Ancient Riftwalker tucked its wings and dove straight at him. A creature of this level¡­ Ethan knew he didn''t stand a chance. Even the slightest touch would be fatal. Activating his boots'' Swift Stride ability, his speed shot up by 70%. A streak of black, Ethan bolted¡ª BOOM! The Evolved Ancient Riftwalker slammed into the spot where Ethan had just stood. The ground collapsed beneath the impact, and even the creature itself staggered from the recoil before regaining balance. Ethan had dodged the direct hit, but the explosion''s shockwave still sent him flying. -1520! A massive damage number floated above his head. Just the impact alone had wiped out half his health. The Riftwalker, failing to land its strike, flapped its massive wings and ascended again. Meanwhile, Ethan quickly found another hiding spot. Peering through a narrow gap, he watched as the creature circled above. "If I were a Rogue, I could just Stealth and disappear," Ethan muttered under his breath. "No way it could see through my stealth from that high up." But now? He had no choice but to keep running while being hunted like prey. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Frustrating. Through the gap, Ethan''s gaze locked onto the Riftwalker. At that exact moment, its head snapped toward him. Their eyes met. "Shit." As expected, the Riftwalker adjusted mid-air, tucking its wings back for another dive attack. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Boom! Boom! Boom! Finally, the ballistae and cannons stationed on the town walls and watchtowers roared to life. Massive bolts and cannon shells slammed into the Riftwalker''s body. "Kraaahhh!" It shrieked in pain, its altitude rising slightly in response to the attacks. "You pathetic humans¡­ all of you will die!" Clearly, the assault had enraged it. A guttural incantation rolled from its throat, words incomprehensible yet brimming with power. Above, the sky twisted, forming a massive vortex. From its swirling core, a fifty-meter-wide sphere of purple-black energy began to descend. "Activate the town''s barrier!" Roland Carter shouted from the tower. [ALERT! ALERT! Duskridge is under attack by a high-tier entity!] A siren blared through every player''s interface. A golden-transparent shield expanded over Duskridge, enveloping the town in a protective dome. BOOM! The dark sphere smashed against the barrier, detonating on impact. Like ink igniting, black flames splattered across the shield, clinging to it instead of dissipating. The entire town trembled. Players felt the heat seeping through, even from behind the protective layer. Unlike normal fire, this dark flame continued to burn, eating away at the shield like corrosive acid. The world outside turned eerily dark, as though smothered by thick ink. "Fire!" Roland''s command echoed through the city. Every ballista and cannon unleashed another wave of destruction. Countless bolts, cannonballs, and magical projectiles tore through the sky, converging on the Riftwalker. Players joined the assault. Tens of thousands filled the streets, and nearly every guild had sent ranged fighters¡ªArchers, Mages, Warlocks, and Priests, to battle the airborne threat. Melee players? Only a few could be seen. Everyone had heard: This thing flies. So there wasn''t really any point bringing a sword to a sky battle. Despite the relentless assault, the Riftwalker kept casting. Under its attacks, the protective barrier began to crack. CRACK! Then¡ª BOOM! The barrier shattered. With nothing left in its way, the Riftwalker dove straight into the town. Its massive foot came crashing down. An entire building crumbled beneath its weight, debris exploding outward. Players scattered. The real fight had begun. Chapter 133 - 133: Breaking the Chains "Melee fighters, fall back!" A crisp, commanding voice rang out near Ethan''s hiding spot. He turned toward the source and spotted a female player from Whispering Bamboo issuing orders. From his position, he could only see her in profile. Was she the guild leader? Or maybe a high-ranking officer? Either way, calling for melee fighters to retreat was the smart move. Unfortunately, not everyone shared that level of awareness. "It''s on the ground! Shield Tanks, get up there and hold the line!" Marcus Skeiner''s voice thundered across the battlefield. Right now, Blade Syndicate had the largest presence in Duskridge¡ªover eight thousand members had answered the call. Marcus had practically mobilized his entire guild. "Boss¡­ it''s level 99¡­" A hesitant Shield Tank barely got the words out before the Evolved Ancient Riftwalker stomped him into paste. He wasn''t the only one. More than a hundred melee players, nearly all from Blade Syndicate were crushed in an instant. Marcus cursed. "I don''t care¡ªkeep attacking! All ranged classes, hit it with everything you''ve got!" His mind wasn''t on the casualties. A level 99 Demigod-tier boss? If it dropped even a Dark Gold item, the rewards would be more than worth the losses. Blade Syndicate members, however, had no real strategy, just a mindless charge. Every time the Riftwalker even twitched, someone got sent flying. Then, suddenly, a squad of NPC soldiers emerged. Twenty of them. All level 200 Elite NPCs. Normally, a level 200 fighter against a level 99 monster would mean an easy victory. But in Ethereal, level wasn''t everything. A monster''s tier mattered far more. The Elite Town Guards rushed in, forming a tight perimeter around the Riftwalker. Their shields and weapons struck like relentless rain, locking the massive creature in place. For a moment, they actually managed to hold it down. "Kraaahhh!" The Riftwalker suddenly erupted in black fire, its burning claws swiping through the ranks. Each strike sent a level 200 guard flying. The soldiers crashed into buildings, flames consuming their bodies. Structures collapsed, the streets turning to scorched ruin. Then¡ª "Soulrend Piercing Bolt!" A cold, commanding voice echoed through Duskridge. A wave of deathly energy surged across the battlefield, sending chills down Ethan''s spine. He turned toward the voice. Roland Carter, Captain of Duskridge''s First Guard Squadron, stood atop the watchtower. In his hands was a massive crossbow, nearly five feet long. It looked¡­ plain. No excessive decorations, just a simple, well-crafted weapon. But, It gleamed with seven-colored light. Ethan''s eyes narrowed. What tier of weapon was that? Something else struck him as odd. Every time he''d seen Roland, the man had a sheathed longsword at his waist and a shield on his back. Ethan had assumed he was a Shield Tank. But now? A crossbow user? Shield on his back, sword at his side¡ªwas that supposed to look cool? The Riftwalker, still controlled by the Crowling God, must have sensed the danger. It struggled violently, trying to break free. But with thousands of Shield Tanks and a squad of elite NPC defenders pinning it down, it couldn''t move. A Demigod-tier boss¡­ but still only level 99. For the first time in this fight¡ªit was vulnerable. Despite the Riftwalker''s overwhelming power, the relentless attacks had slowed it down considerably. Whoosh¡ªBOOM! Roland Carter finally fired. The Soulrend Piercing Bolt tore through the air with a deafening sonic boom. And went straight through the Riftwalker''s skull. The entire bolt sank into its body. Yet, strangely, it dealt no damage. For a brief moment, the Riftwalker''s body stiffened. Then, thick black mist burst from its eyes, nostrils, and mouth, spiraling into the air with an agonized shriek. "Damn you humans! That wretched Soulbreaker Crossbow¡­ You''ve wounded my very soul! I will never forgive this!" The voice of the Crowling God, Anzu echoed within the dissipating darkness, its presence slowly fading from the battlefield. Ethan narrowed his eyes. It worked. The Riftwalker''s obsidian-black eyes turned blood-red. Anzu''s control had been shattered. But, Its evolved form didn''t revert. Its power remained the same. Only now, it had lost all rationality. It rampaged blindly, attacking everything in sight. Ethan glanced back at Roland''s weapon. That crossbow¡­ it was specialized for soul-based attacks. So that''s why it was glowing with seven-colored light. Ethan suddenly felt a lot less interested in this fight. With Anzu gone, the Riftwalker was no longer a major threat. Time to leave. He checked the battlefield. Everyone was too focused on the chaos to notice him slipping away. Ethan took the opportunity to sneak toward the northern gate. Just as he reached it, a massive army of over eight thousand players charged toward the town. Leading the front was Skyblade, Slashblade, and SeraphWarrior. Behind them, Lyla accompanied by her pet. And behind her, the rest of the eight-thousand-strong force. Right at the town''s entrance, Ethan and the advancing guild locked eyes. Skyblade, Slashblade, and SeraphWarrior stopped in their tracks upon recognizing him. "Boss!" Ethan blinked. ''Huh?'' "Wait, what are you guys doing here?" Skyblade stepped forward. "Boss, the system broadcasted your coordinates inside Duskridge. We thought you were trapped¡ªso we came to rescue you!" Lyla approached as well, concern in her eyes. "Are you okay?" Ethan looked at his guildmates, his heart warming at their loyalty. These guys¡­ really came all this way just to save him? "I''m fine," he said, smiling. "Thanks, everyone." Skyblade turned back to the guild. "Boss is safe! Charge into the city and loot the boss!" Ethan''s warm feelings instantly evaporated. Something felt¡­ off. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His expression darkened. Lifting his foot, he kicked Skyblade square in the chest. "You bastard! You used me as an excuse to gather everyone just so you could farm loot, didn''t you?!" Skyblade, still recovering from the kick, stammered awkwardly. "N-no, of course not! We were already here¡­ figured we might as well, y''know, make the most of it¡­" Ethan massaged his temples. "¡­Forget it." He took a deep breath and issued orders. "Pull back. That boss isn''t dropping anything useful. Instead, split into teams and start securing territory." Skyblade looked disappointed. "We''re not taking Duskridge?" Ethan glanced around at the wrecked town. Taking it over now would mean massive repair costs. Even if they fully rebuilt it, taxed it at 5%, and managed a steady income, It would still take at least six months to break even. This wasn''t an investment. It was a financial sinkhole. He wasn''t taking the bait. Whoever was dumb enough to claim Duskridge right now could have it. And if Ethan had to bet, that fool was probably Marcus Skeiner. Chapter 134 - 134: A Fool’s Battle Ethan quickly split his forces into four squads. Each squad was led by Slashblade, Skyblade, SeraphWarrior, and Meatball. Each leader took 2,000 players, heading toward the four closest towns to Duskridge, one in each cardinal direction. Though these towns weren''t as large as Duskridge, they had strategic value. In the future, if anyone wanted to take control of Duskridge, these locations would serve as fast-travel hubs for a siege. So, Ethan''s plan? Let Blade Syndicate waste resources rebuilding Duskridge. Once they finished fixing it up, he''d take it from them in one decisive strike. Just imagining Marcus Skeiner''s reaction made Ethan smirk. Slashblade glanced at him. "Boss, you''re carrying that Divine Ability Scroll. The system broadcasts your coordinates every ten minutes¡ªshouldn''t we leave some people with you for backup?" Ethan chuckled. "Lyla''s with me. That''s all I need." Slashblade shot a glance at Lyla, then nodded. "Fair enough." "Alright, I''m heading out. Once I capture Redridge Town, I''m logging off." Slashblade stretched. Ethan smirked at him. "Yeah, yeah. Take care of yourself. Maybe grab a handful of almonds¡ªthey''re good for stamina, if you know what I mean." Slashblade''s face flushed red as he quickly led his team toward Redridge. Ethan and Lyla lingered at the northern gate, taking one last look inside Duskridge. The town was almost completely leveled. The Evolved Ancient Riftwalker, though weaker after regaining its free will, had unleashed its signature ability¡ªRift Step. A short-range teleport it could spam indefinitely. With its ability to blink all over the battlefield, the players were struggling to keep up. Still, the sheer number of players, combined with NPC guards and siege weapons, had brought its HP down to 40%. "Let''s go." Ethan shifted into Stag Form. Lyla hopped onto his back, and he galloped northward. --- Inside Duskridge The sky was filled with projectiles, arrows, bullets, cannonballs, and spells. Thousands of melee players and Shield Tanks charged at the Riftwalker like a suicidal wave, sacrificing themselves to give ranged players enough time to chip away at its health. But its short-range teleports made it a nightmare to pin down. The death toll was staggering. Almost every guild active near Harmony City had joined the battle. Except for Renegade Alliance. And one other group. Shortly after Ethan left Duskridge, Whispering Bamboo also withdrew from the fight. Maybe it was female intuition, but Misty Cloud, one of Whispering Bamboo''s two guild leaders, had a bad feeling. She had noticed Ethan''s hiding spot earlier. When the system broadcasted his coordinates, she knew exactly where he was. She also saw him leave toward the northern gate. And then¡ª Instead of storming into the city, Renegade Alliance split into four groups and left in different directions. NotADruid? He didn''t even look back. That confirmed her suspicion. This entire mess was his fault. And now he was gone. Misty Cloud''s scouts had overheard Ethan''s conversation. He had flat-out said that the Evolved Ancient Riftwalker wouldn''t drop any loot. And if anyone knew what he was talking about, it was him. A Demigod-tier boss should be an irresistible prize. Even if a guild lost thousands of players, the potential rewards were worth the cost. Yet, NotADruid, the Newbie King, the so-called Druid God¡ªhad chosen to walk away. Misty Cloud hesitated, then gave the order. "We''re pulling out." She trusted her instincts. But that didn''t mean she was done here. The Riftwalker might not drop gear¡­ but once the meatheads in town turned on each other, there''d be plenty of loot lying around. She just had to wait for the right moment. --- "The Riftwalker is almost dead! Get ready to loot!" Someone''s voice cut through the battlefield, triggering a frenzy. Players rushed forward, desperate to land the final hit. Another wave of ranged attacks rained down, chipping away at the last of its HP. Individually, each attack did barely any damage. But with thousands of players, NPC guards, and siege weapons blasting it simultaneously, It was only a matter of time. Another volley of cannon fire erupted. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. The Riftwalker collapsed. And then, Its body vanished instantly. For a moment, silence reigned. "Where''s the loot?!" "Who took the drops?!" "It had to be someone nearby¡ªKILL THEM!" sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The melee players surrounding the Riftwalker¡ªdrawn from every major guild, had no idea what had just happened. So they did the logical thing. They started murdering each other. A Dual-Blade Warrior from Eternal Glory was the first to snap. Activating Berserk Mode, he lunged at the nearest player who, just minutes ago, had been his ally. Before his blades could land, dozens of spells crashed down on him at once. He vanished in a flash of white light, along with the poor bastard he had attacked. And then, the real massacre began. Ranged players, still high on adrenaline, turned on the very melee fighters who had risked their lives to protect them. They unleashed their most powerful spells and skills, faster than they had against the boss. "FUCK!" Marcus Skeiner, watching his free loot slip through his fingers, snapped. "SCREW IT! KILL THEM ALL!" He assumed¡ªlike everyone else, that some bastard had ninja-looted the drops. And so, Blade Syndicate, Wasteland Dominion, Eternal Glory, Unrivaled Honor, and dozens of smaller guilds lunged into an all-out war. Magic exploded in all directions. Warriors charged forward, spinning their blades, only to be blown to pieces before they even reached their targets. A Mage tried to retreat¡ªonly for eight Rogues to materialize behind him, gutting him instantly. The Rogues? They were immediately shredded by a storm of arrows. For ten straight minutes, the battle raged. By the time the chaos settled, every single player had lost 1-2 levels from constant deaths. The once crowded battlefield was now a graveyard, littered with countless corpses and abandoned loot. At some point, everyone just stopped fighting. The guild leaders stared at each other, then at what was left of their forces. Each guild had started with thousands of players. Now? Most had barely 200-300 left. Just then, a new force stormed through the northern gate. Over four thousand players. And they were all women. Chapter 135 - 135: Trap Everything currently happening in Duskridge had nothing to do with Ethan. Right now, he was carrying Lyla on his back, heading north at first, then veering east. After reaching the coastline, they found a stretch of beach, plopped down, and basked in the sea breeze, watching the waves roll in. The system reported Ethan''s location every ten minutes. Yet, for over four hours, they stayed put. At this point, Ethan had been holding onto the Divine Ability Scroll for six hours. Time was running down. In reality, it was already 8 PM. Normally, Ethereal would be offline by now, entering its daily sleep mode. But today, because of Ethan''s acquisition of the Divine Ability Scroll, the game remained open. As Ethan and Lyla played by the shore, he noticed more and more scouts lurking nearby. Back in Harmony City, several major guilds had suffered massive losses because of that Demigod-tier Boss. Only Whispering Bamboo had managed to walk away with a fortune. Of course, Renegade Alliance had also gained control over four towns. But all their attention remained on Ethan. Seeing that his coordinates hadn''t changed in three or four hours, they got suspicious. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Naturally, they assumed Ethan had brought a massive force of thousands and was camping there. Badly wounded from their recent defeats, none of the guilds wanted to make the first move. "Let''s go. Too many flies buzzing around." With Lyla still on his back, Ethan started moving south along the shoreline. The scouts watching him immediately sent reports back to their guilds. That''s when they realized¡ªEthan wasn''t leading an army. He was just hanging out with a girl, sightseeing. Then, he shifted into Stag Form. At that point, no one could possibly keep up with him. He kept heading south, stopping again to take in the scenery. Again. And again. The guild leaders, at first, thought Ethan was taunting them. But when he hit the ten-hour mark with the Divine Ability Scroll, they couldn''t sit still anymore. Elite squads were sent out, converging on the coordinates reported by the system. Ethan and Lyla, like startled deer, bolted the moment anyone got close. Time was running out. Frustrated, the guild leaders took charge themselves, leading the chase. From their perspective, Ethan was running in a panic, taking random paths to escape. Until, to their surprise, he sprinted straight into Redridge Mountain. Everyone knew Redridge was a maze¡ªmountains overlapping to form countless valleys and dead ends. "Boss, they ran into that gorge ahead! Our guys say it''s long, but there''s no way out." The guild leaders from Wasteland Dominion, Eternal Glory, and Unrivaled Honor all received the same report. "Where the hell is Blade Syndicate?" one of them asked. The three guilds had formed an alliance after their devastating loss earlier. Along with Marcus Skeiner, they were now four guilds strong. "That dumbass Marcus? He''s probably lost," scoffed Wasteland Dominion''s leader, Nocturne. "Tch. If we hadn''t taken such a beating, I wouldn''t even bother working with him. His guild is full of idiots," sneered Eternal Glory''s leader, Tyrant Solitude. Unrivaled Honor''s leader, Frostbite, sighed. "Back in Duskridge, we had everything settled with those women from Whispering Bamboo¡ªthey''d take 30% of the loot, we''d split the rest. But then Renegade Alliance came out of nowhere, surrounded us from four directions, and crushed us. And to top it off, they didn''t even pretend to play fair. Just straight-up wiped us out. Those Bitches from Whispering Bamboo really left us out to dry." "They probably sided with Renegade Alliance," Nocturne muttered. "Think about it, did any of you see them when we were fighting the Boss? When we were killing each other over loot, did they show up? No. They waited until we were all battered and exhausted before jumping in. And Renegade Alliance? They showed up right after that¡ªafter they''d already secured control of four towns. This was a disaster. Renegade Alliance walked away with everything. I heard they only took half of our dropped loot and handed the other half to Whispering Bamboo." Tyrant Solitude''s expression darkened. "Just thinking about it pisses me off. If Blade Syndicate hadn''t started that fight, we wouldn''t have gone at each other''s throats. And now we have to ally with Marcus Skeiner? That''s even worse." "Shut it. They''re here." A squad approached from the distance, led by none other than Marcus Skeiner himself. He didn''t bother with greetings. "Hey! They went inside?" The three guild leaders acted like they didn''t hear him. Who did he think he was, barking orders at them? "Hey! I''m talking to you," Marcus repeated. Tyrant Solitude finally snapped. "Who the hell do you think you''re talking to? We''re partners, not your lackeys. If you wanna know so badly, go in and see for yourself. I''m done with this." Without another word, he waved for his men to withdraw from the canyon entrance. Marcus stood there, stunned. Then rage took over. No one had ever spoken to him like that. He was about to explode when Nocturne and Frostbite quickly stepped in. "Come on, Marcus, don''t waste your breath," Nocturne said smoothly. "Tyrant Solitude''s always been hot-tempered. Look on the bright side¡ªnow that he''s out, that''s one less guild we have to split the loot with." That seemed to calm him down. "Hmph. Fine. Let''s move. Block them inside the canyon." The remaining three guilds¡ª12,000 players in total, flooded into the gorge. The passage was narrow, barely wide enough for four people to walk side by side. Marcus led the charge. At the End of the Canyon Ethan lounged under the shade of a massive umbrella. Beside him, Lyla relaxed on a beach chair, happily munching on fruit they had bought from the system store. "Ethan, are you sure about this? We just made enemies out of three guilds." "And? If you kill, be prepared to be killed. They want my head? They better be ready to lose theirs. Besides, in Harmony City, only two Level 4 guilds matter¡ªus and Blade Syndicate. This fight was always going to happen." Ethan stretched lazily, unconcerned as a message came in from Skyblade. "Boss, Marcus Skeiner is 2,000 meters away." Ethan''s gaze flicked to the horizon, where dust clouds were beginning to rise. "They all inside yet?" he asked. "Almost. By the time you meet Marcus, their entire force will be in the canyon." Ethan stood, folding up the beach chairs and packing away the snacks. "Lyla, time to go. We''ve toyed with them long enough. Time to spring the trap." Then, sending another message to Skyblade, he said: "Tell Tyrant Solitude and Whispering Bamboo to get ready." Chapter 136 - 136: The Perfect Trap Tyrant Solitude''s ''retreating'' force was actually lying in wait just beyond the canyon entrance, hidden in a nearby ravine. At the same time, Whispering Bamboo had arrived and joined up with him. Skyblade relayed the update. Meanwhile, Marcus Skeiner and his men had closed in¡ªless than 500 meters from Ethan. From this distance, he could already see Ethan and Lyla backed up against the canyon wall. Ethan''s expression was one of sheer terror. Marcus sneered. ''Finally caught you.'' He slowed his advance, stopping just shy of 100 meters from them. "NotADruid? Ha! Let''s see where you run this time!" he called out mockingly. Hearing that, Ethan chuckled. His frightened look vanished instantly. "Run? Who''s running? I was just enjoying the view. Beautiful scenery, don''t you think? Stopped here to rest for a bit, that''s all." The three guild leaders stiffened. Why was he still so calm? Did he have a trick up his sleeve? Nocturne, the Wasteland Dominion leader, was an older man in his fifties. He scanned the surroundings, his instincts on high alert. Could there be an ambush? "Gentlemen, let''s finish this quickly. The longer we wait, the greater the risk," he urged. Frostbite scoffed. "Getting paranoid in your old age, Nocturne? I already had men scout the cliffs. There''s no way up unless they can fly." Hearing that, Marcus and Nocturne relaxed slightly. Marcus raised his hand to signal his men. "NotADruid, let''s settle this. Old grudges, new grudges¡ª" Before he could finish, Ethan cut him off. "Uh, yeah, I''m gonna have to pass on that. You guys take your time hashing it out. I''ll be heading out now. Bye." Ethan and Lyla exchanged a quick glance. Then, in a flash, Ethan pulled out a Grappling Launcher and fired it at the cliff behind him. Bang! A rope shot upward and latched onto the rock face. "Shit! That''s a Grappling Launcher! Those things cost 50 gold each, and they''re actually using them?" Nocturne shouted. Before anyone could react, Ethan and Lyla were already climbing fast¡ªscaling 10 meters in seconds. "Archers! Shoot them down!" Marcus bellowed. "Boss, the ranged fighters are in the back! They''re not in position!" one of his men yelled back. In an instant, the melee players scrambled aside, clearing a narrow path for their ranged allies to advance. Before they could even take aim¡ª BOOM! A cannon shell crashed into the ground, exploding just 10 meters in front of Marcus. "Damn it! Stop spamming skills if you''re out of range! You''re just wasting mana!" Marcus roared. BOOM! WHOOSH! Suddenly, waves of magical energy surged through the air. Arrows. Bullets. Cannon shells. Magic spells. A rain of death poured down from above. "This isn''t us¡ªit''s coming from the cliffs!" a panicked player shouted, only to be obliterated by a barrage of attacks. The three guild leaders finally looked up and saw dozens, no, hundreds of players standing atop the canyon walls. Hurling down spells like mana was free. "It''s over!" Nocturne stumbled, nearly falling. "Switch formation! Rear team to the front! Break out!" Marcus Skeiner barked, somehow still the calmest among them. "Boss! The entrance is blocked¡ªit''s Eternal Glory and Whispering Bamboo!" "What?! Break through! Move, now!" Above them, the sky was pure chaos. Explosions. Arrows. A rain of magic. The canyon became a massacre. What was supposed to be a three-guild assault turned into a perfect ambush orchestrated by Renegade Alliance. It was over in ten minutes. Blade Syndicate, Wasteland Dominion, and Unrivaled Honor¡ªall 12,000 players who entered the gorge¡ªwere wiped out. Renegade Alliance? Not a single casualty. Their only expense was ten barrels of Grappling Launchers, costing a total of 500 gold. Each rope could last long enough for 20 players to climb. Each barrel contained 10 ropes. Atop the cliffs, Renegade Alliance had 2,000 ranged players, all with powerful AoE skills. Eternal Glory and Whispering Bamboo took heavier losses since they had to block the escape route head-on. Each guild sent 4,000 players. By the time the dust settled, 2,000 of their own had fallen. But since their guildmates looted all the fallen gear, the only real loss was 20% experience. When all was said and done, Renegade Alliance spent the most gold, but also gained the most loot. Of the 12,000 pieces of gear dropped in the canyon, Renegade Alliance claimed 70%. Ethan earned far more than the other two guilds combined. As for Blade Syndicate and its allies, they were left utterly broken. Wiped twice in a single day. The aftermath? Total silence in all three guilds. --- DING! [System Announcement: Congratulations to player ''NotADruid'' for successfully defending the Divine Ability Scroll: Teleportation!] Teleportation (Divine): Allows the player to set 20 teleportation points and freely teleport between them within a 100 km radius. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. (Usable 5 minutes after exiting combat.) The entire game world saw the message. What should have been pure chaos in the Northern Frontier had instead been a flawless victory. Ethan himself was a little surprised. In his previous life, every single time a Divine Ability appeared, Ethereal would descend into madness. His original plan was simple: Since mounts hadn''t been unlocked yet, he intended to run for 12 hours straight, relying on his superior speed. But everything changed in Duskridge. When he noticed Whispering Bamboo''s guild leader, Misty Cloud, tailing him, he had an idea. She was sharp. So, he had Celia approach her, to see if an alliance was possible. He hadn''t expected Misty Cloud to agree instantly. Then, Eternal Glory also joined in, another unexpected twist. As it turned out, Whispering Bamboo''s second guild leader, Riverleaf, was an old classmate of Tyrant Solitude. And Tyrant Solitude? He''d been in love with her for years. So when Riverleaf approached him, there was never any doubt. That led to the canyon ambush. Tyrant Solitude pretended to ally with Marcus Skeiner¡­Only to lead them straight into the trap. Then, right before the ambush was sprung, he broke ties with Marcus, withdrew from their sight, and hid in the ravine¡ªwaiting to strike. Step by step, the plan unfolded. And while Ethan had proposed the possibilities¡­Celia, Riverleaf, and Misty Cloud had designed every detail. Even the "cat-and-mouse chase" across the coastline was just an illusion¡ªmeant to trick Blade Syndicate into thinking Ethan was desperately running. Chapter 137 - 137: Shadowless Ethan had chosen the final destination, but it was the three women who mapped out his entire escape route. Every step, every turn, meticulously planned. Even Tyrant Solitude''s role¡ªmanipulating the other guild leaders into chasing Ethan, guiding them straight into the ambush, had been scripted by them. There''s a saying: When three women join forces, the world shifts. But when three brilliant women scheme together, it becomes a storm no one can outrun. After running around Ethereal for over ten hours, Ethan finally felt a hint of exhaustion. With the guild war concluded, he left the battlefield cleanup to Skyblade and the others. As for dividing the spoils among the allied guilds? Celia had already negotiated the terms. Renegade Alliance would loot the battlefield first, catalog everything, and take 70% of the rewards. The remaining 30% would be split evenly between Whispering Bamboo and Eternal Glory. On the surface, the split seemed unfair, but the two guilds were thrilled. After all, they had zero upfront investment, minimal losses, and only lost a bit of experience from fallen players. Once everything was settled, Ethan activated the Divine Ability: Teleportation. His first teleportation marker? Right here, on top of the steep mountain cliffs. --- During the loot division, Tyrant Solitude was caught off guard. Celia unexpectedly returned a portion of the loot Renegade Alliance had taken from Duskridge earlier. It wasn''t much, but it was just enough to cover his guild''s previous losses. At first, he had no complaints¡ªsimply breaking even was already a blessing after today''s war. But Renegade Alliance''s move¡­ It bought his loyalty. Teaming up with a guild like this? He could rest easy. On paper, they were both Level 4 guilds. But deep down, he knew the truth, his guild could never match Renegade Alliance''s sheer strength. It wasn''t just about ordinary members¡ªsure, they might be similar in skill. But Renegade''s core elite? They were on a whole different level. Tyrant Solitude had witnessed it firsthand during the battle in Duskridge. Renegade Alliance had sent four squads, each led by monsters in human form. Skyblade and SeraphWarrior were frontline powerhouses that tore through enemies with brute force. Meatball, the warlock, summoning over twenty demons at once¡ªeach with different abilities, each handling crowd control, ranged attacks, and melee combat simultaneously. That one guy alone had the power of an entire raid team. And then there was Slashblade¡­ A holy priest, but not the kind that stayed in the back healing. No. He wielded his staff like a club, bashing heads in. Whenever someone hit him, he''d simply heal himself back to full. Then, once his spells were off cooldown¡ªHoly Smite, Divine Fire, Judgment. He''d unleash a full combo, then go right back to clubbing people. A combat medic in the most literal sense. What Tyrant Solitude didn''t know, however, was that Slashblade''s ridiculous playstyle was all thanks to Ethan''s Wishbound Relic. Without enhanced reinforcement, there''d be no boosted defense. Without boosted defense, no cloth-wearing priest would ever dare charge into melee. But as for that secret, only six people knew. --- Logging Off With everything settled, Ethan grabbed Lyla and logged out of Ethereal. The moment he was back in reality, he checked his phone. He had missed a text from Celeste. It had arrived while he was running from Crowling God Anzu, and he hadn''t had time to read it. Later, Slashblade had mentioned that Celeste had been trying to reach him. Apparently, a mission had been assigned, and she was waiting for his confirmation. Since she knew he couldn''t log out for twelve hours, and they weren''t friends in-game, she had sent him a text instead. When Ethan hadn''t responded, she had relayed the message through Slashblade. She also left a note¡ª "Next time you log in, disable auto-reject on friend requests. Or better yet, just add me. I don''t have time to hunt you down every time we need to talk." Ethan dialed the number. "Senior, we''re done here." A cold, slightly weary voice came through. "Mm. I know. I''ll come find you this afternoon." Then¡ªclick. She hung up without another word. Ethan stared at his phone, baffled. What the hell? Who pissed her off this time? ''Wait¡­ don''t tell me it''s that time of the month?'' He shrugged and tossed the phone aside. Not his problem. --- Stepping out of his room, he saw Lyla emerging from hers at the same time. And then¡ª Oh. Oh, damn. She had been dressing quite daring around the house lately, but today? Today was something else. A thin crop top. A tiny pair of cotton shorts. And¡­ wait, was she wearing anything underneath? His eyes narrowed slightly. "Lyla¡­ you''re playing with fire." His gaze trailed over her, appreciating the view. Lyla blushed but held his stare. "You don''t like it? I can change if you want." "No, no¡ªlove it. Perfect. Don''t change." Ethan grinned and pulled her close, one arm sliding around her waist. His fingers brushed against her soft, bare skin. Lyla gasped lightly, shooting him a half-hearted glare but making no move to stop him. With her still in his arms, he led the way downstairs. It was already noon. Neither of them had eaten since logging into Ethereal the night before. Taking the hint, Ethan went straight to the kitchen and whipped up a simple pot of chicken and dumplings. They devoured it. Just as they finished, Lyla stood up to clear the dishes. But right then¡ª Ding-dong. The doorbell rang. Ethan glanced at the monitor. It was Celeste. Just as he was about to open the door, Lyla panicked. "I need to change!" She ditched the dishes and bolted upstairs. Ethan smirked. ''Guess that outfit really was just for me.'' He opened the door and Celeste strode in, her face cold as ever. "You got food?" Ethan blinked. "Uh¡­ there''s some soup left, if you¡ª" Before he even finished, Celeste was already at the table, digging in. Like she hadn''t eaten in days. "Hey, slow down. I can make more if you need¡ª" Thirty seconds, that''s all it took. She downed two full bowls in that time. Then she sat back, wiped her mouth, and scowled. "You made this?" "Yeah." "...Tastes awful." "¡­" Ethan almost cussed her out. But then he took another look at her. The dark circles under her eyes. The slightly hollow cheeks¡­ She looked drained. "Okay, seriously. When''s the last time you ate?" He sat across from her. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Celeste slumped back in her chair. "A full day. No food, no sleep." Then she straightened up. "Get Victor and the others. We need to talk. This case is¡­ different. Be ready." "Different how?" Ethan frowned. Celeste gave him a look. "You''re in the Ninth Division. You should already know¡ªwe handle anything that isn''t normal. There''s no checklist, no rules. If it''s unnatural, it''s ours." Ethan nodded slowly. He headed upstairs to grab his phone, and when he came back down, Celeste was slumped over the table, asleep. Ethan sighed, about to wake her so she could rest properly, but then, three steps away, he froze. A cold chill shot up his spine. His breath caught in his throat. His gaze slowly lowered to the floor. There, the table had a shadow. The chairs had shadows. But Celeste? Celeste had none. Chapter 138 - 138: Shadow Eater Lyla had just finished changing. She walked downstairs and made her way to Ethan. At the dining table, Celeste was passed out, head resting on her folded arms. "Bro, why is she so exhausted?" Lyla asked. Ethan didn''t answer. He was staring blankly at the floor. "Bro?" Lyla tilted her head, following his gaze. At first, she didn''t notice anything strange, two seconds later, her body stiffened. She grabbed Ethan''s arm with one hand while pointing at the floor with the other. Ethan reacted instantly, clamping a hand over her mouth. Under Lyla''s wide-eyed, terrified stare, he dragged her outside the villa. Once outside, he let her go. "Ethan¡­ Celeste''s shadow¡­" "I saw it," Ethan muttered, his brows knitted together. Just then, Victor walked out of the villa across the street. Noticing their tense expressions, he frowned. "What''s going on?" Ethan recounted what had just happened. Victor''s face paled. Even as a skeptic, he couldn''t deny it¡ªthis was beyond unsettling. As regular people, they had heard countless stories about ghosts and spirits. But now, was Celeste¡­ no longer human? The three of them stood there in silence. It wasn''t until Leo and Williams arrived from the gym that the tension broke. Seeing the trio standing stiffly outside, Leo raised a brow. "What''s with you guys?" Victor relayed what Ethan had told him. "Holy shit¡­" Leo''s first instinct was to rush straight into the villa. But just as he reached the door, he stopped short. Right. He didn''t have the key. "Ethan! Open up!" Ethan glanced at Victor. Victor arched a brow as if to say, "See? Told you." Ethan let out a wry chuckle and shook his head. He understood exactly what Victor meant. Leo, practically bouncing with impatience, reinforced Victor''s point even more. Sighing, Ethan unlocked the door, Leo was the first to charge inside. As expected, the moment he saw it, he froze. The rest of them followed him into the dining room, where Victor and Williams immediately fell silent, jaws dropping. The five of them stood three or four meters away from Celeste, staring at her in eerie silence. Time ticked by. The shadows cast by the dining table gradually shifted as the hours passed. After nearly two hours, Celeste stirred. Slowly, she sat up. And that was when they saw something even more horrifying. Her shadow¡­ At first, it wasn''t there, then, faint traces of gray emerged, growing darker until it fully reappeared. The whole process took no more than five seconds, exactly the time it took for her to wake up, sit upright, and stretch lazily. A shiver ran through all five of them. Celeste, still mid-stretch, tilted her head¡ªand immediately froze at the sight of them standing in a neat row, staring at her. Lowering her arms, she forced a smile, looking awkward. "You guys saw that?" "Uh-huh¡­ Nope!" They all nodded¡­ then, almost in perfect sync, shook their heads. Celeste let out a soft chuckle. She lowered her gaze to her shadow. "Did it fade¡­ or disappear completely?" The group exchanged glances. Finally, Leo stammered, "It¡­ it completely disappeared." Hearing this, a wry smile tugged at Celeste''s lips. "Looks like¡­ my time is running out." "You¡ªyou''re not a ghost?" Leo voiced the question they were all too afraid to ask. Celeste slowly shook her head. Then, without another word, she stood up. She unfastened the top button of her blouse and swept her long hair forward, draping it over her shoulders. No one knew what she was doing. Turning her back to them, she pulled her shirt down, revealing her bare shoulders. "Lyla, give me a hand," she said, glancing over her shoulder. Lyla hesitated for a moment before stepping behind Celeste. "Help me unfasten it," Celeste said calmly. Lyla blinked in surprise but reached out, unhooking the clasp on Celeste''s bra. The moment she did, she let out a small gasp. Without a hint of hesitation, Celeste stepped aside. Lyla had been blocking everyone''s view, but now, with that single step, her entire back was exposed. "What the¡­" A grotesque, crimson mark¡ªabout the size of a coin was imprinted on Celeste''s pale skin. It was a snarling, blood-red face. A demonic visage, twisted in rage, its presence stark against her smooth back. Seeing that everyone had gotten a good look, Celeste gave Lyla a nod. Lyla quickly re-fastened the clasp, the mark disappearing beneath the strap. Adjusting her clothes, Celeste finally spoke. "This thing is tied to our mission." Victor narrowed his eyes. "What is it?" "We call it¡­ a Shadow Eater." Leo crossed his arms. "So what, it just¡­ eats shadows? What''s the real danger? And how the hell did you end up with it?" There was something oddly genuine in his concern, though he tried to mask it. Celeste shot him a glance but continued. "We don''t have all the answers. What we do know is that once someone is infected, their shadow starts fading while they sleep. "Eventually, it disappears completely. That''s when this mark appears¡ªstarting at the ankle. When it first shows up, it''s just a tiny red dot. No one notices it. But it keeps growing. Slowly crawling upward¡­ until it reaches the top of the head." Leo frowned. "And then?" Celeste shot him a warning look. "If you interrupt me again, I''ll rip your damn tongue out." "Uh¡­" Leo froze. The others snickered. Celeste continued. "When it reaches the head, you die. And not just a normal death. Your entire body shrivels up¡ªskin, muscle, organs, all dried out. Your brain becomes completely hollow." A heavy silence settled over the room. "Our mission is to put an end to this," Celeste said, pulling a thick folder from her bag and tossing it onto the table. Ethan stepped forward and opened it. The first thing he saw was the title: Shadow Eater Case¡ªa name assigned by the Ninth Division. The case had started a year ago, when eleven people mysteriously died, one after another. Celeste¡­ was the only survivor. Six months later, a second group of twelve people. All dead. One month ago, a third group¡ªanother twelve, all marked. The symbol had already reached their waists. And all thirty-six victims shared something in common. First: Every single one of them was an operative from the Ninth Division. Second: They had all received classified orders before vanishing. Third: When they returned, none of them could remember what those orders were. They had no memory of where they had gone. They couldn''t even recall who they had been with. Ethan''s eyes flicked up to Celeste. "You were on the first list? But how¡­" He didn''t finish the question. Celeste answered anyway. "You''re wondering why I''m still alive?" She smirked. "Simple. I have chronic insomnia." Ethan suddenly understood. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The documents had stated clearly that the Shadow Eater only spreads while its host is asleep. Ethan had been torn about taking on this mission because Morzan had warned him, he only had five years. In five years, the Cataclysm would begin. Would this mission get in the way of his growth in Ethereal? Morzan had said it himself¡ªthe stronger you are in the game, the stronger you become in reality. And only by getting stronger¡­ would Ethan stand a chance of surviving what was coming. Chapter 139 - 139: Departure But if they didn''t go, Celeste would eventually succumb to the Shadow Eater. She had only survived the first wave because of her chronic insomnia. This time, they had no choice. Victor spread the documents across the table, scanning through them. After a moment, he frowned. "According to the reports, we should retrace the locations where the previous victims were sent after receiving their classified orders. "But¡­" He tapped the page. "It says here that every single one of them lost their memories after returning. "Captain, do you remember anything?" Victor''s ability to cut straight to the point was exactly why he''d made a good leader in the military. Celeste shook her head. "Nothing." "Then where exactly is our mission taking us?" "Ravenwood," Celeste said. There was something¡­ off about her tone. A flicker of hesitation. A moment ago, she claimed she couldn''t remember. Now, she suddenly had an exact location. And her reaction made everyone suspicious. They stared at her, waiting. Celeste cleared her throat. "I¡­ found something in my inventory that doesn''t belong to me. It might be something I forgot. The tag on it has the Ravenwood insignia." She kept her eyes glued to the documents as she spoke, avoiding their gazes. Which was strange. Celeste wasn''t the type to dodge eye contact, she always looked people straight in the eye. But right now¡­ she was definitely hiding something. "C-Captain," Leo said hesitantly. "Are you sure it''s not just a mix-up? Even if it has a location tag, that doesn''t mean you actually got it from there." He was trying to reason with her, but the way he addressed her¡ªCaptain, felt oddly forced, like he wasn''t used to saying it. Still, the others agreed with his logic. Celeste finally looked up and fixed Leo with an icy stare. A chill ran down his spine. Did I say something wrong? He couldn''t recall anything out of line, but the way she was looking at him made it seem like she was about to kill him. After a long, tense moment, Celeste rolled her eyes, then reached into her pocket. She pulled out a small, black bundle. Without another word, she tossed it onto the table and headed for the door. "Get ready. We leave in two hours. Meet at Peachtree Airport." The second the door shut behind her, Leo¡ªever the curious one, reached for the bundle. "Whoa¡ª!" The moment he unwrapped it, he nearly flung it back onto the table. It landed softly, unfolding before their eyes. For a second, no one spoke. Lyla''s face turned red as she quickly looked away. The four men, however, just stared at each other. Then at the lacy, black thong lying on the table. Leo had been quick to suggest it was a mix-up. Yeah. Not anymore. So the "Ravenwood insignia" Celeste mentioned¡­ was on this? For a long moment, nobody moved. Finally, Lyla stepped forward, plucking a small white tag from the fabric. Stamped on it was an oval-shaped logo. Ravenwood National Park Resort ¨C Exclusive Item. The truth was out. Williams clicked his tongue. "No wonder the Captain was embarrassed. This is your fault, Leo." "Yeah, definitely Leo''s fault," Victor added, turning to leave. "Wait¡ªI¡ª!" Leo sputtered, looking for a defense. Lyla scoffed, picking up the underwear. "You''re such a perv," she muttered before heading upstairs. Leo was left staring at the ceiling, questioning his life choices. Ethan patted his shoulder with a sympathetic shake of his head. Then, without another word, he sighed and followed the others upstairs. Leo stood alone, utterly baffled. "Weren''t all of you doubting her just now? How did this suddenly become my fault?" ___ sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Two hours later. Lyla stood outside Peachtree Airport, watching the plane ascend. Tears welled in her eyes as she watched it vanish into the sky. Softly, she whispered, "Goodbye, Ethan." Inside the plane, Ethan absentmindedly touched his lips. He could still taste the faint sweetness of Lyla''s lip balm. She had kissed him. Out of nowhere. That little troublemaker¡­ She had been so worried about him, hesitating to speak multiple times before their departure. Ethan grinned, glancing out the window as the plane climbed. Then, out of nowhere, a sharp pain stabbed through his chest. It disappeared just as quickly, so he brushed it off as nerves from his first flight. Despite having lived two lives, this was somehow his first time flying. He gazed out for a while, but once the plane entered the thick clouds, everything outside turned into a dull, gray mist. With nothing to see, he shut his eyes to rest. Before he knew it, he was asleep. A light slap on his arm woke him. Leo was standing over him. "We''ve landed." The five of them had brought nothing, completely light-packed. Which was quite a contrast to how Ethan had left Ember City. Back at the villa, he had packed everything. Extra clothes, toiletries, even his VR headset. Leo and Victor had laughed at him the whole time, but he hadn''t understood why¡ªuntil they reached the airport. Celeste had looked at him, deadpan. "Are you moving out?" Then she dropped the bomb. "You''re not bringing any of that." And just like that, Ethan understood why the others had been snickering. Apparently, he was the only one who didn''t know the rules. A complete rookie. With no choice, he had to hand everything off to Lyla before boarding. Still, he had asked, just to be sure. "Not even my VR headset?" Celeste didn''t even dignify that with a response. She just turned and walked away. That silence said everything. After landing, Celeste led them to a parking lot. They walked until they reached a rugged black Hummer. Williams exchanged a glance with Celeste, then pointed to the front tire. Victor nodded, crouched down, and slid under the vehicle. A few moments later, he emerged, holding a key. No one spoke on the way. It wasn''t awkward, just¡­ silent. Ethan, however, felt completely out of the loop. Forget understanding¡ªhe didn''t even have the faintest idea what was happening. As for the others, with just one glance or one nod, they all knew what to do. Meanwhile, Ethan felt absolutely lost. After getting in, Leo reached under the backseat and pulled out five heavy-duty backpacks. He tossed one straight to Ethan. The moment Ethan caught it, he almost staggered under the weight. "Damn," he muttered, testing it with his hands. Easily 160 pounds. What the hell was inside this thing? Bricks? Curious, he unzipped it and started digging through. And immediately, he understood. Inside was a full survival kit¡ªclimbing gear, thick boots, a sleeping bag¡­ and weapons. A handgun. A submachine gun. A machete. Ropes. It was basically a mobile arsenal. Ethan pulled out the pistol, inspecting it. He had no clue what model it was. "You know how to use that?" Leo asked. Ethan shook his head. Leo smirked. "I''ll teach you when we reach the mountains." Williams hit the gas, gunning the Hummer down the road. Celeste fed him the coordinates. Their destination was a place just beyond the famous Warrior''s Rest. And whatever was waiting for them there¡­ Ethan had a feeling it wasn''t going to be pleasant. Chapter 140 - 140: The Sixth Member They drove deep into the mountains. Ethan checked the coordinates Celeste had given him. The map showed nothing but endless green, no buildings, no landmarks. After roughly 200 kilometers, Williams brought the Hummer to a stop. "End of the road," he said. "Gear up. We''re heading out," Celeste ordered as she started stripping off her clothes. "Uh¡­" Ethan hesitated. "Should we at least get out of the car first?" Victor clapped him on the shoulder. "On a mission, there''s no room for modesty. Just survival." With that, the rest of them started changing right then and there, unfazed. Meanwhile, Ethan awkwardly stalled, feeling like a complete outsider. Barely a minute later, Celeste was fully geared up. She shot Ethan a glance. "You always this slow?" Then, without waiting for an answer, she hopped out of the vehicle. ''Are you kidding me¡­'' Ethan cursed internally. It took him over ten minutes to strap everything onto his body. By the time he was finally ready, the others had been waiting for ages. The sun had already set by the time they landed, and now, deep in the wilderness, it was past 11 PM. The mountain forest was deathly silent. A thick, eerie stillness surrounded them, sending a chill down Ethan''s spine. They hiked for over two hours, Ethan trailing behind Celeste. Finally, he couldn''t hold back anymore. "Where exactly are we going?" If he didn''t ask, these three military-trained blockheads would probably just follow orders blindly, even if it meant marching straight into a trap. Hell, if Celeste sold them off, they might even salute her on the way out. The moment Ethan spoke up, the other three turned to him with something almost like¡­ admiration. Turns out, they had the same question, just never dared to ask. Celeste slowed her pace. "Have you ever heard of the Shadow Lynx Incident?" Ethan frowned. Shadow Lynx? The moment she said it, a strange, chilling aura seemed to creep into the air. His scalp tingled. A shiver ran down his spine. Victor suddenly stopped walking, his face tense. "Captain¡­ You''re not saying we''re heading to Shadow Lynx Village, are you?" For the first time, there was real fear in his voice. Ethan had known Victor for a while now. The guy had spent half his life in the military, he wasn''t the type to get spooked. But now? He looked genuinely shaken. "You''ve heard of it?" Celeste asked, just as surprised. Victor nodded. "I had a hunch the moment we got here. I just didn''t want to believe it." Ethan''s curiosity burned. He stepped closer. "Alright, someone explain¡ªwhat the hell is this village? And what''s with the creepy name?" Victor glanced at Celeste. She didn''t stop him, so he sighed and started explaining. "Ten years ago, I was on a mission near this area. Our squad leader warned us¡ªnever go near that village. The local guide we hired said the same thing. Told us it was cursed." Victor hesitated before continuing. "As for the name Shadow Lynx¡­ That came from an old codename. The village''s real name? No one knows." Before Ethan could ask more, Celeste raised a hand. "We''ll set up camp here for now." Without hesitation, the others got to work. Victor, Leo, and Williams moved with military efficiency, pulling tents from their packs. Meanwhile, Williams sprinkled a fine yellow powder in a circle around the campsite. Ethan sniffed the air. The scent was a mix of sulfur and herbs, probably some kind of repellent for snakes and insects. In the past ten minutes, he had done absolutely nothing except stand there and watch. Within minutes, the others had the tents up and perimeter alarms set. If anyone¡ªor anything approached, they''d know. Ethan drew his machete. "I''ll grab some firewood." At least that was something he could do. He was about to gather firewood when Victor stopped him. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It''s almost November. The temperature''s dropping fast, especially out here in the mountains," Victor said. "But you''ve been watching too many movies. You start a fire here, and it''ll be visible for miles. We''re on a stealth mission." Ethan, feeling a little useless, wandered back to Celeste. The others soon joined them. Leo pulled a small package from his bag, dug a shallow hole in the center of their camp, and tossed the package inside. Then, he unscrewed a bottle of water and poured it over the package. The moment the water touched it, the material inside expanded, releasing a steady stream of heat. Ethan could feel the warmth radiating from it instantly. "Wait¡­ Is that quicklime?" he asked, realizing what it was. Leo grinned. "Compressed high-grade quicklime. A single bottle of water can keep it hot for four hours." No wonder they didn''t need a fire. The group gathered around, letting the warmth soak in. It was surprisingly effective, Ethan felt his body relax almost immediately. Celeste took a seat and scanned the group. "You five, get some rest. I''ll keep watch." Leo, munching on a protein bar, spoke up. "Come on, Captain. We''re not that tired yet. Why don''t you tell us more about that village?" Williams nodded. "Yeah, give us a little mental prep." Celeste glanced at Victor. Victor raised his hands. "I already told you everything I know." Before he could finish his sentence, Ethan suddenly shot to his feet. Everyone turned to look at him, confused. Ethan locked eyes with Celeste and spoke slowly. "You just said¡­ we five should rest." Victor and the others frowned, finally realizing what he meant. Apart from her, there were four of them, so why did she say we five? Celeste smiled but didn''t answer. Instead, she turned her head slightly, looking off to the side. The next moment, something appeared. A faint silhouette, growing more distinct by the second. Ethan''s breath hitched. "The squad always needed a sixth member," Celeste said casually. "I asked her to help." The translucent figure waved cheerfully. "Hey there! You can call me Doe. I''m a ghost." She looked like a teenage girl¡ªmaybe seventeen or eighteen. Ethan felt his skin crawl. A ghost? His instincts screamed at him to run. The others weren''t doing much better. Doe''s semi-transparent body matched every description of a classic ghost. Victor, usually the calmest of them all, looked like he''d seen death itself. Celeste smirked. "Come on, Doe. Stop messing with them." Then, she dropped a bombshell. "Besides, you''re older than the five of us combined. Stop acting like a kid." Ethan''s blood ran cold. Older than all of them combined? That meant¡­ over a hundred years old?! What the hell is she if not a ghost?! Seeing their horrified expressions, Celeste finally explained. "Relax. She is a ghost, but not the kind you''re thinking." Celeste nodded toward Ethan. "Like you, she''s a Soul-Wielder." The others stiffened. "A Soul-Wielder?" Leo asked. Celeste nodded. "Her physical body was destroyed a long time ago. But because of her powerful soul, she managed to persist in this form." The group fell silent, trying to process it all. Ethan, however, was more intrigued than afraid. This was the first time he''d ever met another Soul-Wielder. But¡­ wasn''t it said that Soul-Wielders were eliminated the moment they were discovered? Then how was Doe still alive? Chapter 141 - 141: Haunting Story Doe floated toward Ethan as soon as Celeste introduced her. Her translucent form hovered just beside him. Giggling, she turned to Celeste and teased, "He''s such a scaredy-cat! I blew a little air on the back of his neck earlier, and he started shivering all over." Ethan stiffened. No wonder he''d felt a constant chill creeping up his spine, it was this hundred-year-old ghost messing with him. Celeste chuckled. "Alright, Doe, tell them about the Shadow Lynx incident. You know that place better than anyone. Even I only learned about it through Ninth Division''s reports." Ethan noticed something strange, Celeste, usually so composed and distant, had been smiling ever since Doe showed up. So this was the expert Celeste had invited. Someone who knew the village of Shadow Lynx better than anyone. Doe sighed and plopped down beside Ethan. The playfulness in her expression faded as she settled into deep thought. Her translucent face turned solemn. Then, in a slow, steady voice, she began her story. "Almost fifty years ago, something strange happened in a remote village deep in Ravenwood. For centuries, the village had been completely isolated from the outside world. Even when the Serpent Isle invaded Dragonspire, it remained untouched. But in 1977, during Dragonspire''s rapid industrial expansion, the village received its first visitors, an official government drilling team sent to bring fresh water to remote mountain settlements. When the drillers arrived, the villagers refused to let them in. No matter how many times they explained their mission, they were met with nothing but rejection. The team, however, couldn''t just leave without completing their task. Failure meant disciplinary action. So their squad leader came up with a compromise: if they weren''t allowed inside, they''d dig just outside the village, close enough for the villagers to access the well without having to hike down the mountain. It was a win-win. The villagers got clean water, and the team completed their mission. After surveying the area, they picked a spot about twenty meters from the village entrance and began drilling. Normally, digging in a mountainous region was a nightmare. The team had struggled in the past, sometimes having to drill multiple times with no success. But this time, they hit water almost instantly. Within hours, fresh water gushed from the ground. The villagers, who had been cautiously watching from a distance, were shocked. These outsiders weren''t here to harm them¡ªthey had actually delivered what they promised. Suspicion turned into gratitude. Hostility gave way to warmth. The squad leader, relieved that their mission was going smoothly, ordered his men to seal the well temporarily and start digging around it to reinforce the structure. Back then, transporting cement to the mountains was impossible, meaning they couldn''t build a proper concrete well. Instead, they had to do it the old-fashioned way¡ªdigging by hand and reinforcing the walls with stone. They worked nonstop, only pausing when the sun dipped below the horizon. The squad leader had planned to push through the night, but then¡ª A sudden downpour. The villagers, now appreciative of the team''s efforts, insisted they come inside and offered them shelter from the rain. As they entered the village, the squad leader pointed at an empty courtyard. "Chief, we''ll just take shelter there. It''s vacant, right?" S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The village chief hesitated. "I''ve already arranged rooms at my place for you all. That courtyard¡­ it''s not clean." The squad leader waved a hand dismissively. "We don''t believe in that stuff. It''s close to the entrance, so we''ll rest there until the rain stops." The village chief, unable to convince him otherwise, reluctantly agreed. The courtyard seemed recently renovated, its walls freshly plastered, its roof sturdy with new tiles. It was spacious, with several rooms, enough to accommodate the entire squad and the drilling team. Forty-eight people squeezed into the house, setting up their temporary base. Some started cooking while others sorted their gear. It was only after the drilling team''s foreman, Old Man Carter, finished securing the drill machinery that he finally stepped inside. The moment he entered, his face changed. Without a word, he grabbed his team members and tried to drag them out. "Everyone, move out! Now!" he ordered, his voice urgent. The soldiers nearby were confused. A few even started arguing with him. Hearing the commotion, the squad leader rushed over from another room. "What''s going on?" Old Man Carter pointed at the wooden beams above them. His voice, already hoarse with age, whistled slightly as he spoke. "This house¡­ is cursed." The men followed his trembling finger, eyes trailing up to the ceiling. Carved into the wooden beam were seven deep slash marks. None of the soldiers, not even the squad leader, knew what they meant. Old Man Carter let out a slow, weary sigh. "Each mark represents a person who hanged themselves here." The room fell silent. "In Ravenwood," he continued, "when someone takes their life in a house, tradition says you must carve a mark into the beam. Seven marks¡­ means seven suicides. "Now do you understand why this place is abandoned?" Thunder rumbled. A flash of lightning split the sky, casting eerie shadows across the room. For a brief moment, it felt as if seven bodies were swaying from the rafters. The soldiers shuddered, but the squad leader wasn''t having it. "Superstitious nonsense," he scoffed. "This is exactly the kind of thinking we''re supposed to be moving past. You''re trying to scare everyone over some old carvings?" Back in the late ''70s, efforts to stamp out superstition were at their peak. As a ranking officer, he had no patience for talk of ghosts. Old Man Carter shook his head, knowing there was no convincing him. With a deep sigh, he turned to his son and daughter. "We''re leaving," he said firmly. "And you''re not going back in there." The rest of the drill team hesitated. At that moment, the food was ready. The warm aroma filled the air, washing away their unease. One by one, they shrugged off their doubts and sat down to eat. Old Man Carter and his children, however, refused to step foot inside again. They spent the night huddled in a donkey stable near the village entrance. Morning came. The rain finally stopped. And nothing happened. No hauntings. No strange occurrences. As the sun rose, the soldiers and drillers laughed off the old man''s fears, had breakfast, and got back to work. The rain had flooded the well overnight, turning it into a pit of thick mud and stagnant water. The squad leader ordered a few men to climb down and start clearing it out. That''s when it happened. A worker in the well let out a piercing, bloodcurdling scream. The kind of scream that raised every hair on the back of your neck. Everyone froze. Then, as one, they rushed to the well, leaning over the edge to see what was happening. But just as suddenly as it started, the screaming stopped. The man stood there, confused. "What the hell was that?" someone asked. The worker blinked. "What was what?" "The screaming! You were screaming like you were being skinned alive!" The man frowned. "I didn''t scream." Before anyone could react, three more men in the well started howling in unison. Their voices overlapped, wild and unnatural, sending chills down everyone''s spine. Then¡ªsilence. The three men straightened, looking around blankly. "What the hell''s wrong with you guys?" someone shouted. They looked up, confused. "Wrong with us? We didn''t say anything." A nervous chuckle spread through the crowd. "They''re messing with us," someone muttered. "Yeah," another said, shaking his head. "Bored out of their minds, trying to freak us out." With an uneasy laugh, they all went back to work¡ªbrushing off the incident, as if nothing had happened. But something had. Something had definitely happened. Chapter 142 - 142: Unearthed The crew spent the entire morning clearing out the mud. By the time they were ready to cook lunch, the sky, which had been clear all morning, suddenly darkened. In less than three minutes, thick storm clouds rolled in, and an even heavier downpour than the day before came crashing down. The squad leader cursed under his breath. If this kept up, all their morning''s work would be for nothing. Without hesitation, he assigned a few men to build a waterproof barrier around the well to keep more mud and rainwater from spilling in. They also threw up a plastic tarp over the opening as a makeshift shelter. Once everything was secured, everyone returned to the courtyard¡ªeveryone except Old Man Carter and his kids. The three of them remained huddled in the donkey stable, chewing on stale rations. The rain didn''t let up. It poured through the night and well into the next morning. This wasn''t even the rainy season. A storm like this shouldn''t have lasted this long. At dawn, the squad leader ordered the men back down into the well to resume clearing it out. Luckily, their previous efforts had paid off. Thanks to the waterproofing, the well hadn''t filled up as much as before. This time, four men climbed down to work. And then¡ªit happened again. Within minutes, all four started screaming at the top of their lungs. Unlike the day before, it didn''t stop after a few seconds. Their howls went on for a full minute, echoing from the depths of the well. At first, the others thought they were just messing around, playing the same prank as yesterday. But Old Man Carter''s expression darkened. "Pull them up! Now!" The rope crew scrambled to haul them back up. Strangely enough, the moment their heads emerged from the well, the screaming stopped. As if nothing had happened. Everyone gathered around, demanding answers. But the four men looked dazed and confused. They couldn''t remember a thing. The squad leader''s brows furrowed. These were trained soldiers, disciplined men, not the type to crack under pressure. But something about this whole situation felt off. A wave of unease spread through the group. Old Man Carter finally spoke. "This is too damn weird. I''m telling you, fill that well back up and drill somewhere else." The squad leader''s expression hardened. Three days. That''s how long his unit had been stuck in this village. Not a single well completed. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If his superiors found out, it would be a black mark on his record. There was no way he was letting some old man''s superstitions delay them further. His voice was firm. "No. We keep going." He handpicked four new men and sent them down. This time, nothing happened. Relieved, the squad leader decided to push forward. They''d wasted too much time already. By noon, he gave orders to skip the hot meal¡ªjust eat dry rations and keep working. Bucket after bucket of dirt was hauled up. The deeper they dug, the closer they got to hitting the underground water source. Then, a voice came from below. "Why the hell is Mark''s uniform down here?" One of the men at the bottom of the well yanked something out of the mud¡ªa military jacket. It was the same uniform they all wore, complete with the standard-issue name patch over the chest. It read: Third Battalion, Fourth Squad ¨C Mark Dawson That was strange enough. But what sent a chill through everyone was where they''d found it. Buried in the mud. The squad leader dismissed it at first. "He must''ve dropped it earlier, and no one noticed." It made sense. The heat had been unbearable, and plenty of men had taken off their jackets and tossed them aside while working. Just as he was about to call for Mark Dawson, a terrified shout erupted from the well. "PULL US UP! NOW!" The men topside didn''t ask questions. They rushed to haul them back up. As soon as the workers emerged, their faces were pale, bodies trembling. They were scared. Really scared. The squad leader''s patience snapped. "What the hell is wrong with you?" One of the men stammered, "C-Captain¡­ t-the clothes¡­ t-there''s more¡­" The squad leader scowled. "More what?" "The uniforms," the man whispered, voice shaking. "The whole bottom of the well¡­ it''s full of them. We¡ªwe dug them out of the dirt. Not dropped¡­ buried." The squad leader froze. For a moment, he just stood there, staring. Then, without a word, he grabbed a rope, tied it around his waist, and swung one leg over the edge of the well. "Lower me down. I need to see this for myself." Just as he was about to descend, a young soldier came sprinting from the village, stumbling so hard he nearly fell flat on his face. "Captain¡ªCaptain! Something''s happened!" The squad leader groaned in frustration. "What now?" The soldier gasped for breath, pointing toward the courtyard. His voice cracked as he stammered, "D-Dead¡­ there are dead men!" Everything stopped. The squad leader paled. Without another word, he leapt off the well''s edge and bolted toward the courtyard. A death on his watch? If this got out, his career was over. The others followed, abandoning their work at the well. When they reached the house, they skidded to a stop just outside the door. No one stepped inside. Some even took a few steps back. Every single soldier stood frozen in place, eyes wide with horror. Hanging from the main support beam were eight bodies. Eight men. Shirts stripped off, their bare torsos exposed. Their tongues lolled out grotesquely, lips curled unnaturally outward. Their bulging eyes strained from their sockets, faces twisted into terrifying grimaces. The sight was unnatural, wrong in a way that made the stomach twist. Old Man Carter, standing in the crowd, sucked in a sharp breath. His voice came out barely above a whisper. "Eight at once¡­? How?" The squad leader''s hands were slick with sweat. He forced himself to take a deep breath before barking out an order. "Cut them down! Everyone, arm yourselves. Lock down the village¡ªno one leaves." The moment those words left his mouth, a cold realization set in. He had to find a culprit. If he didn''t, he was done. His rank, his career¡ªeverything would be gone. As the soldiers moved into action, Old Man Carter took a slow drag from his pipe, his eyes fixed on the wooden beams above. He stepped into the house, gaze sweeping across the room, scanning the rafters. Then¡ªhe stopped. His eyes narrowed at a faint, almost invisible mark near the far end of the beam. It was an old cut, much older than the seven deep slashes they had seen before. Unlike those, this one was barely noticeable. It had been carved long ago, likely before the beam had even been stripped of its bark. To an untrained eye, it would look like a natural imperfection in the wood. But Old Man Carter wasn''t just anyone. Before the war, before everything, he had been a man who knew blades, who used blades. He had cut down his fair share of Serpent Isle invaders. And this? This was a blade mark. A very old one. Meanwhile, outside, the villagers had been rounded up. From the eldest elders to mothers clutching infants, every single one was gathered at the village entrance. A murmur of uneasy voices spread through the crowd. "What are you doing?" "You have no right to hold us here!" "This is no different from banditry! Is there no law anymore?" Despite their complaints, no one dared step forward to resist. The sight of armed soldiers kept them in check. The squad leader scanned the crowd, his expression dark. If he didn''t find a culprit soon, he knew what would happen to him the moment he reported back. Best case? A demotion. Worst case? A dishonorable discharge. Years of service, all gone. His voice was cold. "Someone in this village is responsible. Turn them over now, or you all take the fall." A tense silence settled. Then, the village chief spoke up. "I warned you," he said, his voice steady. "I told you that house wasn''t clean. You refused to listen. And now that something happened, you''re blaming us?" His words stoked the tension. Several villagers muttered in agreement, their earlier fear turning into resentment. The squad leader''s jaw tightened. Without thinking, he pulled his pistol and pressed it to the chief''s forehead. "Say that again," he growled. The villagers gasped, a few taking a step back. The chief, however, didn''t flinch. He simply looked the younger man in the eye and said, "Pull the trigger if you want. But don''t act like this isn''t on you." Before the squad leader could respond, Old Man Carter stepped out of the house. His gaze was distant, but his words were clear. "They killed themselves." Chapter 143 - 143: The Shadow Lynx Incident The squad leader''s face twisted in anger at Old Man Carter''s words. "How the hell could this be suicide? You''re telling me eight men all decided, at the exact same time, to hang themselves?" he barked. Old Man Carter snorted. "And you''re telling me this bunch of old folks, women, and kids managed to take down eight trained soldiers in one go?" The squad leader clenched his jaw. He hated to admit it, but the old man had a point. Looking at the villagers, he saw mostly elders and women. Only a handful of younger men stood among them, none of them looking remotely capable of overpowering his men. He knew what his soldiers were capable of. Even if someone had tried to take them by surprise, there was no way they''d all go down without a fight¡ªwithout making a sound. And then there was the boy. The soldier who had sounded the alarm earlier had mentioned something strange, there had been nine of them in the room that night. He had fallen asleep, and when he woke up, the other eight were hanging from the rafters. If this had been murder, why was he left alive? Before the squad leader could process this further, a man wearing glasses stepped out from the courtyard. He was older than most of the soldiers, his expression calm but serious. Seeing the squad leader still gripping the village chief by the collar, he quickly intervened, pulling them apart. "Easy, Hayes," he said. "This isn''t what you think." The squad leader scowled but loosened his grip. This man was Instructor Ross, the unit''s political officer. His family had been coroners for generations, and though he had never formally trained in the field, he had spent years studying old forensic manuscripts left behind by his ancestors. He had been inside the courtyard, examining the bodies. Now, standing before the squad leader, he spoke carefully. "They weren''t killed," he said. The squad leader stiffened. "You''re saying¡­ it really was suicide?" Instructor Ross hesitated, glancing at Old Man Carter before replying, "I''m only saying they weren''t murdered." The squad leader''s stomach twisted. Not murdered¡­? Then how¡ª? His thoughts screeched to a halt. Ghosts. The word crawled up his spine like a whisper. For a moment, he found himself staring at Old Man Carter. Those seven marks on the rafters¡­ could they really mean something? Before he could say anything, the men he had sent to check the well came running back. They were carrying eight uniforms. The same uniforms that belonged to the eight dead soldiers. The squad leader''s blood ran cold. "Where did you find these?" One of the men swallowed hard. "In the well, sir. Buried deep in the mud." "Someone tossed them down there?" "No, sir," the soldier said. "They weren''t tossed. We dug them out. And the dirt around them¡­ it hadn''t been disturbed." The squad leader felt his breath hitch. That made no sense. How could their uniforms have been buried under untouched earth? And yet, there they were. Eight bodies hanging, stripped to the waist. Their uniforms buried beneath layers of dirt, as if they had been underground for years. And worse¡­The eight men who had died? They were the same eight who had gone down into the well. The same eight who had screamed. The same eight who had clawed their way back up, confused and unable to remember. The squad leader felt his stomach churn. This wasn''t just unnatural. It was impossible. But the horror didn''t end there, because whatever happened next¡ªno one ever found out. Doe''s translucent figure paused in midair, her voice trailing off. Ethan and the others exchanged glances, confused. "What do you mean, ''no one found out''?" Ethan asked. Doe crossed her arms, her usually playful expression completely serious. "I mean exactly that," she said. "Nobody knows what happened after this." And that was somehow even more unsettling. Doe seemed to know exactly what they were thinking. "The memories of the witnesses end here," she said. "Beyond this point¡­ nothing." Ethan frowned. "What do you mean?" Doe crossed her arms. "I mean, no one remembers what happened next. "The only reason we know as much as we do is because we spent years piecing together fragments from the only survivor¡ªOld Man Carter''s daughter." Leo''s eyes narrowed. "Only survivor? Everyone else¡­ died?" Doe nodded. "At the time, I was still just a field agent for Ninth Division, working with Vaughn," she said. "We were given orders to investigate an abandoned village and conduct a rescue mission. "But when we arrived, there was only one person left¡ªLillian Carter. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The original village population was 126. Add in the soldiers and drill team, that''s 47 more people. Every single one of them was gone." Silence fell over the group. Doe continued, "We searched the ruins for three days, but there were no clues. In the end, all we found was a broken woman, half-mad from whatever she had been through. "We brought her back to Ninth Division for treatment. Over time, in scattered, broken pieces, we managed to get this much of the story from her." She trailed off, her expression unreadable. No one spoke for a long time. Finally, Ethan broke the silence. "Then¡­ why call it the Shadow Lynx Incident?" Doe tilted her head. "Because, during the three days Vaughn and I spent in that abandoned village, something strange happened. Every single night, a lynx appeared." Leo raised a brow. "A lynx?" Doe nodded. "A dark one, like a shadow. It showed up every night, just outside our camp. "We tried to catch it. "Every single time we got close, it vanished. "The next night, it reappeared. "When we returned, we reported everything, and the higher-ups officially labeled it The Shadow Lynx Incident. "The village itself, since it had no official name, was renamed Shadow Lynx Village. "Even after all these years, Vaughn and I have always believed that whatever happened back then¡­ that lynx was the key." She turned to Ethan, her gaze sharp. "And before you ask¡ªno, our Soul Sense couldn''t detect it." Ethan stiffened. That was exactly what he had been about to say. Doe smirked. "That''s probably why Celeste brought you here. "Vaughn and I aren''t strong enough. My Soul Strength is 13.2, and his is only 5.1. Neither of us has reached the level where we can extend our Soul Sense outward." She leaned in slightly, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "But you¡­ I heard you can use Soul Sense already. "I''m really curious, kid. Wanna show me?" She giggled, stretching her arms lazily. "Well, that''s enough talk for one night. "I''m old, and old people get tired easily. Time for bed." With that, her translucent form flickered¡ªthen slowly faded away. Leo swallowed and shrank back. "Ghosts need sleep?" Whoosh! A thin branch shot through the air like a bullet, stabbing deep into the rock in front of him. Leo yelped and fell backward, his legs giving out beneath him. The brittle branch, no thicker than a pencil, had embedded itself two inches into solid stone. Celeste chuckled. "One of these days, that mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble." Leo stared at the branch, sweat trickling down his temple. If that had hit a person¡­ it''d be like taking a sniper round to the chest. Ethan was just as stunned. Soul-Wielders¡­ could control objects like that? As he was still processing what he''d seen, a soft voice whispered in his ear. "Telekinesis is just the basics for a Soul-Wielder, kid. Want to learn?" Ethan stiffened. That voice, It was Doe. But she had disappeared. His eyes darted around, scanning his surroundings. A playful giggle echoed in his mind. "Relax. Soul-Wielders can also use telepathy~" she teased. "Think it over, kid. If you take me as your teacher, I''ll teach you everything. "But for now¡­ I''m going to sleep." Just as her voice faded, something rustled behind Celeste. The group turned just in time to see the zipper of a tent slowly closing But no one was there. Chapter 144 - 144: Breakthrough Celeste insisted that everyone get some rest while she stood watch alone. They all knew that if she slept, the Shadow Eater infection would worsen, so they didn''t argue. The night passed uneventfully. As dawn broke, she roused everyone to prepare for departure. The mountain air was crisp and fresh in the early morning. Ethan took a deep breath. Strangely enough, in both his lives, this was the first time he had ever camped out in the wild. After a quick meal, Celeste checked their direction and led the way. At first, the journey was manageable, but after a few hours, the terrain became impassable. Vines and thorny undergrowth blocked the path, forcing Leo and Williams to take turns hacking through with machetes. Even Victor, who had been keeping up without complaint, was drenched in sweat by noon. Carrying a hundred-pound pack through rugged terrain was no joke. Even for three former elite soldiers, four years of civilian life had dulled their edge. Their training wasn''t what it used to be. Even Celeste, using air manipulation to lighten her steps, was reaching her limit¡ªespecially after pulling an all-nighter. Yet Ethan, somehow, seemed completely unaffected. He didn''t look exhausted like the rest of them. In fact, he seemed refreshed. Everyone shot him weird glances, making him feel a little self-conscious. In the end, he took Celeste''s pack without waiting for her to refuse. Even with the added weight, he barely felt any strain. It puzzled him. There was something in the jungle, some kind of energy seeping into his body. It kept him at peak condition. And he noticed something else. The more weight he carried, the faster this strange energy flowed into him. By midday, after their break, Leo resumed clearing the path, and Ethan grabbed his pack too. A little while later, still not feeling the strain, he took Victor''s and Leo''s packs as well. No one said anything. Victor and Leo just looked at Ethan with growing disbelief. Celeste, however, gave him an approving nod. An hour later, Ethan was carrying five backpacks, weighing at least 750 pounds. The strange energy surged into him faster than ever, but it still couldn''t completely erase his exhaustion. Another hour passed. Sweat drenched his entire body. Every step left a puddle in the dirt. Celeste and the others slowed their pace, all eyes on him. Several times, Leo looked ready to step in, but Victor held him back, shaking his head. One step. Ten steps. A hundred steps¡­ to the others, he looked like he could collapse at any second. Ethan''s mind blurred. Only his will kept him moving. The world faded away until it felt like he was the only one left. Just like in the dreamworld, five thousand years, walking alone. Then¡ª Crack. Ethan swore he heard something shatter inside him. Like a chick breaking out of its shell, an unfamiliar power welled up from within. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Celeste and the others watched in shock as his bent back slowly straightened. The lifeless haze in his eyes cleared, replaced with a sharp, determined gaze. Ethan glanced at Victor and Leo. Their expressions were frozen in disbelief. Only Celeste spoke. "Not bad." "Huh?" Ethan scratched his head, clueless about what had just happened. Leo and Williams gave him a thumbs-up before speeding up their pace, cutting through the jungle with renewed vigor. Victor walked up behind Ethan, clapped him on the shoulder, and said, "Congrats. You just broke past your physical limit." Then he grabbed the backpacks off Ethan, tossing them back to Leo and Williams before taking Ethan''s own pack as well. "You just pushed past your limit. It''s not a good idea to strain yourself right after. Take a break." With that, Victor hoisted two backpacks and continued forward. Ethan stood there, dazed. The power that had surged within him earlier was still coursing through his body, circulating in a pattern he didn''t understand. ''So¡­ this is what breaking past my limits feels like?'' He had never studied combat training before, so he had no idea how to control the strange energy. He could only let it flow as it pleased. But every time it cycled through him, he could feel himself getting stronger. A voice suddenly whispered in his ear. "Kid, use your mind to connect with the energy inside you. Follow my guidance." It was Doe. Up ahead, Celeste turned her head slightly, as if Doe had just spoken to her as well. A second later, she abruptly walked back to Ethan, eyeing him in surprise. "You actually awakened energy? How many times have you broken past your limit before?" Hearing this, the others froze. "Uh¡­ I don''t know. This should be my first time?" As soon as Ethan answered, Celeste stared at him like he had grown a second head. Even Victor and the others had the same expression. "Ethan, no way¡­ You awakened energy on your first breakthrough?" Leo''s face was filled with disbelief. Ethan glanced at his own body. "If by ''energy'' you mean whatever''s running wild inside me, then yeah, I guess." Williams who had since been quite , was listening intently. He had hoped Ethan would deny it. But Ethan had confirmed it. Williams didn''t say a word. Instead, he silently unzipped his backpack, pulled out some supplies, and started setting up camp. Victor and Leo exchanged looks before letting out a helpless chuckle and joining him. Ethan frowned. "Uh¡­ what are you guys doing?" "I don''t feel like talking to a freak," Leo muttered, side-eyeing him. Celeste smirked. "We''ll camp here for the night." "But you¡ª" "Relax. A day or two won''t kill me. Right now, you need Doe to help you stabilize that energy. If you miss this chance, you might regret it forever." Ethan blinked. Celeste had never spoken to him this gently before. That night. Doe stood beside Celeste, her translucent figure faintly glowing under the moonlight. "You really can''t guide his energy?" Celeste asked, frowning. Doe puffed up her cheeks and glared at Ethan, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground. "Guide my ass! This kid doesn''t even have Energy Pathways!" Celeste gave her a puzzled look. "Then¡­ what''s happening to him?" Doe''s expression darkened. She clenched her jaw before spitting out, "How the hell should I know? I tried to channel my Soul Power into him, and some freak force nearly shattered my damn soul!" Her hands balled into fists as she trembled with frustration. "I''ve lived for over a hundred years, and this brat almost wiped me out! It''s going to take forever for me to recover from this. I''m so pissed!" Celeste watched her fume for a moment, then¡ªshe stifled a laugh. Doe whipped her head around. "What the hell are you laughing at?!" "Nothing¡­" Celeste said, covering her mouth. But her gaze drifted back to Ethan, a flicker of worry in her eyes. At that moment, Ethan himself was growing frustrated. Doe had promised to help him guide his energy, but the second they started, something had yanked his consciousness into a strange, unfamiliar space. Chapter 145 - 145: Cracking the Gate Ethan floated in a strange, mist-filled space, below him stretched a vast, emerald-green lake. Despite the absence of any visible light source, the entire space glowed with an otherworldly brightness. Scanning his surroundings, Ethan noticed a small island at the lake''s center. Curious, he willed his body forward, intending to get a closer look. Before he could react¡ª Whoosh! The space shifted. In an instant, he found himself hovering above the island. Ethan froze. ''What the hell?'' He tried again. With just a thought, he could instantly teleport anywhere within the space. Testing the limits, he focused on the misty barrier surrounding the area. A blink later, he was at the edge, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t move past it. "You done messing around?" A familiar voice boomed through the space. "¡­Uh." Ethan hesitated. "Old man, where is this?" He recognized the voice¡ªit was Morzan. "This is your mindscape," Morzan explained. "Or, to put it simply, the inside of your consciousness." Ethan paused. "Great. Love that for me. Now, how do I get out?" Morzan let out a long sigh. Ethan waited. And waited. But Morzan said nothing. "Oh, come on! What''s with the dramatic silence? Spit it out already!" Ethan strained his ears, waiting for a response. Nothing. "¡­Hello?" "Bad signal." Morzan''s voice returned suddenly. "¡­???" Ethan stared blankly into the void, his mind full of questions. "Just listen," Morzan continued. Then, silence. Again. Ethan sighed in exasperation, crossing his arms. Finally, after what felt like forever, Morzan''s voice crackled back in, this time in broken fragments: "Central island¡­ gate¡­ open¡­ enter¡­" Luckily, Ethan wasn''t an idiot. He got the gist. In a flash, he reappeared on the island. From afar, the island had seemed small, but the moment he set foot on it, everything changed. Either he had shrunk, or the island had expanded endlessly. At its center stood an ancient, imposing gate.The sight of it sent a strange chill down Ethan''s spine, almost like the feeling of standing before the Gates of the Underworld. Towering endlessly into the sky, its massive frame was carved with intricate, milky-white patterns. Wisps of mist coiled around the engravings, giving them an eerie, living presence. But the most peculiar thing was the vine. A single, pale vine coiled around the grand doorway, shifting ever so slightly, as if alive. Ethan watched as fresh green leaves sprouted from it, slowly turning gold before withering and falling to the ground. The moment they touched the earth, they shattered into mist, dissolving back into the gate. Standing there, Ethan could tell¡ªthis process had repeated itself countless times in just a few seconds. An odd sensation welled up inside him, a whisper of understanding just out of reach. It was like trying to recall a dream slipping from his grasp. No matter how hard he focused, he couldn''t quite seize it. The feeling weighed on his chest, like a stone pressing down on his lungs, making it hard to breathe. "Steady your mind," Morzan''s voice came again, this time crystal clear. "You''re not ready to understand it yet. Focus all your Soul Power and break through the Gate of Ascension." Finally, a full sentence. "How the hell am I supposed to control Soul Power? I don''t know how!" Ethan shouted at the sky. His voice vanished into the void without a response. Frustrated, he tried to calm his mind and focus. Boom! The island trembled beneath him. Ethan turned toward the sound, a towering column of emerald water shot up from the lake. Strangely, the water didn''t splash back down. Instead, it simply faded into the air. His eyes widened. ''Wait¡­ did I do that?'' sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He concentrated again. Another surge of water spiraled upward. A smirk tugged at his lips as he directed the water toward the Gate of Ascension. Boom! The gate trembled. A searing pain exploded in his skull, as if a massive boulder had been dropped onto his head. Darkness swallowed his vision, and he collapsed onto the island. Ethan had no idea how much time had passed before a voice rang out beside him. "Kid! You alive? Did you activate your Source Energy yet?" Groaning, Ethan sat up, rubbing his head¡ªonly for his hand to pass right through it. Oh, right. He wasn''t in his real body. "If by ''Source Energy'' you mean that water column, then yeah, I guess." His voice was weak. "Good. Now focus and summon even more to break through the gate," Morzan instructed. Ethan scowled. "Yeah, easy for you to say. I just blacked out from the pain. You got another method? And also, why the hell am I even here?" Morzan let out a long hum before answering. "Nope, no other way. As for why you''re here? That''s on you, kid. Letting someone else probe your soul? If I hadn''t caught it in time and kicked them out, your¡­ well, let''s just say it wouldn''t have ended well." Ethan''s eye twitched. "The hell does that mean?" Morzan ignored the question and continued, "You would''ve had to go through this eventually. It just happened earlier than expected. But that''s actually a good thing. The sooner you master this, the better prepared you''ll be for the Cataclysm five years from now." Ethan''s breath hitched. Five years¡­? "Once you complete this step," Morzan went on, "you''ll gain full control over your Soul Power. And with Source Energy supporting it, your soul will finally have a proper foundation." "Without it, your Soul Power is like a rootless weed¡ªeasily torn away." Morzan''s voice carried a rare seriousness. "With this, you''ll also be able to mask your presence. No one will be able to tell you''re a Soul-Wielder." Then, his tone turned lazy again. "So yeah, keep slamming that gate. Sooner or later, it''ll open. Your Source Energy isn''t weak¡ªit''s just a matter of how much you can control." "Oh, and once you''re out of here, you still need to guide your energy into your core. If you waste this chance, you''ll regret it forever." What Morzan didn''t mention was that this whole mess was kind of his fault. He''d been drinking when he sensed someone probing Ethan''s soul. In his tipsy state, he''d lashed out a little¡­ too hard. That backlash had rattled Ethan''s mindscape, slamming the Gate of Ascension shut. But if he admitted that now, Ethan would lose his mind. Ethan groaned and shot to his feet. "Old man, I just slammed into that gate once and nearly died from the pain. And now you want me to hit it harder? Why don''t you try bashing your own head with a hammer and see how that feels?" Morzan muttered under his breath, "Not like I haven''t¡­" but didn''t say it loud enough for Ethan to hear. Instead, he simply fell silent, ignoring him completely. That silence unsettled Ethan. Meanwhile, Morzan frowned to himself. By all logic, Ethan should''ve been able to break the gate with just one hit. It was nearly impossible to open from the outside, but from the inside? It should''ve been effortless. So why hadn''t it worked? Even more concerning¡ªwhen Morzan tried to probe Ethan''s mindscape, he found the gate completely shut. Something was off. And whatever it was, even someone like him who had existed for countless millennia couldn''t figure it out. Chapter 146 - 146: The First Step Ethan scowled as Morzan went silent again, muttering curses under his breath. That old man had said his newly awakened energy would fade if he didn''t stabilize it, and Celeste had warned him about the same thing. Clearly, ''energy'' was something rare and valuable in their eyes. Which meant he needed to get the hell out of this place. With no other option, he focused again, summoning more Source Energy. One column of water¡­ Two¡­ Three¡­ Four¡­ By the time he reached nine, he hit his limit. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t summon a tenth. Fine. He''d just have to make do. Locking onto the Gate of Ascension, he controlled all nine water columns and slammed them against it. BOOM! Everything went dark. An eternity seemed to pass before Ethan slowly regained consciousness. "Kid! You still alive?" Morzan''s voice was urgent. Ethan didn''t answer. He sat there, blankly staring at the massive gate in front of him, a crushing sense of helplessness settled in. Even after throwing everything he had at it, the damn thing was still shut. No way out. Without opening the Gate of Ascension, he couldn''t regain control of his body. Would he die here? And if he did, what about the Cataclysm Morzan had mentioned? What about Lyla? His friends waiting for him outside? Ethan clenched his fists. He refused to accept this. But Morzan said nothing. He already knew Ethan had failed. Silence stretched between them. Then, Ethan took a deep breath and stood. That''s when he noticed something strange. His previously transparent body was now glowing with a faint green aura, the same shade as the lake water. Even the intricate white carvings on the gate had taken on a slight emerald tint. Did¡­ did I stain the gate with the water? He didn''t dwell on it. Summoning his Source Energy again, he launched another attack. Again. And again. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Each time, he blacked out from the pain. Each time, he woke up stronger. Gradually, he found himself controlling twelve water columns with ease. Now, he could strike the gate twice before passing out, but the pain was unbearable¡ªlike his soul was being torn apart. Then, out of nowhere, Morzan spoke. "Try a different angle." Ethan blinked. "What do you mean?" "Go around. Try from the other side." Wait. No way. Had he been¡ª? Heart pounding, Ethan circled the gate. As he reached the opposite side, his breath hitched. The once-white gate was now completely emerald, almost jade-like. A ridiculous thought crept into his mind. ''No way I''ve been attacking the back this whole time¡­ right?'' Stepping onto the platform, he hesitantly placed his hands on the massive doors. Then, with a gentle push¡ª HUMMMMMM¡ª The gate swung open effortlessly. Ethan stared, dumbfounded. "¡­Are you f***ing kidding me?" --- Meanwhile, in the real world, Ethan had been sitting motionless for two hours. Celeste and the others had kept a close eye on him the entire time. He remained perfectly still one moment, then trembled violently the next, his brows furrowing in deep concentration. No one knew what was happening to him. And none of them could do a damn thing to help. Just moments ago, Doe had attempted to probe Ethan''s condition again when she saw his entire body trembling violently, but the moment her Soul Power made contact, a surge of emerald energy blasted it away. She barely withdrew in time¡ªany slower, and she would''ve been injured again. What shocked her most, however, was that the green energy wasn''t a foreign force. It was Ethan''s own Soul Power. It was the first time she had ever seen someone''s soul take on a distinct color. With even Doe unable to intervene, the others had no choice but to wait. Either Ethan would pull through on his own, or his energy would fade, and he''d wake up naturally. None of them realized that Ethan was currently trapped inside his own mindscape, unable to break free. Inside his consciousness, Ethan stepped beyond the Gate of Ascension, his mind screaming numerous curses. ''All this time¡­ I was pushing the wrong damn side?!'' And to make matters worse, it had opened with the slightest push. As soon as he crossed the threshold, he felt his awareness slam back into his physical body. At the same time, he gained a strange new perception¡ªan inner sight. His entire body appeared as a dark void, with a single golden speck darting around like a restless firefly. It looked like a seed, aimlessly bouncing from place to place inside him. "Wrap it in your will," Morzan''s voice instructed. "Guide it into your core." For the first time, Morzan''s voice came through with perfect clarity. A soft green mist¡ªhis Soul Power, rose from the top of Ethan''s head. To his eyes, it looked like faint, drifting vapor. The golden seed, on the other hand, felt strangely solid. At first, Ethan thought it would be difficult to capture. But the moment his Soul Power touched it, the seed instantly calmed, as if a child finding its mother. A wave of warmth and familiarity radiated from it. Ethan''s heart leapt in excitement. ''That was easier than I thought.'' Morzan let out a small hum of surprise. "Well, well. Seems like you fused with Source Energy by accident while inside the mindscape." Then, after a brief pause, he muttered, "And just as I expected, your Source Energy is linked to the Essence of Life. Giving you the King of Elves bloodline was the right choice after all. Maybe¡­ just maybe¡­ you can reach that level in five years." Ethan stayed silent, fully focused. The seed had stopped resisting, but moving it was still a challenge. Especially when guiding it toward his core¡ª the point where his energy converged. But as soon as his awareness reached that spot, he froze. It was empty. Completely void. There was no energy pool, no power center, nothing. His stomach twisted. ''Wait¡­ isn''t it impossible to be a fighter without a core?'' He had heard the rumors. Those without a core were considered almost useless, at best, slightly stronger than an average person with enough training. Honestly, he had never dreamed of becoming a warrior in the first place. After all, gathering energy in one''s core was rare, only one in a thousand people succeeded. He had never dared to hope for it. But now, standing at this threshold¡­ What was he supposed to do? "Quit panicking," Morzan grumbled. "You haven''t even formed your core yet. Get that energy into place, and then you''ll have a core." Ethan blinked. Oh. So this was just the beginning. He really was a complete novice at this. ''Maybe I should ask Doe to be my teacher¡­?'' For now, though, he had bigger things to worry about. Focusing again, he poured more Soul Power into the golden seed, slowly pulling it into his core. HUMMMMM¡ª! A deep resonance rang through his body. And at the same time¡ª Back in the real world, Celeste and the others tensed as violent winds erupted around the camp. Chapter 147 - 147: The Seed Awakens The golden seed finally settled in the core of Ethan''s body. Suddenly, it flared with brilliant light, revealing the state of his inner energy center. It was rumoured that most people''s energy cores had a distinct shape, usually spherical. But as Ethan observed his own, he realized something was very, very different. It stretched endlessly in all directions, like a boundless void. They said the larger the core, the greater the potential. Did this mean he was some kind of prodigy? "Stop flattering yourself. You don''t even have an energy core, how could it have a shape?" Morzan''s blunt remark crushed his excitement in an instant. "¡­Huh?" Ethan blinked in confusion. The golden seed floated within him, drifting until it reached a specific point. Then, it trembled twice and went still. Ethan was just about to ask what to do next when¡ª Crack. A fine split appeared along the seed''s shell. A single root sprouted from the gap, extending downward. Under Ethan''s stunned gaze, it embedded itself into the very void of his core, as if taking root in thin air. Moments later, two small green leaves emerged from the seed, unfurling gently. Wait¡­ Wasn''t this supposed to be his life energy? How had it turned into a literal seed? And now it was taking root in the empty space where his energy core was supposed to be? Ethan had a hundred questions, but before he could voice any of them, a massive pull surged from the tiny sprout. All around him, an invisible force gathered. Countless wisps of faint green energy rushed toward him, surging into his body and flowing straight into the seedling. Wrapped in that dense energy, the tiny plant began to grow. At an absurd speed. It shot upward, extending along the space where his energy core should have been. Ethan stared in shock and a hint of worry. Shock, because the growth speed was insane, like someone was forcing a sapling to mature overnight. Worry, because instead of thickening as it grew, the stem only became thinner. By the time it reached his chest, it was as fine as a spider''s silk strand, delicate and fragile, as if a mere touch could snap it in two. "¡­Old man, what the hell is this?" Ethan asked, his voice tinged with unease. Morzan had been watching closely. His eyes gleamed with excitement, though he kept his thoughts to himself. ''It sprouted¡­ it actually sprouted¡­ So this Vessel could nurture the Seed of Life after all¡­'' There was hope. For his old comrades, for everyone. The only question was¡­ How far would this Tree of Life grow in five years? Of course, he wasn''t about to share any of that with Ethan. Instead, he simply scoffed, "It''s just a sprout. What''s there to be surprised about? Hurry up and get back to leveling in the game." Ethan exhaled, releasing a faint green mist with his breath. Morzan''s nonchalant tone was enough to kill his curiosity. Pushing everything else aside, he refocused and opened his eyes. What greeted him was a wrecked campsite; collapsed tents, scattered supplies. Leo, Victor, Celeste, and even Doe¡ªwho was currently just a floating soul, were all staring at him in shock. "Did you gather your energy into your core?" Victor asked. his brows furrowed. "¡­Something like that," Ethan replied hesitantly. Even he wasn''t sure what had just happened. Not like he could tell them there was a tree growing inside him. They''d think he was a damn monster. "That''s impossible. You didn''t even¡ª" Doe had just started speaking when she froze. Her face drained of color, eyes wide in terror. Because in that instant, an immense pressure crashed down on her, and a voice whispered coldly in her ear: "Speak another word, and I''ll erase you from existence." For the first time in years, despite being a wandering soul, Doe felt something eerily close to cold sweat. She stared at Ethan in pure disbelief. Who the hell was watching over this guy? That presence just now was terrifying. If only she knew Morzan couldn''t actually do anything¡ªthat he was just bluffing, she might not have been so shaken. "¡­What''s wrong?" Leo asked. The others also turned to Doe, curious. "Ah¡­ I was just wondering," she quickly covered, "how he figured out how to channel energy without any assistance." Ethan blinked. Wait, was there supposed to be some secret method? Wasn''t it just a matter of using his will to pull life energy into his core? That seemed obvious enough. What he didn''t know was that he was missing something fundamental. If he had ever seen how other warriors'' bodies worked, he''d immediately notice the difference. He had no energy pathways. Even an ordinary person had them. He had none. Doe studied Ethan''s expression. Yeah, he didn''t even realize. Better to change the subject. "Alright, enough of that. You two, get ready to move," she said. "We''ve wasted three days in this dump, Celeste''s curse mark shifted again." Three days? Ethan was stunned. He had completely lost track of time. This whole mission was about removing the curse mark on Celeste. Twelve other people were waiting on them to find a solution before their own time ran out. And he''d wasted three whole days standing around? S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan scratched his head, feeling guilty. "That''s on me. Let''s move fast. I''ll carry all your packs." After a quick meal, the group set off again. By the time they neared their destination, it was already past ten at night. Doe, who had been scouting ahead, called out, "We''re close!" Twelve straight hours of trekking had finally paid off. And it was all thanks to Ethan. Not just because he was hauling everyone''s gear, but because, while asking Doe how to control his life energy, he made an accidental discovery. When he let his energy seep outward, vines, brambles, tree branches¡ªevery plant around him instinctively moved aside, clearing a path for him. With that, Ethan naturally took the lead, making travel much smoother. After all, it wasn''t like he had to do anything special. He just had to walk. Compared to hacking through the undergrowth with machetes like Leo and Victor were doing, Ethan''s method was ridiculously efficient. Twelve hours of uninterrupted movement later, the air around them thickened with mist. Doe glanced at the fog and nodded. "This is the barrier we set when we left years ago." She explained that it was designed to keep ordinary people from stumbling into danger. One of their team''s spellcasters had created it, anyone who entered without the proper guidance would unknowingly find themselves turned back the way they came. Hearing that, the group couldn''t help but be intrigued. A magic barrier that had been running for years without fading? "That''s some serious craftsmanship," Leo commented. Doe smirked. "Magic like this borrows from the wind, the water, the land itself. As long as it isn''t critically damaged, it can run indefinitely." Leo raised a brow. "Then why have most of the strongest barriers in history disappeared?" Victor, who hadn''t been paying much attention, suddenly looked over in surprise. "Wait, you actually know about magic barriers? Which ones?" Leo gave him a disdainful look. "Ever heard of the Thousandfold Ward? The Executioner''s Seal? The Plague Shroud? The Tenfold Lock? The Ninefold Riverbind?" Victor shook his head. The others also stared at Leo, surprised. Since when was he this well-versed in magical theory? "¡­Wait," Leo narrowed his eyes. "None of you have heard of them?" He studied their faces and suddenly came to a horrifying realization. "¡­Don''t tell me¡ªnone of you have read Legends of the Eternal War?" For a second, the group almost took him seriously, until they realized what he was talking about. Victor clicked his tongue. "The hell are you on about?" The others rolled their eyes. Leo had just lost all credibility. Chapter 148 - 148: The Village That Time Forgot "Hey! What''s with that attitude?" Leo called out as Victor walked ahead, ignoring him. The rest of the group shook their heads, paying him no mind. Even Doe floated forward, instructing, "Follow my trail exactly. Don''t take the wrong step." Ethan almost pointed out that she was floating¡ªhow could she leave a trail? But as he watched, he noticed that wherever she passed, the mist slightly parted, leaving shallow depressions in the ground. It had to be another use of soul energy. Doe led them through the thick fog, twisting and turning for several minutes. Then, suddenly the mist vanished. The moment they stepped through, Ethan glanced back. The thick fog that had surrounded them was gone. The realization sent a chill down their spines. Even after seeing so many mysterious and impossible things already, the sheer mystery of the barrier made them rethink what they knew about magic. Ahead, about a hundred meters away, stood a lonely village. Something about it was¡­ off. A deep sense of unease crept up Ethan''s spine. He turned instinctively, expecting Doe to be playing another one of her ghostly pranks. But instead, his gaze locked onto something else, a pair of glowing green eyes staring straight at them from the trees. He barely made out the creature''s silhouette¡ªits body massive, dark, and sleek, eerily similar to his panther form in the game. As soon as it noticed him looking, it held his gaze for a brief moment, then vanished into the forest. Shadow Lynx. The name popped into his head instinctively. A wave of goosebumps prickled across his skin. "Shadow Lynx!" Ethan shouted. The group spun around, but there was nothing. Under the skeptical stares of the others, Ethan pointed to where the creature had been. "I swear! It was right there! It disappeared in a blink." Seeing his serious expression, the others grew uneasy. Victor knelt down, scanning the area. After a moment, he shook his head. "No tracks. No signs of movement." "Ethan, you sure you''re not just messing with us?" Leo teased. No one responded to him. But their silence spoke volumes. Especially Doe. She had been here before. She knew how strange this place could be. After another moment of tension, they pressed on, moving carefully toward the village. Victor and the others had already loaded their submachine guns, scanning their surroundings with growing unease. At the village entrance, an old drilling machine stood rusted and decayed, its iron plating corroded beyond recognition. An unfinished well sat beneath the drilling rig, half-dug, filled with stagnant water. It looked exactly as Doe had described. It was as if time had frozen here for the past forty-four years. Swallowing his nerves, Ethan stepped up to the well and peered inside. Dark water reflected his gaze back at him. No movement. No strange figures. Just silence. The group reached the first row of houses, cautiously stepping into the abandoned village. "¡­Are we sure this place is empty?" Leo muttered. At first, no one thought much about the question, but Ethan''s mind caught onto something. Based on Doe''s story, this place had been abandoned for over four decades. Yet¡ª There wasn''t a single vine, not a single overgrown weed. That didn''t make sense. In a deep mountain forest like this, a village left alone for even a few years should have been completely overrun with vegetation. Yet the houses looked untouched. If it weren''t for the rusted drilling rig, no one would believe this village had been abandoned at all. It was as if the people had only just left. "¡­Nothing''s changed," Doe whispered, breaking the eerie silence. Her words made the unease settle even deeper in their bones. Something had prevented nature from reclaiming this place. Celeste frowned, her gaze locked onto a particular house near the village entrance. "This place¡­ feels familiar," she murmured. "But I know I''ve never been here before." Ethan followed her gaze and nodded. "If that''s the case¡­ then this is where your missing memories are." She clenched her fists and stepped forward. The group followed her into the courtyard. According to Doe, this house had a distinct mark¡ªeight knife cuts on the wooden beam inside. They stepped through the entrance, sweeping their flashlights across the interior. Seven knife marks were immediately visible. Ethan stepped closer and ran his fingers along the back of the beam. The eighth mark was hidden near the corner. Everything was exactly as Doe had described. "¡­It''s so quiet," Leo muttered. Once again, he had unknowingly pointed out something unsettling. Victor''s expression darkened. "He''s right. Ever since we left the mist, there haven''t been any sounds. No birds, no insects¡ªnothing." Even in cold weather, there should have been some faint rustling. But there was nothing. For the first time, Victor, as hardened as he was, felt the weight of uncertainty press down on him. Facing human enemies was one thing, but facing the unknown was another. "Hey, check this out." Victor suddenly called from the corner of the room. The group gathered around as he held up a half-eaten military ration bar. It had been bitten into but left abandoned. Victor examined it, his face growing more serious. "This is a newer model. We didn''t have these back when I was deployed." He turned the packaging over and shined his flashlight onto the label. The date printed on it read: September 7, 2024. Celeste''s expression turned grim. "That matches the last recorded expedition here." Ethan exhaled slowly. The implications were clear. The last group to investigate this place had been here. They had left in a hurry. And whatever had happened to them¡­ was still unknown. Leo glanced around, uneasy. "They abandoned their supplies. Left food behind. Something must''ve happened." He looked at the others expectantly, as if they had the answers. They didn''t. But one thing was certain¡ª Celeste, Doe, and the others had all come here before. And when they returned, they had been cursed by whatever the Shadow Eaters were. No one knew what those creatures truly were. A curse? A disease? A parasite? And now¡­ they were here too. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Would they be affected as well? Every recorded case of the affliction had been among individuals with supernatural abilities. But who was to say it wouldn''t spread to ordinary people? After all, no ordinary person had ever made it this far. Not with the barrier keeping them out. And Ethan¡­ he wasn''t exactly normal. "I''m sorry." Celeste suddenly spoke, her voice filled with guilt. The group turned to her. "¡­Why?" Leo asked, confused. She met his gaze, her face unreadable. "I wasn''t sure before¡­ but now I am. This is the place. This is where it started." She hesitated before adding, "If we don''t figure this out, you might all end up like me." Silence. Then, after a long pause, Leo stretched, cracking his neck. "Oh, come on. Like I wasn''t prepared for this?" He crouched down and started rummaging through his backpack. Chapter 149 - 149: Watchful Eyes Victor glanced at Leo rummaging through his bag and turned to the others. "Williams and I will check the perimeter." With that, he and Williams headed outside. "Wait, hold on! Take these¡ªjust in case!" Leo pulled out two heads of garlic, a string of prayer beads, a cross, and other random trinkets from his bag. Then, as if that weren''t enough, he reached into his oversized cargo pants and fished out two laminated protective charms, shoving them into Williams and Victor''s hands. The two men stared at him with blank expressions. Clearly, they had expected this. Their expressions screamed regret, but in the end, they just sighed and took the items. Leo stuffed extra sage bundles into their pockets, handed them each a charm, and pressed a silver pendant into their palms. Then, he turned to Ethan and Celeste, passing them their own share. Ethan frowned at the strange objects in his hands. "Where the hell did you even get all this?" He couldn''t believe for a second that the gear bags in their Humvee had come stocked with anti-supernatural supplies. Leo puffed up his chest. "Brought ''em myself!" He patted his bulky cargo pockets proudly. Ethan suddenly remembered how, on the plane, Leo''s pants had looked strangely stuffed. At the time, he had assumed it was just some weird design¡ªturns out the guy had actually packed them full of junk. When Leo handed Celeste her share, Ethan half-expected her to toss them aside. But to everyone''s shock, she neatly arranged the items in her pockets and nodded. "Thanks." The entire group froze. Even Victor and Williams, who were halfway out the door, turned to stare. Even Doe, who had seen plenty of strange things, looked dumbfounded. Celeste¡­ just said thank you? "¡­Uh¡­ uh, y-you''re welcome?" Leo stammered. Celeste smiled slightly and stepped toward the door. As she walked, she said, "Doe mentioned this place has an ominous presence. We shouldn''t linger in one spot for too long. Let''s split up¡ªtwo per team to cover more ground." She glanced at Ethan. "You go with Leo. I''ll team up with Doe." Without waiting for a response, she left. Leo turned to Doe, still holding out one of the charms. "Uh¡­ Doe, do you want¡ª" Without a word, she phased right through him, her ghostly form passing through his body like mist. He shivered violently and turned around just as she turned back toward him. "Do you think I need them?" she asked. Leo frantically shook his head, looking like a rattling bobblehead. She smirked. "Good boy." Then, without another word, she floated off after Celeste. Soon, everyone had dispersed, leaving only Ethan and Leo behind. Ethan was still staring at the eighth knife mark on the wooden beam overhead. Leo groaned. "Ethan, what are you even looking at? Let''s just go." Ethan didn''t answer. Instead, he tilted his head. "Do you see that?" Leo followed his gaze. "¡­See what?" Ethan pointed at the beam. "There''s someone hanging up there." Leo''s face drained of color. Slowly, hesitantly, he turned his flashlight toward the beam. "Where¡­?" "Right there. Can''t you see?" Ethan continued, his voice eerily calm. Leo started trembling. "Ethan, man, don''t mess with me right now." Then Ethan turned his head sharply and stared past Leo''s shoulder, his eyes widening in horror. "¡­It''s behind you now." Leo screamed. "By the gods above and below! Holy light, blessed waters, spirits of the old¡ª" He spun around wildly, flailing his charms and beads like a mad priest in an exorcism. His hands waved furiously, trinkets clattering together as he muttered every religious phrase he could think of. Ethan burst into laughter. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He clapped Leo on the shoulder. "Alright, alright, relax. You scared it off." Leo stopped mid-chant, blinking. "Huh?" "I said it''s gone," Ethan repeated, smirking. Leo''s face turned red with embarrassment. "Dude! That''s not funny! You almost gave me a heart attack!" Ethan was already walking toward the door. Leo sighed, shaking his head as he followed. But just as he stepped under the beam, Ethan suddenly stopped.His face twisted into an expression of shock, and he stumbled backward. Leo rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, man. You think I''m falling for that again?" He strode up next to Ethan, smirking. "I''m not an id¡ª" Then he saw it. "¡­Oh, hell no." A black lynx was perched on the beam, its glowing green eyes locked onto them. It didn''t move, didn''t blink. It just stared. Then¡ª Tat-tat-tat! Leo raised his submachine gun and fired a burst at the rafters, but the lynx was faster. With an impossible leap, it dodged the bullets and vanished through a hole in the roof. Only then did Ethan and Leo notice the hole was even there. Then, a flash of white shot past them, soaring straight through the opening in pursuit. Leo nearly opened fire again. Ethan grabbed his arm. "It''s Doe." A moment later, Celeste, Williams, and Victor ran up. "What happened?" Celeste demanded. "Shadow Lynx," Ethan replied. Leo nodded quickly. Doe''s voice echoed from a distance. "Over here!" Without hesitation, Celeste took off and the others hurried after her. Their radios had long since become useless, reduced to nothing but static. They sprinted past the last rows of houses and into the treeline. Doe hovered beneath a massive oak, waiting for them. As soon as they arrived, she turned to Ethan. "This is the spot. Last time we chased it, this was where it disappeared." She glanced at him. "Try using your soul sense. See if you can pick up anything." Ethan hesitated. His soul sense had only activated once before, and that had been during a life-or-death moment. Using it intentionally? He wasn''t even sure how. Seeing his hesitation, Doe reassured him. "Don''t worry. The magic barrier here keeps us hidden from the outside world. No one will sense you." That wasn''t his concern. He just didn''t know how to activate it. But there was no turning back now. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and focused. A low hum filled his mind, then, like ripples in water, an invisible pulse radiated outward from his body. For a brief moment, he could see everything. Not with his eyes, but with something deeper. Everything became sharper, clearer. Even the tiniest insect egg buried in the dirt was visible in his mind. He swept across the village, the tree, the exact spot where the lynx had vanished¡ª And found nothing. Opening his eyes, he sighed and shook his head. The group''s anticipation faded into disappointment. Ethan frowned. Something about this felt¡­ incomplete. Like he had missed something. He went over everything again in his head. Then it hit him. He had been so focused on what he could see, that he hadn''t considered what he couldn''t. And there was one very particular empty spot. A place where there should have been something¡ª But wasn''t. Chapter 150 - 150: The Shadow’s Trail Ethan stretched his soul sense outward again, but this time, instead of expanding it in all directions, he focused it like a thread, pushing toward a single point. To his surprise, doing so increased his range. Like stretching dough, his awareness extended farther and farther, until he reached a spot that felt¡­ different. This was it. The forest behind the village was made up of perfectly aligned trees. Not naturally grown¡ªplanted. By their spacing, there should have been another tree standing in the spot he was sensing. "We should check it out," Ethan said. He must have gotten some clue. The others shared the same thought as they followed him into the dense woods. They walked for about five hundred meters before Ethan suddenly stopped. He knelt, running his fingers over the base of a tree stump, a stump that had been cleanly cut. "Do you guys remember what kind of trees we saw when we first got near the village?" Ethan asked, standing up. "Mostly cypress, I think," Victor replied. Ethan nodded. "Same. But look around. This part of the forest is full of redwoods. And these trunks¡­ they must be at least sixty years old, right?" The others exchanged uncertain glances. What was he getting at? Williams studied the trees and guessed, "Sixty, maybe seventy years." Ethan swept his soul sense over the nearby trees, then said, "Sixty-three to sixty-four, to be exact." He pointed at the stump. "And this one? It was cut down at nineteen or twenty years old." Leo knelt and counted the rings. "Yeah, nineteen. So what?" "Remember the newest house in the village? Doe mentioned that building was the last one constructed before the village was abandoned." The group nodded. Ethan continued, "The only redwoods we''ve seen are in this section of the forest. And what was that house built from?" Realization dawned on them. "The roof beam¡­" Celeste muttered. Ethan nodded. "Exactly. The eighth knife mark wasn''t the last¡ªit was the first. Someone carved it into the bark while the tree was still standing." The weight of his words sank in. That meant¡ª "¡­That tree was a hanging tree," Leo said, his voice low. "Someone died there, and then they chopped it down to build a house. And if there really was a ghost attached to it¡­" "It would have haunted the house," Victor finished grimly. "And killed everyone inside." Ethan sighed. "If ghosts exist, then yeah. That''s exactly what happened." At that moment, Celeste abruptly raised a hand for silence. Everyone followed her gaze. Doe whispered in shock, "No way¡­ It''s never shown up this many times before." The Shadow Lynx had returned. It perched on a low branch, not far from them, staring. Not at the group. At Ethan. The others exchanged uneasy glances. Was it appearing over and over because of him? Leo reflexively reached for his gun, but Celeste grabbed his wrist, shaking her head. They had spent half the night chasing dead ends, maybe this creature was the only real clue they had. Ethan could tell that was what everyone was thinking, but that didn''t make the situation any less unsettling. The group and the lynx remained locked in a silent standoff. Then, out of nowhere, someone kicked Ethan. He stumbled forward, catching himself before falling. Whipping around, he saw the rest of the group staring back at him, feigning innocence. ''One of these bastards just kicked me.'' His eyes landed on Leo, who just shrugged. Definitely Leo. Ethan glared. Leo made a gesture of innocence, as if to say, ''Wasn''t me!'' The lynx tensed at the sudden movement, its body coiling, but then, when it saw that it was Ethan stepping forward, it stopped. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It just watched. Ethan swallowed hard. He took another step forward. Leo turned to Victor and whispered, "Man, you are cold-blooded." Victor smirked. "It''s not like I have to take the blame anyway." "¡­You," Leo muttered, suppressing his annoyance. Ethan ignored them and focused on the lynx, his heart pounded as he took slow, careful steps toward it. When he was about five or six meters away, the lynx suddenly leapt from the tree. The group tensed, ready to fight, but it didn''t run. Instead, it walked. Straight toward Ethan. Ethan froze. Telling himself he wasn''t scared would be a lie. The lynx circled him once, sniffing at his legs, then glanced at the rest of the group. Then, suddenly, it spun around and took a few steps away. It paused, turned back and motioned with its head. Obviously it wanted them to follow. Ethan turned to the group. Celeste nodded in response and so they followed. The lynx led them straight to its usual disappearance point. It paused there, glanced at them one last time, then, without hesitation, it lunged forward and slammed headfirst into the base of a massive redwood. The instant its body touched the bark, it vanished. Gone. Ethan blinked in shock. He hurried forward, pressing his hands against the tree. Nothing. It was just a normal redwood. Solid. Rough. Completely ordinary. The others arrived seconds later. Ethan tried sweeping his soul sense over the tree. Still nothing. "¡­What the hell?" he muttered. The lynx had led them here again, only to disappear without a trace. What was it trying to tell them? The group looked at each other, frustration written across their faces. Then¡ª "Is it just leading us in circles?" Leo muttered. The moment he said it, a hissing sound came from behind them. They spun around and saw the figure of the Shadow Lynx. It had somehow materialized behind them without a single sound. And it looked pissed. Its lips curled back, baring sharp fangs, eyes narrowing at Leo. Its tail lashed once, twice. The realization hit them all at once. It had heard him. "Shit," Leo whispered. For a long, tense moment, the lynx just stared at him, growling softly. Leo, to his credit, took a step forward, lifting his submachine gun. "Look, you little¡ª" The lynx''s expression changed. It was subtle, but clear. A look of pure disdain. Leo blinked. "Did¡­ did this thing just look down on me?" Before he could say anything else, a scent filled the air. It was a familiar scent. Wood smoke. Cooking fires.The scent of a meal being prepared In a village that had been abandoned for over fourty years. The group turned toward the village and saw something that should not have been possible. Chapter 151 - 151: The Hidden Passage It was exactly 1:00 AM. The abandoned village lay silent, but wisps of smoke curled into the night sky. Ethan''s stomach twisted. Just minutes ago, this place had been nothing but a deserted ruin. Now, there were signs of life. And even if this were a normal village, who the hell started cooking in the middle of the night? The black lynx stiffened, its fur standing on end. Step by step, it backed away, glanced at Ethan and the others, then, without warning, slammed its head into a nearby tree. And vanished. "...What the hell?" That thing was terrified. Did this mean something dangerous was about to happen? Ethan''s senses flared. "Shit!" From the village''s ancient well, a dense, crimson mist was rising. In seconds, it had spread throughout the entire village, seeping through every street, every empty house. Dark shadows twisted within the mist, drifting through the air. One of them was heading straight for Ethan''s group. The thing was already at the village center and closing in fast. The lynx hadn''t been afraid of the village''s changes¡ªit had been terrified of this. Ethan''s eyes saw only the shifting village, but his heightened senses told a different story¡ªa world smothered in thick, red fog. And the shadows within it were spreading. At this rate, they''d be engulfed in seconds. A faint mist was already curling around their feet, and Ethan''s perception was growing dull. His senses, which were supposed to be razor-sharp, couldn''t pierce through the blood-red haze. The changing village, the scent of food¡ªan illusion. A trap. If they ran now, that thing would catch them before they even made it to the village outskirts. What now? Ethan relayed everything he sensed to the group. Doe suddenly lunged at Leo. Startled, Leo raised an arm to block her, only for his hand to pass straight through. But she didn''t reappear behind him. For a brief second, everyone froze. Then, with a determined sprint, Leo charged straight at a tree. At that speed, he was either about to knock himself out cold¡­ or crack his skull open like a watermelon. Ethan instinctively reached out to grab him, but right as his fingers brushed Leo''s arm, Leo''s forehead slammed into the tree. Victor''s heart sank. ''Is he dead?'' For a moment, Ethan had the same thought. Was Doe behind this? But before he could say anything, Leo''s body vanished, just like the lynx. The only difference was, this time, a small smear of blood was left on the bark. Through it all, Celeste remained calm, only furrowing her brows slightly. She trusted Doe completely, but even she wasn''t sure what the hell Doe was trying to do. The moment Leo disappeared, Celeste lifted her head and looked toward the mountainside. A flicker of realization crossed her face. Then, she spoke. "Follow me." Without another word, she charged at the tree and slammed her head into it. Gone. Ethan, Victor, and Williams exchanged glances. Ethan gritted his teeth. "Screw it. If we die, we die." Victor and Williams both nodded. Williams took the lead, sprinting forward, but instead of using his head, he kicked the tree. Boom. The tree barely shook, and Williams staggered back. He scowled. "Wait, seriously? It has to be the head?" At this point, Victor wasn''t going to waste time testing. He clenched his jaw, braced himself and headbutted the tree. Gone. That confirmed it. Williams sighed, muttered something under his breath, then did the same. Ethan was the only one left. And the shadow was barely three meters away. It surged forward, its speed suddenly doubling. Ethan bolted and slammed his head into the tree. Pain flared in his skull as his vision shifted, blinding flashlight beams swept across him, then quickly turned away. Ethan blinked. Everyone was here. Celeste, Victor, Williams¡ªalong with Doe, who was still in her ghost form. Everyone¡­ except Leo. Leo was lying on the ground. Bleeding. "The hell happened?" Ethan asked. He''d been the last one in, and nothing made sense. "Yeah, what the hell was that?" Victor turned to Doe. "Why haven''t you given us an explanation yet?" Doe gave him a sideways glance. "Oh, sure, I should''ve explained everything while you all were running in one by one. I guess I could''ve repeated myself five times?" Victor opened his mouth, then closed it. Satisfied, Doe continued, "You saw the lynx hit that tree twice, right?" Ethan nodded. "It did the same thing last time we chased it here," Doe said. "That''s when I realized¡ªthe tree is the entrance to some kind of magic formation." Ethan frowned. "That''s¡­ the dumbest way to enter something. You seriously have to headbutt your way in?" "Exactly," Doe said. "It''s hidden because no normal person would think of doing that. Who in their right mind slams their head into a tree just to check if it''s a door?" Ethan had to admit, she had a point. Williams crossed his arms. "So, what''s the logic behind it?" Doe smirked. "You ever heard of the ''Three Flames'' theory?" They all shook their heads. "Every living thing has three essential flames¡ªlife, will, and identity," She said. "The flame at your head represents identity; it''s the most stable, the one that never changes. This formation is designed to absorb that specific fire as a key to activate it. No idea what level of spellcaster could construct something like this, but it''s beyond insane." Doe shook her head in amazement. Williams narrowed his eyes. "But¡­ didn''t you guys see the lynx do this before? Didn''t you have a spellcaster in the group last time?" "That thing is fast. Faster than me even when I''m flying. There''s no way we could''ve gotten close enough to see what it was actually doing," Doe said. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then she glanced at Ethan. "What I do find weird is how it seems so attached to you." Ethan had no answer for that. "I''d love to know too," he muttered. Then, he turned his gaze toward Leo. "Alright, what about him?" Leo was the only one injured. Everyone else had made it through just fine. At that, Doe hesitated. "¡­Yeah, about that." Ethan frowned. "What did you do?" Doe scratched her cheek. "So¡­ I don''t have a body. I had to possess someone to get through." Ethan''s eyes narrowed. "And?" "¡­And because I was inside him, his ''head flame'' was weaker than normal." Doe coughed. "So, uh, when he hit the tree, the impact was¡­ a bit rougher than expected." Ethan gave her a blank stare. "¡­But hey, good news!" she added quickly. "It could''ve been worse. At least he''s¡ª" She paused, then smirked. "At least he''s, you know, still a virgin. That''s why his flame was strong enough to work at all." Ethan''s jaw dropped. "Wait¡ªwhat? He''s a virgin?" Chapter 152 - 152: The Altar Even Victor, Williams, and even Celeste stared at Leo in stunned silence. "This guy''s been bragging to us for years, and it turns out it was all just talk?" Williams muttered. The problem was, in the eerie silence of their surroundings, everyone heard him loud and clear. At that moment, Leo''s fingers twitched slightly. No one else noticed, but Ethan did. His heightened senses had been scanning their surroundings the moment they arrived, and he caught the movement instantly. Leo had woken up the second Jade exposed him as a virgin. And now, unsure of how to face the embarrassment, he was pretending to be unconscious. Ethan wasn''t about to let him off easy. He stepped forward and kicked him. "If you''re awake, get your ass up. Quit playing dead and patch yourself up before you actually die." Then, with a smirk, he added, "And what''s wrong with being a virgin? It''s not like we weren''t all virgins at some point." Leo opened his eyes, looking at Ethan like he''d just been betrayed. As he slowly sat up, Celeste suddenly spoke. "How old are you?" Leo blinked. "Uh¡­ what?" "He''s twenty-six," Williams answered instantly. "Oh." Celeste''s lips curled into a knowing smile. She turned and walked away. Leo, halfway through standing up, stumbled. His face said everything. At that moment, Ethan realized where they were. Somewhere inside the mountainside. The western ridge near the village, most likely. The real shock, though? The entire mountain was hollow. Ethan could tell this wasn''t natural, the walls bore clear marks of artificial excavation. But more importantly, his usual sensory range was being suppressed. Under normal conditions, he could scan nearly a kilometer in all directions. But here? Barely a hundred meters. Still, he knew which way to go. At the very edge of his perception, the black lynx was waiting. It walked ahead, pausing occasionally, as if making sure they were following. The group moved forward, turning to a corner, and suddenly, the path ahead was lit. A massive altar came into view. The chamber was dimly illuminated by nine eternal lamps, their flames flickering with an eerie glow. Ethan counted¡ªnine lamps, nine corners of the altar. And at eight of those corners, skeletal remains lay motionless. Feline remains. The lynx crouched beside one of the skeletons. Curious, the group stepped closer. The lynx looked up at Ethan, then stood, It let out a low, mournful howl, then lifted a paw and touched the bones beside it. Slowly, it circled the altar, stopping at each skeleton. Every time, it howled again. Finally, it returned to the one empty corner. And lay down. This time, its golden eyes were filled with something that looked almost¡­ pleading. Ethan frowned. "Are you saying¡­ this last spot is yours? That you''re supposed to die here too?" The lynx lifted its head. Then, to everyone''s shock¡ªit nodded. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without hesitation, it walked over to Ethan. And then, suddenly, it dropped to its knees, its forehead pressed against the cold stone floor. "What the hell is this?" Victor muttered. "Wait¡­ does it want you to take it with us?" Leo asked, eyes widening. "It doesn''t want to die here?" The lynx immediately lifted its head and nodded frantically. Leo''s jaw dropped. "No way... This thing''s sentient? That''s...impossible." He trailed off, the implications sinking in. "Weren''t animals...?" Ethan ignored him. Instead, he fixed his gaze on the lynx and asked, "How did the others die?" He didn''t expect an answer, it was too complicated a question. But the lynx tilted its head, considering. Then, it padded over to the first skeleton, It lifted a paw, touched the remains¡ªthen touched its own belly. Then, it lay down and stuck out its tongue, going completely still. "¡­Your mother?" Ethan asked slowly. "She gave birth to you¡­ and died here?" The lynx blinked, then, it nodded. The group exchanged glances. Something wasn''t right. If this had happened for generations¡­ why? Why did each lynx come back here to die? Celeste narrowed her eyes. "Couldn''t you just¡­ not return?" The lynx shook its head. Then, without hesitation, it strode to the center of the altar. It dug its claws into the stone floor, scratching at it furiously. Ethan and the others started to approach, but Celeste suddenly raised a hand. "Wait." They stopped. "This altar is weird," Celeste muttered. "It might be rigged with something. Let''s not step on it just yet." Her words made sense. No one moved forward. Ethan narrowed his eyes and focused. Compressing his senses, he tried to pierce through the stone itself. His vision blurred. It took an immense amount of effort, draining his energy rapidly. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead and after a few seconds, he gasped and pulled back. Celeste immediately caught his arm. "What is it?" Ethan steadied himself. "The altar itself is fine. But underground¡­" He hesitated. "I don''t know," he admitted. "Something''s down there, but I couldn''t make it out." That was all Leo needed to hear. The second he knew the altar wasn''t dangerous, he sprinted forward. The lynx was still digging when he arrived. It didn''t move away as Leo approached. Reaching behind his back, Leo pulled out a folding shovel, and judging by his stance, he was about to start digging. "Wait¡ª" Leo swung the shovel and at the last second, Victor yanked him back. "The hell are you doing?" Victor snapped. Leo blinked. "Uh¡­ digging?" Victor clenched his teeth. "You idiot! Didn''t you hear Ethan? There''s something down there." Leo looked confused. "Yeah, and I''m trying to dig it up." Williams shoved him aside. "You wanna get yourself killed? Fine. Just wait until we''re gone." Ethan ignored them and crouched beside the lynx. "What''s down there?" he asked. "I saw something like a jar. What''s inside?" The lynx froze, then, its gaze shifted to Celeste. It pointed It''s paws at her, then at itself. And then it started digging again. No one understood what it meant. Leo frowned. "Your soul''s trapped in there?" The lynx rolled its eyes then, it pointed at itself, then at Celeste. Then kept digging. The second time, it still wasn''t clear. Now, it was pacing in circles, clearly frustrated. Finally, it walked to Celeste, pointed at her again, then at the ground. It''s paws then trailed to Williams'' shadow then, it flopped onto its back, showing its belly, pointing at itself again. Only now did the group realize, Its stomach was slightly swollen. Leo''s eyes widened. "Holy shit. This thing''s pregnant." The group collectively turned toward the lynx. Ethan narrowed his eyes. "You''re saying¡­ she has no shadow." He pointed at Celeste. "But he does." He gestured toward Williams. The lynx nodded, then it placed a paw on its belly. After that, it furiously started digging at the altar''s center. At long last, they finally had some clue. Something connected shadows, the lynx''s unborn cub, and whatever was buried beneath this place. But what exactly was down there? And why was the lynx so desperate to dig it up? Chapter 153 - 153: The Cycle As time passed, the creature repeated the same movements over and over again, but no matter how much it gestured, Ethan and the others couldn''t fully understand. They threw out a few guesses¡ªnone of which were correct. Frustrated, the shadow lynx began spinning in circles on the spot. When they were out of ideas, something clicked in Ethan''s mind. He pointed at Doe and asked, "Have you seen her before?" The lynx looked confused, unsure why Ethan was asking, but still turned to Doe. After a brief moment, it shook its head. "What about her?" Ethan pointed at Celeste. The lynx turned its head, staring at Celeste before slowly nodding. Ethan''s eyes lit up. He glanced at the group. "Can anyone determine how long these bones have been here?" Doe and Celeste both shook their heads. Instead, Leo and Williams turned to look at Victor. "Damn, Vic, I didn''t know you had that skill!" Ethan grinned. "Can you check if these bones have been here for about five years?" Victor nodded and began inspecting each one carefully. "I heard top-tier snipers need a good understanding of wind speed, humidity, temperature, and even how fast bones weather in different conditions. Some experts can just glance at a skeleton, feel the air, and instantly figure it out. Looks like the rumors are true. Never thought we had someone like that on our team." Celeste spoke softly beside Ethan. Leo smirked, clearly enjoying the praise. "Of course! Vic isn''t just any sniper, he''s the best. The man can calibrate his own rifle and hit a fly from two kilometers away." "Oh?" Celeste raised an eyebrow. "And what''s your special skill?" "I¡ª" Leo was about to answer when Williams cut in. "He''s still a virgin." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "¡­You son of a¡ª" Leo''s face turned red in an instant. He shot an embarrassed glance at Celeste before grabbing his folding shovel and charging at Williams. Ethan and Celeste watched the two bickering with amusement. Especially Celeste. For the first time, her expression softened, revealing an emotion she had never shown before. But it didn''t last long. Her face suddenly tensed, and she clenched her hand behind her back. "What''s wrong?" Ethan noticed the change immediately. Celeste took a deep breath. "It''s moving." "What? The parasite?" Ethan''s expression darkened. Celeste nodded. "Yeah. I''ve never felt it move before. Maybe because I was always asleep when it did." "When did it start?" "The moment we entered the mountain. Then it stopped again." Ethan studied her for a moment, then said, "We''ll get rid of it this time. I promise." Even as he said it, uncertainty weighed on his chest. But what else could he do? Celeste gave a bitter smile. "I''m not afraid of dying. I just hate failing the mission Vaughn gave me. If I don''t make it, you should leave the Ninth Division." "Why?" Ethan frowned. "The division is a mess. You might get taken out by your own people before you even realize it." She hesitated before adding, "I think this parasite issue¡­ was caused by someone inside." Ethan nodded. He had already suspected as much. Otherwise, where had the classified orders come from? Before he could speak, Victor called out from the side. "Ethan, your guess was right. Based on temperature and seasonal shifts, these bones have been here for about five years." Ethan hurried over, and the others followed. "That means, based on the arrangement of the skeletons, the shadow lynx Doe saw forty years ago¡­ must be this one." Ethan pointed at one of the skeletons. "Eight in total. Every five years, one dies. And this one here¡ªit should be four or five years old." "That explains why it doesn''t recognize Doe. The lynx she saw back then is already dead. It was the first one in the cycle." "But it does recognize Celeste," Ethan continued. "Which means she really was here before." He glanced back at the lynx. "Every one of them probably tried to escape¡­ but something kept them trapped." "Every five years, they come here to give birth. Then they die. So what the hell is this altar for?" Ethan suspected that someone had discovered the last remaining shadow lynx was nearing its end. That meant there would soon be nine skeletons, completing whatever grim ritual this altar was meant for. Perhaps that was why they had been sent here on a classified mission, just pawns in a larger game, meant to die in the process. No one could say for sure, and Ethan kept his theory to himself. He stepped into the center of the altar, glancing at Celeste. His gut told him something, but without proof, he couldn''t be certain. After a brief rest, his soul energy had recovered a bit. This time, he closed his eyes, suppressing the range of his soul sense to an extremely small area. It was mentally exhausting, but he had no other choice. He had to see what was hidden below. The altar''s material was clearly something special. His soul sense barely managed to seep through. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he finally made contact with whatever was beneath it. "Idiot! Use the energy inside the Gate of Ascension! How can you be this stupid?" A sudden voice echoed in his mind¡ªMorzan. Ethan hesitated for a second before focusing inward. Thin wisps of mist rose from the lake inside his mindscape, drifting through the gate in an instant. A surge of energy jolted through him. So the source energy inside the Gate of Ascension could replenish his soul power¡­ "No sh*t. Source energy is condensed soul power. The entire space exists to store it. You really thought you could rely on the scraps leaking out?" Morzan mocked him before falling silent again. Ethan ignored him. He''d gotten used to these snide remarks. His first attempt at drawing power from the gate was a mess¡ªtoo much at once. A powerful shockwave burst from his body, sending the group staggering backward. "Soul energy¡­ materializing? How is it this strong?" Doe gasped. Crack. A crisp sound echoed from the center of the altar¡ªthe exact spot where Ethan had focused his soul sense. Everyone took a step closer, eyes widening. The altar, made of some unknown indestructible material, now had cracks spreading across it like a spiderweb. Thinking back to the shockwave earlier, they shuddered. If Ethan had focused that energy on a person instead of the altar¡­ Would they have been blown to pieces? What they didn''t realize was that Ethan had compressed his entire two-kilometer soul sense down to a single foot-wide column. It had taken him five whole minutes just to achieve that. f this were a fight, who would give him five minutes to cast a skill? In this era, standing still for five minutes would get you turned into bullet-riddled meat. But now a new problem arose. If the altar was breaking¡­ what would happen next? As the cracks deepened, Ethan suddenly felt the resistance below weaken significantly. Something was emerging from beneath the altar. Before he could see what it was, his eyes caught a familiar symbol carved into its surface. His breath hitched. The parasite. It was the exact same grotesque mark as the one on Celeste''s back. Its twisted features made Ethan''s scalp tingle. Just as he was about to get a closer look, a sudden force pulled at him. No one else seemed to feel it. Because whatever it was¡ªit was draining his soul energy. In an instant, his power surged out like a rushing tide. And in the depths of his mindscape, the tranquil lake inside the Gate of Ascension began to boil. Chapter 154 - 154: The Mark Ethan struggled, but the pull was too strong. Even the mist inside his Gate of Ascension surged outward, pouring through the open threshold. Gritting his teeth, he forced the gate shut with a resounding slam. With no more soul energy flowing, his face turned pale, and his body wavered before collapsing. Celeste, standing nearby, caught him just in time. Though his body was weak from the energy drain, at least he had broken free. Ethan''s gaze locked onto the cracked altar, filled with lingering fear. Doe, the only other one who could see his soul energy, shared the same horrified expression. "What happened to Ethan?" The group rushed over. Ethan didn''t answer immediately. He closed his eyes, trying to reopen the Gate of Ascension to replenish his energy. Last time, after escaping the mindscape, he had gained control over opening and closing the gate at will. But now, completely drained, he couldn''t establish a connection. After a failed attempt, he gave up and opened his eyes. "There''s something down there¡­ and it has the same parasite mark as Celeste''s." He exhaled sharply. "It absorbs soul energy. Nearly drained me dry." Ethan''s eyes flicked to Leo, his expression cold. "Leo, dig it up." He wasn''t the type to just take a hit and let it slide. The altar had already shattered, and nothing disastrous had happened. That meant they could dig the damn thing out, study it, and if necessary, smash it to pieces. No way in hell was he letting something get away with stealing from him. Still nauseous from the encounter, Ethan cursed in his mind. That feeling had been unbearable¡ªlike his very soul was being yanked out of his body. Even now, a wave of dizziness hit him, like a severe case of motion sickness. Leo nodded at the order and pulled a pair of rubber gloves from his pack, along with a small shovel and rake. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the altar''s center, the foot-wide cracked area had splintered like a spiderweb. Leo carefully scraped away the broken pieces. Finally, something emerged from the rubble. A small, round, leather-wrapped object, no bigger than a dinner plate. It seemed to be sealing whatever was beneath it, like a lid over a jar. Branded into its surface was a grotesque black symbol. The parasite. Identical to the one on Celeste''s back, except for the color. Everyone had braced themselves after Ethan''s warning, but seeing it in person triggered an eerie sensation. The longer they stared at it, the stronger the pull. A deep, sinking feeling¡­ like being dragged into an abyss. "Don''t look at it!" Ethan''s sharp yell cut through the trance. He knew firsthand¡ªhis soul energy had been devoured just moments ago. His voice snapped them out of it. A collective shiver ran through the group, and cold sweat dripped down their backs. For a terrifying moment, it had felt like they were losing themselves. Doe had never gotten close, likely afraid that her soul-form body would be affected too. Leo, on the other hand, had been fully engaged in his task. But when Ethan shouted, he flinched, lifting his head with a startled expression. "Damn, Ethan, what the hell was that for? Nearly gave me a heart attack!" The others turned to stare at him. "¡­What?" Leo blinked. Victor wiped sweat from his forehead. "You didn''t feel anything weird just now?" "Nope." "¡­Wait, is this because he''s still a virgin?" Williams muttered. "Williams, if you bring that up one more time, we''re done." Ethan, barely holding back laughter, waved a hand. "Alright, Leo, just take it out." It seemed Leo was the only one unaffected, so the job remained his. After a bit of work, he cleared enough debris to reveal a narrow gap¡ªjust wide enough to fit a hand through. Reaching in, he grabbed hold of something and yanked. It didn''t budge. Frowning, he wiggled it side to side, testing its resistance. "Weird¡­ It feels like it''s attached to something." He kept shifting it, trying to get a better grip. "Agh¡ª!" Celeste let out a sharp cry, collapsing to her knees as her hands flew to her back. "Leo, let go! Don''t move!" Ethan shouted, already rushing to her side. Without hesitation, he pulled down the collar of her jacket, exposing the back of her neck. The parasite mark writhed beneath her skin, slithering upward at an alarming speed. It was already at the base of her neck. Leo let go immediately. The parasite mark twitched a few more times but stopped climbing. It went still. "What do we do? Should we just dig it out?" Leo asked, stepping closer. Ethan had thought about it. But now that the idea was out in the open, he hesitated, his expression dark. Celeste shook her head. "That won''t work. We''ve already tried. That''s why it''s called a Shadow Eater Worm." She took a slow, shuddering breath before continuing. "It''s a real, physical parasite. A worm. And it''s fully fused with my spinal nerves. Even if we tried surgery, there''s no way to remove it without severe damage." "If you take it out now, at best, I''d end up in a vegetative state. If it were caught early¡ªmaybe. But the thing only reveals itself once it reaches the lower spine. Before that, there are no symptoms. No pain. No warning. So no one ever thinks to check." Ethan nodded grimly. He had suspected as much. If the Ninth Division, with all its resources, had failed to remove it, then the issue was far worse than it seemed. They had finally made some progress¡­ only to hit another dead end. Worse, the parasite had sped up after being disturbed. As frustration settled over the group, the shadow lynx padded over. It let out a low howl, catching their attention. Then it pointed toward the tunnel they had come from. With a glance back at them, it started walking in that direction. "You''re saying we can leave now?" Ethan asked. The lynx nodded once before continuing forward. If it was leading them outside, that meant whatever danger had been lurking in the cave was gone. And maybe, just maybe it was leading them toward another clue. For now, the group had no choice but to put their faith in the strange creature. The exit was right where they had entered, a passage tucked into the mountain wall. To Leo''s relief, no one had to bash their head against a stone to get through. He had genuinely worried that Doe would pull the same stunt as before and force him into another self-inflicted concussion. But when they finally stepped outside, everyone froze. They had emerged inside that room, the eerie, abandoned house at the village entrance. The one where so many had hung themselves from the rafters. Ethan''s breath caught in his throat. Could the deaths in this place be connected to whatever was buried inside the mountain? A chilling thought crept into his mind. And the pieces of the puzzle began falling into place. Chapter 155 - 155: The Descent A thought crossed Ethan''s mind, and he cast a subtle glance at Doe. But he said nothing and followed the shadow lynx out of the house. The sky had started to lighten. Ethan checked his watch¡ª4:00 AM. Had they really been inside the mountain for nearly three hours? It had felt much shorter. The group trailed the lynx to the village entrance. Just as they arrived, the first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon. "Awooo¡ª!" The lynx let out a pained cry, raising a paw to shield its eyes. It shrank back into the shadows beneath the house, clearly terrified of the sun. Ethan frowned. "You want us to go down the well?" The lynx nodded before turning and bolting back toward the mountain. Ethan watched its frantic retreat and quickly pieced things together. The lynx''s eyes weren''t adapted to bright light. That explained its usual speed, but now, in its desperate escape, it moved like a disoriented animal, blindly slamming into a wooden post before scrambling away. The group gathered around the well. Below them, only dark water. No telling how deep. "You three go. Celeste is too weak¡ªI''ll stay up here with her." "Got it," Ethan replied, eyes still fixed on the well. The opening was narrow at the top, widening into a sloped chamber below. If they went down without a rope, getting back up would be nearly impossible. Leo secured a stone to the end of a rope and tossed it in. After a few seconds, he hauled it back up and examined the wet section. "Three meters deep." "I''ll go first," Williams said, already stripping off his shirt. He looped a rope around himself and turned to hand the other end to Victor¡ªdeliberately avoiding Leo''s outstretched hand. "The hell, man?" Leo scowled. "You''re unreliable," Williams deadpanned. "Or did you forget you dropped me last time?" Leo opened his mouth¡ªthen shut it. He had, in fact, let go of the rope during a past mission. Williams had ended up with a broken leg and two months in the hospital. "¡­Fair point." Still, Leo grabbed the rope alongside Victor, just in case. Williams smirked. Despite his constant jabs at Leo, it was all in good fun. "Wipe that smug look off your face before I kick you down there," Leo grumbled. Ethan watched them, amused. Even in this eerie, abandoned village, they were still cracking jokes. That was the mindset of soldiers who had walked the edge of death too many times to count. Their camaraderie was something Ethan envied. But he knew¡ªLeo, Victor, and Williams weren''t shutting him out. If anything, they were actively trying to include him. These bonds, however, weren''t formed overnight. "Ethan, be real with me," Leo called out. "I''ve done nothing to provoke this guy, but Williams has been messing with me non-stop for two days. What do I do?" Ethan chuckled. "Sounds like you deserve it." "Bullsh*t." "See you down there." With that, Williams grinned, flipped over the edge, and dove in. Splash. A loud splash echoed from below. Ethan stepped up, gripping the rope alongside the others while peering into the well. "Don''t worry, Ethan," Leo said, as if reading his mind. "Williams grew up around water. This is nothing for him." Ethan chuckled. "And what about you? Your special skill isn''t actually being a virgin, is it?" Leo''s face turned an alarming shade of green. His gaze flicked to Celeste, who was still resting near the village entrance. Before he could fire back, the rope suddenly went taut. Victor signaled for them to let out more slack. A few moments later, the rope stopped unspooling, Williams had reached the bottom. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But then, with a violent tug, the rope jerked, thrashing wildly. Ethan and the others immediately braced themselves and started pulling him up. Splash! Williams broke through the water''s surface, and Ethan exhaled in relief. For a moment, he had worried something had gone wrong. As they hauled him up, Ethan noticed he was gripping a dagger, and something was impaled on the blade. His soul energy had only just started to recover, so he hadn''t been able to extend his senses. Instead, he helped pull Williams onto solid ground. The moment he removed his diving mask, they could see his grim expression. Before anyone could ask, he flung the dagger onto the ground. Ethan caught a glimpse of the strange creature impaled on it, and his breath caught. It had an exoskeleton, that alone wasn''t shocking. What was shocking was its back. The shape. It was identical to the parasite mark on Celeste''s back, same grotesque design and size. Roughly the diameter of two stacked coins. A mass of tiny, writhing legs curled beneath its body, almost like a mantis shrimp, except with even more limbs. "There are a lot of these things down there," Williams muttered as he wiped himself off. "And it''s freezing." Celeste had wandered closer, her eyes locked onto the creature. "This¡­ this is what''s inside me." Her voice was tight. Understandable. No one would be calm after realizing something like this was crawling through their spine. Williams had already changed into a high-density thermal wetsuit, the shivering gone from his frame. "There''s a passage at the bottom," he said, tightening a strap. "Barely big enough for a person. Looks like a drill site¡ªprobably a natural spring." "I was gonna check it out, but then I saw these things buried in the silt. No idea how they died, but there were a lot of them. And I wasn''t about to stick around to find out why." He grabbed a safety harness, preparing to go back in. Ethan stopped him. "Going alone isn''t safe. I''m coming with you." He pulled a wetsuit and a small oxygen tank from his bag. "How long will this last?" Ethan asked. "You''ll get about fifteen minutes. I can stretch mine to thirty," Williams replied. Ethan nodded. "No matter what, we turn back when we hit the halfway mark. No heroics." He directed the last part at Williams. Williams grinned but nodded. As the others suited up, Celeste returned to the village entrance, while Doe remained in the shade, watching quietly. By now, they had learned that it wasn''t fear keeping her out of the sun, she just didn''t like it. Ethan sat on a wooden post near the well, pulling on his wetsuit. But as he adjusted his gear, he discreetly reached into his bag and dropped a length of rope into the well. Chapter 156 - 156: The Rope The rope slipped into the well, breaking the silence with a soft splash. Victor, being the closest, immediately heard the sound. He turned his head, just in time to see Ethan pulling a grappling hook from his bag, about to toss it down. Victor opened his mouth to speak, but Ethan gave him a quick shake of the head. Victor hesitated but said nothing. He turned away as if nothing had happened. Ethan hesitated for a moment. The grappling hook was made of metal¡ªdropping it would make too much noise. Before he could rethink, Victor caught his gaze and gave him a slight nod. Ethan understood. Victor was covering for him. Without hesitation, he tossed the hook into the well. "Ryan, help me strap this on!" Victor suddenly shouted at the exact moment the hook hit the water. His timing was perfect. The loud shout completely drowned out the splash, blending so naturally it felt rehearsed. This was why he was the best sniper. Just by estimating the hook''s weight and gauging the well''s depth from earlier, he had calculated the precise moment it would hit the water. Victor didn''t know why Ethan needed to do this, but he trusted that there was a reason. Once everything was ready, Leo tied the rope securely to a sturdy tree. After a quick exchange of glances, the four of them jumped in. The well water was murky. Even with their diving masks, visibility was low. They dove deeper. Strangely, the deeper they went, the clearer the water became. Williams led the descent, reaching for the spring opening at the bottom. Ethan grabbed him by the shoulder and gestured for him to stop. Victor and Leo also came to a halt. Ethan pinched his nose with his fingers in a signal and then covered his breathing vent to prevent air bubbles from escaping. The three exchanged glances, not entirely sure what he was doing¡ªbut they got the message. They all held their breath. Ethan looked up. A faint silhouette stood at the mouth of the well, peering down. Judging by the figure, it was Celeste. Of course, if it wasn''t Celeste, that would be strange. If it were Doe, they wouldn''t even see a shadow. Celeste remained at the edge, observing. Just as Ethan was on the verge of running out of air, she finally stood up and left. At the same moment, the group noticed something alarming¡ªthe rope they had used to descend was being pulled up, inch by inch. Leo''s eyes widened. He pointed up, about to speak. Fortunately, Victor knew him too well. He reached over and clamped a hand over Leo''s air tube before a single bubble could escape. This was exactly why Leo was never assigned to reconnaissance. He was pure assault. His job was to stay hidden until the order to charge came. Leo''s specialty had already been mentioned¡ªraw speed. His record? A hundred meters in just 4.38 seconds. Five seconds faster than the world record. If he wasn''t in the military, his name would be in the record books. People once thought he had some kind of speed-based ability, but it turned out his lower leg muscles were simply different. A normal person had two calf muscles at the back of their leg, Leo had three. Not to mention, the tendons in his feet were layered in triple strands. That was why a reckless guy like him had managed to stay in special forces for so long. Above them, the rope was steadily being pulled out of the well. The group was seething, but Ethan''s expression was colder than ice. A few more seconds passed before they couldn''t hold their breath any longer. They exhaled slightly, releasing a small stream of bubbles into the water. Immediately, they held their breath again and waited. Ethan fumbled around the well''s edge underwater. When he had tossed the grappling hook and rope earlier, he had aimed toward the side on purpose¡ªhe didn''t want them falling into the spring below. His memory was spot on. Right where he expected, he retrieved both the rope and hook. Leo and Williams looked at him in shock, but Victor gave him a silent thumbs-up. After securing the grappling hook, the four surfaced. They were about fifteen meters below the well''s opening. Even with the rope and hook, throwing it up would be no easy task. Ethan stared at the distance, suddenly realizing a problem¡ªhe had been so focused on securing their escape that he hadn''t considered how hard it would be to get the hook to latch onto something. Victor grinned. "Heh, I got this." From his belt, he pulled out an underwater spear launcher. Ethan''s eyes lit up. "Victor, you absolute genius." Victor chuckled. "I didn''t bring it on purpose. You guys just didn''t have one in your bags. If you did, you would''ve brought it too." Ethan nodded and handed the grappling hook to Victor. He secured it to the harpoon, lifted the launcher, and aimed at the well''s opening. Thump! With a muffled blast, the harpoon shot upward, carrying the hook with it. The recoil was stronger than expected¡ªVictor was sent plunging back into the water. Ethan yanked the rope, feeling a sudden tension. The hook had caught onto something. He pulled hard to test its grip. It held firm. That was all they needed. Just as he was about to climb, Leo shoved past him and grabbed the rope. "Ethan, I''ll go first." Ethan grinned and let go. He knew what Leo was thinking¡ªif there was danger up there, he''d rather be the one to face it first. Leo ascended the rope at an incredible speed. Ethan watched, a bit dazed. No surprise there. The guy was a soldier through and through, his technique was textbook perfect. Williams followed next, then Victor gestured for Ethan to go up before him. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan sighed to himself. These guys really treated him like some fragile rookie. He tried mimicking their climbing but quickly realized he didn''t have the right technique to do so. In the end, he had to use his legs, squeezing the rope between them as he scrambled upward. By the time he finally reached the top, Williams and Leo reached down and hauled him up. Victor, of course, had it the easiest. The three of them simply yanked the rope and pulled him up in one go. "What now? Why would Celeste do this to us?" Leo asked, frustrated. Ethan patted his shoulder in reassurance. "I''m not sure it was her. Do you remember how Doe controlled you?" Leo''s eyes darkened. A wave of fury washed over him as he clenched his teeth. "I knew that damn ghost was up to something from the start." Victor tossed him a backpack. "Alright, enough of that. Get changed and quit complaining." Once they were all geared up, they sprinted back toward the tree marking the entrance. Ethan gave a final warning. "Try not to fire your guns. If Doe possessed Celeste, shooting her would only hurt her body. It won''t do much to Doe." On the way here, he had noticed Leo had fully loaded his SMG and pistol, safety off, ready to fire at a moment''s notice. Hearing Ethan''s words, Leo nodded. Then, without hesitation, he charged forward¡ªstraight into the tree. Chapter 157 - 157: The Truth Ethan was about to remind Leo to be careful, fearing that the magic formation might have been tampered with. But it was too late. With a loud thud, Leo''s body vanished. Thankfully, nothing went wrong. If it had, with the force Leo had used, his head might have been smashed to pieces. The four of them quickly returned inside the mountain, sprinting toward the altar. Leo was incredibly fast. Everyone in the group, including Ethan, was skilled, but Leo was on another level. In the blink of an eye, he had already turned the corner and entered the corridor they had passed earlier. By the time Ethan and the others were halfway there, Leo was out of sight. Bang! The sound of a gunshot echoed through the cavern. Ethan''s heart sank. He had specifically told Leo not to fire his weapon. The three of them hurried forward, rounding the corner to find Leo aiming his pistol at the altar. In the ninth spot, where there should have been no remains, lay the Shadow Lynx. It was unclear whether it was alive or dead. Without turning his head, Leo said, "She was about to gut the lynx. I shot the knife out of her hand." Ethan scanned the area with his Soul Sense and confirmed that the lynx was still alive. He glared at Celeste and said coldly, "Should I call you Doe, or Celeste?" Celeste let out a soft, melodic laugh. Her voice, usually a neutral, magnetic tone, had shifted into something entirely different¡ªneither her own nor Doe''s. It was unsettling. "When did you figure it out?" she asked, her voice now carrVoidg an eerie, unfamiliar quality. Leo, visibly agitated, demanded, "Who the hell are you? What have you done with Celeste?" "Oh, you little virgin," she teased, her tone dripping with mockery. "Don''t tell me you have a crush on her? You''re out of luck, though. I happen to know she only likes women." Leo''s anger flared, and he looked ready to lunge at her. Ethan placed a hand on his shoulder, calming him, and then turned back to Celeste. "You hid it well. Up until now, I wasn''t entirely sure it was you, Doe." Celeste¡ªor rather, the entity controlling her smirked. "Go on, then. Tell me what you think I''ve done." Ethan met her gaze calmly. "If the story you told earlier was true, then the seven people who hanged themselves in that house, that was your doing, wasn''t it? You wanted to create panic, to make the villagers believe the place was haunted so they wouldn''t go near it. The exit to this place is there, after all. But then the drilling team came and disrupted your plans. They hit an underground river, which I assume leads to some secret location. To stop them from digging further, you possessed those soldiers and made them hang themselves. That secret place, I''m guessing, is beneath this altar¡ªwhere you''ve been raising those Shadow Eaters." "Giggle... You''ve got quite the imagination, kid," she said, wagging a finger. "But you''re only half right. First, I didn''t raise those creatures. Second, they''re not just any creatures¡ªthey''re Candle Abyss." Ethan''s eyes narrowed. "Candle Abyss? Never heard of it." Celeste¡ªor whatever had taken hold of her, smiled, slow and knowing. "Of course you haven''t. It''s older than memory, older than language itself. The name has been forgotten, but the truth never disappeared. You called them Shadow Eaters, didn''t you? That''s not wrong. But what you''re really dealing with is Candle Abyss." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan didn''t speak, waiting. "The Abyssal Dragon once ruled this place. It had no equal, no rival¡ªuntil it died. But death isn''t always the end. What it left behind wasn''t a corpse, but a seed. A fragment of itself, raw and hungry, waiting for the right moment to return. The ancients called it Drum." Her fingers traced the altar''s surface, almost reverently. "This altar wasn''t built to worship the dragon. It was built to nurture what it left behind. They believed that if Drum was fed enough life, enough soul power, it could hatch. And from it, the Abyssal Dragon would rise again." She let out a small sigh, almost wistful. "But when I found it, it was nothing more than a husk. Just a relic of what could have been." A low growl interrupted her, the Shadow Lynx stirring on the stone floor. Celeste''s¡ªno, Doe''s¡ªsmile widened. "Ah. Right on time. The Ninth Sunbirth Rite is nearly complete." Ethan''s pulse quickened. The Rite. He glanced at the lynx just as something small and golden-furred began to emerge from it. "You think you have time to stop this?" Doe laughed. "You''re waiting for your protector, aren''t you? Hoping he''ll break through the mist and come save you? Don''t bother. Even if he makes it through that mist, he won''t be able to enter here. The last time he tried to scare me, I heard his voice. He sounded like some ancient, decrepit old man. The entrance barrier also requires the fire of life to open, and that old fossil''s vitality is too weak to activate it now. Even if he knows where the entrance is, trying to force his way in would only damage the barrier''s foundation, sealing it off forever." Ethan was stunned. What was she talking about? Was this delay tactics? He was genuinely out of options here. If only she''d leave Celeste''s body, he''d blast her with his Soul Sense without hesitation. And what was this about a protector? Who was she referring to? "You''re the decrepit one, you old hag! You''ve really pissed me off now. I was just here to enjoy the show, but fine¡ªEthan, kill her!" The voice of Morzan suddenly echoed in Ethan''s mind, filled with rage. Ethan froze for a moment, then quickly understood. This must have been related to the incident when he was gathering energy earlier. He hadn''t realized that Morzan had actually scared her before. "Old... uh..." Ethan almost called him "old man" out of habit, but he caught himself. He needed Morzan''s help now, so he quickly corrected himself. "How am I supposed to kill her? She''s inside Celeste''s body!" "I''ll scare her out. Once she''s out, hit her with your Soul Sense and turn her into dust!" Morzan was clearly furious, though Ethan didn''t understand why. He''d called Morzan names like "old man" countless times before. If he knew that the only reason Morzan hadn''t taken it to heart was because he was the only ''Vessel'' in existence, he might have been a bit more cautious. "But if I use my Soul Sense, I''ll need to compress it. Why don''t you just kill her yourself?" "If I could kill her directly, do you think I''d need you? Start compressing your Soul Sense now. I''ll open the Gate of Ascension when the time comes," Morzan instructed. Ethan obeyed, releasing his Soul Sense and compressing it, aiming it at Celeste. As he watched the altar, he couldn''t help but think, ''You really brought this on yourself. You just had to run your mouth, didn''t you?'' "Oh my¡­ are you planning to hit me with that tiny bit of Soul Power you''ve just recovered? Hehe... I should thank you, actually. Your Soul Power helped activate Drum! I''ve been tricking that fool Vaughn for years, but he never agreed to come back here with me. He''s lucky¡ªif he had, I would''ve fed his soul to Drum. If I hadn''t heard that Celeste found someone with such strong Soul Power, I wouldn''t have bothered coming here myself... Ah!" Before she could finish, she let out a sharp cry. Celeste suddenly clutched her head, and a shadowy figure began to separate from her body. It was Doe! Chapter 158 - 158: Twinborn Fate As soon as the shadowy figure separated, Celeste collapsed to the ground. "Now!" Morzan shouted in Ethan''s mind. Ethan didn''t know how Morzan had managed to force Doe out of Celeste''s body, but he didn''t hesitate. With a loud bang, he connected to the Gate of Ascension and unleashed a torrent of pale green Soul Power, following the compressed path he had prepared. "How is this possible¡­?" Doe, momentarily stunned, felt the overwhelming surge of Soul Power emanating from Ethan. She had just been forced out of Celeste''s body by an immense pressure, and now she was faced with this devastating attack. Fear gripped her as she turned and lunged toward Celeste, who lay motionless on the ground. But she was no match for the speed of Ethan''s Soul Sense. A beam of pale green energy struck her, piercing through her form and slamming into the mountain wall behind her, leaving a deep crater. Ethan''s attack was like a high-pressure water cannon, the force of it explosive and unrelenting. However, the relief was short-lived. Despite being hit by Ethan''s attack, Doe managed to reach Celeste''s body. The moment she touched Celeste, the girl''s body began to convulse violently, shaking like a leaf in a storm. Seizing the opportunity, everyone rushed forward. They watched helplessly as Celeste continued to tremble, unsure of what to do. Thankfully, the convulsions didn''t last long. Soon, she lay still, her body lifeless. Leo cautiously reached out to check her breathing. Suddenly, Celeste''s eyes snapped open, startling Leo. Everyone immediately pinned her down, unsure if it was still Doe pretending to be Celeste. "It''s me¡­" came the familiar, magnetic voice. But no one moved. They couldn''t be sure if it was really her or just Doe playing another trick. Ethan scanned her with his Soul Sense and found no trace of Doe''s presence. "Is she dead?" he asked Morzan in his mind. "Deader than dead. And that girl just devoured her," Morzan replied lazily. Hearing this, Ethan released his grip on Celeste''s shoulders. Seeing him let go, the others followed suit. Celeste sat up, looking at everyone with deep gratitude. "Thank you," she said sincerely. The group laughed nervously, their tension melting away as they leaned back and sat on the altar, exhausted. Growl¡­ A mournful cry from the Shadow Lynx, which everyone had forgotten about, drew their attention. They turned to see a strange and tragic scene unfolding. The golden-furred cub that the lynx had given birth to lay motionless on the ground. Its once vibrant golden hue had faded to a dull gray, and its body was rapidly withering. The mother lynx let out another heart-wrenching cry as she watched her cub''s life drain away. Ethan quickly moved toward the cub, reaching out to touch it. "Don''t!" Celeste shouted sharply, stopping him in his tracks. Ethan froze, his hand hovering over the cub, and looked at Celeste in confusion. Her face was pale, her expression grim. "She succeeded," Celeste said quietly, her gaze shifting to the center of the altar. Before anyone could respond, Leo shouted, "It''s not done yet¡ªthere''s another one coming!" He rushed to drag the weakened mother lynx away from the corner. Celeste watched him, her voice calm but heavy with resignation. "It''s no use. It''s a Twinborn Lynx. The Twinborn Lynx can only give birth once in its lifetime, and it always bears two cubs, one Lightborn and one Darkborn. The Lightborn cub is the elder, but it is weak and fragile. The Darkborn cub, though smaller, is born with the ability to drain the life force of its mother. Within hours of birth, it can hunt on its own. The mother lynx, however, dies shortly after giving birth. The Darkborn cub then takes on the responsibility of caring for its sibling. I never thought Doe would actually find such a legendary creature. And to think she used the Lightborn cub as a sacrifice¡­" Celeste''s voice trailed off, heavy with regret. Leo interrupted, "Wait, so this altar was set up here just to consume the Lightborn cub? As some kind of offering?" As he spoke, the Lightborn cub dissolved into a pool of blood, which was quickly absorbed by the altar. Celeste nodded. "The Ninth Sunbirth Rite is complete. The final offering has been made. You all¡­ need to leave. Now." Ethan was taken aback. "What about you?" "I''ll be fine," Celeste replied. Her voice suddenly echoed in Ethan''s mind, a private telepathic message. "I''ve absorbed all of Doe''s memories and abilities. Don''t you think this is a perfect opportunity to infiltrate the enemy from within?" Ethan was stunned. Celeste could now use telepathy? If Morzan hadn''t assured him that Doe was completely dead, he would have suspected that Celeste was still being controlled by her. But according to Morzan, Celeste had devoured Doe''s Soul Power, gaining her abilities in the process. Ethan remained silent, unsure how to respond telepathically. He assumed Celeste was keeping this conversation private, but she noticed his hesitation and laughed softly. "It''s fine, you can speak out loud. I was just testing it." Gone was the cold, aloof demeanor of the Ice Queen. Ethan cautiously asked, "What about your memories and personality?" "They''ve been restored," she said, glancing subtly at Leo, who was now fully engrossed in helping the mother lynx give birth. "Seriously, you all need to go," Celeste urged again. Just then, Leo exclaimed, "What the hell?!" Everyone turned to see him playing the role of midwife as the Darkborn cub began to emerge. The mother lynx''s body was rapidly withering, while the cub grew at an astonishing rate, ballooning from the size of a palm to that of a basketball in moments. The mother lynx shed her final tears, which dripped onto the altar. The sight was heartbreaking, but there was nothing anyone could do. Such was the natural cycle of these mystical creatures. Before today, Ethan would have dismissed the existence of the Twinborn Lynx as mere legend. But after everything he''d experienced¡ªhis rebirth, the events of the past few days, he could no longer deny the reality of such beings. The Darkborn cub, now fully grown, turned to bite through its own umbilical cord. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Whoa!" Leo flinched, nearly dropping the cub. Despite being only minutes old, the cub''s teeth were razor-sharp. As it bit through the cord, it accidentally nicked Leo''s finger. To everyone''s surprise, the cub latched onto his finger and began to suckle. Leo yelped, terrified that the cub might bite his finger off. His panicked reaction made Celeste burst into laughter¡ªa sound so unexpected that Leo froze, letting the cub continue to nurse. Celeste quickly composed herself, her cheeks flushing slightly. She turned to Ethan. "You all need to leave. Candle Abyss is about to awaken." Ethan gave her a long, searching look before nodding. "Alright," he said, signaling the group to gather their things and prepare to leave the mountain. Leo, still holding the Darkborn cub, asked, "Aren''t you coming with us?" Chapter 159 - 159: Drum of Control Leo had been so engrossed in delivering the lynx cub, that he had completely missed the conversation between Ethan and Celeste. Celeste remained silent, but Victor stepped forward, grabbing Leo by the arm and pulling him toward the exit. "Wait¡­" Celeste called out just as they stepped off the altar. The four of them turned around. Celeste walked to the center of the altar, reached down, and yanked something out from beneath it. The entire mountain seemed to tremble. What she pulled out was a drum-like object, with something slimy still attached to it. Upon closer inspection, it reminded everyone of the umbilical cord the lynx cub had bitten through earlier. However, this one was much thicker, about ten centimeters in diameter, and it wrapped around the lower half of the drum-like object in Celeste''s hand. As everyone watched, Celeste gave the object a firm slap. Ethan, however, knew that she had first established a soul connection with the object before striking it. With one hand holding the drum¡ªwhich was only about 20 centimeters tall, Celeste used her other hand to tear at the back of her neck. The parasitic creature, which she had previously said couldn''t be removed directly, was ripped off effortlessly. At the same time, the small lynx cub in Leo''s arms began to gag. A smaller version of the Candle Abyss wriggled out of its mouth and plopped onto the ground. "Holy crap¡­" Leo lifted his foot and stomped on it, squashing it flat. The others showed no unusual reactions, and Celeste spoke up. "It''s done. Nothing will control the Twinborn Lynx anymore. As for the Candle Abyss on your bodies, I''ve removed them as well. Don''t worry about the others; I''ll find a way to remove theirs when I get back. From now on, if you see me again, we''ll be enemies." Leo and the others hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back. Ethan smiled at her. "We''ll be waiting for you¡­" "No need for such a dramatic farewell," Celeste said. "I''ve absorbed her memories. Her original plan was to possess my body. By taking the Candle Abyss back with me, I''ll have enough leverage to infiltrate their ranks, maybe even their upper echelons. When the time comes to close the net, we''ll meet again." The trembling from beneath the ground grew more frequent. Celeste continued to rhythmically tap the drum in her hand as she addressed the group. Ethan guessed that this drum could both nurture new Candle Abyss creatures and control them. Otherwise, how would Doe have controlled the Candle Abyss even if she had managed to create it? sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Celeste had devoured Doe''s soul and absorbed her memories. This plan of turning the tables on their enemies shouldn''t be too dangerous. As they waved goodbye, Ethan turned and noticed Victor nudging Leo, who looked both bitter and conflicted. Even as they left, Leo seemed to want to say something but couldn''t bring himself to speak. "Coward. No wonder you''ve been single for twenty-six years," Williams muttered under his breath. Leo hung his head, looking utterly dejected, but he didn''t argue back. Even Victor nodded in agreement. "Leo, I''m not trying to be harsh, but if you like someone, just go for it! Chasing girls requires thick skin, attention to detail, and courage. You''ve charged into gunfire without a second thought, but this scares you?" Leo looked up at him, his face full of grievance. "Don''t act like you''re some expert! When have you ever chased a girl?" "Uh¡­" Victor was momentarily speechless. He hadn''t, but then he glanced at Ethan and quickly added, "Ask Ethan! Ask him how he managed to win over Lyla. Let him give you some lessons!" Ethan had been enjoying the spectacle, but when the spotlight suddenly turned to him, the smile on his face froze. He awkwardly scratched his head and said, "Uh¡­ Victor, I''m in the same boat as you!" As soon as he said this, Victor''s expression also froze. Leo, on the other hand, looked utterly defeated. It seemed like everyone else had girls throwing themselves at them. To find some psychological balance, he glanced at Williams, finally letting out a sigh of relief. At least there was one person worse off than him. Without even looking at him, Williams knew exactly what Leo was thinking. He calmly said, "You won''t find anyone to share your misery with. I''m married." This statement shocked even Victor. "Since when?" he asked. "Just a few days ago," Williams replied. "We''ve been together for three or four years. One time, I was driving my taxi, and she pulled up in a Porsche 911, revving her engine at an intersection, trying to provoke me. I shut her down! After that, we kept in touch. She''s from Ember City and would visit me in Harbour City when she had time. She kept asking me to come to Ember City, but I thought she was just playing around. Plus, I had already made plans with Victor to go abroad, so I never made it official. This time, when I came to Ember City, I reached out to her. Turns out, she was serious. She asked me, ''After all these years, what''s wrong with me that I''m not even your girlfriend?'' I don''t know what came over me, but I got carried away and said, ''What''s the point of being a girlfriend? If you''re serious, let''s get married!'' And then, we actually did! That day I left early while we were shopping with the others, I went to see her." As they walked, Williams continued his story. The more he spoke, the darker Leo''s expression became. Finally, Leo blurted out, "Damn, you''ve been hiding this so well! No wonder there were women''s hairs in that dump of a place on the rooftop. You said it was from the wind! You actually took a girl to that crappy place? Didn''t you think it would make you look cheap?" Williams grinned at him and said, "I don''t think you''re getting the point here." This piqued everyone''s curiosity. The point? What point? Leo, clueless as ever, asked directly, "What point?" Williams smirked and said, "The point is, even a crappy place like that was good enough for her to come with me. And she drives a 911! Remember, she''s a girl, not some sugar momma!" As he said this, his eyebrows started dancing, wiggling up and down in a ridiculous display. Ethan was stunned. Williams had always come across as someone with a high level of sophistication. He wasn''t cold, but he always wore a polite smile that kept people at arm''s length. With his glasses and calm demeanor, he seemed like the epitome of composure. Yet here he was, doing a ridiculous eyebrow dance to taunt Leo. The contrast was so absurd that Ethan almost choked trying not to laugh. Victor, standing next to Ethan, chuckled and said, "You''ll get used to them over time. They might be a bit older than you, but honestly, they act more like kids." Ethan was taken aback. Did he really seem that burdened? He thought he had been hiding it well. But how could he not be weighed down? As far as he knew, he was the only one aware that the world would face an apocalypse in five years. According to Morzan, he had been reborn to shoulder this responsibility. While he didn''t have a savior complex, he couldn''t ignore the fact that this world still held the people he loved¡ªLyla, and these quirky, friends of his. By now, they had walked quite a distance. The mist formation they had encountered earlier didn''t reappear, likely because it was a directional array that only activated upon entry, not exit. It wasn''t until they had walked over ten kilometers that they suddenly noticed a thick fog rising behind them! Chapter 160 - 160: Intruders The sudden appearance of the fog took them by surprise. Victor frowned and said, "When we entered, I remember we only walked 1,080 steps. Even with all the twists and turns, the straight-line distance couldn''t have been more than a kilometer, right? How did we end up over ten kilometers away?" Ethan thought for a moment and replied, "This magical formation might have some kind of spatial compression ability, like shrinking the distance. As for how it works, only a spellcaster would know." When they had arrived, there were four men, one woman, and a ghost. Now, as they left, only four men remained. With the mission completed, the mood on the return journey was noticeably more relaxed. Along the way, they discussed and speculated about the many unanswered questions that still lingered. Why did people possessed by the Candle Abyss lose their shadows? How did the clothes of those controlled by Doe end up buried beneath the soil? What were the red mist and the shadowy figures within it that appeared in the village? Where did the spring at the bottom of the well lead, and why were there Candle Abyss corpses down there? Why did Doe massacre the entire village after the drilling machine breached the spring? Where had the bodies of the over hundred villagers gone? Why was the village built here, and when was the hollow space inside the mountain excavated? Was the formation that required fire to enter set up by Doe, or had it existed before? How had the village remained untouched by decay for forty-four years? Although they had resolved the issue of the Candle Abyss on Celeste, even more mysteries had surfaced. At first, they debated and theorized enthusiastically, but eventually, the group fell silent. In the quiet of the deep forest, the only sounds were the rustling of branches and vines as Ethan cleared the path ahead. By evening, they found a clearing and decided to set up camp there for the night. By midnight, Leo, Victor, and Williams were already asleep, leaving Ethan to take the first watch. For him, it was easy¡ªhe simply sat down and let his soul sense expand outward. Ethan discovered that the maximum range of his soul sense had grown significantly, now covering a radius of nearly 2,000 meters from his center. However, the farther his sense extended, the fuzzier the details became. After testing it, he decided not to push the range too far, instead maintaining a natural radius of about 500 meters to conserve his energy. As boredom set in, Ethan''s thoughts drifted back to the moment his King of Elves bloodline had fully activated. One of the abilities it granted was the use of certain Druid-form skills while in human form. In the game, he had tried every method to activate this ability, but it always remained dormant. Logically, there shouldn''t be such a flaw in Ethereal. So, what was the reason? He had asked Morzan about it once, but the old man had simply told him to figure it out himself. At the thought, Ethan cursed inwardly: You old geezer, would it kill you to give me a straight answer? --- Meanwhile, in a void-like space, Morzan, who had just finished drinking, was in the middle of a deep sleep when he suddenly sneezed. Rubbing his nose, he muttered, "That brat¡­ Just wait until you reach that level. I''ll make you pay for this!" He rolled over and went back to sleep. --- Back in the forest, Ethan was growing increasingly bored. He stretched and was about to stand up when his soul sense suddenly rippled. Six figures had just entered his detection range. The sudden movement immediately caught Ethan''s attention. Through his soul sense, he could see that the six figures were dressed like tourists. Focusing his attention, he scanned their backpacks and found only ordinary items¡ªno firearms or other weapons. However, they did carry knives and machetes, which were standard equipment for anyone venturing deep into the wilderness. What struck Ethan as odd was that they weren''t setting up camp despite the late hour. Instead, they were wandering around, which seemed highly unusual. After observing them for a while, Ethan noticed that they were heading straight for their campsite. When they were about 300 meters away, they spread out, taking up positions to surround the camp while moving stealthily. What they didn''t realize was that their every move was being monitored by Ethan''s soul sense. They were completely exposed. Ethan stood up quietly and unzipped the tent where Leo, Victor, and Williams were sleeping. He planned to cover Leo''s mouth first, worried that the guy might make noise if he woke the others. But before he could act, Leo''s eyes snapped open, and he raised a finger to his lips, signaling silence. Ethan was momentarily stunned. He glanced around and saw that Victor and Williams were also awake, quietly getting up. Apparently, the sound of the tent zipper had already alerted them. They knew Ethan wouldn''t disturb them unless something was wrong. Keeping his soul sense focused on the intruders, Ethan whispered what he had observed to the group. Leo listened and concluded, "They''re definitely not ordinary hikers." "No shit, Sherlock," Williams muttered, rolling his eyes. "Enough, you two," Victor interjected. "Ethan, do you think they could be here to back up Doe?" Ethan immediately thought this was a strong possibility. Before they had set out, Celeste had told them that this mission had been assigned directly by Director Vaughn, so no one else should have known about it. She had also warned them that if things went wrong, there would be no reinforcements. If they didn''t want to participate, they didn''t have to. Now, this six-person team showed up. Celeste had mentioned that teams from the Ninth Division were always six people. The fact that they weren''t carrying firearms suggested this might be a private operation, meaning they wouldn''t have access to restricted weapons. "What do we do now?" Ethan asked, looking to Victor for guidance since he was the most experienced. "What do you think? We take them out," Leo said, already clicking the safety off his rifle. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the same moment, Ethan sensed one of the intruders suddenly stop. The man''s ears twitched, and Ethan quickly signaled for everyone to stay silent. The intruder listened carefully for a moment before continuing to move forward cautiously. Ethan was impressed. The man had heard the sound of Leo''s rifle safety being clicked from over 100 meters away. If they had been any closer, he might have heard them clearly. This guy likely had some kind of auditory enhancement¡ªeither an innate ability or a specialized skill. Ethan leaned toward it being an ability, as even with training, it would be nearly impossible to hear such a faint sound from that distance. Ethan relayed this information to the group in a hushed tone. Victor''s eyes narrowed. "This team isn''t ordinary." "Victor, we can''t just sit here. What''s the plan?" Ethan asked, knowing that all three of his companions were experts in combat, with Victor being their usual leader. Chapter 161 - 161: Coordination LVictor questioned Ethan in detail about the situation with the intruders. After a moment of thought, he said, "Leo, Williams, you two stay in the camp. I''ll find a position to cover us. Ethan, your energy can manipulate plants. Hide yourself and see if you can use the vegetation to ambush them. Also, you''ll be our eyes¡ªthat''s our advantage!" After he finished speaking, he quickly helped Ethan adjust his walkie-talkie and slipped out of the camp, moving silently in the direction they had come from. Ethan understood what Victor meant by their advantage. The intruders were likely all ability users, which gave them an edge. However, they almost certainly didn''t have anyone capable of using soul sense like Ethan. The intruders were approaching from the opposite direction, forming a semicircle around the camp. Only one side remained open. Ethan followed Victor at a distance, stopping about forty meters from the camp in a small hollow. He crouched down, and the nearby plants began to gather around him, providing cover. Ethan glanced around at the makeshift hideout created by the foliage. ''Well, I guess I can play the role of a plant-controlling ability user now,'' he thought. Through his soul sense, Ethan could see that the six intruders were now less than thirty meters from the camp. Two of them had begun to flank the camp, while one had stopped right in front of Ethan''s position, hiding in the underbrush. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, two of the intruders stopped hiding and began walking openly toward the camp. As soon as they emerged, Leo and Williams spotted them. Leo immediately raised his submachine gun and shouted, "Who''s there? Stop!" The two intruders exchanged a glance, and one of them raised his hands. "Hey, buddy, you''re from the Ember City M Squad, right?" Celeste''s team was indeed designated as M Squad, so Leo knew what he was referring to. But he didn''t confirm it. Instead, he asked, "Who are you?" "Don''t worry, we''re from the Terracotta City S Squad. We received a classified order from the Ninth Division to come support you," the man said with a friendly smile. Leo feigned surprise. "Really?" Without waiting for a response, he lowered his gun and even turned off the safety, walking over with a swagger. He grabbed the man''s hand, his face lighting up with exaggerated relief. "Bro, you have no idea how dangerous this mission has been. One of our team members turned traitor¡ªa ghost possessed our captain and attacked two others. They''re dead, and we barely made it out alive! Having you here is a godsend. You''ve got to help us get revenge! Those two members who died¡­ it was brutal¡­" As Leo spoke, he began to sob uncontrollably, even using the man''s hand to wipe his nose and tears. Ethan, watching through his soul sense, almost burst out laughing. ''This guy should''ve just been an actor. He''s making this up on the spot without even a script!'' The intruder was visibly stunned, his expression frozen. ''So this is the famous M Squad? They''re way too trusting. And there are only two of them. We should''ve just attacked outright.'' He exchanged a glance with his companion. But as he turned his head, Leo seized the opportunity. He grabbed the man''s hair and yanked it downward while driving his knee upward with the force of his powerful leg muscles. Thud! The sound of Leo''s knee connecting with the man''s face echoed through the forest. Leo''s sudden attack came after Ethan''s voice crackled over the walkie-talkie: "Leo, be careful!" Ethan had seen the man''s hand, hidden behind his back, transform into a claw with long, sharp nails. Both intruders were shape-shifters¡ªone with wolf-like claws, the other with bear-like claws. Ethan had warned Leo because he was worried he might get hurt. But Leo, being a top-tier special forces operative, had already noticed the intruder''s subtle movements. As Leo grabbed the first intruder''s hair, the second one quickly moved to intervene. But Williams was ready. With a flick of his wrist, a gleaming dagger shot through the air, aimed straight at the second intruder''s face. The man dodged backward, narrowly avoiding the blade, but the brief delay was all Leo needed. By the time the second intruder recovered, his companion was already airborne, courtesy of Leo''s devastating knee strike. Leo then turned his attention to the second intruder. With explosive speed, he closed the two-meter gap in an instant, launching himself into the air with another knee strike aimed at the man''s chest. Watching this, Ethan was reminded of a character from an old fighting game he used to play¡ªKOF97. There was a guy named Joe Higashi from the Fatal Fury team who had a move just like this. For a moment, Ethan even thought Leo looked a bit like Joe. Meanwhile, the four intruders hiding in the shadows saw the fight break out and prepared to join the fray. But Leo''s knee strikes, combined with Williams'' precision, had already taken down their two companions. The first intruder was sent flying by Leo''s knee, the impact likely knocking him out cold. The second intruder, distracted by Williams'' dagger throw, tried to dodge Leo''s follow-up knee strike. But Leo''s move was a feint. As the intruder stepped back to counter, Leo shifted his weight mid-air, turning the knee strike into a flying kick. His foot missed the man''s face by inches, but that wasn''t the real attack. A flash of steel followed. "Ugh¡­" The shape-shifter, now sporting furry bear-like paws, clutched his throat and collapsed without another sound. He died without even understanding what had happened. Only Ethan saw the full picture. Leo''s flying kick was a distraction. The real killing blow was the dagger Leo had hidden, which he dragged across the intruder''s throat as his foot passed by. By the time Leo finished off the second intruder, Williams had already dealt with the first. He caught the airborne man with a perfectly timed dagger thrust, driving the blade up through the jaw and into the brain. The wolf-clawed shape-shifter died just as quickly, if not more unfairly. The two elite soldiers had taken down their opponents in less than 5 seconds, their coordination flawless. Of course, Leo''s earlier acting had played a crucial role in setting up the ambush. For two non-ability users to take down two shape-shifters in such a short time was nothing short of impressive. If the intruders had fully transformed, the fight might have gone very differently. The four remaining intruders, still hidden, were caught off guard by the sudden violence. Though they reacted quickly, the fight was over before they could intervene. As Leo and Williams dealt with their targets, Ethan launched his own attack on the intruder hiding just ten meters in front of him. If only I had a Bramble Bind skill right now, Ethan thought. But before he could even attempt to manipulate the plants with his energy, a thicket of thorns suddenly sprouted from the ground, entangling the intruder''s legs. The man, who had just started to rise and run toward the camp, lost his balance and face-planted into the dirt. Ethan, however, was stunned. What just happened? Chapter 162 - 162: Spark of Insight In the next second, a spark of realization flashed through his mind. Could it be that the upgrade to the King of Elves bloodline in Ethereal had activated a new attribute? He quickly recalled the description he had seen: [Special Attribute: In human form, you can use certain Druid-form abilities at 20% effectiveness.] The description specifically mentioned "human form." Could it be¡­? Ethan''s excitement surged as he looked up at the man who had just gotten back on his feet. The man''s right hand had transformed into a long blade, which he swung at the vines around his legs. Ethan leapt out from the hollow in the hillside, startling the man. Clearly, the guy hadn''t expected someone to be hiding less than ten meters behind him. But the man recovered quickly, slicing through the vines with his blade. Without hesitation, he swung his transformed right hand¡ªnow a long blade, toward Ethan. As Ethan sprinted, he attempted to shift into Panther Form. He didn''t have much hope for it, but he figured it was worth a try. Buzz¡­ As expected, he didn''t transform into a panther. But Ethan''s excitement only grew. Because he felt his body suddenly become incredibly agile. His movement speed increased dramatically, allowing him to dodge the incoming blade with a quick sidestep. In the blink of an eye, he closed the distance between them. The man''s blade was too long for close combat, and this proximity became his fatal blind spot. The man with the blade hesitated. He knew his own striking speed was impressive, yet Ethan had dodged it as if he had teleported. The speed was unreal. But the man reacted quickly, thrusting his left hand toward Ethan. As he did, his left hand morphed into a short, sharp blade. He was fast, but Ethan was faster. With a swift motion, Ethan slapped him across the face. Smack! The speed and angle of the slap sent the man staggering. The blade that had formed on his left hand grazed past Ethan''s side, narrowly missing him. Ethan broke out in a cold sweat. The speed had been so intense that he almost lost control, nearly impaling himself on the blade. Thankfully, he''d managed to land that slap in the nick of time. Encouraged by his success, Ethan followed up with another slap. The man couldn''t dodge. He couldn''t even see Ethan''s hand moving. Ethan was starting to love this fluid, almost effortless feeling. Smack! Smack! Smack! Ethan unleashed a flurry of slaps, each one landing squarely on the man''s face. In just three seconds, he lost count of how many times he''d struck him. By now, the man''s face was swollen like a pig''s head in a butcher''s shop, shiny and bloated, looking as if it might burst at any moment. The man was utterly humiliated. He was known as one of the fastest blade masters in Terracotta City, yet here he was, unable to keep up with a barrage of slaps. His swollen face had squeezed his eyes into narrow slits. Squinting through his swollen eyes, the man saw Ethan''s excited expression. Clearly, Ethan was on a roll, and the man''s last thought before passing out was, ''What the hell¡­'' He collapsed to the ground, unconscious, not only from the beating, but also from sheer frustration. Ethan''s next swing missed as the man''s body slumped, narrowly avoiding the slap. For a moment, Ethan thought the man had somehow figured out how to counter his super-speed slaps. But then he realized the guy had simply fainted, his collapse coincidentally dodging Ethan''s strike. At the same time, Ethan sensed through his Soul Sense that Leo had just finished his fight, taking down two Mutants with brutal efficiency. Ethan hesitated. He''d never killed anyone before, and the thought of doing so now made him uneasy. But then, a soft thud came from behind him. Ethan knew it was Victor. He''d fired his sniper rifle, equipped with a silencer. The bullet whizzed past Ethan''s shoulder and struck the unconscious Mutant right between the eyes, killing him instantly. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan turned and gave Victor a grateful smile, then spoke into his walkie-talkie: "Thanks, Vic!" He understood¡ªVictor knew this wasn''t something Ethan was used to, and he''d stepped in to help. "Go help Leo!" Victor said, shifting his scope away from Ethan. Victor was just as stunned as Ethan. He''d been watching the entire time, and it was the first time he''d seen someone move that fast. The way Ethan had delivered those slaps¡ªit was almost¡­ satisfying. Through his scope, Victor had seen Ethan''s hands move like blurs. And there was something else¡ªa faint, shadowy outline of a panther surrounding Ethan''s body. Was that some kind of Innate Ability? But Ethan was a Soul-Wielder, wasn''t he? How could he have an ability like that? There was no time to ask. Back at the camp, three Mutants had already launched an attack on Leo and Williams. As Victor adjusted his scope, he noticed a man with a rat-like face standing at the edge of the camp, staring directly at him. Victor froze. This must be the Mutant Ethan mentioned, the one with enhanced hearing. Despite being 280 meters away and using a silencer, the rat-faced man had still detected the shot. Looking at the man''s face, Victor was reminded of another creature: a bat. At the same time, through his scope, Victor saw Ethan charging into the camp. His speed was astonishing¡ªfaster than even Leo''s bursts. Victor had never seen Ethan move like this before. In the time it took Victor to lift his rifle, Ethan had already covered 40 meters and entered the camp. Shocked but focused, Victor pulled the trigger, aiming for the bat-faced man. But something unexpected happened. The moment Victor fired, the bat-faced man tilted his head slightly, and the bullet missed, embedding itself in a tree behind him. Victor reloaded and fired again, but the man sidestepped, dodging what should have been a heart shot. As Victor prepared to fire a third time, the bat-faced man smirked at him, a look of pure disdain. Victor''s confidence took a hit, but he knew he had to change tactics. He moved his finger away from the trigger and spoke into the comms: "Ethan, that bat-faced guy can dodge bullets! Keep him busy while I help Leo and Williams with the other two!" By now, Ethan was already in the thick of it, helping Leo and Williams take on the other two Mutants. He noticed that even with two against two, Leo and Williams were already injured. When Ethan had first charged into the camp, he''d seen the bat-faced man standing there and thought, ''What an idiot, just standing there like a target.'' He''d ignored him and gone straight to help Leo and Williams. But now, hearing Victor''s warning, Ethan realized: That guy''s the real threat. Ethan stepped back from the fight. He wasn''t used to working with Leo and Williams, and his attempts to help had only made him feel like he was getting in the way. At the same time, the bat-faced man turned his gaze toward Ethan. Both Ethan and Victor saw it at the same time and spoke into their comms simultaneously: "He can hear us!" The bat-faced man grinned, his smile twisted and ugly. Chapter 163 - 163: Echoes of the Bat After the bat-faced man finished laughing, he muttered something into the communication device clipped near his mouth. Ethan and the others couldn''t make out what he said, but the effect was immediate. The woman who had been fighting Leo and Williams suddenly disengaged and sprinted toward Victor''s position. It didn''t take a genius to figure out what the bat-faced man had just ordered. He''d sent her to take out Victor. Williams and Leo tried to intercept her, but the remaining Mutant¡ªa man wreathed in flames, suddenly unleashed his full power. His fists burned with a searing heat, each strike forcing Leo and Williams to retreat. It became clear that the Mutants had been toying with them earlier. Leo took a direct hit to the shoulder, his shirt instantly burning away, leaving a gaping hole. His skin blistered and turned red, as if branded by a hot iron. Beads of sweat rolled down his face, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on, refusing to cry out. Meanwhile, Victor''s rifle cracked in the distance. He was clearly trying to snipe the woman rushing toward him, but no one knew what her ability was. She hadn''t used any special powers earlier, and now she was moving fast. Ethan didn''t wait. In a flash, he closed the distance between himself and the bat-faced man. The man''s vertical pupils narrowed as he registered Ethan''s speed. He hadn''t expected Ethan to be this fast. As Ethan closed in, he began testing the limits of his abilities. He remembered the description of his Divine Bloodline attribute: In human form, you can use certain Druid-form abilities at 20% effectiveness. He quickly discovered that while he couldn''t use the finishing moves of Panther Form, skills like Rake and Shred were surprisingly effective. The bat-faced man dodged and weaved, but Ethan''s relentless assault forced him back against a tree. Ethan swung his arm, activating Rake. Swish! The man dodged, but Ethan''s fingertips left a bloody streak on the tree trunk. A shallow cut appeared, and green sap began oozing from the wound. Anyone who knew anything about trees would find this strange¡ªtree trunks don''t "bleed" when cut. But Rake, a skill that caused bleeding in the game, retained its effect in the real world. Even a tree could "bleed" when struck by it. When Ethan used Shred, four claw marks over a foot long appeared, extending his reach significantly. But despite Ethan''s speed, the bat-faced man was no pushover. It seemed he truly possessed the abilities of a bat¡ªecholocation, like sonar, allowed him to detect and evade Ethan''s attacks with eerie precision. At the same time, the man''s attacks were useless against Ethan. Ethan''s Soul Sense was like a radar system, far more advanced than the man''s sonar-like abilities. The two clashed dozens of times, neither landing a single hit. This mission was Ethan''s first real combat experience, and it was the kind of fight where the stakes were life and death. At first, he''d been nervous, but now, just a few seconds into the fight, he felt completely in control. Still, he was worried about Leo and Williams, who were clearly struggling. Meanwhile, Victor fired several shots at the woman, but she was protected by a translucent shield. Even his sniper rounds only penetrated halfway before getting stuck. Victor switched to armor-piercing rounds, but they barely pierced the shield, slowing down so much that the woman easily dodged them. As Ethan watched the bat-faced man''s smug, twisted grin, a memory from his childhood biology class surfaced. A cruel smile spread across Ethan''s face. The bat-faced man noticed and paused, confused. ''Is this guy insane? Your teammates are about to die, and you''re smiling?'' Under the bat-faced man''s watchful gaze, Ethan yanked the earpiece off his comms device. He turned the volume to maximum and began twisting the frequency dial. Screech¡­ buzz¡­ whine¡­ howl¡­ hiss¡­ The comms erupted with a cacophony of distorted noises, each one more piercing than the last. Ethan winced at the sound, it was unbearable, like nails on a chalkboard. The bat-faced man''s expression froze. In an instant, his hands shot up to cover his ears. But it didn''t help. Not one bit. Ethan wasn''t about to waste this opportunity. He lunged forward, closing the distance in a flash. Heavy Strike¡­ As he swung his palm toward the man, a thought flashed through his mind: Crap, I forgot to shift into Bear Form! But it was too late to stop now. Even without the skill''s full power, Ethan''s strength was nothing to scoff at. The moment his palm connected with the man''s chest, a faint shimmer of a panther''s claw flickered across his hand. Ethan recognized it¡ªthe visual effect of a successful skill activation. The bat-faced man was sent flying, stumbling back seven or eight steps before slamming into a tree. His grotesque bat-like mouth opened, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. Ethan paused, staring at his hand. ''Wait, how did I just use Heavy Strike in Panther Form?'' But there was no time to dwell on it. The man was still standing, and Ethan couldn''t afford to let him recover. He dashed forward again, this time focusing on shifting into Bear Form as he prepared another strike. The moment he did, he felt the difference. His movements slowed significantly, but the power behind his strike was immense. A heavy, crushing force traveled down his arm and into his palm. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The bat-faced man, already severely injured, was in no condition to dodge. His echolocation, once his greatest asset, was now his worst enemy. The deafening noise from the comms had completely disoriented him. Ethan''s palm slammed into the man''s chest, and this time, a massive bear paw shimmered into existence for a split second before vanishing. Thud¡­ crack¡­ The man vomited another mouthful of blood, this time with chunks of internal organs mixed in. The force of the blow sent him crashing into the tree behind him, and with a deafening snap, the huge tree¡ªwide enough to take two people to encircle, split in half and toppled over. Ethan yanked his hand free from the man''s caved-in chest and took off running. He had to¡ªthe tree was falling right toward him. As he sprinted away, Ethan couldn''t help but marvel at the sheer power of that strike. The man''s chest had been crushed flat, his front and back pressed together like two sheets of paper. Ethan almost wished he had a force gauge to measure just how strong that hit had been. The commotion instantly drew the attention of everyone in the camp. The flame-wreathed man turned just in time to see Ethan obliterate the bat-faced leader. "Captain!" he shouted, his voice filled with rage and disbelief. So, the bat-faced man had been their leader. The flame-wreathed man swung his fists, forcing Leo and Williams back. Then, with a dramatic flourish, flames erupted beneath his feet, propelling him forward like some kind of fiery chariot. It looked almost cool, like something out of a superhero movie. Ethan saw the man charging toward him, flames trailing behind him, and braced himself for the fight. Chapter 164 - 164: The Aftermath In the next second, the man who had been charging toward Ethan suddenly veered off and plunged into the woods. He was running away? Ethan and his companions paused for a moment, their thoughts in unison: What the hell¡­ this guy''s a coward? Leo immediately sprang to his feet and gave chase, while Ethan also moved, his body shifting into action. Williams turned and sprinted toward Victor''s position. Two seconds later, Ethan grabbed Leo by the arm, yanking him back mid-sprint. Leo stumbled, caught off guard by the sudden force. "What the¡ª" Leo exclaimed, startled. It was the first time someone had managed to stop him in the middle of a full-speed dash. "Go help Victor!" Ethan barked, then continued running, his focus now on the man wreathed in flames. The man''s fiery escape was impressive, but no matter how fast he was, he couldn''t outrun Ethan''s heightened senses. The man''s speed was clearly a burst-type ability. After about five hundred meters, the flames at his feet flickered and died out. Ethan, now in his Panther Form, was slower but not by much. He kept pace, trailing the man like a shadow. The man glanced back after his flames extinguished, his eyes widening in terror when he saw Ethan less than a hundred meters behind him. Panicking, he pushed himself to run even faster. Bang! A sniper shot echoed through the forest. A burst of fire erupted in the distance, flaring up briefly before vanishing. Bang! Another shot. Crack! A tree ahead of the flame-wreathed man splintered as a bullet tore through it. Ethan knew Victor had won his fight¡ªotherwise, he wouldn''t be firing shots in their direction. By now, they were far from the camp, and Ethan''s senses were focused ahead, so he had no idea what was happening back at the base. The flame-wreathed man changed direction, only for another tree to explode in front of him. He veered again. The delay allowed Ethan to close the gap to less than ten meters. Shred! Ethan''s fingers curled into claws as he slashed at the man''s back. "Ahhh!" The man screamed in agony. Unlike the bat-faced man, he had no special defenses. Ethan''s claws tore through his flesh, leaving four deep gashes that exposed his spine. But the man didn''t stop. Using the momentum from the attack, he stumbled forward, still trying to escape. Shred¡­ This time, Ethan had an idea. What would happen if he combined his skill with the use of his Soul Energy? As the thought crossed his mind, he channeled his energy and activated the Shred skill. Whoosh! Four claw marks, each half a meter long, materialized in the air as if slicing through space itself. They shot forward, striking the man with brutal precision. Sssshhhhk! The sound of tearing fabric echoed as the man''s body was cleanly severed into five pieces. He froze mid-step, his head turning slowly to look back at Ethan. Ethan stared in shock as the man''s body collapsed into a heap on the forest floor. The thick stench of blood filled the air, making Ethan gag. He covered his nose and mouth, turning away from the gruesome scene and sprinting back toward the camp. But after only a few steps, he stopped, leaning against a tree as he dry-heaved. Earlier, when he had crushed the bat-faced man with a single strike, it hadn''t affected him like this. Part of it was the adrenaline of combat, there hadn''t been time to process what was happening. The other part was that the bat-faced man, after transforming, had looked more like a monster than a human. Killing him had felt no different than taking down a creature in a game. It hadn''t bothered Ethan at all. But this was different. With a single swipe of his claws, he had dismembered a man who, despite his abilities, still looked entirely human. This was the first time Ethan had killed someone who appeared so¡­ normal. And it made him sick to his stomach. Rustle, rustle, rustle¡­ Ethan knew it was Victor and the others approaching. All three of them were carrying backpacks, and it was clear they''d cleaned up the camp before heading over. With them was the female mutant, her hands bound, her clothes torn and disheveled. Half of her face was badly burned, and her hair was completely gone. Just as Ethan was trying to steady his stomach, the smell of burnt hair and flesh hit him like a wave, and he doubled over, dry-heaving again. Williams, grinning, handed him a water bottle. Ethan took a few gulps, and the nausea began to subside. Victor chuckled. "First time''s always the worst. You''ll get used to it after a while." "What happened to her?" Ethan asked, recalling the massive burst of flames he''d seen from the forest earlier. By then, he''d been over five hundred meters from the camp, his senses locked onto the flame-wreathed man. He hadn''t paid attention to what was happening back at the base. "Dust explosion," Williams explained. "She got roasted." "Dust explosion?" Ethan frowned, confused. He remembered seeing Williams rummaging through their backpacks earlier, pulling out small, palm-sized waterproof bags from each of their medical kits. Ethan knew those bags contained starch, used for stopping bleeding in case of serious injuries. Pressing a starch bag against a wound and bandaging it could quickly stop the bleeding, potentially saving a life if done in time. But Ethan still didn''t understand how a few bags of starch had taken down the woman. Seeing his confusion, Williams elaborated. "Victor told me to grab them. Turns out this woman''s ability is similar to the team leader''s¡ªshe can compress air." Ethan had seen her ability in action, but he still couldn''t figure out how starch had been the key to defeating her. Williams continued, "When I got over there, I timed it just right. As she was compressing the air, I tossed the starch into the air. Her air shield filled up with the particles, and then Victor hit it with an incendiary round. Compressed air plus dust, plus a spark¡ªboom! She was done for." Ethan listened, impressed, and gave Victor a thumbs-up. "That''s some quick thinking." But then he asked, "What if we hadn''t had the starch?" Victor froze, and Williams'' expression darkened. "Well," Williams said quietly, "Victor had all four of our grenades strung together and hanging around his neck." Ethan''s heart sank. He knew they only had four grenades, and Victor had taken all of them when he left the camp. Ethan had assumed they were for some tactical purpose, but now it was clear¡ªVictor had been prepared to go out in a blaze of glory if things went south. Victor scratched the back of his head, clearly embarrassed. "Old sniper habits. Anyway, what do we do with her?" "Kill her," Ethan said without hesitation. The others were taken aback. Leo spoke up, "Shouldn''t we interrogate her first? See if we can get any intel?" Ethan glanced at him. "Open her mouth and take a look." No one understood what he meant, but Leo, curious, grabbed the woman''s jaw and forced it open. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 165 - 165: Back to Civilization Her mouth was empty, completely hollow. Her entire tongue had been cut out. "Damn¡­ No wonder she didn''t make a sound when she was burning. What do we do now? If she can''t speak, even drugging her won''t work," Leo said, releasing her jaw. Everyone knew what Leo meant by "drugging." It was a common tactic during interrogations. The woman kept her head down, seemingly indifferent to her current predicament. "Out of the six of them, three had their tongues removed, including their vocal cords," Ethan explained. The three who had been mutilated were: 1. The bear-paw mutant Leo had taken down first. 2. The hand-blade mutant Ethan had slapped into oblivion. 3. And now, this woman in front of them. Crack! Before Ethan could finish speaking, the woman''s head suddenly exploded. Whoosh! Something shot out of her skull. No one had expected this. They were all standing close to her, and now they were covered in a gruesome mix of blood and brain matter. Ethan fought back the urge to vomit and immediately expanded his heightened senses, pushing them to their maximum range. But all he caught was a glimpse of a tail before it vanished beyond the reach of his senses. The speed was unbelievable. It had taken less than a second for the creature to escape his detection. Ethan quickly shifted his focus, scanning the area with his senses. He checked the locations of the hand-blade mutant and the bear-paw mutant Leo had killed earlier. Both bodies were gone. He relayed this information to Victor and the others, who were equally stunned. The bodies that had disappeared were all from the mutilated individuals. And now, with the woman''s head exploding and something escaping from it, it was clear this was no coincidence. "Could it be that the creature felt trapped and decided to shed its host?" Ethan speculated. His theory made sense to everyone. Ethan retracted his senses and took a deep breath, glancing in the direction the creature had fled. "Let''s get out of here. We need to head back to Ember City," he said. The others nodded in agreement. This mission had taken too many bizarre turns, and they''d been ambushed on their way back. If it hadn''t been for Ethan''s sudden surge of power, the three of them might not have made it out alive. The four of them moved quickly, heading straight for the spot where they''d parked their vehicle. As they walked, Ethan turned to Victor. "Victor, you''ve always wanted to join the Ninth Division. Do you know what they actually do?" Victor nodded. "Yeah, the Ninth Division has two departments. One handles regular cases in the mundane world, and the other deals with supernatural phenomena. I applied to the regular department." He chuckled bitterly. "Who knew my first mission would be this¡­ weird." Ethan nodded, finally understanding. So the Ninth Division was divided into specialized units. But where did Celeste''s Emver City M-Squad fit into all this? Given the alphabetical ranking, their team probably wasn''t at the bottom of the hierarchy. Celeste wouldn''t be able to return with them, and Ethan wondered how the rest of them would be reassigned once they got back. Celeste had suggested they all leave the Ninth Division, but Ethan doubted it would be that simple. For now, they could only take things one step at a time. They took another break during the journey and finally emerged from the mountains by noon the next day. Using the GPS coordinates from their device, they had taken a direct route out of the forest. As soon as they cleared the trees, they spotted their Hummer parked not far away. It had been sitting there for days, untouched. Ethan let out a long sigh of relief, tilting his head back to soak in the sunlight. Victor and the others approached the vehicle, and Leo immediately crawled underneath to check for any tampering. Williams popped open the hood of the Hummer and began inspecting the engine. After a thorough check, both he and Leo gave the all-clear. "Everything looks good," Leo said confidently. Ethan walked over, raising an eyebrow. "You sure about that?" His question made Leo and Williams pause. They exchanged a glance, then went back to double-checking the engine. A few minutes later, they stood up again, looking at Ethan with puzzled expressions. Ethan grinned and pulled open the driver''s side door. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Victor and the others gathered around, and Ethan said casually, "Let''s go home." "Wait, what?" Victor hesitated, his face full of confusion. Leo and Williams were equally baffled. Ethan chuckled and explained, "I just wanted to make sure they checked everything properly. That''s all." "Ugh¡­" Leo groaned, opening the back door and tossing his backpack inside. Williams had been holding his breath, waiting for Ethan to point out some critical flaw. Now he exhaled sharply, shaking his head. Victor let out a tired laugh. "Ethan, you''re something else." "Just trying to lighten the mood," Ethan said with a smirk. "Alright, let''s get out of here." Once inside the vehicle, everyone changed into clean clothes, and they drove back to Terracotta City. They parked the Hummer in the same spot as before and decided to stay in the city for a day to rest. They booked a hotel and slept for what felt like an eternity. By evening, Leo was adamant about going out for a "feast." He insisted it was his treat and dragged everyone to a bustling street food stall. His idea of a feast turned out to be an all-you-can-eat skewer buffet, with a time limit and a per-person charge. Sitting there, surrounded by the noise and chaos of the city, Ethan found himself oddly comforted. After days in the mountains, the urban clamor felt almost welcoming. His mind drifted to the last time he''d taken Celeste out for seafood. He wondered where she was now¡ªstill in that desolate village, or back in the city? He had no idea what their next meeting would be like. And then there was Lyla. Why hadn''t she answered his calls? According to Victor, who had heard from Celia, Lyla had left for her family home in the capital the day after they''d departed. She hadn''t returned since. Ethan couldn''t shake his worry about her. "Do any of you know about the Silverwood family in the capital?" Ethan asked. All three shook their heads. Leo tried to reassure him. "Don''t worry, Ethan. Lyla''s fine." Victor and Williams nodded in agreement. Ethan forced a smile, but a sinking feeling lingered in his chest. The four of them ate until they could barely move, just as the time limit ran out. They returned to the hotel and collapsed into bed once more. The next morning, they boarded a plane back to Ember City. As the city of Terracotta shrank beneath them, Ethan felt a sense of closure. The mission was finally over. As the flight progressed and they drew closer to Ember City, Ethan''s excitement grew. Despite Lyla''s absence, he had received a brief call from her that morning. Their conversation had been short but sweet, and it had eased his mind somewhat. When he asked her when she''d be back, Lyla said it might be a while, but she promised she''d return. That reassurance was enough for Ethan. Over the time they''d spent together, he''d learned a bit about her family. Her father was going through a turbulent period, with other family members trying to oust him from his position as head of the household. Lyla''s return home was likely to support him. But what Ethan didn''t know was just how much effort Lyla had gone through to make that one phone call to him. Chapter 166 - 166: The Shops Struggles Evening. Ethan pushed open the door to the villa. The familiar scent hit him, bringing an immediate sense of calm. But the thought that Lyla was no longer here filled him with a sudden, heavy sadness. He climbed the stairs to the second floor, where the door to Lyla''s bedroom stood ajar. Ethan paused at the threshold, memories flooding back. Before his rebirth, Lyla had hidden her identity, accompanying him in the game as Moonbeam for four years. On the first day of his new life, he had knocked on her door in the apartment building, asking for the time. Later, when he was stuck without a VR headset to log into the game, Lyla had shown up like a miracle, gifting him the very thing he needed. When he discovered her true identity, it all clicked¡ªthe childhood memories, the near-death experience, and their eventual separation. Moving into this villa together, the days they''d spent side by side, it all came rushing back. Suddenly, Ethan realized just how integral Lyla was to his life. Though they''d had a long, sweet conversation that morning, Ethan couldn''t shake the feeling that Lyla was hiding something from him. Whatever it was, she hadn''t shared it, and he hadn''t pressed her. He trusted her completely. If she was keeping something from him, he believed she had her reasons. During the day, with Victor, Leo, and Williams around, he''d been distracted. But now, alone in the vast, silent villa, the weight of her absence pressed down on him like a boulder, making it hard to breathe. He checked the time: 5:40 PM. Ethereal would be online in twenty minutes. It had been a while since he''d logged into the game. Ethan took a deep breath and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. By the time he finished, it was exactly 6:00 PM. Without bothering to dress, Ethan climbed into the VR capsule. After all, he was alone now¡ªno one to judge him for his lack of modesty. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As soon as he logged in, a system notification popped up: his offline double experience had maxed out. Harmony City was bustling, as always. It was peak login time, and players materialized around him in waves. Ethan felt a strange sense of disorientation, as if he''d stepped into another world. [Ding¡­ Your friend ''NoPaperOnTheBigOne'' has sent you a video call request.] He had been about to head to the city center to check on his shops when the notification came through. It was from Mad Engineer. Ethan accepted the call, and the man''s weathered face appeared on the screen. "Boss¡­ sniff¡­ You''re finally online!" Mad Engineer burst into tears the moment the call connected. Ethan was taken aback. "What''s going on? Calm down and explain." "Sob¡­ Boss, I need money, or I''m going to get beaten to death¡­ sob¡­" "Hold on, I''ll be at the shop soon," Ethan said, realizing he wouldn''t get a clear explanation over the call. He ended the video and sprinted toward Central Plaza. From a distance, he could see NoPaperOnTheBigOne standing outside the All-You-Need Engineering Shop, anxiously scanning the crowd. "Boss!" Mad Engineer spotted Ethan from afar and bolted toward him. As Ethan approached, he noticed that both the ''All-You-Need Engineering Shop'' and the ''All-You-Need Potions Shop'' were thriving. Customers streamed in and out, the shops buzzing with activity. "Looks like you''ve been running the shops well," Ethan remarked, surprised. He''d assumed that after being away for eleven days, business would have suffered. "Boss, if you hadn''t come back soon, the shops would''ve gone under!" Mad Engineer said, following Ethan into the engineering shop. Ethan casually opened the shop''s financial records. To his surprise, the shop''s funds had ballooned to 3,400 gold coins. He hadn''t expected such a massive profit. "If the shop''s making this much, how is it on the verge of collapse?" Ethan asked, puzzled. "Scroll back to the second day after you went offline," NoPaperOnTheBigOne said. Curious, Ethan adjusted the date and began reviewing the records. It didn''t take long for him to understand the problem. When he''d left, he''d only deposited 30 gold coins into the shop''s operating fund. At the time, he hadn''t thought much of it, just a casual amount to keep things running. Initially, with lower customer traffic, the funds had been sufficient. As the shop''s popularity grew, the balance between profits from sales and the daily expenses for materials had been manageable. But on the second day after Ethan went offline, Celia had delivered two blueprints and three recipes to the shop: intermediate bullet and arrow engineering blueprints, and three intermediate potion recipes¡ªSlow Health Recovery, Instant Health Recovery, and Slow Mana Recovery. NoPaperOnTheBigOne had immediately appraised the blueprints and recruited players willing to sign contracts to learn and produce the items. Once produced, the items were listed in the shop for sale. This was when things took off. The system recognized the player-run shop''s inventory and removed the same items from the system stores. Suddenly, the All-You-Need Engineering Shop and the All-You-Need Potions Shop became the only places in Harmony City where players could buy intermediate bullets, arrows, and potions¡ªand at prices significantly lower than the system stores. The shops exploded in popularity. But with success came a new headache: the shop''s operating funds were insufficient. The daily automatic material purchases were limited, which in turn limited production. Every day, the items would sell out almost immediately, leading to shortages and frustrated customers. Some players even began reselling the items at inflated prices. Other shops, still limited to producing beginner-level items, started spreading rumors and slandering the All-You-Need shops, accusing them of hoarding, monopolizing the market, and profiteering. Realizing this wasn''t sustainable, NoPaperOnTheBigOne turned to Celia for help. After discussing the issue, Celia withdrew 2,000 gold coins from the Renegade Alliance guild''s treasury to support the shops. She would have given more, but the guild itself was struggling. With only 5,000 gold coins in its treasury and 10,000 members to support, the guild''s finances were already stretched thin. In fact, Renegade Alliance was doing better than most guilds. Many others were operating at a loss during this early stage of the game, with limited revenue streams. Renegade Alliance''s stability was largely due to their success in recent battles, which had filled their treasury with equipment that could be exchanged by guild members. Without that, they would have had to spend a fortune buying equipment to meet demand. NoPaperOnTheBigOne deposited 500 gold coins into the engineering shop and 1,500 into the potions shop. Even with the additional funds, the shops could only barely keep up with demand. Each day, as soon as the servers went live, the shops would start producing and purchasing materials, but they could only sustain operations for about an hour before running out. Most gatherers and crafters would sell their materials in the morning and not return until the next day¡ªor even several days later. As a result, the shops'' current inventory of 3,400 gold coins was misleading; it was only because they hadn''t started purchasing materials yet. Ethan checked the material inventory and saw that it was nearly depleted. The shelves were almost empty, and several engineers were idle in the workshop upstairs. As NoPaperOnTheBigOne explained the situation, Ethan did some quick math. The shop had started with just over 30 gold coins, and after depositing 500 gold, it had managed to generate a daily profit of around 250 gold coins. The realization hit him like a freight train. The engineering shop alone was bringing in the equivalent of $450,000 per day. The excitement was short-lived, however, as NoPaperOnTheBigOne''s next words dashed his hopes. Chapter 167 - 167: Debt of Loyalty "Boss, look at this¡­" he said, pulling up the gold deposit records. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire [NoPaperOnTheBigOne deposited 1,000 gold.] The deposit was made five days ago. There were only three entries in the gold deposit log. One was Ethan''s deposit of 30 gold, another was Mad Engineer''s deposit of 500 gold, and then this one. "After depositing the 500 gold, there wasn''t much improvement. I thought, since you entrusted the shop to me, I had to make it work. So¡­" "So you went and borrowed from loan sharks?" Ethan asked, surprised. He realized the income numbers he''d calculated earlier didn''t add up. At the same time, he remembered what NoPaperOnTheBigOne had said when they first connected the video call: "I''m going to get beaten to death." "Yeah¡­" The man''s eyes reddened as he realized Ethan had figured it out. "I thought you''d log in within three or four days. I borrowed 3 million and used it all to buy gold. The agreement was to repay it in five days, but on the third day, my old classmate showed up with his crew to collect. Tomorrow''s the final repayment day. If you hadn''t logged in, I''d either be on the run or worse beaten to death." Ethan listened, piecing together that the guy had probably borrowed from multiple sources and ended up getting scammed by someone he knew. But he was curious¡ªhow did a nobody like this guy manage to secure a loan of 3 million? "Send me your account number. I''ll transfer the money now." While listening to the story, Ethan had walked over to the All-You-Need Potions shop and checked the records. There, he found a deposit of 2,000 gold. Combined with the earlier deposits, that made a total of 3,000 gold. It seemed the gold price had dropped to $1,000 per gold coin. "Uh¡­ Boss, you''ll need to transfer a bit more," the man said cautiously after sending his account number. "How much? Give me a number." Ethan still had more than three million in his account. Even with the high interest, he could cover it. "Three and a half million," Mad Engineer whispered. Ethan couldn''t help but laugh. Looking at the man''s pitiful expression, he said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "You really went all out, huh? Three million principal, and half a million in interest over five days¡­ Tsk tsk, weren''t you worried I''d just disappear?" When Ethan had appointed him as the shop manager, he hadn''t given him permission to withdraw funds from the shop. "Uh¡­" Mad Engineer hesitated, then said slowly, "I¡­ I just wanted to make the shop successful¡­ Boss, you wouldn''t really abandon me, would you?" Seeing Ethan turn to leave, the man nearly broke down, chasing after him and pleading, "You''re not really leaving, are you?" "The money''s been transferred. Go pay off your debt," Ethan said, having only been teasing him. "Okay¡­ Thank you, Boss!" [Your friend ''NoPaperOnTheBigOne'' has gone offline!] Ethan stood there, staring at the now-offline Mad Engineer, feeling a surge of gratitude. "No, thank you," he thought. He never expected the guy to be so fiercely loyal, going as far as borrowing from loan sharks without a second thought, just to make the shop successful. Shaking his head, Ethan turned and walked toward the All-You-Need Auction House. There should be some income there by now¡ªthe seven-day free trial period he''d set up had ended. However, the auction house wasn''t under Mad Engineer''s management, so even if there was gold in the inventory, he couldn''t withdraw it. Checking the ledger, Ethan saw that after eight days of paid operation, after deducting system taxes and NPC management fees, the daily average income was around eighty gold coins. The income was quite good, especially since there was no need to hire labor¡ªeverything was automated by the system. It was essentially a self-sustaining money-making machine. Ethan also knew that in the early stages, the value of items being auctioned was relatively low, so the fees collected were also modest. But as players leveled up and the value of auctioned items increased, so would the fees. Moreover, the auction house was a monopoly. The plot of land in Harmony City where the auction house stood was the only one available for such a business. Withdrawing five hundred gold coins, Ethan now had over 4,500 gold in his inventory. Doing the math, he realized that even with this amount, the operating funds for both shops wouldn''t last a full day. According to NoPaperOnTheBigOne, Celia had been sending over a steady stream of blueprints these past few days. Ethan was curious. These blueprints were supposed to drop in level 45 zones, and the drop rate was extremely low. How had she managed to get her hands on so many? The shop''s funds and production speed were only enough for half a day''s operations, and even then, they had to limit sales. Right now, his shops were in a monopoly phase, but once other shops got their hands on similar blueprints, his business would face competition. ''Where can I get more money?'' As he pondered this, his eyes landed on the mailbox near the auction house entrance. There was a new message. He quickly walked over and opened it. Sender: Trusty007 Ethan''s eyes lit up. Could it be that the strategy guide he''d sent out had sold? Sure enough, the message contained a sales report and a transfer of 23,795 gold coins. In the accompanying note, Trusty007 explained that this was the income from all regions across the country. Their studio had enough gold stockpiled in the Northern Frontier Region to cover Ethan''s share, so they hadn''t converted the gold from other regions into cash this time. Seeing the five-figure gold amount, Ethan couldn''t help but grin. This was a lifesaver. With this influx of funds, he''d have enough to keep his shops running smoothly. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Crunching the numbers, he estimated that the engineering shop, running at full capacity, would net a daily profit of around 300 gold after expenses. The potion shop would bring in about 500 gold, give or take. The auction house added another 80 gold daily. All in all, he was looking at a daily income of roughly 880 gold, which translated to over $880,000. At this rate, it was like printing money. Of course, this calculation only applied during the monopoly phase. Feeling a surge of excitement, Ethan returned to the engineering shop. Checking the system, he was shocked to see that the 3,400 gold he''d left earlier had dwindled to less than 1,000 gold. It turned out that a wave of crafters had come to sell materials, and more were still arriving. The shop''s gold reserves were depleting rapidly. In the time it took Ethan to process this, another 50 gold disappeared. Without hesitation, he deposited 10,000 gold into the shop''s account. Then he headed to the potion shop and dumped another 15,000 gold into its coffers. Upstairs, he checked the workshop. All the alchemists capable of crafting intermediate potions were already hard at work. The Level 2 shop''s workshop boosted production speed by 20%, making them even more efficient. But Ethan quickly realized they were still understaffed. The shop''s storage had several blueprints that no one had learned yet. He left a message for NoPaperOnTheBigOne, instructing him to have the blueprints learned and production ramped up as soon as he logged back in. They needed to maximize profits while the monopoly lasted. With everything arranged, Ethan decided it was time to focus on leveling up. Checking the Northern Frontier Region''s leaderboard, he was still in first place, but his lead wasn''t as commanding as before. Two players had already reached Level 30, and a sense of urgency washed over him. Those two players¡­ They were his enemies. How could it be them? Ethan''s heart skipped a beat. "Hmph¡­ So you''re finally worried, huh?" The voice of Morzan echoed in his mind. Chapter 168 - 168: Back to Grinding There was a distinct undertone in Morzan''s words. Ethan asked directly, "What do you mean?" Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Do you think you''re all that powerful now?" The question made Ethan think of the time he''d sliced a mutant into five pieces with a single strike. He nodded and said, "I''m decent, I guess. Not bad." "Good. Keep that humility," Morzan said, completely ignoring Ethan''s self-satisfied tone. He continued, "Your Core has just formed, and the roots of the sprout within it haven''t fully taken hold yet. It can''t draw energy from external sources. Didn''t you notice how it almost withered after you used that move?" Ethan was stunned. He hadn''t noticed¡ªmostly because he''d spent so long as an ordinary person that he''d never developed the habit of internal observation. But if Morzan said so, he wouldn''t lie. Ethan quickly asked, "How do I fix it? How do I make it draw energy?" "Leaves pierce the Gate of Ascension, roots traverse countless worlds¡­ For now, to have it pierce the Gate of Ascension, you''ll need to reach Level 45. For the roots to fully grow and absorb energy on their own, you''ll probably need to hit Level 60." Morzan first recited these cryptic words, leaving Ethan utterly confused. But the explanation that followed made sense. "Wait, what? Its growth is tied to my in-game level?" Ethan exclaimed, shocked. It wasn''t unreasonable for him to be surprised. After all, the sprout had appeared in his Core after he awakened his energy in the real world. How could it be connected to the game? This was something Ethan couldn''t wrap his head around. "Of course it is, you idiot! Do you think your pathetic physique would''ve changed without the Ethereal World?" Morzan sounded genuinely annoyed. In his mind, he was thinking, ''You brat, how can you be so clueless? If you were capable of greatness, would your past life have been such a disaster?'' Ethan felt a bit embarrassed when Morzan called him "pathetic." He was well aware of how weak his physique had been, but recent events had made him a little too confident. "So, what should I do now?" Ethan asked humbly. "Level up. If you want to survive what''s coming in five years, you''ll need to reach at least Level 200." Ethan nodded, and Morzan fell silent. Thinking about leveling up, Ethan''s thoughts drifted to Lyla. His mood soured, and he sighed. He remembered the last time he''d leveled up quickly¡ªit was when she had unleashed a forbidden skill from her weapon, boosting him straight to Level 31. Later, after clearing an Expert-level dungeon, he''d gained three more levels, putting him at Level 34. Now, the second and third players on the leaderboard had reached Level 33. Skyblade and his crew had been pushed down to fourth place and below. Ethan''s expression darkened as he looked at the two names. Second Place: Overlord Third Place: Dominus Overlord¡ªEthan knew that name all too well. It was Zachary, the man who had betrayed him in his past life. Not only had Zachary pretended to be his friend, but he''d also stolen Ethan''s girlfriend. Even worse, to get his hands on the Wishbound Relic in Ethan''s inventory, Zachary had orchestrated an assassination attempt in both the real world and the game. In the real world, Lyla had shown up just in time to save Ethan, but he''d lost both legs and lived like a stray dog afterward. After his rebirth, Ethan had clashed with Zachary in the Starter Zone, dismantling his Unity Hall guild and screwing him over with a land deal. Zachary had retaliated during Slashblade''s wedding, when snipers had ambushed Ethan and his friends on the rooftop. If it hadn''t been for Celeste showing up and saving them, things could''ve ended badly. Later, Ethan had told Celeste about Zachary and mentioned that he was a spy for Serpent Isle. Celeste had used the resources of the Ninth Division to investigate, but the feedback she received was that Zachary was just an ordinary student. As for Dominus, Ethan didn''t have much of a reaction at first. But upon closer inspection, he realized this was someone he knew¡ªTrent, the guy he''d sent a team of rogues to chase back to the Starter Zone. Trent had been his college classmate and had bullied him relentlessly in his past life. Ethan was surprised to see Trent, who''d been killed and sent back to the Starter Zone, now sitting at second place on the leaderboard. Had he stumbled upon some kind of rare opportunity? That had to be it¡ªotherwise, there was no way he could''ve reached Level 30 so quickly. It was almost laughable¡ªboth of his enemies were hot on his heels, climbing the leaderboard at an alarming pace. Scrolling further down the leaderboard, another name caught his eye. Eighth Place: Executioner Great. Now even more of his enemies were popping up on the leaderboard. A sense of urgency washed over him. He closed the leaderboard and started organizing his inventory. To his surprise, he noticed that the Prismatic Stone had multiplied¡ªthere were now two of them. Apparently, the strange stone could ''reproduce'' inside his inventory. He pulled out a pile of stones and fed them to the Prismatic Stone until it was so full it refused to eat any more. Satisfied, he tossed it back into his inventory and restocked on essentials at his potion shop. "Put together a team. Let''s run an Easy-level dungeon to grind some levels," Ethan messaged Skyblade. "We''ve already started. You''ll have to find your own team or form one. By the way, before I entered the dungeon, I saw a lot of guildmates forming parties. You could join one of those," Skyblade replied. ''Damn it¡­'' Ethan cursed under his breath. They''d started leveling without him. As for Skyblade''s suggestion, Ethan thought about it for a moment but decided against it. Teaming up with guildmates would be more trouble than it was worth. If their skill level was too low, he''d feel bad about ditching them mid-dungeon. Spending an entire night stuck in an Easy-level dungeon wasn''t his idea of efficient leveling. Joining a random pickup group (PUG) was a better option. If things went south, he could just leave without any guilt¡ªafter all, he didn''t know any of them personally. What Ethan didn''t realize was that Easy-level dungeons did take all night to clear, that was just the reality of the current state of the game. In fact, most groups couldn''t even finish the dungeon in one night. Player skill levels were all over the place. The more competent players were usually part of guild teams, leaving the PUGs to the less skilled¡ªor the skilled but overly arrogant players who couldn''t fit into guild dynamics and chose to go solo. Arriving at the dungeon entrance, Ethan scanned the recruitment messages being spammed in the chat. Why are the requirements so low? The ads were barely meeting the minimum requirements for clearing an Easy-level dungeon. Ethan hid his name and level and joined a few groups to check out their gear. Unsurprisingly, their equipment was as mediocre as their recruitment ads suggested. Frustrated, he left those groups and kept searching. Finally, he found a team with slightly higher requirements. Ethan sent them his stats, making sure to equip some average gear instead of his high-tier items. Once he joined the group, he thought they seemed decent enough and decided to give them a shot. But as soon as he entered, someone piped up. NoMoreCandy: "Who the hell is this guy? Hiding his name and level? Trying to be all mysterious, huh?" Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire Ethan knew the comment was directed at him. The rest of the team was from the same guild, and he was the only outsider. Plus, he was hiding his name and level. The team had too many melee classes, so they were looking for a ranged DPS. Ethan had applied as a Balance Druid, and thanks to his high stats, the party leader had accepted him. Ethan ignored the comment, treating it as background noise. He quickly added NoMoreCandy to his block list, muting him. He thought that would be the end of it, but a few seconds later, the party leader sent him a private message. "Hey, did you block NoMoreCandy? Uh¡­ would you mind revealing your name and level? Just to keep things transparent." Ethan sighed. He knew NoMoreCandy was stirring up trouble. He unblocked the guy just in time to see another message pop up. NoMoreCandy: "This idiot''s probably the product of inbreeding. Who the hell plays a trash-tier spec like Balance Druid? What a loser." Ethan''s eyes narrowed, a flicker of anger passing through them. He could handle being insulted¡ªhe''d just ignore it. But when someone dragged his family into it, that crossed a line. He had been planning to keep a low profile, but if the team required him to reveal his name and level, he was willing to do so. However, NoMoreCandy''s constant trash talk and personal insults had pushed him too far. What was supposed to be a simple leveling session had turned into something much more complicated. Today wasn''t going to end peacefully¡­! Chapter 169 - 169: Bad Name As soon as the guy finished speaking, he noticed the icy glare in Ethan''s eyes. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He paused for a moment, then suddenly got even more fired up. "Oh? What''s this? You wanna mess with me, old man?" "NoMoreCandy, just drop it, alright? You know how hard it is to find a high-DPS ranged player these days. Just let the guy reveal his name and level, and let''s move on!" someone in the team tried to mediate. "No." "No!" Ethan and NoMoreCandy spoke in unison, their voices overlapping. "Uh¡­" Several others who were about to chime in suddenly went silent. "You''ve got some guts!" NoMoreCandy, who was a mage class, clapped his hands sarcastically, a smug look on his face. He shouted, "You''re one guy, and there are twenty-nine of us. You really think you can take us on?" As soon as he said this, Ethan couldn''t help but laugh. He noticed that the people around NoMoreCandy, including the party leader, had subtly taken a step back, their eyes shifting away awkwardly. "Seems like your reputation isn''t exactly stellar," Ethan said calmly. NoMoreCandy also noticed the shift in the group''s demeanor and froze for a moment. He pointed at the others and yelled, "You¡­ I''m gonna report this to the guild leader and get all of you kicked out!" Hearing this, one of the team members finally snapped. FrozenAffection: "I''ve had enough of your arrogance! Who do you think you are? You think the guild leader will just kick us out because you said so?" As soon as he finished, another player quickly tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Frozen, stop. Don''t you know NoMoreCandy''s cousin is the captain of the 19th squad in Renegade Alliance''s warrior division?" FrozenAffection hesitated, then fell silent. The comment, though whispered, was heard by everyone. NoMoreCandy puffed up with pride upon hearing this. Ethan, however, was confused. What''s going on? Renegade Alliance¡­ He frowned. His own Renegade Alliance had grown more influential than he''d realized. For a moment, he wasn''t sure whether to feel proud or disappointed. "Is Renegade Alliance really that big of a deal? I''ve never even heard of this ''warrior division''," Ethan said. It was true¡ªhe hadn''t heard of it. The division had been recently created by Celia to streamline management, and Ethan hadn''t had a chance to catch up with her in-game yet. When he said this, everyone looked at him as if he were an idiot. In their minds, they were all thinking: Is NoMoreCandy right? Is this guy actually clueless? How can he not know about Renegade Alliance? NoMoreCandy grinned. "Oh, this is rich. You dare look down on Renegade Alliance? Just wait until you''re sent back to the Starter Zone! I''ve already called my cousin. He''s on his way, and when he gets here, we''ll see how tough you are then!" Ethan ignored him and opened his chat, sending a message to Skyblade: "Hold off on the dungeon. Something important''s come up. Bring the team out." At the same time, the party leader who had invited Ethan sent him a private message. FreeYears: "Dude, you should really leave. There''s still time." Ethan replied, "It''s fine. Since when did Renegade Alliance get so cocky?" FreeYears: "It''s been like this for a while, but it''s gotten worse recently. They''ve been bullying players from other guilds all over the place." Ethan sent back a string of question marks: "??????" FreeYears: "Bro, are you from Blackridge or Springhaven or something? How do you not know? The leader of the Renegade Alliance is the guy ranked first on the Northern Frontier Region leaderboard. People call him the Druid God. He''s ruthless, cold-blooded, and downright evil. Oh, and he''s a huge womanizer. But the worst part is how protective he is of his own. If one of his people gets killed, he''ll slaughter a hundred in retaliation. There was one time he wiped out over seven thousand players in one go¡­" You must''ve heard about that, right? It''s even in the pinned posts on the forums! That''s why no one around here dares to mess with Renegade Alliance. They''re untouchable!" After hearing this, Ethan''s heart sank. ''What the hell? Who''s spreading these rumors about me being evil and a womanizer?'' If Renegade Alliance continued down this path, it would quickly become public enemy number one. At this rate, even if the guild didn''t disband, it would be despised by everyone. Looks like the guild system needs a serious overhaul, Ethan thought. Just then, he noticed a group of about a dozen players strutting confidently toward them. As they passed, other players looking for groups quickly moved out of their way. NoMoreCandy scurried over to them, pointing in Ethan''s direction and whispering something to one of the members. Ethan squinted from under his cloak and saw that all of them wore the Renegade Alliance guild emblem on their chests. After NoMoreCandy finished talking, the guy he''d spoken to turned and whispered something to the leader of the group. The leader glanced at Ethan, then nodded. With the leader''s approval, the guy called over a few more people, and together with NoMoreCandy, they marched toward Ethan with an air of menace. Ethan couldn''t help but laugh. So, the cousin NoMoreCandy had been bragging about¡ªthe captain of the 19th squad in the warrior division was just another lackey. It dawned on Ethan that this kind of behavior wasn''t limited to just one person. Ordinary guild members like this guy were using Renegade Alliance''s name to throw their weight around, and their friends and relatives were doing the same. Renegade Alliance''s reputation was indeed spreading far and wide¡ªjust not in a good way. How many more rotten apples like this are there in the guild? Ethan wondered. The whole pot might already be spoiled. The thought sent a chill down his spine. If things continued like this, Renegade Alliance was doomed. By now, the guy had reached Ethan. "I''m FallingShell, captain of the 19th squad in Renegade Alliance''s warrior division. I hear you''ve got quite the attitude," he said with a noticeable puff to his chest. Ethan had already seen the guy''s name. In the guild hierarchy, lower-ranked members couldn''t hide their names from higher-ranked ones, even if they tried. FallingShell stepped closer to Ethan, his chest practically pressing against Ethan''s stomach. Despite being a head shorter than Ethan''s 6''2" frame, he carried himself as if he were the one in charge. Slap! Everyone watching the scene felt their eyes widen in shock. Then, as if on cue, the entire crowd took five or six steps back. This is about to get ugly, they thought. Better stay out of the line of fire. Whispers broke out among the onlookers. BloodEmperor: "Holy crap, this guy''s insane. He just hit someone from Renegade Alliance!" WildThoughts: "Insane? More like legendary. Did you see that slap?" RoseOverflow: "Wow, that guy''s so hot!" Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire SSS-Rank Blood Emperor: "Girl, stop drooling. He''s about to be hot¡­ as in dead." FallingShell staggered from the slap, his face frozen in disbelief. It took him a full five seconds to process what had just happened. "You¡­ you dare hit me?!" he finally shouted. As soon as the words left his mouth, the other Renegade Alliance members rushed over, surrounding Ethan. Ethan, however, remained unfazed. He casually said, "Sorry, but could you not stand so close to me? You''ve got terrible breath." Chapter 170 - 170: Setting The Rules The crowd couldn''t help but stifle their laughter at Ethan''s words. This guy was too much. He had come up with a reason that was utterly impossible within the world of Ethereal. But with so many players from Renegade Alliance present, no one dared to laugh out loud. After all, a dozen or so Renegade Alliance players had already drawn their weapons. In this situation, anyone who laughed would likely become the next target. Just as everyone thought Ethan was about to be obliterated by a barrage of attacks, a group of players suddenly emerged from the dungeon entrance. They quickly scanned the area and immediately started running toward the commotion. Self-Description: "It''s Renegade Alliance''s elite team!" LaughingAtLife: "Didn''t they just enter the dungeon?" sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. WarmMemories: "They withdrew the entire elite team just for this one guy? That''s overkill, isn''t it?" Duke: "I think there''s more to this than meets the eye." The crowd buzzed with speculation, and many players sensed that something unusual was brewing. The commotion caught the attention of the Renegade Alliance players on the scene. Their leader, a player named HeyYourYida, frowned as he saw the thirty elite team members approaching. He quickly stepped forward to greet them, calling out enthusiastically to the man at the front, Skyblade: "Boss Skyblade, what brings you out here?" Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire Skyblade glanced at him. He remembered this guy¡ªthey had teamed up many times back in the Starter Zone. "What''s going on here?" Skyblade asked, his eyes shifting to Ethan, who was surrounded in the middle. HeyYourYida grinned and replied, "Nothing serious. Just some idiot who dared to disrespect Renegade Alliance!" "Oh? Is that so¡­ Surround him!" Skyblade barked. With a swift motion, the twenty-nine players behind him rushed forward, forming another circle around the group. HeyYourYida couldn''t help but feel smug. Today was the perfect opportunity to show off the might of Renegade Alliance. With that thought, he eagerly squeezed into the circle, standing proudly alongside his teammates. Just as he settled in, another sixty players teleported into the dungeon entrance. Today, Slashblade, Skyblade, and SeraphWarrior hadn''t entered the dungeon as a single team. Instead, they had each led their own squads. This was part of Ethan''s plan, orchestrated through Celia. After all, a guild with ten thousand members couldn''t rely on just one elite team. They needed to start training more players for larger dungeons in the future, some of which would require hundreds, if not thousands, of participants. The sixty-plus players who emerged wasted no time. Without a word, they moved to encircle the area. Slashblade, Skyblade, and SeraphWarrior exchanged glances. They weren''t sure what was happening, but seeing Ethan in the middle of the crowd gave them a rough idea. Their expressions darkened as they silently made their way toward Ethan. As they passed through the inner circle of players, the others greeted them with cheerful smiles. "Hey, Bosses!" HeyYourYida was the only one who looked visibly uneasy. His heart was pounding. What was going on? All three officers were here, and their expressions were grim. Slashblade, Skyblade, and SeraphWarrior ignored the dozen or so players and walked straight up to Ethan. In front of thousands of players gathered at the dungeon entrance, they addressed the figure in the black cloak standing in the center. "Boss¡­" The crowd''s jaws collectively dropped. Whispers and exclamations erupted. "What?!" "Holy crap, is that¡­ the Druid God?" "Oh man, this just got interesting." FallingShell, who had been grinning and greeting obsequiously as the three officers approached, quickly retreated behind Slashblade and the others. He had been ready to tattle, to tell them how this guy had disrespected Renegade Alliance and even slapped him in front of everyone. He had a whole speech prepared. But now, clutching his stinging cheek, his face fell as he almost lost his balance from shock. HeyYourYida, standing behind him, had already sensed something was off. Now, his heart sank. ''This is bad,'' he thought. Meanwhile, NoMoreCandy, the guy who had been trash-talking Ethan earlier, seemed completely oblivious to the situation. He reached out to his cousin, FallingShell, muttering, "Who are these three People? Which guild are they from? Why aren''t they wearing guild badges?" FallingShell shuddered. He had just regained himself when he spun around and kicked NoMoreCandy square in the chest. "Shut the hell up!" he roared. By now, he knew exactly what was happening. Cold sweat dripped down his face. NoMoreCandy, being a mage, was no match for a warrior in terms of physical strength. In non-combat situations, the stronger player always had the upper hand. He was sent flying three meters back, tumbling twice before sitting up and pointing at FallingShell, shouting, "Why did you just kick me? Just wait till I tell aunt about this!" FallingShell felt a lump in his throat, he was really on the verge of tears. At that moment, Ethan slowly removed his cloak. He scanned the crowd and began to speak. "I''m sure you all know what just happened. Today, as the leader of Renegade Alliance, I want to apologize to you all." As he said that, his face took on a solemn look. The crowd buzzed with murmurs, but they quieted down as Ethan continued. "From this day forward, all members of Renegade Alliance will adhere to the following rules: 1. Any member who bullies the weak without cause will be expelled from the guild, killed back to the Starter Zone, and hunted down to level zero. 2. Any member who stirs up trouble without cause will be expelled from the guild, killed back to the Starter Zone, and hunted down to level zero. 3. Any member who damages the guild''s reputation will be expelled from the guild, killed back to the Starter Zone, and hunted down to level zero. 4. Any member who uses their connections to exploit other guilds or players for personal gain will be expelled from the guild, killed back to the Starter Zone, and hunted down to level zero." Ethan paused, then added, "For now, these are the four rules. But remember this: If anyone dares to harm Renegade Alliance, I will show no mercy. If you touch one of mine, I will kill a hundred of yours!" As his words echoed, the hundred or so Renegade Alliance members exchanged glances. Their reactions varied¡ªsome looked worried, while others seemed unfazed. But when Ethan delivered his final line, their eyes lit up with excitement. Someone in the crowd shouted, "If anyone harms Renegade Alliance, show no mercy!" "Show no mercy! Show no mercy! Show no mercy!" The morale of the guild members soared to its peak, their blood boiling with fervor. Meanwhile, the other players outside the guild cheered at Ethan''s announcement. Renegade Alliance had been bullying them for a while now, and seeing their leader step up to enforce justice filled them with excitement. They began chanting, "Renegade Alliance! Renegade Alliance! Renegade Alliance!" The two groups'' chants echoed each other, creating a thunderous roar. Of course, not everyone was thrilled. Some players'' eyes turned cold as they quietly reported the situation to their own guild leaders. Chapter 171 - 171: Corpse Eater Ethan gave Skyblade a subtle nod, then flipped his hood up and let it fall back over his head. He turned to FreeYears and said, "Can we head into the dungeon now? We''re down one person, but I think I can make up for the missing damage." FreeYears hesitated. He had been worried that the whole group might suffer because of NoMoreCandy''s absence. Now, hearing Ethan''s confident tone, he wasn''t sure how to respond. One of the players behind him nudged him sharply, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Uh... yeah, sure," FreeYears stammered. Ethan stepped aside to let FreeYears take the lead, as he was the party leader. FreeYears, still a bit dazed, led the group toward the dungeon entrance. Just as they took a few steps, a sharp shout echoed from behind them. "Kill them!" It was Skyblade''s voice. Boom! Eighty-seven players unleashed their skills simultaneously, targeting the dozen or so former members of Renegade Alliance who had just been kicked out of the guild. The air crackled with the violent surge of magical energy as attacks rained down on the helpless group. Archers fired explosive arrows, warriors swung flaming blades, and rogues threw blinding sand into the mix. In an instant, the dozen players were obliterated. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Destroy the bodies," Skyblade commanded. The order left everyone confused. Even the other members of Renegade Alliance were baffled. But then, Meatball stepped forward, swaggering with an air of confidence. His outfit was eerily similar to Ethan''s, his entire body cloaked in a dark, oversized robe. If it weren''t for the fact that everyone had just seen Ethan enter the dungeon, they might have mistaken Meatball for him. Earlier, during the dungeon run, everyone had wondered why Meatball was dressed like this. He hadn''t explained, and now, as he walked toward the pile of corpses, curiosity turned to unease. He stopped in the middle of the bodies and flipped back his hood. "What the hell?!" "Is that... a skull?!" Meatball''s head was a grotesque sight. His entire skull was exposed, devoid of flesh or skin. Sharp bone spikes protruded from his head like lightning rods, and his teeth were bared in a permanent, menacing grin. His eye sockets glowed with an eerie green flame, and his expression was unreadable¡ªthere was no flesh to convey emotion. Then, something even more horrifying happened. Meatball crouched beside one of the corpses, his bony, skeletal hands reaching out to tear a chunk of flesh from the body. He shoved it into his mouth, chewing loudly with a sickening crunch. "Ahhh!" Female players screamed, some even gagging at the sight. It was disgusting. Terrifying. This... thing was eating corpses. If Ethan had been there, he would have recognized Meatball''s appearance as strikingly similar to the Carnage Faction''s Necromancer class. The ability to consume corpses was a signature skill of the Necromancer, allowing them to regenerate health and destroy enemy bodies, preventing them from reviving. But Meatball wasn''t a Necromancer. So, what was he? Ethan would have immediately guessed: Meatball had become a Necromantic Summoner, a rare hidden class obtained through a special quest. While not significantly stronger than a regular Warlock in the early stages, this class would become a terrifying force in the late game. As a summoner-focused Warlock, the Necromantic Summoner amplified his strengths, allowing him to overwhelm enemies with sheer numbers of summoned creatures. "Meatball, cut it out!" Skyblade said, rubbing his temples. The order to destroy the bodies had been Meatball''s idea, suggested through a private message. Skyblade had agreed, thinking it was a smart move. With the bodies destroyed, the dead players would be forced to respawn at the graveyard, where the guild''s rogues were already waiting to ambush them. The only one capable of destroying the corpses was Meatball. Several of his skills required corpses to activate. But no one expected him to show off in such a grotesque and unsettling way. "Uh..." Meatball stood up, though it was impossible to tell what expression he might have been making. With a wave of his hand, a murky, gray mist enveloped the pile of corpses. Crack, crack, crack... The sound of bones grinding against each other filled the air. In seconds, the flesh of the corpses began to rot and slough off, leaving behind skeletal remains. The bones creaked and groaned as they rose to their feet, swaying unsteadily before shuffling over to stand behind Meatball. "What the..." "What kind of class is that?" "That''s way too overpowered." Whispers and murmurs spread through the crowd as everyone stared in shock. Meatball, seemingly pleased with himself, strutted back to the group with his entourage of skeletons in tow. Of course, no one could actually tell if he was pleased¡ªhis fleshless skull gave nothing away. The members of Renegade Alliance immediately scattered, keeping at least three meters of distance between themselves and Meatball. "Hey... what are you all afraid of?" Meatball said, his voice a raspy, bone-chilling whisper that sent shivers down everyone''s spines. His words only made things worse. The crowd took another step back, their discomfort palpable. Now it was Meatball''s turn to feel awkward. "Ugh, I can''t believe that trainer tricked me! If I''d known this class would turn me into... this, I wouldn''t have taken it, no matter how strong it is!" he grumbled, pulling his hood back over his head. "Whew..." With his skull hidden beneath the hood, the group collectively sighed in relief. The sight of his bare, fleshless head was just too much to handle¡ªespecially after watching him crouch down and... eat a corpse. The image was enough to make anyone''s skin crawl. Underneath the hood, Meatball chuckled softly. If anyone could have seen him now, they''d have noticed that he had reverted to his normal human appearance. His skeletal form was just one of his transformations, similar to a Druid''s shapeshifting abilities. Skyblade and Slashblade exchanged glances, watching as Meatball''s hood trembled slightly. They had already been startled by his skeletal form when they logged in earlier, so they knew he could switch back to his normal appearance whenever he wanted. No one could see what was happening under that dark cloak, but they could almost picture it¡ªMeatball trying to stifle his laughter, his chubby belly quivering as he struggled to keep it together. He was probably on the verge of laughing so hard that his belly would ripple like waves. "Alright, let''s get back to the dungeon," the three of them said in unison, each leading their respective teams back into the instance. The surrounding crowd of over a thousand players watched them go, their murmurs and discussions continuing long after the group had disappeared. "Why would the leader of Renegade Alliance team up with someone else?" In truth, even Ethan hadn''t expected things to turn out this way. He had been... abandoned by his own team. No one wanted to take him along¡ªtheir parties were already full. Left with no other choice, Ethan had joined FreeYears'' group and entered an Easy mode dungeon. During the first wave of enemies, Ethan accidentally pulled aggro the moment he attacked. He had no choice but to shift into his Bear Form to tank the damage. In the second wave, he waited a full minute before attacking, but after just two Shred skills, he pulled aggro again. Ethan was at a loss. Finally, FreeYears suggested, "Um... why don''t you just tank from now on?" Even in his Bear Form, Ethan''s damage output was equivalent to that of five DPS players combined. With no other options, Ethan reluctantly took on the role of the tank. Halfway through the dungeon, Slashblade suddenly sent Ethan a message: "Celeste is online. She wants you to add her as a friend. Her character name is Lil Mew." "...." Ethan was stunned. Lil Mew? What kind of cringe logic would warrant such a name? Brushing it aside, he immediately sent a friend request, but there was no response. After waiting for a while, Ethan couldn''t help but ask Slashblade, "Is Celeste still online? Did she say anything?" Slashblade replied quickly, "She''s already logged off. She said she wants to talk to you about Lyla. Make sure you add her." Ethan''s heart skipped a beat. Lyla... Chapter 172 - 172: Changing The Contribution System After sending a friend request to Celeste, Ethan waited, but there was no response. That night, Ethan and FreeYears ran two Easy-level dungeons back-to-back. During the first run, their team was short one player. To speed things up, Ethan called out in the guild chat for someone to join. Meatball was the first to volunteer. Ethan asked him, "Weren''t you in Skyblade''s team?" Meatball sighed, looking frustrated. "Got kicked out!" When Ethan pressed for the reason, Meatball hesitated, unwilling to explain. Finally, after some prodding, he admitted the truth: the female players in the team would scream and run away whenever he got close. This caused multiple wipes, and Skyblade had no choice but to boot him from the group. Earlier, when Meatball had revealed his skeletal form, Ethan and Free Years were already inside the dungeon. So, when Ethan heard this bizarre reason, he was both amused and exasperated. He initially thought Meatball had been harassing the female players! Ethan warned him to tone it down, and Meatball nodded earnestly, saying, "Got it, got it!" sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But there was a misunderstanding. Meatball thought Ethan was telling him to stop scaring people! However, it didn''t take long for Ethan to understand why Skyblade had kicked him out. Once inside the dungeon, Meatball raised his hand, and over thirty skeletons appeared¡ªsome humanoid, some animal-like. There were ranged and melee units. The melee skeletons charged into the mobs, causing both male and female players to scatter in fear. The ranged skeletons followed Meatball, moving wherever he went. It was chaos. His summoned skeletons were more terrifying than the actual monsters, and Free Years team was in disarray. Only Ethan''s eyes lit up with excitement. Another hidden class user! After clearing a wave of monsters, Meatball spoke up, "Guys, don''t freak out! Crunch crunch... They''re not that scary! Crunch crunch... They just look ugly! Crunch crunch... You''ll get used to it!" Ethan turned to look and felt a wave of disgust wash over him. Meatball was crouched next to a pile of monster corpses, talking while stuffing chunks of flesh into his hood. The sound of chewing made it clear what he was doing. Ethan was tempted to tell Free Years, "Maybe we should kick him." Noticing the horrified looks from the team, Meatball stood up and said, "Why are you all staring at me? I was out of health, and no one healed me! I''m just eating some corpses to regain HP!" Ethan sighed and explained to the group, "Yeah, it''s gross, but he''s a hidden class user. Having him in the team will speed up our dungeon runs." Despite this, everyone kept their distance from Meatball, and even the healers refused to target him with their spells. Fortunately, there were only three female players in Free Years'' team. By the halfway point of the dungeon, everyone had warmed up to Meatball¡ªmostly because of his insane damage output. The team had never seen anything like it. He was responsible for nearly 40% of the total damage dealt. True to Ethan''s word, the dungeon run was completed in half the time it usually took. After the run, Ethan left the group, but Meatball decided to stay and continue farming with them. Throughout the dungeon, Ethan kept glancing at his friend list. Celeste hadn''t logged in yet, and his friend request remained unanswered. With just over three hours left before the game servers shut down, Ethan returned to the main city. He met with Celia and spent a long time discussing plans with her. He tasked her with assembling a team of 500 Rogues and 500 Druids. This group would serve as a reconnaissance and disciplinary force. Internally, they would handle player misconduct within the guild. If situations like today''s arose, the offenders would be expelled from the guild, and this team would ensure they were reduced to level zero. Externally, this would be a rapid-response strike force. Pairing a Rogue with a Druid would make them ideal for both travel and stealth ambushes. Celia raised a few questions during their discussion, and Ethan was impressed by her insight. Victor''s wife was truly remarkable. Initially, Ethan had assumed she chose to be a life skill player because, like most female players, she disliked conflict. But the truth was the opposite: she chose life skills because she wanted to build a commercial empire within Ethereal. However, her vision was still a bit simplistic. After all, Ethereal was a game. While commerce played a significant role, without the backing of combat strength, everything else was just a pipe dream. After some discussion, they finalized the direction for Renegade Alliance. Well, ''finalized'' might be an overstatement, Ethan had always known the path a guild needed to take to become powerful. The fastest way to grow was through war, but they couldn''t just start conflicts without reason. For now, the Renegade Alliance needed steady development. The first priority was to address the guild''s level. Currently, Renegade Alliance was a Level 4 guild, while the Blade Syndicate had already reached Level 5, with a player cap of 30,000. Renegade Alliance needed to catch up and reach Level 5 as soon as possible. Ethan was well aware of this, but the guild was strapped for cash. The 20,000 gold he had earned earlier had been poured into the guild''s shops. It was just enough to keep them running, and even that was only possible because the number of alchemists and engineers who had learned intermediate blueprints was limited. The shops could barely sustain themselves with limited purchases for a day. To upgrade the guild, they had enough points for the guild hall, which had already been upgraded to Level 6. What they lacked was gold. Upgrading from Level 4 to Level 5 required 10,000 gold, and Level 5 to Level 6 would cost 20,000 gold. A Level 6 guild could accommodate up to 50,000 players. Celia''s idea was for Ethan to push the guild to at least Level 6 as soon as possible. This stumped Ethan. He had always thought he was sitting on a mountain of assets, but after Celia''s analysis, he realized he was practically broke! Celia proposed a solution: have the guild members pool their resources. By increasing the contribution-to-donation ratio, they could incentivize players to donate more. The guild''s vault was overflowing with equipment, and many players couldn''t exchange for it due to insufficient contribution points. A fundraising campaign would allow players to acquire high-quality gear at a low cost, boosting the overall strength of the guild''s members while solving the guild''s financial issues. After all, letting that equipment sit idle was a waste. Ethan agreed with the plan. With his approval, Celia adjusted the gold-to-contribution ratio and announced the changes to the guild. She also notified players who had previously donated that they could submit reports at the guild hall to receive additional contribution points based on the new ratio. The announcement sparked a wave of donations within the guild. However, it would still take time to accumulate enough funds for the guild upgrade. [Ding¡­ Your friend ''NoPaperOnTheBigOne'' has come online!] Just as the game was about to shut down for the night, the guy who had gone to repay his debt finally logged back in. Ethan sent him a message: "How''d it go? Debt paid? Everything good now?" NoPaperOnTheBigOne: "Haha, boss, all good now!" "Glad to hear it. Let''s sign a new contract when you have time," Ethan said. NoPaperOnTheBigOne: "Huh?" Ethan chuckled. "How about 1% permanent shares in All-You-Need? Interested?" [Ding¡­ Your friend ''NoPaperOnTheBigOne'' has gone offline!] As soon as Ethan finished speaking, the system notified him that the other player had logged off. Ethan was left speechless. What just happened? But the sudden appearance and disappearance of the Mad Engineer reminded Ethan of someone. Maybe this person could help him solve his current problem. Chapter 173 - 173: He Might Not Make It Ethan opened a private chat with Trusty007, who seemed to be perpetually online. He sent a message: "Do you offer loans?" Yes, Ethan had suddenly thought of it¡ªwhy not take out a loan to solve the immediate financial issues? He owned two monopoly shops and the exclusive auction house in Harmony City. Making money was just a matter of time. Even now, without running at full capacity, his daily income was over 800 gold. A single day''s earnings were almost enough to sustain an ordinary person for half a lifetime. Soon, a reply came. Trusty007: "Big Boss, what''s going on? 20,000 gold isn''t enough for you?" Ethan quickly responded: "You know I have a guild. We''re tight on funds right now. Do you offer this kind of service? What''s the interest rate?" Trusty007: "We don''t officially offer loans, but if you need gold, I can personally vouch for you and lend you some. However, the rate will be higher than market price." Ethan sighed. Of course, the guy was a businessman¡ªshrewd and calculating. He''d make Ethan owe him a favor while still profiting from the deal. But what choice did Ethan have? He asked, "What''s the rate, and how much can you give me?" He had no choice but to accept. After all, he was desperate for funds. To his surprise, Trusty007 didn''t try to gouge him too much. With 50,000 gold, Ethan could upgrade the guild to Level 6 and still have enough left to expand the shops in Blackridge and Springhaven. They quickly arranged a meeting spot, signed the agreement, and the 50,000 gold was transferred to Ethan''s inventory. Just before the game shut down for the night, Ethan upgraded the guild twice. [Ding¡­ System Notification: The Renegade Alliance has become the first Level 6 guild in the Northern Frontier Region!] [Ding¡­ System Notification: Congratulations! Your guild is the first Level 6 guild in Harmony City. Reward: 1,000 guild points!] Reaching Level 6 was a major milestone for any guild. Not only did it increase the member cap to 50,000, but it also unlocked four new functions: occupying mining zones, building farms, creating cultivation spaces, and establishing crafting workshops. These features allowed guilds to recruit a large number of life skill players, generating profits and providing logistical support for combat-oriented members. However, it was nearly impossible to develop all four areas simultaneously. Most guilds chose to focus on one or two. The most popular choice was cultivation spaces, followed by crafting workshops to boost alchemy production. After all, potions were a significant expense for guild members, and self-sufficiency could save a lot of money. But Ethan already owned the All-You-Need Potions, so he had no need to invest in alchemy workshops. Instead, he decided to focus solely on cultivation spaces. The apothecary required a steady supply of herbs, and by specializing in cultivation, he could maximize its level and significantly increase herb growth rates. As for mining zones, no construction was required. Once a guild reached Level 6, they could simply send troops to occupy a mining zone, similar to claiming a town. The downside was that there were no defensive structures. If someone tried to seize the mining zone, it would come down to pure combat. High-yield, top-tier mining veins were always controlled by the most powerful guilds. Once the fortress system was unlocked, the stone required to build fortresses would be sourced from these mining zones. After upgrading the guild, Ethan met with Celia to discuss a few more matters. With less than five minutes left before Ethereal shut down for the night, NoPaperOnTheBigOne suddenly logged back in. NoPaperOnTheBigOne: "Boss, were you serious earlier?" Ethan replied, "Of course¡­ Where did you go just now?" NoPaperOnTheBigOne: "Uh¡­ I thought I was dreaming, like, not actually in the game. I logged off to clear my head!" Ethan couldn''t help but laugh. He replied, "I''ll come find you at the shop tomorrow after I log in." After finishing the conversation, Ethan opened his friend list and stared at it, hoping against hope that Celeste would come online and accept his friend request. If she did, he might finally get some news about Lyla. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But as the clock ticked down and Ethereal forcibly logged everyone out, Celeste remained offline. The moment he stepped out of the VR capsule, Ethan grabbed his phone and dialed Lyla''s number. But all he got was the automated message: "The number you have dialed is currently switched off." Frustrated and anxious, he decided to channel his energy into a heavy workout. By the time noon rolled around, he hastily ate a meal and boarded a bus to head to school. It had been a while since he''d attended any classes, and he was certain he''d fail his finals this semester. Truth be told, he didn''t even want to go to school. Time was precious, and sitting through lectures felt like a waste. With the apocalypse looming in five years, every second counted. He''d rather spend it improving his strength and skills. As he wandered onto campus, it suddenly hit him¡ªhe had no idea what classes he was supposed to attend today. He quickly pulled out his phone and called his dorm''s senior, the ''oldest'' of the group. "Hey, bro, what classes do we have today? Where are you guys?" Ethan asked as soon as the call connected. "Third bro, it''s Saturday. What classes are you talking about? Are you out of your mind?" The voice on the other end belonged to JJ, the youngest in the dorm. "Huh?" Ethan glanced at his phone and checked the date. Damn¡­ it really is Saturday. He felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him. "Why are you answering the phone? Where''s Rowan?" Ethan asked. "Ah¡­ he''s in the hospital. We''re at First Affiliated Hospital. You should come see him. He might not make it¡­" JJ''s voice cracked with emotion. Ethan''s heart skipped a beat. "What happened? Why is he in the hospital?" "It''s a long story. Just come over if you''re free," JJ said before hanging up. Without hesitation, Ethan hailed a taxi and rushed to the hospital. He made his way to the inpatient ward and found the room JJ had mentioned. Just as he reached the door, he ran into JJ carrying a thermos. "Third bro, you''re here," JJ said, looking surprised. Ethan nodded. "How''s Rowan? What''s wrong with him?" JJ shook his head and pulled Ethan into the room. It was a four-bed ward, and as Ethan stepped inside, he froze. He recognized all four patients in the room. Rowan, Greg, and two others from his group of dorm mates. Well, isn''t this something? They''d shared a dorm room at school, and now they were sharing a hospital room. None of them were asleep or unconscious, but they all lay there with vacant stares, their faces an unhealthy shade of bluish-purple. Chapter 174 - 174: Something Supernatural Seeing his former roommates in such a state, Ethan felt a pang of sorrow. "What''s wrong with them?" he asked. JJ let out a long sigh and replied with frustration, "If only we knew. They were like this when we found them this morning. They''ve been here ever since, but the doctors haven''t been able to figure out what''s wrong." As he spoke, a group of doctors entered the room. Men and women, young and old¡ªthere were over twenty of them. They conducted a series of examinations on the four patients lying in the beds. One of the doctors turned to JJ and asked, "Have their families arrived yet?" JJ explained that their families had been notified, but since they were all from out of town, it would take time for them to get here. The family of the fourth bro, Shawn, who lived the closest, should be arriving in Ember City soon. The doctor nodded and told JJ to come find him once the families arrived. With that, the group of doctors began to leave. Ethan quickly stepped forward. "What''s wrong with them? What''s their diagnosis?" The doctor paused, glanced back at the four patients, and shook his head. "We''ve run every test we have. There''s nothing wrong with them¡ªat least, nothing we can detect." With a look of helplessness, the doctor walked out. JJ''s face darkened, and he muttered under his breath, "Damn quacks. If you ask me, it''s not a medical issue, it''s something supernatural." At his words, several of the departing doctors turned back, frowning. Some looked angry, but none of them said anything. Ethan''s heart skipped a beat. In the past, Ethan would have dismissed the idea of "supernatural forces" as nonsense. But now, he couldn''t help but wonder if JJ might be onto something. Ethan and JJ stayed at the hospital to care for the four until the afternoon, when their families finally arrived. During that time, Ethan noticed something strange: although the four hadn''t eaten anything, they kept asking for hot water. Not just warm water¡ªscalding hot water, so hot that Ethan couldn''t even imagine drinking it. Yet, each of them downed three cups at a time. Over the course of the afternoon, each of the four drank an average of two thermoses of boiling water. Strangely, despite consuming so much liquid, none of them needed to use the bathroom. Once their families arrived, Ethan and JJ left the hospital. JJ, in particular, was exhausted. He''d been running around since morning and hadn''t eaten a thing. The two of them found a nearby place to grab a quick meal. As they ate, JJ suddenly asked, "Ethan, where are you staying now? Can I crash with you? I don''t want to go back to the dorm." Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Why not?" Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It wasn''t that he minded having JJ stay over¡ªhe was just curious why JJ suddenly didn''t want to return to the dorm. JJ glanced around nervously before leaning in and whispering, "I think¡­ I think Rowan and the others were cursed. The dorm''s not safe." "Not safe?" Ethan frowned, confused. "But you said they weren''t even in the dorm last night, right?" "At first, they weren''t. I don''t know where they went. But when I took off my VR helmet this morning, they were all lying in their beds. They hadn''t even logged into the game." JJ''s face paled as he spoke, his voice trembling. "It scared the hell out of me." He leaned closer, lowering his voice even further. "Because¡­ my VR helmet didn''t detect anyone entering the room. If it had, I would''ve known they were back." Ethan''s brow furrowed as he processed this. "So¡­ you''re saying they came back¡­ cursed? And they bypassed the VR helmet''s sensors?" JJ nodded vigorously. "Exactly." Hearing this, Ethan also found the situation strange. He watched as JJ kept glancing around nervously, as if he were on edge. "Stay at my place tonight," Ethan said, standing up to pay the bill. They took a taxi back to the school dorm first, as JJ needed to grab his VR helmet. Throughout the trip, JJ clung to Ethan, as if afraid he''d run off. When they arrived at the dorm, Ethan stepped inside. It was the first time he''d been back here since his rebirth. Memories flooded his mind as he walked to his old bed and ran his hand over it, lost in thought. "Third bro, let''s go," JJ said, holding his VR helmet and tugging at Ethan''s sleeve. Ethan couldn''t help but chuckle at JJ''s behavior. He hadn''t realized JJ could be so jumpy. The guy kept scanning the room, as if expecting something terrifying to pop out at any moment. By the time they reached Ethan''s villa, it was already dark. It was late October, and in Ember City¡ªa northern city, the sun set early in winter. By 5 PM, the sky was pitch black. JJ stood at the villa''s entrance, his mouth hanging open in shock. "Third bro¡­ this is your place? Did you get adopted by a sugar mommy or something?" Ethan just smiled. He''d heard this kind of comment more than a few times. Once inside, JJ acted like a kid in a candy store, gawking at everything. "There''s a spare room on the third floor. Pick one and make yourself at home. If you''re hungry, there''s food in the fridge," Ethan said, not bothering to show him around. He treated JJ like family, so formalities weren''t necessary. Ethan hurried to the second floor. There were less than two minutes left before Ethereal went live, and he wanted to log in right on time to make sure he didn''t miss Celeste if she came online. As soon as he entered the game, the first thing he did was find NoPaperOnTheBigOne and sign a contract, transferring 1% of the shares in the All-You-Need chain to him. NoPaperOnTheBigOne clenched his fists, visibly excited. "Boss, don''t worry! I''ll make sure these two shops thrive!" "Just two shops? You''re too easily satisfied," Ethan said, giving him a sidelong glance and a calm smile. "Wait¡­" NoPaperOnTheBigOne''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you saying¡­ there are more All-You-Need shops?" Ethan shook his head. "Not yet, but there will be soon." Under NoPaperOnTheBigOne''s stunned gaze, Ethan patted him on the shoulder. "Come on, let''s head to Springhaven and Blackridge." With that, Ethan led the way toward the teleportation array. NoPaperOnTheBigOne followed in a daze, first to Springhaven and then to Blackridge. When they arrived at the Level 2 shop in Blackridge, NoPaperOnTheBigOne felt like he was dreaming. He was filled with awe and admiration for Ethan, thinking to himself, How can I ever repay this man for everything he''s done for me? At that moment, he realized that the 1% share Ethan had given him would translate into an astronomical income. Just yesterday, the Potion, engineering shop, and auction house in Ember City had brought in over $800,000 in revenue. His 1% share meant he''d earned $8,000 in a single day. And that was just one day''s earnings¡­ Chapter 175 - 175: Ascending The Snowy Mountain If the shops in these two cities were to operate successfully, his income would be beyond imagination. "I''m entrusting all of this to you. Find two trustworthy and reliable individuals to oversee things here," Ethan said, his eyes narrowing into a serious, almost solemn expression. "And don''t let your engineering research fall behind!" NoPaperOnTheBigOne, seeing Ethan''s expression, straightened up and met his gaze firmly. "Boss, you can count on me!" he declared with absolute certainty. Even if Ethan hadn''t said anything, he had already made up his mind¡ªhe was going to follow this man to the end. As Ethan walked away, NoPaperOnTheBigOne watched him go. This was the man who had pulled him out of the darkest, most desperate time of his life. From now on, he would dedicate himself to repaying Ethan''s trust and kindness. After upgrading the shops, Ethan left a portion of the funds with NoPaperOnTheBigOne, leaving himself with just over five hundred gold coins in his pocket. Once again, he was nearly broke. After saying his goodbyes, he decided to stay in Blackridge for a while. He was very familiar with the entire Northern Frontier Region, and Blackridge had plenty of valuable resources he wanted to check out. He also planned to scout the local guilds to see if any posed a threat to Renegade Alliance. Although Renegade Alliance currently topped the guild rankings in Northern Frontier Region as a level six guild, their dominance only served to unite other guilds against them. The early stages of Ethereal were still a mystery to most players, and no one¡ªnot even the big corporations, had fully grasped the game''s potential or its future impact. Ethan, however, knew what was coming. That''s why he was investing so heavily in the game. Otherwise, with his modest resources, how could he possibly compete with corporate giants? Of course, there were always bold individuals willing to take risks, but in Northern Frontier Region, many of the prime resources had already been claimed by Ethan. The Golden Zone, for example, was one such area. Many investors had been forced to abandon their plans due to the lack of available land. Without prime locations, there was no foot traffic, and without foot traffic, there was no profit. Ethan had become a thorn in the side of many powerful figures in Northern Frontier Region. What he didn''t know was that several corporate giants were already investigating him. But so far, only Zachary knew his true identity. Ethan teleported to the northernmost town under Blackridge''s jurisdiction¡ªLakeview. Here, Ethan changed into a pure white robe. If he were to lie down in the snow, he''d be nearly invisible. His destination was the towering snow-capped mountain northeast of Lakeview. The journey was bustling with players. At the city gates, he even saw children playing in the snow, accompanied by adults. Some were having snowball fights, while others were building snowmen. Seeing this, Ethan smiled. Ethereal was slowly becoming a part of everyday life for ordinary people. Transforming into his Stag form, Ethan raced across the snowy plains. The scenery was breathtaking, and the Stag''s speed allowed him to cover ground quickly. Soon, he reached the base of the mountain. The snow-capped peak pierced the clouds, resembling a giant hand reaching for the sky. Ethan had just passed through a level 30 monster zone, and the creatures on the mountain started at level 35. The level 30 area was crowded with players, as most were in the 27-30 range. The player base in Ethereal had grown significantly since the game''s launch. As a result, leveling areas across all levels were now packed to the brim. Ethan made his way up the snowy mountain path, passing through the level 35 zone and approaching the level 40 area where Snow Apes spawned. Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out: "Stop right there! Nocturne Order guild has claimed this area. Turn back now." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A figure emerged from the soft snow, and at the same time, Ethan felt a chill run down his spine. ''There''s a rogue here¡ªno, more than one, he thought.'' The person who had stepped out was also a rogue, dressed in a white cloak similar to Ethan''s. Hearing the words "claimed this area," Ethan paused. Nocturne Order guild had taken over this spot. Could they have discovered that place? Still, the guild seemed somewhat reasonable. Despite having multiple rogues in the area, they hadn''t ambushed him outright. Instead, they''d issued a warning first. Unlike some of the more tyrannical guilds that would kill anyone on sight without explanation, this guild at least gave him a chance to leave. "My apologies," Ethan said, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "I didn''t realize your guild had claimed this area. I''ll leave now." With that, he turned to head back down the mountain. His original plan was to leave their line of sight, stealth his way back up, and see what they were up to. After all, given the current player levels, it didn''t make sense for a guild to be grinding in a level 40 zone. "Hold it!" Another voice called out, this time from further up the mountain. Ethan stopped and turned to look. A group of about twenty players was descending the slope¡ªa mixed party with various classes. "What''s the Frostbite guild doing here?" the rogue who had first confronted Ethan asked, flipping his dagger from a forward grip to a reverse grip. His expression turned cold as he addressed the newcomers. The group approached slowly, their leader glaring at the rogue. "Is this how Nocturne Order handles security? If we hadn''t noticed, you would''ve let this guy walk away. Can you afford to let the news leak?" The rogue frowned slightly, then turned to Ethan. "You''d better leave. This doesn''t concern you." He then addressed the leader with a steely tone, "How Nocturne Order operates is none of your business. This is our territory. Get lost!" The leader of the Frostbite group didn''t seem offended by the rogue''s harsh words. Instead, he smirked and pointed at Ethan. "Kill this guy. We''re not letting this slide¡ª" Before he could finish his sentence, a massive bear''s shadow flashed across the rogue''s vision. Thwack! The bear''s form charged forward, shifting back into human form just as it reached the Paladin. No one saw exactly how it happened, but the next thing they knew, the Paladin was reeling from a loud slap across the face. "Ah!" The Paladin, who had been so arrogant moments ago, tumbled down the slope, clutching his cheek. In Ethereal, non-combat actions like slapping didn''t count as attacks since they dealt no damage. But the humiliation was undeniable. The rogue stared in shock, his mouth hanging open. Ethan grinned at him. "Sorry, but I don''t like it when people talk down to me from above." The Paladin, now sitting a dozen meters downhill, screamed in rage, "What the hell are you all standing around for? Kill him!" Ethan stood at the edge of the mountain path, a sheer cliff behind him and twenty players closing in from the front. His eyes narrowed. ''If they''re asking for it, I guess I have no choice but to kill them all.'' Chapter 176 - 176: Snow Ape King The Paladin leader who had been slapped down the mountain by Ethan was still fuming. As soon as he shouted his orders, Ethan, who had been surrounded with no way out, suddenly leaped into the air. Everyone watching had the same thought: What an idiot. Does he really think he can just jump over our heads? [Skill Used: Double Jump!] This skill, attached to Ethan''s boots, allowed him to perform a second mid-air jump by stepping on the air itself. As Ethan reached the peak of his first jump, he barely cleared the heads of the players in front of him. If he landed now, he''d still be trapped in their encirclement. But then, to everyone''s shock, Ethan shot upward again¡ªthis time not straight up, but diagonally, aiming to land behind them. "Crap, he''s trying to escape! Get him!" someone shouted. A barrage of instant-cast spells, arrows, and bullets flew toward Ethan. The melee fighters, who had been standing close to him, were now in the ranged fighters'' line of fire. Transform: Bear Form. Ethan shifted mid-air, tanking all the incoming attacks. -1! -1! -1! A string of forced damage numbers floated above his head. [Ding¡­ You have been attacked by player: HeartbrokenSorrow! You may now retaliate against their team!] "What the hell? We''re not even scratching him!" one of the players exclaimed, panicking. "Don''t worry! He''s just a tanky Bear Druid¡ªhe can''t deal damage!" another player chimed in, trying to sound confident as he urged the group to keep attacking. Ethan landed with a grin. ''You''re all dead.'' Transform: Owl Form. The ranged players casting spells and the melee fighters trying to close in froze for a second when they saw Ethan transform into a fluffy owl. What the hell? A full-defense Bear Druid turning into an owl? Is he trying to kill us with cuteness? they thought. Typhoon! Whoosh¡­ Ethan flapped his owl wings, and a powerful gust of wind erupted, sending a wave of snow and players flying off the cliff. "Ahhh! Help!" "Priest, give me Levitate!" "Mom, save me! I''m scared of heights!" "Shut up! We don''t even have a Priest in our group!" In an instant, the edge of the cliff was cleared. The rogue from the Nocturne Order guild rubbed his eyes in disbelief. What just happened? A non-damage crowd control skill just wiped out twenty players by blowing them off a cliff? But Ethan wasn''t done. He transformed into Panther Form, his sleek black body leaving a blur as he dashed across the snow. With a movement speed of 137% in Panther Form, he was like a streak of lightning, especially with the added speed boost from running downhill. In seconds, he reached the Paladin who had been shouting orders earlier. Transforming back into human form, Ethan delivered another resounding slap. Whack! "Ahhh!" The force of Ethan''s downhill sprint, combined with the slap, sent the Paladin flying. "Damn, that hurt!" Ethan muttered, shaking his hand and wincing. The Nocturne Order rogue shivered as he watched. Why does he keep slapping people? It''s not even considered an attack by the system, but it still hurts! And it''s so humiliating. Plus, if he''s complaining about the pain, how bad must it be for the guy he just slapped? "Hey, rogue guy, I''m outta here!" Ethan called over his shoulder with a grin. "Uh¡­ yeah¡­" the rogue stammered, still processing what had just happened. By the time another rogue appeared beside him, Ethan was long gone. "Captain, don''t you think that Druid reminds you of someone?" the second rogue asked, staring in the direction where Ethan had disappeared. His expression was uncertain, as if he was trying to piece something together. The captain''s face froze for a moment before he exclaimed, "Wait¡­ could it be him? The so-called ''God of Druids'' who''s been active around Harmony City? The guild leader of Renegade Alliance?" The second rogue nodded. "Yeah, that''s probably him." Unbeknownst to them, Ethan, still in stealth, was passing right behind them. He paused, glancing at the two rogues with a mix of surprise and amusement. ''They recognized me?'' he thought, shaking his head with a wry smile. Guess being famous has its downsides. He overheard the rogue mention a video on the official forums where Ethan had announced reforms to Renegade Alliance''s guild system at the entrance of a dungeon. Deciding not to engage, Ethan quickly continued his ascent up the mountain. Soon, he encountered another group of players, all wearing Frostbite guild emblem. They were likely part of the earlier commotion, coming to cause more trouble. But with their levels hovering around 28-29, they had no chance of detecting Ethan''s stealth. He slipped past them, hugging the cliffside as he moved forward. After bypassing several checkpoints guarded by different guilds, Ethan finally reached the level 45 zone. There, he witnessed something he hadn''t seen since his rebirth¡ªa massive boss fight involving tens of thousands of players. So, they''re fighting the Snow Ape King, Ethan thought, relieved. I thought they''d discovered the secret here. The Snow Ape King was a level 45 elite boss, respawning every seven days. Its drops were decent but nothing extraordinary. As Ethan had climbed the mountain, he''d noticed at least seven or eight level 4 guilds stationed here. Why are they going through so much trouble for a regular boss? he wondered. Do they think a higher-level boss automatically drops better loot? That can''t be it. Even if the loot were good, coordinating multiple guilds to take down an over-leveled world boss wouldn''t be worth the effort. The losses would far outweigh the gains. Unless these guild leaders are as clueless as Marcus Skeiner from Blade Syndicate, Ethan mused. Their actions piqued his curiosity. Is there something special about this boss that I don''t know about? In his previous life, the Snow Ape King had been farmed relentlessly. It was killed almost as soon as it respawned, and no one had ever reported any unique drops. What are they after? The Snow Ape King''s health was now down to 30%. Ethan decided to wait and see, planning to swoop in and take advantage of the chaos once the boss was defeated. He positioned himself about 50 meters from the battle, observing the fight. It quickly became clear that this was their first time fighting the Snow Ape King. Otherwise, they would have pulled their melee fighters back by now. When the boss''s health dropped below 5%, it would enter a frenzy, using its Thunder Stomp ability every three seconds. This skill was a nightmare for melee fighters¡ªit stunned them for 3.5 seconds, effectively locking them in an endless cycle of stuns. The constant area-of-effect damage would overwhelm even the best healers. At this stage, the tanks should have been positioned at maximum range, using taunts to keep the boss moving while ranged DPS burned it down. But instead, chaos ensued. Roar! S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Snow Ape King pounded its chest, its body swelling as its white fur turned blood-red. With a thunderous boom, it stomped the ground, unleashing Thunder Stomp. The massive shockwave stunned every melee fighter within range, including the tanks. Without the ability to block or mitigate damage, the tanks were obliterated in a single swipe. The boss''s aggro went haywire, and it began rampaging through the players, stomping every few steps and leaving a trail of stunned¡ªand soon dead bodies. Despite the mounting casualties, the sheer number of players ensured that the boss''s health continued to drop. Each wave of attacks chipped away tens of thousands of HP. As the Snow Ape King''s health dwindled, Ethan began to inch closer, staying in stealth. Just as the boss was about to fall, Ethan, still hidden, prepared to strike. Like a panther stalking its prey, he readied himself to pounce. Chapter 177 - 177: Stealing The Loot The Snow Ape King''s health was down to 400,000/45,000,000¡ªless than one percent remaining. On the battlefield, forty to fifty thousand ranged players remained. At this rate, another ten waves of concentrated fire would be enough to bring it down. Ethan was already prepared. The moment the Snow Ape King collapsed, he would rush in for the loot. Suddenly, a powerful magical disturbance swept across the battlefield¡ªdifferent from the chaotic spells being cast left and right. Despite the sheer number of players slinging magic, this wave of energy overshadowed them all. Ethan''s body tensed, and he instinctively retreated about ten meters, his eyes darting toward the source of the disturbance. About a hundred meters to his left, a group of seven or eight people stood together. Ethan guessed they were the guild leaders or high-ranking officers overseeing the battle. The overwhelming magical energy emanated from a mage dressed in a flowing, blue robe. He was a strikingly handsome man, but what caught Ethan''s attention was the scroll in his hand, glowing with a radiant, iridescent light. Ethan''s eyes narrowed. ''A Divine-tier scroll? What''s he planning?'' The mage''s target was clearly the Snow Ape King, whose health was now below 200,000. Why use a Divine-tier scroll now, when the boss is almost dead? That doesn''t make sense. Even if he uses it to instantly kill the boss, it''s not worth the cost. In Ethereal, scrolls were incredibly rare items. Even the lowest-tier scrolls were worth thousands of gold coins. But a moment later, Ethan realized what the mage was up to. The scroll in the mage''s hand flashed brightly before shooting into the air, hovering about twenty meters above the Snow Ape King. A beam of multicolored light descended, enveloping the boss completely. To Ethan''s astonishment, the Snow Ape King''s health, which had been steadily dropping under the players'' attacks, began to rise instead. Its health, which had been down to 90,000, quickly climbed back to 450,000. However, the percentage of its health remained the same because its total health pool had also increased. Now, the Snow Ape King''s health read: 450,000 / 225,000,000. Ethan''s mind raced as he recognized the scroll''s effect. This must be a [Divine-Tier Genetic Ascension] Scroll! The scroll had not only restored the boss''s health but also elevated its rank to Divine-tier. The Snow Ape King''s maximum health had quintupled, a clear sign of its newfound power. Ethan was stunned. I didn''t expect someone in Blackridge to have gotten their hands on such a scroll. However, he guessed that the scroll had a level cap of 45, which was why they had chosen the Snow Ape King as their target. If the scroll could be used on higher-level bosses, they would have undoubtedly gone after something more powerful. No wonder so many guilds are collaborating and guarding this area so tightly, Ethan thought. In Ethereal, there were no loot rights for world boss drops. Once an item hit the ground, anyone could pick it up. This mechanic made the game feel more realistic and added an extra layer of excitement¡ªand danger, to open-world encounters. It also emphasized the importance of teamwork, as any item picked up by a team member would automatically go to the team leader''s inventory for distribution. Of course, this system had its flaws. Greedy players sometimes left their teams to try and snatch loot for themselves. However, the game had safeguards in place: players who left a team couldn''t pick up items for five minutes, and the team leader would receive a notification, allowing them to quickly rally the group to eliminate the traitor. Over time, such incidents became rare, as players realized that betraying their team not only meant losing out on loot but also facing relentless. As for random players trying to steal the loot, if they succeeded, it only meant your team was too weak. In Ethereal, opportunities belonged to those with the skill to seize them. Ethan watched the scene unfold, thinking, I have to admit, their strategy is pretty clever. First, they weakened the boss to low health, then used the scroll to elevate its rank. Even though the boss''s health increased, it was still easier than fighting a full-health Divine-tier boss from scratch. A moment later, his eyes gleamed with anticipation. What kind of loot will a level 45 Divine-tier boss drop? Since he''d stumbled upon this opportunity, he wasn''t about to leave empty-handed. As the ranged players unleashed wave after wave of instant-cast spells, the Divine Snow Ape King''s health bar flickered with a flurry of "-1!" damage numbers, falling like snowflakes. However, the players were also taking heavy casualties. After ascending to Divine-tier, the Snow Ape King had gained two new skills. The first was Earthquake Wave, a mid-to-long-range ability. The boss slammed its fists into the ground, causing a line of jagged spikes to erupt in a straight path, impaling anyone in its way. The second was Snowball Barrage, a long-range area-of-effect attack. A single snowball could instantly kill a dozen or more ranged players. But the guilds in Blackridge had come prepared. With so many collaborating guilds and the boss''s spawn point located near a resurrection point, players could run back to the fight in just over a minute after dying. Despite the constant casualties, an endless stream of players kept returning to the battlefield. After another ten minutes, the Snow Ape King''s health finally dropped to 30,000 / 225,000,000. Ethan had already infiltrated the inner circle. The players, spread out to avoid the boss''s attacks, had left plenty of gaps for him to slip through unnoticed. With a final roar, the Snow Ape King collapsed, its massive body hitting the ground with a thunderous crash. A shower of loot burst from its corpse, scattering across the snow. Surprisingly, no one rushed forward to grab the items. Ethan grinned to himself. Perfect. Still in stealth, he darted toward the boss''s body, his eyes locked on a glowing, colourful item. He didn''t know what it was, but its radiant hue clearly marked it as Divine-tier. "All Priests, cast Radiant Illumination!" a voice shouted from the distance. Ethan''s heart sank. These guys are sharp¡ªway smarter than the idiots in Blade Syndicate. They knew to flood the loot area with light to reveal any stealthy thieves. Gritting his teeth, Ethan pushed forward even faster, determined to reach the item before it was too late. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Buzz¡­ Just as Ethan was within two meters of the item, beams of radiant light descended from above, exposing his stealth form. "It''s a Druid! Take him down! Archers, Gunners, mark him! Don''t let him go back into stealth!" Ethan''s sudden appearance sent the guilds into a frenzy. But he didn''t hesitate. With a swift motion, he grabbed the glowing, multicolored item and stuffed it into his inventory. His first instinct was to run, but as he turned, his eyes caught sight of something else¡ªa treasure chest lying nearby. The sky was already filled with incoming spells. Ethan knew that even in Bear Form, he wouldn''t survive the barrage of attacks. He calculated the time it would take for the spells to land. If I run now, I might make it¡­ But that chest¡­ it was a Divine-tier boss''s treasure chest! ''Screw it. I''m going for it.'' Chapter 178 - 178: Rain Of Attacks As the first spell descended, Ethan swiftly sidestepped, scooping up the treasure chest and transforming into bear form. Boom¡­ A barrage of magical attacks rained down, most of them slamming into the spot where he had just stood. A few spells struck him, and a flurry of ''-1!'' damage numbers floated above his head like a fountain. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After transforming into the bear, his health, which had been a staggering 13,090, plummeted rapidly. In an instant, it dropped to just 10%. Ethan crushed the Advanced Instant Health Potion he had been holding in his mouth, along with a Medium Slow Health Recovery Potion. In the system shop, the Advanced Instant Health Potion cost 75 gold coins each. In one gulp, he had just consumed over $75,000 in real-world cash! Whoosh¡­ +13,000! The potion took effect just as his health dropped to a mere 90 points, saving him by the skin of his teeth. The Advanced Instant Health Potion was a bit of a waste for him at this stage. It could have restored 25,000 health points, but since his maximum health was lower, it only restored 13,000. Even after the instant heal, his health continued to drop. Finally, after dodging most of the focused attacks, he had taken nearly 17,000 points of damage. If he hadn''t taken the potion, he would have been instantly killed. The only reason he survived was that the attacks hit him in quick succession, giving him just enough time to drink the potion. Ethan knew the next wave of attacks would be even more intense. If he was killed within 10 minutes of looting the treasure, the items would 100% drop. "All Shield Tanks, form up and block him! Melee units, move in! Whoever kills him gets 100 gold coins!" shouted the mage in the blue robe, his face practically turning green with rage. He had allied with nine level-four guilds, setting up over a dozen checkpoints on the mountain path to block any intruders. Yet, a sneaky Druid had still managed to slip through. What were those Priests stationed at the checkpoints doing? He had explicitly ordered them to spam Radiant Illumination on cooldown to reveal any stealth classes. How had this Druid still gotten through? While the mage was fuming, Ethan was in a dire situation. Hundreds of Shield Tanks charged at him, followed by a sea of melee classes. These players had just been wiped out by the Snow Ape King during its frenzy, which had unleashed a devastating Thunder Stomp. After respawning, they had been stationed on the outskirts, kept away from the front lines to avoid further casualties. Now, under the orders of their guild leaders, they were closing in on Ethan. Seeing the hundreds of Shield Tanks and thousands of melee units about to encircle him, Ethan felt a pang of despair. He had been too greedy. If he had taken the first item and left immediately, the enemy wouldn''t have had time to surround him. But his greed for the treasure chest had cost him four seconds, giving the enemy commanders enough time to coordinate their forces. Dodging the relentless ranged attacks, Ethan charged forward as a bear, crashing into three Shield Tanks. Slam! Thanks to his higher level and superior strength stats, Ethan''s Slam sent one of the Shield Tanks flying. The other two Shield Tanks moved in, pressing their shields against the bear''s flanks, halting Ethan''s momentum. Boom, boom, boom¡­ Hundreds of instant-cast spells bombarded him. Ethan''s health dropped by several hundred points in an instant. Although the Medium Slow Health Recovery Potion was still ticking, if he remained pinned down, he would become a sitting duck. To make matters worse, many of the ranged attackers were Frost Mages, and his movement speed was reduced to a mere 20%. Transform: Panther! The Druid''s transformation ability could dispel any movement-impairing magical effects. The slowing debuff vanished instantly as Ethan shifted from the massive bear into a sleek panther, his body shrinking in size. The two Shield Tanks, caught off guard, left a small gap for Ethan to exploit. Swift Stride, the boot skill, activated. In panther form, his movement speed, already at 137%, surged to 207%. A black blur shot through the gap between the two shields. A Paladin stood in his path, reacting quickly as Ethan lunged toward him. The Paladin unleashed Shock and Judgment in rapid succession. But with his incredible speed, Ethan dodged the Shock effortlessly. The Shock skill could knock an opponent back a step, and in this situation, getting hit would mean certain death. Ethan took the Judgment head-on. Although Judgment had a brief stun effect, the level difference between Ethan and the Paladin reduced its duration to almost nothing. The stun lasted less than 0.1 seconds before Ethan shook it off. Shred! -696! The Paladin was instantly killed, collapsing to the ground. This was the first time Ethan had used an offensive skill in this battle! Behind the fallen Paladin stood a Dual-Blade Rogue, who froze for a moment upon seeing the damage number above his ally''s head. Before he could react, a pair of razor-sharp claws filled his vision. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire -648! Another instant kill! Both the Paladin and the Rogue had sacrificed all their stamina and endurance for maximum damage output. The Rogue was two levels lower than the Paladin, and against Ethan, whose attack power had reached a staggering 1,725, combined with the 200% damage multiplier from Shred and the 50% skill effectiveness boost from his Divine Ability [Focus], the result was inevitable. With Shred enhanced, Ethan''s attack dealt a devastating 5,175 points of damage, ensuring instant death for anyone in his path. For a moment, Ethan carved a bloody path through the melee fighters. There was no dramatic scene of enemies flying in all directions¡ªanyone who faced him simply dropped dead. Soon, the duration of Swift Stride ended, and his movement speed dropped. But that didn''t stop him from continuing his rampage. "Ranged units, attack! What are you waiting for?" roared the mage in the blue robe, his previously calm demeanor replaced by the fury of a raging lion. "Boss, there are too many of our own people around him! We can''t use AoE spells, and single-target attacks can''t hit him!" one of the ranged attackers shouted. Ethan continued to push toward the outskirts, weaving and dodging single-target attacks from the ranged units. At the same time, he selectively avoided crowd-control skills from the melee fighters around him. He prioritized dodging stuns and other disabling effects, while tanking direct damage attacks. Even in panther form, most attacks only dealt 10-20 points of damage to him. As long as he avoided being crowd-controlled, he had a chance to break through! Earlier, he had used his speed boost to escape the Shield Tanks'' encirclement. Now, he was surrounded by melee DPS classes. The Shield Tanks were left behind, unable to catch up due to the chaos of the melee fighters. These melee units, desperate to claim the 100 gold coin bounty, had become obstacles for their own allies. The promise of such a high reward had clouded their judgment, and they were now blindly charging at Ethan, each hoping to be the one to land the killing blow. Chapter 179 - 179: For The Greater Good At this point, no matter how much the Shield Tanks shouted, no one was going to make way for them! Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Of course, no one would move aside¡ª$100,000 was on the line. Even the guild leaders were yelling at the melee fighters to clear a path for the Shield Tanks, but their commands fell on deaf ears. The crowd was too frenzied, too desperate for the bounty. A few who tried to follow orders found themselves pushed forward by the surging mass behind them, unable to break free. Ethan, on the other hand, was having the time of his life. The last time he had fought like this was in Larson Basin, where he had led a five-man squad, including Slashblade, to wipe out an entire guild. But that had been guerrilla warfare¡ªhit-and-run tactics. This was a full-on, head-to-head brawl. Sure, he had once lured over 12,000 players to their deaths to secure a Divine Teleportation Scroll, but he hadn''t lifted a finger during that massacre. This time, he was in the thick of it, and it felt exhilarating. It was as if there was no one in his way. Anyone who stood before him fell with a single swipe of his claws. At level 34, Ethan had 170 agility. With a 22-star growth rate, his energy regeneration was boosted by 37.4%, bringing his total energy regeneration to 137.4%. While this wasn''t enough to let him spam Shred with every attack, his regular claw strikes still dealt significant damage. He couldn''t one-shot enemies, but three swipes were enough to take down most opponents. Moreover, his high agility also increased his attack speed. His claws moved like lightning, and his body darted with precision, showcasing the full mobility and agility of the panther form. Every movement, every strike, was executed with flawless timing. Of course, part of his success was due to the fact that, no matter how many melee fighters surrounded him, only a few could actually reach him at any given time. The rest were stuck in the chaotic press of bodies, unable to land a hit. The real threat came from the ranged attackers. Amid the sea of melee fighters, Ethan moved like a tiger among sheep, all while dodging the relentless barrage of ranged attacks. He even used the crowd as cover, redirecting some of the ranged spells to hit his own attackers! From his vantage point, the mage in the blue robe watched Ethan''s unstoppable rampage, his expression growing darker by the second. This Druid was too strong¡ªhigh defense, high attack power, and incredible speed. But what truly set him apart was his combat awareness. "What''s his name?" the mage asked in the team chat. In Ethereal, players could hide their character names, but when someone was killed, the system would notify them of their killer''s identity. "Boss, it''s NotADruid, the leader of Renegade Alliance!" someone who had just been killed by Ethan shouted in the chat. "What?" The mage was stunned. Why was he here? Wasn''t he supposed to be operating around Harmony City? "All ranged units, unleash your largest AoE spells!" the mage barked, his voice cold and commanding. "Boss¡­" The team hesitated. This order would mean sacrificing their own melee fighters. In Ethereal, there was no such thing as party or guild modes. The game was designed to mimic reality as closely as possible. In real life, if your teammate shot at an enemy standing next to you, wouldn''t you get hit too? That''s why, during team battles, AoE spells were usually forbidden. But the mage''s eyes gleamed with a mix of cold determination and excitement. He was willing to pay any price to take down Ethan. "So, you''re NotADruid, huh? I''ve heard you''ve never been killed before. Well, today I''ll end that legend. I''ll make a name for myself and my guild, Dawnbreaker Assembly, by standing over your corpse. And I, Frostflame, will rise with the tide." "Attack now!" Frostflame shouted, seeing the hesitation among the ranged units. The ranged players of Dawnbreaker Assembly gritted their teeth and began casting their large-area spells. What else could they do? Their boss had given the order. The air buzzed with the chaotic energy of gathering magic. Area-of-effect spells required long casting times, and the entire battlefield was about to be engulfed in destruction. Ethan, still cutting through the melee fighters, felt the surge of magical energy and his heart sank. This was what he had feared most¡ªa massive AoE bombardment from thousands of ranged players. The entire encirclement would be obliterated. "Frostflame, what are your people doing?!" a sharp, angry voice rang out. "Frostflame, stop your ranged units!" several other voices joined in, filled with urgency and frustration. Frostflame narrowed his eyes, staring down at Ethan. He replied coldly, "You''d better have your ranged units cast their AoE spells too. If he escapes, none of us will come out of this looking good." The other guild leaders hesitated, their faces conflicted. "Is there no other way?" one of them asked. "Another way? Do you see the melee units stopping him? Or do you want to go down there and try to hold him off yourself?" Frostflame retorted, a sly smile creeping onto his face. "We''ve all invested everything into this. If we don''t kill him within ten minutes, the loot won''t drop, and we''ll have nothing to show for it. Our people have died multiple times already. The lost experience, the lost gear¡ªare you going to compensate them out of your own pockets? Sure, this will cost us a lot of lives, but that''s NotADruid. Have you seen his attack and defense stats? If we kill him, even one piece of his gear will cover our losses." His words silenced the others. One by one, they began issuing commands to their guilds'' ranged units. As the other guilds'' ranged players began casting their spells, Frostflame felt a pang of regret. If only they could turn Ethan into a red-named player. Earlier, their ranged units had attacked Ethan first, so all the players he had killed were considered self-defense. His Sin Value hadn''t increased. The magical energy in the air grew even more chaotic as the other guilds joined in. This time, even the melee players, who had been blinded by the promise of the bounty, felt the impending doom. They checked their team chat and froze. "Are¡­ are they sacrificing us?" Chaos erupted among the melee fighters. No one wanted to experience the terror of death for no reason. Those in the inner circle turned and tried to push their way out, while those on the outside, still unaware, continued to press forward. Ethan, however, found himself suddenly free of resistance. This was his chance. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He activated his boot skill: Leap! [Leap: Increases jump height by 300%. Duration: 10 seconds. Cooldown: 10 minutes.] With a burst of energy, Ethan launched himself forward¡­ Chapter 180 - 180: Critical Thinking Ethan leapt diagonally, soaring over the chaotic mass of melee fighters and landing more than five meters away. As he arced through the air, he used a player''s head as a springboard, launching himself even farther. He repeated this maneuver four times, each leap carrying him further from the chaos. With only two seconds left on his Leap skill, he made one final push, vaulting off another player''s head. Boom¡­ The first wave of AoE spells crashed down from the sky. Transform: Bear! The moment he shifted forms, countless AoE spells slammed into him, knocking him out of the air. His health, which had been at 10,000 points, plummeted to less than 500 in an instant. Fortunately, in Ethereal, AoE spells that fell from the sky were typically high-damage, single-hit attacks with no lingering effects. Ground-based AoE spells, on the other hand, were usually damage-over-time (DoT) effects. If Ethan had been hit by those, even a few ticks of damage would have finished him off. Of course, his +30 reinforced gear also played a crucial role. It allowed him to withstand the barrage without being completely overwhelmed, even in bear form. Still, the ground-based DoT spells were his biggest concern. While each tick of damage was minimal¡ªonly 1 point, the sheer number of overlapping spells meant the damage would add up quickly. Ethan was also grateful that most of the players here had already died multiple times. None of the Cursemancers or Shadow Priests were above level 30. If they had been, they could have stacked debilitating curses on him, which would have been a death sentence. Curses and debuffs were automatically resisted if the caster was more than 3 levels below the target. Checking his potion cooldowns, Ethan saw that his Instant Health Potion was ready. Unfortunately, he only had one Advanced Instant Health Potion left in his inventory. He quickly downed a Medium Instant Health Potion, restoring 8,500 health. At the same time, the moment he was hit by the spells, he activated his boot skill: Double Jump. Ethan didn''t dare land. The ground was a death trap, covered in overlapping DoT spells. He knew that if he touched the ground, he''d be dead within three seconds. As his body rose from the force of the Double Jump, he saw an even larger wave of AoE spells gathering above him. What could he do? Once he reached the peak of his jump, he''d plummet back to the ground. Even if he didn''t land, the next wave of spells would surely finish him off. Why was the interval between spell waves so short? The second wave shouldn''t have been ready so quickly! Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire What Ethan didn''t realize was that the first wave of attacks had come from the 6,000+ ranged players of Dawnbreaker Assembly. This second wave was from the eight other guilds, whose ranged units had started casting their spells a few seconds later. Ethan estimated that he needed to cover 30 meters to reach the ranged units'' formation. To truly escape the encirclement, he''d need to cross 100 meters to get beyond the ranged players'' perimeter. Once he was out of their range, he was confident he could outrun anyone. But one thing puzzled him: during his entire fight with the melee units, he hadn''t seen a single Rogue. Where were they? At the time, Ethan had been terrified that a Rogue might suddenly appear and use an Ambush skill on him. While it was rare for Rogues to participate in large-scale battles like this, he couldn''t rule out the possibility entirely. But now wasn''t the time to dwell on that. The force of his Double Jump was spent, and Ethan''s mind raced as he tried to figure out how to escape this seemingly inevitable death. Could he use his Divine Teleportation skill? No, it was unusable. Although he had set a coordinate point in the city and was within the 100-kilometer range, the skill couldn''t be activated during combat. [Teleportation (Divine): Allows the user to set and record 20 coordinates. The user can teleport freely between these points within a 100-kilometer range. (Can only be used 5 minutes after combat ends.)] If he could have used it during the fight, he would have done so the moment he secured the loot. There was no point in waiting now. Ethan quickly scanned his inventory. If only he had a Random Teleportation Scroll! Unfortunately, he had used his last one when he obtained the Divine Teleportation skill. His gaze lingered on the Prismatic Stone. A flying stone¡­ But he dismissed the idea almost immediately. Even if the stone could carry his weight, it was too unreliable. It only flew back after being thrown¡ªwho knew if it could fly outward on its own? This thing was too unpredictable. Finally, his eyes settled on one item. It seemed his only option was to gamble everything on this. He quickly retrieved the item just as his body reached the peak of the Double Jump. Hum¡­ The sky above him was filled with the gathering energy of countless AoE spells, ready to rain down destruction. Ethan aimed the item behind him and pulled the trigger. Bang¡­ Whoosh¡­ A grappling hook shot out from the device, and the recoil propelled Ethan forward through the air. His eyes lit up with excitement, and he nearly kissed the Grappling Launcher in his hands. The first time he had used this thing, Lyla had almost been knocked to the ground by the recoil. But now, mid-air and without any solid footing, the recoil became his propulsion. Bang¡­ Bang¡­ Bang¡­ S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He fired the launcher repeatedly. He had used it twice before, leaving him with eight shots remaining. Ethan used them all in quick succession, launching himself forward like a human cannonball. Boom¡­ The mountainside shook violently as tens of thousands of AoE spells crashed down, narrowly missing Ethan and slamming into the snowy peak instead. In an instant, the air was filled with dazzling magical light and a thick, white mist. Further up the mountain, an avalanche began to rumble. Ethan soared downhill, his body descending but the sheer speed of his forward momentum keeping him aloft. In fact, the distance between his feet and the ground was increasing. "Boss! He''s flying out of here!" someone shouted in the team chat. The blinding light and mist from the AoE spells made it impossible for Frostflame, who was higher up the mountain, to see what was happening. "What? Flying out? You''ve got to be kidding me!" Frostflame''s heart sank. He knew no one would report false information, but he still couldn''t bring himself to believe it. Chapter 181 - 181: The Chase For a moment, the team channel descended into chaos as multiple voices chimed in. "It''s true! I don''t know how he did it, but he jumped so high, then suddenly accelerated, flying right over our heads and heading down the mountain!" The team members shouted what they had witnessed into the channel. Frostflame''s last shred of hope turned to ice. He turned to the only woman behind him and said, "Xandria, your guild''s rogues are on the perimeter. Send them after him!" "Oh," the woman replied indifferently, her black scarf covering her face as she twirled a dagger between her fingers. Her lukewarm response nearly made Frostflame explode. What kind of answer is ''oh''? But he didn''t dare lash out. This woman was not someone to be trifled with. Her name was Xandria, the leader of Nocturne Order Guild. Her guild was unique¡ªaside from a few crafters, every member was a rogue or assassin. Crossing her meant making enemies with nearly every rogue player in Blackridge, and even as a guild leader, the thought of being targeted by so many stealthy killers sent shivers down his spine. Moreover, she was no ordinary player. She was a professional gamer who had dominated multiple games, always under the name Xandria. In every game she played, her guilds were exclusively composed of rogues and assassins, and she herself always played as one. If Ethan had taken a moment to think when the rogue earlier mentioned the guild name, he might have remembered her. In his past life, Xandria had always been overshadowed by him and Shadowstrike. Later, when he stepped away from the game, Shadowstrike became the brightest star among rogue players, and Xandria faded into obscurity. When he heard the name Nocturne Order Guild, it didn''t immediately click. The rogue had only mentioned the guild name, not her personal reputation, so Ethan hadn''t made the connection. --- Ethan''s body arced through the air. He shifted into Tree Form, casting a few instant healing-over-time spells on himself. Just before hitting the ground, he transformed into an Owl Form and used Wingbeat to cushion his fall. The moment his feet touched the ground, a chilling sensation crept up his spine. There''s a rogue nearby¡­ Ethan''s heart skipped a beat. He shifted into Bear Form and swung a heavy paw behind him. Clang! The bear''s sharp claws met two crossed daggers¡ªthe rogue''s Parry skill. Thud! The rogue was sent flying backward, crashing into the soft snow. Despite successfully parrying the attack, the sheer force of Ethan''s strike had launched him several feet away. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Don''t attack!" the rogue shouted as he scrambled out of the snowdrift, his voice echoing. It wasn''t clear if he was yelling at Ethan or the other rogues closing in. Once he was back on his feet, he added, "Druid God, it''s me!" Ethan recognized him¡ªit was the rogue he''d encountered earlier on the mountain. "Uh¡­ alright, I''m out of here!" Ethan said, realizing the rogue wasn''t there to fight. But he had no intention of sticking around. The group on the mountain would be descending soon. If Ethan got surrounded again, he wouldn''t be so lucky to escape a second time. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire "Druid God, don''t misunderstand!" the rogue said quickly. "Our guild leader told me to warn you¡ªdon''t go back to Lakeview Town. Head south after you descend the mountain! Also, take this scroll!" Ethan took the item from the rogue''s hand and opened it, his eyes widening slightly. [Beginner Status Cleansing Scroll] Effect: Removes all negative status effects for characters under level 30. Although it was only a beginner-level scroll, it was still worth around a hundred gold. Why would they give him something so valuable? As far as he knew, he didn''t have any connection with their guild leader. Seeing Ethan''s puzzled expression, the rogue explained, "Our leader is Xandria. She wants to meet you in half an hour at the SK Tavern in Blackridge." He glanced nervously up the mountain and added, "You should go now! They''re coming. And remember, don''t head toward Lakeview Town. It''s been blockaded by nine guilds." Ethan didn''t respond, simply nodding in acknowledgment. Whether the direction they suggested was safe or if they had ulterior motives, he couldn''t be sure. But the scroll was exactly what he needed right now. Above his head, a bright red arrow floated¡ªa marker placed on him by a Marksman. It would last for an hour, preventing him from using Stealth. No matter how far he ran, the Marksman would always know his direction. Transforming into Panther Form, Ethan used the scroll. A wave of white light enveloped him, cleansing all negative effects, including the Marksman''s marker. With the marker gone, Ethan turned to the rogue and said, "Thanks!" He activated Stealth and dashed down the mountain. The rogue watched him go, and another rogue materialized beside him. "Captain, that Status Cleansing Scroll was hard to get. You just gave it away? Our leader only told you to warn him about Lakeview Town, not to hand over your scroll." The captain shook his head calmly. "The warning was just a courtesy. The scroll was the real help he needed." "Captain, are you trying to get on Druid God''s good side?" the other rogue asked, his face showing a mix of excitement and confusion. "Isn''t that what our leader wants too?" the captain replied, his hands clasped behind his back. "With Xandria, we''ve thrived in Blackridge. But when Ethereal opens up the Zone Wars, how long will we last among so many guilds? This game is different from any we''ve played before. We rogues can form a strong organization, but we''ll never be the main force in large-scale battles. But with Druid God¡­ maybe¡­ I think our leader is thinking the same thing." With that, he bent down, activated Stealth, and disappeared into the snow. The other rogue hesitated for a moment before following suit. Ethan, still in Stealth, hadn''t gone far. He had been standing nearby, listening to their conversation. He couldn''t help but chuckle inwardly. So, that was their plan. And the scroll hadn''t even been a gift from Xandria¡ªit was the captain''s personal item. While it was clear they were trying to curry favor with him, the scroll had indeed been a lifesaver. It had solved a major problem for him. He also realized now that the lack of rogue encounters on the mountain was likely due to Xandria''s orders. Ethan''s memory of her was coming back. In his past life, her guild had been a sharp blade in the Northern Frontier Region. But when Nation Wars began, her guild was absorbed and dismantled by larger forces. Xandria herself had faded from the spotlight after that. Whether she quit the game or became a casual player, no one knew. Chapter 182 - 182: The Treasure Ethan moved stealthily, avoiding wave after wave of players descending the mountain. It seemed most of them had already used their Teleportation Stones to return to the city. Only a few thousand remained, scattered across the slopes. From his vantage point, he could see the northern and eastern gates of Lakeview Town in the distance. Crowds of players were pouring out, spreading across the landscape in a systematic search pattern. There was no doubt¡ªthey were hunting for him. But they''d never guess that he hadn''t even left the mountain. Ethan kept an eye on his Combat Cooldown Timer. In just a few minutes, he''d be able to use his Divine Ability: Teleportation. While he waited, he opened his inventory to inspect the item he''d risked his life for. He''d even burned through a High-Grade Instant Recovery Potion, costing him seventy-five gold, and nearly depleted his Grappling Launcher, another fifty gold. All in all, this little escapade had cost him the equivalent of $125,000 in real-world cash. But when he saw the name of the item, his eyes lit up with excitement. It was worth it¡­ absolutely worth it. [Blessed Seal of Crafting (Unique)] - All Crafting Skills: +2 Levels (Can raise skills up to Grandmaster Tier.) - All Crafting Skills: Increased proficiency gain rate. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire - All Crafting Skills: +20% Success Rate. - All Crafting Skills: +50% Efficiency. - Effect: Activates immediately when carried in the inventory. Ethan''s heart raced as he read the description. He''d only ever heard rumors of an item like this. In his past life, someone had obtained the [Blessed Seal of Combat (Unique)], and there had been speculation about whether a crafting version existed. But no one had ever confirmed it¡ªuntil now. And it was in his hands. Every single attribute on this item was overpowered on its own. Leveling up crafting skills was notoriously difficult. It wasn''t just about accumulating enough proficiency points; you also had to pass rigorous exams to advance to the next tier. And the higher your skill level, the harder it was to gain proficiency. Crafting low-tier items often gave no proficiency at all. Even four years into the game, by the time Ethan had died and been reborn, only a handful of players worldwide had reached the Artisan Tier. As for Grandmaster Tier, there were only three in the entire world. With this item, he could hand it over to Mad Engineer, and his Engineering Skill would jump from Intermediate to Master Tier instantly. Not only would he gain the ability to craft Master-tier items, but his success rate for lower-tier crafts would skyrocket. If they could get their hands on a high-tier or Master-tier blueprint, they could monopolize the market, pushing system shop items out entirely. Blueprints, recipes¡­ Ethan''s mind raced. He''d need to rally Skyblade and the others for some serious battles. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. During his last meeting with Celia, she''d mentioned the source of the blueprints and recipes she''d provided to NoPaperOnTheBigOne. One of their guild members had stumbled upon a hidden NPC in a remote location. This NPC refreshed one Intermediate-tier Engineering and Alchemy blueprint every day. Celia had already stationed thirty rogues around the area to guard it, killing any players who got too close. The guild member who discovered the NPC had been paid a hefty sum to keep quiet and sign a non-disclosure agreement. Ethan had praised Celia for her foresight. It was a brilliant move. He knew of several locations where high-tier blueprints could be obtained, but the monsters guarding them were far above their current level. Those areas were out of reach¡ªfor now. Now that Ethan had obtained the [Blessed Seal of Crafting], he needed to make the most of it. The system shop sold a High-Grade Instant Recovery Potion for seventy-five gold, but Ethan knew that if an alchemist crafted it, the cost would be no more than five gold. The system shop was a notorious money sink, and the same went for bullets and arrows. For example, the system shop sold arrows for one copper each, but a beginner engineer could craft ten bundles for the same amount of copper. And as material prices dropped later in the game, that number would only increase. Ethan looked at the [Blessed Seal of Crafting]. Though it had no official tier, in his mind, it was even more valuable than the Wishbound Relic. While the Wishbound Relic was powerful, it was something he couldn''t reveal to others. If anyone found out about its properties, he''d be hunted down by guild leaders from across the region, the nation, and even the world. He wouldn''t even be safe in the game''s safe zones. But the [Blessed Seal of Crafting] was different. The wealth it could generate for him was immeasurable. Crafters who used it wouldn''t need to leave the city, so they''d be safe from PvP. Even if they were killed, the item wouldn''t drop. In Ethereal, only equipped items could be looted upon death¡ªitems in your inventory were safe. Of course, the system didn''t allow players to exploit this by unequipping gear during combat. Otherwise, everyone would just strip naked the moment they were about to lose a fight. By now, Ethan''s Combat Cooldown Timer had reached five minutes. He activated his Divine Ability: Teleportation. No casting time, no channeling¡ªjust select the coordinates and instantly teleport. It was as smooth as it got. When he arrived back in Lakeview Town, the place was far busier than when he''d left. It was packed with members of various guilds. But Ethan didn''t care. No one could touch him in the city. He strode confidently to the teleportation circle and left for Blackridge. His first stop was to find Mad Engineer, who was still stationed there. Using Ethereal''s Contract System, Ethan granted him access to the [Blessed Seal of Crafting]. The contract ensured that no matter who Mad Engineer lent the item to, Ethan could reclaim it at any time. The contract system didn''t allow for equipment permissions, but it worked perfectly for unique, non-consumable items like this. It wasn''t that Ethan didn''t trust NoPaperOnTheBigOne, but he didn''t want to risk the item being stolen if it was lent out. When Mad Engineer received the item, his expression froze. The next second, he nearly jumped on Ethan, trying to lick him in excitement. Ethan, thoroughly disgusted, kicked him away, sending him flying several meters. It was hard to blame Mad Engineer for his reaction. His hidden class came with a 20% penalty to crafting success rates. With the Blessed Seal of Crafting, he could finally craft items like a normal engineer. And he could already smell the mountains of gold this item would bring. After leaving the engineering shop, Ethan headed to the SK Tavern. It wasn''t quite time for his meeting with Xandria, so he decided to wait inside. He was curious about a guild composed entirely of rogues and saw potential for collaboration. Plus, the SK Tavern¡­ this place held memories for him. In his past life, his first encounter with Lyla''s in-game character, [Moonbeam], had been in one of the tavern''s private booths. What happened there¡­ well, let''s just say it''s best left to the imagination. Ethan entered the tavern and, as usual, headed to Booth 189. He informed the NPC at the door that if someone named Xandria arrived, they should direct her to his booth. NPCs in Ethereal knew your character name unless you hid it, so the receptionist would relay the message without issue. With a mix of emotions, Ethan pushed open the door to Booth 189. The familiar surroundings greeted him, and for a moment, his thoughts drifted to Lyla. ''Lyla¡­ are you doing okay now?'' Chapter 183 - 183: Vision and Dilemma West of Ashwick, deep within the uncharted wilderness of the Ironvale Mountains. Lately, this untouched land had seen an unusual influx of people. They came in all manner of dress¡ªsome in sharp business suits, others in formal wear, casual street fashion, or even monk-like robes. Yet, despite their differences, they all had the same destination: the towering cliff at the mountain''s peak. Beyond that cliff, a single iron chain, no thicker than an adult''s arm, stretched into the mist-covered abyss. It swayed gently in the wind, disappearing into the sea of clouds. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire The travelers, arriving in small groups, stepped onto the chain one after another, vanishing into the fog as if swallowed by the sky itself. A few days ago, if Ethan had been here, he would''ve witnessed something shocking¡ªLyla, escorted by two individuals, stepping onto that very chain and disappearing into the unknown. But right now, Ethan wasn''t in the mountains. He was still inside the world of Ethereal, seated comfortably in a private booth at the SK Tavern in Blackridge, sipping expensive ale and digging into a meal that, by game standards, was pure luxury. The dishes in front of him, along with the drink, had cost him 18 gold. A few months ago, he would''ve never wasted money on something like this. But now? Now, he didn''t really care. A little indulgence never hurt anyone. Knock, knock, knock. A sharp knock on the door pulled Ethan from his thoughts. Right on time. "Come in." Without getting up, Ethan gave the command. The system, recognizing the booth''s owner had granted access, automatically unlocked the door. A woman in a sleek black rogue''s outfit stepped inside, her face partially covered by a scarf. The guild leader of Nocturne Order, Xandria. She said nothing, walking straight to the chair across from Ethan and sitting down. Ethan didn''t stand to greet her either. Instead, he shoved the last piece of rib into his mouth, chewing with exaggerated urgency, as if afraid she might steal it. Xandria stared at him for a few seconds before bursting into laughter. "Hah! The legendary Druid God¡­ turns out to be a total cheapskate!" Her voice¡ªunexpectedly high-pitched and playful, caught Ethan off guard. He raised a brow, suddenly intrigued by this masked rogue. Not bothering to acknowledge her teasing, he simply smirked and shrugged. "You''re the one who called me here. Shouldn''t you be the one buying me dinner? I was just having a small appetizer while I waited. Besides, I saved a fortune by booking this room myself." Xandria blinked, then sighed dramatically. "Wow. The great Druid God, one of the most influential figures in Ethereal, and yet you know nothing about gratitude." Ethan shook his head, chuckling as he leaned back. "Enough small talk. Let''s get to the point." Xandria''s playful demeanor disappeared instantly. She pulled down her scarf, revealing a strikingly beautiful face, her expression now serious. "You do realize how much I helped you today." She folded her arms. "Don''t you think I deserve a cut of the loot?" Ethan froze for a second. That voice. That face. They didn''t match at all. It wasn''t that she was unattractive¡ªfar from it. She was stunning. In fact, she had the aura of a cold, calculating woman. Her voice, on the other hand¡­ was very low pitched, almost sounding like a child''s. Ethan fought the urge to laugh. No wonder she wore a mask. That contrast was too much. Still, he kept his composure, flashing a slow, amused grin. "A cut? Yeah¡­ that''s not happening." Xandria hadn''t expected such a blunt rejection. Her expression darkened, anger flashing across her face as she prepared to speak. But before she could, Ethan continued, "Your guild doesn''t have enough contribution points to upgrade its headquarters, does it?" Xandria narrowed her eyes but stayed silent. She had built Nocturne Order as a pure rogue guild¡ªevery single member specialized in assassination, stealth, or intelligence gathering. That focus had made them deadly, but it had also become a weakness. Guild raids? Dungeon clearing? Large-scale battles? A guild full of rogues wasn''t suited for any of that. She had considered recruiting other classes, but after years of building her name, and running her professional gaming studio, she had only ever taken in rogue players. When Ethereal first launched, she had led her entire team into the game, swearing that Nocturne Order would become the world''s most feared rogue guild¡ªa name that would make other players shudder. But reality had crushed that dream fast. Unlike past MMOs, where a strong guild simply dominated by raw power, Ethereal introduced systems that completely changed the game. Take Ethan, for example. His strength alone had propelled Renegade Alliance forward, accelerating their growth. But Xandria''s single-class strategy? It had backfired. Hard. Her vision had been to push the rogue class to its absolute peak, but the game''s mechanics punished guilds that lacked diversity. Now, Nocturne Order was stuck at Level 4. Aside from a handful of merchant and crafting players, her entire guild consisted of rogues. They excelled at assassinations, tracking, and information gathering. But earning contribution points through raid clears? Impossible. That bottleneck had become an enormous problem. Sure, she could swallow her pride and hire outside players to grind points for her guild¡­ but she couldn''t bring herself to do it. She had spent years building her reputation in the professional gaming scene. If word got out that Nocturne Order¡ªa top-tier guild, had to hire outsiders just to level up, it would be humiliating. Starting over with a mixed-class team wasn''t an option either. Building a coordinated raid squad took time, and by the time she pulled it off, they would already be far behind their competitors. To make things worse, she didn''t even have a raid leader. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Finding new members was easy. Finding a commander who could hold a team together? That was an entirely different problem. For weeks, Xandria had been struggling with this dilemma. How was she supposed to keep her guild afloat? How would she support her members? And now, a new issue had emerged. A rogue player named Executioner had recently climbed the rankings. He had no guild, worked alone, and specialized in high-profile assassinations¡ªspecifically, targets with power and influence. Meanwhile, Nocturne Order was bound by guild politics. Accepting contracts against stronger factions could bring them trouble. That meant fewer jobs, and more financial strain. And even if she weren''t tied to a guild, taking those kinds of contracts was dangerous. In the real world, her gaming studio was well-known. If people traced those assassinations back to her team, they wouldn''t just be dealing with in-game consequences. Her studio was in the middle of a major investment deal. If the wrong people decided to interfere¡­ The fallout could be disastrous. Chapter 184 - 184: Desperate If it weren''t for the fact that Nocturne Order still had some reserves, the employees of the gaming studio might not have been able to receive their salaries. After a mental struggle, she had no choice but to face reality. After all, she still had over two thousand employees in her studio who depended on her to make ends meet. These were the same people who had fought alongside her for seven or eight years. If they were forced to find other work, they might end up at the very bottom of society. Recently, she had even considered disbanding the guild and seeking refuge under a more powerful faction. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her only condition was that within this guild, she would have an independent rogue team¡ªa team that would remain under her leadership. Originally, she thought meeting Druid God was an opportunity. She had heard that Renegade Alliance had recently reorganized its teams based on classes. And in the Northern Frontier Region, it seemed like Renegade Alliance was the only guild she could still respect. Moreover, Ethan had recently broken through an encirclement of thousands of players and escaped unscathed. This had impressed her greatly. When Frostflamee ordered everyone to unleash large-scale AoE spells, she thought Ethan was done for. She had even tried to stop Frostflame at the time. When the melee fighters closed in on Ethan, she deliberately had her rogues hang back on the outskirts, pretending to be ineffective. When Frostflame questioned her, she replied, "Rogues in stealth move too slowly; they couldn''t break into the fight." Her explanation didn''t raise any suspicion, as the battlefield was chaotic, and even the shield tanks couldn''t break through. Now, Ethan had pinpointed the most critical weakness of her guild, striking a nerve. She felt a chill in her heart. As expected of the Druid God¡­ He had seen through the flaws of Nocturne Order at a glance. It seemed there was no way to squeeze more benefits out of this situation. After Ethan finished speaking, he kept his eyes on her, but her expression remained unreadable. ''This woman is tough,'' he thought. She was still holding her ground. When Xandria remained silent, Ethan continued slowly, "I can dispatch ten fully developed teams to secretly join Nocturne Order. They''ll help your guild earn enough points to upgrade your stronghold to Level 6. Consider this my thanks for your help today." At this, Xandria slammed her palm on the table, her eyes widening in surprise as she stared at Ethan. "Really?" "Really. But¡­" Ethan clicked his tongue, his face showing a hint of hesitation. "But what?" Xandria pressed. He spread his hands and smiled, though his expression didn''t quite match his words. "But I''m a bit strapped for cash. You''ll have to cover the salaries and consumables for these people." Xandria looked up at him, then scoffed. "The leader of Northern Frontier Region, and even Dragonspire''s top guild, is this stingy? I guess your reputation was built on being a penny-pincher!" Despite her words, she was secretly thrilled. Her original plan had been to join Renegade Alliance as a subordinate guild, but she had hoped they would publicly announce a partnership of equals. She was barely holding on, and she had no choice but to lower her status just to ensure her people could survive. This way, she could preserve the reputation of Nocturne Order while also gaining the support of Renegade Alliance. Of course, she was confident that her all-rogue guild would provide significant value to Renegade Alliance in terms of future development and intelligence gathering. At the end of the day, this woman was still concerned about her pride. Even if she had to suffer in private, she refused to bow her head in public. What she hadn''t expected was that before she could even state her conditions, Ethan had offered to send ten fully developed teams to secretly join Nocturne Order. This not only preserved the guild''s reputation but also helped her solve her immediate problems. She let out a long breath in her heart, thinking, ''Finally, I can keep going without needing outside investment.'' Originally, her gaming studio had been preparing for a round of funding, but she didn''t want to go down that path. She had been forced into it. Without the funding, her people who had fought alongside her for so long would be out of work. This time, she had come to Ethan to explore her options. If Ethan remembered her help today and was willing to assist her, she would firmly reject any outside investment in her studio. Now that Ethan had directly offered his support, it seemed she could turn down that other offer. But before she could fully relax, Ethan''s next words sent a chill down her spine. "However, there''s one condition," Ethan said, his tone turning serious. "Your studio or guild must not accept any investment from a man named Zachary Steele." At this, Xandria froze. Ethan''s heart sank. ''Has he already made his move? In my past life, he didn''t act this early!'' His expression darkened as he continued, "Otherwise, I won''t hesitate to wipe out Nocturne Order." "On what grounds?" Xandria slammed the table and stood up, her eyes blazing with anger. "Do you really think Nocturne Order is something you can just erase at will?" Seeing this mature woman with a surprisingly soft, almost childlike voice yelling at him, Ethan''s expression shifted. He wasn''t sure of what expression to make right now. "Uh¡­ ahem¡­" Ethan pretended to cough, trying to keep a straight face. But seeing her like this, he struggled to suppress his amusement. Slowly, he said, "On what grounds? My feud with him is irreconcilable. That''s the reason. As for Nocturne Order, I won''t deny it''s a strong guild! But let me give you a heads-up. In four or five months, Ethereal will launch the Fortress Wars. Do you think a single-class guild like yours can secure even one fortress? Without a fortress, your guild will be forced to merge with others. By working with Renegade Alliance, I can at least allocate one fortress to you as your stronghold. Oh, and speaking of strongholds, once the Fortress Wars begin, guilds will have to relocate their main bases to the fortresses within a set time frame. If they don''t, the system will automatically disband them. You might say that partnering with Zachary could also secure you a fortress. But let me tell you this: for every fortress he takes, I''ll destroy it. If a guild''s stronghold within a fortress is destroyed, the guild is automatically disbanded. And after I destroy one, I''ll move on to the next. I won''t even occupy them. I''ll just keep destroying them. Ah, I¡­" "Stop!" Xandria raised her hand, gesturing for him to pause. She looked both confused and alarmed. "Are you serious about this Fortress Wars? Where did you get this information? What are the benefits of holding a fortress?" As Ethan spoke, Xandria broke out in a cold sweat. With this Druid God''s reputation¡­ If what he said about the Fortress Wars was true¡ªthat it would determine the survival of guilds, she could easily believe that someone like Ethan would go to extreme lengths to destroy his enemies. As the saying goes, A gentleman takes ten years to seek revenge. But Ethan didn''t seem like a gentleman at all. If he wanted revenge, he probably wouldn''t wait until the next day. Chapter 185 - 185: Secret Clause Ethan had been speaking in a rather casual, almost roguish manner, describing how he planned to carry out his spiteful and thankless tasks, but Xandria cut him off. Her barrage of questions made Ethan suddenly realize that the development of Ethereal was never announced in advance. What he was saying now was essentially spoiling future events. But he couldn''t help it¡ªthe moment he thought of Zachary, Ethan''s mind always seemed to overheat. Still, he didn''t dwell on it too much and replied, "It''s absolutely true. As for where I got the information, you don''t need to know. But as for the benefits of holding a fortress¡­ I''ll tell you once we''re officially working together." Xandria had been leaning in, ready to listen, but Ethan''s response was essentially useless. She slowly sat back down, lowering her head in thought. After a moment, she looked up at Ethan and said, "In Blackridge, half of the Level 4 guilds have already received investments from the Steele Consortium. The investor is none other than Zachary, the eldest son of the Steele family. Originally, I didn''t want to accept any outside investment. But¡­" Tears seemed to well up in Xandria''s eyes as she stared at Ethan. "Ethereal is just too damn brutal. All my years of gaming experience are completely useless here. My studio has 2,093 members, all of them rogues, and we can''t just delete our accounts and start over. To level up the guild, we need stronghold upgrades, and to upgrade the stronghold, we need points from clearing dungeons. What kind of crap design is that? Why not just let us earn points by killing players in the open world? I guarantee my crew would dominate in no time. And now you''re telling me there''s going to be some Fortress Wars? This is just going to be the death of me¡­" Ethan''s jaw dropped as he stared at Xandria. Her mature, elegant face was now streaked with tears. Her voice, already a stark contrast to her appearance with its soft, almost childlike tone, was now spewing curses about Ethereal''s mechanics. The visual and auditory dissonance was something he might never experience again in his lifetime. For a moment, he even felt a pang of guilt toward Morzan, the old man behind Ethereal. Look what he''d done to this poor woman¡­ "Stop, stop, stop!" Ethan couldn''t take the contrast anymore and quickly raised his hand to cut her off. "Alright, just wait for me to send my people over. I''ll take care of it. Oh, and thank that guy who gave me the Status Cleansing Scroll. Tell him I consider him a friend now." With that, Ethan stood up to leave, not waiting for Xandria''s reaction. Xandria was momentarily stunned but quickly realized what had happened. Back then, she had only ordered her rogues to hang back and point Ethan in the right direction. She had been puzzled as to why Ethan had agreed to help her before she even made her request. Was it because she''s just that beautiful? She had even felt a little smug about it at the time. But now she understood¡ªit was all about the bond between two men. "Wait!" Xandria called out as Ethan was about to leave. "When will your people get here?" "Probably three days. It takes at least thirty-two hours to get from Harmony City to Blackridge." Ethan knew this well. Back when he had used his Stag Form, it had taken him sixteen hours. For players without mounts, running on foot would take at least twice as long. "That long? Why not just use the teleportation system?" Xandria asked, her eyes widening. "Teleportation costs 46 gold per person. Even with a group discount, it''s still 1,380 gold. Are you paying for that?" Ethan was eager to leave. This woman''s stark contrast between her appearance and voice was making him incredibly uncomfortable. If she covered her face while speaking, or if he just looked at her without hearing her voice, it would be a completely different experience. But still¡­ Ethan couldn''t even describe the feeling. All he knew was that he was covered in goosebumps. "Here¡­ 1,400 gold. Take it. This meal''s on me. Now get your people here as fast as possible!" Xandria said, tossing a bag of gold coins at him before turning and slamming the door behind her. Ethan stood there, holding the bag of gold, completely dumbfounded. [Ding¡­ Contract has been generated!] A system notification chimed in Ethan''s ear. In private system rooms like this, the system would automatically generate a contract based on the conversation, binding both parties to the agreement. Outside the room, Xandria smirked to herself. ''You think you''re so clever, huh? Just wait until your people get here. I''ll treat them so well, they''ll end up loyal to me instead. Hehe¡­'' Back in the room, Ethan shook his head with a bitter smile. What the hell just happened? But he didn''t waste any time. He immediately contacted Celia and filled her in on the situation. He asked her to pull together ten teams capable of clearing Expert-level dungeons. Renegade Alliance currently had 40,000 combat players and 10,000 support players. Over a hundred teams could clear Expert-level dungeons without issue, so pulling together ten teams was no problem. Ethan also instructed Celia to have these players sign a confidentiality agreement. After all, he had promised Xandria that the teams would join Nocturne Order in secret. Additionally, they had to sign another clause stating that no matter what conditions Nocturne Order offered, they would immediately leave the guild and return to the Renegade Alliance if recalled. They were also barred from rejoining Nocturne Order for three years. Anyone unwilling to sign these agreements wouldn''t be sent to Nocturne Order. Of course, the benefits of this assignment were quite attractive. Not only would Nocturne Order cover their salaries and all consumables, but they could also keep any equipment they looted. This single perk alone had many players scrambling to sign up. In the end, Celia selected ten teams, totaling 300 players, who then teleported out of Harmony City. Ethan waited for them to arrive and gave them one final instruction: "If you have any demands, make sure to push hard with Nocturne Order''s guild leader." He emphasized the words push hard with a mischievous grin. The 300 players'' eyes lit up. They could already imagine the juicy benefits this assignment would bring. And true to Ethan''s advice, once they arrived at Nocturne Order, they made all sorts of outrageous demands. Surprisingly, Xandria agreed to every single one. It would not be until they had earned enough points and were preparing to leave that Xandria would discover the truth. She would pull each of them aside for a chat and eventually learn that they had signed a contract with Renegade Alliance before coming. When she finds out, Xandria would definitely be furious. She would probably spend hours cursing Ethan''s name. But that''s a story for another time. For now, Ethan sent the 300 players to Nocturne Order and then left Blackridge. He had no intention of sticking around. After all, he had already pissed off half the guilds in Blackridge. Hanging around there would just be asking for trouble. Back in Harmony City, he could roam freely because Renegade Alliance was the dominant force there. Everyone showed him respect. Ethan knew it was better to hit and run. Guerrilla tactics were his specialty. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While he was feeling pretty pleased with himself, Frostflame was about to lose his mind. Not that Ethan cared. Even if he knew, he''d probably be like, ''What are you gonna do about it?'' This trip to Blackridge had been incredibly profitable. After hopping onto the teleportation array and arriving in Springhaven, a flash of white light signaled his arrival. Ding¡­ [System Notification: Lil Mew has accepted your friend request!] Chapter 186 - 186: The Countdown Begins System Notification: Lil Mew has accepted your friend request. Ethan''s heart skipped a beat. Finally, Celeste was online. She had told Slashblade that she had news about Lyla for him. For the past two days, Ethan had been waiting for her. As the teleportation array activated, the two seconds it took to cross the map felt like an eternity. "Hurry up¡­ hurry up¡­ hurry up¡­" Ethan muttered impatiently. Those two seconds felt longer than two hours. Lyla had left without a word. Though they had spoken once since then, Ethan''s sharp instincts told him she was hiding something. She had reassured him that everything was fine, but he knew it was just to keep him from worrying. Still, his mind had been in turmoil, and he hoped Celeste would bring him good news. Finally, a flash of white light signaled the end of the teleportation. Ethan immediately opened his friend list. Lil Mew''s icon was lit up. Without hesitation, he clicked on her avatar and initiated a video call. [Ding¡­ The other party is offline. Unable to connect!] He froze, staring at the now-grayed-out icon. What the hell? He had finally caught Celeste online, only for her to log off during the few seconds it took him to teleport. Frustration boiled inside him, but then he noticed a private message from her. His eyes lit up as he read the brief message, but the words hit him like a thunderbolt, leaving his body trembling. Lil Mew: "On November 26th, the Noble Eight Lineages will hold their decade-long ranking tournament at the Ironvale Mountains, in the Silverwood family''s territory. After the tournament, Lyla will be forced to marry the champion! The Ninth Division has been invited as guests, but I''ve learned that Lyla is being coerced. Don''t go¡ªyou''re not strong enough. You''ll die!" Ethan read the short message over and over, his hands shaking uncontrollably. November 26th¡­ Today was November 5th. He had twenty-one days left. ''Lyla is being forced into an engagement¡­'' Rage surged through him, threatening to consume him. How dare her family do this to her? At that moment, he wanted to wipe out the entire Silverwood family. ''What kind of backwards nonsense is this? Forcing someone into marriage over a tournament? Who the hell still follows such archaic traditions in this day and age?'' He forced himself to calm down and think. ''What can I do?'' The Ninth Division had been invited, but would they even send him? Where exactly is the Silverwood family''s territory? The Ironvale Mountains? The Ironvale Mountains were vast. Where would he even begin to look? The information Celeste had given him was too vague. Celeste, why couldn''t she stay online a little longer to give him more details? Ethan had no desire to stay in Ethereal any longer. He selected the option to log out and was about to leave when a voice interrupted him. "Kid, don''t rush!" Morzan''s voice echoed suddenly. Ethan paused, canceling the logout countdown. "Old man, I need to get stronger. How?" Ethan''s voice was cold, urgent. He knew that even if he stormed the Silverwood family''s territory now, his chances of saving Lyla were slim. Celeste''s warning echoed in his mind: "Don''t go¡ªyou''re not strong enough. You''ll die!" But how could he not go? Now that Morzan was speaking to him, Ethan seized the opportunity to ask the most critical question: How can I get stronger? "Twenty days is far too short," Morzan said. "It''s nearly impossible for the sapling within you to break through the Gate of Ascension in that time. However, your explosive power is quite impressive. The only issue is that without external energy sources, your Energy Pool can''t sustain multiple high-intensity bursts. Over the next few days, focus on leveling up. Increasing your level will expand your Energy Pool capacity. During the day, you can spar with those three to improve your combat skills. I assume this so-called ranking tournament will be a competition among the younger generation. My advice is to make your move during the tournament itself. Don''t try to storm in and rescue the girl. There are still many hidden powerhouses in this world of yours. As for how to infiltrate the event, that''s something you''ll have to figure out on your own." After Morzan finished speaking, Ethan felt a bit calmer. Twenty days¡ªhow much could he improve in that time? He didn''t know. Logging into Ethereal every day was a must. For now, he would focus on leveling up as much as possible. He just hoped no one would be foolish enough to disturb him while he was grinding. As for improving his combat skills, that wasn''t something he could drastically enhance overnight. He would just have to do his best. The most pressing issue now was how to secure a spot in the tournament. The best way would be to get the guest participant slot from the Ninth Division. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But ever since their return, Celeste, the leader of M Squad, hadn''t been present. The entire squad was now out of contact with the Ninth Division. Ethan would have to find a way to reconnect with the Ninth Division, preferably with Director Vaughn, whom Celeste often mentioned. His full name was Vaughn Morgan, and he was the current head of the Ninth Division. It was the middle of the night outside, so he would have to wait until tomorrow to discuss this with Victor and the others. For now, it was time to grind. With that thought, Ethan dashed out of the teleportation array in Springhaven. Coming here had been the right decision. Earlier, he had only considered that he couldn''t stay in Blackridge after offending so many guilds. While Nocturne Order was an ally there, they likely wouldn''t openly support him in a crisis. After all, siding with Ethan against so many local powers would make it impossible for Nocturne Order to operate in Blackridge in the future. The reason Ethan felt Springhaven was the right place was because of its excellent grinding spots. The monsters here were mostly plant-based¡ªlow health but high attack power. They were densely packed, and there was one area in particular that was a paradise for leveling. For Ethan, even though these monsters had high attack power, creatures at his level couldn''t break through his defense unless they were bosses. And who would waste time fighting bosses at their own level? If he was going to fight a boss, it would be one above his level for the juicy experience. Of course, if you were a fire-based player, this place was even better. Fire spells had a damage bonus against plant-type creatures, significantly speeding up the grinding process. That''s why so many fire mages made the effort to travel here from Blackridge and Harmony City. In Springhaven, the most common players you''d see were mages, especially those specializing in fire magic. The area Ethan had in mind, known as the Life Greenhouse, was a level 40 to 60 zone. It was famous for its high monster density. Although Ethan was currently under-leveled for this area, the experience bonus for killing higher-level monsters, combined with his Divine Ability: Growth, would give him an insane amount of experience. Ethan sighed inwardly. ''If only I were a fire mage¡­'' He glanced at his level¡ªstill 34, but his experience bar was at 94%. Just 6% more, and he''d hit level 35. Originally, Ethan had planned to head to the Carnage Faction territory once he reached level 35 to lay low for a while. But now, that plan would have to wait. "Level 35¡­ huh¡­" As Ethan muttered to himself, his eyes suddenly lit up, and a smile spread across his face. Chapter 187 - 187: The Plaguelands Grind Ethan suddenly remembered an item¡ªArcane Inscriptions. At level 35, he could use the lowest tier of Arcane Inscriptions. Arcane Inscriptions were products crafted by mages who had taken up the Scribe secondary profession. After learning the Scribe profession, a mage could use Inscription Paper to imprint their spells onto it. When casting, they simply needed to tear the inscription paper, allowing the spell to activate instantly, bypassing the need for incantations. These Arcane Inscriptions weren''t restricted to any specific class, meaning anyone could use them. However, crafting them was incredibly difficult. A novice Scribe might only manage to inscribe one or two basic spells onto the paper in a day, if they were lucky. For players who lacked patience or focus, becoming a Scribe was nearly impossible. A single mistake in the inscription process would result in immediate failure. Even high-level Scribes faced the same challenges, though they found it easier to inscribe lower-tier spells once their skill level increased. However, high-level mages rarely had high-level Scribe skills. Since they had chosen combat as their primary focus, they didn''t waste time on such meticulous tasks. That said, they still crafted low-level Arcane Inscriptions for emergencies or to sell. In essence, the Scribe profession was a mage''s exclusive secondary profession, a perk for a class that often faced high resource consumption in battle. If sharpshooters and gunners burned through arrows and bullets, mages burned through Mana Potions. These potions were incredibly expensive, far more so than health potions, even though they weren''t consumed as frequently. In prolonged battles where there was no chance to rest and recover, mages had to rely on Mana Potions to maintain their damage output. Mages were widely regarded as the class with the highest burst damage in Ethereal, but they were also the poorest. The Scribe profession, however, required level 35 to learn, and at this point, no player had reached that level. This didn''t faze Ethan, though. He knew of an NPC who sold Arcane Inscriptions. Moreover, the inscriptions sold by this NPC had fixed damage values, making them far superior to those crafted by players. They were perfect for taking on higher-level enemies. If he wanted to level up quickly, he''d have to throw money at the problem. The daily gold income from six shops and three auction houses across three cities should be enough to fund his leveling spree¡­ right? Ethan wasn''t entirely sure. He knew Arcane Inscriptions were expensive, and he wasn''t certain if his income would cover the costs. He''d also need to return to Harmony City because the NPC who sold the inscriptions was located in that region. First, he stopped by Springhaven to stock up on Antidote Potions. The area he was heading to was the same village where he''d once been thrown into the Underworld. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There, he''d need to grind Reputation Points with the NPCs before they''d even consider selling to him. Otherwise, they''d ignore him entirely. And if he encountered a particularly irritable NPC, even a glance in their direction could get him instantly killed. If one NPC attacked, others in the vicinity would join in. Once he was fully prepared, Ethan teleported to the Plaguelands Outpost. The sight of the strange, dilapidated tree houses greeted him, weathered by years of wind and rain. As always, Ethan kept his head down and hurried toward the outpost''s entrance. He paused at the notice board near the gate. This was where the outpost''s quests were posted. Ethan opened the notice board and selected quests that would increase his reputation with Plaguelands Outpost. After accepting all of them, he quickly left the area. The monsters around the outpost were all level 35, which posed little challenge for Ethan. The first creature he encountered was a bear reeking of decay. [Plague Bear] Rank: Common Level: 35 Health: 35,000/35,000 Defense: 700 To Ethan, this defense was as flimsy as paper. In his Panther Form, a basic attack like Claw Strike could deal over a thousand damage. He opened with Rake, stunning the beast. Then followed up with Shred. -4,489! The Plague Bear''s health dropped significantly. Swish, swish, swish¡­ A few more attacks, and the bear was dead before it could recover from the stun. Clink, clink¡­ It dropped two copper coins. "Even a mosquito''s worth of meat is still meat," Ethan muttered, picking up the coins. Using the Tumor Collector provided by the quest, he sliced off the bear''s tumor and stored it in his inventory. Then he moved on to find the next target. Three hours later, Ethan had completed all the quests. His experience bar was now at 99%. Killing monsters at his own level was painfully slow for leveling up. And this was with the bonus from his Divine Growth Talent and his already high attack power. If other players knew what Ethan was thinking, they''d probably explode in anger, raging along these lines: "You''re level 34, gaining 3% in three hours, and you''re still not satisfied? At our level, we''re lucky to get 1-2% in the same time. You greedy piece of shit, do you think you deserve better than everyone else in the game?" In Ethereal, leveling up became exponentially harder after level 25. Players had initially thought leveling in Ethereal was slow, but after hitting 25, they realized what true snail-paced progression felt like. Ethan knew that the first major expansion, Fortress Wars, would significantly reduce the early-level grind, allowing newer players to catch up. The Fortress Wars expansion was set to launch in about four months. By then, the average player level would be around 45. Right now, the game was in its Leveling Phase, designed to help players familiarize themselves with Ethereal''s world, their classes, and skill combinations. Thanks to Ethereal''s open-ended design, players could experiment and develop their own combat combos. As someone who had lived through Ethereal''s development in his past life, Ethan felt a mix of emotions. On one hand, he was eager for Fortress Wars to begin. It would be the perfect opportunity for his guild to shine. Capturing more fortresses meant more resources and, ultimately, more profit. On the other hand, he dreaded its arrival. Delaying the expansion would allow him to monopolize certain lucrative ventures before the game introduced real-world currency exchange platforms. Once players realized how profitable fortresses were, large corporations would flood into Ethereal, investing heavily in powerful guilds. This would lead to a massive reshuffling of power within the game. In his previous life, Ethan''s guild had been one of the casualties of this reshuffle, losing control to Zachary. The thought brought back memories of what had happened in Blackridge. Chapter 188 - 188: Grind Continues Xandria had said that the Steele Consortium has been pouring massive investments into various guilds in Blackridge. Over 50% of the level 4 guilds in Blackridge were now under Zachary''s control, that slimy bastard. Ethan frowned. According to the timeline from his past life, Zachary should''ve only been the leader of a modest level 4 guild at this point. Back then, Zachary''s guild, Unity Hall, was based in Harmony City. During that time, Unity Hall, Avalon Vanguard (Ethan''s guild), and Blade Syndicate had formed a three-way power balance. Zachary hadn''t shown any signs of possessing such vast financial resources back then. Then came the Fortress Wars expansion. Blade Syndicate, Avalon Vanguard, and Unity Hall had divided 80% of the fortresses in Harmony City. Blade Syndicate claimed 35%. Avalon Vanguard secured 25%. Unity Hall took 20%. The remaining 20% was split among all the other guilds. At the time, Blade Syndicate had dominated the scene. There was no denying it¡ªdespite their members'' repulsive behavior and toxic culture, Blade Syndicate had built up a formidable reputation over years of dominating multiple games. They were a professional guild, though not exactly known for their skill. In fact, they barely had any. Back then, Ethan and Skyblade were just regular players who had gained a solid reputation and gathered a group of independent players. Zachary''s Unity Hall had some investments in Ethereal, but nothing on the scale of what was happening now. He had been cautious, dipping his toes in while keeping a watchful eye. The main reason for the eventual outcome was that Blade Syndicate, despite their lack of brains, were incredibly easy to command. When Marcus Skeiner gave the order to attack, his members charged without hesitation. Perhaps that was the upside of having no brains. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the first fortress was captured, everyone realized just how lucrative fortresses could be. Chaos ensued. The day after all the open fortresses were claimed, Blade Syndicate turned on Unity Hall, launching an assault on their fortresses. Ethan and Skyblade took advantage of the chaos, sneaking in to attack one of Unity Hall''s most insignificant fortresses. To their surprise, they discovered that Unity Hall''s guild headquarters was located there. They destroyed it, causing Unity Hall to be disbanded by the system. Zachary had chosen that remote, seemingly worthless fortress as his guild''s headquarters, thinking no one would bother with such a low-value target. But Skyblade, in a stroke of dumb luck, had thrown a dart at the map and hit that exact fortress. In one fell swoop, they had taken out Unity Hall''s base. This allowed Avalon Vanguard to seize a massive amount of resources and funds from Unity Hall''s guild vault, propelling them to a position where they could rival Blade Syndicate. For a time, they even had Blade Syndicate on the ropes. Reflecting on all this, Ethan concluded that his actions since his rebirth had likely altered the timeline. The guild war against Unity Hall in the Starter Zone. The ambush and massacre of Blade Syndicate in Harmony City. The trap that wiped out over 12,000 players from three guilds, including Blade Syndicate. And his impersonation of Zachary to buy up land in Springhaven and Blackridge. Ethan wasn''t sure where Zachary was now, but he guessed he was likely in Harmony City. After the land scheme, Zachary''s Reputation Points in the other two cities had plummeted into the negatives. Ethan doubted Zachary could recover from that so quickly. If it weren''t for his urgent need to level up, Ethan would''ve taken the time to track down Zachary''s current location and give him a taste of his own medicine. Lost in thought, he ran back to the entrance of Plaguelands Outpost and turned in all his quests at the notice board. [Ding¡­ System Notification: Your level has increased to 35! You have gained free attribute points!] [Ding¡­ System Notification: Your reputation with Plaguelands Outpost has increased to Neutral!] Level 35 already? Ethan completely ignored the part about the free attribute points. He knew the system had already distributed them evenly across his stats. But his reputation was only at Neutral. He needed to reach Friendly before he could start grinding NPC Friendship Points. While he could now enter the outpost without being attacked by NPCs, they still wouldn''t interact with him. No choice but to keep grinding reputation. Going from Hostile to Neutral required 1,000 reputation points. Going from Neutral to Friendly required another 3,000 points. Ethan checked his character''s reputation tab. His reputation with Plaguelands Outpost was already at Neutral 435. That meant he still needed 2,565 points. At this rate, he''d probably reach 60-70% of the way by the time the game shut down for the night. A few more hours tomorrow, and he''d have enough. Then he''d spend some time grinding NPC Friendship Points to finally purchase those Arcane Inscriptions and start throwing money at his leveling spree in the Life Greenhouse. As a popular saying goes, "You only realize how much you need reputation when you''re desperate, and every single point feels like a mountain to climb." After accepting more quests, Ethan headed back out of the outpost. This time, he filled his quest log to the brim. Twenty-five quests in total. Since he killed monsters so quickly, he didn''t bother being picky about which quests to take. At level 35, a few higher-level quests had appeared on the board, including a Bounty Quest. The target? [Archmage Sorenth]. Ethan''s jaw dropped. This guy? Back when Sorenth had mentioned some kind of trial, Ethan had thought it was a good thing. Instead, the mage had thrown him into the Underworld, nearly getting him killed. But how did Sorenth have the power to open a portal to the Underworld? Even more baffling was the fact that this Underworld seemed to have been connected to the real-world Underworld. When Ethan had asked Morzan about it, the man had given him a strange look and avoided answering directly. Ethan remembered that Archmage Sorenth was a level 55 elite. At his current level, taking Sorenth down solo would be a bit of a challenge. But Ethan didn''t care. He accepted the quest anyway. Time to get to work. For Ethan, this was mind-numbingly boring. He preferred exploration, challenges, and adrenaline rushes. By 7:50 AM, Ethan had been running back and forth between various monster zones and the outpost, constantly turning in quests. His reputation was now at Neutral 2125, much faster than he''d anticipated. Even his experience bar had reached 8% into level 35. This efficiency was on par with grinding dungeons for experience. Just as he was about to accept one last quest and log off¡­ [Ding¡­ System Notification: You have obtained Prismatic Stone +1.] [Ding¡­ System Notification: Quest [Twilight War Spear] objective completed (Prismatic Stone: 3/3).] Ethan froze for a moment, then burst into laughter. After feeding that damn stone for so long, it finally decided to pop out the third piece¡­ Now he could claim the Grand Druid-exclusive artifact. [Twilight War Spear] ''Let''s go!'' Chapter 189 - 189: Gym Showdown Ethan opened his quest log and confirmed that the artifact quest had been completed within the time limit. However, the quest turn-in location was in Dreamwood Grove, and he had less than a minute before the game would kick him out. He''d have to wait until tomorrow to turn it in. But he didn''t know if there would be a follow-up quest. At that moment, he felt like pulling out that flying stone and kissing it out of sheer gratitude. But then he remembered the nature in which it must have ''pooped'' the final piece, and he quickly reconsidered. Still, getting his hands on that weapon would give his leveling speed a massive boost. Ding¡­ The crisp sound of the system notification echoed in his ears. Ethan''s vision gradually faded to black as he was kicked back to the character selection screen. He logged out, marking the end of another night in the game. After stepping out of the VR Capsule, he freshened up and left the villa. As soon as he stepped outside, he saw Victor and Celia opening their doors at the same time. "Ethan¡­" Victor walked over. "Any news about Lyla?" Celia asked, joining them. Ethan hesitated, then nodded. Celia noticed the troubled look on Ethan''s face and glanced at Victor. Then, with a smile, she said, "I''ll head to work now. You two can chat." With that, she turned and left, leaving Ethan and Victor to watch her retreating figure. Once she was out of earshot, Victor asked, "How''s Lyla? When is she coming back?" Ethan shook his head, his expression grim. "She''s being forced into an engagement." Victor''s face stiffened, a flash of coldness passing through his eyes. Ethan felt a chilling aura emanating from him. It exuded a subtle killing intensity. This man, who had taken down countless enemies in his military days, was radiating a palpable sense of danger. Ethan was taken aback. He''d never seen Victor like this before. Victor had always been the peacemaker among them, the one who remained calm and collected no matter the situation. But the news about Lyla had triggered something deep within him. Victor seemed to realize he''d lost control and quickly composed himself. "Sorry about that," he said awkwardly. "I''ve made a breakthrough recently, and it''s been hard to keep my emotions in check. I''ve spent years practising inner peace, and just when I thought I had it under control¡­ this happens." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan was confused. He wanted to ask what kind of breakthrough Victor was talking about and how the warriors ranking system worked. He''d never been interested in these things before, but Lyla''s situation had sparked his curiosity about the world beyond the game. Before he could ask, though, Victor cut in: "Where is Lyla right now?" Distracted, Ethan answered, "She''s with the Silverwood family. They''re somewhere in the Ironvale Mountains, but I don''t know the exact location." As they walked and talked, they soon arrived at the gym. Along the way, Ethan mentioned that he wanted Victor to train him. Victor''s eyes lit up. It had been a while since he''d had someone to train, and he looked at Ethan with an intensity that made the younger man feel like a prized specimen. Ethan wondered if he''d made a mistake bringing it up. But just then, they reached the gym entrance. Pushing the door open, they were greeted by a wave of loud cheers and applause. Ethan and Victor were immediately drawn to the commotion. They noticed even Celia was inside, jumping up and down and cheering. Following the crowd''s gaze, they saw two people on the gym''s boxing ring, trading blows in a heated match. Upon closer inspection, it was Leo and Williams. Despite their usually lean appearances, both men were shirtless, revealing well-defined, muscular physiques. Their muscles were sleek and perfectly toned, glistening with oil under the gym lights. Ethan looked up just in time to see Williams'' gloved fist slam into Leo''s face. Leo retaliated with a powerful kick to Williams'' chest. They were engaged in a no-holds-barred free fight, with no rules or referee. Though their lethal combat skills were somewhat restricted by the gloves, they still went all out with punches, kicks, elbows, and knees. To an outsider, it might have looked like they were trying to kill each other. Even when Williams was knocked down, Leo didn''t hesitate to stomp on him. There were no rules here. The intense, high-stakes action had the entire crowd roaring with excitement. Most of these people had never seen anything like it. Ethan and Victor made their way over to Celia. "Celia¡­" Ethan asked, his eyes fixed on the ring, "What''s going on here?" Before Celia could answer, Victor chuckled and said, "These two have been at it since yesterday. Leo said Williams disappears every day and accused him of being ''worn out,'' telling him to take it easy. Williams shot back, ''What do you know, virgin boy? You''ve been ''taking it easy'' for 26 years.'' They''ve been bickering all night and agreed to settle it with a real fight. I thought they were joking." Ethan glanced at the ring, a hint of concern in his voice. "Are they going to be okay¡­?" Victor patted Ethan''s shoulder reassuringly. "Don''t worry. You''ll get used to it." As soon as he finished speaking, both Leo and Williams landed simultaneous kicks to each other''s chests. Thud! Thud! They both collapsed onto the mat, lying flat on their backs, gasping for air. Neither of them got up. "Williams, you''re really worn out. Can''t even last half an hour," Leo taunted, still lying down. "You''re one to talk. Get up if you''re not tired!" Williams fired back. Then, after a moment, they both burst into laughter, saying in unison, "We''re getting old¡­" "Bullshit! You two think you''re old? Starting tomorrow, you''re both on a 15-day training regimen. I''ll have you back in peak condition in no time¡­" At the sound of Victor''s voice, both men froze, their faces twisting as if they''d just bitten into something bitter. "Victor, no¡­" "Why wait until tomorrow? Let''s start today!" Ethan chimed in from behind Victor. "What¡­ us?" Leo shot up from the mat. Even Williams looked at Ethan in surprise. And so, a small incident marked the beginning of a nightmare for Ethan, Leo, and Williams. That day, Ethan called in sick to school. To his surprise, Celeste had already arranged a long leave of absence for him after their last mission. He spent the entire day on the gym''s boxing ring. Victor forbade him from using any of his Soul Power or Abilities. For the whole day, Ethan was relentlessly beaten by Leo and Williams, who took turns pummeling him. Without his Soul Power, Ethan couldn''t even see their moves clearly. It was then that he realized just how inexperienced he was. By the end of the day, Ethan''s entire body was sore and covered in bruises. Exhausted, he returned to the villa. As soon as he opened the door, a figure rushed at him. Reacting on instinct, Ethan threw a punch. Chapter 190 - 190: Seed of Power Halfway through the punch, Ethan regretted it. He suddenly remembered¡ªthere was someone else in the house. His college roommate, JJ. But momentum couldn''t be undone. Thud¡­ Ethan managed to shift the trajectory of his punch at the last second, redirecting it from JJ''s face to his shoulder. "Ow!" JJ yelped, stumbling back and landing on the floor. Ethan quickly stepped forward to help him up, looking sheepish. "Uh¡­ you didn''t go to school today?" JJ groaned, clutching his shoulder. "You''re asking me? Your stupid door locks from the inside too, and there''s nothing in the fridge. I''m starving¡­ and now my shoulder''s killing me." Ethan pulled him to his feet, awkwardly opening the fridge to check. Sure enough, it was empty. Inside, he found a note: "Ethan, I cleared everything out. Didn''t know when you''d be back, didn''t want stuff going bad. ¡ªLyla" "Uh¡­ let''s just order some takeout. I''ll stock up the fridge tomorrow," Ethan said, scratching the back of his head. He felt a little guilty. He''d completely forgotten JJ was staying over. The security system in this house was too advanced¡ªunless you were registered in the system, you couldn''t open the door from the inside or outside. Last night, he''d told JJ there was food in the fridge. And there had been¡­ before. He didn''t know Lyla cleared it out before she left. She''d probably done it to make sure Ethan didn''t come home and eat something expired without checking. He hadn''t eaten yet either, planning to cook something when he got back. Now, takeout it was. Holding the note Lyla left in the fridge, Ethan felt a warmth in his chest. He knew she''d done it to keep him from eating something bad. After a quick bite, Ethan hurried into the world of Ethereal. JJ asked for Ethan''s in-game ID, wanting to join him, but Ethan made up an excuse and declined. He didn''t have time to waste. Using the [Teleport: Dreamwood Grove] skill, Ethan arrived at his destination. He didn''t have time to admire the scenery. Following the quest prompt, he approached a plant¡ªor rather, a seed about the size of a basketball. After a brief interaction with it, Ethan handed over three Prismatic Stones and the four Artifact-tier weapons that obviously, he was meant to only look at, not keep. The seed began to glow with a dazzling array of colors. Radiant beams of light shot out from the seed, swirling around before diving back in, creating a mesmerizing cycle. The seed slowly began to sprout, its vines and leaves intertwining as it grew. The outline of a spear began to take shape. Ethan watched in awe. He hadn''t expected the weapon to grow like this. He wasn''t sure how long it would take, but he decided to wait. As time passed, the gaps between the vines tightened until they disappeared entirely. The wooden texture faded, replaced by a metallic sheen. What emerged wasn''t quite a spear¡ªit looked more like an exceptionally long sword with an ornate blade and a handle of equal length. The blade shimmered with an ethereal mist, occasional sparks of electricity dancing across its surface. Finally, after half an hour, the surrounding foliage withered away, leaving the weapon fully formed. The weapon, now fully formed, floated gently into the air. Its name, [Twilight War Spear, the Healer''s Wrath], glowed faintly as it hovered before Ethan. Watching it rise, Ethan felt a surge of excitement. He reached out, his hands gripping the long, ornate handle firmly. Ding¡­ S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [System Notification: Congratulations! You have obtained the [Twilight War Spear.] The system prompt confirmed it¡ªthis weapon was now his. Without hesitation, Ethan opened its stats to inspect its properties. --- [Twilight War Spear] Tier: Legendary Required Level: 35 (Scaling: Grows with user) Attack Power: 352¨C606 All Attributes Increased: +150 --- Passive Abilities: Morphic Aesthetics: Equipping this weapon alters the appearance of all your transformations. Bear Form Enhancement: In Bear Form, increases threat generation, healing received, health, and defense by 50%. Panther Form Enhancement: In Panther Form, ignores 50% of the enemy''s defense. Owl Form Enhancement: In Owl Form, after casting a Lunar or Solar spell, the next spell of the opposite type deals 50% increased damage. Tree Form Enhancement: In Tree Form, reduces the interval between all healing-over-time effects by 50% and increases their duration by 50%. Travel Form Enhancement: In Travel Form, your movement speed gradually increases, up to an additional 100%. Range Extension: Increases the range of all skills by 1.5 meters. --- Dynamic Abilities: Spirit Embodiment: Grants the skill [Spirit Embodiment]. Summons 16 Druidic Spirits to aid you for 3 seconds. Each spirit casts spells and skills based on your current form. Cooldown: 10 minutes. (The spirits'' abilities vary depending on your form and target enemies already in combat.) Transformation: Ancient Demigod: Grants the skill [Transformation: Ancient Demigod]. Transforms you into an Ancient Demigod based on your current form for 10 minutes. Cooldown: 30 days. (The higher your level, the greater the power you can wield as a Demigod.) Forbiddenl: Roar of Wrath (Bear Form): Enhances all allies within 350 meters, increasing their attack, defense, health, and healing effectiveness by 100% for 10 minutes. Cooldown: 30 days. (Using this skill puts all other Forbidden Skills on cooldown. The range increases with level.) Forbidden: Frenzied Onslaught (Panther Form): Locks onto a target for 3.5 seconds, unleashing a flurry of attacks. Each strike deals 2% of the target''s maximum health as damage. Final damage scales with attack speed. Cooldown: 30 days. (Cannot target enemies above your level. The target is immobilized and unable to attack or use escape skills. Lock duration increases with level.) Forbidden: Starfall Barrage (Owl Form): Summons meteors to strike all enemies within 350 meters, dealing massive damage over 35 seconds. Cooldown: 30 days. (Range and duration increase with level.) Forbidden: Tranquil Aegis (Tree Form): Calls down a healing rain that restores health to all allies within 350 meters for 35 seconds. After the rain ends, grants 3.5 seconds of invulnerability. Cooldown: 30 days. (Range and duration increase with level.) --- Additional Details: - Class Restriction: Grand Druid - Faction Restriction: Survivor Faction - Bound to: NotADruid (Cannot be dropped or destroyed) Description: Forged from the fusion of four Druidic Artifacts and Prismatic Stones, this weapon was grown from the Seed of Life. It is a weapon of unparalleled power. --- Ethan stared at the stats, his mind racing. "This thing is¡­ ridiculously overpowered," he muttered under his breath. The sheer versatility and raw power of the weapon left him in awe. But there was one catch¡ªthe shared cooldown on the Forbidden Skills. If only they didn''t share a cooldown, he thought. Imagine cycling through forms, unleashing one Forbidden Skill after another. Four Forbidden Skills in thirty days? That would be insane. Still, even with the shared cooldown, this weapon was a game-changer. Ethan couldn''t wait to test it out in battle. Chapter 191 - 191: Power of the Spear If there was one thing Ethan was known for, it was his insatiable desire that outright bordered on shamelessness. Even with a weapon as ridiculously powerful as the Twilight War Spear, he still found things to complain about. But hey, who could blame him? After all, with his gruelling experience before his rebirth, he''d spent a significant amount of time scraping by with barely functional gear in this timeline. So, if he nitpicked about something, it wasn''t entitlement¡ªit was habit. A survival instinct, honed from too many close calls and too many losses. The first thing he did after equipping the spear was head straight to the enhancement station. Back in Harmony City, he accessed his storage and pulled out a hundred Reinforcement Stones. The last time he''d enhanced a Legendary-tier weapon for Lyla, it had cost him 50 stones per attempt. So, he was mentally prepared. But he hadn''t expected that enhancing his own Legendary-tier, class-exclusive weapon would cost 100 stones per attempt. Two thousand stones weren''t going to cut it. He quickly scoured the auction house for another two thousand stones. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the Twilight War Spear was fully enhanced to its maximum level of 30. Ethan eagerly opened the stats panel, and the numbers made his heart race. The system automatically distributed his attribute points. Even though he had 15 points to allocate per level, after distribution, each attribute only gained about 3 points. Additionally, every level-up increased all attributes by 2 points. At level 35, all his base attributes were now at 175. Ethan only had two pieces of gear that boosted his base stats: - Blazing Ring (Level 20, Gold-tier): +20 Strength, +20 Agility, +20 Intelligence. - Strider''s Boots (Level 30, Dark Gold-tier): +30 to all attributes. So, before equipping the spear, his stats were: - Strength: 225 - Intelligence: 225 - Agility: 225 - Stamina: 205 - Vitality: 205 Ethan''s attribute growth rate was 22 stars, meaning each attribute scaled differently. However, the formulas for each class were the same. - Strength: Converted to physical attack. 225 ¡Á 2.2 = 495 base physical attack. (Only effective in Panther and Bear Forms.) - Agility: Converted to attack speed, movement speed, and energy regeneration. 225 ¡Á 0.22 = 49.5, rounded to 50. (This meant his attack speed, movement speed, and energy regeneration were increased by 50%, totaling 150%.) (Energy regeneration only applied in Panther Form.) - Intelligence: Converted to spell power and healing effectiveness. 225 ¡Á 2.2 = 495 base spell power and healing. (Only effective in Owl and Tree Forms.) (Even if Ethan learned healing skills for Bear Form, they wouldn''t scale with Intelligence.) - Vitality: Converted to health. 205 ¡Á 22 = 4,510 health. - Stamina: Converted to defense. 205 ¡Á 2.2 = 451 defense. When he equipped the Twilight War Spear, his stats underwent another dramatic change. At enhancement level 30, the spear''s base attack power was now 1,408¨C2,424, and it added +150 to all attributes. Ethan''s Strength shot up to 375, giving him a base physical attack of 825¨C825. Combined with the spear''s attack power, his total attack range was now 2,233¨C3,249¡ªnearly double what it had been before. He also had two rings that boosted his attack: - Ring of True Sight (+30): +8¨C20 attack. (If it weren''t for its ability to detect stealth, Ethan would''ve replaced it by now.) - Blazing Ring (+30): +216¨C308 attack. (This one was of major value, with an additional 10% boost to both physical and magical attack.) After equipping everything, Ethan''s final attack range reached an impressive 2,703¨C3,935. Ethan''s attack power was on the verge of breaking the 4,000-point barrier. The sheer magnitude of it was exhilarating. He remembered that in his previous life, even at level 160, his attack power had barely reached 5,000. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The only downside? He still lacked any area-of-effect (AoE) skills. If he had one, he wouldn''t need to waste money on Arcane Inscriptions just to grind mobs efficiently. While browsing the auction house earlier for Reinforcement Stones, he''d noticed something troubling¡ªthere wasn''t a single skill book available. If only he could get his hands on an AoE skill like [Celestial Barrage] for Owl Form, [Cleaving Tempest] for Bear Form, or [Rending Gale] for Panther Form. Any one of those would let him dominate the Life Greenhouse and farm mobs like crazy. But alas, wishes were one thing, reality another. It was almost as if the game had it out for him. Despite grinding for hours, skill books just wouldn''t drop. Back when he played as a Rogue, he knew exactly where to farm for skills¡ªchests, mobs, bosses, he had it all mapped out. But as a Druid? He was clueless. After killing countless mobs, he''d only managed to loot a handful of skill books. He couldn''t help but feel envious of Heaven''s Dawn, that lucky girl who seemed to get every skill as soon as she hit the required level. That was the beauty of Ethereal¡ªeveryone had their own unique opportunities, their own paths to power. Shaking his head in frustration, Ethan returned to Plaguewood Valley. With his new weapon, his damage output was insane. As soon as he left the town gates, he ran into a Plague Bear. Yesterday, his Shred skill could barely scratch it, dealing just enough damage to its 4,489 health pool. But now? -11,455! A five-digit crit. The bear''s 700 defense was reduced by 50% thanks to his weapon''s passive, leaving it with a measly 350 defense¡ªpractically nothing against Ethan''s attack power. Three Shred attacks later, the fight was over. His energy regeneration had also skyrocketed. In Panther Form, the base energy regeneration rate was 10 energy per second at 100%. With his new weapon, that rate had jumped to 183%, meaning he was now regenerating 18.3 energy per second. That was almost enough to use Shred every two seconds. But no matter how high his attack power was, he still had to kill mobs one by one and complete quests step by step. He spent the entire day grinding in Plaguewood Valley, finally finishing up around midnight. By then, he''d maxed out his reputation and friendship levels with the local NPCs. Heading to the town center, Ethan descended into the underground black market. There, he found Grand Scribe Aldry, whose friendship level with him had finally reached the point where he could purchase items. Opening the shop menu, Ethan scanned the available items: --- [Grand Scribe Aldry''s Shop] - Arcane Inscription: Flame Storm Effect: Summons a 5x5 meter pillar of fire, burning all enemies within the area for 3,000 fixed spell damage. Reduces movement speed by 50% and inflicts 380 burn damage per second for 8 seconds. (Cannot damage players.) Level Requirement: 35 Price: 5 Silver --- This was exactly what Ethan needed. The Flame Storm Inscription was a one-time consumable, and each use would cost him $500 in real-world money. With only 500 gold in his inventory, he decided to go all-in, purchasing 1,000 inscriptions and clearing out the shop''s entire stock. $500,000 gone in an instant. But it was worth it. The shop''s inventory limit was 1,000 items, so if he wanted more, he''d have to come back tomorrow. As for other inscriptions, he didn''t even bother looking. It was time to level up. Sure, spending that much money hurt, but Morzan had told him that the stronger he became in the game, the stronger he would became in real life. And if Ethan wanted to save Lyla¡­ he had no choice but to grow stronger. Chapter 192 - 192: Into the Greenhouse Ethan, armed with 1,000 Arcane Inscriptions, made his way straight to the teleportation hub. Upon arriving in Springhaven, he sent a quick message to Celia, asking her to scout for any skill books on the market. After receiving her response, he transformed into his Travel Form and dashed toward the eastern outskirts of the city. In Travel Form, his speed increased the longer he ran, but the moment he stopped, it reset to normal. Soon, he crossed a narrow canyon and entered a valley surrounded by towering mountains. The climate here was mild, thanks to the natural barrier of the peaks, which also gave the place its name: the Life Greenhouse. Ding¡­ [System Notification: New Map Discovered ¨C "Life Greenhouse"! +500 EXP!] As soon as he stepped into the area, a patrol of monsters spotted him¡ªno stealth meant no hiding. Leading the pack was a bizarre, oversized flower, flanked by a group of smaller blooms. Oddly enough, their roots weren''t buried in the soil; instead, they scurried across the ground like some kind of botanical nightmare. The wandering plant monsters were close to the entrance, and Ethan, without hesitation, sprinted right into their aggro range. There were only about seven or eight of them, so using an Arcane Inscription would''ve been overkill. But since he''d already drawn their attention, he figured he might as well pull more. Still in Travel Form, he charged deeper into the valley. With his speed, the melee monsters couldn''t hope to catch him. After looping around, he''d gathered a sizable crowd of pursuers. Without missing a beat, he whipped out an [Arcane Inscription: Flame Storm] and hurled it into the fray. Using the inscription forced him out of Travel Form and back into his Human Form¡ªa frustrating quirk of being a Druid. The system often locked him out of certain abilities or items depending on his form, and this time was no exception. Human Form meant no access to most skills, while transformed states restricted item usage. It was a constant headache. BOOM! A fiery tornado erupted from the ground, engulfing the plant monsters. -3600! -3600! S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. -3600! Damage numbers floated above their heads. These were just regular mobs, with health pools calculated as their level multiplied by 1,000. At level 40, they had 40,000 HP each. Thanks to the 20% fire damage bonus against plant-type enemies, the usual 3,000 damage per tick was boosted to 3,600. The inscription also slowed the monsters by 50%, leaving them crawling through the flames as they tried to reach Ethan. Combat locked his Travel Form''s speed boost, so he shifted into Panther Form, which granted him over 180% movement speed. With his high agility, he zipped around the fiery vortex like a blur, keeping the monsters trapped inside and ensuring they took the full duration of the damage-over-time effect. The skill lasted eight seconds, burning another 3,648 HP from each monster. Combined with the initial burst, the total damage came to 7,248 HP¡ªnearly a fifth of their health bar gone in one move. Ethan did some quick math. Clearing this wave of monsters had cost him five Arcane Inscriptions, which translated to 2 gold and 5 silver. In real-world terms, that was a whopping $2,500. His wallet was already crying. To cut down on expenses, Ethan decided he''d only use inscriptions when he''d pulled a massive swarm of monsters. Forty seconds later, the last of the current wave finally collapsed. Ding¡­ [Defeated: Guardian Lasher. Overleveled kill bonus: 500%. EXP gained: 4,800 (Base EXP +400, Overleveled bonus +2,000, Divine Ability bonus +2,400).] Ding¡­ [Defeated: Forest Stalker. Overleveled kill bonus: 500%. EXP gained: 4,800 (Base EXP +400, Overleveled bonus +2,000, Divine Ability bonus +2,400).] The EXP notifications flooded his screen like a spam bot on overdrive. This wave had about fifty monsters, and it had only bumped him up by 0.5%. Ethan groaned. If every wave gave this little EXP, he''d burn through all 1,000 inscriptions just to level up once. That was way too inefficient. The overleveled EXP bonus capped at 500% for monsters five levels above him. But for every level beyond that, the bonus increased by 200%. So, killing a level 41 monster would give him a 700% bonus, and a level 50 monster would net him a whopping 1,500% bonus. Clearly, he needed to push deeper into the valley and target higher-level monsters. The inscriptions dealt fixed damage, so level differences didn''t matter, and as long as he kept his speed up, the monsters wouldn''t be able to touch him. As Ethan ventured further in, the monsters grew stronger, and his stealth became almost useless. He had no choice but to fight his way through, pulling large groups and clearing them with inscriptions whenever he got spotted. It was a costly strategy, but at least it was efficient. By the time he reached the level 50 monster zone, he was down to 830 inscriptions. He decided to camp here for a while. The level 50 monsters offered a 1,500% overleveled EXP bonus, and with his Divine Ability doubling the gains, the EXP was insane. He was already at level 35 with 23% EXP, and he''d only been grinding for a little over an hour. For most players at his level, gaining 23% EXP could take four or five days¡ªif they were lucky. Of course, most players wouldn''t survive pulling monsters like this. Ethan realized how naive his earlier plans had been. Without his new exclusive weapon, his movement speed would''ve been too slow, and he''d have been swarmed and killed countless times. Thankfully, he''d completed the quest for the weapon just before coming here. Otherwise, he''d have been stuck grinding in the level 40 zones. Earlier, in the level 45 area, he''d accidentally taken a hit from a monster. In a panic, he''d shifted into Bear Form, but even then, the attack had chunked 400 HP off his health bar. And then there were the Life Guardians¡ªdragon-like creatures with insane speed. If they touched you, they''d slow you down, making it impossible to escape. In Panther Form, Ethan was barely fast enough to outrun them. Without the 150 agility boost from his weapon, he''d have been caught, slowed, and torn apart by the swarm. Ding¡­ [Defeated: Redwood Sentinel. Overleveled kill bonus: 1,500%. EXP gained: 16,000 (Base EXP +500, Overleveled bonus +7,500, Divine Ability bonus +8,000).] Ding¡­ [Defeated: Ironvine Lasher. Overleveled kill bonus: 1,500%. EXP gained: 16,000 (Base EXP +500, Overleveled bonus +7,500, Divine Ability bonus +8,000).] Finally, in the level 50 zone, Ethan cleared his first wave of monsters. The EXP was pouring in, but so was the cost. He couldn''t help but wonder if this was sustainable¡ªor if his wallet would survive the grind. Chapter 193 - 193: The Grind Never Ends This wave of monsters didn''t include any of those annoying Life Guardians. Those things patrolled the entire map, and Ethan had been careful to avoid them while pulling mobs. This time, he''d used seven Arcane Inscriptions to clear the wave. While that was two more than he''d used in the level 40 zones, the EXP gain was more than triple. Once he pulled the monsters, it only took about a minute to wipe them out. The real time sink was pulling the mobs themselves. It took anywhere from two to five minutes to gather a decent-sized group. He had to carefully maneuver, kiting the monsters and herding them into tight clusters. The Fire Storm inscription only covered a 5x5 meter area, so efficiency was key. To minimize waste, Ethan focused on perfecting his positioning and monster grouping. With his mind fully focused, Ethan fell into a rhythm: pull monsters, throw inscriptions, watch them die, repeat. By the time the game''s daily reset was approaching, he was down to his last three inscriptions. His level, however, had skyrocketed to 37 with 45% EXP. When he''d hit level 36, he''d pushed deeper into the Life Greenhouse, entering the level 51 monster zone. He made sure to maintain a 15-level gap between himself and the monsters to keep that sweet 1,500% EXP bonus. He''d considered going after even higher-level monsters, but he remembered that the level 55 zones had those half-deer, half-human creatures that threw spinning blades. Those ranged attackers didn''t suit his current grinding style, so he decided to stick with the level 51 mobs. In just one night, he''d gained over two levels. Ethan was starting to feel confident that he might hit level 45 before heading to Ironvale Mountains. That was the threshold Morzan had once mentioned. He wondered what special abilities unlocking that milestone would grant. One thing he did notice was that with each level-up, the tiny sapling inside him grew a little taller. Its once-fragile trunk was now sturdier, though the two tiny buds at the top hadn''t changed at all. It still looked more like a bean sprout than a tree. Ethan couldn''t help but wonder if it was actually a tree or just some specie of vegetable. With only three inscriptions left, Ethan knew he couldn''t pull another wave. He activated his Teleportation (Divine), selecting a safe spot he''d scouted earlier¡ªa place where no monsters spawned. After saving the coordinates, he teleported back to Springhaven. Thankfully, the distance was under 100 kilometers, so the teleport worked without issue. Back in the city, Ethan opened his inventory to assess the night''s haul. Direct gold drops from the monsters totaled around 12 gold. The rest of his inventory was stuffed with gray-tier junk¡ªpiles of leaves, petals, and other plant parts. He sold it all to the nearest vendor, netting him an additional 18 gold, 26 silver, and 58 copper. Combined with the gold he''d picked up, his total earnings for the night were around 31 gold. It sounded like a lot, but Ethan reminded himself that he''d been farming solo. In his past life, clearing the Life Greenhouse had required massive 300-player raids¡ªand even then, it wasn''t easy. The monster density there was insane, supporting tens of thousands of players grinding simultaneously. Ethan''s grinding speed couldn''t compare to tens of thousands of players, but it was on par with a large raid group. However, when you split 30 gold among 300 people, each person''s share was pitifully small. The monsters here only dropped low-tier loot, with the best being Bronze-grade equipment¡ªand even that was rare. Most drops were Common Iron -tier gear, which was what most players were wearing anyway. For large groups, farming here was a break-even operation at best. But for Ethan, this income was far too little. Shaking his head, he headed to his All-You-Need Auction House and listed the Bronze gear he''d picked up. Even the most basic Bronze items sold for 2 to 5 gold each, depending on their stats. At those prices, only well-off players could afford a full set of Bronze gear. The auction house in Springhaven was still in its trial phase, so there were no fees for now, but that also meant no revenue. Next, he checked the two All-You-Need shops across the street. The profit margins were decent, with each store pulling in around 30 gold a day. Both shops were staffed by two intermediate alchemists and two intermediate engineers, with the rest being apprentices. The production output was relatively low, but Ethan decided to leave the profits as operating funds for now. After leaving the shops, Ethan made his way to the city''s teleportation hub and returned to Harmony City. He needed to withdraw funds¡ªhis gold reserves were running dangerously low, and he still needed to buy more Arcane Inscriptions. First, he stopped by the auction house and withdrew 200 gold. Then, he visited the potion shop and couldn''t help but grin. The daily profits here were over 600 gold¡ªmore than enough to fund his expensive leveling strategy. Even the engineering shop was pulling in over 400 gold a day. After withdrawing 500 gold from the shops, Ethan teleported to Plaguewood Valley. He found the NPC selling Arcane Inscriptions and logged off there. When the game reset that evening, the NPC''s stock would refresh, and he''d be ready to buy more inscriptions. After logging off, Ethan began another grueling day of training. Victor was relentless, pushing him, Leo, and Williams to their limits with intense physical and combat drills. Ethan finally understood why Leo and Williams had looked so horrified when they heard the word "training." If it weren''t for the life energy constantly emanating from the little sprout inside him, Ethan would''ve collapsed from exhaustion long ago. A week passed¡­ During that week, Ethan spent every night in-game, burning through gold to level up. At first, the progress was rapid, but once he hit the level 55 zones, he ran into trouble. The monsters there were ranged attackers, forcing him to stick to the level 50 zones. As a result, his leveling speed slowed significantly. Still, after seven days, he finally reached level 41. To Ethan, the grind felt agonizingly slow. He was spending 500 gold a day¡ªequivalent to $500,000 in real-world money, just to level up. But to other players, his progress was nothing short of meteoric. Before now, rumors had started circulating about how the Druid God was falling behind in the leveling race. Some even speculated that Overlord would soon overtake him. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even within Renegade Alliance, there were whispers about Ethan''s slowing progress. While being overtaken in levels wasn''t a huge deal, it could damage his reputation as the top-ranked player. And that, in turn, could hurt the guild''s growth and standing. Chapter 194 - 194: The Bet and the Crisis The buzz around whether the Druid God would be overtaken in the leveling race had reached a fever pitch. Some players were even placing bets on it, and WCC News had opened an official betting pool. That night, some people made a fortune, while others lost everything. Of course, Ethan had no idea about any of this¡ªotherwise, he would''ve placed a hefty bet on himself. Over the past seven days, Ethan''s level had skyrocketed, and his physical fitness and combat skills had improved just as rapidly. His bizarre recovery ability left Victor, Leo, and Williams in awe. No matter how battered and exhausted Ethan got during training, he''d bounce back within an hour, taunting them with a grin and a finger wag: "Come on¡­ bring it!" At first, Ethan couldn''t hold his own against any of them without tapping into his Soul Power. He''d get tossed around like a ragdoll. But now, he could last a solid half-hour even when Leo and Williams teamed up against him. Despite his progress, Ethan was growing increasingly frustrated. He''d been trying to get in touch with the Ninth Division, but so far, he''d hit nothing but dead ends. Even Victor had reached out to his old military contacts, but no one could provide a lead. As the days dragged on, Ethan''s patience wore thin. If he couldn''t find a way to contact them soon, he''d have no choice but to head to Ironvale Mountains early and start searching. But the mountains were vast, and he had no idea where to begin¡ªor if he''d even find what he was looking for. Ethan had just stepped off the training mat, drenched in sweat, when he noticed his phone buzzing. He picked it up and saw over a dozen missed calls¡ªall from JJ. Two days ago, JJ had moved back to campus, saying he''d switched dorms. Ethan quickly called him back. "Third Bro, you need to get to the hospital now! The guys¡­ they''re not doing well!" JJ''s voice was choked with tears as soon as the call connected. Ethan froze for a moment. "What? They were fine two days ago!" Just two days ago, Ethan and JJ had visited the hospital together. Their old roommates hadn''t shown any signs of improvement, but they hadn''t gotten worse either. How could things have taken such a drastic turn in just 48 hours? "I don''t know! I went to see them after class and found out they''d all been moved to the ICU. Then, just now, Rowan started convulsing, and they rushed him into emergency surgery!" JJ explained, his voice trembling. Ethan didn''t waste another second. He grabbed his jacket and bolted out the door. These roommates had been there for him during some of his toughest times. Even though they''d drifted apart after he moved out, he still owed them. "Ethan, where are you going?!" Leo shouted from the training mat, but Ethan was already gone. Victor and Williams exchanged confused glances. What could''ve made Ethan run off like that? "Could it be something with Lyla?" Williams guessed. "Shit!" Leo cursed, jumping off the mat and grabbing his jacket. He took off after Ethan without another word. "Leo, what the hell are you doing?!" Victor called after him. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "If Ethan goes alone and runs into the Silverwoods, he''s screwed! You remember what Celeste said about how much they hate Soul-Wielders, right?!" Leo shouted over his shoulder as he ran. Victor''s eyes widened, and he exchanged a grim look with Williams. They both grabbed their gear and followed. The Silverwoods despised Soul-Wielders¡ªand Ethan wasn''t just any Soul-Wielder. His Soul Power was off the charts. By the time Victor and Williams made it outside, Leo was already sprinting down the street, trying to catch up to Ethan. But Ethan was long gone, nowhere in sight. Victor raised his hand to hail a taxi, but Williams grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the other side of the road. Parked there was a sleek, sapphire-blue Porsche 911. As they got in, Victor couldn''t resist a jab. "Not bad. Living the high life, huh? Maybe your wife can hook Leo up with someone too." Williams'' hand slipped on the gearshift, and he shot Victor a look. "Come on, Vic. It''s not like that. We''re in love." Victor just chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. Williams shook his head, knowing Victor meant no harm¡ªhe was just messing with him. He hit the gas, and the car shot forward. "Leo, get in!" Williams shouted, flipping the convertible top open. Leo glanced at the car. "Where the hell am I supposed to sit?" "Stop whining and get in!" Victor barked. Leo had no choice. He leapt into the backseat, crouching like a monkey. "Ethan''s in that taxi!" he pointed out, spotting a yellow cab in the line of cars waiting at a red light. Williams locked onto the target and sped after the taxi. As the light turned green, the cars began to move, and Williams kept pace, following the cab all the way to the hospital. When Ethan got out of the taxi, Victor and Leo jumped out of the Porsche and intercepted him. "What are you guys doing here?" Ethan asked, surprised. "The Silverwoods aren''t to be messed with. You can''t just charge in alone!" Victor explained, his tone serious. Ethan felt a surge of warmth. These guys had rushed over because they were worried about him. He scratched his head awkwardly and smiled. "I didn''t explain properly. I''m here because my old roommates are sick¡ªreally sick. They might not make it." Leo''s eyes lit up with curiosity. "What kind of sickness? Weirder than the stuff we saw in Ravenwood?" Ethan gave them a quick rundown of the situation, describing the condition of his four friends. Just as he finished, Williams, who had parked the car and caught up, chimed in. "Did they go swimming or something?" Williams asked, frowning. Ethan, Victor, and Leo all turned to look at him, puzzled. "I don''t think so," Ethan said. "None of them can swim. Why do you ask?" Williams hesitated, then explained, "Back in my hometown, there''s this old legend about people who get ''touched'' by something in the water. They start acting weird and getting sick, that kind of thing. Some folks say it''s just animals, like river otters, messing with people. But others swear it''s something¡­ darker. Like, some kind of water spirit or curse." Leo snorted. "You''re saying they got cursed by a river monster? Come on, man. That''s some campfire ghost story stuff." Williams shot him a look. "Hey, I''m just saying what I heard. And after what we saw in Ravenwood, you really wanna rule anything out?" Leo opened his mouth to argue but then shut it, remembering the weirdness they''d encountered in the mountains. "Fair point," he muttered. "But still¡­except for that Doe girl, we never actually saw any real ghosts, though." Ethan''s eyes widened as he remembered something. "They''ve been asking for water¡ªboiling hot water. I thought it was weird." Williams'' frown deepened. "That fits even more. I''ve never seen it myself, but back home, they''d say people like that were ''marked'' by whatever''s in the water. If they didn''t get enough, their bodies would dry up, like¡­ like they were turning into mummies or something." As they talked, the four of them entered the hospital and made their way to the ICU. There, they found JJ¡­ Chapter 195 - 195: The Unseen Threat Ethan had always thought the situation was strange, but after hearing Williams'' words, an even weirder feeling settled in his chest. When they arrived at the hospital room, JJ was crouched awkwardly, peering through the observation window. Ethan walked up and tapped him on the shoulder, causing JJ to jump in surprise. "Dude, you scared the hell out of me!" JJ exclaimed, clutching his chest. Ethan gestured toward the room. "How''s he doing?" JJ shook his head. "Rowan was just brought back, but we still don''t know much. It''s all up in the air." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What about their families?" Ethan asked. "I heard the hospital called some kind of emergency meeting for the four of them. Their families were all pulled into it," JJ replied. Ethan nodded, then turned to Williams, who was still staring intently through the window. "Williams, see anything?" Williams straightened up slowly, his expression serious. "It looks¡­ familiar." Ethan''s brow furrowed. This wasn''t just some ordinary illness. Focusing his mind, Ethan quietly released his Soul Sense, allowing it to penetrate the ICU''s protective glass. Suddenly, a bizarre scene unfolded before him. Lying in the bed was his dorm leader, Rowan. From his nose and mouth, a dark mist flowed¡ªinhaled and exhaled in a continuous, eerie cycle. Ethan looked closer. The mist wasn''t just smoke or vapor. It was made up of countless tiny insects, so small and numerous they were almost invisible to the naked eye. ''What the hell is this?'' Ethan moved to the next room, where Greg, his second dormmate, was also lying in a similar state. The same black mist swirled around him. Ethan quickly shared what he''d seen with Victor and the others. They all looked equally baffled. "Insects? You mean like¡­ a curse?" Leo blurted out. Everyone turned to him, and Leo shrugged. "What? You know, like in those TV shows and books. Evil bugs that mess people up¡ªcurses, right?" "Seriously?" Williams rolled his eyes, and the group dispersed, muttering under their breaths. Ethan turned towards Williams direction. "Head back to campus and dig around. Find out where they went that night. See if anyone knows anything." "Huh?" "Got it." Both JJ and Williams responded at the same time. "Uh¡­ I meant him," Ethan said awkwardly, pointing to JJ. "Williams, meet JJ, our dorm''s sixth." After the introductions, JJ, being the overly friendly type, immediately latched onto Williams, chatting him up like they were old buddies. Ethan wasn''t sure why JJ was so eager, but Williams didn''t seem to mind. In fact, he offered to go with JJ to their school. With that, the two of them left, leaving Ethan to refocus on the four lying in the hospital beds. For a moment, Ethan just stood there, staring at his dormmates. He felt helpless. He''d tried using his Soul Sense to manipulate the insects, to disperse them, but it had no effect. The creatures seemed completely immune to his abilities. Ethan''s anxiety grew. These four had been his bros, sharing the same cramped dorm room, sleeping in bunk beds. Back then, when Ethan was constantly bullied, they''d always had his back Even if Ethan hadn''t known these guys personally, he wouldn''t have stood by and done nothing. This kind of situation was exactly what the Ninth Division was supposed to handle. Wait, the Ninth Division¡­ Someone there had to know how to deal with this. But how could he even contact them? If he had a way to reach the Ninth Division, he would''ve already asked them about the location of the Silverwood family''s territory in the Ironvale Mountains. The day dragged on until the families of the four returned in the afternoon. The hospital still hadn''t come up with a solution. In fact, they''d issued critical condition notices, and Greg''s mother was beside herself with grief. Ethan desperately wanted to get closer, to examine the strange black mist more carefully. There was something eerily familiar about it, like he''d seen it before¡­ but where? Without the families'' consent, the hospital staff wouldn''t let him into the ICU. When the families finally returned, Ethan approached Rowan''s father and explained that he wanted to go in and take a look. At first, the man refused, but after the critical condition notices were handed out, Ethan tried again. This time, a doctor intervened. "It''s not necessary. They''ll be moved to a regular room soon." The families erupted in protest. "What do you mean? Why are you giving up on them?" one of them shouted. The doctor hesitated, then said, "Even if they stay here, there''s nothing more we can do¡­" His words hung in the air, heavy and final. It was as good as saying, "Take them home and wait for the end." Rowan''s father snapped, and the other families began to argue loudly. Despite the uproar, the hospital proceeded to transfer the four to a regular room. Finally, Ethan could get close enough to observe them properly. He released his Soul Sense, focusing intently. Rowan''s pulse was weak, his breathing shallow. Seeing his once-strong dormmate¡ªthe guy who''d carried him on his back during a five-mile escape drill in basic training, lying there so frail, Ethan felt a deep pang of helplessness. Just then, Victor walked into the room. He was about to say something when Ethan suddenly shot up from his seat beside Rowan''s bed. "Ethan, what''s wrong?" Victor asked, startled. In Ethan''s vision, the black mist that had been swirling around Rowan''s nose and mouth suddenly contracted and vanished into his body. Ethan thought Rowan''s condition was about to take a turn for the worse, but to his surprise, nothing happened. Rowan remained still, his condition unchanged. Ethan was baffled. He''d always been careful with his Soul Sense, keeping it tightly controlled since developing his Energy. Back when he first unlocked his Energy, Morzan had warned him that while Energy could mask the fluctuations of his Soul Sense, it wasn''t foolproof. During one of their conversations, Ethan had asked Morzan why having Energy made him less likely to be detected. Morzan explained that while Energy users were rare, their Soul Sense could grow stronger than that of ordinary people. However, if someone''s Soul Sense became more powerful than their Energy, it could still draw unwanted attention. Ethan had always kept his Soul Sense in check, but seeing the black mist suddenly disappear, he couldn''t help but release it fully, his focus sharpening as he tried to understand what was happening. Chapter 196 - 196: Hidden Threads Ethan''s Soul Sense was stretched to its limit, covering an area far larger than he usually dared. He suspected someone nearby was controlling the black mist. It had finally clicked where he''d seen it before¡ªback when they were returning from Ravenwood, after the ambush. The woman they''d captured, the one without a tongue, had exploded, and something had shot out of her head, trailing the same black mist. At the time, Ethan had only caught a fleeting glimpse of it. The thing had moved too fast, and by the time he''d expanded his Soul Sense to track it, all he''d seen was a faint tail disappearing at the edge of his range. It had been a split-second impression, barely enough to register, which was why he hadn''t connected it until now. On the way back from Ravenwood, Ethan and Victor had discussed the woman and the two other bodies that had vanished. They''d theorized that all of them were puppets, controlled by whatever had escaped from the woman''s head. And now, that same black mist was here, inside his friends. Ethan''s Soul Sense flared to its maximum range, and for a moment, he felt like his head was about to split open. He staggered, clutching his temples, and Victor quickly steadied him. "Ethan, what''s wrong?" Victor asked, his voice tight with concern. Ethan waved him off, gritting his teeth as he fought through the overwhelming sensory overload. Releasing his Soul Sense in the middle of a bustling city was nothing like doing it in the quiet of the forest. The noise, the movement, the sheer volume of life¡ªit all crashed into his mind like a sledgehammer. It took him two minutes to adjust, but even then, he found nothing useful. The only anomaly he detected was a cold, eerie presence coming from the hospital''s morgue. It stood out like a sore thumb in the otherwise lively city, but upon closer inspection, it was just what you''d expect from a place filled with the dead¡ªcold, gray, and lifeless. Just as Ethan was about to pull his Soul Sense back, defeated, he felt something. A sharp, icy presence, far colder than the morgue, and it was coming from right beside him. Ethan froze, his focus snapping to Victor. The faint, almost imperceptible aura around Victor was a deep, blood-red haze. "Victor, you¡­" Ethan started, his voice trailing off as he stared at his friend. "What?" Victor asked, confused by Ethan''s sudden intensity. In Ethan''s perception, the red haze around Victor pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat. It was subtle, but unmistakable. "Well, well¡­ this kid''s not bad. His Energy is tinged with a killing aura," Morzan''s voice echoed in Ethan''s mind, startling him. Ethan blinked, then let out a relieved sigh. So that was it. Victor had mentioned breaking through recently, but Ethan hadn''t realized he''d also become an Energy User. The red haze was Victor''s Energy, just like the faint green glow that had surrounded Ethan when he''d first unlocked his own. Morzan had explained that Ethan''s Energy was tied to nature, hence the green hue. Victor''s, on the other hand, was steeped in combat and aggression¡ªhence the red. If Morzan hadn''t chimed in, Ethan might''ve thought Victor was the one controlling the black mist in Rowan''s body. After all, the moment Victor had entered the room, the mist had retreated. But if it wasn''t Victor, then what¡ªor who was behind it? "It''s because of him¡­" Morzan''s voice echoed in Ethan''s mind again. "What do you mean?" Ethan asked immediately. "Killing aura is the nemesis of dark entities," Morzan explained. Ethan paused, then asked in surprise, "Are you saying they''re possessed?" He thought back to what Williams had mentioned earlier about water spirits. Morzan didn''t respond right away. After a moment, he said slowly, "Dark entities aren''t necessarily ghosts." Ethan was confused. If dark entities weren''t necessarily ghosts, did that mean ghosts were a type of dark entity? Was Morzan implying that things like ghosts were actually common in this world? "I didn''t say that," Morzan cut in, clearly reading Ethan''s thoughts. "Then what did you mean?" Ethan pressed, but Morzan fell silent again. "Ethan¡­ Ethan?" Victor waved a hand in front of Ethan''s face, snapping him out of his daze. Ethan blinked, refocusing on Victor. According to Morzan, Victor''s Energy could repel dark entities. Maybe Victor could drive whatever was inside their friends out? Just then, Rowan''s father returned to the room, his face grim. He didn''t say a word to Ethan or Victor, just slumped into a chair by the bed. Ethan didn''t take it personally¡ªany parent would be distraught if their child was on the brink of death. Ethan stood up and motioned for Victor to follow him out of the room. As they left, Ethan kept his Soul Sense locked on Rowan. The moment they stepped into the hallway, the black mist around Rowan''s nose and mouth slowly seeped back out. Ethan''s eyes lit up. It seemed the mist really was reacting to Victor''s presence. He turned to Victor and explained his theory. "Victor, do you think you can control your Energy enough to push it into someone else''s body?" S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Victor looked stunned. He was still new to this whole Energy thing. He knew that without Energy, a warrior wasn''t even considered one. Only those with Energy were truly on the path of mastery, and most of them belonged to secretive agencies or powerful families. Seeing the hope in Ethan''s eyes, Victor nodded hesitantly. "I can try." As they turned to head back into the room, Ethan noticed a group of strange people entering the ward. He quickened his pace, reaching the door just as an elderly man and two younger companions stepped inside. The old man was hunched over, standing by Greg''s bed. Greg''s mother hovered nearby, her voice desperate. "Master, please save my son. I''ll pay whatever it takes." Her plea caught the attention of the other families in the room. They all turned, their eyes lighting up with hope. Even Rowan''s father glanced over, though he quickly shook his head and returned to staring at his son. Ethan studied the old man carefully, but he seemed completely ordinary¡ªno Energy, no aura, nothing out of the ordinary. Could this "master" really have some kind of power he couldn''t detect? But when Greg''s mother mentioned money, the old man''s expression remained neutral. The two young men behind him, however, exchanged greedy, excited glances. Chapter 197 - 197: The Master’s Charade Ethan shook his head, barely able to hide his disbelief. ''So, they''re just a bunch of con artists?'' The old man straightened slightly, his frail frame stiffening as he let out a weary sigh. His expression was grave, as if he carried the weight of some great truth. Greg''s mother clutched his arm desperately. "Doctor¡­ please, tell me¡ªcan you save him?" The old man didn''t answer right away. Instead, he cast a meaningful glance at his two ''assistants.'' One of them, a younger man with a neatly trimmed beard, stepped forward, his voice tinged with regret. "If only you had called us a few days earlier¡­ there might have been hope. Now, all we can do is try our best. But¡­" He rubbed his fingers together subtly, the message clear. Before he could finish, the old man lifted a wrinkled hand, waving him off. The other assistant quickly chimed in. "The master says he won''t accept payment¡­" The first assistant sighed dramatically. "Master, you''re too kind. At your age, you should be resting, not working for free¡­" Ethan nearly laughed. This was a whole damn production. The old man played the selfless healer, while his lackeys handled the dirty work¡ªtake the money first, and if things went south, they could always claim they did their best. Who the hell actually fell for this? Apparently, Greg''s mother did. Without hesitation, she pulled a wad of cash from her purse and shoved it into the old man''s hands. "Please, anything you can do. If my son recovers, I''ll give you another three thousand." The old man hesitated, putting on a show of reluctance, but after a few back-and-forths, he finally accepted the money with a solemn nod. He passed the cash to one of his assistants, then patted Greg''s mother''s hand as if in comfort. To Ethan, though, the touch lingered a little too long. ''Not only is he a scammer, but he''s a creep too¡­.'' His jaw tightened. How could someone take advantage of a grieving mother like this? He was about to step in when his phone buzzed. Glancing down, he saw Williams'' name flash across the screen. With one last glare at the old fraud, he turned and stepped out of the room to answer. "Ethan, we''ve hit a dead end," Williams said, his voice tight with frustration. "We asked around, but no one saw the four of them after class that day. The only lead we''ve got is security footage from the east parking lot. They left campus around 5 PM and got into a cab. We''re heading to the taxi company now, but even if we find the driver, there''s no guarantee he''ll remember them." Ethan exhaled sharply. Not much to go on. "Keep digging," he said before hanging up. When he turned back toward the hospital room, he noticed a crowd had gathered near the door¡ªdoctors, nurses, and curious onlookers pressing in to see what was happening. ''What now? Are the scammers putting on a show?'' Frowning, Ethan pushed his way to the front, using his height to peer over the crowd. But what he saw wasn''t what he expected. The old man stood at Greg''s bedside, his hand trembling slightly as he held a thin golden needle. Slowly, almost reverently, he pressed the needle into Greg''s forehead. Greg''s mother stood beside him, her fists clenched, her face tight with worry. Ethan''s unease deepened. What the hell was this guy up to? Two nurses in front of Ethan whispered to each other. "Is that Dr. Aldric again? I wonder if he''ll actually pull off a miracle this time." "He''d better. That kid''s lucky he showed up after they signed the critical condition paperwork." "Lucky? When has Dr. Aldric ever appeared before someone''s signed a waiver?" "You''re right," the other nurse murmured. "I heard he''s traveled the world and is very versed in various types of traditional medicine practices. People try to find him, but he''s never around when they need him." "Exactly. He only appears when something¡­ unnatural happens." "Look, look!" Ethan listened carefully, piecing things together. Maybe these three weren''t con artists after all? As the nurse pointed, Dr. Aldric¡ªif that was even his real name, pushed the thin golden needle halfway into Greg''s forehead. Then, with a precise motion, he tapped the end of the needle with his ring finger. Ding¡­ A faint, crystalline sound resonated in the air, unnatural in its clarity. The needle began to vibrate, trembling so fast it almost blurred. Ethan''s eyes widened. He immediately released his Soul Sense, focusing on the subtle shifts in energy. In his mind''s eye, he saw something he hadn''t expected¡ªa faint golden mist, barely perceptible, flowing from Dr. Aldric''s fingertip and threading into the needle. The vibration intensified, the frequency so high that even Ethan''s Soul Sense struggled to track it. His skepticism wavered. This guy might actually be the real deal. For the first time, a flicker of hope stirred in his chest. If this so-called Doctor was capable of something like this, then maybe¡ªjust maybe his friends could still be saved. But then, something strange caught his attention. Dr. Aldric looked quite old¡ªhis face a map of deep wrinkles, his frail posture that of a man who had seen far too many winters. Yet, beneath the loose sleeve of his robe, a portion of his wrist was exposed¡­ and the skin there was smooth. Almost youthful. A chill crept down Ethan''s spine. Something wasn''t right. Extending his Soul Sense further, he pushed past the surface, beyond the illusion. What he saw nearly made him choke. Beneath the oversized robes was not an elderly man but a strikingly beautiful woman. The hunched posture? A deliberate disguise. The frail hands were nothing more than an illusion. And as Ethan''s gaze drifted lower¡ª ''Holy hell¡ªit''s a woman!'' His Soul Sense snapped back so fast he nearly gave himself a headache. At that moment, Dr. Aldric¡ªor rather, the woman pretending to be him, went rigid. Slowly, she turned toward the door, her sharp eyes locking onto Ethan. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There was no mistaking that glare. It was ice-cold, laced with fury. ''Damn it, she caught me.'' Ethan''s pulse quickened. Whoever she was, her control over energy was probably leagues beyond his. "Master? What''s wrong?" One of her assistants, noticing her sudden change in demeanor, cast a wary glance toward the door. She didn''t answer. Instead, she turned back to Greg, resuming her work. The assistant frowned, eyes flicking toward the hallway. Tension thickened in the room. Greg''s mother clutched her hands together, her nerves visibly fraying, though she didn''t dare interrupt. The onlookers barely breathed, their gazes locked on the unfolding scene. Ethan, however, saw what they couldn''t. The black mist had been swirling around Greg''s nose and mouth from the moment Ethan arrived. Now, it was shifting, retreating inward, drawn toward the point where the needle had pierced his forehead. Slowly, the mist gathered, condensing into a dense black sphere at the needle''s tip. Then, with a flick of her wrist, the woman extracted the needle. The shift was immediate. Greg''s complexion, once sickly and gray, regained a pale but far healthier tone. Though still weak, his breathing steadied, his chest rising and falling in a natural rhythm. Seconds later, his eyelids fluttered. Then, without warning, he jolted upright, panic flashing across his face. "Those damn Serpent¡ª!" he shouted. Before anyone could react, his body gave out, and he collapsed back onto the bed, unconscious once more. Ethan''s jaw tightened. The black mist had returned¡ªbut now, it was fainter. Weaker. But not gone. And that meant whatever had taken hold of Greg¡­ wasn''t finished yet. Chapter 198 - 198: The Masters Touch Everyone was startled when Greg suddenly jumped up. For a moment, no one reacted, but by the time they did, he had already collapsed to the ground. Greg''s mother let out a sharp scream and rushed to his side, trying to help him up. The others quickly joined in, offering their assistance. "Master, what''s wrong with my son? Why did he faint again?" Greg''s mother grabbed Dr. Aldric''s hand, her voice trembling with worry. This time, Ethan noticed something. Dr. Aldric gently patted Greg''s mother''s hand, and now that Ethan knew she was a woman, the gesture seemed perfectly normal. Through her disguise, he could see her expression¡ªgenuine concern. He realized he''d been too quick to judge earlier. But now, it seemed even Dr. Aldric was at a loss. Ethan wasn''t sure if she could see the dark mist pouring out of Greg''s body, growing thicker by the second, almost reaching the same density as before. It looked like the golden needles she''d used earlier had only provided a temporary fix, not a permanent solution. Using his Soul Sense, Ethan peered into Greg''s body. The dark mist seemed to be generated out of nowhere, with no clear source. Yet, despite the mist, Greg''s vital signs were much stronger than the other three patients. Dr. Aldric might not have been speaking, but every time she touched Greg''s mother''s hand, a faint yellow energy flowed into her, calming her down. Greg''s mother slowly settled back into her chair by the bed, tears welling up in her eyes again. Dr. Aldric handed the golden needle to one of her apprentices. The apprentice wiped the needle with a clean cotton ball, then brought it to his nose to sniff. Ethan''s eyes widened¡ªhe almost stepped forward to stop him, but it was too late. ''This guy''s got some nerve,'' Ethan thought. ''Isn''t he afraid of those black things crawling into his nose?'' But upon closer inspection, Ethan noticed that the black specks, which had once looked like tiny worms, were now lifeless, more like some kind of carbon residue. He couldn''t quite figure out what they were. The apprentice, the same one who had earlier asked Greg''s mother for money, glanced out the window after sniffing the needle, then nodded to Dr. Aldric. Most people might have missed the gesture, but Ethan''s heightened senses caught it immediately. The three of them began packing up, preparing to leave. Greg''s mother quickly stood up and grabbed Dr. Aldric''s sleeve. "Master, you can''t leave yet! My son isn''t better!" she pleaded. Her son had woken up once, and that had been enough to convince her of Dr. Aldric''s abilities. The medical monitors showed Greg''s vitals had improved significantly. "Today''s treatment is complete. If you need further treatment, you can reach us at this address. My master is elderly and doesn''t travel easily," one of the apprentices said, handing Greg''s mother a business card. The other parents, seeing that he was about to leave, began clamoring for her to treat their children as well. Everyone except Rowan''s father. Ethan found that odd. Greg''s parents, along with the parents of the other two boys, were desperate for Dr. Aldric''s help. Why was Rowan''s father staying back, unmoved? sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I''m sorry," the apprentice continued. "That''s all for today. If you seek further treatment, you may bring the patients to our clinic." Ethan couldn''t help but chuckle. He turned to the two nurses standing nearby and asked, "Isn''t this basically stealing patients from the hospital? Why aren''t you doing anything about it?" The nurses exchanged a look. One of them, a young woman with soft features and intelligent eyes, sighed. "You don''t get it, do you? Dr. Aldric is a respected professor affiliated with the hospital. Even the director treats him with the utmost respect. She shrugged. "Besides, cases like these¡ªthe ones where critical condition notices have already been signed are beyond our help. If the families want to believe in him, that''s their choice. And legally, the hospital isn''t liable for anything that happens after they sign the waivers." She hesitated as if she wanted to say more, but the other nurse nudged her, and she quickly shut her mouth. "Wait, that doesn''t make sense," Ethan said, raising an eyebrow. "You just said people can''t find Dr. Aldric, but now you''re saying he''s a professor at your hospital?" "Well, he''s hard to find! His clinic is usually run by his granddaughter. Rumor has it that Dr. Aldric spends most of his time resting at his countryside home and rarely comes to Ember City." "Oh¡­" Ethan drew out the word, his tone dripping with sarcasm. The nurse shot him a glare, then grabbed her colleague''s arm, and the two of them hurried away. Ethan almost laughed. His granddaughter, huh? Now that he knew the truth, it was almost comical. Dr. Aldric wasn''t some mysterious old man¡ªshe was a young woman, barely twenty, masquerading as a traditional healer. And yet¡­ she was good. He felt a slight twinge of embarrassment as he recalled what he''d seen earlier. Just then, Dr. Aldric passed by, supported by her two apprentices. She stopped briefly and turned toward him, her gaze meeting his. There was a flicker of amusement in her eyes. She''d noticed something. "Hmph." She snorted softly, barely loud enough for anyone else to hear. Then, without warning, she flicked her wrist. A faint pulse of golden energy shot from the folds of her robe¡ªaimed directly at Ethan''s lower body. "What the¡ª?!" Ethan barely dodged in time. The energy grazed his thigh before dissipating against the wall behind him. A cold sweat broke out across his forehead. ''This woman is ruthless! She was aiming for my¡ª'' He paused. She wasn''t actually trying to hurt him. If she really knew he''d seen through her disguise, she wouldn''t have sent a warning shot. No, she must have sensed someone using Soul Sense to observe her but had no idea how deeply Ethan had looked. That attack wasn''t an assassination attempt. Even if he hadn''t dodged, it probably wouldn''t have done any real harm. It was just a prank, a way to mess with him. The realization made him chuckle. ''She''s actually kind of funny.'' One of her apprentices glanced between them, confused. Then, as if struck by an idea, he hastily pulled out a business card and offered it to Ethan. Ethan took it, watching as the trio slowly made their way toward the exit. He flipped the card over in his fingers, half amused. ''Did that guy think his master had diagnosed me with some mysterious illness and was about to scam me, too?'' "Ethan, what''s going on?" Victor''s voice cut through his thoughts. Ethan turned to see him pushing through the crowd, eyes darting between him and the retreating figures of Dr. Aldric and her apprentices. It was only then that Ethan realized¡ªeveryone in the room was staring at him. with strange looks. Chapter 199 - 199: The Paper Trail To dodge Dr. Aldric''s attack, Ethan leaped back like a monkey, his movements quick and exaggerated. Everyone stared at him as if he''d lost his mind. Feeling the weight of their gazes, he awkwardly rubbed his nose. "Uh¡­ it''s nothing. Let''s go¡ªwe should follow them!" he said, grabbing Victor''s arm and pulling him along. They trailed the trio from a distance, keeping a full block between them. Ethan''s mind raced as he replayed the scene in his head. The apprentice had sniffed the residue on the golden needle, then exchanged a look with Dr. Aldric. Ethan''s sharp instincts told him the apprentice had noticed something. Why else would he glance outside with that thoughtful expression? And why would he nod at Dr. Aldric, as if confirming something? A suspicion crept into Ethan''s mind. Is that apprentice a mutant? Does he have a nose like a dog''s, able to track someone based on the scent left behind? With his Soul Sense locked onto the trio, Ethan wasn''t worried about losing them. But as they walked, he suddenly turned to Victor and asked, "Where''s Leo?" Victor blinked, clearly caught off guard. "I¡­ I don''t know. Did he leave with Williams?" Ethan frowned. "No, Williams and JJ left from the ICU area. I don''t remember seeing Leo there." Thinking back, Ethan realized Leo had disappeared as soon as they''d arrived at the hospital. Even when he''d expanded his Soul Sense to cover a large area earlier, he hadn''t detected Leo''s presence. Victor pulled out his phone and dialed Leo''s number. A robotic voice responded: "The number you have dialed is out of service. Please try again later¡­" "Not just turned off¡ªout of service," Victor muttered, puzzled. "How is that even possible with 6G coverage? It''s almost impossible to be out of range these days." Still, neither of them was too worried. Leo was more than capable of handling himself. If anything, he was probably off doing something on his own. So the two of them continued trailing the trio, keeping a safe distance. They walked for over an hour, and Ethan couldn''t help but wonder, ''Why aren''t these people just taking a cab? This is ridiculous.'' Just as the thought crossed his mind, something strange happened. The three figures he''d been tracking with his Soul Sense suddenly vanished. Ethan froze. "What the¡­?" He broke into a run, Victor close behind, heading toward the spot where the trio had disappeared. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When they arrived, they found themselves in a dead-end alley. The three people Ethan had been so sure he was tracking were gone¡ªvanished into thin air. "Ethan, look at this," Victor called out, crouching down. At his feet were three small paper figures. Before Ethan could kneel to examine them, the paper figures burst into flames. Poof! Poof! Poof! Three tiny fires ignited, reducing the paper to ash in seconds. Victor jumped back, startled. "What the hell was that?!" Ethan, however, let out a bitter laugh. We''ve been played. Those paper figures had carried the same aura as Dr. Aldric and her apprentices. Whoever they were dealing with, they were skilled enough to mask their presence from his Soul Sense and lead him on a wild goose chase for nearly two hours. And they did it with paper dolls, Ethan thought, both impressed and annoyed. How the hell did those things even walk this far? They''d been completely outmaneuvered. Ethan sighed inwardly. ''My Soul Sense is still too weak!'' The truth was, his Soul Power wasn''t weak at all¡ªhe just didn''t know how to use it properly. Pulling the business card from his pocket, he realized their only lead was the address printed on it. The question was, was it real or fake? Probably real, he thought. If they''re scamming patients with incurable diseases, they''d need a real address to keep the money flowing. And judging by what he''d seen so far, the trio¡ªDr. Aldric and her apprentices¡ªwere no amateurs. They clearly had some skills. But they also seemed¡­ well, really fond of money. ''If they love money, that makes things easier. If they have any useful information, I can just buy it.'' With that thought, Ethan and Victor left the alley. They flagged down a taxi, and Ethan handed the driver the business card with the address. Just as they were about to leave, Victor grabbed Ethan''s arm. He''d received a message from Williams¡ªa location pin with a voice note: "Ethan, why''s your phone off? I''ve got the address. Get here ASAP!" Ethan checked his phone and realized it had died. After a quick discussion, they decided to head to Williams'' location first. Ethan showed the new address to the taxi driver. "Oh, you''re going to The Den? That place isn''t open during the day," the driver said, raising an eyebrow. Ethan perked up. The driver seemed familiar with the place. "What''s The Den all about?" he asked, trying to sound casual. The driver glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "You don''t know?" Ethan shook his head. "Then why are you going there?" The question caught Ethan and Victor off guard. "Uh¡­ our friend just sent us the location," Ethan stammered. "Ah, first-timers, huh? Well, I don''t know much about what goes on inside, but I''ve heard it''s run by some folks from the Serpent Isle. And, well¡­ you know how those people are." The driver gave them a knowing smirk, the kind that suggested something shady or illicit. "Oh¡­" Ethan nodded, pretending to understand. But his mind was racing. Serpent Isle? That caught his attention. Back at the hospital, when Greg had briefly woken up, he''d shouted something like, "Those damn Serpent¡ª!" before passing out again. At the time, Nobody''s mind had been able to grasp what he was talking about. But now, hearing the driver mention the Serpent Isle, Ethan wondered if Greg had actually been trying to say, "Those damn Serpent Islanders!" Why would Greg be so worked up about them? Ethan thought. Maybe his memory''s stuck in some past event, and he blurted it out without thinking. The car fell silent after that. Ethan borrowed a charger from the driver and plugged in his phone. Forty minutes later, they arrived at the location. As soon as Ethan''s phone powered on, he received a voice message from Leo. He tapped to play it, but all he heard was static¡ªzzzzz¡­ ''Probably an accidental pocket dial,'' Ethan thought, dismissing it. He paid the fare, and they got out of the taxi. The car had stopped right in front of The Den. Ethan took a moment to study the building. The exterior was sleek and luxurious, with a distinctly Serpent Isle aesthetic. But the location was odd¡ªit wasn''t in a busy commercial area. In fact, it was somewhat secluded. Who opens a place like this in the middle of nowhere? Ethan wondered. Either they''re not here to make money, or there''s something else going on. The building''s doors were tightly shut, and the security gate was pulled down, locking the place up tight. Chapter 200 - 200: The Den Ethan scanned the area and quickly spotted Williams and JJ standing across the street. They waved at him, and Ethan and Victor hurried over. "Ethan, we just asked around. This place doesn''t open until after 9 PM," Williams said as they approached. "What time did Rowan and the others get here?" Ethan asked. "The taxi driver said it was around 6 PM, but he couldn''t remember the exact time," Williams replied. Ethan nodded. It was only a little past 2 PM now, so they had some time to kill. He suggested they look around the area to see if they could find anything unusual. But something didn''t sit right with him. The Den looked like an upscale place, the kind of spot that would be way out of budget for most of their group. Except for JJ, whose family was well-off, the rest of them were pretty frugal. They''d hesitate to splurge on something as simple as burgers and fries, let alone a high-end establishment like this. When Ethan asked JJ about it, JJ just shrugged. "I have no idea why they''d come here." That was strange. The five of them were practically inseparable¡ªthey slept, attended classes, and hung out together every day. It was only on that particular day, when JJ wasn''t with them, that the other four had gotten into trouble. Since they were here, Ethan''s first move was to use his Soul Sense to scan The Den''s building. He swept the area but found nothing suspicious. He wasn''t surprised¡ªif it were that easy to find clues, things would''ve been resolved by now. After being outmaneuvered by Dr. Aldric and her apprentices earlier, he knew better than to rely solely on his Soul Sense. Williams, aware of what Ethan was doing, continued filling him in on what they''d discovered so far. As mentioned earlier, Rowan and the others had come here as their final destination. What happened after that was still a mystery. However, they''d managed to pull up some security footage from the school. At 3 AM, the four of them had been seen entering the school''s east gate¡ªbarefoot. They''d walked into the dormitory building in the same state, their movements sluggish and dazed, as if they were sleepwalking. The footage showed them entering the dorm, but nothing after that. What was odd was that JJ had asked around, and none of the students in the dorms near the hallway had received any notifications from their Ethereal VR headsets that night. Normally, the headsets would alert players if someone came within 15 meters of them, especially since the beds near the hallway were just a wall away from the stairs. But that night, no one got any alerts. So how had the four of them gotten upstairs? Had they found a way to bypass the Ethereal headset''s detection system? Or worse¡ªwere they no longer considered living beings? The Ethereal headsets were designed to detect life forms, so if they hadn''t triggered the system, it raised some disturbing questions. But if that were the case, how did they still have heartbeats and pulses now, lying in the hospital? Williams summed it up: "Right now, we''ve got three big questions. First, why did the four of them come here? Second, did they go somewhere else after they left this place? And third¡­ are they even still alive?" Ethan chuckled. "Well, we''re here to figure out what The Den is all about. Tonight, we''ll¡ª" He paused, glancing at Victor with a teasing grin. "Hey, Victor, you gonna ask your wife for a hall pass?" Victor shot Ethan a look but didn''t respond to the jab. Ethan chuckled and moved on. "As for the second question¡­" He recounted what Greg had shouted when he briefly woke up at the hospital. Everyone agreed that if there was a place connected to the Serpent Islanders, it had to be The Den. Whether the group had gone anywhere else after that didn''t matter¡ªthis was clearly the spot where things had gone wrong. "And as for whether they''re still alive¡­ I think someone here can tell us," Ethan said. "Who? Where?" Williams asked. "Over there," Ethan replied, nodding toward the street. Williams and JJ looked puzzled, but Victor''s eyes widened. "It''s them¡­" Ethan grinned and nodded. A taxi had just pulled up across the street, and three people stepped out¡ªtwo men and a woman, all dressed in trendy, modern clothing. They were young, with the men looking to be in their mid-twenties and the girl no older than eighteen or nineteen. It was the same trio from the hospital¡ªthe so-called "Dr. Aldric" and her apprentices. As they got out of the taxi, they noticed Ethan and the others. Ethan waved at them cheerfully. The trio exchanged a few words, clearly surprised, but they quickly crossed the street and approached. "What are you doing here?" the girl demanded, glaring at Ethan. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Oh, so you can talk!" Ethan feigned surprise. "I thought you were just going to keep pretending to be some ancient master." The girl''s face flushed red, a mix of anger and embarrassment. She opened her mouth to retort, but Ethan quickly cut her off. "Look, there are too many of us standing around out here. Let''s grab something to eat and talk." Before the girl could protest, JJ chimed in, "Yeah, I''m starving!" The girl shot Ethan another glare but reluctantly nodded. The group of seven found a nearby restaurant, secured a private room, and sat down. As soon as they were seated, the man Ethan suspected had a nose like a dog''s¡ªthe one who had sniffed the golden needle, leaned in and asked cautiously, "Are you guys from the Ninth Division?" The question caught Ethan, Victor, and Williams off guard. Victor and Williams stayed silent, but Ethan glanced at JJ and said, "Hey, JJ, why don''t you go order some food?" JJ, quick on the uptake, stood up immediately. "Sure thing, Ethan. But you''re paying for this one!" He dashed out of the room before anyone could argue. Once JJ was gone, Ethan turned back to the trio. "So, are you from the Ninth Division?" The girl snorted. "Of course not. But only someone from the Ninth Division would be so brazen with their Soul Sense, spying on people like that." The man with the sharp nose quickly interjected, trying to smooth things over. "We''re not with the Ninth Division. I just assumed you were because, well¡­ only they would use Soul Sense so openly." Ethan raised an eyebrow. So, the Ninth Division has a reputation for being reckless, huh? The man, sensing Ethan''s thoughts, quickly changed the subject. "I''m Leeroy Chase. This is my brother, Ryan, and my sister, Evelyn." "You''re siblings?" Ethan asked, intrigued. "Enough small talk," Evelyn snapped, clearly still annoyed with Ethan. "How did you find this place?" Ethan ignored her and turned to Leeroy. "If you''re not with the Ninth Division, why are you mixed up in all this? Just for the money?" Chapter 201 - 201: Clinic of Secrets After their conversation, Ethan finally understood why they had ended up at the clinic. The three of them¡ªLeeroy, Ryan, and Evelyn, had grown up together, bound by shared history rather than blood. Leeroy and Ryan had been taken in by Evelyn''s father, who had given them their names, but they were still young when they were sent away to live at the Mercer Wellness Center. Evelyn''s parents had vanished without a trace. Their mentor¡ªher grandfather, Dr. Aldric Mercer, was the real mastermind behind the clinic. A year ago, he had suddenly disappeared, leaving the three of them to fend for themselves. Dr. Aldric had always been an odd man. He would only see three patients a day, and he refused to treat anything that wasn''t rare or uniquely complex. Over time, fewer and fewer people came to the clinic. After all, how many strange, inexplicable illnesses could there really be? Still, his reputation had carried weight, and those desperate enough sought him out from far and wide. But when he disappeared, so did the patients. Those who came looking for him left disappointed, and with no money coming in, Evelyn, Leeroy, and Ryan had to come up with a way to survive. That''s when they started impersonating Dr. Aldric. For the past year, they had kept the Mercer Wellness Center alive through a mix of trickery and real expertise. Evelyn had studied medicine under her grandfather, and despite her young age, she was already an Energy User. Her abilities had awakened naturally when she was just twelve¡ªwithout training, without rituals, without struggle. A prodigy in the purest sense. Ethan and Victor exchanged a look of silent awe. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her energy bore the same signature as Dr. Aldric''s¡ªa rare, restorative force that made her treatments unnaturally effective. She had also mastered the Mercer Family''s needle technique, which allowed her to treat even the most baffling conditions with precision and ease. Leeroy, the eldest, was an anomaly in his own right. He was a Mutant, just as Ethan had suspected. His heightened sense of smell¡ªoften dismissed as a joke about having a "bloodhound''s nose"¡ªwas just one of his traits. He had also inherited Dr. Aldric''s combat skills, making him the most dangerous fighter of the three. Ryan, the second brother, had studied the mystical arts under Dr. Aldric. It was Ryan who had used those three paper figures to block Ethan''s Soul Sense for over an hour. That alone was enough to intrigue Ethan. Unlike the others, Ryan had no innate abilities¡ªhe was just an ordinary man who had achieved extraordinary things through sheer mastery of the arcane. Ethan found himself even more fascinated by Dr. Aldric himself. The man had been a polymath¡ªa physician, a warrior, and a master of the supernatural. A real-life legend, one of those figures you only ever saw in fantasy movies. When Evelyn and her brothers caught wind of the four mysterious cases at the hospital, they decided to step in. But the moment Ryan entered the room, he knew this wasn''t the work of some wandering spirit. The patients weren''t just victims of an unfortunate supernatural encounter¡ªthey had been marked. Someone had infected them with ghost parasites, creatures bred through dark rituals to feed on human hosts. The only way to save them was to find the person responsible. Simply expelling the parasites wouldn''t be enough. If they did, the curse caster would sense it, and things would get ugly fast. People who practiced this kind of magic weren''t exactly known for their forgiving nature. So, Evelyn used her needles to extract a few of the parasites, and Leeroy tracked the remnants of their energy back to the source. That''s how they ended up crossing paths with Ethan and Victor. Originally, they had planned to gather information and report the details to the Ninth Division. If the Ninth Division handled it, even if the curse caster escaped, they wouldn''t come after the three of them. Plus, they could earn money from both sides¡ªcharging the clients and collecting a bounty from the Ninth Division without having to face any danger. After hearing their plan, Ethan couldn''t help but laugh. They''ve got quite the scheme going, he thought. ''No danger, and you still get paid? Just how much do you love money?'' Ethan couldn''t help but think. It wasn''t surprising that he felt this way. He had no idea that in this world, people with special abilities were often treated worse than ordinary people. Ordinary citizens had the protection of the law, but those with special abilities were branded as dangerous. Even something as simple as finding a job or living a normal life was nearly impossible for them. If they were caught doing anything that could be perceived as a threat to public safety, the consequences were severe. At best, they''d be eliminated. At worst, they''d be sent to special laboratories for inhumane experiments. And the ones carrying out these orders were organizations like the Ninth Division. For rogue individuals with special abilities, these organizations were like the ''heavens''¡ªabsolute and unyielding. Ethan was still new to the supernatural world, and there was much he didn''t understand. But perhaps it was precisely because he didn''t understand that he was willing to challenge it. "Since you''re from the Ninth Division, you can handle this. You deal with the source of the problem, and we''ll take care of treating the victims. Now, let''s talk about payment," Leeroy said, finishing his explanation. Evelyn, who had been silent until now, chimed in. She didn''t have a good impression of Ethan. Not only had he been spying on her earlier, but the fact that he was from the Ninth Division made her dislike him even more. She had always suspected that her parents'' disappearance¡ªand even her grandfather''s, was connected to the Ninth Division. When she saw Ethan''s credentials and realized he was the deputy leader of the M Squad, her dislike only deepened. "Money isn''t an issue," Ethan said. "But are you sure the person behind this is inside?" Leeroy paused, his nose twitching slightly as he nodded. "The residual energy from the ghost parasites definitely leads here. But¡­" "But what?" Ethan asked, noticing his hesitation. "But why would the curse caster let them go so easily? And why would they leave such an obvious trail leading here? The Ninth Division isn''t incompetent. If I can find this place, they''d have no trouble tracking it down either," Leeroy explained slowly. "He''s right," Victor chimed in. "This whole thing feels off." "Who cares? Let''s just smash the place and see what happens," Ethan said, standing up. "Smash it?" Everyone stared at him in disbelief. "Yeah, smash it!" Victor and Williams exchanged a glance, seemingly understanding Ethan''s plan. Leeroy and Ryan looked hesitant, but Evelyn''s eyes lit up with excitement. Leeroy stood up to stop Ethan. "Uh, maybe we should just leave." Ethan paused, then nodded. "Alright, you guys can go if you want." He walked out of the private booth, with Victor and Williams following closely behind. "What''s there to be afraid of? Let them do their thing. We can just watch the show. If you want to leave, go ahead. Ryan will stay with me¡­ right?" Evelyn said, clinging to Ryan''s arm. Ryan, who had been silent the entire time, could only sigh in resignation. Once Ethan and the others were outside, they had no idea what was happening inside the booth. Victor leaned in and asked quietly, "Ethan, are you trying to get the Ninth Division''s attention so we can make contact with them?" Ethan nodded calmly. "Yeah, I need to get in touch with them as soon as possible. November 26th is just a few days away¡­ Lyla''s waiting for me." As they whispered outside, they had no idea that inside the booth, Leeroy''s ears twitched, and his expression suddenly changed. Chapter 202 - 202: Illusion Ethan, Victor, and Williams, along with JJ, had just stepped out of the small diner when Ethan flagged down a taxi. "Head back first. Call me if anything comes up," Ethan said, not giving JJ a chance to protest as he shoved him into the cab. The cab had barely started rolling when Evelyn bolted out of the diner. Right behind her, Leeroy and Ryan lunged forward, trying to grab her, but she slipped right past them. Ethan frowned and subtly noded his head at Evelyn as she sprinted toward him. Evelyn paused, then put on a fierce expression. "You think you can just leave without paying?" she barked. Leeroy and Ryan, hearing her words, stopped in their tracks and stood behind her, eyeing Ethan and the others nervously. Victor and Williams exchanged confused glances, unsure what to make of the strange trio. Ethan''s response, however, was even stranger¡ªhe lowered his voice and muttered, "No time to leave now." Without waiting for a response, he added, louder this time, "Then let''s begin." The moment those words left his mouth, Ethan''s demeanor shifted dramatically. He seemed to transform, like a beast unleashed from its cage. A faint shadow of a panther flickered behind him. In an instant, Ethan moved. Less than four meters away stood a seemingly harmless college student, casually holding his phone by the roadside. Ethan, now in his Panther Form, appeared behind the man in a flash. Switching forms, he brought down a Bear''s Claw strike directly onto the man''s head. Thud. The man''s skull shattered under the force of Ethan''s blow. Victor and Williams froze. What the hell was Ethan doing? Had he lost his mind? Why was he killing someone in broad daylight? Before the man''s body even hit the ground, blood splattered everywhere. Before Victor and Williams could react, Ethan was already moving again. This time, his target was a little girl across the street, no older than seven or eight. "Ethan!" "Ethan, stop!" But their voices were too slow. Ethan darted across the road, grabbed the girl by the neck, and lifted her off the ground. His grip was so tight that the girl''s face turned purple as she struggled to breathe. Just then, two people burst out of a nearby diner, screaming, "Murder! He''s¡ª" Before they could finish, a golden light shot from Evelyn''s fingertip, silencing them mid-sentence. Though not fatal, the spell left them unable to speak. Leeroy sucked in a sharp breath. "Evelyn!" "What''s the problem? Since the Ninth Division already involved us in this, you think they''d just let us walk away? Whether we act or not, the results the same." Her eyes burned with defiance. "They set this up. We were never meant to leave here alive." By now, even Victor and Williams finally pieced it together. This wasn''t random, they''d walked into a trap. And Ethan had known. Ethan''s grip tightened around the girl''s throat. His voice was low, dangerous. "Enough games. Come out, or I snap her neck." Poof. The little girl''s form shimmered, her limbs twisting unnaturally before shrinking. Her ears grew pointed, fine fur sprouting along the sides of her face. Her pupils thinned into vertical slits. She was no child at all. ''A fox mutant?'' But Ethan wasn''t fooled by her cute appearance. The way her eyes were rolling back made it clear he wasn''t holding back. Just then, the entire street transformed. It had been a bright afternoon, just past two o''clock. But in an instant, everything went dark. The street was eerily quiet, devoid of any people. The people who had run from the diner stopped near The Den. They turned toward the entrance, only to find the security gate warped and the glass door inside shattered. A sickening stench of blood seeped from within. Then, two figures stepped out from the shadows of the shop. A man and a woman. The man, in his thirties, wore only boxer shorts and flip-flops, as if he had just walked out of a bathhouse. His skin was slick with moisture, and he carried himself with lazy indifference. The woman, however, was dressed for a different kind of business. Tiny denim shorts, a crop top, and heavy makeup. Her style belonged to an era long past, the kind of streetwalker look that had all but disappeared from modern cities. For a woman well into her forties or fifties, it was a sight that made Ethan''s stomach turn. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Heh. Didn''t think Celeste''s little crew would be so sharp. How''d you sniff us out? Our little fox has never failed before¡­" "Cut the bullshit," Ethan snapped. "What the hell do you want?" Annoyed at being interrupted, the woman''s smile vanished. Her eyes turned cold. "Hmph! Celeste betrayed us, and you¡ªher little lackeys aren''t any better. I''ll just take you all in for questioning!" Ethan''s eyes narrowed. So this was about Celeste? You targeted my friends just to lure us here?" he asked, his voice low. The man in flip-flops chuckled. "Don''t flatter yourself. Snatching you up was just a bonus. We''ve been after the curse caster operating here for a while now. But right when we were about to move in, we realized¡ªher real target was you." The man grinned, eyes glinting with amusement. "Funny, isn''t it? We figured we''d just let her little plan play out." Ethan''s stomach twisted. Curse caster? His mind raced. Someone had been targeting him specifically? Why? He didn''t even know who his enemies were anymore. Victor, Williams, and Evelyn had silently stepped up beside him. The woman giggled, watching Ethan''s puzzled expression. "Looks like you don''t even know who''s after you." She turned toward the shattered storefront and called out. "Come on out, dear." Everyone''s eyes followed her gaze. A white, ghostly figure slowly emerged from the shadows. When Ethan saw the figure, he was stunned. "Just as I thought¡­" Ryan muttered under his breath, breaking his usual silence. "What?" Evelyn asked. Everyone except Ethan turned to look at him. Ryan, usually shy, blushed slightly and explained, "Only a spirit can raise ghost parasites. That''s what Grandfather said. I''ve never actually seen one before." "Oh¡­" Evelyn''s mood darkened at the mention of their grandfather. "How¡­ is it you?" Ethan stammered, staring at the ghostly figure in disbelief. "Ethan¡­ I curse you to die a horrible death¡­" The spirit lunged at Ethan, her voice filled with venom. Crack! The woman flicked her wrist, and a whip lashed out, striking the spirit and wrapping around her neck. The whip, made of some unknown material, seemed to affect the spirit as if it were a physical entity. "Behave yourself, or I''ll destroy you right here!" the woman barked, yanking the spirit back to her feet with a sharp tug of the whip. The spirit, now more transparent from the attack, glared at Ethan with pure hatred, as if she wanted to tear him apart with her bare hands. Ethan stared back, unable to comprehend how, in just over two months, she had become like this. Chapter 203 - 203: Broodmother The spirit was translucent and blurry, but Ethan could still make out who it was. It was Jade Taylor¡ªthe very woman who had driven him to buy out the gym and fire her in a fit of anger. No matter how hard he tried to wrap his head around it, he never imagined he''d see her again like this, two months later. She was no longer human. She was a spirit. Which meant she was dead. How had she died? "If she''s destroyed, those four in the hospital are done for too." Ryan muttered from behind Ethan. Everyone turned to him, puzzled. He continued, "I miscalculated. She wasn''t raising the Ghost Parasites. She was the parasite. Someone turned her into a Broodmother. If the person who turned her is killed, the parasites become wild. Over time, they''ll fade away on their own. The infected can be cured if treated in time. But if the Broodmother is killed, the parasites go berserk. They''ll devour each other until only one remains, becoming the new Broodmother or king. During this process, the four in the hospital will be eaten alive, their flesh and even their souls consumed by the parasites." After Ryan finished speaking, he fell silent again. Ethan''s mind, however, was in turmoil. Jade had fallen into the enemy''s hands. Regardless of how she died, she was someone he had known, and now the lives of his four roommates were tied to her fate. Why did she hate him so much? Was it just because he had fired her? If he wanted to find out the truth and save his friends, the only way was to rescue Jade first. But how? That was the problem. Earlier, Ethan thought he had the upper hand. He had taken down one enemy and captured another¡ªtheir illusionist, no less. When they arrived, they had been caught in an illusion. It was supposed to be just past two in the afternoon, but in reality, it was already past five, and the sky had darkened. Yet, in the illusion, time had barely moved. Now, with Jade''s spirit appearing, Ethan''s advantage was slipping away. He was hesitant to act, fearing the consequences. The fox girl in his hand, having been held loosely for a while, suddenly stirred awake. She thrashed violently, shouting, "Let me go! Let me go! I''ll kill you!" Ethan glanced at her, then lifted her up, addressing the older woman: "How about a trade? You hand her over to me, and I''ll let your fox go." The older woman struck a pose she clearly thought was seductive and let out a cackling laugh. "Not a chance! Bringing back a parasite controller means more reward for me, and with two fewer people to split it with, I should be thanking you, sweetheart¡­" Her words left Ethan stunned. He scanned the faces of the others, but none of them showed any reaction. Not even the fox girl in his hand seemed shocked by what the woman had said. What was going on? Ethan''s eyes turned cold. Is this what the Ninth Division is like? he thought. They don''t care about their own teammates'' lives? In fact, their expressions suggested this was normal to them. What kind of people were they, claiming to protect others while being so heartless? If this was what the Ninth Division was really like, then maybe it wasn''t worth staying. The woman had just mentioned Bringing the parasite controller back! This meant they weren''t planning to destroy Jade''s spirit right away. Once Ethan figured this out, he didn''t hesitate any longer. With the agility of his Panther Form, he moved like a blur, almost teleporting across the space. At the same time, he hurled the fox-girl in his hand like a cannonball toward the man in slippers. The four enemies were caught off guard by Ethan''s sudden attack. Even Victor and the others hadn''t expected it. The opposing group was no pushover, though. The older woman flicked her whip, sending Jade''s spirit flying to the side. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The man in slippers kicked the fox-girl mid-air, sending her crashing to the ground with a sickening crunch of bones. This time, Ethan was fighting in the real world, and he noticed something astonishing¡ªhis speed was far beyond what it had been back in Ravenwood. It felt as though his gear from Ethereal wasn''t just boosting his in-game stats. It was enhancing his real-world abilities too. The increase in speed was like the difference between wielding Twilight War Spear in the game and fighting without it. This realization sent a surge of exhilaration through him. Someone once said, "In combat, speed is everything." With a subtle shift of his body, Ethan dodged the older woman''s whip and closed the distance in an instant. He swung his hand, aiming for a slap. Ethan wasn''t sure when he''d developed a fondness for slapping people, but he found it incredibly effective. It was fast, accurate, and oddly satisfying. Maybe it was because he''d spent so much time playing as a Feral Druid in the game, constantly swiping with claw attacks. Or maybe it was just the sheer joy of delivering a good, solid slap. Either way, it felt damn good. But when his hand connected with the woman''s face, a puff of white smoke erupted, accompanied by a sharp, acrid scent. Ethan recoiled, leaping back several steps and covering his nose. What the hell? Poison? he thought. A moment later, he noticed something strange. The woman''s face looked¡­ lopsided. Normally, the side that got slapped would swell up, but with her, it was the opposite. The side he hadn''t hit was raised, while the slapped side remained flat. Upon closer inspection, he realized he''d just wiped off half her makeup¡ªfoundation, blush, and whatever else she''d caked on. No wonder his hand felt greasy. Ethan looked down at his palm, now coated in a thick layer of white powder. He clapped his hands together, sending clouds of the stuff into the air. It reminded him of gymnasts dusting their hands with chalk before gripping the parallel bars. "Ahhh!" The woman let out a piercing scream, clutching her slapped cheek. She pointed her whip at Ethan, trembling with rage. "You bastard! I haven''t taken my makeup off in over a decade, and you dare¡­ you dare¡­ slap me! Today, I''m going to drain you dry! What are you all staring at? Kill them!" As she shrieked, her whip suddenly burst into black flames¡ªcold, soul-chilling flames that seemed to freeze the very air around them. At the same time, everyone on her side sprang into action. Victor and Williams charged forward, intercepting the two people who had emerged from the diner earlier. Leeroy hesitated for a moment, then transformed. His ears, nose, and claws elongated, taking on the appearance of a massive wolf. He moved swiftly, blocking the man in slippers. Ethan, meanwhile, lunged at the older woman. In an instant, the battlefield had shifted into a series of one-on-one duels. Chapter 204 - 204: Lunar’s Wrath The older woman knew Ethan was fast, so she began whipping her weapon in a circular motion, creating a defensive barrier around herself. Ethan tried several times to break through but was repeatedly blocked. During one attempt, the tip of her whip grazed his arm, sending a searing, burning pain through him. The combination of icy cold and burning heat was baffling. What kind of ability was this? For the first time, Ethan''s prized speed was being countered¡ªby what felt like a damn porcupine. Meanwhile, Evelyn and Ryan, who had been standing still, were now just spectators. "Brother''s getting wrecked! Why don''t you go help him?" Evelyn pushed Ryan from behind. "I¡­ I don''t fight¡­" Ryan stammered awkwardly. Evelyn facepalmed, exasperated. Her second brother was actually nearly as skilled as Leeroy in combat, but he was a coward when it came to fighting outsiders. During their sparring sessions, he had no problem holding his own, but against real opponents, he froze up. Ironically, he was always fascinated and ready to explore strange and terrifying supernatural phenomena he encountered, but only if someone else was with him. "Looks like¡­ we might not need to help after all," Ryan mumbled, watching the chaos unfold. On the opposing side, the older woman was clearly their leader and the strongest. Even Ethan was struggling to take her down. The man in slippers wasn''t far behind her in skill. He was currently ''dogfighting'', literally. His limbs stretched like rubber, and he was using them to flail at Leeroy, who had transformed into a massive wolf. Leeroy kept getting thrown into walls, but his wolf form seemed to dull his sense of pain. The more he was beaten, the more relentless he became, charging at the man like a rabid animal. On another front, one of the men was facing off against Williams. Despite Williams'' reputation for dominating Ethan in the boxing ring, he was now being overpowered. The fourth opponent was up against Victor. Normally the weakest in close combat among the three, Victor was surprisingly holding his own today. His wide, powerful strikes left his opponent with no room to counter. These two opponents weren''t using any special abilities, likely holding back in case Victor or Williams decided to unleash theirs. After Ryan''s comment, Evelyn rolled her eyes. "Bro, are you blind? We''re clearly losing here. If you won''t help, I will." With a flick of her wrist, a golden needle appeared between her fingers. Boom! Just as she was about to strike, Ethan, who had been backing away, suddenly reached toward the sky. ''Damn it, you old hag, you think I don''t have ranged attacks'' Ethan thought angrily. If you looked closely, you could see a faint, ghostly image of an owl behind Ethan. It mimicked his movements, its tiny wings outstretched, pointing toward the moon. Lunar Beam¡­ A column of light descended from the sky, carrying the image of the moon itself. It crashed into the swirling barrier created by the woman''s whip. The impact was deafening, but there was no dust, no shockwave¡ªjust an eerie stillness. The older woman stood frozen, her whip still mid-swing. Everyone stopped fighting, their eyes fixed on her. Even Ethan was curious about the damage he''d just inflicted. Pop¡­ A soft sound, like a bubble bursting, echoed through the air. And just like that, the older woman shattered into pieces, dissipating into nothingness. Her whip, made of some strange material, vanished along with her. The man in slippers and the other two opponents instantly paled. The other two men glanced at Ethan, then turned and bolted. Williams and Victor immediately moved to intercept, refusing to let them escape. Suddenly, the two enemies began fighting with desperate intensity. The man who Williams took on waved his hand, and a barrage of ice spikes shot toward him. Williams hadn''t expected such a sudden attack. He dodged and weaved, trying to avoid the incoming spikes, but there were too many. One of the spikes headed straight for his heart. He had no choice but to block it with his palm. Thud¡­ The ice spike pierced through his hand, lodging itself deep within. Blood and muscle instantly froze. Williams'' face twisted in pain. Seeing this, Ethan flashed to the man''s side and swung his hand toward the man''s head. The man reacted quickly, summoning an ice shield with a flick of his eyes. Crack¡­ Smash¡­ The shield shattered like glass, offering no protection whatsoever. Ethan''s palm connected with the man''s skull and his head exploded like a watermelon. Despite being in Panther Form, Ethan''s strength had nearly doubled thanks to the Legendary weapon he''d acquired in the game. The force of his strike sent the headless body flying, tumbling across the ground before finally coming to a stop. Ethan staggered slightly, a sharp pain piercing his mind. He suddenly realized that his soul energy was nearly depleted, to the point where he could barely sense it. Strangely, the tiny sprout within him remained unaffected. ''Was it the Lunar Beam spell that drained my soul energy?'' He wondered. Does that mean the abilities of the Owl Form in the real world were tied to soul energy? The thought flashed through his mind, but there was no time to dwell on it. On the other side, the man in slippers had forced Leeroy back and was now retreating, clearly planning to escape. Ethan couldn''t let that happen. Seeing that Victor had his opponent under control, Ethan took off after the man in slippers. As he passed the entrance of The Den, he caught a glimpse of Jade''s shadowy figure darting inside. He hesitated for a moment, then shouted over his shoulder, "Ryan, catch her for me!" Ethan knew Ryan specialized in mystical arts and had experience dealing with spirits and curses. Ryan, who had been standing nearby, blinked in confusion before understanding Ethan''s request. He called back, "Not for less than ten grand!" Ethan nearly tripped mid-sprint. He hadn''t expected Ryan, of all people, to suddenly start haggling. But he didn''t have time to argue. "Fine!" he yelled back, then continued chasing the man in slippers. The man''s limbs moved like springs, allowing him to leap and bound in ways that defied normal movement. In no time, he had scaled a building and was running across the rooftops. Ethan kept his soul sense locked onto the man, pursuing him from the ground. He didn''t believe the guy could stay up there forever. "Ten grand? How much are you giving me?" Evelyn chimed in, looking at Ryan. "The ten grand is mine," Ryan replied matter-of-factly. "Then you can do it yourself," Evelyn said, rolling her eyes. "I won''t. I''m scared," Ryan said, still completely serious. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Then make it twenty grand, and I''ll go with you," Evelyn countered. "Fine. No less than twenty grand, then," Ryan agreed. By now, Ethan was long gone, but Leeroy added, "You two keep bickering, and we won''t even get the ten grand!" Leeroy, rubbing his swollen face from the earlier beating, glared at the two. "Get moving!" "Oh, right," Ryan said, pulling a parchment from his pocket. its edges were crisp with age and slightly burnt. As soon as it was exposed, a faint glow emanated from the runes inscribed on its surface, then he began folding it as he walked toward The Den. Chapter 205 - 205: A Deal’s a Deal Ryan stepped up to the doorway, peeking inside before turning back. "Come with me, man. I''m seriously freaking out!" Leeroy sighed, rubbing his eyes as he walked over. Evelyn pursed her lips but then lit up when she spotted Williams. She skipped over, grinning. "Ten grand, and I''ll fix you up right now!" She pointed at Williams'' hand. At this point, his hand had already turned a nasty shade of purple, an ice shard still lodged in his palm. "Hundred," Williams shot back, holding up a single finger. "Just Ten grand." Williams hesitated, then held up five fingers. Evelyn''s eyes sparkled¡ªshe was just about to agree. "Five hundred." Williams'' voice was completely indifferent. Evelyn had already reached for his hand, but the moment she heard that number, she froze. "¡­How much?" She stared at him, wide-eyed. "Fifty." "You¡ªyou¡ª" "Ten." "Alright, fine! Five hundred!" Evelyn pouted, giving up the haggling. While she treated him, Williams was half-expecting her to pull some kind of trick, but surprisingly, she didn''t. Within moments, the ice shard melted away. A soft golden glow wrapped around his hand, and before long, the pain had vanished completely. Then, Evelyn fished some bandages out of her bag and tossed them over. "Wrap it yourself. You''ll be fine in three days." She glanced at his hand. "Good thing it didn''t hit the tendons. Otherwise, that hand of yours? Gone. And fixing it would cost at least a hundred grand." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Williams pulled a crumpled hundred-dollar bill from his pocket and handed it over. "¡­We agreed on five hundred," Evelyn huffed, puffing out her cheeks. Williams smirked. "You said, and I quote, ''fix you up right now.'' But now you''re telling me I still need three days¡­" "You¡ª" "Or we could just forget the whole thing," Williams said, making a move to pocket the money. Evelyn snatched it back immediately, mumbling, "You people are all scammers. We gave you the intel, and you promised payment. Now the money''s gone, and we''ve got the Ninth Division breathing down our necks¡­" "Relax. I was just messing with you." Williams grinned. "I really am broke, though. When Ethan gets back, you''ll get your money." Evelyn''s eyes brightened. "For real?" "Of course." Williams watched her carefully. There was something in his gaze¡ªsomething strange. Ever since he''d seen her, an old, hazy memory kept flickering through his mind. It had been years since he''d forced himself to forget that face. "I''ll help you wrap it," Evelyn said, snatching the bandages from his hands. She crouched down in front of him, carefully tending to his wound. Williams forcibly turned his attention away, focusing instead on Victor, who was still fighting the mutant. The guy''s whole body gleamed with a metallic sheen, and whenever Victor''s fists connected, it rang out like metal striking a steel pipe. But Williams wasn''t worried, he could tell¡ªVictor was just using him for practice. Watching Victor, Williams couldn''t help but feel a twinge of envy. Of the three of them, Leo had always been the one most likely to become an Energy User. Victor, on the other hand, was the least likely. He was already past the prime age for pushing human limits, it should''ve been impossible for him to achieve it. And yet, after Ethan, Victor had been the first among them to break through. If Williams had his own Energy, that ice spike wouldn''t have injured him so easily. Meanwhile, Ethan had already chased his target to the outskirts of the city. His prey? Barefoot Guy. Yeah, that was the only way to describe him now, his flip-flops had been lost somewhere along the way. He had nowhere left to run. Sure, every leap he took covered a ridiculous distance, but compared to Ethan, who had already activated his Travel Form, he didn''t stand a chance. As he ran, Ethan pulled out his phone, activating the speed-tracking feature. One thing was now certain¡ªthe attributes granted by Ethereal''s gear could be used in the real world. However, active abilities were still unusable. He had tested Double Jump and Swift Stride from his boots earlier but they didn''t seem to work. Once Travel Form kicked in, though, his speed kept climbing. The passive effect from Twilight War Spear was working perfectly. After multiple tests, Ethan confirmed that while in Ethereal, it only took thirty seconds to reach max speed. In reality, however, it took closer to two minutes¡ªbut once he hit that peak, the speed remained constant. Still, as his legs moved faster and faster, it was an insane feeling¡ªalmost weightless, like The Flash. Each stride launched him meters ahead. Barefoot Guy turned back, eyes filled with sheer terror. He couldn''t believe someone was outrunning him on foot. Ethan''s smirk widened from the thrill. From a side view, his form had changed¡ªhe was now half-Cervidian. His human legs had fused into the front legs of a stag, while behind him, the shadowy outline of a deer''s body flickered with every step. Each bound sent power surging through his legs, as the phantom hind legs pushed off alongside his own. Less than a hundred meters to go. One more burst of speed, and he could slam this guy into the pavement. But then, everything turned black. Not just his vision¡ªhis very Soul Sense was swallowed by darkness. It was as if something had devoured a kilometer-wide chunk of reality. Ethan''s heart dropped. Then, just as suddenly, a blinding light erupted. The violent shifts between pitch-black and searing brightness stabbed into his retinas, sending pain tearing through his skull. His instincts screamed¡ªhe clenched his eyes shut and skidded to a stop. For the next ten agonizing seconds, the cycle repeated¡ªlight, dark, light, dark. Then, just as suddenly as it came, the anomaly vanished. The world returned to normal, and Barefoot Guy was gone. Ethan stood frozen. ''What¡­ just happened?'' Looking around¡ªnothing. No traces. Even at Barefoot Guy''s fastest speed, he shouldn''t have been able to outrun Ethan''s Soul Sense. No¡ªsomeone had intervened. And whoever it was¡­ They could control light and darkness itself. Ethan felt a cold sweat trickling down his back. If that person had chosen to attack instead of just rescuing his target¡­ would he have stood a chance? ''I need to get the hell out of here.'' Shaking off the unease, Ethan turned and sprinted back toward the others. Had Ryan managed to capture Jade''s spirit? That was the key to keeping Rowan and the others alive. If they did, he needed answers. Why had Jade hated him so much? And how, just how had she even died? As he ran, his phone rang. He picked and Victor''s voice came through. "We''re clear. Cops showed up." "Did they give you any trouble?" Ethan asked. "Nah. We flashed the Ninth Division badge, and they let us go." Ethan exhaled. At least one thing had gone right tonight. Chapter 206 - 206: Neighborhood Hazing The cops told Victor that they understood the situation and that they''d take care of things from here. At the same time, Victor informed Ethan that they were heading to the Mercer Wellness Center. He told Ethan to meet them there, using the address on the business card. Because Ryan had said that was the only place where he could get the Broodmother to cooperate. Ethan immediately understood¡ªthis meant Ryan had succeeded. Jade had been captured. If that was the case, then they might as well go. Hopefully, she would voluntarily remove the Ghost Parasites from Rowan and the others. More importantly, they needed to figure out how she had died and why she hated him so much. Once they reached the city, Ethan flagged down a taxi. He gave the driver the destination and promptly dozed off in the back seat. The Lunar Beam skill had drained most of his Soul Power, and even the lake within his Mindscape had receded slightly. As soon as the car started moving, exhaustion overtook him. The driver woke him when they arrived. Ethan stepped out of the car and found himself standing in front of the Mercer Wellness Center. However, the shutters were down. Just as he was about to call Victor, he heard someone shout, "Ethan! Over here!" He turned toward the voice and saw Evelyn standing at the corner of the street, waving frantically. Ethan hurried over. "Well?" she asked cautiously. "What?" Her sudden question caught him off guard. "The Rubber Man! Did you catch him?" she asked, glancing behind Ethan as if expecting to see the captive. "Ah¡­ no, he got away," Ethan replied nonchalantly. "What?!" Evelyn suddenly stopped in her tracks, her face a mix of disbelief and frustration. "You idiot! How could you let him escape?" "What the hell? Who are you calling an idiot?" "You! You! If he''s gone, and he reports this to the Ninth Division, we''re done for!" Her eyes were almost welling up with tears. Ethan had been annoyed by her calling him an idiot, but seeing her on the verge of crying made him feel awkward. He hated when women cried. He understood her fear¡ªshe was worried about the repercussions from the Ninth Division. "Uh¡­ well¡­" Ethan started, trying to think of something comforting to say. But Evelyn shot him a fierce glare, turned on her heel, and ran off. Naturally, Ethan followed. He caught up to her in a few strides and grabbed her arm. "Help! Someone''s assaulting me!" Evelyn suddenly screamed. Oh crap¡­ Ethan thought, his heart sinking. What was this girl up to now? Then he saw the devilish grin on Evelyn''s face as she continued shouting, "Help! Someone''s assaulting me!" Pedestrians and shopkeepers turned to look. Ethan, who had just been in a fight, looked haggard and had a torn sleeve from where a whip had struck him. In contrast, Evelyn was a pretty young girl with tears welling in her eyes, looking utterly pitiful. "Shut up!" Ethan shouted, growing increasingly irritated. But his outburst only made things worse. In an instant, a crowd surrounded him. A few older men even grabbed his arms. Ethan sighed. These were just ordinary people, good Samaritans with no ill intentions. He couldn''t fight back. If he wanted to, these elderly men wouldn''t stand a chance as he could send them sprawling. But they were just trying to help, thanks to Evelyn''s false alarm. Several men in their sixties and seventies twisted Ethan''s arms with surprising strength. Ethan, not wanting to hurt the elderly bystanders, allowed himself to be restrained. He looked up at Evelyn, who was now wearing a triumphant, mischievous grin. "Evelyn, what are you doing?" Ryan asked as he walked up behind her, watching the scene unfold. "Nothing much, just teaching this guy a lesson!" Evelyn turned to her older brother, excitedly recounting what had just happened. Ryan listened, then gave her a once-over and said flatly, "Evelyn, did a donkey kick you in the head or something?" Evelyn froze for a moment, then exploded like a tiger cub having its tail stepped on. "Ryan! How dare you insult me! Do you want me to tell Leeroy when we get home?" "Oh, go ahead. It''s not like we''ve been paid for the intel or the spirit capture yet," Ryan replied, his tone still indifferent. "And in a few days, if we don''t pay the rent for the shop¡­" At this, Evelyn''s face fell, and she looked troubled. She stomped her foot in frustration and pushed her way through the crowd of elderly onlookers. Ethan, meanwhile, was crouching on the ground, looking utterly puzzled by the whole situation. As Evelyn squeezed her way into the crowd, an elderly woman suddenly spoke up with a smile, "Alright, alright, let him go." Before Ethan could process what was happening, the woman took Evelyn''s hand and said warmly, "Evelyn, dear, this young man seems nice. Much better than the last few." Ethan''s mind was flooded with questions. ''What is she talking about?'' "Oh, Mrs. Thompson¡­ those other guys were real creeps!" Evelyn protested. "Ah, so this one''s not, then?" Mrs. Thompson teased. Evelyn''s face turned red, and she suddenly looked both embarrassed and flustered. Since middle school, she had used this trick to scare off persistent admirers. The boys would usually run off screaming, and some even tried to fight back, only to be tackled by the elderly crowd. Afterward, they would avoid her like the plague. A few had even tried underhanded tactics, like slipping some things into her drink. But Evelyn, having been trained by Dr. Aldric from a young age, was practically immune to most toxins. The last guy who tried ended up with eight broken ribs, courtesy of Leeroy, and a three-year curse from Ryan that supposedly brought bad luck. Whether the curse worked or not, it didn''t kill him, but it did spread rumors that anyone who pursued Evelyn would suffer misfortune. After that, the number of suitors dwindled, though a few still tried their luck from time to time. Usually, Evelyn would have disappeared by now, but this time, she stayed put. The elderly crowd, having watched her grow up, couldn''t resist teasing her. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They had all been neighbors for years and had taken care of the three siblings after Dr. Aldric disappeared. Without their help, the siblings might have starved during their first year on their own. Even the rent for the Mercer Wellness Center was three months overdue, but the landlord, also an old neighbor, had let it slide. Ryan clapped his hands. "Alright, show''s over. Head home, the rest are at the manor." Ethan sprang to his feet the second he got the chance. The elderly crowd laughed and began dispersing, leaving with teasing smiles. "Ryan, aren''t you coming? Did you deal with that¡­ thing?" Evelyn asked, careful not to mention ghost in front of so many people. Ryan paused mid-turn. "Uh¡­ I used a bit of Leeroy''s blood to suppress it for now, but that halfling''s blood won''t cut it. I need blood from a purebred black dog to make a proper spirit-binding charm." Ethan barely stopped himself from choking on his own laughter. Was Ryan seriously calling his brother a half-bred dog? Chapter 207 - 207: Strange Code After saying goodbye to Ryan, Evelyn led the way. She didn''t say a word, and Ethan was more than happy to enjoy the silence. Who knew what kind of trouble she might stir up if he tried to talk to her? Soon, they arrived at a large, walled estate. The gate was made of redwood, a rare sight in this part of the city. In fact, such a private, standalone courtyard was almost unheard of in Ember City. Above the gate hung a beautiful ornate carving that read: Mercer Manor. Ethan''s eyes widened. ''This is some serious wealth,'' he thought. In the middle of a sprawling metropolis, this place had somehow escaped the clutches of urban development. As he glanced at the plaque on the wall beside the gate, he understood why. [Historic Landmark Building] The plaque bore three large words, with smaller text below explaining its historical significance. Ethan didn''t bother reading the details. He followed Evelyn as she pushed open the redwood gate and stepped inside. The moment they entered, Ethan saw Victor and Williams sitting at a stone table in the courtyard. To his surprise, Leo, who had been missing for a while, was also there. Ethan paused, then walked over and asked, "Leo, where have you been?" "Ethan!" Leo waved, greeting him with a smile. But when Ethan asked his question, Leo''s expression turned awkward. "Don''t even ask. I got hungry on the way to the hospital and saw a street vendor selling Burrito. I asked if anyone wanted some, but you guys were too busy listening to Williams ramble about that water spirit nonsense. No one answered me, so I got one for myself. It was so good, I decided to grab a few more for you guys. But when I went to pay, I realized my phone and wallet were gone. Can you believe it? Someone actually pickpocketed me! I had to talk my way out of paying the vendor. Since I couldn''t reach you, I went to the ICU to look for you, but you were gone. I had no choice but to head back to the gym and find Celia. I tried calling you, but no one answered. Finally, I got through just now, so I borrowed Celia''s phone and came straight here." Leo rambled on for a while, and Ethan listened with a furrowed brow. When Leo finished, Ethan pulled out his phone, tapped on Leo''s profile, and played a 59-second voice message. "This wasn''t you?" Ethan asked. The message was nothing but static: Zzz¡­ hiss¡­ zzz¡­ Both Victor and Williams had heard the message before. They looked at Leo, curious for his response. Leo shook his head and pointed to the timestamp on the message. "Look at the time. By then, I was already back at the gym." He then pulled out Celia''s phone, scrolled through the call log, and showed them the time of his call. It was a few minutes earlier than the voice message. Ethan nodded. "I already knew it wasn''t you when I figured out what the message meant." This only deepened the confusion for Victor and Williams. When Ethan had first played the message for them, he''d asked if they could decipher it. Both had listened carefully but found nothing unusual. Ethan had even joked, "Is it Morse code?" But neither of them had any clue. So how had Ethan figured it out? Seeing their confused expressions, Ethan picked up a stone and began etching symbols into the dirt. As the strange buzzing and hissing sounds continued, he made the connection: each buzzing sound was a "0," and each hissing sound was a "1." By the time Ethan was done, the courtyard of Mercer Manor was covered with a dense grid of 0s and 1s. Using the stone, he circled the first two lines of numbers: 01110100 01110010 01100001 01110000 01101001 01101100 01101100 01110101 01110011 01101001 01101111 01101110 He pointed to the first line and said, "This is basic binary code. The first line translates to the word ''trap,'' and the second line is ''illusion.'' The rest of the sequence spells out ''little girl''¡­ When I figured this out, I knew it couldn''t have been Leo who sent this message. But whoever did is clearly someone who knows me well¡ªmy major is software engineering, and this is basic stuff for me. The real question is, who sent it? And why steal Leo''s phone to do it?" Because of this message, I paid extra attention to that little girl, and sure enough, I noticed something unusual about her." Ethan spoke confidently, leaving Leo, Victor, and Williams utterly baffled. Leo rubbed his head and muttered, "Who the hell sends messages like this? It''s way too complicated! You''d have to be crazy or just plain stupid!" As soon as he finished speaking, the gate creaked open, and Ryan walked in. He was carrying a bottle, presumably filled with the purebred black dog''s blood he''d been searching for. Evelyn, hearing the gate, came out of the house and saw him. She shouted excitedly, "Ryan, you''re back!" The moment she spoke, someone burst out of the house¡ªLeeroy, already in his transformed state. His speed was incredible, and in an instant, he was next to Ryan. Without warning, he kicked Ryan square in the chest. Crash! Bang! Thud! Ethan, Victor, Leo, and Williams watched in stunned silence at first, then winced as the beating continued. Eventually, they just looked bored. Meanwhile, Evelyn grabbed a small stool, sat down, and started munching on sunflower seeds, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle of Ryan getting pummeled by Leeroy. The ''fight'' lasted a solid fifteen minutes. Finally, Leeroy, exhausted, stopped and stood there panting. Ryan, who had been covering his head the entire time, slowly lowered his arms. His face was completely unharmed, but he wore a pitiful expression as he whined, "Dude, why''d you hit me?" Leeroy, still catching his breath, glared at him. "You''ve got some nerve asking me that! You said you needed my blood for the Spirit-binding charm, and I let you take it, didn''t I? Then you went out looking for a purebred black dog! That''s what you said, right?" Ryan, realizing what had happened, pointed a trembling finger at Evelyn. "Evelyn¡­ you¡­" Before he could finish, he suddenly passed out. Evelyn stood up, walked over, and gave him a light kick. "Hmph, Ryan, that''s what you get for insulting me!" Leeroy, confused, blinked at Evelyn. "Eve, what did Ryan say to you? Should I beat him up again?" Evelyn waved her hand dismissively. "Thanks, big bro, but it''s fine. I don''t know what you think, but I couldn''t stand him calling you a mutt!" She then knelt beside Ryan, her hands glowing with a faint yellow aura, and began healing his wounds. Her energy was truly remarkable¡ªwithin seconds, the bruises covering Ryan''s body faded away. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The whole scene played out in front of Ethan and the others. They exchanged glances, each seeing the same mix of disbelief and amusement in the others'' eyes. They wanted to laugh but weren''t sure if they should. Their sides were practically hurting from holding it in. Ethan didn''t know whether to be concerned. One sibling snitched, the other snapped and dished out a full-on beatdown, the victim fainted more from sheer outrage than actual injuries, and now the instigator was casually healing him like nothing happened. It was the most dysfunctional yet oddly efficient family dynamic he had ever seen. But just as they thought the drama was over, they realized it was only the beginning. Chapter 208 - 208: Spirit Grudge It was already late, and Ryan had long since woken up. Ethan turned to him and asked, "How''s Jade doing? Can we talk to her?" The moment he asked, everyone''s eyes were on him. Ethan quickly explained, "She''s the spirit. She used to be my high school classmate." His explanation only made things worse. The looks he got from the group grew even more suspicious. Williams, who rarely spoke, gave him a strange look and said, "Ethan¡­ you didn''t, you know, sleep with her and then ditch her, did you?" As soon as he said it, everyone''s expressions shifted to one of understanding, as if they''d just pieced together some scandalous story. Evelyn, on the other hand, looked at Ethan with disgust. Leo, sitting next to Ethan, was completely lost. He tilted his head and asked, "Who''s Jade? What spirit? And does Lyla know about this whole ''sleeping with her'' thing?" "She knows¡­ wait, no!" Ethan blurted out instinctively, then quickly corrected himself. "What are you all talking about? We were just classmates!" He then recounted how he''d run into Jade, how he''d bought the gym in a fit of anger, and how he''d ended up firing her. Only then did the group seem to understand. But they were still curious. Why did Jade hate Ethan so much? Why had she lunged at him, even as the whip struck her, with such ferocity? Being fired couldn''t possibly explain that level of hatred, could it? Even Ethan was puzzled. That''s why he''d asked Ryan if they could communicate with Jade. He wanted to know how she had died and why she harbored such intense hatred toward him. Ryan checked the time. His words were slightly slurred from biting his tongue during the earlier beating. "We can try, but it''s not the right time yet. We''ll have to wait until midnight. But¡­" He paused, glancing at Ethan, then continued, "She''s extremely aggressive. It took a lot of effort to subdue her. If she sees you and goes berserk, we might have no choice but to destroy her." He stopped again, waiting for Ethan''s response. Ethan understood what Ryan was implying. After a moment of thought, he said, "If we destroy her, what happens to Rowan and the others? The four in the hospital?" As soon as Ethan finished speaking, Ryan turned to look at Evelyn. Ethan, confused, followed his gaze. "Why are you looking at me? You haven''t paid me a single cent yet. I''m not doing anything for free!" Evelyn shot Ethan a glare and went back to munching on sunflower seeds. Ethan chuckled awkwardly and pulled out his phone. "Alright, boss, let''s settle the bill. How much do I owe you?" Evelyn''s eyes lit up. She pulled out a calculator from who-knows-where and started tapping away. Ethan was stunned. Who carries a calculator around with them? After a flurry of button presses, she named her price: $20,000. Ethan didn''t bother haggling. In Ethereal, a single high-grade Instant Health Potion cost more than that. He transferred the money without a second thought. Evelyn looked disappointed when she realized Ethan wasn''t going to negotiate. ''I should''ve asked for more,'' she thought. But then she added, "Oh, and there''s also the security fee. Since you didn''t catch that Rubber Man from the Ninth Division, our safety is now at risk. That''ll be another $200,000." Ethan rolled his eyes. "That''s not my fault. I almost had him, but then I ran into something strange¡­" He went on to describe the strange black-and-white phenomenon he''d encountered. Ryan suddenly interrupted, "Dude, if you''re going to lie, at least make it believable¡­" "Huh?" Ethan was taken aback. "Why don''t you just say you ran into winter and summer at the same time? If you don''t want to pay, just say so¡­" Ryan rolled his eyes, clearly not buying Ethan''s story. He thought Ethan was making things up to avoid paying. Being doubted like that seriously annoyed Ethan. "What the hell are you talking about, winter and summer? Explain yourself properly." Ryan straightened his back and, out of nowhere, recited: "Beyond the Northwestern Sea, past the bloodstained tides of Redwater, There lieth Hollowshade Peak, veiled in mist and shadowed woe. There dwelleth the god, whose face is man''s, yet whose form doth coil like the serpent, Crimson as spilled blood, with eyes that waver not, nor ever close in sleep. When those dread orbs shut fast, night''s black veil descendeth, And when they yawn once more, the world is drowned in blinding light. A breath from His lips calleth forth the winter''s howling wrath, A weary sigh unshackleth the sun''s burning ire. He taketh no meat, knoweth no slumber, nor bendeth to toil or rest, For wind and rain be but His messengers, heralding His will. After finishing, Ryan sat there smugly, as if he''d just dropped some profound wisdom. Everyone waited for him to continue, but he just stopped there. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thud! "Speak English, damn it!" Leeroy suddenly kicked Ryan, sending him tumbling off his stool. "Ow! Dude, can you not resort to violence every damn time?" "I''ll stop when you stop talking nonsense." Ethan and the others were at a loss for words. These two were a riot. Ryan picked up his stool, looking aggrieved. "Is it that hard to understand? What I meant was: There''s a so-called deity on a Mountain, with a serpent''s body and a human face. When it opens its eyes, night turns to day. When it closes them, day turns to night. Its breath brings winter, and its exhalation brings summer. It''s called the Abyssal Dragon, but some people also call it Candle Abyss. There''s also some other bizarre beliefs concerning this entity, I won''t go into detail." At this point, Ethan, Victor, and the others were wide-eyed. Ethan shot to his feet. "These bizarre beliefs¡­ Does it say that the Candle Abyss is actually two creatures combined? That the ''Candle'' is a type of parasite? And that ''Abyss'' is the serpent part? The parasite usually clings to the serpent''s body, making up its scales?" (AN: I''ve made a slight change to Chapter 157, where Doe explains the origins of the Candle Abyss. Feel free to check back on that chapter.) Hearing Ethan''s words Ryan was stunned into silence. He stood up and looked at Leeroy. "See? I told you and Evelyn earlier! He''s just trying to avoid paying. If he knows such an archaic legend, he''s definitely messing with us. And you said he wasn''t that kind of person." Leeroy, after hearing Ethan''s explanation, also stared at him intently for a moment. But then he said, "You two only care about money. If it weren''t for them today, would the three of us even be alive? The $20,000 is enough to cover the rent." After Leeroy''s words, both Evelyn and Ryan fell silent. Ethan sat back down, and Victor, Leo, and Williams exchanged glances. They all had the same thought: the person Ethan had encountered was likely Celeste. But why had Celeste saved that guy? "Ethan, that voice message¡­" Victor asked tentatively. Ethan nodded. "She''s my senior, from the same major as me." Victor suddenly understood. The mystery of Leo''s missing phone was solved. With Celeste''s skills, it would''ve been easy for her to pickpocket Leo. That meant the binary message had also been sent by her, using a method only a programmer like Ethan would understand. As for why she''d done it, it was likely to avoid surveillance or for some other reason. But why had she intervened to save that guy? That part still didn''t make sense. Celeste must already be working with the enemy. Did that mean the Rubber guy was part of that mysterious organization? At first, they''d assumed the team they fought today was part of the Ninth Division. But still, none of them could believe the Ninth Division could be that ruthless, that inhumanly cold. Chapter 209 - 209: Three Factions Everyone quieted down. Even Evelyn and Ryan, who had been eyeing Ethan and the others with suspicion, could sense something was off. Though they still harbored thoughts of squeezing more money out of the situation, they wisely chose to keep their mouths shut. The courtyard fell into silence. After a while, it was Ethan who broke the quiet. "Why are you all so afraid of the Ninth Division?" The moment he asked the question, the three Chase siblings stared at him in shock. Ryan shook his head and walked out of the room without a word. Evelyn pursed her lips and turned away, refusing to look at him. Leeroy hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking, "You¡­ you''re not new recruits to the Ninth Division, are you?" Ethan and his companions exchanged awkward glances before slowly nodding. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Leeroy''s expression shifted to one of realization, as if he had expected this. He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated, leaving the room in suspense. Finally, Evelyn stepped in. "You do know that the Ninth Division is split into three factions, right?" Ethan''s curiosity was piqued. This was news to him. "Care to fill us in? Do we need to pay you for this info?" Ethan asked, trying to sound casual. Evelyn took a deep breath, ready to explain, but then seemed to deflate. "Forget it. No amount of money will help us now. We can''t stay here much longer anyway. Sooner or later, we''ll have to leave. It''s just¡­ when Grandpa comes back¡­ he won''t find us¡­" Her voice trailed off, and tears welled up in her eyes. She began to sob softly. Ethan and his friends were taken aback by her sudden emotional outburst. Leeroy quickly moved to comfort her. From Leeroy''s words, Ethan pieced together the reason for Evelyn''s distress. The courtyard they were standing in was about to be seized. The property, a historically protected building, had been gifted to the state by Dr. Aldric, their grandfather. But since his disappearance over a year ago, the family''s right to live there was hanging by a thread. If Dr. Aldric wasn''t declared dead within the next few months, they would lose their residency rights. Eviction was inevitable. Evelyn had been holding onto hope that her grandfather would return one day. That hope had kept her going, even as she struggled to keep the Mercer Wellness Center afloat. After Leeroy managed to calm Evelyn down, he turned back to Ethan and the others, picking up where Evelyn had left off. Ethan and his friends were not only new to the Ninth Division but also completely unaware of the hidden world that existed beneath the surface of ordinary society. They were like complete novices, unfamiliar with the rules and intricacies of this secretive organization. Through their conversation with Leeroy, they began to learn more. The Ninth Division was currently divided into three factions: the Originalists, the Dissenters, and the Unaligned. The Dissenters had emerged within the last thirty years. They had begun to handle matters in their own way, disregarding the original rules and regulations of the Ninth Division. Their methods were more brutal and efficient, but they often crossed ethical lines. The Originalists, on the other hand, had repeatedly tried to curb the rise of the Dissenters. But the Dissenters didn''t play by the rules, making them a formidable and unpredictable force. Over the years, many of the old guard from the Originalists had mysteriously died off. As a result, the Originalists had begun to decline, while the Dissenters gradually took control of the Ninth Division. The Unaligned, as the name suggested, were those who hadn''t joined either faction. They lived quietly, avoiding contact with the Ninth Division as much as possible. In essence, they were the outcasts of the organization. Most were either new recruits or individuals without enough power to be worth recruiting by either faction. There were also a few older members who wanted to quietly exit the Ninth Division, disillusioned by its direction. In short, the Unaligned had the least influence within the Ninth Division. Initially, the Chase siblings had hoped Ethan and his group were part of the Originalists, believing they might offer some protection. But when they learned that Ethan and his friends were new recruits, they assumed they were Unaligned. This realization left Evelyn deeply frustrated. Now, Evelyn was ready to give up on her grandfather''s legacy¡ªDr. Aldric''s estate and leave to lay low for a while. As Leeroy explained all this, Ethan and his companions began to piece things together. Was the mysterious organization Celeste had mentioned¡ªthe one infiltrating the Ninth Division, actually manipulating the Dissenters from behind the scenes? If so, it made sense why Celeste had intervened to save the Rubber Man earlier. Thinking back, it was no wonder Celeste had urged them to leave the Ninth Division when they were in Shadow Lynx Village. The situation was far more complicated than they had imagined. At the time, Celeste had been severely weakened by the Shadow Eater parasite and had been on the brink of death. She had seen potential in Ethan, hoping to introduce him to Director Vaughn. Her plan was for Ethan to infiltrate the enemy''s ranks. If that was the case, Celeste and Vaughn were likely part of the Originalists. But plans rarely go as expected. Not only had Celeste survived, but through a twist of fate¡ªand with the combined efforts of Morzan and Ethan¡ªshe had managed to fully absorb Doe''s soul energy and gain control over the Drum, a relic that granted her the ability to command the legendary creature, Candle Abyss. Though, in Ethan''s opinion, Candle Abyss wasn''t as formidable as the legends made it out to be. Earlier, he had seen its power extend only about a kilometer, creating a stark contrast between light and darkness. While impressive, it was far from the world-altering force the stories described. Ethan glanced at his watch. It was almost midnight. Just as he was about to ask where Ryan had gone, he heard a shout from outside. "It''s time! Come out and help!" Ethan and his friends stepped outside to find Ryan dressed in a traditional robe, holding a wooden sword. They weren''t sure what kind of wood it was, but they guessed it might be peach wood, given the outfit''s resemblance to the iconic ghost-hunting movies that had once been wildly popular. Ryan stood in front of a table laden with incense and ritual items, looking every bit the part of a seasoned exorcist. He waved the wooden sword around dramatically, though Ethan and the others had no idea what he was doing. If they had to guess, based on movies and TV shows, he was probably performing some kind of ritual. Just then, Leeroy emerged from the house and called out, "Ryan, stop messing around. They''re Unaligned." Ryan froze mid-swing, nearly twisting his back. He turned to Leeroy, confused. "What did you say?" Leeroy glanced at Ethan and his friends, a little embarrassed, but repeated, "I said, they just joined the Ninth Division!" "Damn it! What a waste of effort. I thought we''d finally caught a break with a couple of Energy Users, one of whom can even project his Soul Sense. I was hoping we could avoid disaster this time!" Ryan threw the wooden sword to the ground in frustration, yanked off his robe, and tossed it aside. He grabbed a black clay jar from the table and hurled it toward Ethan. Chapter 210 - 210: Spirit in the Jar Ryan watched as Ethan caught the jar. "Break the seal and ask whatever you want. After that, figure out how to deal with it yourself," he said, then turned and walked away. The whole situation left Ethan and his friends completely baffled. "How do we deal with it? Destroy it? What about the people in the hospital?" Ethan called after him. Ryan didn''t respond, but Leeroy, standing nearby, answered instead. "Before you got here, Evelyn already went to the hospital. Everything''s fine there now." "Fine?" Ethan was taken aback. "Yeah," Leeroy said with a sigh. "It''s not like we didn''t have a way to deal with the Ghost Parasites before. We were just worried that if we cured one person, it might alert the curse caster and put the other three in danger. We were trying to track down the source. We thought reporting it to the Ninth Division might help us earn some extra cash, but¡­ well, you see how that turned out. If you hadn''t shown up when you did, the three of us would probably be dead by now." Leeroy shook his head, his expression heavy with frustration. Listening to him, Ethan realized that despite their money-grubbing exterior, the Chase siblings had good hearts. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have rushed to the hospital to help Rowan and the others as soon as they returned. Ethan held the jar in his hands, torn about what to do. Ryan had warned him that if Jade''s spirit went out of control, they''d have no choice but to destroy it. No matter how much bad blood there had been between Ethan and Jade in the past, they were still old classmates. Their feud hadn''t reached the point where he''d want to kill her. Besides, he''d already gotten his revenge when he got her fired and humiliated her. She''d even returned the bracelet Lyla had given him. And now she was dead. If they destroyed her spirit, she''d most definitely lose any chance of reincarnation. Ethan hadn''t believed in reincarnation before, but after his trip to the Underworld, he knew it was real. Sure, the journey was fraught with dangers¡ªlike the strange man at the bridge who slaughtered spirits and the monstrous fish in the River of Blood¡ªbut there was still a chance to make it through. If Jade''s spirit was destroyed here, that chance would be gone forever. But if he didn''t open the jar, he''d never know how she''d become a spirit in the first place. If her death was somehow his fault, he''d never be able to live with himself. As Ethan stood there, lost in thought, the jar was suddenly snatched from his hands. "I''ve never seen a real ghost before¡­" "Wait¡ª!" Rip. Before Ethan could stop him, Leo, who had been standing right next to him, tore off the Spirit-binding Charm sealing the jar. Boom. The jar exploded. Ethan''s heart sank. A thick white mist poured out, filling the courtyard and obscuring everyone''s vision. Strangely, the mist didn''t spread beyond the courtyard walls. Ethan immediately expanded his Soul Sense, but as it reached the edge of the courtyard, he felt a slight resistance, as if he''d hit a thin, invisible barrier. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He noticed a faint shimmering light enveloping the entire property. ''Impressive. This place is protected by a magic barrier.'' The mist dissipated as quickly as it had appeared. When everyone''s vision cleared, nothing seemed out of the ordinary¡ªexcept for two people who looked visibly uneasy. One was Ethan, his face filled with concern. The other person who looked uneasy was Leo, who was usually the joker of the group. But now, his face was pale, and his entire body was drenched, as if he''d been dunked in water. Victor and Williams noticed something was off immediately. Leo stood with his eyes closed, head bowed. Steam rose from his body, as if he were sweating out a lifetime''s worth of moisture. A puddle had already formed at his feet. "Jade?" Ethan asked cautiously. "Ethan¡­" Leo''s voice came out in a strange, distorted mix of male and female tones, sending chills down everyone''s spines. His eyes, now completely white and pupil-less, locked onto Ethan. Victor glanced at Leo, frowned, and hesitated for a moment before leaning in to whisper something in Ethan''s ear. Ethan''s expression shifted slightly after hearing it. "I want you dead¡­" Leo said, his voice still eerily dual-toned, before lunging at Ethan. Williams moved to intercept him, but Victor grabbed his arm and shook his head, holding him back. In that brief moment, Leo reached Ethan and wrapped his hands around Ethan''s throat. Ethan didn''t flinch. He stood perfectly still, letting Leo''s hands tighten around his neck. "Jade¡­ stop messing around," Ethan said calmly. At his words, Leo''s body jerked as if electrocuted. He released Ethan and stumbled back several steps. Ethan smiled faintly. "I told you, you can''t scare him," Ryan said, stepping out of the house. He was carrying a large, soaking-wet teddy bear, clearly just pulled from a water barrel. He tossed the bear in front of Leo and added, "Come out already, or this guy''s going to dehydrate to death!" "Okay¡­" Leo''s voice shifted to a distinctly feminine tone before he collapsed to the ground. In Ethan''s Soul Sense, he saw a wisp of white mist leave Leo''s body and settle into the wet teddy bear. The bear then stood up on its own, moving unnaturally. "Hey, give me a hand here!" Ryan called to Victor and Williams, who helped carry the unconscious Leo inside. The courtyard was now empty except for Ethan and the possessed teddy bear. "You¡­" Ethan started, unsure how to begin. "Let me talk. I don''t have much time¡­" The voice coming from the teddy bear was normal now, though the sight of a talking stuffed animal was still unsettling. Jade cut straight to the point, beginning to explain what had happened to her over the past two months. --- Flashback: One Month Earlier Just before Ethan and the others had left for Ravenwood, there had been an incident at the gym involving Leon and his crew. That same day, in a hotel room in Ember City, a woman was scrolling through her phone, reading about the incident. "This can''t be¡­ Ethan¡­" The woman''s expression shifted from shock to deep resentment. If Ethan had been there, he would have recognized her immediately¡ªit was Jade, the woman he''d let off the hook months ago. She closed the video and angrily tossed her phone aside. But after a moment, she picked it up again and scrolled through her contacts until she found a specific number. She dialed it. "Hello, I''m looking for Henry Joe¡­" "One moment," a man''s voice replied on the other end. The number Jade had dialed was Henry''s private line, known only to a select few. Henry Joe was the man behind Leon, the one who had caused the gym incident. As the son of Commissioner Joe, Henry was a powerful figure in Ember City. His influence was such that even a small move from him could send ripples through the entire city. Among his many lackeys was Len, the red-haired troublemaker who had climbed his way up through Leon''s connections to gain a sliver of Henry''s attention. Chapter 211 - 211: The Reason for Hatred After leaving the gym, Jade had reluctantly agreed to date Len after his relentless pursuit. Despite his carefree and often irresponsible demeanor, Len had been surprisingly attentive to her. Eventually, their relationship progressed, and to Len''s shock, Jade, who had always seemed so worldly, was actually a virgin. At first, Len was thrilled, but that thrill quickly turned to regret. If he''d known she was untouched, he could''ve handed her over to Henry. That would''ve been his ticket to the top! Later, during a casual outing, Len had introduced Jade to Henry. Henry had shown some interest in her, and Len''s eyes had lit up with opportunity. He began subtly pushing Jade toward Henry, hoping to curry favor. If Jade hadn''t found an excuse to slip away that day, she might have ended up in Henry''s clutches. The incident led to a huge fight between Jade and Len. But soon after, Jade discovered she was pregnant. When Len found out, his attitude changed completely. He became devoted, taking care of her and even covering her mother''s hospital bills. It seemed like the former playboy was finally stepping up, ready to take on the responsibilities of fatherhood. For a while, Jade began to truly accept Len into her life. But that peace didn''t last. One day, while working at the hotel, Jade took a break and glanced at her phone. That''s when she saw the news report about Len and his crew being arrested. The life she had started to build¡ªone of quiet contentment, was shattered. Her resentment toward Ethan flared up again. In a moment of desperation, she dialed the number Henry had given her. Her plan was twofold: she wanted Henry to help free Len, and she hoped to use his influence to get revenge on Ethan. But that decision would lead her down a path of no return. That night, Henry instructed Jade to meet him at The Den, a high-end hot spring resort. Jade knew what she was walking into. She understood that meeting Henry would come at a cost, but she was willing to pay it to save Len. She dressed carefully, preparing herself for what was to come. When she arrived, Henry greeted her warmly, just as she expected. She pleaded with him to help Len, and he assured her it would be no problem. But then, a strange old man appeared. The man was cloaked entirely in black robes, an odd sight in the luxurious setting of The Den. Jade assumed he was elderly based on his hunched posture and raspy voice. The man studied her for a moment before whispering something in Henry''s ear. Henry''s demeanor changed instantly. He looked at Jade with disgust, then turned and left the room with his entourage, leaving her alone with the old man. Jade, confused and frightened, tried to leave, but before she could, the old man spoke. "Young girl, the child in your womb¡ªjust under a month old, is the perfect material for my Water Elemental Ghost Infant Curse. And the water here¡­ it''s ideal for the ritual." With a wave of his hand, Jade felt an invisible force seize her body. She was dragged into the hot spring, her movements completely out of her control. Despite the shallow depth of the pool, it felt as if a thousand-pound weight was pressing down on her, forcing her underwater. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She struggled, gasping for air as the warm water filled her lungs. Strangely, Jade remained fully conscious, unable to black out despite the agony. The old man crouched at the edge of the pool, his hands moving in intricate patterns. Waves of black mist surged into the water, weaving together like chains. Jade would later learn that the black mist was actually countless parasites. The dark tendrils seeped into her abdomen, and she watched in horror as her stomach began to swell unnaturally. The child inside her grew at an alarming rate. Then came the searing pain of her body tearing apart. The unbearable agony finally overwhelmed her, and she lost consciousness. In that final moment before darkness took her, Jade felt nothing but hatred. She hated Ethan for ruining her life, Len for dragging her into this mess, Henry for his cruelty, and the old man for what he was doing to her. She even hated her father, who had left her with crippling debt before taking his own life. She hated her mother, bedridden and dependent, a constant burden. And she hated the child growing inside her¡ªa child that had become a tool for someone else''s dark ritual. --- Flashback: The Night of the Massacre Jade didn''t know how much time had passed when she suddenly heard voices. "Bro, there are too many guards here. If we just barge in, we''ll get caught before we can film anything." "Yeah. Should we call Ethan? He''s good at this kind of thing." "Let''s not involve Ethan. If we''re caught, we''ll have to explain this to JJ. You three insisted on coming along, but this is getting risky." "What''s there to explain? We''ll just send him the video and tell him to stay away from that toxic woman!" "Exactly! Last time I saw her getting into that Serpent Islander''s car, I told JJ, but he didn''t believe me. This time, we''ll have proof!" The voices belonged to Rowan, Greg, and two others. They were hiding in the same room where Jade had been attacked¡ªa room that had been abandoned for some time. The four of them were peeking out the door, their target being the private room across the hall. The mention of Ethan''s name twice was what finally stirred Jade back to consciousness. A surge of resentment erupted within her. "The hell¡­ You idiots!" The angry shout came from the hallway, and was backed with a foreign accent. It indicated that Rowan and his friends had been discovered. At the same moment, Jade burst out of the water, lunging toward the door¡­ --- Present Day Ethan, Leo, and the others sat in a taxi, the atmosphere heavy with silence. Ethan was lost in thought, replaying the events of the day. While Jade''s death wasn''t directly his fault, her story made it clear that he was indirectly involved. After Jade had awakened and massacred everyone at The Den, her rage had finally subsided. The first victims of her rampage had been Rowan and his friends. Half of the Ghost Parasites inside her had been forced into their bodies. But because Jade was still disoriented and unfamiliar with her newfound powers, the parasites didn''t kill them outright. The others at The Den weren''t so lucky. In her bloodlust, Jade had slaughtered everyone in the resort that night. When she finally regained her senses and realized what she had done, she was filled with remorse. Remembering the conversation she had overheard while unconscious, Jade knew that Rowan and his friends were Ethan''s classmates. She found them unconscious and realized that if she removed the parasites from their bodies, they would wither and die like the others. So, she carried them back to their school, assuming Ethan would be there. By then, Jade had come to a realization: out of everyone she knew, Ethan was the only one she could trust. But when she arrived at the school, she discovered that Ethan wasn''t there. Chapter 212 - 212: The Division’s Hunt Jade had brought Rowan and the others back to the school herself, which explained why the sensors on the Aeon Corporation VR headsets hadn''t detected their presence. Their auras had been completely masked by the spiritual energy surrounding Jade. Unable to find Ethan at the school, Jade couldn''t stay long in such a high-energy environment, pulsing with raw vitality. The male dormitory, in particular, was a place brimming with intense life force, making it unbearable for spirits like her to remain. This was why, at the end of every academic year, the male and female dormitories were swapped¡ªa practice quietly adopted by universities across the country, despite the official stance against superstition. Jade also realized she couldn''t stay away from water¡ªor The Den, for too long. Reluctantly, she returned to the resort. Not long after Jade returned to The Den, the Ninth Division squad Ethan and his friends had encountered arrived. Despite her efforts to resist, she was quickly subdued by the woman wielding that whip made of some special material. Once captured, the squad didn''t leave immediately. From their conversation, Jade learned they hadn''t come for her. Their real target was the old man¡ªthe Curse Caster. According to them, the old man had been lurking at The Den for a long time, and Jade wasn''t his only victim. They had been tracking the Curse Caster and had stumbled upon Jade by chance. What''s more, they had witnessed her entire rampage, including her trip to the school with Rowan and the others. They had been watching her the whole time. To Jade''s shock, they also knew about Ethan. They had used Rowan and his friends as bait, hoping to lure Ethan and his team into a trap. This was an unexpected bonus for them: not only had they discovered a newly formed Broodmother, but they had also uncovered a lead on Ethan. The squad had no direct information about Ethan, but they knew that Celeste had once recruited at his school. Based on this, they speculated that Ethan might be the deputy leader of Celeste''s M Squad. Rumors within the Ninth Division suggested that Celeste had gone rogue, and her entire team had gone off the grid. All records of Ethan and the others had been erased, making it nearly impossible for anyone to track them down. When the squad had first arrived in Ember City, they had investigated the university and found several people named Ethan. After thorough vetting, all of them turned out to be ordinary students¡ªexcept for one. This Ethan had barely scraped by in his classes, even failing combat training every year. Labeled a "waste" by the school, he was the only one whose whereabouts were unaccounted for, as he hadn''t been on campus for some time. During their investigation, the squad had interacted with Rowan and his friends. So when they found the four of them, they were certain they''d hit the jackpot. Even if Jade hadn''t regained her senses, they would have intervened, saved Rowan and the others, and used them as bait to draw out Ethan. Now, after learning about the factions within the Ninth Division, Ethan began to piece things together. It seemed Director Vaughn had erased their records to protect them. This meant that, officially, Ethan and his team were no longer members of the Ninth Division. That explained why Victor''s Ninth Division credentials hadn''t been thoroughly verified earlier. The Ninth Division wasn''t something just anyone could impersonate. Even if someone tried, they''d have no way to verify their credentials, and the consequences of getting caught were unimaginable. In the world of Energy Users, the Ninth Division''s reputation was terrifying. No one dared to impersonate them. If caught, death would be the least of your worries. Even if you weren''t caught, just the rumor of impersonation could put you on their radar. Rumor had it that the Dissenters had developed numerous methods to control people. If they got their hands on you, they could manipulate your body even after death, forcing you to turn on your own allies. It was a fate worse than death. Logically, the Dissenters'' rapid expansion should have been stopped long ago. But the only ones capable of stopping them were other Energy Users. The Originalists, however, were too weak to pose a threat. And the government couldn''t exactly invite foreign organizations to handle the problem¡ªthat would risk the Ninth Division falling into enemy hands. Fortunately, the Dissenters'' brutal methods were primarily aimed at Energy Users. They had little impact on ordinary society. As long as they kept the supernatural world in check and didn''t disrupt the lives of regular people, the government turned a blind eye. In fact, under the Dissenters'' iron-fisted rule, Energy Users had become more cautious than ever, living in constant fear of drawing the Ninth Division''s attention. Perhaps there was some merit to their harsh tactics. This was also why the Chase siblings were so terrified of the Ninth Division. It wasn''t just fear¡ªEvelyn was bordering on despair. Ever since she was old enough to understand, she had been investigating her parents'' disappearance. Every clue pointed to the Ninth Division. Now, with her grandfather missing, she was certain the Ninth Division was behind it. She just couldn''t figure out why her entire family had become targets. Evelyn had always harbored hatred for the Ninth Division, but now that she was directly confronting them, she felt lost and overwhelmed. ¡ª As Ethan and his group prepared to leave the Manor, Ethan turned to Ryan and asked, "Will Jade be able to survive like this indefinitely?" Ryan shook his head. "The resentment that fuels a Wraith usually doesn''t dissipate so easily. In her case, it''s both a blessing and a curse. The good news is that she might find peace and even reincarnate in the Underworld. The bad news is that her past actions¡ªthe countless lives she took, will weigh heavily on her karma. Whether she''ll actually make it to the Underworld is anyone''s guess. Plus, without her resentment, she''ll grow weaker over time and might eventually fade away entirely." He paused, then added, "On top of that, she''s a Broodmother. If she could master her abilities, she might be able to sustain herself. But the knowledge available to the public is rudimentary at best. The real, powerful methods are closely guarded by secret organizations and powerful families." Ethan wasn''t entirely convinced by Ryan''s talk of karma, and he knew how difficult it would be to obtain advanced training methods, especially for something as niche as a Broodmother. Still, he pressed Ryan for more information, asking why Jade couldn''t leave the vicinity of The Den. Ryan explained, "She died there, and her spirit is tied to the water. The resentment she generated in that place binds her to it. In a way, she''s become the Water Spirit of that hot spring." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 213 - 213: Fractures in the Alliance The strange old man beside Henry had left remnants of ghost parasites inside Jade''s body when he extracted the child from her. These ghost parasites had fused with her spirit, granting her the ability to control them. More importantly, her remains were likely still buried at that location. Only by recovering her bones could she be fully freed, though for now, there was no way to locate them. However, Ryan assured them that he would handle the matter. The teddy bear Jade was currently possessing had been soaked in the hot springs from that area, providing a temporary vessel for her spirit. By the time Ethan and the others left, Jade had grown so weak inside the teddy bear that she could barely hold on. This was why she had urged Ethan not to speak¡ªshe knew her time was running out. To slow her dissipation, Ryan brought a black jar etched with sigils and sealed her inside. He explained to Ethan that if her spirit faded before her remains were properly laid to rest, she would never reach the Underworld. For Ryan, this was all new territory. But this was how his master had taught him, and Ethan and the others had no choice but to trust Dr. Aldric''s methods. While Ryan''s abilities leaned toward the supernatural and arcane, Evelyn''s medical skills were top-notch. Her expertise was a testament to Dr. Aldric''s genuine talent. After returning to the villa, Ethan called Ryan, urging him to expedite the process of resolving Jade''s situation. He also informed Ryan that he had transferred five hundred thousand dollars into Evelyn''s account, instructing them to leave Ember City as soon as the task was completed and find a safe place to lay low. Once everything was arranged, Ethan, exhausted, climbed into his VR Capsule. It was already past 3 a.m., and though he had lost valuable time, he needed to log back into the game immediately to continue leveling up. Lyla was still waiting for him to save her. "Lyla, hold on. I''ll find the Silverwood family''s territory," Ethan muttered to himself. "Even if I can''t rely on the Ninth Division''s guest pass anymore, I''ll risk everything to bring you back." Ding¡­ [Welcome to the world of Ethereal¡­] As soon as he logged in, Ethan instinctively opened the guild chat. Something felt off. Just as he was about to scroll through the chat history, Celia sent him a message. Some players from Renegade Alliance wanted to leave the guild and had already submitted their applications. In Ethereal''s guild system, players who wished to leave had to submit a request to the guild''s higher-ups. Once approved, they could exit without penalty. Any equipment they had exchanged from the guild vault would be reclaimed by the system, but the contribution points they had spent would be refunded at the current market rate, deducted from the guild''s funds. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, if the guild leadership denied the request and the players forcibly left, there were consequences. All equipment purchased with contribution points would be reclaimed and returned to the guild vault, and the contribution points would not be refunded. This was the punishment for betraying the guild. Even worse, players who left without approval would be barred from joining any guild for fifteen days. Normally, exit requests could be approved by vice leaders or Honorary leaders, so Ethan didn''t need to get involved. But today, the players wanting to leave were no ordinary members of Renegade Alliance. They were part of the elite corps. After Celia took over as Honorary Leader, she had formed one hundred elite teams, totaling three thousand players. This was done under Ethan''s direction, as he anticipated that large-scale raids requiring thousands of players would become common in the future. However, given Renegade Alliance''s current income, they could only afford to sustain an elite corps of this size. These players were selected from the general membership based on their skills, reaction times, character, and execution abilities. More importantly, they were willing to sign binding contracts with the guild. Once signed, they enjoyed elite-level benefits, including salaries, bonuses for participating in guild activities, and additional subsidies for leading expeditions. Because of this, their exit requests required Ethan''s personal approval. So, when Celia saw Ethan log in, she immediately sent him a message. Ethan''s heart sank. This was the first time anyone had requested to leave Renegade Alliance. Since its founding in the Starter Zone, the guild had only grown, with members constantly joining and not a single one leaving. "Who''s trying to leave?" Ethan asked. "First, it was ReaperX, FrozenYears, Cupid''s Wrath, VoidKnight, and TheActor¡ªthose five submitted their applications. But now it''s not just them. Over five hundred members from the elite corps have submitted exit requests, and the number is still growing," Celia explained, her tone heavy with concern. While these players weren''t the absolute top-tier members of the Renegade Alliance, ReaperX, FrozenYears, Cupid''s Wrath, VoidKnight, and TheActor were still among the best in the second tier. And with so many players leaving at once, this wasn''t just a minor issue¡ªit was a full-blown crisis. The negative impact on the guild''s reputation would be immeasurable. "Where are they now?" Ethan asked, already suspecting what had happened. These players had likely been bribed. With the regional boundaries still closed, the Steele Consortium was the wealthiest entity in the Northern Frontier Region. These players must have been offered better deals than what Renegade Alliance could provide. Greedy individuals, tempted by money, had decided to abandon the guild. And it wasn''t just about personal gain¡ªsomeone was orchestrating this to humiliate Renegade Alliance and tarnish its reputation. If Ethan approved their exit requests, they could leave without penalty, saving the Steele Consortium a significant amount of money. If he denied their requests, they would simply force their way out, and the Steele Consortium would cover any breach-of-contract penalties. These players had nothing to lose, and the Steele Consortium was more than willing to foot the bill. "They''re all in Harmony City, at the guild headquarters," Celia replied. She was still trying to reason with ReaperX, FrozenYears, Cupid''s Wrath, VoidKnight, and TheActor. These five were captains of three-hundred-player teams, each commanding ten squads of thirty players. They had originally been transferred from Leo''s team. Renegade Alliance''s first team had been formed by Leo, Victor, and SeraphWarrior back in the Starter Zone. Over time, some members had left, mostly those who felt they weren''t pulling their weight and chose to step aside. When Celia took over as Honorary Leader, she had discussed with Leo and Victor the need to select ten standout players from their teams to form ten three-hundred-player squads. Chapter 214 - 214: The Guilds Betrayal Ethan told Celia he''d be there soon. He had logged out near the Life Greenhouse the previous day, planning to start grinding mobs as soon as he logged back in. But Jade''s situation had delayed him until now. He had hoped to jump straight into farming, but now this guild crisis had erupted. Celia explained that as soon as she logged in today, ReaperX, FrozenYears, Cupid''s Wrath, VoidKnight, and TheActor had immediately submitted their exit requests. More applications had followed in quick succession. Knowing Ethan, Slashblade, and the others had important matters to attend to, she had been stalling for time. Now that Ethan was back, she finally felt some relief. Still, she continued trying to persuade the five leaders to reconsider. It didn''t take long for Ethan to reach the guild headquarters. The headquarters existed in its own independent space. From the outside, it didn''t look large, but inside, the training grounds could accommodate thousands of players. This was a feature available only to Level 6 guilds. At Level 5, entering the headquarters would have taken players directly to the guild hall. As Ethan stepped inside, he saw over a thousand Renegade Alliance members gathered in the square. Celia stood at the front with over a hundred loyal members behind her. Beside her were familiar faces like Skyblade, Slashblade, SeraphWarrior, and Meatball. Facing them were ReaperX, FrozenYears, Cupid''s Wrath, VoidKnight, and TheActor, leading a group of six to seven hundred players¡ªpresumably those who had submitted exit requests. Ethan recognized ReaperX and FrozenYears from the time he led the expert-level raid in Howling Caverns. The others were less familiar, but he still remembered them. "ReaperX," Skyblade spoke up, his voice firm. "Since you joined Renegade Alliance, I''ve always let you have first pick of tank gear during raids. Does this really sit right with your conscience?" ReaperX was a Shield Tank. Before the guild split into multiple teams, he had served as the off-tank. Whenever tank gear dropped, Skyblade had always let him choose first, taking whatever was left for himself. Skyblade, with his high-tier gear, didn''t need the lower-level drops as much. "FrozenYears," Skyblade continued, "last time you said you were in a tough spot in real life and needed an advance on your guild salary. I vouched for you, didn''t I? And all of you¡­" He pointed at the six to seven hundred players standing opposite him. "Think about what you''re doing. Does this really not weigh on your conscience?" FrozenYears looked ashamed and opened his mouth to speak, but ReaperX grabbed his arm, stopping him. ReaperX stepped forward, ignoring Skyblade, and addressed Celia directly. "Honorary Leader," he said firmly, "I''ve been with Renegade Alliance for a long time. If I haven''t contributed, I''ve at least put in the effort. Skyblade''s right¡ªyou''ve treated us well. But let''s not forget that Renegade Alliance''s success is also thanks to our hard work. Now we want to leave. People have their own paths to follow. We''re not here to ask for permission. We''re here to inform you, out of respect. That''s all." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Skyblade took a step forward, but before he could respond, a calm voice cut through the tension. "Oh? Just informing us, are you? Fine. Then go ahead and break your contracts." The crowd turned as Ethan walked through the parted sea of players. "Boss!" "Guild Leader!" The members greeted him with a mix of relief and anticipation. The players who wanted to leave hung their heads in shame. They were traitors to Renegade Alliance, and they had prepared themselves for a scathing reprimand from Ethan. Even ReaperX, who had been so defiant moments ago, avoided Ethan''s gaze. The others looked equally guilty, their respect and fear of Ethan evident. Though their guild leader wasn''t always present, they knew that Renegade Alliance''s success was entirely his doing. Their current status and benefits were all thanks to Ethan. And yet, here they were, ready to betray him for a fivefold increase in pay from another guild. Ethan walked through the crowd, his path cleared by the members. He wore a calm smile as he spoke, but his eyes were sharp and calculating. He knew this wave of defections was only the beginning. If handled poorly, it could devastate the guild''s morale and invite a flood of external criticism. "Brothers and sisters," Ethan began, his voice steady, "I know some of you are leaving Renegade Alliance for personal reasons, while others have been swayed by outside influences. Whatever your reasons, I understand. People always seek greener pastures. But¡­" His smile faded, and his tone turned icy. "No matter the reason, everyone must take responsibility for their decisions. And as for the promises Steele Consortium has made to you¡ªdon''t think I''m unaware of them. Let them pay for your betrayal. But let me ask you this: how many of you have actually dealt directly with Steele Consortium? For those who haven''t, do you really believe they''ll honor their promises? To make such a choice based on hearsay¡ªis that smart, or is it foolish? Think carefully." At this, ReaperX suddenly interrupted, "What Steele Consortium? Don''t you¡ª" Slap! Before anyone could react, Ethan''s hand shot out, striking ReaperX across the face and sending him sprawling to the ground. "Please don''t interrupt me," Ethan said calmly, still smiling as he looked down at ReaperX. The crowd erupted in murmurs, and some of the defectors glared at Ethan with open hostility. Even Slashblade and Celia stepped forward, concerned. Slashblade grabbed Ethan''s arm and whispered, "Ethan, maybe let Celia handle this." Slashblade was worried Ethan might lose his temper and slaughter the defectors on the spot, which would only worsen the situation and fuel damaging rumors. Ethan waved him off. "It''s fine." With a flick of his hand, Ethan pulled up a video from the game''s recording function and projected it for everyone to see. "TheActor," Ethan said, turning to the player in question, "I remember you know lip-reading, right?" TheActor, caught off guard, nodded. His ability to read lips was no secret in the guild. "Then please translate what''s being said in this video," Ethan instructed before hitting play. The first run of the video left everyone confused. There was no sound, only visuals. The background showed a snowy landscape, clearly a grinding zone with players fighting monsters in the distance. A man lounged in a rocking chair, looking relaxed. Then, a familiar figure entered the frame. Chapter 215 - 215: Half Truth The video ended, and TheActor glared at ReaperX with pure hatred. ReaperX, on the other hand, looked panicked. "TheActor," Ethan said, his eyes narrowing into slits as he maintained a calm demeanor, "tell us what they said." TheActor raised his head, regret etched across his face. "Boss, I''m sorry," he said before turning to address the crowd. "The video just showed ReaperX meeting with someone from Steele Consortium. In their conversation, they discussed how ReaperX would receive a 150,000 cash bonus for every 300-man battalion leader he poached from Renegade Alliance. For every regular elite corps member, he''d get 3,000. With 689 elite corps members and four battalion leaders here, ReaperX stands to earn 2.6 million in bonuses. And if he forces Guild Leader Ethan to sign off on our exit, he''ll get double that amount. As for us, once we join Blade Syndicate, we won''t be getting five times our current pay as ReaperX claimed¡ªit''ll be seven times. The benefits are good, but ReaperX pocketed the extra two times for himself." The crowd erupted in chaos. "ReaperX, you son of a bitch! You sold us out and used us as mere tools for counting money!" shouted one enraged member, lunging forward to grab ReaperX by the collar. ReaperX struggled, his voice frantic. "Don''t listen to him! This is all a setup! TheActor''s been bribed! How do we know he''s not making this up?" he protested, his face red with desperation. The crowd hesitated. ReaperX had been with them for a long time, and his reputation for loyalty and camaraderie was solid. TheActor''s accusations were hard to believe, and many began to doubt whom to trust. Ethan, however, wasn''t done. "Oh? Is that so?" Ethan chuckled. With a wave of his hand, he replayed the video¡ªthis time with sound. Even TheActor was stunned. It turned out Ethan had been in control the entire time. By having TheActor translate first and letting ReaperX try to defend himself, Ethan had set the stage for an even more devastating reveal. Now, with the audio playing, there was no room for doubt. Ethan wasn''t just exposing ReaperX¡ªhe was erasing any trace of trust the guild had ever placed in him. The video played, and the crowd''s anger grew even fiercer. In the footage, ReaperX repeatedly referred to his fellow guild members as "those idiots." TheActor had omitted this detail earlier, perhaps out of some lingering respect for ReaperX, but now the truth was laid bare. The fury in the crowd was palpable. Even the other three battalion leaders¡ªFrozenYears, Cupid''s Wrath, and VoidKnight, looked ready to kill ReaperX. "Alright," Ethan said, his voice steady. "Now that everyone understands the situation, FrozenYears, Cupid''s Wrath, VoidKnight, and TheActor¡ªI''ve always considered you brothers. If you want to leave, I won''t stop you. As battalion leaders, if your hearts are no longer with Renegade Alliance, then our brotherhood ends here. I came today to show you the truth. Even if we can no longer be brothers, I don''t want you to be deceived. From this day forward, if we meet again, we''ll be enemies. And I won''t hold back. Take care, everyone¡­" Ethan patted each of the four leaders on the shoulder, his expression somber. Ding¡­ S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [FrozenYears has been approved to leave the guild!] Ding¡­ [Cupid''s Wrath has been approved to leave the guild!] Ding¡­ [VoidKnight has been approved to leave the guild!] Ding¡­ [TheActor has been approved to leave the guild!] Ethan had signed off on their exit requests without hesitation. Under the stunned and helpless gazes of the guild members, the four battalion leaders were teleported out of the guild headquarters and sent to the main city''s teleportation hub. But Ethan wasn''t finished. He turned to ReaperX, his expression cold. "As for you¡­" Ding¡­ [ReaperX has been forcibly removed from the guild!] Before Ethan could even finish his sentence, the system notification popped up. Ethan''s face twisted into a bemused smirk. "He''s quick, I''ll give him that." ReaperX was also teleported out of Renegade Alliance''s headquarters. "Enforcement Squad!" Ethan called out. "Here!" Five Druids and five Rogues materialized out of stealth, their sudden appearance startling the remaining elite corps members. The defectors tensed, wondering if Ethan was about to order an attack on them. But his next words put them at ease. "ReaperX is your target," Ethan said calmly. "Understood, Boss. We''ll make sure he doesn''t set foot outside the Starter Zone," one of the Rogues replied. With a faint whoosh, the ten members of the Enforcement Squad vanished back into stealth. Ethan turned his attention to the six hundred or so players still standing before him. "Now, let''s talk about you," he said. "You have ten minutes to decide. If you want to leave, go ahead. I''m sure you''ve already signed compensation agreements with ReaperX, so you won''t suffer any losses. If you choose to stay, withdraw your exit applications. But as punishment, you''ll be removed from the elite corps. As for those who leave¡ªafter today, we''ll be on opposite sides. I won''t hold back if we meet again. Take care of yourselves." Ethan let out a self-deprecating laugh. "You''ve been with Renegade Alliance for a while now. Maybe I''ve been neglecting you. Otherwise, you wouldn''t be looking to jump ship. But don''t worry¡ªI won''t send the Enforcement Squad after you." His tone was heavy with resignation. These were ordinary people, after all. In the real world, they might have families to support. Wanting to earn more wasn''t a crime. "Boss, we''re sorry!" someone shouted from the crowd. "Yeah, we messed up. We''re sorry!" echoed many others, as most of the six hundred players lowered their heads deeply in regret. Ethan had initially said he wouldn''t cover their losses, but after the video played, they realized ReaperX''s promises were half-truths at best. If they left the guild now, the breach-of-contract penalties would be deducted from their accounts. According to Renegade Alliance''s elite corps contracts, the penalties for leaving without approval were astronomical. Their gold would drop into the negatives, and their equipment would be confiscated by the system. ReaperX had promised compensation, but it was contingent on them joining Blade Syndicate. Marcus Skeiner, the leader of Blade Syndicate, had even signed the agreement, and the system had notarized it. But after hearing ReaperX call them "idiots" in the video, their trust in him had shattered. How could they follow someone so two-faced? But if they didn''t follow him, they''d be stuck with the massive penalties themselves. Staying in Renegade Alliance? How would the others view them after this? And being removed from the elite corps would mean a significant drop in income. The crowd fell into an uneasy silence, each member grappling with their decision. Chapter 216 - 216: Bonds That Hold "Brothers, stay!" The voice rang out from behind Celia, and Ethan turned to see that, unbeknownst to him, over a thousand members of Renegade Alliance had gathered. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yeah, brothers, stay!" More voices joined in, echoing the sentiment. The group standing opposite them could feel the deep camaraderie radiating from Renegade Alliance members. But they had made their choice, and there was no turning back now. Many of them were already shedding tears of regret. Silence hung heavy in the air. After what felt like an eternity, one man stepped forward from the crowd. He approached Ethan, removed his Renegade Alliance emblem, with his head slightly lowered. "Boss, I''m sorry," he said, placing the emblem at Ethan''s feet. "I, Pete Sanders, swear that even if I leave Renegade Alliance, I will never join Blade Syndicate. My mistake is mine alone to bear." Without waiting for Ethan''s response, he turned to the crowd behind Ethan and shouted, "Brothers, I''m sorry!" Ding¡­ [Pete Sanders has been forcibly removed from the guild!] His actions stirred something in the hearts of the thousand-plus members behind Ethan. Many of the female players had tears in their eyes. Inspired by Pete Sanders''s example, a second person stepped forward. Then a third, and a fourth¡­ Six hundred and eighty-nine people lined up before Ethan, each placing their emblems at his feet and choosing to leave the guild forcibly. Though Ethan had given them the option to stay, not a single one chose to remain. They knew that even if they stayed, the members of Renegade Alliance would never treat them the same. They had no face left to show. For a moment, greed had clouded their judgment. They had listened to sweet lies, trusted the wrong people, and been sold out like fools. A bounty of three thousand dollars per head had turned them into cattle, led to the slaughter. If Ethan hadn''t revealed that damning video, they would still be happily counting their money, thanking their so-called benefactor. Before this, they had believed ReaperX was their savior, paving the way to greater heights. But now they realized¡­ It had been a one-way road to ruin. Of course, among these people, there would still be some who chose to follow ReaperX''s path. After all, not everyone valued their dignity. Gold turns even saints into sinners, as the saying went. When the last person left, Ethan suppressed the sorrow in his heart and turned to Celia. He sent her a private message. Celia''s eyes lit up as she read it, and she gave Ethan a subtle nod. Ethan looked back and saw that a large crowd had already gathered. The fallout from this mass exodus was clearly significant. So many had dropped what they were doing to return. Ethan addressed them, his voice steady. "If they want to leave, we can''t stop them. I just wanted them to see the truth, to not be deceived any longer. Don''t be disheartened. Renegade Alliance still has all of you! As long as we stand together, more people will join us. "One day, the entire Northern Frontier Region will be under our rule. Those who left today will fight alongside us again, against other regions. To bring them back, we must first unite Harmony City. Then we''ll march north, take Springhaven, and crush Blackridge. "I believe there''s not a single coward in Renegade Alliance. In the future, we''ll fight together!" Ethan''s words reignited the spirits of the players, who had been feeling downcast. Their boss''s ambitions were far greater than they had imagined¡ªhe aimed to unify the entire Northern Frontier Region? Little did they know, Ethan''s vision extended even further. Ethan kept his grander ambitions to himself for now. Drawing too big a picture too soon could backfire. "Boss is right! Why should we be sad about losing a few members? We still have fifty thousand brothers and sisters standing strong!" someone shouted. "Exactly! As long as we stand united, what''s the Northern Frontier Region to us? Renegade Alliance will unify Dragonspire!" another voice chimed in. "Unify the Northern Frontier Region!" "Unify Dragonspire!" Thousands of voices rose in unison, their morale reaching new heights. Ethan smiled. This chapter of turmoil was finally coming to a close. He owed a debt of gratitude to Xandria, who was currently in Blackridge. The video that had turned the tide had been provided by her. On his way to the guild headquarters, Ethan had reached out to her on a whim, not expecting much. But the woman with the child-like voice and mature demeanor had delivered. Xandria had even boasted that within Blackridge, she had every guild leader under surveillance. She claimed to know everything¡ªhow many women they dated, how many times they checked into hotels, even how many times they used the bathroom. Ethan didn''t fully believe her, of course. In the world of Ethereal, players didn''t even need to use the bathroom. ''You''ve got to at least make your lies believable,'' he thought. Still, Xandria had gone all out to keep tabs on Zachary, the heir to the Steele Consortium. Since his arrival in Blackridge, she had deployed two thousand rogues to monitor his every move. The video Ethan had used was footage captured by one of those rogues, who had been tailing Overlord. Regardless of her methods, Xandria had indeed helped him this time. Without that video, the mass exodus from the guild might not have been resolved so cleanly. As the crowd at the guild headquarters began to disperse, Celia approached Ethan. "Boss, what''s the deal with the Steele Consortium? They don''t seem like the type to back down easily." Ethan nodded and gave them a brief rundown of Zachary Steele and the Steele Consortium''s influence. The mood grew heavy as they realized the extent of the Consortium''s power in Blackridge. Now, they were setting their sights on Harmony City, and Springhaven''s situation was still unclear. "The threat is right in front of us. We need to be ready," Celia said gravely. Slashblade, nodded in agreement. "We don''t even know how many people in Renegade Alliance have already been in contact with them. ReaperX might not be the first, and he certainly won''t be the last. We can expect more incidents like this in the future. We¡­" "We need to strike first," Ethan interjected. "Oh?" The group''s eyes widened. Was Ethan already formulating a plan? Ethan chuckled, sensing their thoughts. "I don''t have a concrete plan yet. Even if I did, it''s not something we can execute right now. Remember the Fortress Wars we talked about?" Slashblade and Skyblade nodded. Ethan continued, "Only a handful of people know about this¡ªjust you guys and Xandria in Blackridge. I trust she''s not foolish enough to spread it around. For now, our focus should be on accumulating resources and preparing for the Fortress Wars expansion. That''s when we''ll make our move. Anything we do now would be pointless. "So, Celia, your priority is to train engineers. We''ll need a lot of them. I''ll secure blueprints for large-scale siege equipment. We''ll fight a mechanized war. While others are still throwing bodies at the problem, we''ll hit them with tanks and cannons. "Most importantly, guilds without a fortress won''t be able to relocate their headquarters from the main city. When the time limit expires, those guilds will be disbanded by the system. That''s when we''ll recruit their members. Unifying the Northern Frontier Region isn''t just empty talk." As Ethan spoke, a glint of determination shone in his eyes. Even the usually composed Slashblade was breathing heavily, his excitement palpable. The idea of conquering territories and dominating the battlefield was every soldier''s dream. Celia, though a woman, was equally fired up. And as for the rest of the guild? They were ready to follow Ethan to the ends of the earth. Chapter 217 - 217: The Stones Awakening Ethan walked through the streets of Harmony City, leaving the guild hall behind. The day had been a waste, and it was already close to 5 PM. But he wasn''t about to let the rest of the evening go to waste. He headed straight for the teleportation hub, planning to continue leveling up in the Life Greenhouse. Suddenly, a system notification chimed in his ear. Ding¡­ [System Alert: Side Quest - Prismatic Stone''s Nurturing, Progress 100%, Second Stage (Feeding) Completed.] Ethan paused, momentarily confused. He had completely forgotten about this quest. Back when he had obtained the Prismatic Stone, it was meant to help him complete the Druid''s Artifact Fusion quest. But after acquiring the artifact, he had completely forgotten about the flying stone in his inventory. When he first received the quest, he had been curious for a long time, wondering if the stone would eventually hatch into some kind of mythical creature. He chuckled at the thought. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He did a quick mental calculation¡ªthe stone had consumed over a hundred gold coins worth of ores. That amount of ore could easily be traded for a piece of Gold-tier equipment. But he had already pulled out three Prismatic Stones that could be turned in for the quest, so in terms of value, he had already broken even. Opening the quest panel, he read: [Prismatic Stone''s Nurturing] Time Limit: 72 hours. Quest Type: Side Quest. Progress: Third Stage (Soul Infusion). Description: Teleport to the designated map, kill monsters to collect Soul Essence, and infuse the Prismatic Stone with soul energy. The description was brief, as usual. It didn''t specify how much soul energy was needed or how many monsters he had to kill, but there was a time limit now. What was more intriguing was the dynamic button at the bottom of the quest panel. It looked like a portal. Is this the teleportation button? If he was going to kill monsters, he needed to stock up on supplies first. He headed to his All-You-Need Potions and grabbed a few Medium Health and Mana Potions. Next door, he browsed the shelves of his shop and noticed something new¡ªUniversal Keys were now being produced. These keys were ridiculously expensive in system shops. Ethan remembered the prices: Bronze Key for 1 Silver, Silver Key for 1 Gold, Gold Key for 100 Gold, and Dark Gold Key for a whopping 10,000 Gold. Buying keys to open treasure chests was like gambling. Especially the Dark Gold Chests¡ªthe system was practically robbing players. Ten thousand gold for one chest? Unless it contained something extraordinary, even a Dark Gold-tier item wasn''t worth that much. But in Ethereal, treasure chests were a finite resource. Once opened, they didn''t respawn, and the items inside were usually fixed. For others, it was a gamble, but for Ethan, it was more like picking up an order. This realization made his eyes light up. He had always thought the keys were too expensive, but now, in his own shop, Gold Chest Keys were only 60 Gold each. ''I wonder what the production cost is.'' Ethan quickly made his way to the second floor, where the Mad Engineer''s private workshop was located. From outside, he could see the engineer tinkering with something inside. Ethan knocked twice, but the engineer didn''t even look up, completely absorbed in his work. Ethan waited for a moment, growing impatient but not wanting to interrupt. Just as he was about to leave, he heard a loud BOOM. Startled, Ethan spun around to see what had happened. The door to the Mad Engineer''s workshop swung open, and he stepped out, covered in soot. His face was blackened, and when he spoke, only his teeth were visible, gleaming white against the grime. "Boss, did you need something?" he asked, his voice muffled by the smoke still wafting from the room behind him. Clearly, the explosion had come from his workshop. "Cough¡­ cough¡­ I hope I didn''t interrupt you and cause that mess," Ethan said, waving away the acrid smoke that was making him cough. "Uh¡­" The engineer hesitated, his face turning red¡ªthough it was impossible to tell under all the soot. "N-no, it wasn''t because of you!" Ethan could hear the embarrassment in his voice, so he decided to change the subject to spare the man''s pride. "I noticed the shop has Universal Keys in stock now. How much do they cost to make?" The engineer''s eyes lit up, and he scratched his head. "Oh, the Universal Keys? They''re pretty expensive to produce. The profit margin is only about 40%." "Hmm," Ethan nodded. That wasn''t cheap, but it was still better than the system shop prices. If he focused on opening Gold-tier chests¡ªespecially the ones that dropped high-quality loot, he could still make a decent profit. Finally, he wouldn''t have to envy the Rogues'' lockpicking skills anymore! "Boss, are you planning to open some chests?" the engineer asked, curiosity evident in his voice. "Yeah, I know the locations of a few chests that drop good loot. Did the math, and it''s worth it." Ethan expected the engineer to warn him against it. After all, Ethereal had been running for over two months now, and everyone knew how much of a gamble opening chests could be. If it weren''t for the Rogues'' lockpicking skill, most players would ignore chests altogether. They were just too unreliable. Silver-tier chests, for example, might drop one Silver-tier item out of ten, with the rest being common junk or maybe a Bronze-tier item if you were lucky. Higher-tier chests were just as bad¡ªalways a gamble. "Boss, here, take this!" The engineer suddenly pulled a small object from his pocket and handed it to Ethan. "What''s this¡­ Holy crap! Did you make this?" Ethan''s eyes widened as he examined the item, and he couldn''t help but swear in surprise. [Demonic Universal Key (Unique) [Upgradeable]] Properties: Can unlock all locks up to and including Gold-tier. Description: The lower the lock''s level, the shorter the decryption time required. Higher-tier chests require longer decryption times. Any attack will interrupt the decryption process. Usable by: All classes. Crafted by: NoPaperOnTheBigOne In Ethereal, crafted items bore the name of their creator. Once listed in a shop, they also carried the shop''s logo and name. Holding this item, Ethan couldn''t help but be stunned. A Unique item¡ªmeaning there wouldn''t be another like it in the entire server. And it was exactly what he had been dreaming of. Ethan could already see countless treasure chests beckoning to him. "Yeah," the engineer began, launching into an explanation. "After I leveled up to Intermediate Engineer and learned how to make Universal Keys, I tried crafting a Silver-tier one. But then my Demonic Engineer talent kicked in, and I got this burst of inspiration. I started adding all sorts of materials¡ªhonestly, I can''t even remember what I threw in there. When it was done, I ended up with this thing! It started as Silver-tier, but I managed to upgrade it to Gold. The weird part is, after I made it, the option to craft regular Universal Keys disappeared from my skill list. I can''t even make another Demonic Key¡ªthe option''s just gone. Now, the only thing I can do is upgrade this one. The good news is, the upgrade recipe says it''s a 100% success rate. But to upgrade it to Dark Gold, I''d need five Dark Gold Universal Keys. That''s way too expensive for me right now. Anyway, since you''re planning to open chests, this should help you make a killing!" The engineer rambled on, but Ethan got the gist of it. The man''s hidden class, Demonic Engineer, had somehow triggered during the crafting process, resulting in this unique key. But in doing so, he lost the ability to craft regular Universal Keys. Still, it was a win in Ethan''s book. Chapter 218 - 218: The Soulforge Abyss (Part 1) If this situation had happened to an engineer who relied on mass-producing items to make a living, it would have been a disaster. But Ethan wasn''t worried. He clapped the Mad Engineer on the shoulder and said, "Don''t sweat it. Losing the ability to craft regular keys isn''t a big deal. This time, your skill activation worked out perfectly, and it''s a huge help to me. Besides, you don''t need to make stuff to earn money anymore. You''re a shareholder now! Focus on experimenting with your Demonic Engineer skills and see if you can whip up more unique items like this. I have high hopes for your potential!" S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Really?" The engineer, who had been feeling down, perked up at Ethan''s words, his eyes lighting up with renewed enthusiasm. "Absolutely," Ethan said without hesitation, giving him a confident smile. The engineer stood there for a moment, processing Ethan''s encouragement, then suddenly looked determined. "I''ll do my best!" he declared, his voice filled with resolve. Without another word, he turned and rushed back into his smoke-filled workshop, slamming the door shut behind him. Ethan blinked, slightly taken aback by the man''s sudden enthusiasm. ''Well, he''s certainly eager,'' he thought with a chuckle. But Ethan was just as excited. He clutched the Demonic Universal Key tightly and dashed out of the engineering shop. As he ran, his mind raced through the locations of Gold-tier chests he remembered. He was ready to test his luck. But just as he was about to set off, a system notification chimed in his ear. Ding¡­ [System Alert: Side Quest - Prismatic Stone''s Nurturing, Third Stage (Soul Infusion) Time Remaining: 71 hours 30 minutes.] Ethan froze. ''Crap, I almost forgot about this quest!'' He sighed, realizing that his treasure-hunting plans would have to wait. He double-checked his inventory to make sure he hadn''t forgotten anything. He had stocked up on all sorts of engineering gadgets, including two grappling launchers, plenty of potions, and every buff scroll the shop had to offer. He was as prepared as he could be. Opening the quest panel, he tapped the dynamic portal icon. A sudden force pulled at him, and he felt himself being sucked into the portal. It was like being swallowed by a wormhole. His vision went dark, and he lost consciousness. When he came to, he was startled to find himself in a completely different state. He was in soul form. Oh no¡­ Panicking, he quickly opened his inventory to check if the Wishbound Relic was still there. To his relief, it was. ''That was close'', he thought, his heart racing. For a moment, he had feared he''d died and lost the relic. That would have been a disaster. Ding¡­ [System Alert: You have discovered a new map: Soulforge Abyss!] Ethan''s eyes widened. This was a special map. In normal maps, discovering a new area would grant experience points, but in these unique quest maps, there were no such rewards. Looking around, he saw that the entire world was shrouded in a gray, misty haze. Above him, a massive swirling vortex of clouds dominated the sky. Occasionally, white orbs of light would fall from the vortex, drifting down like ethereal rain. He checked his inventory again and noticed that his teleportation stone was grayed out. Even his Divine Teleportation skill was unusable. The portal button in the quest panel had disappeared as well. ''Looks like this is a closed map. The only way out is to explore and find an exit.'' Although the Prismatic Stone''s Nurturing quest had a time limit, Ethan knew that in Ethereal, such timers would pause during offline periods. He stretched and tested his skills, relieved to find that none of them were restricted in this map. Still, he didn''t let his guard down. He activated Panther''s Stealth and cautiously made his way up a nearby hillside. In Ethereal, special maps like this were rare and often tied to unique quests or random encounters. But one thing was certain¡ªthey were always filled with danger. Reaching the top of the hill, Ethan looked down and saw a bizarre landscape. Jagged, otherworldly rock formations stretched out in every direction, crisscrossed by winding paths. Among the rocks, strange, towering creatures roamed. One of them caught his eye¡ªa massive, upright-walking beast with the skull of a bull for a head. The creature before him was massive, towering like a giant. Its body was encased in steel-plated armor, and thick chains hung from its arms. Ethan activated his Advanced Appraisal skill, which allowed him to inspect the attributes of creatures up to 15 levels higher than himself. [Scorchbeast Titan] Rank: Elite Level: 55 Health: 275,000 Defense: 2,750 Attack Power: 5,500 Skills: Slam, Cleaving Tempest, Crush. Description: These iron-clad, savage creatures crave destruction and will use their brute strength to crush any opponent in their path. Ethan''s eyes widened. A level 55 Elite monster? And these stats are insane! The Scorchbeast Titan even had the Cleaving Tempest skill, a 360-degree area-of-effect attack that could hit everything around it. What made it worse was that the skill was instant-cast, leaving no time to react. As a Druid, Ethan could theoretically learn the Cleaving Tempest skill, but he had never been lucky enough to find the skill book. Skill books were rare in Ethereal, but back when he played as a Rogue in his previous life, they hadn''t felt this hard to obtain. The quest description mentioned that killing monsters would yield Soul Essence, but it didn''t specify which monsters to target. Ethan decided to explore the area, hoping to find weaker enemies to farm. He activated Panther''s Stealth and carefully made his way down the hillside, planning to skirt around the Scorchbeast Titan. But just as he was about to sneak past the beast, a system notification popped up. Ding¡­ [System Alert: Prismatic Stone''s Nurturing, Third Stage Progress 1: Defeat Scorchbeast Titans - 0/5] ''What the hell¡­'' Ethan cursed under his breath. The quest was now demanding that he kill five of these monstrous Scorchbeast Titans. In his Panther Form, Ethan wielded his Legendary weapon, which ignored 50% of the target''s defense. However, as a physical damage class, he would suffer heavily from the level difference. The higher the level gap, the more likely his attacks would miss. This made fighting higher-level enemies particularly challenging for physical classes. But the quest left him no choice. He had to fight. Ethan stealthily approached the Scorchbeast Titan from behind. He opened with Rake, stunning the beast for two seconds and applying a bleeding debuff. Normally, the stun would last five seconds, but due to the level difference, it was reduced to just two. Next, he used Shred, but the attack missed. Ethan sighed in frustration. At least when an attack missed, it only consumed 50% of the skill''s energy cost. Instead of the usual 40 energy, Shred only cost him 20. Deciding to go all out, Ethan spammed Shred on the Scorchbeast Titan, hoping to land a hit. -5,698! Finally, one of his attacks connected. The level difference of 14 levels meant the Scorchbeast Titan had a 280% defense bonus¡ª20% for each level above Ethan. Without the 50% defense ignore from his weapon, Ethan wouldn''t have been able to deal any damage at all. He would have been forced to rely on debuffs and chip away at the monster''s health over time, as he had done in the past. The two-second stun wore off, and the Scorchbeast Titan turned its massive body toward Ethan, swinging one of its enormous arms in a Slam attack. Despite its size, the creature was slow, and Ethan easily dodged the attack with a quick roll to the side. BOOM! The Scorchbeast Titan''s fist slammed into the ground, causing the earth to shake violently. Ethan struggled to keep his footing as the ground trembled beneath him. Failing to hit Ethan, the Scorchbeast Titan roared in anger. It swung its arms, the chains attached to them whipping through the air. -8,176! A massive damage number floated above Ethan''s head as the chains struck him. Chapter 219 - 219: The Soulforge Abyss (Part 2) Ethan''s heart skipped a beat as the damage number floated above his head. Without hesitation, he activated the Swift Stride skill on his boots and bolted. Whoosh! He turned and sprinted away as fast as he could. He had no choice¡ªin his Panther Form, his total health was only 8,470. That single chain attack had nearly wiped him out. Thankfully, the Cleaving Tempest skill didn''t have any additional damage modifiers, or he would have been dead. He also got lucky that the attack was just a high-level Crush and didn''t crit. If it had, he''d be a goner. Ethan wasn''t sure what would happen if he died in this map, but he wasn''t willing to risk losing the Wishbound Relic. He needed to find a way to transfer the relic to someone else, just in case. The problem was, the Wishbound Relic wasn''t like other items. It couldn''t be lent out through a contract. The only way to transfer it was to have someone kill him and loot it from his corpse. That person would have to be someone he trusted completely¡ªsomeone who never left the city, like a crafting or gathering player. Right now, only two people came to mind: the Mad Engineer and Celia. Ethan would have to decide who to entrust with the relic. As he ran, Ethan put some distance between himself and the Scorchbeast Titan. Once he was safe, he shifted into Tree Form and began casting healing spells on himself: Rejuvenation, Healing Touch, and Lifebloom. With his health stabilized, he felt more confident. Now that he knew the Scorchbeast Titan''s attack patterns, he wasn''t as afraid. Running wasn''t an option anymore¡ªhe''d have to tank the Cleaving Tempest skill in Bear Form. Normally, his Bear Form had a whopping 5,295 defense, making him nearly impervious to physical attacks. But even with that defense, the Cleaving Tempest skill would still chip away about 3,000 health. Fortunately, in Bear Form, his health pool was a massive 29,645, so he wasn''t too worried. Using a combination of Rake, Rend, and various Balance Druid debuffs, along with the occasional physical attack, Ethan managed to whittle down the Scorchbeast Titan''s health over the next ten minutes. Finally, the beast let out a deafening roar and collapsed. Ding¡­ [You have defeated: Scorchbeast Titan. Over-level kill bonus: 2700%. Experience gained: 308,000 (Base experience: 5,500. Over-level bonus: 148,000. Divine Ability Growth bonus: 154,000).] Ding¡­ [System Alert: Prismatic Stone''s Nurturing, Third Stage Progress 1: Defeat Scorchbeast Titans - 1/5] Ethan let out a sigh of relief. Taking down the Scorchbeast Titan had been nerve-wracking, but he''d pulled it off. What''s more, the experience gain was incredible¡ª308,000 experience for a single kill. He remembered that a level 55 Elite monster normally gave 2,750 experience, calculated as the monster''s level multiplied by 50. But in this map, the experience was doubled. This realization made Ethan smile. He had been worried that coming here for the quest would slow down his leveling progress, but now it seemed like this place was just as good as the Life Greenhouse¡ªmaybe even better, since it was free! Ethan walked over to the Scorchbeast Titan''s corpse and began looting. As he reached into the loot pile, his hand brushed against something that made his heart skip a beat. The texture was unmistakable¡ªit was a skill book. He quickly pulled it out and examined it. [Skill Book: Cleaving Tempest] Properties: Cleaving Tempest all enemies within melee range, dealing 100% physical damage. Bear Form: Gain 2 rage points for each enemy hit. Maximum of 10 rage points per cast. Panther Form: Consumes 35 energy per use. If an enemy has a bleeding debuff applied by you, Cleaving Tempest deals an additional 30% damage to that enemy, up to a maximum of 120% increased damage. Class Restriction: Druid. Ethan couldn''t believe his luck. ''Is today my lucky day?'' The first monster he killed dropped a Druid skill book¡ªand not just any skill, but Cleaving Tempest, the very skill he had been wanting for so long. Without hesitation, he clapped his hands together and learned the skill. Finally, Ethan had his first area-of-effect (AoE) skill¡ªCleaving Tempest. The best part? It had no cooldown. In Panther Form, he could spam it as long as he had energy, and it dealt bonus damage to enemies with bleeding debuffs. The bonus damage even stacked¡ªthe more bleeding debuffs an enemy had, the more damage Cleaving Tempest would deal. In Bear Form, the skill cost nothing to use and even generated rage points, making it a perfect tool for both offense and resource management. With his newfound skill and a solid strategy, Ethan quickly took down a second Scorchbeast Titan. As he looted the corpse, his eyes widened in surprise. Another skill book dropped. [Skill Book: Inferno Blast (Enhanced)] It was an advanced version of the Mage''s Inferno Blast skill. This book was worth at least a top-tier Gold-tier piece of equipment. ''Seems this is really my lucky day¡­'' Ethan thought. Advanced skill books were incredibly rare, and yet here he was, finding one on his second kill. Ethan continued his hunt, taking down three more Scorchbeast Titans to complete the quest. But as he looted the last one, he realized something: it wasn''t luck. This map was a skill book goldmine. Out of five monsters, he had gotten three skill books. The drop rate was absurdly high. Not only was the experience gain incredible, but this place was also a paradise for farming skill books. It was almost too good to be true. Ding¡­ [System Alert: Prismatic Stone''s Nurturing, Third Stage Progress 2: Defeat Soulrenders - 0/50] Just as Ethan finished killing the fifth Scorchbeast Titan, a new system prompt appeared. This time, the quest required him to kill 50 Soulrenders. Ethan scanned the area but didn''t see any of these monsters nearby. They must be in another part of the map. He hesitated. If he completed this stage and got teleported out, he''d miss out on this incredible farming spot. Part of him wanted to stay and grind for the full 72 hours. But then again, if he didn''t complete the quest within the time limit, he had no idea what the consequences would be. Reluctantly, he decided to move on and find the Soulrenders. After climbing over a few hills, Ethan finally spotted a large group of Soulrenders. Observing them, he realized the real challenge would be separating them. These wolf-like creatures were pack animals, and they moved in tight groups. Like the other monsters in this map, they were covered in exoskeletons, making them tough and heavily armored. Using his Appraisal skill, Ethan inspected one of the Soulrenders. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Soulrender] Rank: Elite Level: 56 Skills: Shred, Bite, Howl. The Howl skill was particularly annoying¡ªit could summon other Soulrenders within a 30-meter radius to join the fight. Ethan spent some time circling the outskirts of the pack, waiting for an opportunity to isolate one. Finally, he spotted a lone Soulrender wandering slightly away from the group. He took the chance and launched a Moonfire spell from a distance. To avoid triggering the Howl skill and drawing the entire pack, Ethan planned to lure the Soulrender further away before engaging. But as soon as his Moonfire hit the creature, it turned its head and looked directly at him. Instead of chasing him, it simply tilted its head back and let out a loud, echoing howl. "Awooo!" Instantly, every Soulrender within earshot turned to face Ethan. ''Oh, you''ve got to be kidding me!'' Ethan cursed under his breath. The damn thing didn''t even move¡ªit just howled and called for backup. Ethan turned and ran, grateful that he had cast Moonfire from the maximum range. The pack of Soulrenders gave chase, but they were slow and eventually lost interest, returning to their aimless wandering. Ethan stopped to catch his breath, his mind racing. ''How am I supposed to fight these things?'' He was confident he could handle two Soulrenders at a time, but their packs were so tightly grouped that a single Howl could easily draw a dozen of them. This was going to be a lot harder than he thought. Chapter 220 - 220: Race for the Divine After disengaging from combat, Ethan stealthily circled back. He noticed something unusual¡ªthe monsters here didn''t return to their original positions after combat ended. Instead, they lingered, wandering within a certain range. This observation reignited his confidence. If they didn''t reset, he could take his time to lure and scatter them before picking them off one by one. Ding¡­ [System Notification: Ethereal will enter its rest phase in five minutes. Please prepare to log off.] Ethan decided not to waste any more time. He found a safe spot and prepared to log off. Ding¡­ [Global Announcement: Player ''FadingPetals'' from the Southern Frontier Region of Dragonspire has obtained [Divine Ability Scroll: Fatal Strike (Divine)] at coordinates: 15648.36897.15985.] Ding¡­ [Global Announcement: The holder of [Divine Ability Scroll: Fatal Strike (Divine)], ''FadingPetals,'' is currently at coordinates: 15648.36897.15985. Ownership will be granted after holding the scroll for twelve hours.] Ding¡­ [System Notification: A Divine Ability Scroll has appeared. Ethereal has entered a Contest Period. The rest phase will be postponed until the scroll''s ownership is determined.] Ethan, who had been ready to log off, froze at the flood of system notifications. A [Divine Ability Scroll: Fatal Strike (Divine)] had appeared. Unfortunately, it was in the Southern Frontier Region, and with the regional borders still closed, there was no way for him to get there. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He recalled that in his past life, around this same time, the Southern Frontier Region had produced the first Divine Ability in the game¡ªFatal Strike. From what he remembered, it was eventually claimed by LittleHorn. That player had gone on to become a legend, the only one in Ethereal to possess four Divine Abilities simultaneously. Ethan wondered if history would repeat itself this time. While he couldn''t compete for the scroll, its appearance bought him more time to level up. With the rest phase delayed, he could make the most of this opportunity. He canceled his log-off timer and rushed back to the Soulrender spawn point. He began luring the monsters, scattering them as he went. While doing so, he kept an eye on the ongoing battle for the Divine Ability. The players in the Southern Frontier Region were relatively evenly matched, with no standout powerhouses or major guilds investing heavily in Ethereal yet. As a result, the contest period for the scroll would likely drag on for hours. Ten hours later, Ethan finally defeated fifty Soulrenders, collecting a pile of skill books in the process. Among them were several advanced skill enhancement books. Meanwhile, the Divine Ability in the Southern Frontier Region had changed hands multiple times, with the current holder having possessed it for less than half an hour. Ethan''s skill set was further bolstered by a new group skill for his Panther Form: [Primal Fury]. This skill allowed him to apply a bleeding effect to all enemies within a 1.5-meter radius. With Cleaving Tempest and Primal Fury, he could now efficiently farm mobs in the Life Greenhouse without relying on magic inscriptions. Even if the quest failed, this trip had already been worth it. His inventory was filled with over a dozen skill books for various classes. Each skill book was worth around 100 gold, and the enhancement skills could fetch up to two or three thousand gold. This Prismatic Stone truly was his lucky charm. Thinking of it, Ethan couldn''t help but wonder about Lyla. How was she doing now? ¡­ Somewhere in the Ironvale Mountains, atop a mist-shrouded peak, at the end of a chain of cliffs, lay the hidden territory of the Silverwood Family. It was a paradise¡ªbirds sang, flowers bloomed, and crystal-clear streams flowed through ancient architectural style buildings. The air was filled with the rich scent of flowers, and the entire place felt like a scene from a fairy tale. The guest quarters were nearly full, bustling with early arrivals for the upcoming event. In the center of the training grounds stood a towering statue of a kind-faced old man, his hands clasped behind his back as if he had the weight of the world under his control. Legend had it that this was the first patriarch of the Silverwood Family. In front of the statue, a massive arena was being prepared, with workers scurrying about. The atmosphere was lively, filled with excitement and chatter. "I wonder who''ll win the tournament this time!" "I heard the second son of the Lancaster family, Gabriel Lancaster has advanced to the mid-tier of Energy Manipulation!" "That''s old news! The young master of the House of Zane has already reached the Peak-tier of Energy Manipulation. I bet he''ll take the crown." "No way! If that''s true, our young lady is in trouble. I heard Dominic''s a prodigy, but he suffered an injury during training as a child, and¡­ well, let''s just say he''s not exactly ''functional''¡­" "Shh! Keep your voice down! The Zane''s have brought a lot of people this time. If they hear you, you''re dead!" The loudmouth shrunk back, glancing nervously around. Meanwhile, deep within the forbidden grounds of the Silverwood Family''s estate, a woman in ornate traditional robes stood outside a frost-covered cave, its entrance billowing with icy mist. "Let''s see if you can endure Frostveil''s bite, Lyla. How dare you defy me!" A weak, mocking laugh echoed from within the cave. If Ethan had been there, he would have recognized it instantly¡ªit was Lyla''s voice. Her words trembled, her teeth chattering from the cold. "Luna, if it weren''t for Liam stepping in, you''d be a corpse right now." Luna''s hand instinctively went to her neck, where a bandage covered a wound near her carotid artery. A faint trickle of blood seeped through. "Hmph¡­ you little brat. How dare you address me so disrespectfully? Is this how your parents raised you?" "Oh, please. You''re trying to sell me off for your own gain, and you expect me to call you ''Aunt''? Don''t make me laugh. My upbringing is none of your concern. You can forget about using me as a bargaining chip for some political marriage!" Despite her weakened state, Lyla''s defiance was unwavering. Luna sneered. "Such a sharp tongue. You''re as stubborn as they come. Do you really think your father, the family head, would give up his position just to free you? Or that your little protective artifact will keep you safe forever? Let me tell you something, Lyla. As a woman of the Silverwood Family, this is your fate. I fought against it too, but it''s pointless. Hand over the artifact, submit to the family''s arrangements, and maybe your father will suffer less for your disobedience." Without waiting for a response, Luna turned and walked away. Inside the cave, Lyla sat huddled in a black cloak, her body trembling from the cold. The entire cavern was encased in ice, with only the spot where she sat remaining dry. Before her lay a dark, icy pool, its surface constantly emitting a bone-chilling mist. Her hand rested on her chest, where the Pendant Ethan had retrieved from the Gates of the Underworld was embedded. It glowed faintly, a warm, milky white light emanating from it, providing her with some relief from the cold. Her face pale, Lyla stared blankly at the pool, her thoughts drifting far away. ''Ethan¡­ are you doing okay?'' Chapter 221 - 221: Storm of Vengeance In the world of Ethereal, Ethan had just finished killing his fiftieth Soulrender. As expected, a new system notification popped up. Ding¡­ [System Notification: The nurturing of the Prismatic Stone, Phase Three Progress: Kill 0/500 Soulseekers.] The sheer number of kills required made Ethan''s jaw drop. At his current pace, it had taken him ten hours to kill fifty monsters. Five hundred would take a hundred hours, but the quest timer only allowed seventy-two. With just fifty-eight hours left, he wasn''t sure he could finish in time¡ªand who knew if there would be a Phase Four after this? S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But he had no choice. He had to push through. Even if he wanted to quit, he couldn''t. His Teleportation Stone was grayed out, unusable. Checking his experience bar, he saw he was at Level 41, 94% progress. The only silver lining was that the monsters here gave an insane amount of experience. Killing one of them was equivalent to wiping out an entire group of mobs in the Life Greenhouse. "Well¡­ might as well treat this as a grind for levels," Ethan muttered to himself. But when he saw the Soulseekers, his heart sank. These monsters were tiny, floating eyeballs that drifted aimlessly across the map. They had almost no attack power¡ªa single instant-cast Moonfire from Ethan was enough to kill them. The problem was finding them. They gave no experience and no loot, making the hunt feel like a waste of time. After seven or eight frustrating hours of running around the map, Ethan finally found the last Soulseeker in a hidden cave. [Ding¡­ System Notification: The nurturing of the Prismatic Stone, Phase Four Progress: Kill 0/5000 Blaze Wraiths.] When Ethan saw the number required for Phase Four, he almost lost it. But then he noticed the monster''s name¡ªBlaze Wraiths. He remembered seeing them during his earlier map exploration. They were fire-elemental creatures, and there were endless swarms of them in one area. With around 20,000 HP each, killing 5,000 of them would still be a grind, but at least they were clustered together. With his two AoE skills, Ethan wasn''t too worried about these low-health, group-oriented mobs. As Ethan settled into the endless grind, the Southern Frontier Region was also in chaos. A player named WestGateLord had held the Divine Ability Scroll for eleven hours and forty-five minutes. Ethan had assumed he would be the final winner, but at the last moment, he was killed, and the timer reset. The battle in the Southern Frontier was intense, and the Northern Frontier wasn''t idle either. Over the past two days, Skyblade and Slashblade had stopped running dungeons entirely, focusing all their efforts on attacking Blade Syndicate. Whether it was in open-world leveling zones or outside dungeon entrances, Renegade Alliance had stationed players everywhere. They didn''t care about going red-named¡ªthey attacked on sight. Anyone who turned red would rotate out, and the next wave would take over. Zachary hadn''t expected that after the guild''s recent turmoil, Renegade Alliance would become even more united, with everyone quietly determined to prove themselves. Marcus Skeiner, on the other hand, was once again finding himself on the losing end of his collaboration with Zachary. During the battle in Larson Basin, he''d been crippled by just five members of Renegade Alliance. Then, during the town conquest, a Demigod-tier monster had wiped out his entire team. After that, he''d been ambushed and slaughtered in the canyon of Redridge Town. Bitter and vengeful, Marcus had accepted Zachary''s offer to poach members from Renegade Alliance. Not only had Marcus failed to poach many members, but he was also being relentlessly hunted. Even his contact, ReaperX, had been killed so many times that he was sent back to the Starter Zone. The four guild leaders who had left Renegade Alliance hadn''t joined him either. So far, only about forty elite members from Renegade Alliance had defected to his side. This recruitment effort was supposed to be paid per head, but with such a small and underwhelming group, how much could he really earn? Frustrated, Marcus vented his anger on the monsters in the leveling zone. Wielding a single blade in his right hand and a shield in his left, he swung wildly, his movements fierce but unfocused. When he checked his damage output, it was less than 250 DPS. Feeling utterly defeated, Marcus stopped attacking. ''This is another disaster. I just hope Renegade Alliance''s rage blows over soon.'' For the first time, he understood the pain and frustration of the smaller guilds and players that Blade Syndicate had harassed and hunted in the past. As Marcus prepared to sit down and soak up some experience, chaos erupted in the leveling zone his three-hundred-man army had claimed. The formation broke, and the players began to scatter in confusion. Marcus was startled. ''What''s happening?'' Above them, dark clouds of magic began to gather, looming ominously over the battlefield. The sheer pressure of the spell caused panic among the Blade Syndicate players. "What the hell? Who''s casting a large-scale magic spell?" "It''s¡­ it''s the advanced Warlock skill, Apocalypse!" "Holy crap, it''s Meatball from Renegade Alliance! Someone interrupt him!" But the Blade Syndicate players were too busy scrambling to escape the spell''s area of effect to even think about interrupting. Meanwhile, a group of about twenty players from Renegade Alliance charged into the fray from the outskirts of the Blade Syndicate camp. Leading the charge were Skyblade and SeraphWarrior. Skyblade was like a raging tiger, crashing into a group of seven or eight Blade Syndicate players with his Charge ability. SeraphWarrior, a hidden-class Judicator of Light, followed closely behind. Suddenly, he whistled, and a warhorse materialized beneath him, lifting him into the air. The Blade Syndicate players stared in shock as SeraphWarrior rode straight into their ranks. Three seconds later, the warhorse vanished, and he raised his greatsword to the sky. A golden whirlwind erupted around him, sending a dozen players flying. "Damn, show-off," Skyblade muttered, watching SeraphWarrior''s flashy move. Behind them, Slashblade and the others surged forward, carving a path through the enemy. The Blade Syndicate forces parted like water, unable to hold their ground. "Follow me left! Marcus is over there!" Skyblade shouted, having spotted Marcus''s location. The Blade Syndicate players began to retaliate. Despite the initial charge taking out dozens of them, this was still a three-hundred-man elite force¡ªMarcus''s personal army, the cream of Blade Syndicate. "Meatball, how much longer on that damn spell?" Skyblade yelled as a barrage of spells, arrows, and bullets rained down on him. The individual hits were small, around 100 damage each, but the sheer volume was overwhelming. Slashblade and five healers worked frantically to keep the team alive, while SeraphWarrior used his holy energy to heal Skyblade. "Almost there! Hold on for two more minutes!" Meatball shouted in the party chat. SeraphWarrior noticed Marcus trying to retreat. "He''s running!" "Leo, speed up and close the gap!" Slashblade suddenly called out. Trusting Slashblade''s judgment, Skyblade didn''t hesitate. He surged forward, clearing the way with his Rapid Strike. "Holy Chains!" When they were about 150 meters from Marcus''s retreating forces, Slashblade began to chant¡­