《Infinite Returns : The More I Give, The Stronger I Become》 Chapter 1 - 1 : Ethan Earth ¡ª Yagami Household The morning sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows, casting golden streaks over the lavishly decorated chamber. Exquisite vases stood proudly on shelves, their intricate carvings shimmering under the warm glow. Velvet drapes, embroidered with gold threads, swayed gently with the breeze from the slightly open balcony door. The air carried a faint, crisp scent of fresh morning dew. Nestled in the heart of this opulence was a large, canopy bed draped in silken sheets. And on that bed, sprawled like a carefree cat, lay a boy no older than ten. His black hair, sleek and soft, fanned out over his pillow like the night sky against snow. His delicate features were framed by long lashes, his serene expression undisturbed, his breaths even. The morning chill did nothing to rouse him, nor did the gentle rustling of the curtains. Tok tok¡ª "Young Master, are you awake?" A soft, feminine voice echoed from beyond the grand oak doors. A moment of silence followed. No response. A sigh. The door creaked open. A small figure stepped inside, her polished leather shoes tapping lightly against the marble floor. She had a petite frame, with neatly braided brown hair and sharp, inquisitive black eyes that sparkled with mischief. Her maid uniform was crisp, perfectly arranged, a reflection of her diligence. Ellie folded her arms and observed the boy, who remained dead to the world, his chest rising and falling steadily. She wasn''t surprised. Her young master was the laziest person she had ever met. If there was an award for sleeping through important events, he would be the undisputed champion. She walked to the bedside, hands on her hips. Today was a big day. His big day. And here he was¡ªsleeping as if the world itself didn''t exist. A slow smile crept onto her lips. Bending down, she leaned in close, her breath brushing against his ear. In a voice dripping with honeyed playfulness, she whispered, "Young Master Ethan, the Lord is waiting for you in the Awakening Room~" The effect was immediate. Ethan''s eyes snapped open, revealing irises so vividly green they seemed to glow. Confusion flickered through them before understanding dawned. He groaned. "Ellie¡­" he muttered, rubbing his eyes. His voice thick with sleep. "How many times do I have to tell you? You can''t wake me up like that anymore. I''m a grown man." She tilted her head innocently. "Oh? But you wouldn''t wake up otherwise, Young Master." He shot her a glare, but it held no real malice. Then, as if struck by lightning, he froze. His head snapped toward the large clock by the wall. His breath hitched. "Ellie." His voice was suddenly shaky. "What time is it?" She clasped her hands behind her back, rocking slightly on her heels. "The Lord has been waiting for you since early this morning, Young Master." A heavy silence filled the air. Then¡ª "WHAT?!" Ethan shot out of bed, his limbs tangling with the sheets, nearly sending him crashing to the floor. He fought against the fabric like a trapped animal before finally freeing himself. His hair was disheveled, his nightwear rumpled, but none of that mattered. "Ellie, why didn''t you wake me up earlier?!" S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She simply smiled, watching him scramble. "Young Master, I did try. Every morning, in fact." Ethan gritted his teeth. No time for arguments. He bolted toward the bathroom, flinging open the door. "Go tell my father I''ll be there in five minutes¡ªno scratch that ¡ªtwo minutes! I''ll just splash water on my face!" he called out before disappearing inside. Elie chuckled, shaking her head. She turned on her heels, heading for the door. "I''ll inform the Lord," she said, amusement lacing her tone. As she walked down the hall, she could still hear Ethan''s panicked muttering from inside the bathroom. "Damn it, even on a day like this¡­ I can''t believe I overslept!" "Ugh¡­ Father''s gonna give me another speech, isn''t he?" That was his real fear. Not the Awakening Ceremony. Not the outcome. His father''s lectures. He could already imagine it¡ªhis father seated in his grand chair, speaking with an air of absolute authority, droning on for hours about discipline and responsibility. It was torture. He''d rather spend his day in the servants'' quarters, playing games. Or watching the knights train while enjoying some snacks. But it couldn''t be helped. This was his Awakening Day. Ethan sighed, staring at his reflection in the mirror. Droplets of water clung to his pale skin, trickling down his sharp jawline. His damp black hair clung to his forehead. He wiped his face with a towel and exhaled slowly. This was it. The day every child in the Yagami Household looked forward to. The day they discovered their talents¡ªtheir paths in this world. A slow smirk played on his lips. "Heh¡­ I''ve done everything I could to awaken a golden finger, but nothing worked." He ran a hand through his hair. "But I can feel it. This time, I''ll definitely awaken something good." After all as a reincarnated being from a certain blue planet it''s a must to have a cheat. His excitement flickered for a moment. Then¡ª "¡­I just hope it''s nothing combat-related. That would be way too troublesome." A life of fighting? Training every day? Getting dragged into battles? No, thank you. Ethan was a man of simple dreams. All he wanted was to be strong enough to not get nagged by his father. Just enough to secure his lazy, peaceful lifestyle. ''That''s all I need.'' Still, despite his reluctance¡­ he couldn''t deny the thrill curling in his chest. Magic. Power. The unknown. As an avid novel reader in his past life, it was impossible not to be excited. He threw the towel aside and straightened his clothes. "Alright, let''s do this." With renewed energy, Ethan stormed out of his room, making a beeline for the Awakening Room. Today¡­ He would awaken. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 1¡ª Chapter 2 - 2 : The Awakening room Ethan hurried down the long, marbled halls of the Yagami estate, his soft slippers barely making a sound. Sunlight poured in through the tall windows, painting golden streaks across the polished floors. Despite his rush, he didn''t ignore the familiar faces around him. The moment the servants and knights caught sight of him, their expressions brightened. "Young Master Ethan, how was your morning?" "Did you sleep well? I''m making breakfast¡ªI''ll prepare something special just for you!" "Young Master, did you like the decorations I arranged in your chamber yesterday?" The sheer warmth in their voices made it impossible not to smile. Ethan''s lips curled into that signature gentle, sweet smile¡ªthe one that never failed to melt hearts. His presence was like a warm breeze, effortless yet comforting. "I slept great! I hope you all did too." He responded cheerfully, waving as he walked past. Then, with a playful glint in his green eyes, he added, "I''ll come play with you after my Awakening Ceremony, so start preparing the games." Laughter rippled through the servants and knights. Even on such an important day, their young master remained the same. But beneath their amusement, some of them exchanged uncertain glances. "Do you think Young Master Ethan will awaken a powerful talent like Young Master Lucas or Young Mistress Eva?" a maid whispered. Ethan was different from his siblings. Unlike Lucas, who trained relentlessly, or Eva, who carried herself with unwavering discipline, Ethan spent his days playing, sleeping, and avoiding anything remotely exhausting. He had trained once. Only once. Then promptly declared it "too straining" and never stepped onto the training grounds again. Yet, despite his lack of effort, not a single servant resented him for it. How could they? He treated them with kindness, without a shred of arrogance. He never looked down on them, never saw them as lesser. He played alongside them without hesitation. He was their "Kind Noble." "Even if he awakens a useless talent," one of the maids said firmly, "we''ll always be here to support him." "That''s right," another agreed. "Then let''s prepare something to cheer him up¡ªjust in case!" With that, the servants hurried off, determined to make sure their young master never felt disappointed. Inside the Awakening Room Ethan stepped through the towering wooden doors into a vast chamber bathed in a soft, mystical glow. The air hummed faintly with magic. At the center of the room stood a large crystal orb, shimmering with countless colors, shifting and twisting like a living entity. His gaze landed on the two figures standing behind it¡ªhis father and mother. His father, Lionnel Yagami, was a man of undeniable presence. Tall and broad-shouldered, his black hair was streaked with hints of silver, his piercing green eyes carrying the weight of authority. He stood with his hands behind his back, his expression as stern as ever. Beside him, his mother, Iris Yagami, was his perfect contrast. Ethereal and graceful, with flowing crimson hair and piercing red eyes, she radiated warmth despite her noble bearing. To the right, Ethan spotted two girls. His eldest sister, Eva Yagami, stood poised and elegant, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders. She bore their mother''s red eyes, but unlike Iris''s warmth, hers were sharp¡ªcool, calculating. A wall of discipline. And standing beside her, a much smaller figure. A little girl, no older than five, with the same dark hair and bright red eyes. The moment Chloe spotted him, her face lit up like a festival lantern. "Big Brother! You''re finally here!" She sprinted toward him at full speed, her tiny feet pattering against the floor. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan barely had time to react before she crashed into his chest, wrapping her small arms around his waist. He chuckled, bending down to ruffle her hair. "Sorry, I overslept," he admitted with a sheepish smile. As he said this, he stole a glance at his father¡ªhalf-expecting a long, drawn-out lecture about responsibility. Lionnel merely exhaled sharply, his expression unreadable. "Ethan, come. We''ve wasted enough time." Ethan inwardly sighed in relief. No lecture today. Perfect. His mother, however, simply smiled at him. "No matter what happens, my dear, don''t worry." Her words were soft, yet firm. A promise. Ethan nodded lightly. "I know, Mother." He carefully set Chloe back down, giving her a reassuring pat before stepping toward the Awakening Crystal. Eva, who had remained silent this entire time, simply gave him a curt nod as he passed. Ethan, used to her reserved nature, smirked slightly. His big sister wasn''t cold¡ªshe just didn''t know how to express herself well. He stopped just before the crystal, staring at its swirling lights. The Awakening Crystal¡ªa sacred artifact that infused mana into a person''s body, unlocking their latent talent. No two talents were ever truly the same. Even if two people awakened abilities of the same name, their effects would be vastly different. Because talents were born from the very core of one''s soul. His father''s voice cut through the air. "Prepare yourself. The moment you touch it, mana will flood your body. It will feel¡­ unsettling, like a thousand hands reaching into you." Iris gave him a gentle look. "And don''t worry about the grade of your talent, my love. No matter what, we will support you." Ethan took a deep breath. Then, with steady hands, he placed his palm against the crystal. Instantly¡ª A blinding light erupted from the orb. The entire room was swallowed in a burst of radiant energy. ''Ah damn typical awakening scene¡­'' ¡ªEnd of Chapter 2¡ª Chapter 3 - 3 : Awakening The moment Ethan placed his hand on the awakening crystal, a strange sensation flooded his body. It was exactly as his father had described¡ªthousands of hands crawling over his skin, pressing into every inch of his being. He grimaced. That''s disgusting. But before he could pull away, the crystal reacted. A blinding light erupted from it, swallowing the entire room in a golden radiance. The glow was not just bright¡ªit was pure, overwhelming, almost divine. The air shifted, thick with energy, and an indescribable warmth spread through the space. Everyone instinctively took a step back. The golden hue wasn''t just an indicator of a high-ranking talent¡ªit carried an unshakable presence. It demanded attention, exuding an authority beyond mortal comprehension. It was the kind of light that made people instinctively kneel, as though witnessing something beyond human understanding. Iris, Ethan''s mother, was the first to break the silence. Her lips curled into a wide, knowing smile. "This level of radiance¡­ It''s at least an S-rank," she murmured, her voice filled with confidence. Her crimson eyes gleamed with pride as she turned toward her husband, arms crossed with an almost smug expression. "I told you my baby isn''t inferior to Lucas and Eva. You were too busy trying to force him into things he doesn''t like to see it for yourself." Lionnel, ever the stern and composed man, remained quiet. He simply watched the golden light with an unreadable expression. For a brief second, the corner of his eye twitched. He was tempted to smack the self-satisfaction off his wife''s face¡ªbut he knew better. He might be the head of the household, but Iris was his equal in every way. Not only was her intellect frightening, but her magic prowess was something he didn''t dare provoke unnecessarily. So, he did the next best thing¡ªhe ignored her and focused on his son''s awakening. Truth be told, even if he never said it aloud, Lionnel was fond of Ethan. The boy was kind, respectful, and had an undeniable charm that made people naturally gravitate toward him. His only flaw? He''s lazy. Lionnel sighed inwardly. Tch. Even if I wanted to let you do as you pleased, this world isn''t forgiving. If you don''t have the strength to protect yourself, you''ll be trampled underfoot. Ethan, meanwhile, was drowning in a euphoric sensation. Something deep within him¡ªsomething he had never been able to grasp before¡ªwas now awakening. It wasn''t just power. It was a part of his very existence, something that defined who he was. And then¡ª [Ding! You have awakened your talent!] [Talent: Heart of Benevolence (C Grade)] Talent Description: You are a being of kindness, of love, of trust, of selflessness. You are weak in combat, but you don''t need to fight your battles alone. You will always have allies willing to stand beside you. Skills Unlocked: ? Aura of Trust (Passive) ? Blessing of Reciprocity (Active) ? Benevolent Shield (Active) The golden light around him began to fade, but Ethan''s mind was still processing the words in front of him. C-Grade? That made no sense. With this level of radiance, it should be at least an S or SS-rank talent. How could it only be C? But before he could dwell on that¡ª [Ding! Additional awakening detected.] [You have awakened your own system.] Ethan''s breath hitched. His heart skipped a beat. And then, as if the world itself had been waiting for this moment¡ª [The Divine Benevolence System is bonding to you.] A surge of energy flooded his body, different from before. It wasn''t the foreign touch of mana awakening, nor was it an overwhelming force trying to reshape his being. No¡ªthis energy was familiar. It was as if it had always been a part of him, silently waiting for the right moment to emerge. [Ding! The Divine Benevolence System is now bonded to you.] [Ding! Welcome, Host.] A strange warmth settled in his chest, but Ethan forced himself to remain calm. This¡­ this was it. The thing he had been waiting for since his reincarnation into this world. A system. A golden finger. Something that would finally give him an advantage. A smile threatened to creep up his face, but he held it back. Now wasn''t the time. His family was watching. [Host, please give more and be benevolent.] [Because the more you give, the more you shall receive.] Ethan raised an eyebrow at the message. Before he could process it further, the system prompted him again. [Would you like to view the system''s full abilities?] Ethan hesitated. His fingers twitched, tempted to immediately say yes and examine everything. But¡­ no. Not right now. Not with his family eagerly waiting for his response. With a thought, he dismissed the system window and looked up, meeting the expectant gazes of his parents and siblings. The golden glow had finally receded, leaving an atmosphere thick with anticipation. Ethan scratched his head with an awkward smile. "Uh¡­ guys, there''s no need to be so excited," he said sheepishly. "I just awakened a C-Grade talent. Heart of Benevolence." Silence. A Yagami awakening a support-type talent? It wasn''t shocking, per se. Talents reflected a person''s nature even before awakening. And Ethan, as everyone knew, had never been the combat type. But¡­ a C-Grade? With that kind of light? The contradiction left them baffled. Yet, before anyone could dwell on it too long¡ª "Big Brother is the strongest!" Chloe, his youngest sister, ran toward him, beaming with pure adoration. She threw herself into his arms, clinging to him like a koala. Ethan caught her easily, his heart warming at her innocent trust. He ruffled her hair, smiling gently. "Of course," he said. "Just wait¡ªI''ll give you lots of good things." His voice was calm, his smile radiant. And for some reason, his presence seemed different. Lionnel narrowed his eyes slightly. Iris raised an eyebrow. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even Eva, usually unreadable, found herself staring. Ethan''s aura had shifted. It was warm. Inviting. So peaceful and reassuring that standing in his presence made them instinctively lower their guard. Iris suddenly grinned. "This talent of his¡­ it''s not simple," she murmured. "Even I feel affected by it." She glanced at her husband with a victorious smirk. "As expected of my son." Eva rolled her eyes. "Mother, you''re not even trying to hide your favoritism." Iris didn''t even flinch. "Oh, please. Isn''t he all of our favorite? Just admit it. Don''t be like your father, always pretending to be cold and strict." Eva, rather than answering, simply turned back to her brother and refused to comment further. Iris giggled. "You''re so cute, Eva." Lionnel, meanwhile, stood silently, observing. This family¡ªhis family¡ªwas bound together by his lazy son''s presence. That boy¡­ He was the glue that held them all close. Lionnel exhaled. Fine. He''d indulge Ethan a little longer. After all¡­ He was his favorite, too. ¡ªEnd Of Chapter 3¡ª Chapter 4 - 4 : The power to give Ethan barely waited for the ceremony to end before excusing himself. He had faked exhaustion, claiming the awakening process had drained him, but the truth was far simpler¡ªhe just couldn''t wait any longer. He needed to see his system''s abilities. The moment he stepped into his room, he shut the door behind him and let out a deep breath. His heart was racing. "Alright¡­ first things first." As much as he wanted to check the system, he still had to look at his talent''s abilities. It was his first real power in this world, after all. [Talent: Heart of Benevolence (C-Grade)] Talent Description: You are a being of kindness, of love, of trust, of selflessness. You are weak in combat, but you don''t need to fight your battles¡ªbecause you will always have allies by your side. Skills Unlocked: Aura of Trust (Passive): People instinctively trust you, feeling at ease in your presence. Even the most doubtful and skeptical individuals will find it difficult to suspect you. Blessing of Reciprocity (Active): When you give, purely out of kindness, an item, skill, or resource, the recipient receives an enhanced version of what was given. Benevolent Shield (Active): Create a barrier around a target, absorbing damage based on how much goodwill you have for them. Ethan whistled lowly. "Damn. The passive is crazy. If even skeptical people have trouble doubting me, that''s already broken in its own way." But then he frowned. "The other two, though¡­ They''re all about helping other people. What am I, some saint?" He sighed, leaning back in his chair. It wasn''t that he minded helping others. In fact, he actually enjoyed it. But if all his powers were just about supporting other people, then what about him? His eyes lingered on Blessing of Reciprocity for a moment longer. "An enhanced version of what was given¡­ I need to test that immediately." And Benevolent Shield was another mystery. How much goodwill did he need to make it strong? Did it scale based on emotions? Thoughts? He had too many questions. But all of that could wait. Because now, it was time for the real reason he had rushed back to his room. Ethan took a deep breath, then grinned. "Alright. System¡ªshow me what you can do." At once, glowing golden text appeared before his eyes. [Welcome back, Host.] [Displaying System Abilities:] Heavenly Reciprocity ¨C Whatever you give out of pure goodwill, you will receive 10,000 times the value back. Karmic Resonance ¨C Helping others generates karmic energy, which can be converted into divine skills, artifacts, or blessings. Blessing of the Benevolent Sovereign ¨C The more people you uplift, the more your strength, luck, and influence grow. Ethan blinked. Then again. His brain completely shut down for a solid five seconds. "¡­What?" He read Heavenly Reciprocity again, just to make sure he wasn''t hallucinating. Whatever you give out of pure goodwill, you will receive 10,000 times the value back. "That''s¡­" He sucked in a sharp breath. "That''s ridiculous." No, ridiculous wasn''t even the right word. This was completely and utterly broken. He sat there, staring at the golden text, his fingers gripping the armrest of his chair. His mind raced with possibilities. If he gave someone one gold coin, he''d get 10,000 in return. If he gave away a low-grade potion, he''d get 10,000 of them. If he gifted someone a skill book, he''d get 10,000 copies. And if he handed over an artifact¡­ "Oh." His breathing slowed. His lips curled into a smirk. "Ohhhhhh." Then¡ªhe burst out laughing. "Hahahahahaha! I KNEW IT!" He threw his head back, cackling like a madman. "HAHAHAHAHA! THIS IS TOO MUCH! I''M A DAMN CHEAT CHARACTER!" For a good minute, Ethan just sat there, shaking with laughter. This was better than anything he had expected. 10,000 times was an absurd multiplier. No matter what he did, he couldn''t lose. He eventually wiped his eyes, still grinning. Then, his expression sobered slightly. "Wait¡­" His fingers tapped against his desk as he thought about it more deeply. "It has to be out of pure goodwill." That phrase wasn''t just decoration. It was a condition. He exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair. "Giving without expecting anything in return, huh?" That wasn''t actually a problem for him. In fact, he had always believed in that kind of giving. "A gift isn''t a gift if you''re expecting something in return. That''s just a disguised trade." He had always found it ridiculous when people acted generous, only to get angry later because they didn''t get repaid. If you truly wanted to give something, you shouldn''t need repayment. And now, the system itself rewarded that exact mindset. His grin returned. "Perfect. This is made for me." He looked back at his system abilities. If Heavenly Reciprocity let him gain 10,000 times whatever he gave¡­ and Blessing of Reciprocity already enhanced whatever he gave before it even reached the recipient¡­ Then¡­ "This isn''t just a good ability. It''s an infinite power loop." His grin widened further. "I see. I get it now." He wasn''t just a support character. He was a kingmaker. He could create monsters out of his allies. Warriors stronger than anything the world had ever seen. And in return? He''d be at the center of it all. The one person they would all protect at any cost. His eyes gleamed as he thought of the future. His family. His household. The knights and servants. They would be his first test subjects. "I''ll make them powerful. So powerful that no one will ever dare to touch them." He stretched, letting out a satisfied sigh. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Well, that settles it." It was time to stop being lazy. For real this time. First, he would grow the people around him. Then, he would step into the Tower. And after that? He would keep giving. And in return¡ªhe would become unstoppable. His title wasn''t just for show. He would become the Kind Noble that they see in him. But behind that kindness? Would be absolute power. A power to protect and preserve. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 4¡ª A/N: If you like it add it in your library. Thank you for reading. Chapter 5 - 5 : The Tower and the Path Forward Ethan leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. His mind kept drifting to the Tower. A mystical structure that had appeared in their world three centuries ago. Its arrival had changed everything. With it came the dungeons¡ªdangerous domains filled with monstrous beasts, lost relics, and forgotten knowledge. At that time, humanity had been on the brink of extinction. The creatures from these dungeons had nearly wiped them out. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But nature wasn''t cruel. Just as these horrors had appeared, so too had mana¡ªthe life force that now filled the world. Mana had awakened something deep within humanity, allowing them to manifest talents. The first people to awaken such abilities were known as The Originals¡ªpioneers of supernatural power. They were the saviors who had turned the tide. And their descendants¡­ They were now The Original Families¡ªrulers of this new world. Among them was the Yagami Family. Ethan absentmindedly stroked his chin as he recalled these historical truths. Their ancestor, Nathan Yagami, had once been known as the Sword God. A warrior whose blade had cut down armies, whose legend had shaped history itself. "And now, three centuries later, here I am. The ''lazy'' second son of the Yagami family, awakening a support-type talent while everyone expected a combat genius." He smirked to himself. "What a mystical world. But of all its mysteries, none compare to the Tower." Yes, the Tower was the greatest enigma of all. It wasn''t just a structure. It was a gateway¡ªa path that connected countless worlds, dimensions, and realms. Inside, one could find races never seen before, beasts from forgotten myths, and treasures beyond imagination. And, if the rumors were true¡­ Even gods walked within its halls. Ethan chuckled at the thought. "Hah, will I find the gods I used to read about back on Blue Earth? Zeus? Odin? Ra?" It was a ridiculous thought. But then again, the mere fact that he had reincarnated into this world was ridiculous enough. Nothing was impossible anymore. And, most importantly¡ªhe could enter the Tower. From the moment a person awakened¡ªbecoming an E-Rank existence¡ªthey were eligible to step inside. From there, it was a journey of trials and ascension. Climbing each floor required proving oneself, overcoming tests of strength, intelligence, and willpower. And once someone reached the 10th floor, everything changed. There, unlike the lower levels filled with trials, the 10th floor was a world of its own¡ªfilled with kingdoms, guilds, and countless other forces vying for power. And most importantly¡ª It was there that one could awaken their Class. Ethan''s fingers drummed against the table. Classes. The second defining factor of one''s power, next to talent. "I wonder what class I''ll awaken?" He smirked to himself. "Let me guess¡­ something related to benevolence again?" He sighed, but there was no frustration in his expression. If the world wanted to make him a Saint, then so be it. He''d be the greatest Saint this world had ever seen. "The Saint of Benevolence." He chuckled at the thought. "Cool nickname, right?" Still, he had a long way to go before that moment arrived. For now, his first goal was clear¡ª Strengthen his family. By using his Blessing of Reciprocity and Heavenly Reciprocity, he could make the people around him stronger than ever before. And through that¡­ he would strengthen himself. Once he had secured his foundation, he would step into the Tower. And when he did, his first goal would be simple¡ªreaching the 10th floor and awakening his Class. His path was set. A satisfied smile spread across his face. With his plan in place, Ethan stretched his arms above his head. "Well, that''s enough thinking for now." The excitement from earlier had drained him more than he expected. He let out a yawn, lying back onto his bed. Tomorrow would be a big day. The first step in his journey of power. He couldn''t wait. And with that final thought, he drifted off into sleep, his breathing steady and even. At that moment, a shadow flickered near his bedside. A small figure appeared, moving silently through the room. Ellie. His personal maid. Her gaze softened as she watched her young master sleep. She sighed quietly. "I thought you''d be devastated after awakening a C-Grade talent¡­" She had even prepared his favorite meal to cheer him up. But instead¡­ He had spent the entire evening staring blankly into the air and laughing madly. Her expression turned grim. "Is this the madness of despair? Did the shock break him?" A hint of worry flickered in her emerald eyes. She leaned down, brushing her fingers gently against his cheek. Her voice was soft. "Don''t worry, Master. Even if the world looks down on you¡­ I won''t." Her eyes hardened with resolve. "No one will touch you. I''ll protect you, no matter what." For a moment, her presence flickered¡ªher figure dissolving into the darkness itself. Then, she was gone. Had Ethan been awake, he would have been both speechless and touched. But he never knew of this moment. Because no one could see the system but him. And so, to Ellie, all she had seen was her young master staring into nothingness and laughing like a madman. And honestly¡­ That was a little concerning. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 5¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª- A/N : Add it in your library and support with power stones please guys. Comments and make reviews too if you have some questions, some critics or even appreciation of my book. I would appreciate it. Thank you for reading. Chapter 6 - 6 : The first Act Of Benevolence The first rays of morning light filtered through the large windows of Ethan''s room as he stirred awake. For the first time since his birth, no one had to wake him up. His personal maid, Ellie, usually had to drag him out of bed with bribes of delicious food or, on some occasions, outright threats. But today was different. Because today, Ethan would truly begin his journey. His abilities, his system, and his talent all relied on the act of giving¡ªand for that, he needed something to give. And that was exactly what he planned to acquire today. A grin stretched across his face. "Time to see just how broken my system really is." After freshening up in record time, Ethan stepped out of his room, his movements brisk with purpose. His destination was clear¡ªhis mother''s office. The Yagami family never lacked resources. In fact, their wealth rivaled entire nations. And as the second young master of this prestigious household, Ethan had access to all of it. The only problem? He never actually used any of those resources before. His past expenses consisted of pointless luxuries¡ªfine clothes, expensive skin care products, and other vain indulgences. As a result, he still had 100 gold coins left from his personal allowance. "This should be enough for a test run." Currency in this world mirrored the Tower''s system rather than the old financial institutions of modern Earth. 1 Silver Coin = 100 Copper Coins 1 Gold Coin = 100 Silver Coins 1 Platinum Coin = 100 Gold Coins For a commoner, owning a single gold coin was considered a fortune. For Ethan, it was pocket change. But soon¡­ Wealth itself would mean nothing to him. Because his system could turn even the smallest gift into an empire of power. As Ethan strode confidently through the halls, the household servants glanced at him in shock. It was rare to see him up so early. No¡­ It was unheard of. "Since when does Young Master Ethan wake up early?" whispered one maid to another. "Right? We always have to wake him up ourselves!" Then, as if coming to a shared realization, their expressions turned somber. "Could it be¡­ is this because of his C-Rank talent?" "He must be feeling so depressed¡­" Ethan lips twitched. With his newly awakened E-Rank realm, his senses were sharper than ever. He could hear every single word they whispered not so silently. He stopped in his tracks, turned his head slightly, and said calmly¡ª "Don''t go around spreading nonsense. I''m just feeling motivated today." The maids gasped. "Young Master Ethan, don''t worry! We''ll always stand by you!" one of them blurted out. "You can just stay here forever! You have nothing to prove!" Ethan sighed. "Looks like I''ll have to show them myself." Instead of replying, he simply gave them a calm smile and continued walking. Soon, they would see. The Office of Iris Yagami Knock, knock. A soft but firm voice responded. "Enter." Ethan stepped inside. The office was filled with books, magic diagrams glowing faintly on scrolls, and intricate artifacts. At the center of the room sat Iris Yagami, an S-Rank Mage proficient in fire magic, possessing an SS-Rank Talent. In the future, she had the potential to ascend to SS-Rank herself¡ªa realm where beings transcended mortality. ''What a monster of a family I have'' Ethan mused, amused. His mother looked up, her golden eyes filled with surprise. "My baby?" It was rare for Ethan to visit her office voluntarily. The only time he did so was when he wanted to complain about something. "Did something happen?" she wondered, concern flashing in her eyes. But before she could voice her worries, Ethan spoke first. "Mother, I need all the resources you can give me." His voice was calm yet firm. "Skill books, weapons, potions, medicinal herbs¡ªeverything." Iris blinked. For a moment, she was speechless. ''Did my son just ask for training resources?'' ''The same son who avoids physical exertion like a plague?'' Then, suspicion flickered in her gaze. "Why? What do you need them for?" She had no problem giving him anything he wanted¡ªhe was her son. But she needed to understand why. Ethan, unfazed, smiled playfully. "I want to test one of my abilities." Then, he added with a grin¡ª "And¡­ I''m feeling benevolent today." The moment those words left his mouth¡ª A powerful aura erupted from his body. It wasn''t a violent burst of energy, nor was it overwhelming. But it was warm. Comforting. Like standing in the presence of someone who could never betray you. Iris felt a strange sensation in her chest¡ªlike she could trust her son with her very soul. For a moment, she said nothing. Then, she sighed, shaking her head with a soft smile. ''This boy¡­'' Finally, she removed one of the many rings on her fingers and handed it to him. "You will find everything you need inside. This is a spatial ring. Take care of it." Ethan immediately used his consciousness to peer inside¡ª And his eyes widened. "¡­All of this, Mother?" The sheer amount of resources inside was absurd. A collection worthy of an elite squadron¡ªnot just a single person. Iris smiled smugly. "As the son of Iris Yagami, this much is only natural for you." S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan chuckled inwardly. ''Yes¡­ this is exactly the kind of attitude I aspire to have.'' ''No amount of wealth should ever feel ''big'' to me.'' This was just the beginning. The First Step Towards Power As soon as Ethan stepped out of his mother''s office, he called out gently¡ª "Ellie." In an instant, the shadows themselves shifted, forming the petite figure of his maid. "Yes, Young Master Ethan?" Ethan walked forward silently, deep in thought. Then, finally, he spoke. "Summon all the servants in the household." "Tell them to gather in the courtyard immediately." Ellie tilted her head in curiosity but did not question him. "Understood." With a snap of her fingers, she melted back into the shadows, vanishing in an instant. Ethan stood still for a moment, looking up at the sky. Then, he smiled. "I''m feeling really generous today." Because today¡ª He would begin his first act of benevolence. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 6¡ª A/N: Add it in your library and support with power stones guys. Chapter 7 - 7 : Grin wider and wider Ethan stood in the courtyard, facing every servant of the Yagami household. They had all been summoned by his command. The scene was so unprecedented that his family¡ªhis parents and siblings¡ªstood at a distance, watching in quiet curiosity. Chloe, his youngest sister, clutched their mother''s hand. Her round, innocent eyes blinked as she asked, "What''s Big Brother Ethan doing?" Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her tiny frown made her look so adorable that anyone watching would want to pinch her cheeks. Eva, his older sister, was more composed but just as curious. "Mother, what''s going on? I heard he came to your office before gathering everyone." Their father, Lionnel Yagami, stood silently, watching his son with a tired expression. He had witnessed far too many of Ethan''s antics to expect anything serious. Iris chuckled and answered, "He came to me earlier, asking for every resource I could give¡ªswords, potions, skill books, everything." Eva''s brows furrowed. "¡­And you gave them to him?" "Of course." Lionnel turned his head sharply. "¡­You did what?" Iris smiled casually. "I gave him one of my spatial rings." Lionnel''s eyes widened. "Wait¡ªyou gave him that much? And something that valuable?" "Yes. He deserved it," Iris said without hesitation. Then, after a moment of silence, she sighed. "I thought he was feeling down about his talent and wanted to train, so I gave it to him. But now¡­" She trailed off, watching Ethan carefully. "¡­I''m starting to doubt that was his reason." Her family stared at her. Ethan? Training? Bullshit. It was more believable to say the sun was cold. But instead of arguing, they simply turned back to watch Ethan, who was just about to begin. ¡­ Ethan stood before the gathered servants, excitement thrumming beneath his skin. Ellie handed him a Mana Speaker, an artifact that amplified his voice. Holding it up, he spoke, "You must be wondering why I called you here today." Murmurs spread through the crowd. A wave of noise rose. Ethan simply stood there, calm and smiling, as if he expected their reaction. Then, he continued¡ªhis voice steady, smooth, and commanding. "But don''t worry¡ªit''s nothing bad." The richness of his tone, the way his voice wrapped around them like warmth, made them unconsciously fall silent. "Since the day I was born, you have been by my side. You''ve cared for me, played with me, and indulged my every whim." "You have seen me at my best¡­ and at my worst." At his words, a deep emotion stirred in the crowd. Because it was true. They had watched him grow, day after day. When he took his first steps, they had cheered. When he cried, they had soothed him. When he was scolded, they had comforted him. And despite being born into wealth and power, Ethan had never treated them as mere servants. He had always been kind. And now, as they listened, a lump formed in their throats. Ethan''s eyes softened. "Even after my awakening, I saw your concern." "You worried about me. You wanted to help." He exhaled, his voice gentler now. "And I cannot ignore that." Then, his expression shifted. His smile grew wider, brighter¡ªalmost mischievous. "So I have decided¡ªstarting today, I will provide you with the resources to grow stronger." A wave of shock rippled through the servants. But Ethan wasn''t done. "From now on, whatever you need¡ªskills, weapons, potions, money¡ªsimply call my name, and I will provide it." Then, with a bright, almost arrogant smile, he declared¡ª "And I will begin today." Silence. Then¡ª Disbelief. His family stared at him, stunned. His mother, the most shocked of all, muttered¡ª "¡­So this is what he meant when he said he was ''feeling generous''?" His father, Lionnel, rubbed his temples. ''Did my first two children turn out so well that the heavens decided to balance it out by giving me this lunatic as my third?'' He sighed heavily. Meanwhile, the servants were frozen. It was simply too good to be true. But at this moment¡ª Ethan spoke to his system. ''Now what?'' [All materials in the spatial ring have been enhanced by your skill: Benevolent Reciprocity.] Ethan''s grin widened. He extended his hand¡ª And poured out half of the spatial ring''s contents. Weapons. Swords, daggers, shields¡ªall Rare Grade or higher. Skill Books. Each glowing with Unique-Level energy. Potions. Health, Strength, Mana¡ªevery kind imaginable. Gold. Mountains of it. The sheer amount of resources stunned the crowd into silence. Then¡ª Ethan gestured casually. "Please form a line and come forward one by one." His voice was calm, reassuring. "No need to rush¡ªI have enough for all of you." The first servant hesitantly stepped forward¡ªa young girl with trembling hands. Ethan looked at her warmly. "What do you need to grow stronger?" She hesitated before whispering¡ª "A fire skill book¡­ and a magic wand." Ethan grinned. "Perfect. I have just the thing." He picked up a Rare Grade skill book¡ª [Molten Fire Rain] And a Rare Grade wand¡ªits surface glowing with enchanting runes. The moment the girl took them, a flood of notifications appeared before Ethan. [You have given a Rare Grade Skill Book: [ {Molten Fire Rain} out of goodwill.] [You have received a Legendary Grade Skill: {Eternal Inferno} with the x10,000 effect.] [You have given a Rare Grade Magic Wand out of goodwill.] [You have received a Legendary Grade Staff: {Celestial Ember} with the x10,000 effect.] [You have received 100 Karmic Points.] Ethan froze. Then, his smile stretched wider. "¡­Oh my Lord." The servant girl held the wand and skill book close to her chest, her eyes wide with disbelief. She truly can''t believe it. It''s been months she is trying to get her hands on a fire skill book at the rare grade and a wand but with her background the difficulty is just off the charts. She stared at Ethan¡ªnot just as a young master, but as something greater. Someone who cared. Someone who gave without hesitation. At that moment, something inside her shifted. She dropped to one knee, lowering her head. "Young Master Ethan¡­ I will follow you always." And immediately A new notification flashed before Ethan''s eyes. [You have received the Allegiance of one person, Mei Suzane] [You can now view her profile and determine the best way to uplift her.] [Your Luck, Strength, and Talent have slightly increased.] Ethan stiffened. Then, a slow, knowing smile spread across his face. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 7¡ª Chapter 8 - 8: System I love you Ethan stood before the gathered servants, his sharp eyes scanning the courtyard filled with expectant faces. The golden glow of the setting sun bathed the white marble pathways and towering sakura trees, their petals drifting lazily in the breeze. The Yagami household was a place of grandeur, and this courtyard¡ªnormally a place of formal gatherings¡ªhad now become the stage for an event none of them could have anticipated. His family still watched from a distance, observing the scene with varying expressions. His mother, Iris, stood with her arms crossed, her red eyes filled with amusement. His father, Lionnel, had the familiar look of a man questioning the very meaning of life. His siblings, Eva and Chloe, were watching with curiosity¡ªEva serious as ever, Chloe''s small hands clutched around her mother''s robe, her bright green eyes blinking in confusion. But Ethan wasn''t thinking about them right now. His mind was still racing as he processed the system notifications flashing before him. [Your Luck, Strength, and Talent have slightly improved.] Ethan clenched his fist, trying to suppress the grin threatening to break out ''So¡­ my talent can evolve just by gaining people''s allegiance?'' This was huge. He had already known that talents could be evolved through a legendary-grade potion, but those were so absurdly rare that even his influential family didn''t have one. And yet, here he was¡ªgetting stronger just by making people follow him. he is, defying logic itself. Ethan exhaled slowly. ''System¡­ I love you.'' [Your love is reciprocated, Host.] He let out a chuckle, shaking his head in amusement. Then, his green eyes flickered toward the young girl still kneeling before him¡ªMei Suzane. She had delicate eastern features, long black hair cascading over her shoulders, and soft, hesitant eyes that flickered with nervousness. She had sworn her allegiance to him. But now, seeing his silence, she began to fidget. Her head lowered slightly, fingers clutching the hem of her dress. ''Did I get ahead of myself? Maybe¡­ Maybe Young Master Ethan doesn''t need someone like me.'' A small, sad thought crept into her heart. Just as doubt was about to settle in¡ª Warm hands gently grasped hers. She gasped softly, her head snapping up. Ethan''s smile was as radiant as the sun. "I acknowledge your allegiance," he said warmly. "I''m happy to have you as my companion." Her heart skipped a beat. For a moment, she simply stared at him, completely stunned. Then, realization hit, and¡ª Her cheeks burned crimson. She immediately lowered her head, her breath unsteady. "H-He called me his companion¡­" she whispered, her voice barely audible. Ethan chuckled. "You''re cute." Mei nearly fainted on the spot. Unable to endure the embarrassment, she hastily bowed and sprinted away, vanishing into the crowd like a frightened rabbit. Ethan''s laughter rippled through the courtyard. His gaze then shifted toward the long line of servants still waiting before him. He spread his arms slightly, his voice calm yet commanding. "Next person, please." One by one, the servants approached, requesting various items¡ªsome needed skill books, others needed weapons, and some even requested potions for healing or stamina recovery. But Ethan''s system-enhanced gifts were leagues beyond what they expected. A basic sword turned into a rare-grade enchanted blade. A common fire spell evolved into a rare-grade incantation. Every time Ethan gave, he received something far greater in return. His system space¡ªwhere all his rewards were stored¡ªwas filling up rapidly. And among the countless items, two stood out immediately. The Eye of Sagacity (Legendary-Grade Artifact) A crystal monocle whose only function is to enhances the user ability to see through lies and to analyze the profil of other people. No one can lie in front of you. No one can hide from you. Warning: Overuse can lead to temporary mental fatigue. Ethan''s eyes widened when he received this. ''Holy shit. A tool that lets me analyze people and knows if they lie? That''s basically cheating.'' For someone like him, who preferred to avoid direct combat and control things from behind the scenes, this was perfect. The Hand of Midas (Legendary-Grade Relic) A golden gauntlet that enhances all financial, business, and diplomatic interactions. Grants the passive ability [Golden Authority], which makes all monetary investments, negotiations, and trades significantly more favorable to the user. Special Effect: Increases any financial gains by 500% and allows the user to create contracts that cannot be broken unless the wielder allows it. Ethan nearly dropped the item in shock when he saw the description. ''A relic that turns me into a business and negotiation god?'' This was absurdly powerful. With this, any deal he made, any investment, any negotiation¡ªit would always be tilted in his favor. His heart pounded in excitement. ''These aren''t just random powerful items. These are tailor-made for someone like me.'' The Eye of Sagacity gave him the ability to not be fooled by anyone with lies. The Hand of Midas ensured that wealth and influence would never be an issue. At that moment, Ethan realized something. ''This isn''t just about giving to people. This is about building a foundation. If I make these people stronger, they become more loyal. If they become more loyal, I grow stronger. And if I grow stronger¡­'' His gaze flickered to his family in the distance. ''Then I can protect them and make them stronger with me.'' His lips curled into a smile. As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, only one person remained. Ellie. His personal maid. His silent shadow. Unlike the others, she didn''t step forward. She simply stood there, waiting, her face calm and unreadable. Ethan chuckled softly. He turned to face the gathered crowd. "This concludes today''s event," he announced, his voice carrying through the courtyard. "I hope you all found something valuable. Remember, my doors are always open. If you need anything, don''t hesitate to ask." A wave of emotion spread through the gathered servants. Many had tears in their eyes. Never¡ªnever in their lives¡ªhad they been treated this way by someone of higher status. A young master giving to his servants? Not demanding anything in return? Not treating them as disposable? They had served him out of duty before. Now, many of them would follow him out of devotion. And Ethan knew it. As Ethan turned to leave, he glanced at Ellie and spoke without stopping his stride. "I haven''t forgotten about you, Ellie." The petite girl stiffened slightly. "As my personal maid, your gift needs to be¡­ special." Her eyes widened. Ethan''s smile widened playfully. "I''ll give it to you tomorrow." Ellie blinked. She had always been loyal to him. She knew he would never ignore her. But still, after watching so many receive their gifts, she couldn''t help but feel a slight¡­ longing. Yet now¡ªjust one sentence from him had completely changed that. Her face brightened. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For the first time in a long time, she felt anticipation. Ethan glanced at her expression and laughed. "Truly, my cute maid." Her face burned red. Ethan simply kept walking, grinning. He really did love teasing her. ¡­ As Ethan entered his room, he stretched lazily, exhaling in satisfaction. Today had been a success. He had gained strength, skills, powerful items, and¡ªmost importantly¡ªpeople. The first steps of his journey were complete. Now, he needed to just continue doing this. ''Time to check my new followers.'' With a thought, he summoned the system. [Karmic points : 10000] [Followers Gained: 34] [New Feature Unlocked: Allegiance Profile View] [You may now see the abilities, potential for those who have pledged allegiance to you.] Ethan''s breath hitched. His green eyes flickered with newfound ambition. He wasn''t just gathering people. He was building an army. And if his power continued to grow at this rate¡ª The world wasn''t ready for him. Not yet. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 8¡ª A/N: Like it ? Add it and make some reviews. Support with power stones too. Thank you for reading! Chapter 9 - 9 : Mei Ethan stared at the glowing system panel hovering in front of him, his eyebrows furrowed in thought. "So, I can access the profiles of my followers¡­ but why can''t I access mine?" he asked, tilting his head. [You can access it, Host.] Ethan blinked. "Then why didn''t you tell me that before?" [You never asked, Host.] His lips twitched. ''¡­Is it just me, or is my system getting cheekier by the day?'' [You are just imagining things, Host.] Ethan squinted at the floating text, feeling an irrational urge to flick the screen in frustration. But instead, he let out a sigh and shook his head. "Fine. Show me my profile first." Immediately, a new panel appeared. [Profile: Ethan Yagami] ? Age: 10 years old ? Rank: E ? Talent: Heart of Benevolence (C-Grade) ? Attributes: ? Strength: E ? Agility: E ? Constitution: E ? Perception: E+ ? Mana: E- ? Intelligence: D ? Inventory: ? Platinum Coins (x99,999,999) ? Eye of Sagacity (Legendary) ? Hand of Midas (Legendary) ? ¡­ Ethan stared at the screen for a long moment, then exhaled deeply. "And this is after my stats improved from gaining followers?" He rubbed his temples. "How ridiculously weak was I before?" No wonder his family had zero expectations of him. His siblings had been monsters at his age, wielding incredible talents and dominating in their training sessions. Meanwhile, he had been¡­ well, the cute little extra standing in the background. ''Not anymore,'' he thought, shaking off his self-pity. His talent skills were integrated within Heart of Benevolence, meaning they wouldn''t appear on his profile unless he specifically searched for them. But for now, he was more interested in his first official follower''s stats. "Show me Mei Suzane''s profile." A new panel appeared. Ethan stared at the system panel in front of him, his mind processing the insane revelation about his maid, Mei Suzane. [Follower Profile - Mei Suzane] Age: 16 Rank: C Class: Flame Maiden (uncommon grade) Talent: Flames (C-Grade), Phoenix Fire (S-Grade, Locked) Bloodline: Red Phoenix''s bloodline (Legendary, Locked) Attributes: Strength: C- Agility: B Constitution: C- Perception: C Mana: C Intelligence: D Loyalty: 70% S-rank talent. Legendary bloodline. His fingers twitched as he took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing. He didn''t even look at her class, it''s just an uncommon grade not even a rare one. For a normal noble household, discovering someone with an S-rank talent would be shocking enough to cause internal chaos. Even his elder siblings, who were considered geniuses, only had SS-rank potential at best. But this wasn''t just about talent. Bloodlines were different. "Legendary bloodline¡­ and locked?" Ethan murmured. The gears in his mind turned rapidly. He knew how important bloodlines were in determining someone''s future potential. The Tower System factored in everything¡ªtheir talent, experience, mindset, and even their bloodline¡ªto create a unique class tailored to their strengths. A legendary bloodline meant Mei could potentially become a future powerhouse. But right now, that power was sealed. And he was the only one who knew. Ethan tapped his chin thoughtfully. He had gained Mei''s loyalty, but it was only at 70%. Not enough. For someone with this level of potential, he needed her absolute trust and devotion. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If Mei''s loyalty ever wavered, what would stop another faction from discovering her true power and taking her away? "System, how do I unlock her bloodline?" [To unlock the Red Phoenix''s bloodline, a drop of Red Phoenix God''s Blood is required.] [Once awakened, her Phoenix Fire talent will also be fully unlocked and enhanced.] [If the Host drinks the blood, you will gain Fire Immunity and Phoenix Abilities instead.] Ethan frowned. A god blood ? Damn So he had two choices. 1. Use the Red Phoenix God''s Blood on Mei ¡ú Unlock her legendary bloodline, boosting her power tremendously. 2. Use it on himself ¡ú Gain fire immunity and a fraction of the Phoenix''s abilities. "¡­The first option is clearly the smarter choice," Ethan admitted to himself. If Mei became powerful, it benefited him in the long run. He was not a front-line fighter. He preferred staying in the shadows, planning and ordering others to fight for him. He needed a strong, unwavering force at his side. And that meant Mei had to be more than just a follower. She had to be one of his generals. "System, show me her personality and ambition." [Analyzing¡­] [Personality: Loyal, but seeks validation. Ambitious but lacks confidence. Strong moral compass but desires strength.] [Secret Desire: To find a purpose greater than herself.] Ethan''s lips curled into a small smile. ''Ah¡­ I see. So that''s what she lacks.'' Mei wanted strength but didn''t believe she was worthy of it. She needed someone to give her that purpose¡ªto believe in her before she believed in herself. And that someone was him. "Mei Suzane¡­ from today onward, you will be my sword." She would be his main enforcer, his right-hand warrior. He would unlock her potential, and in return, she would be his unstoppable force on the battlefield. Now¡­ he just had to find that Red Phoenix Blood. Ethan exhaled slowly, excitement buzzing in his veins. His plans were starting to take shape. But before he could continue, his thoughts were interrupted by something¡ªhis system had just casually dropped a game-changing revelation. [You can purchase Bloodlines with Karmic Points.] Ethan''s mind went blank. "¡­What?" [You can purchase or create any bloodline using Karmic Points.] [Creating a unique bloodline is more expensive than inheriting an existing one.] For a moment, Ethan just stared at the panel. Then, his eyes widened. "Holy. F*cking. Mother. Of. Earth." If anyone had been watching, they would have seen a lazy young master suddenly sit up straight like he had just discovered the meaning of life. "System¡­ you''re telling me that I can literally create my own bloodline?!" [Yes.] Ethan grinned wildly. "HAHAHA! So what if I don''t have a bloodline now? Who cares?! I can literally MAKE ONE!" He felt unstoppable. If he used his Karmic Points wisely, he could tailor-make the most broken bloodline in existence. At this thought He can''t help but shout "HELL YESSS" His shout echoed across the mansion, causing several servants to jump in fright. Somewhere, his mother sighed, already accustomed to his antics. ¡ªEnd Of Chapter 9¡ª Chapter 10 - 10 : The Birth of a Family Tycoon Ethan took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "Heheh¡­ I need to chill. Don''t wanna push my father''s patience and get kicked out," he muttered, half-joking. Though, let''s be real¡ªno one''s kicking him out. But the system wasn''t done shaking his world. [Host can create or buy anything with Karmic Points.] [Even the drop of Red Phoenix''s God Blood is available in the system shop.] [For you, Host, resources will never be a problem.] [If something doesn''t exist, you can create it.] [Your only concern should be how many Karmic Points you can gather.] Ethan just¡­ stood there. Frozen. Processing. Then, his brain crashed. "¡­No way." "No way." "NO F*CKING WAY!" His voice exploded, shaking the walls. This time, his father could not ignore it. Nor could his mother. Nor could his silent, ever-mysterious sister. BOOM. In less than a second, they all appeared in his room. Iris was the first to step forward, her eyes filled with concern. "Ethan, my baby, what happened?!" Ethan didn''t move. Didn''t answer. Just stood there, his head slightly lowered, hand over his mouth¡ªshaking. Not in fear. But in barely-contained excitement. Iris took a step closer, and then¡ª She saw his face. She froze. Ethan''s expression¡­ His wide, gleaming green eyes. His hand desperately holding his mouth shut. His entire body trembling. And most terrifying of all¡ª That grin. That disturbingly wide, excited grin. At that moment, he didn''t look like a noble heir. He looked like a madman who just discovered he could rule the world. Lionnel, his father, crossed his arms and gave him a long, unreadable look. The message in his eyes was clear: "I dare you to scream again." Ethan snapped out of it. He blinked, finally registering the three sets of extremely concerned eyes locked onto him. ¡­They thought he lost his mind. He coughed lightly, straightened up, and put on his most innocent, well-behaved smile. "Ahaha¡­ Nothing to worry about, you all. I was just¡­ uh, surprised by some new discoveries regarding my talent." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lionnel narrowed his eyes. "What kind of discoveries?" Ethan paused. This was his chance. He had already decided to be the family''s personal tycoon. But for that, he needed a cover story¡ªsomething that explained why he could create ridiculous wealth without revealing his system. So, he chose his words carefully. "One of my skills, Benevolent Reciprocity, lets me receive five times the value of any resource I give away." Technically true. But also a massive downplay. His real ability, his system, was far more broken. But no one¡ªnot even his family¡ªcould know that. Silence. And then¡ª "¡­WHAT?!" The ever-silent Eva was the one who blurted it out. Ethan grinned. His sister never lost her composure. So this? This was priceless. Iris recovered first. Her eyes softened, glowing with pride. "My son¡­ My lovely, wonderful son¡­ I knew it. I knew you couldn''t have a useless talent." Her voice was warm, overflowing with love and admiration. Lionnel, still unreadable, rubbed his chin. "That explains why you held that ''charity'' event earlier." Ethan nodded. "Yeah, but it wasn''t just for profit. I actually wanted to help them. I''ll be returning all the resources I gained back to the family." Lionnel''s eyes widened slightly. "I don''t need them," Ethan continued. "It''s better to invest in the family so we can all grow stronger together." His green eyes gleamed. His smile widened. "I''ll be your personal tycoon. You''ll never have to worry about expenses again." A wave of silence washed over the room. Then¡ª Iris smiled radiantly, pure maternal pride shining through. Eva, still processing, just stared at him. And Lionnel? Lionnel let out a deep breath. A rare, genuine, unguarded moment. They were lucky. They were so damn lucky to have Ethan. A son who gives without asking for anything in return. A son who, despite having the power to hoard unimaginable wealth, still chose to share it with his family. They felt blessed. And they knew¡ªno one else was worthy of this talent. No one but him. Because no one, or hardly, anyone can give so much without waiting for something back. Even the gods. So he is truly the only worthy one. Iris and Lionnel exchanged a knowing look. "Ethan," Iris said gently. "Never reveal your talent to anyone. Not even your closest friends or future companions. Understand?" Lionnel nodded. "It''s too dangerous. We''ll always be by your side, but let''s not invite unnecessary trouble." Ethan grinned. "Of course. I''ll only tell Big Brother when he comes back from the Tower.No one else." That seemed to satisfy them. Iris smiled. "Alright then, we''ll let you rest." She disappeared in a burst of flames. Eva disappeared as if phasing out of existence. Only Lionnel remained, staring at Ethan. Ethan tilted his head. "Something wrong, Father?" Lionnel was silent. For a moment, it looked like he wanted to say something¡­ but then, with a final glance at his son¡ª He disappeared. But as his presence faded, his voice echoed softly through the room¡ª "I am proud of you, son. I have always been proud. Now, I can rest easy knowing you have this talent." Ethan''s smile softened. His father¡ªthe ever-stoic, ever-strict Lionnel¡ªjust admitted he was proud of him. "¡­He''s such a tsundere," Ethan chuckled. Laying back onto his bed, a warm, contented feeling spread through his chest. He had everything he needed. A loving family. A broken system. A future overflowing with possibilities And now, he just has to play it safe and grow silently. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 10¡ª Chapter 11 - 11 : The Prodigal Brother Returns Five Years Later ¡ª Five years had passed since Ethan''s so-called "charity event." Back then, it was just a test of his heavenly Reciprocity skill of the system. But now? Ethan had become the lifeline of the Yagami family. He pumped resources into their ranks at an absurd rate, making sure that everyone¡ªfrom his parents to the lowest-ranked members¡ªhad what they needed to grow stronger. And during these fives years¡­The Yagami Household had changed tremendously. The power they now weld is unfathomable. The power of Iris and Lionnel had become stronger. Iris is still at S rank stage and Lionnel at the SS rank stage because you can only rank up by clearing floor in the tower, but their power now is more consolidated. More impactful. It''s because of new skills perfectly tailored for them given by Ethan. The Yagami household business also is flourishing thanks to Ethan and his artifact Hand Of Midas. They are now the richest and strongest of the Original family. And this rise of power did not go unnoticed by his other pairs. And one of them has already acted. That aside. The insane part of all this ? Even with all the resources he gave away, he only got richer. At this point, Ethan wasn''t just supporting his family. He was funding a dynasty. But it wasn''t just wealth that had changed. Ethan himself had undergone a startling transformation. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It all started with a single Siren''s Tear. A precious treasure he had given to Ellie, his personal maid. And in return? Eldertide Heart¡ªa legendary potion, a treasure 10,000 times stronger than what he gave. The effects? Unreal. His already handsome features became inhumanly perfect. His midnight-black hair shimmered like liquid starlight. His emerald-green eyes glowed, holding the depth of an ancient forest. But that wasn''t all. The potion had granted him an S-rank water affinity, the ability to breathe underwater, and a passive charm that made water-based creatures naturally drawn to him. And that not the only transformation he had during these five years. Ethan''s talent had evolved to B rank. And with comes evolution of each new skill but no addition of other skills. And His aura. His Aura of Trust had evolved into something far more terrifying¡ªAura of Devotion. It wasn''t mind control per see. It simply took people''s natural emotions of trust, admiration, and respect¡­ and amplified them. To the point where even wild beasts, creatures that should attack on sight, would hesitate before him. And in that hesitation¡­ They would submit. ¡­ Ethan sat casually in the grand meeting hall, dressed in a simple black tunic. Even in plain clothes, his presence was magnetic. Sitting beside him was Chloe, his ten-year-old sister, clinging to his arm like a koala. And today was special. Because after 6 long years, his eldest brother, Lucas Yagami, was finally returning from the Tower. The heir of the Yagami family. The genius. "Big Brother Ethan," Chloe''s soft voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She hugged his arm tighter, her green eyes gleaming. "Even if Big Brother Lucas is here, you''ll always be my favorite." Ethan chuckled. "You probably shouldn''t say that in front of him," he teased. "You might hurt his feelings." Chloe huffed, crossing her arms. "He''ll live." Ethan simply shook his head. Suddenly¡ª The air shifted. A presence descended upon the room. The temperature fluctuated. And then¡ª A figure appeared. A tall man, with white hair like burning silver and red eyes that blazed like molten blood. His aura was sharp¡ªlike a drawn blade. Yet also searing¡ªlike a miniature sun. He had arrived. Lucas Yagami. And the moment he did.. Lucas vanished from sight. And in the blink of an eye¡ª CRACK! Ethan''s bones screamed as he was crushed into a powerful embrace. His lungs barely got enough air before Lucas tightened his grip. "MY BABY BROTHER!" Lucas grinned ear to ear, his voice filled with genuine warmth. "I''VE MISSED YOU!" Ethan, struggling for his life, managed to choke out¡ª "LUCAS¡ªCAN YOU LET GO?! I''M GOING TO DIE." Lucas blinked. "Eh? You''ll be fine." "No, I WON''T." Lucas smirked. "But you''re my little brother." "¡­How is that relevant?" "It just is." "No, it''s not." "It is." "No, it¡ª" "ENOUGH." Lionnel''s deep voice cut through the air like a blade. Lucas finally let go, though his cheeky smile remained. Lionnel folded his arms. His green eyes¡ªso similar to Chloe and Ethan''s eyes¡ªlocked onto Lucas with a serious gaze. "Lucas," he said. "Why were you late? You should have returned days ago." The warmth in Lucas''s expression disappeared. His blazing red eyes filled with irritation. His aura shifted. Lucas walked forward, stopping just short of the table. His voice was low, yet it carried enough weight that the room fell silent. "¡­I was making preparations." A pause. Lionnel narrowed his eyes. "For what?" Lucas exhaled. His gaze hardened. "¡­For the Floor 30 Trial." Ethan''s eyebrows raised slightly. Ah. So that was it. Tower floors weren''t just simple levels to clear. Certain floors acted as bottlenecks¡ªtrials that determined if a climber was worthy of advancing. Floor 30 was one such floor. If Lucas cleared it, he''d officially rank up from B to A. But the catch? The Trial of Floor 30 required climbers to tame a beast. The tower make it so the beast you have to tame is at something you will struggle with. And the higher your talent and strength, the harder the beast you had to tame. And Lucas? He had two SS-ranked talents. Which meant¡ª "¡­The Tower is making me tame a legendary beast." Lucas finally said. The room fell dead silent. Even Lionnel''s expression tightened slightly. A legendary beast. Something that was supposed to be untamable. Iris exhaled. "That¡­ is ridiculous." Lucas scoffed. "Tell me about it." Ethan leaned back, a slow smile creeping onto his face. Only legendary ? He already had a solution. He sighed dramatically. "Wow. That really does sound impossible." Lucas looked at him warily. "¡­Why do I feel like you''re about to say something ridiculous?" Ethan smirked. "Because I am." ¡ªEnd of chapter 11¡ª Chapter 12 - 12 : The price of a Dragon "Because I am." Ethan''s smile was almost lazy, a flicker of mischief dancing in his emerald-green eyes. Lucas frowned, studying his younger brother. Ethan had always been the laid-back one¡ªmore interested in playing around than serious training. And Lucas never minded. No, he preferred it that way. He had long decided¡ªhe alone would shoulder the family''s burdens. After all, he was Lucas Yagami. The one said to have a chance at SSS rank¡ªa Stage 1 God. A being on the verge of immortality. If it was for his favorite and only brother, he would make sure Ethan lived forever without any problems to worry about. But now? Now, as he looked at Ethan, something felt different. His aura¡ªcalm, peaceful, yet¡­ commanding. It wasn''t overbearing. It invited trust. And the longer Lucas stared, the more something within him stirred¡ªa deep, inexplicable urge to protect him at all costs. That¡­ wasn''t normal. "What happened to you?" Lucas asked, eyes narrowing. "What kind of talent did you awaken?" Ethan shrugged. "Just a C-rank support talent¡ªHeart of Benevolence." Lucas blinked. C-rank? No way. Something was off. Ethan leaned back, crossing his legs. "And this is the talent that''ll help you tame that legendary beast." Lucas exhaled sharply. "And how, exactly, is that supposed to work?" Ethan smirked. "Simple. Whatever I give away out of goodwill¡­ I receive five times its value in return." Lucas stiffened. His mind raced. Five times? And he''s been doing this for five years? Ethan continued, voice casual. "I''ve bought and gifted a lot of things to the family over the years. One of them? A rare-grade rune parchment for beast taming." Lucas''s breath hitched. A rare-grade rune. That alone was insanely valuable. But if Ethan''s ability was real¡­ Then that rare-grade rune would''ve returned to him as something far greater. A terrifying thought clicked into place. His parents'' power growth. Eva''s cold aura, now strong enough to counteract his own flames. The servants, the estate, the sheer wealth and dominance of the Yagami name. It all traced back to¡­ Ethan. Lucas abruptly stood. "Wait. All of this¡ªeverything that''s changed¡ªis because of you?" Ethan nodded. "Yes." Calm. Unbothered. As if it wasn''t a big deal. Lucas eyes were wide. What kind of cheat talent is this?! Across the room, Iris beamed with pride. "My baby is amazing, isn''t he?" Lucas then grinned. "Incredible. Right, Mother?" Iris nodded sagely. "Indeed, indeed. Our Ethan is incredible." Their smug expressions mirrored each other perfectly. Ethan sighed. "You''re both insufferable." Lucas chuckled. "And the rune?" Ethan pulled out a golden parchment. Not rare-grade. Legendary. Lucas froze. Ethan tapped the scroll lazily and said with a smile. "Just throw this at the beast. The moment it touches him, he''ll be bound. No struggle, no rejection. The contract will hold until he willingly accepts." Lucas slowly exhaled. "You''re joking." Ethan tilted his head. "Am I?" Lucas ran a hand through his hair. "¡­This is ridiculous." A legendary-grade rune¡­ just like that? To understand the absurdity¡ª Outside the Tower, on Earth itself, the best taming runes available were only Unique-grade. And those comes from the Tower. Humans could barely create rare-grade runes, much less anything beyond. And Ethan just handed one over. A legendary. Casually. Lucas dramatically clasped his hands. "Forget little brother¡ªyou''re big brother now. Please take care of me." His crimson eyes shimmered with excitement. He had been racking his brain for a way to tame this beast, and Ethan just¡­ solved it. Just like that. Ethan ignored his dramatics and asked "What kind of beast do you want to tame?" "The Ashen Fire Wyvern. I think it suits me." Ethan nodded slightly and asked his system interface. ''What can I give this beast to make it accept the contract willingly?'' [A Wyvern''s greatest dream is to evolve into a True Dragon.] [Grant it the opportunity, and it will follow your brother for life.] [As a True Dragon, its pride and loyalty will make betrayal impossible.] Ethan nodded. Logical. ''And how do I give it that opportunity?'' [You can purchase a vial of True Dragon Origin Blood.] S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [As a dragon subspecies, the Wyvern only needs a single drop to evolve.] ''Show me my Karmic Points balance.'' [Karmic Points: 500 million.] Years of giving freely had stacked up. ''How much for the Origin Blood of a Fire Dragon?'' [All True Dragons are at least Stage 1 gods.] Ethan winced. ''So¡­ expensive, huh?'' [It is pricier than a drop of Phoenix God''s blood.] ''¡­Shit. I didn''t even bought that one for Mei yet.'' [It will cost half your total points.] Ethan''s eyes widened. And before he could stop himself, he blurted out¡ª "WHAT?!" The room went silent. Everyone turned to stare at him. Then¡ª They went back to eating and discussing. This wasn''t the first time Ethan randomly shouted at nothing. They were used to it. Lucas, however, just stared, utterly confused. Ethan grumbled. Five years of careful stockpiling¡­ gone just like that. Originally, he planned to create a powerful bloodline for himself once he entered the Tower. That way, he could just claim it was a lucky opportunity when his family asked. But now? That plan would take a long time to happen. He exhaled. "Fine. Give it to me." [Ding! You have purchased the Origin blood of the True Dragon Vyraxion, The WorldScorcher.] A vial materialized in his hand. A Vial of deep red blood. The blood seemed to burst from time to time. You can see inside Some red rune like gravures, giving it a mystical vibe. And the moment it appeared¡ª The temperature skyrocketed. The walls began to melt. The air shimmered. Iris and Lucas immediately snapped their heads toward the vial. Their bodies tensed. They felt it. The pull. The hunger. As two beings with SS-rank fire talents¡­ They knew. If they drank that blood¡ª They wouldn''t be SS-ranked anymore. They''d surpass it. And that''s true. Because this wasn''t just power. This was the blood of a being at the god level. ¡ªEnd of chapter 12¡ª A/N: 12 chapters. A milestone for me. I would love to know your thoughts about the progression of the story till now. Please reviews and comments it will help me know what to improve and what to drop depending on how you explain it. And if you like it ? Add it and support with power stones. It will motivate me. Thank you for reading this book of mine. Chapter 13 - 13 : The Weight Of Power "What is that, Ethan?" Iris''s voice was sharp, serious¡ªso much so that she used his actual name instead of calling him her "baby" or "beloved son." That alone was enough to make everyone freeze. Ethan sighed, realizing his family was about to overreact. So he shrugged and said in the most casual tone, "Oh, it''s just a drop of blood from a Stage 1 True Dragon. Nothing too serious." Silence. Not the normal kind of silence. No, this was the type where the entire world seemed to stop. Even Lionnel, who had faced countless horrors in the Tower, just stared at Ethan as if he had grown two heads. Eva, the cold and reserved one, who barely reacted to anything, was now gripping the table so hard that ice started to form around her fingers. Lucas? His jaw actually dropped. And Iris? "W-WHAT?!" The entire family screamed at the same time. Ethan winced, rubbing his ears. "Relax, you guys are acting like I just said I burned the house down." "Ethan," Lionnel said, his voice unusually strained, "do you have any idea what you just said?" "A Stage 1 God''s blood?!" Eva''s usually calm voice rose an octave. "Yes?" Ethan said, tilting his head. "I thought that was clear the first time." Lionnel ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "You¡ªYou casually pull out something that no one in the entire world has never possessed and expect us to just sit here and act normal?!" "Exactly!" Lucas joined in. "Where the hell did you even get this?!" Ethan chuckled, amused by their reactions. "Where do you think?" He leaned back, grinning. "From my skill, obviously." Lucas blinked. "What?" Ethan waved his hand dismissively. "You all know how my skill works. If I give something with genuine goodwill, I get back something five times better. I''ve been giving away many things for years now. After enough cycles, I got this." His family was still stunned. They knew his ability was broken, but¡­ this? Iris finally snapped out of it, rubbing her temples like she had the worst headache in existence. "Ethan," she started. "Do you have any idea what kind of chaos this would cause if word got out?" Ethan shrugged. "Then we just don''t let word get out. Problem solved." His family stared at him. Lucas sighed and slumped back into his chair, muttering, "This guy is insane." Iris, on the other hand, was staring at him with a complicated expression. Her son¡­ Her little baby¡­ Had become something completely beyond their understanding. ¡ª After a long pause, Lucas hesitantly asked, "You were planning to give this to me, weren''t you?" Ethan nodded. "Yeah. Why?" Lucas sighed, rubbing his face. "And¡­ you want me to give this to a beast?" Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Obviously. You need to tame the Ashen Fire Wyvern, right? Give it this, and it''ll worship the ground you walk on." Lucas stared at Ethan like he had lost his mind. "Are you insane?!" "Depends on who you ask," Ethan quipped. Lucas groaned. "No. Absolutely not. Do you have any idea how rare this is? If I drink this, my talent, Empyrean Hellfire, will evolve beyond SS-rank! I might even have a shot at reaching Stage 1 God in the future!" Ethan sighed, already expecting this reaction. "You can''t, Lucas." "Why not?!" Ethan leaned forward, his emerald-green eyes glowing slightly. "Because your body is too weak." Lucas froze. Ethan continued, "Even Mother would struggle to absorb it. You? A mere B-rank? You''d explode on the spot." Lucas'' mouth opened, then closed. "¡­Tch." He clicked his tongue in frustration. "Damn it. You''re right." Ethan smiled softly. Lucas glared at him. Ethan chuckled before adding, "But don''t worry, big bro." Lucas narrowed his eyes. Ethan grinned. "When you reach Floor 50 of the Tower, I''ll give you something even better than Stage 1 God blood." Lucas froze again. "What¡­?" Ethan turned to the rest of his family. "That goes for all of you. I''ll give you something far more powerful than a mere True Dragon''s blood. Just wait." Silence. Then¡ª Lionnel exhaled sharply, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Hah¡­" He leaned back, shaking his head. "You really are something, Ethan." Lucas just slumped forward, resting his forehead against the table. "I came back home expecting a nice break. Instead, I find out my little brother has become an actual monster." Ethan smirked. "Welcome home, big bro." Lucas grumbled. ¡ª Suddenly, Lionnel''s expression turned serious. "We don''t have time to relax." Ethan''s gaze sharpened. "What do you mean?" Lionnel exhaled. "The Bloodsanguine are coming to visit." The temperature in the room dropped. Ethan''s smile vanished instantly. "¡­Who''s coming?" "The Patriarch and Matriarch themselves. And their youngest daughter." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan''s expression darkened. The Bloodsanguine. An Original Family, just like the Yagami. But unlike them¡­ They have a bloodline. And, They were maniacs. Blood-wielders. Monsters that could control the very lifeblood of their enemies. For them to personally come here¡­ It was nothing good. Lucas scoffed. "Tch. They''re taking us seriously now, huh?" Iris nodded solemnly. "Our recent growth didn''t go unnoticed. The Bloodsanguine must see us as either a threat or a potential ally." Ethan''s fingers tapped against the table in thought. "¡­Then we need to prepare." He turned to his parents. "Mother. Father. Where are your contracted beasts?" Iris blinked. "Why?" Ethan smirked. "I''ll check if I can evolve them, too." A long pause. Then¡ª "You know what?" Iris exhaled, shaking her head. "I''m not even going to ask." Lucas chuckled. Iris sighed again. "They''re in the Beast Taming Space outside the mansion." Ethan nodded. "Good. I''ll deal with them tomorrow." Then¡ªhe pulled out the vial of True Dragon Blood and handed it to Lucas. Lucas took it carefully, holding it as if it were the most precious thing in the world. Ethan smiled. "You''ve missed us, I know. But go back tomorrow and clear Floor 30." Lucas sighed. "Yeah, yeah. I get it." Ethan patted his shoulder. "We''ll have plenty of time later." Then¡ªhe stood up. "I have things to do." As he walked away, he called out in a smooth voice¡ª "Ellie." The shadows shifted. A tall, elegant woman stepped forward. Her once-brown hair now had blue streaks at the edges. Her beauty was ethereal, enhanced by the Siren''s Tear Ethan had given her years ago. "Yes, Young Master Ethan?" Ethan smiled slightly. "Call Mei for me." Ellie bowed slightly. "As you wish." Ethan whispered to himself¡ª "It''s time to unlock that Phoenix Bloodline." ¡ªEnd of Chapter 13¡ª Chapter 14 - 14 : Mei鈥檚 Transformation Ethan lounged lazily on his couch, arms sprawled over the plush green cushions. His chamber, decorated in elegant green and white, radiated a peaceful atmosphere¡ª Behind him, Ellie stood in her usual silent posture, an ever-watchful shadow. In front of him stood Mei Suzane, a young woman with striking Eastern features. Her silky black hair cascaded to her lower back, and her dark eyes, once filled with hesitation, now gleamed with a quiet power. Mei had changed. Five years of relentless training had hardened her, molding her into the blade she swore to become for Ethan. She was no longer the lost girl who once trembled at the thought of failure¡ªshe had survived, climbed, fought, and earned her place. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Ethan wasn''t satisfied yet. He studied her, his green eyes flickering with something unreadable. "How''s the Tower treating you?" he asked, his voice light, yet carrying an undertone of expectation. Mei immediately knelt, head lowered. "My lord, with the resources you''ve provided, I encountered no difficulty clearing Floor 20." She wasn''t exaggerating. With the sheer number of platinum coins, potions, and skill books Ethan had dumped on her, Floor 20¡ªa brutal war survival challenge¡ªhad been nothing more than an extended training session. Ethan nodded, satisfied. Then, without hesitation, he spoke bluntly. "I called you here to unlock your bloodline." Silence. Mei blinked. "¡­My what?" Even Ellie, ever composed, tilted her head slightly. Ethan smirked. That was the expected reaction. Bloodlines were no joke. Even among powerful families, they were rare and often tied to ancient legacies. Ethan''s own family had none. So the fact that Mei¡ªan orphaned maid, supposedly picked up off the streets¡ªpossessed one? That was suspicious. He had looked into her past before. The records were clean. The Head Maid had found her wandering, alone, and after verifying she wasn''t a spy, took her in. That was it. But now, with his System, he knew that wasn''t the whole story. ''Just don''t let it be one of those clich¨¦ hidden clan dramas¡­ I don''t have time for that.'' Ethan sighed internally. He had enough on his plate¡ªhe still had to deal with the Bloodsanguine family, climb the Tower, and, most importantly, get himself out of E-rank before he lost his mind. But first things first. "I know it sounds strange," Ethan admitted, "but my skill lets me see the profiles of my followers. That''s how I know." Mei and Ellie exchanged a glance, but their reactions were muted. Five years of witnessing Ethan''s absurdity had numbed them to surprises. Mei took a deep breath and clenched her fists. "¡­How do I unlock it, my lord?" Her voice was steady, but Ethan caught the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. Good. She was thinking. Mei wasn''t stupid¡ªshe understood what this meant. If she had a locked bloodline, then something had sealed it away. Why? And who did it? But she didn''t ask. Instead, she chose to move forward. Ethan smiled. That''s why she was his sword. ''System, buy a drop of Phoenix God''s Blood. And before that, activate a space-time barrier around the chamber.'' Instantly, the air around them shifted. Time outside the room slowed to a near halt. Space itself was sealed off, ensuring that no one¡ªnot even Iris or Lionnel¡ªcould sense what was about to happen. A single drop of burning red liquid materialized in Ethan''s palm. [Total cost: 12 million Karmic Points.] Ethan''s body trembled. He put a hand over his mouth, his face twitching violently. ''I have to hold it in. I can''t scream again.'' He failed. A muffled voice burst out. "DAMNNNNNNN." Mei and Ellie stared. "¡­Master?" Ellie asked cautiously. Ethan straightened, waving a hand nonchalantly. "Nothing, nothing. Just needed to digest something." Ellie remained unconvinced. Mei, however, was laser-focused on the glowing vial of blood. "This will awaken my bloodline?" she asked. Ethan nodded. "Normally, this would be impossible at your rank. But because your bloodline is already in you, you''ll survive." Mei hesitated. For the first time, doubt crept into her expression. Ethan noticed. She wasn''t scared of pain¡ªno, she had endured too much to be afraid of that. What unsettled her was the unknown. What if she changed too much? What if she lost control? What if she became someone she didn''t recognize? Ethan leaned forward, his green eyes locking onto hers. "I know that look, Mei." She stiffened. "You''re worried about losing yourself. But listen¡ªnothing about you will change. You''ll just become more of who you were meant to be." His voice was calm. Certain. Mei swallowed. That was all she needed to hear. She took the vial. Tilted it. Drank. ¡ªInstant agony. Flames erupted from her skin. She gasped, clutching her chest as searing heat surged through her veins, burning away anything human and filthy within her. Ethan activated another barrier, keeping himself and Ellie safe as Mei collapsed onto the floor. She screamed. Her bones cracked, muscles tore, her blood boiled¡ªand then, suddenly, rebuilt itself stronger. The ground beneath her blackened. Fire roared around her, consuming everything in its path. And then¡ª A single golden feather materialized above her heart. Her black hair shifted to a deep crimson, flowing like molten lava. Her eyes turned gold, burning like miniature suns. Her aura exploded, washing over the room like an inferno. Even Ethan felt the pressure. Minutes passed. Then, at last, the flames died down. And Mei stood. She was changed. Taller. Sharper. Dangerous. Her posture was perfect, exuding an elegance that hadn''t been there before. Her new kimono robes¡ªwoven from golden threads¡ªshimmered under the light. Ethan let out a low whistle. "Wow, Mei. You were beautiful before, but now?" And at that ¡ª Mei''s face turned crimson¡ªan amusing contrast to her new fiery aesthetic. She immediately averted her gaze, her fingers fidgeting nervously. Even after her transformation, she was still shy. Ethan''s smirk widened. Good. She was still Mei. He chuckled. "You''re truly cute." Mei froze. Then, as if her brain had short-circuited, she suddenly looked everywhere except at him. Ellie, watching from the sidelines, sighed internally. This idiot doesn''t even realize what he''s doing to her. Ethan, amused, turned back to the System. ''Alright. Show me her profile now.'' ¡ªEnd of Chapter 14¡ª Chapter 15 - 15 : Sword of Oath ''System, show me her profile.'' [Follower Profile - Mei Suzane] ? Age: 21 years old ? Rank: B+ ? Class: Child of The Red Phoenix (Legendary) ? Talent: Flames (S-Grade), Phoenix Fire (S-Grade) ? Bloodline: Red Phoenix''s Bloodline (Legendary) Attributes: ? Strength: B+ ? Agility: B+ ? Constitution: A ? Perception: A ? Mana: A ? Intelligence: B+ Loyalty: 101% Ethan''s gaze sharpened. ''Her class changed¡­ and her flame talent jumped from C to S-rank.'' Even among the strongest families, dual S-rank talents were a rarity. Only members of the Original Families were born with such gifts. ''Her background truly isn''t simple¡­ If I don''t handle this right, I might be in for a nasty surprise.'' Ethan shook his head, putting the thought aside for now. "How do you feel?" Mei didn''t answer immediately. She closed her eyes, feeling inward. The blood in her veins burned like molten fire. Her body pulsed with newfound strength. Her mana swirled, deeper, richer than before. She stretched her hand¡ªinstinctively activating a bloodline skill. FWOOOSH! A pair of phoenix wings erupted from her back. Red and gold, burning with ethereal beauty. Then, without hesitation, she knelt on one knee. Her voice was steady, but the weight of her words made the air tremble. "Let me pledge my allegiance again, my lord." She paused before continuing. "I will forever be Yours. Your sword. Your blade in the dark. Your flame in the cold." "I will follow your every word, even the most questionable ones." "You are my lord, my light¡ªmy god." "Your happiness and contentment shall be my pursuit. Your words shall be my law." "I, Mei Suzane, swear to follow you until the end of my life. And if your life ends before mine, I will follow you to the grave." BOOM. A formless power surged, wrapping around Mei like chains of fate. The oath was accepted. If Ethan died¡ªshe would, too. Ethan''s breath hitched. ''She¡­ surrendered her very being to me?'' This was beyond loyalty. It was devotion in its purest, most terrifying form. Ethan sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. ''Damn it, I just wanted a strong sword, not¡­ this.'' But at the same time, this was better. Now, betrayal wasn''t even an option. Ethan exhaled slowly. He had made up his mind. He walked forward¡ªstanding before Mei''s kneeling form. Then, he knelt, too. Their eyes met. Green forest again golden flames. And in that moment, he spoke words that would change everything. "From this moment on, you are my sword. The blade that will strike down my enemies. The fire that will burn the path I walk." He stopped, taking a deep breath. What he is about to say will change everything. He pours out his very feelings in the next words. "From now on, you are no longer just Mei Suzane." "You are Mei Yagami, The Sword of Oath." Mei''s eyes widened. Her eyes showing absolute shock. And that''s normal, because being Mei Yagami means¡­ Mei''s eyes started to water, and at that a feeling deep within her starting to surface. Now even more, she will not look at Ethan as a young heir of the Yagami family. But as her god and her man.Absolute in her mind. ''I am now completely his.'' This thought echoed in her mind. BOOOOOOM! An ancient power erupted. Not from Ethan. From the System. A force so sacred¡ªso primordial¡ªit made the very air tremble. For an instant, Ethan caught a glimpse of something beyond comprehension. A flicker of the System''s true nature. He had wished for something. And the System.. Had granted it. [Mei Yagami is now a part of you.] [Mei Yagami has been made your first Partner.] [Due to your wish for a sword and Mei Yagami''s will to become that sword¡ªher existence is changing.] [Mei Yagami has awakened a new talent.] [Sword of Oath (SSS-Grade)] [Mei Yagami is now The Sword of Oath. A title engraved into her very soul. This will be her true name when she will ascends to godhood.] Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan felt something click inside him. A bond¡ªso deep, so intimate¡ªit was almost terrifying. He could feel her. Her emotions. Her devotion. And it was absolute. Obsessive. Unshakable. Ethan stared at Mei, still kneeling, her fiery golden eyes locked onto him with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine. ''¡­This is crazy.'' But even crazier¡ªwas his System. He had only wished for something, and it had become reality. His fingers curled into a fist. ''Just what the hell is this System¡­?'' As he grappled with his thoughts¡ª A shadow watched from behind. Ellie. Her fists clenched so tightly that blood dripped onto the floor. Her entire body trembled. Her usual, calm eyes were filled with jealousy. Envy. She was supposed to be the first. She had been with Ethan since the day he was born. And yet¡ªMei had taken something that should have been hers. Her nails dug deeper into her palm. A storm was brewing inside her. She refused to be left behind. ¡­ ¡­Meanwhile, at the entrance of the Yagami Estate. A carriage arrived. The horses were black as night, their eyes glowing deep red. Lionnel Yagami and Iris stood waiting, their backs straight. The carriage doors opened¡ªrevealing a man and a woman, their skin pale as if drained of blood. And behind them, a girl, no older than twenty, stepped out. All three had jet-black hair and crimson eyes. The Bloodsanguine Family had arrived. Eric Bloodsanguine, the man leading them, smirked. "Been a long time, Lionnel." His deep, hoarse voice carried a weight of history. "I see life has been treating you well." His gaze flickered over the Yagami estate¡ªwealth and power radiating from every brick and stone. Lionnel''s expression remained unreadable. "What is the reason for your visit, Eric?" Eric chuckled. "Let''s talk somewhere private, shall we?" Lionnel was silent for a moment before turning away. "Follow me." A spatial gate opened before him. Without another word, he stepped inside, followed by Iris. As Eric moved forward, his wife, Jade Bloodsanguine, spoke with disdain. "Are we really doing this? Are they even worthy?" Eric''s gaze darkened. "How blind are you? Are you not seeing what I am seeing?" Jade scoffed. "I saw it. But so what? We can take it by force. We''re stronger." Eric turned to her slowly. And for a moment, his crimson eyes were filled with something cold. "You¡­" His voice was almost a whisper. "¡­What did I ever see in you?" Jade flinched. Eric shook his head, stepping into the portal. Jade clenched her jaw, humiliation burning through her. Turning to her daughter. "Did you see how your father treats me?" she spat bitterly. "That''s how you will be treated¡ªif you don''t have absolute control over your husband." Her red eyes glowed ominously. "There is no love in this world, Julie." "You either control¡­ or you are controlled." "Do you understand?" Julie Bloodsanguine, silent and obedient, nodded. "Yes, Mother." Jade sneered. Then, without another word, she stepped into the portal. Julie followed. The world was beginning to move. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 15¡ª A/N: If you like it, please support with power stones and make some reviews. It wil help me a lot. Chapter 16 - 16 : Proposal Lucas stood motionless in the heart of the vast ashen forest on the 30th floor of the Tower. Trees, blackened by ancient fire, loomed high above him, their charred leaves whispering in the wind. The air crackled with heat, the remnants of countless battles between apex predators. Before him, a gigantic white Wyvern¡ªits body wrapped in smoldering mist, its wings stretching like storm clouds¡ªglared down at him with burning, red-hot fury. It was trapped. Sealed. The Legendary-Grade Rune binding it glowed ominously, locking its enormous limbs in place. It struggled, claws digging into the ground, but the more it resisted, the tighter the rune''s hold became. Yet, despite its rage, it could not move. "You¡­" The Wyvern''s voice rumbled like a distant avalanche. "How do you possess such a powerful rune, human?" Lucas didn''t flinch. His expression remained calm, resolute¡ªunyielding. "So you recognize it," he said coolly. "Good. That means you''re not completely brainless." The Wyvern''s burning gaze flared with greater intensity. Its instincts screamed at it to rip this arrogant human apart, but its body refused to obey. Lucas exhaled. He didn''t want to waste time. So, With a flick of his wrist, he produced a tiny, glimmering vial. Inside it swirled a single drop of deep crimson blood. The moment the Wyvern laid eyes on it, its entire body froze. Its pupils dilated. Its breathing hitched. Its hunger¡ªits longing¡ªwas absolute. "No¡­ It can''t be¡­" The Wyvern''s voice shook with disbelief. Lucas remained impassive. "Oh, but it is." A single drop of True Dragon''s Blood. A stage-1 god. A drop worth more than empires. A substance that could elevate any Wyvern to the realm of gods. The Wyvern''s entire existence had been leading to this moment. Since birth, it had dreamed of becoming a True Dragon. Its ancestors had fought, slaughtered, and died for the mere chance of obtaining what Lucas was casually holding in his palm. Its entire body trembled. But even through the haze of desperation, it hesitated. "I¡­ I cannot¡­ Submit to a human¡­ I have my pride¡ª" S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lucas''s gaze turned ice-cold. He really doesn''t have time for nonsense. "You have five seconds." The Wyvern''s heart dropped. "If you refuse, I''ll find another beast willing to take your place." Lucas''s voice was merciless, unwavering. "You''re not the only one who desires this blood." The Wyvern''s entire world shattered. Pride? What was pride compared to this? Compared to ascension? Compared to becoming a god? Fuck pride. "I¡ª" It swallowed. "I accept! I ACCEPT!" Lucas''s lips curled into a small, satisfied smirk. "Good choice." The air rippled. The rune flared, shifting its power. The Tower responded. A mystical contract circle erupted beneath them, golden inscriptions spiraling in the air, forming intricate patterns. Lucas raised his hand. "I, Lucas Yagami, form a Slave Contract with this beast." The moment the words left his mouth, the Tower answered. BOOM! A pillar of golden energy shot into the sky. The Wyvern roared as its very essence shifted. Scales cracked. Flesh burned. Bones twisted and realigned. Its form expanded, power surging through its veins. It was no longer just a Wyvern. It was becoming something greater. A True Dragon. A stage-1 god. {New Achievements!} {You, Lucas Yagami, have been the first since the creation of the tower to have a Stage-1 god slave in the 30th floor.} {The Tower is watching you.} {The gods are aware of your existence.} {You have gained the title : Owner Of A God.} {You have gained a SS rank voucher question. The tower will answer any questions at the level of this voucher.} Seeing all these notifications, Lucas just looked calm. The tower and the gods are watching him ? He doesn''t care. They can watch all they want. ''I have now a god as a slave. Time to speed run these stupid trials.'' ''Ethan, wait for me. Big brother will reach floor 50 sooner than you expect.'' Lucas Yagami smiled with expectation. He is more eager to receive what Ethan has promised him than the tower rewards and gods attention. The Yagami Estate ¨C Inside the grand Yagami meeting hall, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Seated across from Lionnel and Iris Yagami, the Bloodsanguine family had arrived in force. Eric Bloodsanguine¡ªa tall, imposing man with jet-black hair and piercing red eyes¡ªsat at the head of the delegation. His wife, Jade Bloodsanguine, and their daughter, Julie Bloodsanguine, sat beside him. Eric''s voice was calm but direct. "I will not waste time," he said, his tone laced with authority. "I am here to propose an alliance between our two families." He leaned forward. "My youngest daughter, Julie, is of the same age as your eldest son, Lucas. As you know, our family has always kept our bloodline pure through internal marriage." Lionnel scoffed, his lips curling in disdain. "Ah, yes. Incest." His voice dripped with mockery. "That sacred tradition of yours." Eric''s expression remained unfazed, though Jade''s eyes darkened with anger. "But," Lionnel continued, "you wouldn''t be here if you weren''t desperate." His gaze sharpened. "Your bloodline is weakening, isn''t it?" A flicker of something dangerous passed through Eric''s eyes. He didn''t deny it. They have conserved their pure bloodline but with generation of stagnation, with no evolution, their bloodline is no longer what it was. "The world is evolving," Eric admitted. "If we remain stagnant, we will be left behind." Iris, who had remained silent, finally spoke. Her voice was cold. "But Lucas isn''t here." She stared at Eric. "And we do not make decisions on his behalf." Jade narrowed her eyes. "Are you lying to us?" She crossed her arms arrogantly. "We all heard that Lucas returned. Now you say he''s gone again?" Her aura flared¡ªbut before she could escalate further, Eric shot her a sharp glare. Jade froze and retracted her aura. Eric turned back to Lionnel. "Can we confirm his whereabouts?" "You''re welcome to verify it yourself," Lionnel said indifferently. Eric fell silent. He could not return empty-handed. But before he could find another angle, his daughter, Julie, suddenly spoke. "¡­I heard that Young Master Ethan is here." The entire room fell silent. And then¡ª BOOM! A wave of pure, oppressive heat exploded through the chamber. The temperature in the room skyrocketed. Cracks spiderwebbed across the marble floor. The very air warped and shimmered with unbearable heat. Iris Yagami had snapped. Her crimson eyes glowed with fury. "What¡­ did you just say?" Her aura crushed down like a tidal wave. Julie gasped, choking on the sheer intensity. Eric''s eyes widened. ''She''s even stronger than before¡­!'' He reacted immediately, conjuring a blood barrier around his daughter. "Lady Iris," he said swiftly, "please, restrain yourself." Lionnel placed a hand on Iris''s shoulder, his calm, steady presence grounding her. She exhaled sharply, her aura receding¡ªbut her eyes never left Julie. Jade sneered.''losing control only because of this?'' Julie, however, remained steady. She met Iris''s burning gaze without fear. "I was never interested in Young Master Lucas," she said smoothly. A pause. "I was interested in Young Master Ethan." The room tensed. And in that moment¡ªthe entire course of history had begun to shift. Because of his own action. Because of him sending back Lucas to the tower. Ethan now is involved in a political mariage. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 16¡ª Chapter 17 - 17 : Another one "I was interested in Young Master Ethan." Bullshit. Julie knew it. This was nothing but a last-minute ploy to avoid returning empty-handed. She had never met Ethan, never even considered him before today. But she had studied every major figure in the Original Families, and Ethan Yagami was a name that stood out. A laid-back second son. Someone who spent his youth enjoying life, indulging in pleasures, a stark contrast to the cold and duty-bound heirs of other families. That was her angle. She continued, choosing her words carefully. "I once saw Young Master Ethan when I was younger¡ªonly from afar. But even then, I was intrigued. His kindness, his gentleness¡­ in an Original Family, that is rare." Iris clenched her fists. This girl is lying. She sees through it instantly. Julie wasn''t here for Ethan. She was trying to drag him into this, to secure something for herself so she wouldn''t leave humiliated. But as much as Iris wanted to crush this farce, she knew the reality. The Bloodsanguine weren''t an enemy to provoke recklessly. With their recent surge in power, one wrong move could turn the entire Original Families against them. Her aura flared, heat rising in the room. Lionnel, watching the situation unfold, remained calm. Finally, he spoke. "If you want to meet Ethan, then so be it." His voice was level, unbothered. To him, this was nothing. Ethan was more than capable of handling this himself. He raised a hand and opened a portal. "Ethan, come here." ¡­ Ethan was deep in thought, Mei standing at his right in silent devotion. Ellie, at his left, was anything but calm. She had made up her mind. She was about to pledge her life to him, just as Mei had. Then, the portal opened. Lionnel''s voice echoed through the room. "Ethan, come here." Ethan took a moment before responding. His gaze flickered to Mei, then to Ellie. "You two, stay here and wait for me," he said evenly. Then, his eyes locked onto Ellie, sharp and unwavering. "Don''t rush. I haven''t forgotten about you." Then, he stepped through the portal. Ellie froze. A single sentence. A single moment of reassurance. And it pulled her back from the edge of something dark. Or not ? Is it enough ? ¡­ The moment Ethan appeared, everything changed. His aura of devotion acted immediately. The tense atmosphere softened. The air grew still. A strange, unexplainable peace spread through the room. Jade and Julie, who had never met him before, were instantly captivated. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jade''s eyes widened. This is Ethan? He was nothing like she imagined. His beauty was otherworldly. Long, silk-like black hair, deep green eyes that shimmered like an ancient forest, and a face so perfect it felt unreal. His white robe, embroidered with elegant green patterns, added to his almost divine presence. His aura wasn''t overbearing. It wasn''t aggressive. It was calm. It was serene. It was absolute. Eric, always composed, found himself genuinely stunned. "What the¡­?" he thought. This level of influence, just from his presence alone, was absurd. Eric had dealt with many powerful figures in his life, but Ethan was different. This wasn''t normal. ''Since when¡­?''he wondered. ''Since when was the second son of the Yagami this special?'' Meanwhile, Julie''s mind was spiraling. A mistake. She had made a mistake. Calling Ethan here was a move to secure something, to twist the situation in her favor. But now? Just by standing here, Ethan was shaking something inside her. A feeling she couldn''t place. A feeling she had never felt before. She had been raised in cold halls, treated like an object, trained for one purpose: to secure her family''s future by reviving the bloodline. She had never been cherished. Never been treated as anything other than a piece to be used. Duty was all she knew. Until now. Ethan turned his gaze towards her, meeting her red eyes with his deep green ones. Then, with the most calm, peaceful, and radiant smile, he looked deeply at Julie and said "That look..you have spent your whole life standing in the dark, haven''t you?" BOOM. Something shattered inside Julie. And before she can recover Ethan continued calmly " And You have been carrying that fire for a whole while, haven''t you ? Looking for someone who will notice you ?" Ethan''s words were inviting. Her heart pounded violently, her breath hitched. She can''t comprehend what''s happening to her. This feeling¡ªthis intoxicating peace¡ªwhat was this? For the first time in her life, she felt acknowledged. Not as a Bloodsanguine. Not as a bargaining chip. Just as herself. As a struggling young girl in a den of monster. And, It was like¡­ like a starving person finally tasting food. Like someone drowning finally breathing air. Like someone who had never known warmth finally standing in the sun. And She could never let this go. Never. At that moment, something dark, something dangerous, took root inside her. Something only for Ethan. She had come here on orders. She had come here for her family. But now? Now she would stay for herself. She smiled¡ªsoftly, sweetly. A smile so beautiful that it shocked her parents. But deep inside, terrifying thoughts whispered in her mind. ''Ah¡­ Mother. I will indeed marry into this family.'' ''But not for the Bloodsanguine.'' ''Not for duty.'' ''Not for anything other than this feeling.'' ''This peace. This warmth.'' ''¡­This man.'' ¡ªMeanwhile in Ethan''s mind. [Host.] Ethan sighed internally, watching Julie''s expression shift into something¡­ unsettling. ''Well, system¡­ did I say something I shouldn''t have?'' [Host, her level of affection toward you has exceeded 100%.] ''Okay, so she likes me a lot¡ª'' [Correction.] [Anything beyond that is no longer love.] [It''s obsession.] Ethan''s expression twitched. ''¡­That bad?'' [Host, I do not need to remind you what a Yandere is. You are a man of culture.] ''Oh, come on, it can''t be that¡ª'' [And if I may remind you, you have just chosen your first partner.] [Who is already at the Yandere level.] Ethan blinked. ''¡­Ah. Fuck.'' ¡ªEnd Of Chapter 17¡ª Chapter 18 - 18 : The Scent Of Madness ¡­Ah. Fuck. Ethan cursed silently. Don''t get him wrong¡ªhe liked yanderes. He really did. But he had just acquired one, and now? Another one? Not even a day later? He exhaled slowly. Okay Let''s be honest¡ªI''m enjoying this. But what he hadn''t accounted for was that it wasn''t just Julie who had fallen. There was another. Jade Bloodsanguine. She sat still, composed¡ªbut inside, she was anything but calm. The moment her eyes met Ethan''s, something inside her cracked. Something dangerous. Something forbidden. Her husband, Eric, had never married for love. He married to continue his bloodline. His wives were not partners. They were tools. Jade was no exception. She was his second wife, and only considered the "main wife" because her children were promising. She had accepted it. Endured it. But what woman didn''t long to be adored? To be cherished? To be treated as if she mattered beyond just her bloodline? She knew she shouldn''t be thinking this. And yet¡­ Looking at Ethan¡ªat the effortless confidence, the calm authority in his every move¡ªshe couldn''t stop herself. This man. This young man could give her what she had never had. Then she turned her gaze to her daughter. And she immediately understood. Julie had fallen, too. For most families, this would be an issue. But the Bloodsanguine? A mother and daughter sharing the same man? It had happened before. It could happen again. Jade''s mind raced. If Julie becomes his, then I will see him often. No¡ªoften is not enough. I must be here. If I stay, it will be under the excuse of guiding my daughter. Yes. Yes, that makes sense. It was madness. But she had already convinced herself. Her decision was made. ¡­ Ethan felt a chill crawl down his spine. [Host.] ''What now?'' he asked the system with growing dread. [Are you a fan of Oyakodon?] Ethan froze. His body paused mid-motion, as if time itself had momentarily stopped. Slowly¡ªsubtly¡ªhe turned his head toward Jade. Their eyes met. Her lips parted slightly, her expression softening. Oh my lord. Oh my lord. [Host, Jade Bloodsanguine''s affection level is at 85%.] [Not at the yandere level, but high enough to pursue you.] This¡­ could be dangerous. Eric was an SS-rank. If he found out, it was game over. But despite that¡­ Ethan''s body trembled. Not in fear. Not in apprehension. But in excitement. ''Damn. I didn''t know I was this perverted.'' Still, he couldn''t afford to be reckless. The Bloodsanguine were an Original. They carried a bloodline¡ªa declining one, but still strong. Their ancestor must have been someone exceptionally powerful enough to pass it down. And that meant¡­ Ethan had to be careful. His family was strong, but not invincible. At that thought, his eyes sharpened. It''s time to enter the Tower. He had already decided. Power was the only thing that would let him keep playing this dangerous game. His initial plan had been diplomatic¡ªto resolve this situation smoothly, without unnecessary chaos. But now? Now, he had two Bloodsanguine women drawn to him. One seeking love. One seeking salvation. ¡­Let''s finish this quickly, shall we? He turned toward his father. "Do you need me for something, Father?" Lionnel regarded him carefully. So did Iris. They had noticed. The way Julie looked at him. The way Jade looked at him. But they said nothing. Because they hoped Ethan knew what he was doing. "The Bloodsanguine family is here to propose a marriage between you and their youngest daughter, Julie," Lionnel stated evenly. "We wanted to ask for your thoughts." Ethan widened his eyes in feigned surprise, letting his gaze linger on Julie¡ªjust long enough to seem hesitant. Then, after a long pause, he said, "Can I speak with her alone first?" Eric smiled. A good sign. Ethan hadn''t refused outright. "Yes, of course," Eric said, laughing. "It''s good to let you youngsters talk and come to an agreement." Jade, standing beside him, hesitated. She wanted to turn around and look at him. Don''t look. Don''t¡ª Too late. Their eyes met. Ethan didn''t smile immediately. Instead, he watched her, letting the moment stretch, as if daring her to acknowledge what she felt. Her fingers curled slightly at her side. This is madness. And yet¡ª When he finally smiled, slow and knowing¡­ Her heart skipped a beat. She knew that he knew. And he knew that she knew. Let''s not pretend. Ethan was a kind man. But who said kindness couldn''t be dangerous? Who said a being of kindness couldn''t also be lustful? After all¡­ wasn''t stealing a neglected woman from an SS-rank man an act of kindness? Ethan smiled to himself. I truly am the most kind-hearted person here. Even putting my life at risk for charity. Jade''s lips parted. Her breathing uneven. Her decision, final. I will stay. She turned, following Eric out of the room. ¡­ Now, only Ethan and Julie remained. The air was thick with unspoken tension. Ethan spoke first. "I should tell you something." Julie tilted her head, watching him intently. "I already have a partner." Julie exhaled softly. She stood silently. But inside, her mind was racing. It''s not as if I didn''t expect it. A man like Ethan with no partner would have been weird. But, I have nothing to lose. I have everything to gain. Finally, she stepped forward. "That doesn''t matter to me." She reached for him. And took his hand. Bold. Completely different from his shy Mei. Her deep red eyes burned as she slowly lifted his hand to her lips¡ª And kissed it. Ethan stilled. Then, her voice¡ªlow, steady, filled with quiet devotion: "Then take me." "I will support you. I will give you everything I have." "If you want something, I will get it for you." "If you want my family, I will break myself to give them to you." "Just¡­" Her grip on his hand tightened. "Make me yours." S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Don''t treat me like an object." "And don''t abandon me." Ethan exhaled slowly. The system''s voice chimed in. [Host, I must inform you that Julie Bloodsanguine''s affection has exceeded 100%.] [It is no longer love. It is obsession.] [If you accept her¡­ you have to take responsibility.] Ethan barely registered the words. Julie leaned forward. For a moment, he thought she might kiss him. But instead¡ª She simply collapsed into his arms. He caught her effortlessly, holding her close. Her breathing slowed. Her body relaxed. And just like that¡ªshe fell asleep. Safe. At peace. Ethan looked down at her, his expression unreadable. A storm of emotions churned within him. Desire? Amusement? Possessiveness? No. It was something deeper. He exhaled slowly, brushing a stray strand of black hair from her face. She had given herself to him completely. No, not only her. Mei, Ellie, and even Jade¡­ He would take them. Everything. The Bloodsanguine. The Tower. The world. Power was the only language this world spoke. And Ethan? He would speak it fluently. A slow smile spread across his lips. Not cruel. Not gentle. Just¡­ inevitable. "Alright then," he murmured, cradling her closer. "Let''s see just how far you''re willing to fall for me." Ethan is no longer the same. A being of only kindness? No¡­he would embrace another layer of himself now he has the means to pursue it. Lust. Lust for everything between heaven and earth. ¡ª End of Chapter 18 ¡ª A/N: Surprised ? Like it ? Add it and support with power stones. Thank you for reading and supporting my book. It means a lot to me. ;) Chapter 19 - 19 : 3 girls Lust for everything between heaven and earth. Ethan smiled lightly at this thought. No matter how much changed, his core remained the same¡ªbenevolent, giving. But if he could give freely without expecting anything in return¡­ then why couldn''t he take what he wanted without waiting to be given it? He leaned back, exhaling slowly. ''Oh well, all that aside, I''ll be counting on you more, system.'' And then thought crept in. ''And what happened with Mei¡­ can that happen with others too?'' [If the women are worthy.] [And if you are willing to pay the price.] Ethan frowned. ''I didn''t pay any price last time, did I?'' [That was a first-time benefit.] He clicked his tongue. ''Tch. Knew it.'' ''What price?'' [Karmic points, Host. That''s the only currency. The cost depends on the magnitude of your wish.] Ethan exhaled sharply. ''So it''s just like the other stuff you told me about¡ªusing karmic points for resources, bloodlines¡­ except now, it applies to talent too. Even true names?'' [Correct.] He nodded, filing the information away. His system¡­is more than it seems. His gaze drifted downward. Julie was still curled up on his lap, her deep red hair spilling across his legs like liquid fire. For a second, he just watched her. Peaceful. Uncharacteristically soft. A contrast to the madness she was capable of when awake. Yanderes are truly fascinating. With a small sigh, he brushed her cheek with his knuckles. "Well, it pains me to wake you, Sleeping Beauty, but we''ve got an audience waiting for us." A single nudge. Julie''s crimson eyes snapped open instantly, her pupils adjusting to the dim lighting. She sat up slowly, blinking away sleep. Ethan smirked. "Let''s go announce our soon-to-be marriage to our parents." Julie froze for a second. Then, ever so slowly, a wide smile spread across her lips. It wasn''t a dream. That thought echoed in her mind, flooding her with warmth. She slipped her fingers into his without hesitation. Together, they stepped outside. ¡­ The atmosphere in the hall was tense ¡ªfour parents engaged in a staring contest. No one willing to talk to the other. But the moment Ethan and Julie entered, the energy shifted. Jade''s expression was unreadable. Eric, however, broke into an immediate grin at the sight of their joined hands. He let out a low chuckle, eyes twinkling with approval. Ethan didn''t waste time. "Julie and I have talked. We''ve decided to marry¡ªnot just for the family, but for ourselves. I''ve grown quite fond of her." Julie, without missing a beat, ducked her head shyly, squeezing his hand slightly. Ethan nearly choked on his own breath. ''Why the hell are you acting shy? You''re one of the craziest one here.'' Eric erupted into laughter. "Good, good! Very good!" He clapped his hands together, his joy completely unfiltered. He wasn''t just happy¡ªhe was relieved. Because he knew. Knew that Ethan wasn''t just any man. There was something more to him. Something unspoken. Something powerful. And that meant his daughter had made the perfect choice and that his bloodline will prevail again. That all he cares about. His bloodline. Jade, however, stepped forward, her brows slightly furrowed. "But what happens now? Will Julie stay here or come with us?" Eric, still riding his high, answered immediately. "Obviously, she''ll stay here. They need time to bond." Iris'' lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded. "She''ll stay. She needs to learn more about us." Jade''s gaze sharpened. "But my daughter is¡­ inexperienced in such things. I propose staying here as well¡ªto guide her. That way, we can avoid any unnecessary problems." Her voice was warm. Maternal. Too perfect. Ethan''s fingers twitched slightly. Jade truly is not ordinary. Not because of her strength. Not because of her position. But because she knew exactly how to play a role. To Eric, Iris, and Lionnel, she seemed like nothing more than a concerned mother. But Ethan and Julie? They knew better. Eric turned to Lionnel. "That''s true. I''d like to avoid any problems. Can she stay?" Lionnel and Iris immediately frowned. Letting Julie stay was already a risk. But Jade? Absolutely not. Just as they were about to refuse¡ª Jade struck. "I will sign a mana contract¡ªwhatever conditions you set¡ªas long as I can walk freely. I swear I will do no harm. I am only here to support my daughter." Silence. Ethan tilted his head slightly, watching the show. His face didn''t betray any feelings. Neutral. After some back and forth, the decision was made. Jade would stay. The moment it was settled, Ethan turned to Julie. "Let''s go. I have to inform some people." He paused. "And make some things clear." Julie nodded, and they retreated to his room. ¡­ Inside Ethan''s chambers, the air was thick. Mei sat with one leg crossed over the other, her expression unreadable, but her eyes flickered toward Ellie. Ellie, stiff and silent, kept her gaze straight. Mei, always perceptive, smiled gently. "Don''t worry, Sister Ellie. Master hasn''t forgotten about you. He''ll accept you just like he did me." Ellie''s fingers twitched. Something about Mei''s words made her stomach twist. Accept me? Like she was waiting for approval. Like she was beneath her. She swallowed back the bitterness rising in her throat. Before, she had been the one closest to Ethan. The one who stood beside him the longest. She had assumed that meant something. But today had proved otherwise. Someone newer, someone stronger, someone more¡­ daring¡ªhad already surpassed her. And Mei spoke as if it was natural. As if it was right. Ellie forced herself to breathe. She knew she was being unreasonable. Knew that emotions like these weren''t productive. But knowing didn''t make it easier. "¡­I understand." she said finally, her voice measured. She is now in a position higher than her so, she will act accordingly. Mei tilted her head slightly. "Do you?" Ellie''s jaw tightened. Mei''s smile didn''t waver. "I only meant that if you want to stand beside him, you''ll have to take the steps yourself. Master isn''t someone who waits." Ellie already knew that. But having it pointed out by Mei¡ªby someone who had already taken those steps¡ªstung. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before Ellie could respond, the door opened. Ethan stepped in, Julie following close behind. Instantly, the atmosphere shifted. Ellie and Mei''s gazes snapped to Julie. Julie''s gaze met theirs. And then¡ªshe smiled. To an outsider, it was a pleasant expression. Warm. Harmless. But to Ellie and Mei? It was a challenge. A slow, deliberate provocation. Mei''s fingers curled slightly. Ellie''s throat burned. Julie didn''t say anything. She didn''t need to. Her presence alone¡ªher ease, the quiet confidence in her posture¡ªmade something in Ellie bristle. This girl was new. She hadn''t been with Ethan for long. And yet, she was already standing beside him like she belonged. Like she knew she belonged. Ellie clenched her fists. Mei watched in silence, her previous playfulness gone. The room wasn''t tense enough to snap. Not yet. But the foundation had been set. This wasn''t camaraderie. Not yet. Right now? They were enemies. Or just rivals. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 19¡ª Chapter 20 - 20 : Ellie鈥檚 tears Ethan watched them in silence. The tension between the three was palpable, suffocating. He had known this would happen. But he couldn''t allow it. His aura shifted. Gone was the warmth, the quiet gentleness they were used to. Now, he was firm. Unyielding. "Stop." His voice echoed through the room like a command carved into stone. Julie, Mei, and Ellie froze. Their heads snapped toward him¡ªinstinct, reflex. But what they saw made their breath hitch. This Ethan was different. Mei and Ellie, especially, were stunned. They had only ever known Ethan to be gentle with them, his presence always laced with an inviting warmth. Even when he was serious, there was never any true coldness. But now? Now, there was nothing of that. "She is Julie Bloodsanguine," Ethan said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "My second partner." At the mention of her name, Mei and Ellie unconsciously straightened. The Bloodsanguine. A name that carried weight. Fear. Power. Ellie knew her place. She was just a maid. No matter how special she was to Ethan, she was still someone who could be erased if the Bloodsanguine deemed it necessary. Mei, even with her newfound status, was still adjusting to it. She had strength now. Power. But power was not the same as security. And Ethan¡­ Ethan hated what he was seeing. The hesitation. The restraint. The fear. He frowned. That wasn''t what he wanted. His people would not fear anyone. Especially not his women. "Don''t fear her or her family." His voice was steady. Unshakable. "Julie is with us now. She''ll explain her role to you later." He let his gaze sweep across them, ensuring they understood his next words. "But there is no reason to be afraid." His lips curved slightly. "Because I''m with you. I might not be strong physically, but I have money. And money solve all problems. " Silence. Then¡ª Soft laughter. The tension in the room eased, if only slightly. But even as they laughed, their minds were elsewhere. Mei, now Ethan''s woman, was already calculating. How to keep her position secure. How to remain the first. Julie, new but not timid, was already strategizing. How to take the lead. How to become Ethan''s favorite. But Ellie¡­ Ellie wasn''t thinking about competition. She was drowning. She felt like she was standing outside of her own life, watching something that no longer belonged to her. As if none of this concerned her. Because she was the only one in this room who wasn''t Ethan''s woman. And that thought¡­ That thought hurt more than she could ever have imagined. A sharp, twisting pain¡ªlike something inside her was breaking. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Like her heart was being squeezed so tightly she couldn''t breathe. She had been first. She had been there since the beginning. She had been the one to witness his first steps. The one who had fought to be his personal maid, out of all the others. The one who had consoled him when he was sad. The one who cried with him when he cried. The one who laughed with him when he laughed. The one who killed, in secret, anyone who mocked him. She had been there. She was still here. So why did it feel like he wasn''t seeing her anymore? Her fingers clenched into fists. Her head lowered. There was nothing worse than losing something you had taken for granted. And the cruelest part? You only understood its value after it was lost. Never before. Only after. And most of the time¡­ By the time you realized it, it was already too late. A memory flashed through her mind. A younger Ethan, looking at her with pure reliance. "Ellie, promise you''ll stay with me forever." And she had smiled. "Of course, Young Master." She had been so sure, back then. So sure she was irreplaceable. But now? Now he looked at others that way. And not her. Her vision blurred. Ellie¡­ Cried. A single, silent tear slipped down her cheek. And before she could wipe it away¡ª Ethan saw. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 20¡ª Chapter 21 - 21: A wish Too Heavy to bear Ethan saw the tears. And before Ellie could even think of hiding them, he was already in front of her, wiping them away. His touch was gentle. But his emotions¡ª They burned. Even higher than when he had chosen Mei. It may not have been obvious, with the way he acted with Ellie. But Ellie was his soft spot. She had been with him since the beginning. Since his rebirth into this world. How could she not be the one he felt the most for? And the fact that she was crying¡ª It made his chest tighten painfully. "Why are you crying?" he asked softly. So soft. So tender. The room instantly mirrored his emotions, as if the world itself responded to his feelings. A gentle atmosphere. Ellie''s breath caught. She hadn''t expected him to see her. Hadn''t expected him to notice. "W-Whaat? N-Nothing," she stuttered, flustered, stepping back to put distance between them. But Ethan didn''t let her escape. He grabbed her hand, holding it firmly. "Are you crying because I didn''t choose you as a partner?" he teased with a smirk. Ellie''s face turned red. Ethan chuckled softly. His eyes, so often unreadable, were warm now as he watched her look away in shame. He lifted her chin with his hand, forcing her to meet his gaze. His green eyes shone faintly, the light flickering with something deep¡ªsomething that hurt. "Do you really think I''ve forgotten you?" "Do you really think I''d forget the one who''s been with me since the beginning?" "The one who stood by me when they mocked me for being untalented? When they called me worthless?" Mei and Julie, standing at the back, clenched their fists. They envied this. They envied her. They wished they could have been with Ethan since the start. But Ellie had that place. She was the one who had witnessed his weakest moments. The one who had never turned away. Ethan wasn''t finished. "I didn''t forget, Ellie." "I only wanted to give you something¡­ special." [Ding! Host''s emotions are overflowing.] [The woman, Ellie, is not worthy enough. Her aptitude is lacking.] ''I don''t give a fuck.'' Ethan''s thoughts cut through the system''s cold logic like a blade. He had waited. He had planned. He had intended to elevate her before taking this step. But waiting¡ª Waiting would only hurt her now. ''System, accept it.'' [You do not have enough karmic points for what you plan to do, Host.] Ethan stilled. His jaw clenched. And then¡ª He spoke words the system could not ignore. ''Then I will wish it.'' Karmic points? The sole currency? Bullshit. The system thought he was blind. But he wasn''t. When he had chosen Mei, he hadn''t paid in points. He had wished for it. And in return, he had been bound¡ªif he died, Mei would die too. A consequence. A burden. Now, he would make another wish. More outrageous than the first. ''I wish for Ellie to be my eternal partner. I wish to bestow her a name¡ªher True Name.'' He paused. ''Her affinity is shadow. She has protected me from the darkness since the beginning. And she is my lucky star.'' ''So she will be¡­ Umbra Fortunae.'' BOOM. The room shook. The entire world trembled. [Host, a wish is an equivalent exchange. If you continue, the burden you bear will be more than what you can handle.] Ethan exhaled slowly. He had hoped to avoid this. But there was no turning back now. ''Continue.'' Silence. And then¡ª Far, far away. In a place where even gods would lose their minds if they dared gaze upon it. A realm beyond comprehension, where time and space did not exist as mortals knew them. At its center, amidst a sky of endless swirling galaxies¡ª She lay bound. A woman. A woman so breathtakingly ethereal, so terrifyingly beautiful, that no words could ever describe her. A beauty so devastating, so all-consuming, that it could drive even a supreme being to madness. Pink hair, cascading like threads of divine silk. Eyes¡ª Pink, but not truly pink. For within them, entire worlds flickered. Living, breathing worlds. But shackled like her. Shackles bound her slender wrists and ankles, wrapped around her body like cruel vines, pressing against her skin with the weight of a ten thousand galaxies. She watched Ethan through a screen. Watched as he wished. And she¡ª Sighed. "What a foolish boy I have chosen." Her voice was soft, filled with something indescribable. Something like fondness. Something like pain. She knew what would happen if she accepted his wish. The burden would be too much for him. If she granted it, he would suffer. It would slow him down. And she could refuse. She could stop this now. But¡­ She didn''t want to refuse him. She never wanted to refuse him. Her lips parted. A whisper. "¡­I''ll do it. Just this once." She lifted her hand. And paid the price herself. CRACK. Her shackles¡ª Tightened. Sank deeper into her skin, binding her even further. She gritted her teeth as power surged from her. And then she cursed. "Fuck. That fucking hypocrite bastard. Just wait till I break free." A smirk curled her lips, despite her chains. As if anticipating what she will do him. Her gaze softened as she looked back at Ethan. "Be fast, Ethan." "Be strong." "Climb this wretched Tower." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "¡­Find me." "¡­And free me." "And when you do Ethan¡­be ready to face the most dreadful things ever." ¡­ [Ding! Your wish has been granted.] [Ellie Yagami is now your eternal partner.] [Ellie Yagami''s True name has been given. She is now Umbra Fortunae.] [As your lucky star, she awakened the talent Hand Of Fortune (SSS grade)] [Her affinity to shadow had evolved.] [Her talent Mask Of Shadow( B-rank) has evolved to Rightful Heiress Of Shadow (Supreme grade).] The shaking stopped. The world stilled. And Ellie¡ª Ellie fell to her knees. Dark energy surged around her, twisting, reshaping. The shadows in the room trembled as if sensing the birth of their master. They moved toward her, merging into her, completing her transformation. Her body trembled, consumed by the force that had been poured into her. She gasped looking at Ethan "Master¡­" And Ethan¡ª Ethan watched all this unfold with amazement. He watched as she became something more. Umbra Fortunae. His eternal partner. His lucky star. His¡­ Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­Shadow. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 21¡ª Chapter 22 - 22: Shadows and secrets Julie and Mei stood frozen, their gazes locked onto Ellie. Especially Julie. This was her first time witnessing it. Words failed her. "W-What? What is this?" she managed to stammer. Mei, her expression calm yet filled with quiet reverence, answered. "That''s Master''s ability." She glanced at Julie, a soft smile on her lips. "The same happened to me. But Ellie''s transformation¡­ it''s beyond anything I''ve ever seen." There was no jealousy in her voice. No envy. Because Mei was already Ethan''s sword. Her body, her soul, her very existence belonged to him. And that truth was unshakable. Her role was clear¡ªto become stronger, to protect him, to keep their growing family safe. So instead of jealousy¡ªshe felt something else. Peace. A quiet, liberating peace. Julie saw it. Understood it. And in that moment, she realized something. Ethan hadn''t saved Mei with power. He had saved her with his presence. With a single sentence. Just like he had saved her. She clenched her fists. She wasn''t here to compete. She wasn''t here to be jealous. She was here for him. To support him. To stand by his side. To protect the man who gave her light. This¡­ this was her new family. A family that didn''t see her as a tool. A family that didn''t need her to "restore the bloodline." A family that simply accepted her. And for that, she would become their shield. Their sword. Their executioner. Her red eyes glowed ominously. She had made up her mind. She would be The Slaughterer of this house, of this family. The house of Ethan Yagami. ¡­ As the two women reaffirmed their convictions, Ellie''s transformation reached its peak. The girl who emerged¡­ Breathtaking. Her once simple features now held an ethereal beauty. Luxurious black hair cascaded down her back, darker than midnight. Eyes¡ªdeep, endless, as if the very concept of shadow had taken form within them. Her skin, porcelain pale, contrasted sharply with the black garments that now adorned her body. And the shadows¡ª They moved. Deepened. Not just around her, but through her. As if they, too, recognized their master. Ellie turned to Ethan. Then¡ª She stepped forward, dropping to one knee. But before she could lower her head¡ª A hand stopped her. Ethan. "You''re my partner now," he said, voice firm. "You will not kneel to me." His gaze met hers. "You will never kneel to me." A pause. "You will stand beside me." Ellie''s breath hitched. Her eyes widened. For a long moment, she simply stared. Then¡ªher vision blurred. Tears welled up. She was his. Completely. Irrevocably. Eternally. And she could feel it. Not even death could separate them now. But¡ª "I want to stay in your shadow, my master," she whispered. Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Why?" Ellie hesitated, face turning pink. "I¡­ I''ll be closer to you that way." Her voice grew quieter. "And¡­ I can be with you everywhere." Ethan''s brows shot up. "¡­Everywhere?" Ellie''s blush deepened. Dressed in her dark attire, the contrast made it almost comical. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Y-Yes. But if you mind¡ª" "I don''t mind." Ethan cut her off before she could finish. Then, with a teasing smirk¡ª "I definitely don''t mind you being with me everywhere." His voice lowered slightly. "And seeing all of me." Ellie''s entire face exploded into red. With a panicked squeak, she vanished¡ªher body melting into shadow¡ª And shot straight into Ethan''s own. Silence. Then¡ª Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "She really did it¡­" But the warmth in his smile said it all. He was happy. More than happy. He had done what he wanted. Yet¡ª A thought crossed his mind. ''What are the consequences of this wish?'' He asked the system, which had been unusually silent. Then¡ª [The consequences have been borne by the system.] Ethan frowned. "¡­Why?" No response. His instincts flared. Something was off. Then¡ª [Because you are¡ªERROR. ERROR!!!] Ethan jumped. His eyes widened. ''System?! What the fuck was that?!'' Silence. Then¡ª [You are not ready to know this information.] [Please, Host, climb the Wretched Tower to learn more.] Ethan froze. The message¡­ It looked different. Less like an automated response. More like something¡­ written by someone. A long, heavy pause. Then¡ª Ethan let out a slow exhale. ''I fucking knew it.'' Of course. Of course the system was part of some grand, secret conspiracy. How predictable. He dragged a hand down his face. He had chosen to ignore it before, but damn. Now he had to address it. Wretched Tower. Whoever had designed this system¡­ Whoever had given it to him¡­ They hated the Tower. Ethan sighed. Again. Then, after a moment¡ª He turned to the window. Outside, looming in the distance, the Tower stood tall. Unmoving. Unyielding. It had always been there. Watching. Waiting. Ethan''s eyes darkened. Then¡ª One final sigh. "¡­I guess it''s time." ¡ªEnd of Chapter 22¡ª A/N: We managed to achieve 55 power stones this past week. A small number to others but for me not at all. So thank you for supporting me. I appreciate it a lot. Let''s achieve 100 power stones for this new week ;). Chapter 23 - 23: Falling deeper and deeper. Four Days Later Four days had passed since Ethan''s world had shifted. Four days since he had declared Mei and Ellie as his wives to his family. And the reactions? Oh, priceless. Lionnel Yagami, his father, had simply stood there, mouth slightly open, looking like he had just witnessed the laws of physics shatter before his eyes. Iris? His ever-dramatic mother? Tears. Actual tears. "My son¡­ my baby¡­ you''re a damn PLAYER?!" Eva, his older sister? A long, unimpressed stare. Absolute filth, her expression said. That one hurt. But Chloe, his adorable little sister? She had simply clapped her hands together, grinning ear to ear. "So I have aunties now! Yay!" All in all? Pretty good. Eric had left shortly after, returning home, leaving both Jade and Julie behind. Ethan hadn''t asked him to, but the man clearly had no intention of pulling them away. Not yet. Jade? For four days, she had done nothing except exist. She moved through the Yagami estate like an observer, making connections, studying people, carefully establishing an image. She was playing a game. A long game. Iris and Lionnel hadn''t interfered¡ªbecause Jade had signed a mana contract, binding her to certain rules. One wrong move, and the consequences would be severe. Ellie, now forever bound to Ethan''s shadow, had seamlessly become part of his world. She wasn''t spying. She wasn''t overstepping. When Ethan needed time alone, she vanished. When Mei and Julie trained, she joined them. The three had been¡­ adjusting. They weren''t friends yet. But by training together, sweating together, and bleeding together, they were beginning to understand each other. Beginning to accept that they shared something greater than rivalry. And Ethan? He was pleased with this situation. Even if any girl who dared come within five meters of him now received a death glare capable of curdling milk. Nobody dared anymore. Death by the hands of three crazy women was not something they are fond of. But in these four days, Ethan had prepared for what truly mattered. The Tower. He had searched the library, devoured books, looking for anything that could prepare him. And what had he found? Nothing useful. The trials were tailored to each individual. No pattern. No predictability. He was alone in this. So he had prepared himself¡ªrevisiting skills he already had (his talents skills), sharpening his instincts, refining his control with physical training. He didn''t want to waste time on complicated techniques. Not yet. Not until he saw what the Tower would throw at him. And now¡ª Now he was ready. Or so he thought. ¡­ Ethan sat on his bed, lost in thought. The room was dimly lit. Shadows flickered, cast by the soft glow of his bedside lamp. Tomorrow, he would enter the Tower. Tomorrow, everything could change. Suddenly ¡ª A shift in the air. A presence. He opened his eyes. And standing before him¡ª Was Jade Bloodsanguine. A woman he did not expect. Not so soon. Ethan tilted his head. "You finally decided to come to me." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jade crossed her arms, red eyes narrowing. "You think I had a choice?" she scoffed. "Your mother has been watching me like a damn hawk. What is with that woman?" Ethan chuckled. "Isn''t it obvious? Considering who you are?" Jade clicked her tongue in irritation. Of course, she knew. But that wasn''t why she was here. She studied him. His face. His body. And¡ª She felt something dangerous stir inside her. Desire. Desire for this young man in front of her. Lust. "You know why I''m here," she said, her voice husking with desire. Ethan''s expression was unreadable. "Why are you here?" Jade''s lips twitched. He was playing games. But she didn''t have time for them. She stepped forward. Closed the distance. Her face¡ªinches from his. Her red eyes glowed in the dim light. Jade Bloodsanguine was beautiful. Not in the delicate, untouchable way of a princess¡ª But in the way of a woman who had lived, survived, and thrived. She was older¡ªWay older even¡ªBut standing this close¡­ the gap barely seemed to matter. She opened her mouth¡ª "I want you." Ethan didn''t flinch. His gaze locked onto hers, unwavering. "You''re married." Jade didn''t hesitate. "That never mattered." "You''re Eric''s wife. An SS rank being. Do you want me dead?" Her expression turned cold. "Eric never saw me as a woman. Only as an object. A tool to birth an heir. And he can''t do nothing to you, your father is also an SS rank being and I will not let him." She stepped closer. Her voice lowered to a whisper. She continued. "He never loved me." Her lips parted slightly. "But you¡­ You are different." Silence. Then¡ª "I do not ask to be your wife," she continued. "I will be your mistress. Your concubine. I don''t care about titles." Ethan''s breath slowed. Because he could feel it now. The raw, unfiltered hunger in her voice. And as a 15-year-old, with hormones raging His self-control was being tested. He exhaled slowly. "You''ll obey me?" Jade''s answer was immediate. "Yes." Ethan''s eyes darkened. "Then you will work for me." He leaned forward slightly, voice dropping into something deeper. "The Bloodsanguine House will belong to me." Jade didn''t flinch. "Yes." "You will return with Julie. You will begin working from within." Jade''s lips parted. "Yes, I will do that for you." And that was it. That was all Ethan needed. He kissed her. Jade''s eyes widened¡ª But she didn''t resist. She melted into it. It was not a gentle kiss. It was claiming. Their bodies pressed together, heat rising between them. Their tongues started to dance, a beautiful but lustful dance. Jade''s fingers curled into his shirt. She wanted more. She wanted him. She wanted him inside. But just as things could escalate¡ª Ethan pulled back. Jade stared, breathless. Ethan smirked. "You''ll get what you want." His voice was dangerous. "But only when you''ve earned it." Jade''s breath hitched. And in that moment¡ª She realized something. She wasn''t just falling for him. She was already his. Completely. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 23¡ª Chapter 24 - 24: The Tower watches The night had passed. Today was the day. The day Ethan Yagami would enter the Tower. For five years, he had remained at E-rank. Five years of stagnation, watching others rise while he remained stuck. Lucas, his older brother, had dominated the Tower by this age. And Ethan? Playing with women. He exhaled sharply. Enough. The distractions were over. It was time to lock in. ¡­ His family stood behind him. His wives watched in silence. No tears. No unnecessary goodbyes. Because this wasn''t the end. It was just the beginning. Ellie clenched her fists, her eyes shadowed. She wanted to be in his shadow. To stay with him. But the Tower would sense her immediately and she will be punished. So she stayed behind. Julie and Jade had already left for the Bloodsanguine estate. Everything was in motion. Now, it was just him and the Tower. ¡­ Ethan stood before the gigantic gate. It pulsed with a soft pink glow, almost like it was¡­ breathing. Waiting. He smirked. "Wretched Tower, huh?" It wasn''t just a name. It was a warning. He had a feeling this place would become his greatest obstacle. One step away. He turned back. The entire Yagami household stood behind him, watching. Then, a voice broke the silence. "You can do it, Young Master Ethan!" Another chimed in. "You don''t have to go! We''ll take care of you here!" More voices followed. They weren''t mocking him. They weren''t doubting him. They were worried. To them, Ethan was a noble. A young master who had never needed to fight. He chuckled. Grateful? Annoyed by how weak they see him? He wasn''t sure. But he understood. They cared. So he smiled. His radiant grin alone was enough to steal breath from their lungs. Ethan is truly a beautiful young man. More than what he thinks. Had Julie and Jade been here, they would''ve been on their knees, trembling, barely holding back from devouring him. The crowd fell silent. Then Ethan spoke. "I appreciate your concern. But you don''t need to worry." "I will clear these trials." "I will return safely." "Just wait for me." Then, with a smirk¡ª "And in the meantime¡­ find another game for me to play when I''m back, will you?" With that, he turned. Placed his hand on the Tower''s gate. And willed himself inside. ¡­ Darkness. Not empty. Vast. Endless. Watching. Countless stars flickered in the abyss, stretching in every direction. Then¡ª {Ding! Welcome, Ethan Yagami.} A voice echoed through the void. Cold. Detached. {To assign the appropriate trial, the Tower will now analyze you.} Then¡ª Something pierced into him. It slithered through his veins, his mind, his soul. It peeled. It searched. It unraveled him. The sensation was sickening. Then¡ª {Analysis complete.} A pause. And then, something shifted. As if the Tower itself was breathing. Watching. Interested. Then¡ª {Detected: A talent with unimaginable potential.} {Detected: The blessing of a Higher Being.} Another pause. Then¡ª {Qualifications met.} And then¡ª Something loomed. The abyss shuddered. It was no longer just the Tower speaking. Something else was here. Something older. Something waiting. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And then¡ª {The Tower is aware of your existence.} {The Tower is intrigued by you.} {The Tower is watching you.} A final pause. And then¡ª {Your trial shall be special.} {Please, give us a show¡­ O Giver of the People.} Ethan''s breath hitched. His fingers twitched. Then, his lips curled into a wicked grin. "Alright then¡­ let''s play." Ethan started officially his journey to the peak. ¡ªEnd of chapter 24¡ª ¡ªEnd of Volume 1: The Kind Noble¡ª Chapter 25 - 25: Julie & Jade Somewhere Inside the Tower A floor untouched by any being. Here, only two colors existed: white and pink. At the center of this limitless world, a woman reclined, her white hair and empty gaze piercing through reality. Her fingers moved with grace, brewing a tea so valuable it could buy the entire planet Earth a million times over¡ªand still fall short. She lifted the cup¡ª And then, she stopped. Her head tilted. With a snap of her fingers, a translucent screen appeared before her. A young man stood in darkness, moments away from his first trial. Ethan. Her lips parted slightly. "Oh my." Her voice was smooth, sweet¡ªbut cold, utterly emotionless. She studied the screen, eyes narrowing. "A blessing from a Higher Being¡­ on an E-rank mortal?" How rare. Her fingers tapped against the porcelain of her cup. But the real intrigue? She couldn''t see who the blessing belonged to. Her smile curved, slow and cold. That was impossible. Only those monsters could hide from her sight. "Is he their pawn?" She pondered for a moment, then smirked. No matter. "Let''s see how you handle your trials, ''Giver of the People.''" If he was worthy¡ª If he proved himself¡ª Then she would make her move. After all, eternity was so dreadfully dull. And she loved a good game. ¡­ Inside a Moving Carriage The air inside the carriage was thick with tension. Julie sat with her arms crossed, her crimson eyes burning. Jade, on the other hand, was calm. Too calm. It was the calm before a bloodbath. Jade sighed. She had to get this over with. So, with no hesitation¡ª "Julie, my daughter." Julie turned, clearly uninterested. Jade met her gaze and dropped the bomb. "I love Ethan. And I plan to be with him." Silence. Complete, dead silence. Julie just¡­ stared. As if her brain had shut down completely. Then¡ª "¡­What?" Her voice shook. Jade sighed, as if this were just another normal conversation. "You heard me. I love Ethan. And I plan to be with him." Then¡ª BOOM. Julie''s aura exploded. Blood-red energy surged around her, cracking the air itself. B-rank. Powerful. Deadly. But in front of Jade¡ªan S-rank¡ª It was nothing. Julie''s voice rose, her hands clenching into fists. "You''re married to my father! Have you no shame?!" Jade flicked her fingers. A sound barrier wrapped around the carriage. No one outside would hear this questionable conversation. Then, with calm precision¡ª "You know how your father treats me." Julie froze. Jade''s voice didn''t rise. It didn''t break. It just hit. "You, of all people, should understand what I''m feeling." Julie clenched her jaw. Because she did. She knew what Ethan was to her. And now her mother was saying the same thing. Jade leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper. "I am a woman, Julie. And a woman wants to be loved." "To be cared for." "To be protected." "Not to be treated like¡­ a breeding animal." Julie''s breathing slowed. Because she understood that more than anyone. Their family was twisted. But¡ª "He''s my husband." Jade chuckled. "Oh, don''t be so dramatic. You know what our family is the most famous for after our bloodthirsty nature." Julie glared. Jade continued. "I won''t be his wife. I don''t care about titles. I just want to be with him." Then, casually¡ª "Besides, we kissed already." Julie''s brain shut down. Her eyes widened. Her entire aura cracked. Jade smirked. "Oh? You didn''t know?" Julie''s hands trembled. "¡­You kissed him?" Jade laughed softly. "Almost did more, actually." Julie snapped. "YOU WHORE¡ª" A spear of blood formed in her hands. She lunged. Jade simply sighed. The moment the spear got close¡ª It disintegrated. As a S rank, her control over blood is nothing like Julie. Jade snapped her fingers. Blood-red chains erupted from the air, locking Julie in place. Julie thrashed, glaring. Jade tilted her head, voice amused. "Oh dear. Are you really trying to kill your mother?" Julie growled. "HOW DARE YOU KISS HIM BEFORE ME?!" Jade''s smirk widened. "¡­Oh?" Julie froze. Jade leaned in, whispering. "So that''s the real problem?" Julie bit her lip. Jade chuckled. Then, mercilessly, with her gaze lustful¡ª "Would you like to know how his lips taste?" Julie''s brain stopped functioning. Her rage vanished. Jade watched, delighted. Then¡ª Julie''s mouth moved on instinct. "Yes. Yes, I want that." Jade smirked. Truly a lost cause. She sighed, shaking her head. "¡­And to think I''m the one who''s supposed to be the shameless one." Julie snapped back to reality. "SHUT UP." Jade laughed. This was so much fun. Truly, the Bloodsanguine family was a mess. And she loved it. Because it permit her to be with her daughter''s husband. "I guess I have to call you sister now?" Julie paused. She looked deadpan to her mother who sat there comfortably her smirk widening. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You fucking whore." Dit-elle. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 25¡ª Chapter 26 - 26: The first trial {Your first trial will start.} That''s what Ethan heard before finding himself in an entirely new place. A ruined battlefield. The ground was scorched. Smoke lingered in the air, and the moans of the wounded and desperate filled the silence. Scattered corpses and shattered weapons of all kinds. The soil was still soaked with fresh blood. The battle had clearly ended not long ago. Ethan took in the sight, his heart aching. It was his first time seeing such a cruel scene. Instinctively, he willed his inventory to open¡ªready to help those struggling to survive. But¡ª "Wait, what?" He couldn''t open it. {You are not allowed to use anything except what the Tower has provided in this trial.} {Your talents and skills have been locked.} He stopped. Looked around. Beside him, a small wooden cart sat filled with supplies¡ªjust enough to help a few. But far from enough for everyone. Seeing this, Ethan immediately understood. {Floor 1: Special Trial} {Help the ones truly in need.} {Reward: One skill} He sighed. He had to choose. He had to decide who needed help the most. He looked at his small wooden cart. At best, he could help three people. Out of thousands. "¡­Hell." Ethan was struggling. He felt limited. As someone who spent without thinking, without worrying about price or quantity¡ªthis trial was pushing him to the edge. He sighed. Again. ¡­ As he walked through the battlefield with his cart, they noticed him. The moment they saw his fair skin, clean clothes, and supplies¡ª They rushed him. "Sir! Good sir! Please help me, my sister is dying of hunger!" A gaunt boy¡ªbarely ten years old¡ªclutched at his sleeve, his hollow eyes filled with desperation. Before Ethan could respond, another voice cut in. "Please¡ªjust some medicine to heal my wounds. If I don''t get it, I won''t make it." A grizzled soldier, bloodied and weak, grabbed his wrist. Then it began. More people swarmed him. More voices pleaded. Each person cried out their suffering, begging to be chosen. Ethan felt dizzy. His mind blurred with their voices. He couldn''t think. Couldn''t focus. "STOP!" His voice boomed over the chaos, stunning them into silence. He took a deep breath. "I''m sorry." "I can only help three people. And I''ll pick the three most desperate situations." Outrage. That''s what filled their faces. "How are you going to decide that, huh?! For all we know, you''ll pick a liar, a scammer¡ªand someone truly in need will die because of it!" A young woman stepped forward, her face streaked with blood and tears. Her pain was real, her rage was real. And she wasn''t alone. The crowd turned against him. They yelled. They cursed. They begged. Ethan watched them. His face stayed calm. But inside, his heart ached. He wanted to help them all. But he couldn''t. Then he noticed something. Some people were escalating the chaos on purpose. And among the crowd¡ª S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A woman sat motionless against a broken wagon. Unlike the others, she didn''t reach out. She didn''t plead. Her lips were parched. Her breathing was shallow.She clutched her stomach¡ªwhere a deep wound bled freely. She was dying. And she had already accepted it. Then, he saw another woman crying for medicine for her "husband." But the man beside her was already dead. And finally¡ª The boy with his starving sister. The soldier with his wounds. Ethan took it all in. And at the end¡ª I see. "I have chosen." His voice cut through the crowd. "The boy with his sister." "The silent woman by the wagon." "The soldier who asked for medicine." As he spoke, his chest tightened. He saw their reactions. Some people despaired. Some raged. Some¡­ simply gave up. Because they knew¡ªThey wouldn''t make it. Ethan''s fists clenched. He knew some of them were faking it, trying to guilt tripping him. But he also knew that among them were real, desperate souls. People he wouldn''t be able to save. That was the true test. He was someone who gave. Someone who helped. But he couldn''t save everyone. A fact. So he had to learn to choose. To close his heart when necessary. To see past pleas and deception. To know that not all who beg are truly in need. And not all who remain silent lack suffering. {Trial Completed.} A notification appeared. {Reward: Eye of Discernment (B)} Then The Tower speak to him. {What is generosity without wisdom? Blind kindness is but another form of cruelty. Distribute what you have¡ªbut choose well. Not all who beg are truly in need, and not all who remain silent lack suffering. So give wisely, O Giver of the People.} Ethan exhaled. His hands still trembled. His heart still ached. But his mind¡ª Was sharper than ever. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 26¡ª A/N: Thank you all for your power stones. And what do you think about his first trial ? I tried to do a trial in correlation with his talent and character. Give some feedback !!! Thank you for reading ;) Chapter 27 - 27: The Trial of the Lost The world around Ethan blurred again, colors bleeding into nothingness. When his vision cleared, he found himself standing in the middle of a forest. The trees were tall, their thick branches intertwining overhead, casting dappled shadows on the ground. A faint mist curled around his feet, cool against his skin. Silence. Then, a familiar voice echoed in his mind. {You are in the rest zone between trials. Time here does not matter.} {You may stay as long as you wish. If you are ready to continue, simply will it.} Ethan exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing. A rest zone. He glanced around. Nothing but trees and mist. No threats. No people. Just solitude. He was alone with his thoughts. And he needed that. The first trial had been¡­ harsh. It was simple on the surface, yet brutal on its lesson. It wasn''t about strength. It wasn''t about combat. It was a lesson. A brutal, unavoidable lesson. To give without wisdom is the height of foolishness. Some people don''t deserve kindness. Some refuse it. Some need it¡ªbut on their own terms. Blind generosity wasn''t noble. It was dangerous. Ethan''s fingers curled into a fist. He had chosen this path. The moment he received his system, he had decided¡ª even if it was a joke ¡ª He would be a Saint. A Saint to the people. To aid them. To support them. To protect them. To elevate them. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was the Kingmaker. He is the One Who uplift people. And if he wasn''t careful in who he helped, in who he raised up¡­ He could just as easily create a tyrant. "Blind kindness is but another form of cruelty." Ethan closed his eyes, letting those words sink in. Then, he spoke softly. "Lesson learned, dear Tower." The atmosphere in the rest zone eased. As if the tower is responding to him. Ethan chuckled. "System, show me my profile. It''s been a while." A translucent screen materialized before him. [Profile: Ethan Yagami] ? Age: 15 years old ? Rank: E+ ? Talent: Heart of Benevolence (B-Grade) ? Affinity: Water (S-Grade) ? Attributes: ? Strength: E ? Agility: E ? Constitution: E+ ? Perception: E+ ? Mana: E+ ? Intelligence: D+ [Inventory] ? Platinum Coins (x99,999,999) ? Cinderheart of the Eternal Dragon (Stage-3 God) ? Eye of Sagacity (Legendary) ? Hand of Midas (Legendary) Ethan''s gaze landed on the Cinderheart of the Eternal Dragon. "Ah¡­ the x10,000 return for the true dragon blood I gave away." A smirk tugged at his lips. Not bad. Should be perfect for Lucas right ? Of course, he''d also need to get a potion to help Lucas withstand the transformation. He wasn''t about to hand over something so powerful without preparing for the consequences. "Show me my skills." [Skills] Talent Skills: ? Aura of Devotion (Passive): Your presence commands peace, trust, and respect. ? Gift of Benevolence (Active): When you give something, you may create a duplicate for yourself. ? Divine Sanctuary (Active): Your barrier can now protect multiple people. Acquired Skills: ? Eye of Discernment (Passive - B-Rank): Enhances perception. Deception and illusions are significantly harder to fool you with. Ethan leaned back, studying the screen. His talent had evolved in those last 5 years. "Gift of Benevolence" now lets him duplicate anything he gives away. That was insane. He suddenly remember something. He let out a quiet chuckle. "System, I think your days of eating my karmic points are coming to an end." The system, as usual in the past days, didn''t respond. Ethan''s gaze lingered on his skills. Five years. Five years. He had barely grown stronger. But now, after just one trial, he had already gained a skill¡ªand something more important: Understanding. His Divine Sanctuary had evolved too like his other two skills. Now, it could shield multiple people depending on how much goodwill he held for them. His Eye of Discernment was like a passive version of Eye of Sagacity. Always active. Always alert. He exhaled. Fighting wasn''t his thing. He didn''t enjoy battle. He didn''t seek it. But¡­ This was the Tower. There would be times when he''d be alone. Like today. No Mei. No Ellie. No one to protect him. If he wanted to climb, if he wanted to survive, he needed a way to fight. Something that fit him. But he didn''t know how. He can do as his family and choose to be either swordsman or mage. Or both. Maybe theses trials would give him a clue. ¡­ Ethan lay back, staring at the sky. His thoughts drifted. "I wonder how they''re doing¡­ my wives¡­ my parents." A small smile appeared on his lips. He missed them already. But there was no time to dwell on that. He sat up, exhaling slowly. His eyes sharpened, filled with quiet determination. No need to waste time. "Tower, take me to the second trial." The moment the words left his lips, the world around him shifted. {Your second trial will begin shortly.} The trees blurred. The mist dissolved. When the world settled, Ethan was standing in the middle of a vast labyrinth. Cold stone walls stretched endlessly in every direction. The air was thick, heavy, unnatural. All around him, wisps flickered¡ªglowing, translucent figures, drifting aimlessly through the corridors. A single message appeared before him. {Second Trial: The Trial of the Lost} {Free the souls from their torment and guide them to the next life.} {Give them peace, O Giver.} {Reward: A Key to the Soul Realm.} Ethan stood still. Watching. Listening. He had no idea what to do. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 27¡ª A/N: Please support with power stones. Thank you for reading ;) Chapter 28 - 28: The Weight of the Lost Ethan stood motionless, his gaze locked onto the drifting, wisp-like forms before him. They weren''t just wisps. They were souls. Each one a fragment of a life once lived, now trapped in this labyrinth of sorrow. But how was he supposed to free them? How could he give them peace? He had no idea. Instinctively, he checked his skills and inventory. ''All intact. Perfect.'' Then, with no other choice, he began to walk. The labyrinth stretched infinitely in every direction, its walls shifting like living shadows. The deeper Ethan ventured, the thicker the air became¡ªfilled with whispers. Soft. Endless. Voices of the lost. Some murmured in confusion. Some called for people who were long gone. Some simply¡­ screamed. Floating lanterns lined the corridors, their glow weak and flickering, like dying stars struggling to stay alight. Ethan took it all in, a chill running down his spine. "This place is eerie." And the further he walked, the darker it became. The light vanished. The whispers grew louder. Shadows pressed in. Ethan stopped. He was wandering aimlessly. And more importantly¡ªno one here seemed to notice him. Not even the lost souls. So, he took the initiative. He approached the nearest soul¡ªa small girl, curled up in a corner, trembling violently. Her body flickered, transparent. Her lips moved in a whisper, repeating something over and over. "The monsters will take me¡­ Mother¡­ Father¡­ where are you¡­ I''m afraid¡­" Ethan crouched beside her. "Uh¡­ hey, can I help you?" No response. She didn''t even look at him. She just sat there, shivering like a leaf, her voice never stopping. Ethan frowned. She was suffering. He could see it. But if she couldn''t hear him¡ªif she couldn''t even acknowledge his presence¡ªhow was he supposed to help? His gaze lowered to her hands. There was only one way to find out. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He reached forward and touched her. The moment his fingers brushed hers¡ª His world shattered. Ethan''s vision twisted, dragging him into an illusion. He was there. Inside her memories. A house on fire. Flames consuming wood and flesh alike. Figures in black masks stormed through the halls, cutting down everyone in their path. Merciless. Unstoppable. People screamed. Blood splattered across the floors, across the walls, soaking the very earth. And then, in the middle of it all¡ª A girl. Kneeling. Her eyes bleeding golden tears, her small hands clutching at the bodies of her parents. Dead. Butchered. Their limbs scattered across the burning floor. The girl trembled. Something in her broke. A scream ripped from her throat¡ªa sound so raw, so agonizing, it nearly blanked out Ethan''s mind even through the illusion. A holy light erupted from her body. Cracks spiderwebbed across her skin. Her fragile body wasn''t meant to contain this power. The masked figures recoiled, panicked. They moved to stop her. But it was too late. She screamed again. This time¡ªEverything vanished in golden light. And then¡ªBlackness. Ethan gasped. His body convulsed as he was yanked back into reality. His lungs burned, his breath came in ragged heaves. His mind¡ª His mind was breaking. The horror he had just witnessed clawed at his sanity. The corpses, the limbs, the merciless killing, the fire¡­ The girl. His Eyes of Discernment kicked in at the last moment, shielding him, preventing his consciousness from collapsing entirely. Even still¡ªhe staggered back. Away from the girl. Away from the weight of her memories. Tears streamed down his face. Unbidden. Uncontrollable. His body trembled with something he had never quite felt before. Pure, absolute terror. It took everything in him to steady his breath. To process. To understand. And even still, he can''t seem to understand what just happened. His mind cannot process it. He forced himself to look up¡ª And met her gaze. The girl was staring at him now. For the first time. Those same golden eyes. Bleeding with golden blood. "Are you going to save me?" "Are you going to save me?" "Are you going to save me?" Again. Again. Again. Her voice echoed¡ªa sound that wasn''t just spoken, but commanded. Her very existence seemed to shake with authority. An authority higher than Ethan. Ethan''s vision blurred. His mind wavered. It was as if reality itself was crumbling around him, bending under the weight of her words. "But it''s too late." "But it''s too late." "But it''s too late." Again. Again. Again. A broken record. A curse. Ethan''s breath hitched. Goosebumps crawled across his skin. His body screamed at him to run. He didn''t understand. What madness was this? What am I supposed to do in this damn trial ? Then¡ª A voice. Calm. Absolute. It guided him. The voice of the Tower. {To lead the lost¡­ to free them¡­ is to carry their burdens.} {Take their burdens. Take their traumas. Be their light. And save them from their eternal torment.} {But be warned. The more burdens you take¡­ the more of yourself you will lose.} {So, choose wisely which burden you are willing to shoulder, O Giver.} ¡ªEnd of Chapter 28¡ª Chapter 29 - 29: A talk with the system Ethan lay flat on the cold stone floor of the labyrinth, staring up at the bleak, endless sky. Hours had passed. His mind still throbbed, fragile and raw. It took dozens of bottles of S-grade Mind Strengthening Potion just to keep himself from completely breaking. If any other awakener from Earth saw him casually gulping down these potions¡ªpotions worth more than entire city blocks¡ªthey''d probably have a mental breakdown on the spot. But Ethan didn''t care. He needed them. Because what he had just experienced¡­ Was hell¡ª or close to it. .. His gaze remained locked onto the dark sky. His second trial, and it was already this brutal. The first one had tested his heart. His conscience. His resolve. His wisdom. But this? This was something else entirely. This wasn''t just a test. This was torment. It was as if the Tower itself was tailoring these trials specifically to break him¡ªto challenge the very ideals that made him want to become a savior. And the worst part? It was working. His eyes shifted to the girl. She was still staring at him. Unblinking. Her golden, bleeding eyes fixed on him like she could see straight into his soul. Ethan suppressed a shudder. He wanted to help her. He really did. But saving her meant shouldering her burden. Taking on the horrors she had suffered. Living with her pain. And frankly? No. Thank. You. The first time had nearly shattered his mind. If he had to experience something like that over and over again? Not even an ocean of S-grade potions would be enough to keep him sane. Unfortunately¡­ He had no choice. The trial required him to save the lost. To carry their burdens. But¡­ Maybe there was another way. Maybe he could find a soul with a burden that wasn''t so¡ª His eyes flickered back to the girl. Yeah. Not like hers. ¡­ ''System. In the first trial, did I gain karmic points for helping people?'' [Yes, Host. For aiding those truly in need, you earned 4 million karmic points.] ''My current balance?'' [16 million.] Ethan exhaled. Good. ''Where can I find a soul with a less¡­ intense burden than this scary-ass girl?'' [Nowhere, Host.] Silence. ''I beg your pardon?'' [This girl''s trauma is the least severe of all the souls here.] Ethan froze. His stomach turned. No. No, that had to be wrong. This girl? The one who had watched her parents get butchered in front of her? The one who had exploded in holy light out of sheer grief? That was the least scary trauma here? What the fuck? His throat felt dry. ''Where the hell am I? Why is the Tower sending me here?'' [This is the Labyrinth of the Lost Souls. A place for those who cannot pass into the Soul Realm because of their burdens.] [They either refuse to let go¡­ or they simply cannot.] [So they suffer.] [For eternity.] [Reliving their past horrors over and over again.] Ethan clenched his fists. His mind reeled at the sheer cruelty of it. "Why have regrets? Just die peacefully and move on, you dumbasses." He let out a bitter laugh. But deep down¡­ He feels sad for them. Living an eternity, trapped in your worst moment. With only pain as your companion. That was hell. Literally. His gaze swept across the labyrinth, watching the drifting souls. And for the first time¡ª He saw them differently. Not as an obstacle. Not as a burden. But as people. People who had suffered. People who deserved salvation. A quiet thought formed in his mind. I wish I could save them all. And then¡ª His entire body tensed. A system notification instantly popped up. [Do not even think about it.] Ethan blinked. ''Oh? So you can interrupt my thoughts now hun ?'' ''And are you only showing yourself when I make wishes ? I think I will do that more often then.'' Silence. Then¡ª [Ethan. It is too early for this conversation.] Tsk. Of course you would say that. You always dodged the important questions. Fucking clich¨¦. ''I already know someone''s manipulating me¡ªand you are the prime suspect by the way¡ªso don''t push it with these bullshit excuses.'' A pause. Then¡ª [This is not the time for this talk. Climb the Tower, Ethan. Learn its secrets. And you will know what you want to know.] [And you cannot save this realm, the souls here, by simply wishing it.] [You are too weak.] [You cannot bear the burden.] [And I will not bear it for you again. It will do you nor good.] Ethan stilled. ''So the problem is that I''m too weak to shoulder the burden of saving them all?'' [Yes.] [And more importantly¡ªit is dangerous.] [This labyrinth exists for a reason.] [Saving these souls would paint a target on your back.] Ethan narrowed his eyes. ''Why?'' [Because no one is supposed to be able to do that.] [Only the True Children of that Bitch can.] [And trust me, they won''t bother saving anyone.] Ethan blinked. ''¡­Excuse me? "That Bitch"?'' What Bitch? System, do you just have enemies everywhere? The Wretched Tower and now a Bitch ? No response. Figures. But then¡ª [Save the girl.] Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [She is an Angel.] The system glitched. Ethan''s breath hitched. Angel? As in¡­ literal Angel? ''System. Angel''s exist?'' [Yes, Host.] Tsk. The robotic tone was back. Of course. Ethan sighed and sat up. ''Fine. Whatever. Then tell me this¡ªhow can I save souls without permanently wrecking my mind?'' A pause. [You can purchase the Mind Prison skill Host.] [It will create a mental prison to store unwanted memories, preventing them from affecting you.] Ethan''s eyes lit up. That''s it. That''s exactly what he needed. ''How much?'' [10 million karmic points.] ¡­Silence. Then, out of sheer habit¡ª "YOU SCAMMING BASTARD!!!" ¡ªEnd Of Chapter 29¡ª A/N: Make some reviews or comments to tell me your thoughts about this book and the progression of the story. I like to hear about your opinions. So do not hesitate. Thank you for your power stones !!! And add it in your library if you like it. Chapter 30 - 30: The Price of a Promise Ethan exhaled sharply, frustration simmering beneath his skin. His system was a scammer. Ten million karmic points for a single skill? Ridiculous. [The Mind is a fragile and complex subject, Host. Anything related to it is expensive.] ''What grade is this skill?'' [S-grade, Host.] ''Will it protect me from everything I''ll have to endure?'' [Yes.] Ethan clenched his jaw. At this rate, his dream of awakening his bloodline was slipping further away. And worse¡ª He had promised his family resources superior to those of a Stage 1 True Dragon God. Damn it. Me and my big mouth. Now, he had to make good on that promise. He sighed. First, let''s finish this trial. ''Buy it, you scammer.'' A small, unexpected sound echoed. Eh. Ethan froze. Did¡­ someone just "eh" at me? [Yes, Host.] ¡­ [Ding! You have purchased Mind Prison (S-grade).] Mind Prison (Passive - S-Grade) A passive skill that allows you to create a prison within your mind to store unwanted memories. You may unlock and access them at will. ¡­ As soon as the notification appeared, Ethan understood the skill. That was the benefit of buying from the system¡ªinstant comprehension. All that was left was training and getting used to it. He pushed himself up, exhaling deeply. "Now, I''m ready." His gaze flickered to the girl. Ethan took slow steps forward but stopped five meters away from her. ¡­Yes, he was afraid. Who wouldn''t be? They were talking about a damn angel. There were no records of angels in the Tower''s library or anywhere he had studied. And yet, here she was. He crouched. His voice was quiet but firm. "Do you want to be saved?" The girl responded instantly. Her voice trembled¡ªnot with fear, but with urgency. Her bleeding golden eyes locked onto his. "Can you do it?" Ethan met her gaze. "I believe I can." She moved. Fast. In the blink of an eye, she was in front of him. Her tiny hands clutched his arms. Desperate. "Can you really? Can you really?" And then¡ª Her next words froze him in place. "Can you really kill me and end my nightmare?" "I want to join my father and mother." Silence. Ethan''s breath hitched. His heart pounded. His lips parted, but no words came. Because when he looked into her eyes¡­ He saw grief. Despair. A soul crushed beyond recognition. To her, salvation meant death. Not a second chance. An end. Something inside Ethan twisted. His chest ached in a way it never had before. But even so¡ª He forced a smile. His Aura of Devotion surged, wrapping around her like a warm light. "No." His voice was soft but unshakable. "Not death. I want to save you by giving you another chance at life." The girl tilted her head. She didn''t understand. How? How could she possibly have another life? But then¡ª Her golden eyes met Ethan''s green ones. And suddenly¡­ For the first time since that night¡ª She felt peace. Why? Why was she willing to trust this stranger? This man who had stepped into her nightmare, seen her worst memories, and still reached out to her? Is that why ? She didn''t know. She didn''t need to know. She was tired. She had once been just a little girl, happy and loved. Until it was all ripped away. Her mind was broken. Her soul, shattered. All she wanted was peace. And in this moment¡ª She felt it with him. So, she whispered¡ª "Yes¡­ yes¡­ save me." Her hands clenched tighter around his arms. "Don''t leave me alone." Don''t abandon me. She held onto him like he was the last warmth in a world of endless cold. Ethan swallowed hard. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. For someone like him¡ªso sheltered, so loved by everyone he had ever met¡ª This was pain unlike any he had ever known. To witness a child like this. A child who had lost everything. ¡­ Ethan lifted his head. His voice was rough. "Tower. I will save this girl." The response came immediately. As if the Tower had been waiting. {Take her burden.} {She will not forget¡­ but the weight of that night will no longer stop her from moving forward.} Ethan''s brows furrowed. A thought struck him. If he saved her¡ª Wouldn''t she move on? Wouldn''t she pass into the Soul Realm? Wouldn''t he¡­ lose her? sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He could reach the Soul Realm too, as a reward for completing the trial. But an E-rank being stepping into that place? Even with his limited knowledge he knows¡ª That was suicide. His voice was firm. "I want her to stay with me." {Not possible.} {She is already dead in the living world. And you, you are only here because of the Tower''s protection.} {And she is a soul. A soul needs a body or a medium to exist in the living world.} Ethan clenched his fists. "I will give her a body." For the first time¡ª The Tower fell silent. Then¡ª {You cannot¡ª} It stopped. Abruptly. Ethan frowned. This feels¡­ familiar. Like something interfered. Then¡ª {You can take her.} {But you will bear the consequences of this action.} Ethan narrowed his eyes. "What consequences?" {The Keepers of Souls will take notice of you.} {And you will become their target.} ¡­Pardon? Ethan felt his entire body freeze. This was only his second trial. And he was already attracting the attention of big players? He felt the girl''s grip tighten. As if she could sense his hesitation. He looked at her. Her pure golden eyes that still have tear of blood. And in that moment¡ª He made his decision. I said I would save you. And that''s exactly what I''ll do. Ethan took a deep breath. His voice was steady. "Tower. I take her." Silence. Then¡ª {As you will, O Giver.} ¡ªEnd Of Chapter 30¡ª Chapter 31 - 31: The Weight of Salvation Ethan barely had time to react before the world around him shifted. He is living the trauma again. This time more intensely. Pain. Searing, suffocating, all-consuming pain. Memories crashed into him, drowning him in the little girl''s past¡ªher suffering more vivid, more excruciating than before. His body trembled. His breath hitched. "Fuck¡ª" Teeth clenched, hands gripping his head, he fought to stay upright. This was necessary. To save a soul, he had to live their pain before locking it away with his mind prison skill. Every second felt like eternity. And then¡ª Silence. The agony faded, leaving Ethan breathless. He wanted to curse. Badly. But with the girl watching, he swallowed it down. {You have saved Anita, The Lost Angel.} {Anita''s soul is now yours.} Ethan exhaled slowly, turning toward the child¡ª The girl who now had a name. Anita. She stood there, hands trembling as they traced over her head, her arms, her chest¡ª Searching. Disbelieving. "I¡­ I don''t feel any pain anymore." Her voice shook. For as long as she could remember, she had lived with it. The endless, gnawing torment. And now¡­ It was gone. She lifted her gaze to Ethan, and the moment she saw his gentle smile¡ª She broke. Tears spilled from her golden eyes. A sob ripped from her throat. Not of grief. Not of fear. But relief. She lunged forward, wrapping her small arms around him, clinging to him desperately. As if letting go would bring the pain back. As if he would disappear. "Hey, hey, calm down." Ethan soothed, one hand resting on her back. His other hand found her hair, his touch gentle, steadying. "I''m not leaving. From now on, you''ll be with me. You will come with me." Anita''s sobs softened. She nodded her head repeatedly. His warmth¡ªhis presence¡ªit anchored her, grounding her in a way nothing had since that day. She felt¡­ safe. For the first time in so long. Ethan sat down, pulling her onto his lap, fingers still running through her hair. Slow, comforting strokes. Her breathing evened out. Her body relaxed. And before she knew it¡ª She fell asleep. For the first time since losing her family¡ª Anita slept peacefully. Ethan watched her, his expression unreadable. Then, he sighed. "It seems people like falling asleep around me." A faint chuckle escaped him, but his mind had already moved on. He needed a body for her. ''System, any ideas?'' [Host, you can create a body for her with my help.] ''You''re trying to scam me again, aren''t you?'' Ethan''s tone was flat. ''Just tell me the cost.'' [Creating a body for an angel is extremely diffic¡ª] ''Cut the crap. Just tell me.'' [Host, you will need¡­ 5 billion karmic points.] ¡­What? ''I beg your pardon?'' [You will need 5 bill¡ª] ''Please. Shut up.'' Ethan didn''t even shout. He was too stunned to. Five. Billion. That number alone made his brain short-circuit. It''ll take me forever to get that amount. [Host, it''s not as impossible as you think. The karmic points you earn depend on two factors¡ª] [1. The strength and significance of the person you help.] [2. How desperately they needed your aid.] [Saving Anita alone has given you 1.5 billion karmic points.] [Additionally, for giving her the chance to be reborn, you have earned another 1 billion.] Ethan''s eyes lit up. 2.5 billion already?! ''You should''ve told me that earlier! I almost passed out!'' He exhaled sharply. Anita was the least traumatized soul here, and she had given him 1.5 billion points. That meant the others¡­ Would give him even more. ''So I just need to save about three more souls.'' His gaze shifted inward, into his own mind¡ª And there, he saw it. A massive closed door where one word was inscribed upon it: PRISON. Ethan''s lips curved slightly. ''So that''s my Mind Prison. Pretty cool.'' ¡­ Sigh. Three more souls to save. Three more traumas to experience firsthand. Truly¡­ Tower, do you hate me? He can''t help but ask. {The trials are designed to help you evolve. This is in your best interest.} Oh? Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So giving me multiple traumas is in my best interest? Potentially losing myself in these memories is in my best interest? {¡­It is.} You don''t sound very convincing, you know. Ethan shook his head. Then, he looked down. At Anita. At her peaceful sleeping face. And then¡ª He looked up. At the countless souls wandering aimlessly. He stood. Carefully adjusting Anita on his back, securing her and he started walking. He couldn''t waste time. ¡­ Ethan ventured deeper into the expanse. But suddenly, he stopped. In front her stood a barrier. Thin, transparent, yet impenetrable. And when he looked beyond it he saw something intriguing. He saw one soul. A woman. Green hair and eyes woman coupled with beautiful pale skin sitting on chair. But unlike the ones he had seen before, she does not seem aimless. No, she feel like someone who is relaxing by sitting on her chair and while singing some songs. Strange. As he observed her ¡ªShe noticed him, too. And immediately she stood up and approached him. She stopped at the barrier, no advancing further as if she can''t pass it. Her presence were suffocating. As if you are in a dead land, filled with death energy. She looked at him intensely and she smiled slowly. "Well. What a surprise." Her voice was heavenly. ¡ªEnd of chapter 31¡ª Chapter 32 - 32: Esmeray "Well, what a surprise." The woman''s voice was warm. Too warm. Like someone who had been alone for an eternity and had just found their first conversation partner. "It''s been so long since I''ve seen a living human! Where are you from?" She sounded genuinely excited. Ethan, on the other hand? He was suffocating. Her presence wasn''t just overwhelming¡ªit felt wrong. Profane. Like standing in front of death itself. His instincts screamed at him to run. He took a sharp step back, adjusting Anita on his back, making sure she was still safe. The woman''s eyes flickered. Then¡ªher expression shifted. Her brow arched, her amusement fading into something else. "Wait¡­ what?" Her gaze sharpened. "You''re¡­ only E-rank?" Her voice carried genuine disbelief. As she said that, she immediately withdrew her aura, realizing she might be crushing him with it. Ethan blinked. "¡­Yeah?" Her jaw tightened. Even SS-rank beings struggled to exist here. But this kid? An E-rank human standing here like it was a casual stroll? Impossible. Her mind raced. How? "How did you get here? What are you doing here?" She fired off questions, but Ethan barely reacted. His only comfort? The barrier. She couldn''t reach him. That was all he needed to stay calm. Finally, he spoke. "What are you?" Because there was no way she was just another lost soul. Every other soul he had seen was wandering, suffering, breaking. But her? Too normal. Too collected. She raised a brow. "I should be the one asking you that, boy." Ethan ignored the jab. "I''m Ethan. I''m here for my second trial. The Tower put me here. And it''s protecting me during my trial." Straight to the point. No nonsense. Esmeray''s face went blank. "¡­Your second-floor trial brought you here?" For a moment, she looked at him like he had just declared himself the ruler of the universe. This place wasn''t meant for the weak. Even less for a second-floor trial. Even with protection, the mere existence of an E-rank here was unheard of. But then¡­ she remembered. The Tower tested people differently. There were those¡ªthe irregulars¡ªwhose trials were far beyond normal logic. She had heard stories, but¡­ She never thought she would meet one. Her gaze lingered on Ethan, her eyes narrowing slightly. ''The irregulars are known to be dangerous. Their power mysterious and powerful. But this Ethan look too gentle, too soft.'' Never mind. A second trial floor at this labyrinth, he is certainly not ordinary and that what I have to remember. And then, like a slow-moving tide, an opportunity formed in her mind. She had been here for millions of years. No escape. No company. Even for someone like her, it was becoming unbearable. Maybe¡­ just maybe¡­ Her posture shifted. Her smirk softened. "I''m Esmeray Mendil." She leaned against the barrier, watching him with interest. "As for why I''m different from the others?" Her smirk widened. "That''s simple. I''m not dead." Ethan froze. "¡­What?" She nodded. "I''m alive. My body''s still perfectly fine in the world of the living." Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Then why the hell are you here?" Her smirk turned sheepish. "Well¡­ I''m a necromancer." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "A necromancer?" "A very good one, if I may add." She straightened, looking pleased with herself. "I wanted to understand souls better, to improve my spells and abilities. So, naturally, I came here." Ethan''s expression went flat. "Naturally?" She ignored his tone. "I figured, hey, what better place to study souls than the Labyrinth of Souls itself? This place is a paradise for soul research." She gestured vaguely around her. "So I entered with my soul body¡­ and then, well¡ª" She tapped the barrier between them. "This thing trapped me. I didn''t even get to explore. The moment I stepped in¡­ boom. Barrier. Millions of years gone just like that." Silence. A long, long silence. Ethan stared at her. Deadpan. Expressionless. His brain processed her words one by one. She came here on purpose. Got herself trapped. For millions of years. ''What an idiot.'' Who the hell walks into a death trap for "research"¡ª Wait. Millions? His gaze snapped back to her. She looked¡­ young. Mid-twenties at most. Green eyes. Green hair. Pale skin. A deep green robe that clung to her body in all the right ways. Ethan had seen beautiful women before. But Esmeray carried herself differently¡ªlike someone who knew exactly how dangerous she was. Curves in the right places. Legs long and smooth. Her chest¡­ unreasonably large. Her hips¡­ worse. Ethan squinted. "¡­Wait. How old are you again?" Esmeray blinked. Then¡ªher lips curled into a smug, knowing grin. She leaned in slightly, showing her breast more openly, her voice turning honey-sweet. "I''m too beautiful to be an old hag, aren''t I?" Her tone was low, teasing, seductive. Ethan''s mind blanked for half a second at this sight. Then, he forced himself to look away. ''Nope. Not doing this.'' His willpower had been tested enough today. Esmeray chuckled. A deep, sultry sound. She knew exactly what she was doing. ''Ahh¡­I truly missed human presence.'' And she was enjoying every second of it. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 32¡ª Chapter 33 - 33: The Woman Who Waited Too Long Esmeray had been alone for far too long. No matter how much restraint she had, the moment she saw Ethan¡ªyoung, beautiful beyond words, and utterly unaware of the effect he had¡ªsomething in her snapped. A playful hunger. A dangerous temptation. She pressed herself against the barrier, her large breasts flattening slightly against the invisible force making this scene more obscene. Ethan stared. He had controlled himself since entering the Tower, focused only on survival. He had ignored temptations, distractions¡ªbut Esmeray was a different kind of danger. The kind that got into his head. The kind that made his throat dry and his body betray him. His crotch twitched, and he cursed under his breath, shifting uncomfortably. A tent was forming in his pants. Esmeray saw it. Her lips curled into a slow, knowing smile, her green eyes darkening with desire. It had been millions of years. Millions of years with no one. No warmth. No touch. If not for this damn barrier, she might have already thrown herself at him. Ethan wasn''t just beautiful. He was special. He was dangerous. A irregular ¡ª or so she thought. And that made her want him even more. She took a slow step forward, her fingertips tracing the barrier as if testing its limits. "You look delicious." Her voice was silk and smoke, wrapping around him, pulling him in. Ethan''s body tensed. His mind screamed at him to back away. But his body? It wanted to step closer. He swallowed hard. This wasn''t just attraction. This was madness. He was about to take a step forward¡ª A sound behind him. A small yawn. Anita is awake. Ethan snapped out of it instantly. His body turned rigid, his breathing evened out. The fog of desire cleared. Esmeray, too, immediately straightened. With a flick of her hand, she adjusted her robe, covering herself more modestly¡ªor at least, as much as possible. Even she had some shame. "Mister¡­?" A small, sleepy voice. Ethan turned, his lips pulling into a soft smile. "Oh, you''re already awake, Anita? Did you sleep well?" Anita blinked up at him, then beamed, bouncing on her feet. "Mister! Yes, Mister! Anita has never slept so well before!" She twirled in excitement, golden eyes glowing. Pure, radiant. A soul that had once been broken¡ªnow healed. Ethan''s heart warmed. He liked seeing her this happy. It was a stark contrast to the fearful, trembling and scary girl he had met before. He patted her head. "Stay here, okay? I need to talk to that lady over there. Don''t go anywhere." Anita followed his gaze to the mysterious woman beyond the barrier. Her golden eyes flickered with curiosity, but she nodded eagerly. "Anita will obey Mister! Anita will always obey Mister!" Ethan turned back to Esmeray, stepping forward¡ªconfidently this time. She couldn''t reach him. She couldn''t touch him. He can see she can''t pass the barrier. And now that his mind was clear, he wouldn''t let himself be distracted so easily. Esmeray stared at Anita, brows furrowed. "¡­That girl." She looked back at Ethan. "Her soul¡­ it''s pure." She tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "How? That shouldn''t be possible. Not here. What did you do?" Ethan didn''t hesitate. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I took away her trauma. I freed her from her past." Esmeray''s eyes flickered with something unreadable. "¡­You freed her?" Ethan nodded. "And I will take her with me." A pause. Esmeray frowned. "You can''t." Her voice was firm. "If your living body is dead, you can only go to the Soul Realm and start a new life there. That''s the rule." Ethan''s expression didn''t change. "I can''t explain it to you. But know this¡ªI can, and I will." Something in his voice made Esmeray''s stomach tighten. Then¡ª Ethan took another step closer, his green eyes locked onto hers. Green vs Green. "If I can take a soul with me once¡­ why can''t I do it twice?" Esmeray''s breath hitched. Her mind froze. Her fingers curled slightly, pressing against the barrier. "¡­You want to take me out of here?" Ethan smirked. "Isn''t that what you want? Isn''t that why you were trying to seduce me?" Esmeray chuckled. "Yes, partly. But also¡ª" she licked her lips, "you''re too beautiful to ignore. I''ve been alone for so long, you understand?" Ethan didn''t look away. He didn''t flinch. Didn''t blush. He had an audience behind him. A little girl watching him. How can he lose face by acting like horny beast here ? So he applied all his will to be neutral. "Do you think it''ll be easy?" she asked, tilting her head. "That girl was different. I''m trapped here. This barrier isn''t something even I can break. How do you plan to do it?" Ethan didn''t answer her. Instead, he closed his eyes. And asked the Tower. ''Can I take her?'' A long silence. Then¡ª {You are already a target to them after saving The Lost Angel. } {But at most, you are just a minor inconvenience.} {Nothing worth paying attention to.For now.} {But if you free her¡­} {They will not let you go.} {They will hunt you. And if you ever dare to step foot in the Soul realm, you will be dead before knowing how.} A pause¡ª Then Ethan grinned. They were already on him when he saved Anita. Sooner or later, they will come for him. So it didn''t matter anymore. I will let the future me solve this problems. For now¡­ ''So basically¡­ I can save her.'' The Tower hesitated. {Yes.} ''How?'' {Same process. Take her burden.} Ethan''s eyes flickered open. His gaze locked onto Esmeray''s calm, amused expression. She looked so alive. So confident. So unbothered. ''What burden?'' he thought. ''She doesn''t seem broken to me.'' The Tower''s voice was gentle this time. As if giving advice to her child¡ªor as if feeling the pain itself. {Her solitude.} The Tower continued. {Experience her millions of years of solitude.} {Ease her pain.} {And let me remind you, O Giver.} {The most normal, happy, and lively people¡­} {Are often the most broken inside.} {Do not judge a book by its cover.} Silence. Ethan clenched his fists. A million of years of solitude ? Can he¡­ Then, slowly, his lips curled into a cocky, fearless grin. He met Esmeray''s gaze. "Fine. Let''s see what your millions of solitude feels like." ¡ªEnd of Chapter 33¡ª A/N: Guys, please support with Power stones :( We are still so far of our 100 power stones. So, don''t keep them¡ªspend them, on me of course. Thank you for reading and commenting ! Reading your thoughts about my novel makes my day. Chapter 34 - 34: A Million Years of Madness The moment Ethan agreed, he regretted it. His mind blanked out.Then¡ªhe was somewhere else. Not in his body. Not in the present. He was floating. Disembodied. Invisible. Before him stood Esmeray. Not the Esmeray he had just spoken to, but a younger, prouder version of her. Her long green hair swayed as she took in her surroundings, bewildered. Her fingers ran along the invisible wall of the barrier, her brows furrowing. "¡­What is this?" At first, she didn''t panic. She tried everything. Fists struck the barrier with earth-shattering force. Again. And again. And again. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Centuries passed, but nothing changed. She screamed in frustration, but there was no one to hear. Then, she adapted. She was a necromancer. Poison was her specialty. If force didn''t work, corruption would. For thousands of years, she experimented. Toxins deadlier than death itself seeped from her hands, creeping into the cracks of reality. Her very presence became profane because of that. If before she was a woman, now she was a plague. A being that should not exist. A being whose mere presence if not controlled can corrupt a whole state. But even after all that, the barrier didn''t so much as flicker. That when the fear set in. And that was when Ethan''s mind started to crack. He wasn''t just watching her suffering. He was feeling it. Every moment of dread. Every second of hopelessness. Every breath in this infinite, suffocating prison. A hundred thousand years. That''s when Esmeray understood. She wasn''t trapped for a year. Or a decade. Or even a century. She would never get out. And that make something inside her snapped. Ethan felt it like a hammer to the skull. His thoughts blurred. His sense of self¡ªfragile. He was breaking. But Esmeray was just getting started. She tried talking to herself to stay sane. Then singing. Then laughing. She laughed until she couldn''t remember why she started. She cried until she had no more tears. Her mind folded into itself. She begged. To gods. To devils. To the celestials. To anything that could hear her. But there was no one. There was only her. A million years of silence. A million years of being unseen, unheard, forgotten. And then¡ªshe stopped. She didn''t move. Didn''t blink. She just sat there. For centuries. Her gaze empty. Her once beautiful green eyes now nothing more than lifeless glass. If someone had walked past, they would have thought she was dead. She wasn''t. She was just¡­ gone. Choosing to shut down her brain. And Ethan? Ethan wasn''t breathing. His body convulsed. His lips parted in a silent, mindless scream. Blood streamed from his nose. His eyes. His ears. His hands gripped at nothing, nails digging into his own flesh, trying to anchor himself to something¡ªanything. ''I¡­ I am¡­'' His thoughts were shattering. He had only lived thirty -something years, if you take into account his two lifes. How the fuck was he supposed to survive millions? He couldn''t. The weight of eternity was crushing him. His consciousness fractured. Sanity slipping¡ª Thoughts drowning¡ª Everything fading¡ª That when something changed. A new memory. Ethan saw a little girl. She was alone. She wasn''t in the Labyrinth. She wasn''t trapped. She was in a cold, colorless mansion, surrounded by people who refused to look at her. Her parents were nobles. Respected. Worshipped. But she? She was a disgrace. A child born with gloomy, deathly aura. A necromancer. An affront to their faith. Her own mother flinched when she reached out for a hug. Her father ignored her existence. Her siblings mocking and treating her like filth. The maids spoke of her in whispers, as if saying her name would curse them. And so, she ran. She ran and never looked back. She lived alone. Grew alone. Entered the tower. And became strong alone. She reached heights few had. She had power. Influence. A name that echoed across the Tower. But¡­ she never found a home. And so she, trying to escape this hollowing feeling, started to do some experiments. As a necromancer, she dealt with souls. But there were things not even she was allowed to touch. Things that ruled over souls. Ethan''s mind cracked even further after seeing a glimpse of Esmeray''s childhood. ''Ahhhhhhhhhh¡ª!'' The pain was unbearable. Blood poured freely from his face, his body shaking uncontrollably. His own identity was slipping¡ªhis name, his memories, his emotions¡ª They weren''t his anymore. They were hers. He is losing his sense of self. The weight of a million years of solitude was crushing him alive. The only thing keeping him from losing himself completely was his Mind Prison¡ªa passive skill meant to store memories. But it was too much. Too heavy. The skill was struggling to keep up. Ethan was suffocating. Drowning in eternity. And then¡ª It ended. Ethan collapsed. Darkness swallowed him whole. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 34¡ª Chapter 35 - 35: A Promise in silence Esmeray stood frozen, staring at Ethan''s unconscious body. His breath was ragged, his fingers twitching slightly as if he was still trapped in the nightmare. She had felt it¡ªthe intrusion into her memories. At first, she was furious. Her mind was her last sanctuary. Where she had kept her fear and her broken side hidden. No one was supposed to access it. But then¡­ she saw something. Fragments of him. A young boy, spoiled yet affectionate. A noble, surrounded by warmth, raised with love so deep it was suffocating. A childhood she would have killed for. Esmeray clenched her fists while looking at him. ''How can he be so selfless yet so selfish at the same time?'' She hadn''t seen all of his life, but the glimpses were enough to form a picture. Ethan gave generously. He loves to give. But only with things he didn''t mind losing. Resources? Power? Protection? He would give without hesitation. He would have more. But when it came to women? His greedy and lustful side comes out. Tsk. Esmeray clicked her tongue, but her lips curled into a small, amused smile. She had spent a million years trapped. She should have been filled with resentment. But instead¡­ She felt free. The weight that had crushed her for eons had lifted. Because he is shouldering it with her. The burden in her psyche is way less than before. ''You fool,'' she thought, gazing at his sleeping face. ''You have no idea what you''ve done, do you?'' He had proven his selflessness to her in a way she could never repay. So, she made a promise to herself. Silently. A vow that bound her soul tighter than any barrier ever could. She would protect him. Not from death¡ªEthan could handle himself. But from the Tower. From the corruption that lurked in the shadows, waiting to twist his kindness into a weapon. From the women who would see him as a tool to be used and discarded. And as if waiting for this, the barrier shattered. The barrier that trapped her for so long¡­shattered so easily. Esmeray''s eyes widened. She was now free, physically and mentally. Her gaze drifted back to Ethan. ''You have to take responsibility for me now, you reckless idiot.'' With that thought, she crouched beside him, watching over him as he slept. ¡­ A splitting headache greeted Ethan as he stirred back to consciousness. "Fuck¡­ never again," he groaned, shuddering at the memory. "Mister! Mister!! You are awake!" A tiny body crashed into him. Ethan blinked, his vision clearing enough to see Anita''s golden eyes shimmering with unshed tears. He mustered a weak smile, his hand ruffling her hair. "Shh¡­ I''m awake now. It''s over." Anita sniffled but grinned brightly. "You were asleep for hours, Mister! Anita was so worried!" Before he could respond, a smooth voice interrupted. "You''re awake." Ethan turned to see Esmeray. Unlike before, there was no frustration and playfulness in her eyes. Only something deep. Unreadable. "And I see you''re free from your barrier," Ethan said, stretching his sore limbs. "Thanks to you," she replied, her voice softer than he expected. Then, she did something that caught him off guard. She bowed her head slightly. A necromancer. A queen. Bowing. If the Tower wasn''t protecting him in this labyrinth, he wouldn''t be able to withstand the bowing of a being like Esmeray. Of a Soul at her purity level. Of her presence. "For easing my burden¡ª" she hesitated. "No, for taking it." Her emerald eyes locked onto his. There was gratitude. But also something else. Something deeper. Something Ethan is beginning to be familiar with. As he was about to respond Esmeray¡ª A familiar voice chimed in. [Host, Esmeray''s feelings for you have reached 50%.] Ethan''s eye twitched. ''Oh, now you show up, you bastard? Where were you when I was mind-breaking?'' [Host had all necessary tools to survive. So the system did not intervene.] ''Would you have stepped in if I was actually dying?'' [Naturally, Host. Our goal is to make you stronger in all aspects, not to let you die like a fool.] Ethan scoffed, rubbing his temples. Before he could argue further, a new voice resonated. One that wasn''t the system. One that carried the weight of something far greater. {You have saved Esmeray Mindel¡ªThe Profane Queen, The Goddess Of The Dead, The Scorn Of Life, The One Who Challenged the authority of Soul.} Ethan froze. What the fuck ? All these titles ? He looked back at Esmeray. ''This sexy girl is this dangerous ? What do you mean goddess ? Damn it. Only at second trial and I have found a goddess.'' Ethan couldn''t tell if he was blessed or utterly fucked. The tower continued. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. {Esmeray''s soul is now yours by the authority of the Tower. You have absolute control over her.} His breath hitched. Mine? Esmeray''s eyes widened slightly in surprise. Her soul is bound¡­she raised her head and looked at Ethan. She can feel that she can''t disobey Ethan even if she wanted to. ''Is this the price of freedom ?'' She smiled sweetly and fondly, ''If he is my ''master'' I don''t mind it.'' {The soul of Esmeray and Anita are now stored inside you. You may call upon them at will.} His eyes widened slightly. ''Wait, wait, wait¡ªwhat does that even mean?!'' But the Tower wasn''t done. {You have completed your second trial flawlessly.} {For your incredible and reckless performance in giving back life to two special souls, you have earned additional rewards.} {You have obtained: [Aura of Profanity] and [Aura of Holiness].} Ethan barely had time to process before the final message arrived. {You are being transported to a rest zone.} {Remember, to help others rise, one must sometimes bear their burdens with them. So choose wisely who you raise.} {You have worked hard, O Giver Of Salvation.} Ethan face become serious when he saw the advice of the tower. ''Another lesson from this trial hun..'' But a slow, amused grin spread across Ethan''s face as he saw how the tower is encouraging him. "Well, well," he muttered. "I think you and I are going to get along just fine¡­ dear Tower." As darkness swallowed them, Esmeray watched him with intrigue. Yes. He was dangerous. But not for the reasons she first assumed. And that made him all the more irresistible. [Ding! Esmeray''s feelings are at 60%. Host, you have a knack to attract questionably saine women.] And I love it. ¡ªEnd Of Chapter 35¡ª Chapter 36 - 36: Anita鈥檚 new body Needless to say, Ethan''s trials were exceptionally difficult. Most people faced tests like surviving an hour in a forest or killing low-level goblins depending on their potential and talent. Ethan? His trials were handcrafted. Personalized. As if the Tower itself wanted to see him break. As if it was saying: "Push yourself. Become better." He was not the first to be treated this way. Throughout history, those with obscene potential were placed under the Tower''s care. And if you were under the Tower''s care and managed to survive¡­ You would become untouchable. A force beyond reason, shaped to match your potential. People like that had a name. Irregulars. They were rare¡ªextremely rare. But if you ever met one, you had two options, either be on good terms with them and If you can''t, then take your distance from them. Because if you became their enemy¡­ You were already dead. And not even in the soul realm would you find peace. Because their means were special. ¡­ Ethan found himself in the same forest as last time.The one he had been sent to after his first trial. The green sky loomed overhead, and the soft rustling of leaves filled the air. Tired beyond belief, he dropped onto his back, arms spread out. "Let me just sleep a little¡­" he mumbled. ''Mister! Mister! Are you sleeping?!'' ''Ethan, don''t sleep here. Let us out first. I feel suffocated here.'' His eyes snapped open. Esmeray? Anita? Damn. No sleep, then. Might as well be productive. "Where are you?" he muttered. ''Inside you.'' Ethan frowned. That was a sentence he never wanted to hear in his life. ''Just will it, and we''ll come out.'' He exhaled. Fine. The moment he did, two white orbs of light floated out of his chest. In an instant, they transformed into Esmeray and Anita¡ªtheir soul forms. Ethan glanced at Anita first. She was eagerly looking around, practically vibrating with energy. Holding herself back only because of him. His lips curled into a small smile. ''She died so young. Then spent who knows how long in a nightmare. Her mental age is still that of a child.'' He sighed. "Anita, you can go play. I''ll call you when I n¡ª" She was already gone. A streak of gold disappeared into the trees, leaving behind an excited voice. "Thank you, Mister! Anita loves you very much!" Ethan shook his head with a chuckle. "I should''ve expected that." Then, he turned to Esmeray. "You can do whatever you want too. And don''t worry, I won''t control you or anything. I just hope you won''t do anything bad to me or those I care about." He said a little bit worryingly. After all this woman had many dangerous titles she might have her means. Esmeray smiled lightly. "Of course. You don''t have to worry." Ethan nodded. "Anita needs a body. But you¡­" His gaze sharpened. "Your body is still intact somewhere. Do you have a way to reclaim it?" Esmeray shook her head. "After a million years, my connection to it is gone, severed. I''m just like Anita now. I need a new body." Ethan groaned. ''Shit. Anita''s body already cost 5 billion. What about Esmeray''s?'' His head was starting to ache again. Esmeray approached him and sat beside him silently, leaning on him. Ethan didn''t pay attention to it. ''System, give me some good news. How much did I gain?'' [Host, for saving Esmeray Mindel, The Profane Queen, from her eternal torment, you have gained 100 billion karmic points.] [For putting your sanity at stake to ease her burden, you have gained an additional 5 billion karmic points.] [For giving her back her life, you have gained an additional 10 billion karmic points.] Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Total: 117.5 billion karmic points.] Ethan blinked. ''Wait¡­ how much?!'' He rapidly rubbed his eyes and checked again. Nope. Still the same. 117.5 billion. He whistled. "Well¡­ at least my suffering was worth it." With this, he could easily create Anita''s body. And maybe¡­ just maybe Esmeray''s too. ''System, take 5 billion and create a body for Anita.'' ''Wait. Is 5 billion the price for the best body?'' [Of course not. That price is for the most basic angelic body. But even that body is millions of times better than yours, Host.] Ethan''s eye twitched. ''Shut up, you bastard. I didn''t need to hear that.'' ''What''s the price of the best body? And what''s the difference?'' [A better body means a stronger bloodline, greater adaptability, and higher talent.] [And the best body? It will have a bloodline extremely close to her origin.] [That means no other being of her race can suppress her aside from the direct children and their offsprings. And other races will feel pressure just by facing her if there bloodline is not at her level.] Ethan groaned. Damn it. I need to get my bloodline soon too. But every time I want to, something else comes up! Fucking hell! ''You still haven''t told me the price.'' [As a mortal, and as a child, her body is cheaper. The price is¡­] [110 billion karmic points.] ¡­Pardon? ''Come again?'' [110 billion, Host.] Ethan collapsed onto his back. Staring blankly at the green-tinted sky. Questioning the meaning of life. He had suffered, almost lost his mind, and pushed himself to the brink for those points. And he was about to spend them all. Sure, he could pick a cheaper body. But now that he knew how much Anita could benefit from this, how much it could protect her, there was no way he''d settle for less. He sighed. ''Ah, seriously¡­ fuck my life these days.'' ''System¡­ take the points. Give me the best body.'' [As you will, Host.] [How should the body look?] Ethan thought of her trauma-induced form. Golden hair, golden eyes. A cute, childlike face. ''Just like how she was. I think she''d want to keep the form she inherited from her parents.'' [Processing¡­] He turned to the trees. "Anita! Come here! I have a surprise for you." Esmeray watched Ethan closely, her emerald eyes filled with curiosity. And then¡ª The body began to form. Golden blood materialized out of thin air. Muscles knit themselves together. Veins spread like roots, pulsing with divine power. The heart. The bones. The hair. Piece by piece, life was being woven into existence. Ethan and Esmeray stood frozen. Mesmerized. But Esmeray wasn''t just mesmerized¡ªshe was shocked. What she was witnessing surpassed all her knowledge of creation. But for Ethan, something else stirred. Some questions popped into his mind. This power¡­The power to create something from nothing. The power to wish for something and have it appear. His fists clenched. ''What kind of being is behind my system¡­ to wield such a power?'' Because even gods couldn''t do this. And Esmeray was proof. After all¡­ She was once a god. Or rather, a Stage-1 god. And she couldn''t do this - not even close. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 36¡ª Chapter 37 - 37: Succubus A new body had been created from scratch. Every detail matched the description Ethan had given¡ªno, it was even better. Anita stared at the body before her, her golden eyes trembling. "Mister¡­ is this really me?" How could she not be overwhelmed? She had never said it out loud, afraid of being a burden to Ethan, but deep down, she had desperately wanted a body again. To feel. To move. To play. To be herself again. And now, right in front of her, was a perfected version of herself. Her golden hair and eyes gleamed, her new form radiating an almost divine pressure. This wasn''t just a body¡ªthis was a second chance. "Yes," Ethan said warmly. "This is for you. I hope you like it. Go on, Anita. Take back your life. Take back what was unjustly stolen from you, my dear angel." Anita''s throat tightened. She wanted to cry. But instead, she clenched her small fists, steeling herself, and stepped forward. The moment she entered the body, everything clicked into place. There was no struggle, no resistance¡ªthis body had been made for her. Her soul settled into it effortlessly, the connection forming as if it had never been broken. Ethan watched, a deep sense of pride welling inside him. Esmeray, on the other hand, was still in shock. "How¡­ how did you do this?" she muttered. "This isn''t normal creation. Creating something from nothing is unheard of. Even gods can''t do this." Ethan met her gaze, unfazed. He might not understand the full extent of what he had just done, but even he knew that bringing something into existence from nothing was beyond ordinary means. "It''s just an ability of mine," he said simply, waving it off. "Don''t think too much about it." He smoothly changed the subject. "Anyway, what about you? Do you want your body restored as it was, at your peak? Or do you want to start over¡ªfrom zero?" Esmeray''s eyes lit up with genuine excitement. "As a mortal, of course," she said without hesitation. "I¡­ made mistakes. Some of them damaged me permanently. And I took a path I shouldn''t have. I want to start fresh." Ethan raised a brow. "You sure? I mean, I don''t mind, but if you start from zero, you''ll have to climb the Tower from floor one again." He paused, folding his arms. "And let''s not forget¡ªyou must''ve surely made plenty of enemies over the years. If they realize you''re back and at your weakest, they''ll do everything they can to wipe you out before you regain your strength." Esmeray''s lips curled into a wide, almost mischievous smile. "But I have you, don''t I?" She took a step closer, her gaze intent. "I have my master to protect me. Am I not yours now?" Her voice softened, yet held a dangerous certainty. "And from what I saw in your memories, Ethan, you don''t let anyone touch what belongs to you." She was right. Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. Damn right, you have me. "Indeed. No one touches what''s mine," he said, his voice laced with quiet authority. Esmeray''s smile grew. "Then I can restart with peace of mind." She suddenly stretched, as if shaking off the weight of her past. "Besides, I wanted to change my appearance anyway. I don''t want to look like my parents anymore." Ethan nodded. "Alright. And just to confirm¡ªyou were human, right?" "Yes." "Do you want to stay human?" Esmeray''s eyes sparkled. "Wait¡­ I can choose?" Ethan shrugged. "Yeah, technically. But something too high-level might take more time to create." Esmeray''s excitement exploded. She practically bounced toward Ethan, stopping just an inch from his face. Her lips curled into a wide, thrilled grin. "Then I want to be a demon." Ethan blinked. "A demon?" She nodded, beaming. "My necromancer talent will shine way more with a demonic body. And, more specifically¡­" She leaned in even closer, her lips just a breath away from his ear. "I want to be a succubus." Ethan froze. Esmeray smirked, her voice dropping into a sultry whisper. "I want to please my dear master." His brain short-circuited. A succubus? Did this woman not hear a single word he just said about high-level races? Ethan gulped. Just imagining a succubus kneeling before him, worshiping him in the way their kind was designed to¡­ His pants suddenly felt very tight. "¡­Damn." He swallowed hard. "You''re definitely getting that succubus bloodline, believe me." Esmeray''s smirk deepened. She wasn''t just teasing¡ªshe was feeling it, too. After millions of years of pent-up desire, she couldn''t wait to have a body again. She would show Ethan exactly what that meant. As they spoke, Anita was still in the process of fully merging with her new body. It would take time for her soul to adjust to its newfound power and potential. So In the meantime Ethan decided to start the construct of the new body. ''System, how much for a demon body with a succubus bloodline?'' [Same as an angel''s¡ª5 billion karmic points. If you want the best version, 110 billion. But you don''t have that much anyway.] ''Can you just answer my damn question without the extra bullshit?'' Ethan exhaled, turning back to Esmeray. "What was your talent before?" "Necromancer," she said. "SSS-grade." Ethan nodded. ''System, give me a 5-billion-point demon body. I''ll have 2.5 billion points left. How much can I upgrade her necromancer talent with that?'' [With 2.5 billion points, it can be evolved to Supreme grade.] Ethan frowned. Only that? Okay I agree that SSS-grade was already insanely rare, and Supreme-grade? That was close legendary. One in millions would have this talent. So If you had a Supreme talent, as long as you didn''t die early, you were guaranteed godhood. And beyond Supreme, there was also one more rank. A mythical rank, whispered in ancient stories. Paragon. No one knew what it truly meant. It was a rank so rare that its very existence had become legend. But he didn''t expect that even 2.5 billion he can only evolve to supreme rank. ''How much to go from Supreme to Paragon?'' [Thousands upon thousands of trillions.] sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''¡­I knew you were gonna say some ridiculous shit.'' Ethan sighed. ''Fine. Just make the body and upgrade her talent to Supreme.'' [Understood. How should the body look?] Ethan paused. Esmeray had said she wanted to change her appearance. He turned to her. "You''re getting a new body. So, tell me¡ªhow do you want it to look?" Esmeray, who had been watching Anita''s transformation with great interest, grinned. Her answer was instant. "Of course, you''ll choose for me." She took a step closer, her gaze turning sultry, yet devoted. "Create me to match your absolute dream woman, Master." Her voice dripped with playful seduction. "I want to satisfy all your needs and desires. Even the most¡­ questionable ones." At that moment, the System''s voice echoed. [Host, Esmeray''s feelings for you have reached 70% with your recent display of power beyond her dreams.] Ethan didn''t even hear it. His mind was already spinning¡ªnot about the system, not about the karmic points, but about one simple thing. What is the perfect body of his dreams? "¡­Damn," he muttered, rubbing his chin. "I''m getting excited again." ¡ªEnd of Chapter 37¡ª Chapter 38 - 38: Worship Ethan had never truly envisioned his ideal woman. Sure, he had preferences¡ªlong legs, thick thighs, maybe a nice ass¡ªbut beyond that, he appreciated beauty in all forms. But if Esmeray wanted him to decide, then he would. ''System, take notes.'' ''A tall woman, thick thighs, long legs. Silver hair, ruby-red eyes, fair skin. Breasts at the perfect size, a round, firm ass to match.'' [Noted. Please wait.] Once again, the process began. A dense crimson mist coiled in the air, flickering with streaks of dark light. Then, flesh and sinew took form, blood swirling into veins, muscles layering over an emerging skeleton. Piece by piece, the body came into existence, a perfect blend of raw power and sensual grace. When it was complete, Ethan examined his creation. Tall. Silver hair cascading past her waist. Elven-like ears. Red eyes glimmering with eerie beauty. A sculpted hourglass figure¡ªbalanced, refined, without unnecessary exaggeration. A masterpiece. Esmeray studied her new body, her lips curving in satisfaction. "I like it," she murmured. "Then go," Ethan gestured. "It''s time." Without hesitation, she stepped forward and entered the vessel. The process began. Ethan watched in silence, then finally turned his attention to his rewards. ''System, show me what I got.'' [Key of the Soul Realm] A key allowing physical entry into the Soul Realm. Usable at any rank, but to survive there is recommended to be SS-rank and above. [Aura of Profanity (B-rank, Evolvable)] Created by the Profane Queen after eons of experimentation in solitude. Pollutes the space around the user. At its peak, it can corrupt entire planets. [Aura of Holiness (B-rank, Evolvable)] The innate aura of angels. Exudes peace, instilling trust and devotion in those nearby. Looking at these rewards, Ethan is very much pleased. ''Can people have multiple auras?'' [Yes. Because people can have multiple Intents.] Intent? ''Explain.'' [Intent is an evolved form of Aura. It signifies the first step toward divinity. Those who awaken Intent begin carving their path to godhood.] ''Then why don''t I have one?'' [Intent cannot be given. It is born from self-realization. Only those who understand their path can awaken it.] Ethan frowned. ''Then what am I missing?'' He had a path¡ªthe path of a Giver, as the Tower called him. Yet, no Intent. Was he truly who he claimed to be? Or was there something deeper he refused to acknowledge? The thought lingered. But for now¡ªhe pushed it aside. ''Can Holiness and Devotion be merged?'' [Yes. They will combine into a higher-tier aura unique to you.] ''Will it require karmic points ?'' [No. combining two low level auras is no difficult task.] ''Do it then.'' [DING! Aura of Holiness and Aura of Devotion are synthesizing¡­] [DING! You have obtained Aura of Sacred Devotion (A-rank, Passive/Active).] [Aura of Sacred Devotion] Your presence radiates divine peace and absolute authority. Allies feel unwavering trust and resolve, while enemies hesitate before acting against you. As this aura evolves, its influence deepens, inspiring greater faith and commanding even stronger respect. Ethan''s presence shifted. A calm, trusting aura still surrounded him, but now, it was laced with something more. Authority. Power. Holiness. A divine essence that demanded faith and obedience. It was incredible. But Ethan did not pay any attention to that. He begin to think about intent again. ''Why haven''t I awakened Intent? Am I missing something?'' Doubt gnawed at him. If Intent was born from understanding one''s true path, then shouldn''t he have awakened it long ago? ''Or am I really fooling myself?'' A voice interrupted his thoughts. "¡­Ah¡­" Soft. Fragile. He turned. Anita stirred, her golden eyes fluttering open. She was wrapped in a delicate white dress, golden threads woven into intricate patterns of divine energy. For a moment, she seemed disoriented. Then, realization struck. "Mister¡­ Mister!" She launched herself at him, clinging tightly, her small frame trembling. "Thank you¡­ thank you so much¡­" Tears spilled down her cheeks. Ethan merely smiled, placing a gentle hand on her head. Unlike before, when she had no body, this time¡ªhe could feel her warmth. A real, living being. Anita let out a small, contented purr. A second presence stirred. A sultry voice, rich with allure, echoed through the space. "Oh, Master¡­ do me too?" Ethan looked up. Esmeray stood before him, fully reborn. Her silver hair gleamed, cascading over bare shoulders. Her crimson eyes smoldered with mischief. Long legs, supple curves¡ªevery inch of her exuded dark, seductive power. She took a slow step forward. Then another. Her lips curled. "Pat my head." Ethan stared. Not just at her beauty, but at the change within her. "Did you not feel any change in yourself?" Esmeray stopped abruptly at his words. She took the time to look inward. She feels how her blood flows differently, how her mana flows so naturally and smoothly. She feels her strong body filled with potential. And she looks at her talent. And then¡ª The realization strikes her. Her Necromancer Talent¡ªonce SSS-rank¡ªhad transcended. Now, it bore a new name. Deathlord''s Eminence. A Supreme-grade talent. Her mind struggled to process it. Supreme talent. A rarity beyond measure. Something gods themselves coveted. Because having it will smoothen your divine path greatly. And yet¡ªEthan had given it to her as if it was¡­ nothing. Her crimson eyes flicked toward him. He wasn''t reacting. Just sitting there, calmly patting Anita. As if handing out divine talents was an everyday occurrence. A chill ran through her. ''Does he not understand what he has done?'' No. That wasn''t it. He understands. He just doesn''t care. The realization sent shivers down her spine. She had spent centuries climbing toward divinity, clawing her way toward power and managed to achieve divinity by being a stage-1 god. But she knows her limits would have been stage-3 at most with her SSS grade talent. And yet, in mere moments, Ethan had erased that limit and rewritten her fate. Feelings started to rise. When you encounter something you cannot understand-you cannot fathom- you either feel fear, reverence or the mix of both. Like in this case. Awe. Fear. Devotion. That what Esmeray were feeling. As a past goddess she knows much more, have more knowledge of the tower and many other things. She is a woman who has been imprisoned for millions years. Her mind and will were strong. But in this situation¡­ The emotions overwhelmed her, and before she even realized it¡ªshe had fallen to her knees. Her forehead touched the ground. She can''t help it. What she just witnessed since the beginning with Ethan has blown her mind. And this act of transforming her talent into a supreme one¡­had been the last straw. "¡­Master¡­" Her voice trembled. "¡­Please allow me to worship you. Not as a master¡­ but as my god." The air stilled. Even Anita flinched, sensing the weight of her words. Ethan''s eyes opened wide. A chill run through his spine. Worship me ? The Hell ? "¡­What?" Esmeray lifted her gaze. Maybe to him what he just did is not worth mentioning, but to her, this was not simple gratitude. This was faith. Reverence. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had done what no god had ever done. He had created a god¡ªNot yet. But if she doesn''t die, she will surely become one. And a powerful one at that. At this thought¡ª Her body cannot help but tremble. "To me, Master¡­ only you are worthy of worship." The System chimed. [Esmeray''s feelings have surpassed 500%.] [This is no longer the level of love, nor obsession. This is the level of faith.] [A blind faith in you.] Ethan exhaled slowly. He hadn''t expected this. Even knowing how aberrant and obscene the things he just did are¡ªeven knowing how much he had changed her¡ªthis¡­ was something else. Being worshipped by a past goddess was not part of his plan. He studied her, silent. A little bit uncomfortable by the fact she is lowering herself on the ground, he is not used to see this side of her. "You can do as you want, worship or whatever but.." "¡­I prefer the flirty you," he muttered. Esmeray blinked. Then, she laughed softly brushing off the tense atmosphere. "Then I shall worship you and still stay the way you want me to¡­my Lord." The tower chimed. DING! {Achievement Unlocked!} {New Title Acquired: The Mortal Worshipped by Gods.} {Your soul has strengthened.} {Your presence has intensified.} ? Ethan leaned back, exhaling. This was getting out of hand. But deep down¡ªhe smirked. He wasn''t complaining. And as if it''s not over the system chimed in this time. [You have gained the Talent: Death''s Friend ( Supreme+ grade), as a x10,000 return.] Hehehehe¡­. Ethan laughed evilly. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 38¡ª Chapter 39 - 39: Kneel Esmeray couldn''t stop talking about the church. "My Lord, please, let me spread your greatness. The Tower''s inhabitants must worship you." Ethan exhaled, rubbing his temple. "I already told you¡ªyou can do whatever you want. Why are you still pestering me?" "Because!" she insisted, "you haven''t given it a name. I cannot name it myself, my Lord!" Stubborn woman. "Mister !! Anita wants to be your follower too." Anita excitedly said, with her golden eyes gleamed as if finally found her purpose. Sigh. "Wait until we reach the tenth floor," he relented. "Then, I''ll decide." Esmeray''s lips curled into a pleased smile, but there was something else in her eyes. Something far darker. Hunger. Desire. Lust. She took a step toward him. Then another. Anita still sat beside him, but Esmeray''s voice turned sweet as honey. "Anita, you just received a new body. Don''t you want to explore? To Play?" Anita looked at Esmeray with a suspicious eye, for a split of a second you can see her childish act gone. But she came back to her usual self instantly. The small girl blinked innocently. "Oh!" As if realizing she hadn''t moved, she jumped up. "I''ll go now! Mister, I''ll be careful!" She ran into the forest. Silence. Esmeray turned to Ethan, her crimson eyes burning with desire. "My Lord," she whispered, "would you like to taste the body you created?" She didn''t wait for an answer. She had waited for too long. Her body demanded it. With deliberate slowness, she reached behind her back, unfastened her dress, and let it slide down her shoulders, pooling at her feet. Ethan''s breath hitched. Black lace. Smooth, unblemished skin. Ample, perky breasts barely restrained by her bra. Wide hips, thick thighs, a sinful curve to her waist. She was built to tempt. His body reacted instantly. His cock hardened against his pants, the tightness almost painful. She noticed. Her lips curled. But Ethan wouldn''t let her have the advantage. "Kneel." His voice was thick with desire. A shudder ran through her. This is the first time a man dared to talk her like this. She was a goddess, a being of pride and power. No one dared. But when she looked at Ethan, at how he is treating her like she is worth nothing by telling her to kneel, something in her awakened. A side of her she didn''t know. So she obeyed instinctively. She surrendered herself. She kneeled. Ethan''s belt hit the ground with a soft clink. He pulled himself free, and Esmeray inhaled sharply. Her pupils dilated. "By the gods¡­" His cock was massive. Thick, veined, and impossibly hard, standing at a proud nine inches. Her thighs instinctively pressed together, her core pulsing at the mere sight. "Grab it." She swallowed and obeyed, her fingers trembling as she wrapped around the base, marveling at the weight, the heat of it. "Open your mouth." She parted her lips. Ethan grabbed the back of her head and pushed. Her eyes widened as he forced himself into her throat, stretching her mouth to its limit. She gagged, her nails digging into his thighs as he held her there. "Breathe through your nose," he ordered. Her lashes fluttered. She did as he said. Then he began to move. Slow, at first. Then faster. Her moans vibrated around his cock, her saliva dripping down her chin, making an absolute mess of herself. But she didn''t care. She was a succubus now. She was made for this. She choose this race especially for this. "Good girl," Ethan groaned, his grip tightening. "Take it all." Ethan is feeling a strange feeling. The feeling of dominating a past goddess makes his dick harder. He didn''t hold back. He thrust deep, forcing her to swallow him completely, the wet sounds of her gagging echoing in the forest. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, but the arousal pooling between her legs was unbearable. "Fuck, you look so good like this," he growled, forcing himself down her throat one last time. His release hit hard. Esmeray choked, her eyes rolling back as thick, hot ropes of cum flooded her mouth. Some of it dripped down her chin, but she quickly scooped it up with her fingers, licking every last drop. She looked up at him, her pupils blown wide. She realized. Her faith, her reverence to him extended even to her body, to her whole being. Her soul is his. Her heart is his. Her mind is his. Her Body is his. She craved him. "More," she begged. Ethan smirked. "Get up." She did, swaying slightly, her body already trembling with need. But before she could say another word, he spun her around and bent her over, her ass pressing against his cock. She gasped. His hands slid down her back, gripping the soft flesh of her ass, kneading it roughly. Then, without warning, he hooked his fingers into her panties and yanked them down. The sight nearly made him lose control. Her pussy was drenched. Slick, pink, glistening with arousal. "So wet already?" His voice was dark with amusement. She whimpered. "Please, my Lord¡­ don''t tease me." He smirked. "Spread your legs." She obeyed instantly, and he wasted no time. A single finger slid inside her with ease. "Ah¡ª!" Then another. Her walls clenched around him as he pumped in and out, his thumb circling her swollen clit. She was shaking. "Master¡ªplease¡ª!" But he wasn''t satisfied yet. Three fingers. Then four. Her moans turned into cries, her body trembling as waves of pleasure crashed over her. Then, without warning¡ª "AHHH!" Her orgasm hit violently, her pussy clenching around his fingers, her juices dripping down her thighs. She collapsed against him, panting, barely able to stand. But Ethan wasn''t done. He positioned himself behind her, lining his cock up with her entrance. "Wait¡ª!" she gasped, "I just came, I¡ª" "You can take it," he growled. "You were made for this right ? You were tempted me since the first time we met. It''s time to take responsibilities." Then he slammed into her. His big dick penetrated her wet pussy. "OH FUCK¡ª!" Her scream echoed through the trees. She was tight. Almost unbearably so. Her pussy gripped him like a vice, milking him, drawing him in deeper. Ethan groaned, gripping her hips as he set a brutal pace. PAP. PAP. PAP. The sound of skin slapping against skin filled the air. Esmeray was gone. Her mind shattered with pleasure, her tongue lolling from her mouth as Ethan fucked her relentlessly. "So deep! Master¡ªyou''re too deep¡ª!" Ethan''s dick pounded her hard without mercy. "You love it," he growled. "Say it." "I love it! I love your cock, my Lord! Please¡ªplease don''t stop¡ª!" Her pussy spasmed. Another orgasm hit, and Ethan felt her tighten impossibly around him. But he wasn''t done. He flipped her onto her back, pressing her legs to her chest. Her eyes widened. "W-wait, I¡ªAHH!" He buried himself to the hilt, fucking her even deeper. Her nails raked down his back, her legs trembling. "Master¡ªI''m going to¡ª!" S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Cum for me, my slut." She shattered. Her entire body convulsed, her orgasm hitting her harder than any before. Ethan groaned, feeling her squeeze around him, and with a final thrust, he spilled inside her. Thick, hot ropes of cum filled her, overflowing as he stayed buried inside her, both of them panting. Minutes passed. Then, Esmeray giggled, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on his chest. "Anita¡­ what if she sees us?" Ethan scoffed. "You think I''m an idiot? I made a time-space barrier. Outside, only five minutes have passed." Her eyes darkened in lust. Esmeray had completed submitted herself. She smirked. She slid on top of him, placing his dick at the entrance of her pussy. "Then we still have time, my Lord." Ethan grinned. "Of course, my demoness." He thrust his dick in. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 39¡ª Chapter 40 - 40: Temporary separation Damn, that was good. If life could always be like this, I''d have no complaints. Ethan lay back, feeling the afterglow. But that moment of peace only reinforced his goal¡ªpower. He still remembered his first desire: to be strong enough to laze around. Yet, once his system awakened, he put that dream aside, choosing the path of the Giver instead. Now, though¡­ Now that he had tasted flesh, pleasure, the sheer intoxicating thrill of lust¡ªhe wanted it all. He wanted the freedom to indulge whenever he pleased. But he knew better. Damn it. Why wasn''t I reborn as a god? [Host, control your emotions. Your next trial awaits.] Tch. Fine. He turned toward Esmeray and Anita, who were talking and laughing in the distance. An angel and a demon¡ªtwo beings who should be natural enemies, yet here they were, bonding over their shared devotion to him. They were deep in conversation, already plotting the foundations of his church, when Ethan spoke. "I''ve wasted enough time. I''m moving to the next trial." The two girls turned to him. "What about us?" Esmeray asked. "I guess you can come with me?" Ethan mused before looking up. "Tower, can they?" {No.} The tower''s voice echoed across the entire resting zone, not just in his mind. {Like all climbers, they must start at Trial Zero.} {If you are ready, simply will it, and I will send each of you to your respective trials.} Ethan sighed. "Thought so. Thanks, Tower." {You are welcome, O Giver.} Esmeray''s eyes widened. He talks to the Tower like it''s a person¡­ and it responds to him differently. Normally, the Tower was cold, mechanical, only speaking to climbers to explain trials and rewards. But with Ethan? It was almost¡­ considerate. This wasn''t normal. "Esmeray, you can leave whenever you''re ready," Ethan said before turning to Anita. "But Anita, I never asked¡ªwhat''s your talent and grade?" Anita smiled proudly. "Anita''s talent is Healing. SS Grade." Ethan raised an eyebrow. SS-grade healing? That''s rare. He grinned. "That''s a great talent, Anita. You''ll be valuable." Hearing his praise, Anita''s golden eyes sparkled. "Then can Anita stay with Mister?" She clasped her hands together, looking up at him with puppy eyes. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan hesitated. Luckily, Esmeray stepped in. "Anita, you need to climb the Tower too. You can''t always rely on Ethan¡ªhe needs to rely on us as well. The only way to do that is if we get stronger." Anita bit her lip, then nodded firmly. "Okay! Anita will become strong and help Mister!" Ethan smiled. He liked this little girl, but she was right¡ªhe couldn''t afford to slow down. "Take care of yourself," he said, placing a necklace in her hands. "This will protect you if you''re in danger." The artifact was SS-ranked, enchanted for defense. He wouldn''t let his people die. "Thank you, Mister! Anita won''t disappoint you!" With a final wave, she disappeared. Esmeray approached Ethan, her arms wrapping around his neck. "Now that she''s gone, I can give you a proper goodbye, my lord." She pulled him into a deep kiss, her body pressed flush against his. Their tongues entwined, heat rising between them, the quiet forest filled with the sultry sounds of their passion. When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless. Esmeray leaned her forehead against his shoulder. "I''m going, Master¡­ and don''t go fucking other girls while I''m gone. You already have me and my sisters. That''s enough, right?" Ethan chuckled. "More than enough." She grinned. "See you soon, love." And then, she was gone. For the first time in a while, Ethan stood alone. He exhaled, steadying his mind. "Time to go." He willed the trial to begin. {Your third trial will start shortly.} Darkness swallowed him. {Third Trial: The Forsaken} When Ethan opened his eyes, he was in a massive prison. Stone walls stretched endlessly in every direction, lined with iron-barred cells. Inside them, figures lurked¡ªhumans, elves, beastmen, even monsters. Some lay motionless, their eyes hollow. Others stared vacantly at the walls, their spirits broken. {Trial Description: You are in one of the most guarded prisons in the lower floors of the Tower. The prisoners here have lost the will to live. Restore their hope.} {Objective: Save at least five prisoners to pass.} {Rewards: S-Grade Armor Card, S-Grade Weapon Card, C-Grade Sound Affinity.} Ethan''s gaze sharpened. Interesting. ?Meanwhile Anita stood in the same darkness Ethan had, but unlike before, her demeanor had changed. Gone was the innocent, wide-eyed girl. Here, she was cold. Indifferent. A sharp contrast to how she acted around her ''Mister.'' {Analyzing¡­} A sickening sensation washed over her. She felt the Tower peeling through her memories, her soul, her very existence. She clicked her tongue. "Tsk. Disgusting." {Analysis Complete.} {Your bloodline nears its original state. Your potential is limitless.} {You wield an SS-Rank Healing Talent.} {Your existence is unique. This is your second life after death.} {You qualify for a special trial.} {Prepare yourself, O Angel of Loss.} Anita scowled. "Angel of Loss? Change that. I''ll be whatever angel my Master wants me to be." The Tower ignored her. Darkness swallowed her, and when she opened her eyes, she was in a ruined village. Corpses littered the ground. The air reeked of rot. Villagers lay sick in their homes, their bodies ravaged by poison. Frogs the size of wolves prowled through the streets, their eyes glowing with malice. {First Trial: The Ruined Village.} {Objective: Cure all villagers and eliminate the poisoned frogs. If even one villager dies, you fail.} {Time Limit: 7 Days.} {Rewards: Two A-Grade Skill Books.} Anita cracked her knuckles. This is annoying. She sighed. "Mister, I already miss you." Meanwhile¡ªEsmeray''s Trial Esmeray stood in the void, her expression unreadable. Unlike before, there was no lust in her gaze, no reverence¡ªjust calm neutrality. This was the real her. Her lustful and reverend side is only for her master, Ethan. {Analysis Complete.} {You possess a Supreme-Grade Talent. Your future is boundless.} {You were once a goddess of the Tower. Your identity is special.} {You are a demon¡ªspecifically, a succubus. A race blessed with immense mana and power.} {You qualify for a special trial.} {Brace yourself, O Demon of Lust.} Esmeray narrowed her eyes. "Demon of Lust? I''m only lustful for my Master. Change it." Silence. Then, darkness. She opened her eyes in a graveyard filled with tombs and rotting corpses. The ground pulsed with eerie magic, and undead beasts lurked in the shadows. {First Trial: Graveyard of the Cursed.} {Objective: Command the undead and make them your army.} {They are at least A-Rank.} {Time Limit: 3 Days.} {Rewards: Ring of the Prime Goddess of Death.} Esmeray grinned. "Controlling A-Rank undead as an E-Rank?" She licked her lips. Bring it on. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 40¡ª Chapter 41 - 41: The Tycoon鈥檚 Way Ethan''s presence didn''t go unnoticed. The prisoners saw him. But they didn''t care. It wasn''t rare for someone to end up in this wretched place. A new arrival wasn''t worth their attention. They had bigger concerns¡ªlike figuring out whether today was the day they''d finally end it all. "Why are they here? Are they bad people? If they are, why is the Tower asking me to give them purpose again?" [The concept of good and bad is subjective, Host. They may be considered bad by others, but to you, they might be good. Save whoever you deem worthy.] "So it''s up to me, huh? Guess I have to talk to them." S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He approached a cell where an old man sat motionless, eyes staring blankly at the cold floor. "Uh, hey old man. You seem lonely. Care to talk?" Ethan asked, his tone unsure. He wasn''t exactly experienced in dealing with suicidal people. The old man lifted his gaze, held Ethan''s stare for a second¡ªthen looked away. Ethan''s lips twitched. "¡­Seriously?" He exhaled. "Look, I''m not here to waste time. Just talk to me. I can help you." Nothing. For thirty damn minutes, Ethan coaxed, reasoned, tried every approach¡ª Not even a glance. Ethan clenched his jaw and moved on. "Fucking stubborn old man. What''s his problem?" He went from cell to cell. A hundred prisoners. A hundred empty stares. Not. A single. Response. Checking the system timer¡ªtwenty minutes left. Ethan sank onto the cold stone floor, rubbing his temples. His head pounded with frustration. "This is bullshit. Why won''t they talk to me?" Failure wasn''t an option. If he failed, he''d have to wait two months before retaking the trial. And next time? The difficulty would increase. The rewards would decrease. The Tower didn''t tolerate failure. Other challengers actually died in their trials. Ethan exhaled, trying to clear his mind. "Think, Ethan. Think. How can someone worshipped by gods fail a damn trial? That''d be too embarrassing." The problem was simple. He needed to talk to them. Learn their stories. See if they were worth saving. But they wouldn''t talk. Because they didn''t care. They had lost the will to live. "What do suicidal people want?" Salvation. But how do you give salvation? Killing them? Not an option in this trial. Ethan''s mind raced. "System, what if I wish for a skill that lets me see if a person is good or bad based on my own moral compass?" [It''s possible.] "What''s the price?" [To see into a person''s true nature¡­ you will lose your eyesight.] ¡­What? Come the fuck again? [It''s an equivalent exchange, Host. You may proceed, or you may find another way.] [You have 10 minutes left.] [And if you accept, you will permanently lose your sight. No wish can restore it.] Ethan froze. 10 minutes before failure? No fucking way. But losing his sight? Never seeing beautiful women again? Never seeing his wives, Esmeray, Anita again? Never seeing his family again? No. Fucking. Way. [You will be able to see in a different way when you awaken your Intent.] "And how long will that take? Years? Don''t fuck with me." [There exist skills that can assist you in the meantime. It is not as hopeless as you make it seem, Host.] Ethan ignored the system. His time was running out. He exhaled. Closed his eyes. He thought back to when he first entered the Tower¡ªso cocky, so sure. Promising himself he''d clear every trial. Yet here he was, struggling. Almost losing. But Ethan doesn''t fail. Ethan doesn''t lose. He clenched his fists. He had power. He had money. He had authority. So why was he acting like a beggar, trying to convince these people to talk? These prisoners had given up. They saw no future. No light. ¡­Then I''ll just fucking create one. His lips curled into a smirk. "Oh. I get it now." He laughed¡ªloud, unrestrained. The prisoners barely reacted, but something in his aura shifted. "You don''t care about talking?" He reached into his inventory. "Fine. Let''s do it another way." And then¡ª He made it rain. He stormed toward a cell with six prisoners. All women. ¡ª One dark elf. ¡ª Three humans. ¡ª One cat girl. ¡ª And one who was more shadow than human. Ethan stared at them. Dirty. Unkempt. Forgotten. He crouched and opened his inventory. Ethan smirked. "Lose my sight? Bullshit." He had been thinking too small. He had forgotten just how rich he was. He poured out a fraction of his wealth. And that fraction was¡ª A mountain of treasures. ¡ª SS-rank skill books. ¡ª Exquisite food with divine aromas. ¡ª S-grade and above potions. ¡ª High-quality armor and weapons. ¡ª Games, entertainment, luxuries beyond imagination. ¡ª Piles of platinum coins. ¡ª The blood of legendary beasts. And here was the real kicker. His Gift of Benevolence ensured that whatever he gave, he could copy and keep. And his system ensured that everything he gave, he got back 10,000x in value. So why had he been suffering all this time? He had money. He could buy everything. He could have everything. The six women stirred. Their dead eyes widened in disbelief. A dark-skinned human woman whispered, "What¡­?" Ethan grinned. "Ladies, this is all for you." He gestured to the absurd wealth. "So you can enjoy your stay here a little better." He flashed a megawatt tycoon smile. "Take whatever you need¡ªno, fuck that. Take everything." He pointed at the games. "Bored? I got games." He pointed at the skill books. "Want power? Take a skill." He pointed at the money. "Need cash? Even if you can''t spend it¡ªtake it anyway. You never know." "In short¡ªtake everything." Then, for the first time¡ª Ethan unleashed his Sacred Devotion Aura at full power. The results were instant. Their dead eyes widened in disbelief. And now¡ªthey reacted. Each one differently. The dark elf, with piercing blue eyes, narrowed them in suspicion. She crossed her arms. "There''s no way this is free. What''s the catch?" One human woman, dark-skinned and gaunt, hesitated. Hope flickered in her gaze, but she was afraid to believe in it. Afraid to have hope being crushed again. Another human woman, with dirty blonde hair, didn''t hesitate at all. She fell to her knees, trembling, fingers tracing the surface of a gaming console"This¡­ I had one similar to this when I was little." Her voice shook as if touching a lost piece of her past. The cat girl ignored everything¡ªuntil she saw the food. Especially the fish. She froze. Then, she broke down crying while stuffing her face. The shadow woman said nothing. But she moved first, gathering items with silent efficiency. She took everything without hesitation, her flickering body stabilizing with each item she touched. Ethan watched them with satisfaction. "There is no catch. All of this is for you." He turned to the dark elf. "You have nothing to lose anyway. Look at your cellmates." She hesitated, but indeed she had nothing to lose. She reached for an ancient tome. The moment she opened it, her expression changed. Her fingers trembled. "This¡­ This book explains the working of mana and its relation to the soul. This is¡­ legendary knowledge." She looked up at Ethan. And saw something she hadn''t seen in years. A look of kindness. The women broke down. They sobbed, their voices cracking as they touched the treasures¡ªas if afraid they would disappear. "Thank you¡­ thank you¡­" The Tower chimed. {Your time is up.} {Congratulations, you have completed the third trial.} {For clearing it in a way the Tower didn''t expect, you have received additional rewards.} {You have received the innate trait: [Eye of Judgment]} {You have received a new title: The Absolute Tycoon.} {Your soul is strengthened.} {Your presence is strengthened.} {Your existence is starting to have weight.} {Original rewards have been transferred to your inventory.} {Transporting to Rest Zone.} As Ethan''s figure faded, the women watched him with reverence. The dark elf took a step forward. "Please, sir¡­ your name?" Ethan smiled, his aura shining like a god''s blessing. All the other prisoners, who had ignored him, now regretted everything. "Ethan Yagami." ¡ªEnd of Chapter 41¡ª A/N: Support with Power Stones please ! Thank you for reading. Chapter 42 - 42: Speedrun The Trials (1) Ethan found himself in the same forest again. He frowned. Why do I keep ending up here? "This rest zone¡­ is it just for me? Do others come here at different intervals? Or are there copies of it?" {This is a unique space. It belongs solely to you. You can even rename it if you wish.} Ethan nodded. It made sense. The Tower controlled countless realms and dimensions¡ªsomething like this was well within its capabilities. What he didn''t know was that he was the only climber with this advantage. Everyone else? They got plain white rooms as their rest zones. ? Like after every trial, Ethan took a moment to reflect. This time, the lesson was simple: he had been holding back. He had forgotten two of his greatest assets¡ªhis Gift of Benevolence and his Infinite Return System. He hadn''t fully utilized his wealth, his resources, or his power. That changed now. From here on out, if a problem could be solved with money or resources, he''d throw both at it without hesitation. No more playing by the rules. No more unnecessary suffering. It was time to speedrun these trials. "Tower, take me to the next trial." ? The space shifted. Ethan found himself in a cold, lifeless city. Buildings stood like empty shells. The streets were eerily silent. No guards at the gate. No merchants in the market. Just¡­ emptiness. {Fourth Trial: The Hollow City} {Description: The people of this city have lost their memories. They live in confusion, uncertain of their past or future. Give them a new beginning by providing new memories to live for.} {Time Limit: 7 Days} {Reward: S-Grade Question Voucher} {Good Luck, O Giver.} Ethan read the description carefully, then nodded. Alright. Easy enough. He strode into the city. The people were hidden inside their homes, lost in despair. Without memories, they had no sense of purpose. They weren''t dead, but they weren''t truly alive either. Ethan smirked. This should be fun. ''System, I got sound affinity as my last reward, right?'' [Yes.] ''How much karma did I earn for giving those ladies hope in the previous trial?'' [20 billion karmic points.] ''Good. Upgrade my sound affinity to S-rank.'' [1 billion points required.] Do it. [DING! Your Sound Affinity has been upgraded to S-rank.] Instantly, knowledge flooded his mind. The secrets of sound, resonance, and influence became clear to him. Ethan steadied himself, a wicked grin forming. To give them memories to live for? Easy. Movies, anime, novels¡ªhe''d let them experience the best stories from his past life. The epics of warriors defying fate, assassins reincarnating into noble families, heroes rising from nothing. And if that wasn''t enough? He''d show them his own memories of Earth. He opened his inventory and searched for a skill. [Lord''s Voice (S-Grade)] A skill that made his voice irresistible. Commands spoken with it would shake the minds of weaker-willed listeners, compelling them to obey. Perfect. ''System, set up mana speakers and projection screens. Play my memories, movies, and novels when the people arrive.'' [Cost: 5 billion karmic points.] Done. Ethan took a deep breath. Then¡ª BOOOOOOM!!! His voice erupted through the city like a shockwave. "EVERYONE, GATHER IN THE CITY CENTER¡ªIMMEDIATELY!!!" The air shook. Windows rattled. The sheer force of his voice rippled through every street and alleyway. Inside their homes, the citizens froze¡ªthen, as if guided by an unseen force, they moved. Step by step. Street by street. They all marched toward the center. Ethan stood tall, watching thousands of people flood into the square. He smirked. "Let''s wrap this up." ? {You have completed the Fourth Trial.} {Exceptional Results! You cleared it in 1 day.} {Bonus Reward: The people of this city are now loyal to you. You can find them in the Tower¡ªthey will follow you unconditionally.} {Returning to the Rest Zone¡­} Ethan scoffed. "No. Send me straight to the next trial." {Understood.} ? The scenery changed. Ethan now stood in a grand royal chamber, decorated with gold and jewels. Kneeling before him was a king, his crown trembling on his head as he bowed. {Fifth Trial: A King''s Plea} {Description: The king of this kingdom lacks the strength to protect his people from an impending monster invasion. He begs for your power to save them.} {You may give him your strength, soul power, or mana. But anything you give will be lost forever.} {Alternatively, you may kill him. His death will save the kingdom.} {Your inventory has been locked.} {Reward: Rank Up to D-rank.} {The choice is yours.} Ethan glanced at the kneeling king, then let out a low chuckle. ''System, how many karmic points did I earn for saving an entire city?'' [500 billion.] Ethan grinned. The Tower locked my inventory? Cute. But it forgot one thing¡ª He had a system. And a ridiculous amount of points to burn. "D-rank, here I come." ¡ªEnd of Chapter 42¡ª sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 43 - 43: Speedrun The Trials (2) "Please, Savior, help my people. Grant me the strength to battle these wretched monsters!" The king¡ªLucius II of Castria¡ªknelt before Ethan, his head bowed low. The entire royal court followed suit. Their expressions were tight with pain, fists clenched in frustration. It was humiliating to see their king in this position, to rely on a stranger for salvation. But what choice did they have? Ethan scanned the room. The strongest among them was the king himself¡ªa mere B-rank. The rest? A mix of D-ranks, a few C-ranks, and some unfortunate E-ranks like himself. But unlike them, he was built differently. "Your Majesty, what type of monsters are we dealing with?" Ethan asked, keeping his tone polite. Lucius lifted his head, eyes glinting with desperate hope. "They are many¡ªgoblins, orcs, trolls, wolves. And they are working together." That was unusual. "We suspect someone is controlling them, but we have no idea who." "Do you know where they''re coming from?" "Yes. The forest bordering our kingdom. That is where they emerge." Ethan''s lips curled into a grin. "And there are no humans living there, right?" "None," the king confirmed. Perfect. No worrying about collateral damage. Ethan called upon his Infinite Return System. ''System, buy some S-grade rune explosives. A hundred should do.'' [DING! 100 S-Grade Rune Explosives purchased. 100 million karmic points deducted.] Instantly, hundreds of glowing rune explosives materialized in the middle of the royal court. "WHAT¡ª?!" The nobles staggered back in shock, eyes wide with panic. "Calm yourselves," King Lucius said, steadying his people. "This is the work of our savior." Ethan grinned. "Exactly. Come closer." Hesitantly, the court approached. Ethan distributed the explosives¡ªfive per noble, twenty for the king. "The plan is simple," he declared. "We burn the entire forest to the ground. Monsters, their master, everything¡ªgone." Silence. "¡­Burn the forest?" someone whispered in disbelief. A murmur spread through the court. Destroying the forest meant destroying their resources, their hunting grounds, their future. Without it, starvation could be just as deadly as the monsters. King Lucius clenched his teeth. He hated this¡ªhated being weak, hated relying on another man to protect his kingdom. But he would not let his people die. If they had to sacrifice their livelihood to survive, so be it. He took a deep breath, then spoke. "My people¡­ let us go. We have monsters to burn." His voice was hoarse, but filled with resolve. His people hung their heads but followed him. Half an hour later¡ª BOOOOOOOM!!! Explosions tore through the sky, shockwaves rippling through the land. Ethan stood on a balcony, arms crossed, watching the forest burn to ashes. His expression? Indifferent. ? Lucius and his men returned, victorious. The forest was gone. The monsters were dead. And the true mastermind¡ªa B-rank Mind Demon¡ªhad been obliterated. Yet, not a single one of them looked happy. They had won the battle, but at what cost? Ethan sighed. He knew that look. "You''re worried about food, right?" he asked. The court snapped their heads toward him, startled. Ethan smirked. "Relax. I won''t let you starve." Lucius hesitated. "Sir Ethan, I do not doubt your generosity, but¡ª" "I need you all to sign this first." With a wave of his hand, SSS-grade Soul Contracts appeared in front of each noble. They stared at the floating contracts, confusion flickering in their eyes. "The only rule is this: If you reveal what happens next, you die. Whether intentional or accidental, you die." The room fell silent. Ethan understood now. He didn''t forget the additional rewards of the last trials. This wasn''t just a trial. This meant something beyond his understanding. So he will take some precautions. One by one, they signed. Ethan smiled. Smart choice. ''System, create a talent that enhances farming, restores nature, and boosts crop quality. Make it SS-grade.'' ''Create an SS-grade swordsmanship talent too.'' ''Give me a Legendary bloodline with nature affinity.'' ''And a bunch of random B-grade talents.'' [Total cost: 300 billion karmic points.] Take it. I''ll earn it back soon. [DING! You have created the talent: Nature''s Blessing (SS-Grade).] [DING! You have created the talent: King of Swords (SS-Grade).] [DING! You have created the bloodline: Blessed by the Spirit of Nature (Legendary).] [DING! You have created B-grade talents: Flight, Superhuman Strength, Telekinesis¡­] Glowing orbs of energy filled the room, floating like celestial stars. Ethan pointed at Lucius. "You take these," he said, handing him the SS-rank talents and the bloodline. The rest? Distributed randomly. The moment the nobles received their talents¡ª [DING! 10,000x Return Activated!] [You have gained the talent: World Tree''s Blessing (Supreme-Grade).] [You have gained the talent: Monarch of Swords (Supreme-Grade).] [You have gained the bloodline: Lover of the Queen of Nature Spirits (Mythical-Grade).] Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan''s grin stretched wider. This system is a fucking cheat. He could probably create a Paragon-grade talent if he kept doing this. While Ethan was secretly celebrating, the nobles were losing their minds. "I¡­ I think I just awakened a B-rank Talent¡ªFlame Fist¡­" "Wait, seriously? I got Eagle Eyes!" "I awakened a talent too¡ªStorm Steps!" One by one, they realized what had happened. They all had one more talents now . B-rank talents, just like that. They stared at Ethan in shock. Lucius remained silent, gripping his newly strengthened body, feeling the power of his SS-rank talents and Legendary bloodline. He didn''t speak his thoughts aloud. But in his mind, only one thing echoed: Who is he? Lucius clenched his fists. This was no ordinary man. No, he was something higher. He is divine. The nobles'' gazes shifted. Awe. Reverence. Worship. Ethan didn''t react. He was getting used to this. "Use your power well," he said. "Do not abuse what I have given you." And just like that¡ª {The Fifth Trial has been completed.} {Spectacular performance, O Giver.} {You have gained the title: Savior of the People.} {You have gained the loyalty of the Castria Kingdom and its king.} {Your methods are beyond understanding.} {Achievements Unlocked!} {You have gained the title: The One Whose Mysteries Elude the Tower.} {Your soul has been greatly strengthened.} {Your presence has been greatly strengthened.} {The Tower''s Will is fascinated by you.} {The Tower''s Will is¡­ interested in you.} {The Tower''s Will is pleased.} {You have obtained: Tower''s Protection.} {Impossible achievements!!!} {You have gained the title: The One Protected By The Tower.} Ethan barely had time to process the words before¡ª FWOOOSH! He was teleported away. ? Lucius watched the spot where Ethan had vanished. Then, slowly, he turned to his people. "Create a church." Silence. "Name it the Church of the Giver." "We shall worship Sir Ethan, who has granted us salvation." "YES, YOUR EXCELLENCY!" ¡ªEnd of Chapter 43¡ª Chapter 44 - 44: D rank Thud! "Damn it, Tower!!" Ethan groaned as he hit the floor, rubbing his sore backside. Not even a warning this time? Seriously? Before he could properly curse, the system''s notification chimed in. {Giver, brace yourself. You are about to rank up.} Wait¡ªwhat? At least let me prepare my mind¡ª "ARGHHH!!" A deep, guttural groan tore from his throat as the process began. Mana flooded his surroundings, swirling in thick waves before slamming into his body like an unstoppable tide. His muscles tensed as they absorbed the raw energy, growing denser, stronger. His heart pounded furiously, each beat reverberating in his skull. "This better be worth the pain¡ªARGH! DAMN IT!!" He gritted his teeth as the mana drilled into his very being, strengthening not just his body, but his mind. His thoughts became sharper, his memory clearer¡ªan undeniable boon, if not for the excruciating agony that came with it. The torment continued. Meanwhile, Somewhere in the Tower¡­ Far above, in a place untouched by any climber, a silver-haired woman sat gracefully, a delicate cup of tea resting in her hands. Her luminous white eyes were fixed on Ethan, a small, intrigued smile curling on her lips. "Fascinating," she mused, her voice a soft melody in the silence. "I have never seen such an ability before¡­ A power that grants talent? Bloodlines? How absurdly overpowered." Vaelith, the Tower''s Will, sipped her tea, her interest in the boy growing with each passing second. She had witnessed countless climbers¡ªwarriors, mages, prodigies, even beings blessed by gods. Yet none of them wielded an ability like Ethan''s. Unlike her, who could bestow titles, skills, and rewards only when climbers earned them, Ethan''s power seemed¡­ unrestricted. No conditions, no prerequisites. He granted abilities as if reality itself bent to his whims. And that was dangerous. "I thought you were just another pawn in Their game," she murmured, referring to the meddlesome old monsters who treated her Tower like their playground. "But no¡­ You are far too unpredictable for that." Vaelith chuckled, an unfamiliar warmth filling her chest. For as long as she could remember, she had been alone. Bound to the Tower, watching over its trials, rewarding those who passed, punishing those who failed. A ceaseless cycle of duty. Even her name¡ªVaelith¡ªwas something she gave herself, a desperate attempt to be more than just the Tower''s Will. Yet, despite all her power, she was a prisoner. Trapped in a space no one could step foot in¡ªnot because they were forbidden, but because they simply weren''t worthy. Not a single being had reached her floor. Not one. But now¡­ Ethan. His power was unlike anything she had ever encountered. If there was anyone in existence who could reach her, it was him. Hope flickered in her usually indifferent gaze. And for the first time in an eternity, Vaelith made a choice. "I will protect you." With a wave of her hand, unseen forces twisted around Ethan''s presence, veiling his existence from prying eyes. No god, no demon, no entity would sense his potential until he was ready. "Grow stronger," she whispered. "Come to me, Ethan. I will be waiting." A soft breeze stirred the air, and for the first time in centuries, Vaelith felt anticipation. ¡­ Back to Ethan¡­ "Huff¡­ Huff¡­" Ethan lay flat on his back, his chest rising and falling in exhaustion, staring at the sky while mentally cursing the Tower to hell and back. His body felt different. Stronger. He was now officially a D-rank being. Nothing too grand in the bigger picture, but¡ªit was progress. Groaning, he sat up¡ª And immediately gagged. "What the fuck is that smell?!" A rotten stench filled the air, like a thousand-year-old corpse mixed with sulfur. Looking down, he saw a thick black substance coating his body¡ªImpurities. A byproduct of every rank-up. The body purging what was weak and unnecessary, making mana flow smoother, breathing easier, thoughts clearer. With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a ball of water, washing himself clean before donning a new robe¡ªwhite, adorned with elegant green patterns resembling a forest. Satisfied, he took a deep breath. "Alright. Time to check my profile." ''System, show me my profile.'' [Profile: Ethan Yagami] ? Age: 15 ? Rank: D- ? Talent: Heart of Benevolence (B-Grade) ? Titles: The Mortal Worshipped by Gods, The Absolute Tycoon, Savior of the People, The One Protected by the Tower, The One Whose Mysteries Elude the Tower ? Affinity: Water (S-Grade), Sound (S-Grade) ? Trait: Eye of Judgment ? Attributes: ? Strength: D ? Agility: D- ? Constitution: D ? Perception: D ? Mana: D+ ? Intelligence: C ? Inventory: ? Platinum Coins (x99,999,999) ? Cinderheart of the Eternal Dragon (Stage-3 God) ? Eye of Sagacity (Legendary) ? Hand of Midas (Legendary) ? Key of Soul Realm ? Blood of the Eternal Phoenix of Red (Stage-3 God) ? Supreme Talents: Monarch of Kings, World Tree''s Blessing ? Supreme+ Talent: Death''s Friend ? Mythical Bloodline: Lover of the Queen of Nature Spirits ? S-Grade Cards: Armor & Weapons ? S-Grade Question Vouchers (x?) ? Skills: ? Talent Skills: ? Aura of Devotion (Passive) ¨C Your presence commands peace, trust, and respect. ? Gift of Benevolence (Active) ¨C When you give something, you may create a duplicate for yourself. ? Divine Sanctuary (Active) ¨C Your barrier can now protect multiple people. ? Acquired Skills: ? Eye of Discernment (Passive - B Grade) ? Mind Prison (Passive - S Grade) ? Lord''s Voice (S Grade-Mastery: Beginner) ? Water Maker (S grade- Mastery: Beginner) S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan grinned. Only on the 5th floor, and he had already gained so much. "At this rate¡­ who knows what I''ll have by the 10th?" And that''s when I awaken my Class. He clenched his fist, excitement coursing through him. I have to prepare. I need to awaken a powerful class. "I can''t wait." Then, he remembered something. His last two trials had granted him "the loyalty of those he saved." But weren''t the people in trials just fabrications? "Tower, I have a question." {Yes.} "The additional rewards from my last trials¡ªwhat do they mean?" {An S-rank Question Voucher is required for this information.} Ethan rolled his eyes. "Tsk. Fine, take it." A moment of silence. Then¡ª {The people you saved were real. They were once citizens of the Tower.} Ethan froze. {Long before the Tower connected to other realms, it already had inhabitants. My people. And when they died, they were given a choice¡ªto remain gone, or become part of a climber''s trial. When a climber saves them, they return to life.} Ethan''s mind reeled. So those people¡­ that kingdom¡­ the city¡­ they weren''t just illusions? They were real. And now, because of him, they were alive again. A slow, genuine smile crept onto his face. "¡­I see." "But it''s my first time hearing this information. Why ? I don''t think a S grade question voucher is that hard to acquire." {The Tower reveals its secrets whoever it wants. You are one of the few dozens who know this information.} "Oh okay¡­" What a sassy tower. A thought then flickered in his mind. He was going to find them. Or perhaps, they would find him first. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 44¡ª Chapter 45 - 45: Soul "So, what about the Labyrinth of Souls and that prison?" {Those are realms connected to the Tower, but not part of it. They exist independently.} "Oh¡­ okay." Ethan frowned, processing that. The Tower wasn''t just a structure¡ªit had ties to entire dimensions. "My first trial¡­ that battlefield?" {The three people you saved are alive again. The others remained dead.} "Oh¡­" He didn''t know what to say to that. He had done his best. Without his inventory or enough points to manipulate the trial, he had fought with everything he had. But it hadn''t been enough to save everyone. He shook off the thought. Dwelling wouldn''t change anything. "Are titles actually useful?" Ethan had noticed something. Every time he earned a title, his soul and presence felt stronger. He didn''t fully understand why¡ª And as he saw the Tower always willing to answer his questions for some reason he chose to directly ask. {Titles are the only way to strengthen your soul. They are given for extraordinary deeds¡ªgood or bad.} {They become part of your existence, your lore, your fable.} {The more numerous and unique your titles, the greater your soul power¡ªthe stronger your presence in the universe.} {And you will need immense soul power to reach S-rank. The requirement will grow exponentially with every advancement.} {Once you reach godhood, your titles will be analyzed and your attributes, your characteristics of godhood will be determined.} Ethan''s eyes widened. Fuck. That explained why so few reached S-rank. Soul power is the key. He exhaled, overwhelmed. He had learned too much today. "¡­Thanks, Tower. I need time to process all this." {Understood.} "Guess I''ll start paying more attention to my titles¡­" ? The conversation left Ethan with a newfound respect for the Tower. It wasn''t just a system of trials¡ªit was something far greater. A mystery even the gods might not fully understand. It made him rethink his approach to the trials. If these challenges could bring people back to life, then he would give them his all. He stretched. "Alright¡­ I bet Esmeray and Anita are speedrunning their trials. I better keep up." "Tower, start the sixth trial." ? [Sixth Trial: The Cursed Merchant] {Description: You are meeting Gobu, The Cursed Merchant. He cannot lie, but his words can be twisted. Bargain with him, and take advantage of him to secure the best possible deal.} {Time limit: One day.} {Reward: Skill Upgrade Card.} {Good Luck, O Giver.} Ethan barely had time to finish reading before he found himself face-to-face with a goblin. No¡ªa golden goblin. Gobu was covered in gold. Rings on every finger, bracelets, necklaces, teeth¡ªeverything. Ethan suppressed a grin and politely extended a hand. "Hello, sir. I''m Ethan." Gobu eyed him with sharp intelligence. He immediately noticed Ethan''s aura¡ªpeaceful, trustworthy, almost divine. ''Who the hell is this kid? And why did Divine Mother make me participate in some brat''s trial? Tch. Annoying.'' {Gobu, do your job. You are being compensated. Do not complain.} The Tower''s voice thundered in his mind, making him flinch. ''Tsk¡­ Understood, Divine Mother.'' He straightened his posture and forced a grin. "I am Gobu, The Cursed Merchant. A pleasure." "I buy all things. I sell all things. Name what you desire, and I will give it to you." Ethan listened carefully. What I need, huh? Him? The Absolute Tycoon? Is this guy cursing me? Ethan smirked inwardly. I lack nothing. And even if I did, I could buy or create it. This trial wasn''t about need¡ªit was about dominance. Fine. Let''s show him what true wealth means. "That''s an interesting offer, Sir Gobu." Ethan crossed his arms. "But what if I return the favor?" "Tell me everything you desire¡ªeven the wildest thing you''ve ever dreamed of. I''ll give it to you." "But remember¡ªequivalent exchange. You''ll have to pay me something of equal value." Gobu narrowed his eyes. Did this D-rank brat just claim he could grant anything? His jaw clenched. Gobu had a short temper. If someone looked down on him¡ªhe got angry. If someone mocked him¡ªhe got angry. And if he wasn''t strong enough to retaliate, he''d pay someone else to do it. He was one of the richest beings on the 10th floor. He didn''t take insults lightly. But¡­ Ethan was special. Even the Tower had personally requested him to this test. Gobu smirked. "Fine. I''ll tell you my greatest desire. But if you fail to grant it, you will sign a slave contract and belong to me¡ªforever." His golden teeth glinted. "Are you up for it?" Ethan didn''t even hesitate. "I agree. But what if I do grant it?" "Then I''ll be your eternal slave." "Deal." ? Gobu chuckled darkly. "Alright, then. What I want the most is¡­" He took a dramatic pause. "I want to be handsome. I want my face to be the most beautiful in existence. I want to be as attractive as you." He grinned. "And I don''t mean temporary magic¡ªI''ve tried that a hundred times. I want it to be permanent." Ethan stared, stunned. The hell? His greatest desire¡­ is to be beautiful? What a waste. But Ethan kept his expression neutral. No mocking. No snide remarks. He simply asked, ''System, what can make this guy permanently handsome?'' [He can either change race or drink the SSS-Grade Adonis Potion.] "Would you be willing to change race?" Gobu scowled. "No. I want to be the first handsome goblin in history." "¡­Got it." ''System, how many karmic points did I earn from saving Castria?'' [One trillion karmic points.] ''Cost of Adonis Potion?'' [One billion karmic points.] ''Buy it.'' [DING! You have purchased SSS-Grade: Adonis Potion.] A bottle materialized in Ethan''s hand. It was pink and glowing, with tiny heart-shaped flowers floating inside. Ethan barely glanced at it before tossing it to Gobu. "Drink fast." Gobu didn''t hesitate. He snatched the bottle and chugged it in one gulp. [You have gained the Potion: Aphrodite''s Blessing (Stage-2 god grade) as x10,000 return.] Perfect. Meanwhile with Gobu¡­ A storm of pink energy erupted around him. The air crackled with pink lightning and flames, swirling like an enchantment ritual. Minutes passed. Then the energy faded. Where the goblin once stood¡ª Was a man of breathtaking beauty. Lean, elegant physique. Pale green skin, otherworldly yet alluring. Piercing pink eyes that could entrance the weak-willed. Green-and-pink hair, luminous and striking. His golden rings and jewelry only enhanced his newfound majesty. Ethan blinked. "¡­Holy shit." Is this possible to change this much with a potion ? Gobu stared at his reflection in awe. He touched his face. His jawline. His perfect skin. His hands trembled. "I¡­ I actually changed. My face¡­ it''s real." Slowly, he turned to Ethan. His expression shifted¡ªfrom anger and scorn to respect and awe. Then, he knelt. "I greet you, Master." [Ding! Gobu, The Cursed Merchant, is now your eternal slave.] [Sixth Trial Complete!] [Your performance was spectacular! Additional rewards granted.] Ethan exhaled. "¡­See you later, Gobu." And then he vanished, returning ti his rest zone. Gobu remained, still stunned. Then, slowly¡ªhe grinned. "I have gained a very¡­ unique master." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And that grin¡ªwas beautiful. {Ding! You have gained a new Title: The Handsome Goblin.} Heheheh¡­let''s discard The Cursed Merchant title now. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 45¡ª A/N: Thanks to you all, this book had received a contract invitation. Thank you for your support. For supporting this newbie author. For giving your power stones and commenting. I appreciate it. Chapter 46 - 46: Duel Back in the Rest Zone Ethan stretched his arms. "What are my additional rewards?" he asked. {You have awakened the Hidden Attribute: Charm.} {You have gained an affinity: Charm (C-Grade).} Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Huh. Charm? That''s actually pretty useful." He nodded in satisfaction. No time to waste. "Alright, let''s continue the speedrun. Tower, start the seventh trial." In an instant, the rest zone vanished, and Ethan found himself standing in a massive circular arena. The ground was rough, made of unyielding stone, and dust swirled faintly in the air. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before him stood a man with an imposing build, his eyes glowing red beneath his jet-black hair. His presence was suffocating, an aura of raw power radiating off him. Ethan exhaled sharply. "Oh lord, is that it?" {Seventh Trial: The Duel} {Description: To give without constraint, you must be able to protect your goods, your life, and those who follow you. Battle with skill and emerge victorious.} {Restrictions: No artifacts, no runes, no external forces. Only your own ability.} {Time Limit: None.} {You have 3 minutes to prepare.} {Rewards: A footwork skill and a token to the Great Swordsman Academy.} {Good luck, O Giver.} Ethan''s face twitched. "No external aids?!" He let out a groan. He knew this day would come¡ªthe day he''d be forced into a raw, skill-based fight. But damn, it still sucked. He studied his opponent. C-Rank. A slow nod. "Yeah, sure. We all know how this works." It was never an even match. It was always stacked against him. But fine. A C-Rank was still within his ability to handle. ''System, upgrade my Charm Affinity to S-Grade.'' A pause. Then¡ª {Ding! Your Charm Affinity has been upgraded to S-Grade.} The knowledge rushed in, flooding his mind. Basics. Intermediate applications. Advanced control. All absorbed in an instant. ''Buy Water Manipulation at S-Grade.'' {Purchased: Water Manipulation (S-Grade).} ''Buy three Skill Mastery Runes. I need my three skills at Grandmaster stage.'' {Purchased: Three S-Grade Skill Mastery Runes.} Ethan activated them all immediately. His mind expanded as his skills¡ªLord''s Voice, Water Maker, and Water Manipulation¡ªsurged to the Grandmaster stage. The Mastery levels went: Beginner ¡ú Intermediate ¡ú Master ¡ú Grandmaster. Grandmaster was legendary, the realm of old monsters who had honed their craft for centuries. ''Two S-Grade affinities: Sound and Charm.'' He smirked. ''They synergize perfectly.'' Alongside them, his S-Grade Lord''s Voice and two water-based skills were more than enough. Okay let''s do this. ¡­ The moment the timer hit zero, the enemy moved. A single step¡ªBOOM. The ground cracked beneath his feet as he launched forward, fists raised. Ethan barely had a second to react before¡ª A devastating punch tore through the air. Ethan sidestepped, barely dodging the strike, but the sheer force behind it sent a shockwave blasting through the arena. The stone beneath where he had been standing shattered. Too fast. Too strong. The man wasn''t just a C-Rank Strength-type. His body had been trained to weapon-level brutality. Ethan landed lightly on his feet, exhaling. This wasn''t a fight he could win head-on. Think. Adapt. Exploit. The enemy wasn''t done. He came in again, a blur of power, sending a second strike toward Ethan''s ribs. Ethan activated Lord''s Voice. "HALT!" The command rippled through the air, infused with Sound Affinity. The enemy stumbled. His punch lost momentum, his body stiffening for half a second¡ªhalf a second too short to be a true opening, but enough for Ethan to react. Ethan threw himself backward and retaliated. "ROAAAAAR!" A concussive blast of pure sound exploded outward. The man barely had time to shield his face before the force sent him skidding backward. His boots scraped against the stone, cracks forming beneath his heels. He felt that. Good. But Ethan didn''t give him time to recover. The moment his opponent''s balance shifted, Ethan conjured a sphere of water, shaping it with Grandmaster-level precision. Then he launched it. SPLASH! The water drenched the enemy, clinging to his body, sinking into his clothing. That''s it. Ethan clenched his fist, using water manipulation. The water on his opponent''s body shifted¡ªcondensing into razor-sharp needles. SHNK! SHNK! SHNK! Hundreds of thin water spikes pierced his opponent''s arms, legs, and torso. Blood splattered across the arena floor. "ARRRHHH! YOU¡ªFUCKING¡ªBITCH!" The man''s voice turned into a primal snarl. Pain made him reckless. Exactly what Ethan wanted. The enemy lunged. But Ethan was already moving¡ªbaiting. Instead of dodging outright, he let the man get just close enough before¡ª "KNEEL!" Lord''s Voice activated again, infused with his full S-Rank Sound Affinity. The man''s body betrayed him. His knees buckled, slamming against the cracked stone. In that instant, Ethan struck. Chains of water whipped around his opponent''s arms and legs, constricting, tightening, locking him in place. "Damn it!" The man thrashed violently, but it was useless. A Grandmaster-level binding wouldn''t break so easily. Ethan twisted his fingers. The chains tightened. The man''s circulation slowed. His movements weakened. Ethan lifted a dozen one-meter-long water needles into the air. "Let''s see if your strong body can handle this." He flicked his fingers. The needles struck¡ªpiercing deep into his opponent''s arms, legs, chest, shoulders. One needle drove through his right eye. "ARRRHHHHHHH!" His screams turned animalistic, his body twitching uncontrollably. Blood pooled beneath him. His breathing became ragged. He stopped moving and his body went limp. Ethan finally released the bindings. He let out a breath. "That should be¡ª" Then he froze. The man didn''t collapse. His red eyes snapped open, burning with hatred. Ethan''s stomach dropped. The wounds were closing. The holes in his body knitting together before his eyes. "FUCK. A regeneration talent? Are you shitting me?!" The man grinned¡ªa sick, bloodied smirk. Then he attacked. BOOM! Ethan barely raised a water barrier in time before a fist crashed against it, sending shockwaves through his arms. The barrier cracked. Ethan skidded backward, his mana reserves running dangerously low. His arms throbbed from the impact. ''Damn it. This guy won''t go down.'' His mind raced. He had one big move left before he burned out completely of mana. And if the man could heal his body¡ª Then Ethan would attack something he couldn''t regenerate. His mind. Ethan''s expression darkened. He took a deep breath and focused everything¡ª His Sound Affinity. His Charm Affinity. His willpower, honed through experiencing endless solitude and despair in the Labyrinth Of Souls. His mana burned¡ªcompressing into his throat. The man, still panting, still recovering, took a weak step forward¡ª Ethan spoke, activating his Lord''s Skill at his fullest. "DIE." The sound was absolute. The air stilled. The man froze. His body twitched¡ªand before he even realized what he was doing, his own fist slammed into his skull with monstrous strength. CRACK. His skull fractured. His red eyes went wide¡ªbetrayal and confusion flashing across his face. Then¡ª THUD. His lifeless body collapsed. ? {Seventh Trial Complete!} {Congratulations, you have proven your skill.} {Your rewards have been sent to your inventory.} {You are being transported to your rest zone.} Ethan stood there, chest heaving. His fingers trembled slightly from mana exhaustion. Then¡ªhe grinned. "I did it, right?" A breathy chuckle. "Mother and Father would''ve been so surprised." He disappeared from the arena. ¡ªEnd Of Chapter 46¡ª Chapter 47 - 47: The Allholder Ethan lay sprawled on the ground, breathing heavily. The taste of mana lingered on his tongue as the S-grade potion worked its magic, restoring his energy. His muscles ached, but there was a sense of satisfaction buried beneath the exhaustion. His first real fight. And without being arrogant¡ªhe nailed it. Fighting wasn''t something he enjoyed, but talent coursed through his veins, inherited like a birthright. Yet, he had squandered it for years, choosing laziness over discipline. But now, battle was unavoidable. And like a blade finally drawn, his talent had begun to shine. "Ah¡­ that was good," Ethan muttered, staring up at the endless ceiling. "But let''s avoid fights if we can. Too exhausting." He sighed. Combat was nerve-racking, annoying. Not his thing. Still, rewards awaited. ''System, show me my rewards.'' [Silent Steps (B-grade): A footwork technique that utilizes the sound element to mask yourself. Your steps become silent, your presence fades. You move as if you are part of the world itself.] [Great Swordsman Academy''s Token (A-grade): Grants instant admission to the 10th floor''s finest academy¡ªno tests required.] Ethan sat up, rolling the token between his fingers. "An academy, huh?" He shook his head. "Not interested." What would he even do there? Waste time? He tossed the token into his inventory like trash. An item any swordsman would die for, but to him, meaningless. His eyes narrowed. "Now that I think about it¡­ I got a trait in the third trial. Eye of Judgment, right?" ''System, show me its details.'' [Eye of Judgment (Trait): You can see if a person is good or bad based on your moral compass.] Ethan frowned. "That''s the skill you asked for my sight in exchange for¡­" "And the Tower gives it to me just like that. System you should take exemple of that." "And what is a trait ?" [A trait is something one is born with or earns through actions. It requires no mana, but activating it may drain stamina or mental power.] [Your trait, Eye of Judgment, is activated through mental power.] [It is bound to your soul. It will follow you through death and rebirth.] [Some traits are unique, existing only once in all time. They are rare, powerful.] [Your trait is not unique. Many possess it.] "Oh? So there are truly multiple ways to gain power in fact¡­" Ethan''s lips curled into a smirk. "We can have multiple traits, right?" [Yes.] "And I can create or purchase traits?" [Yes, Host.] Ethan grinned. Perfect. With that, he shut his eyes and drifted into a deep, well-earned sleep. Two more trials. Then, the 10th floor. Then, he would reunite with his loved ones. He smiled. ? After a good rest, Ethan awoke, refreshed and ready. He ate a nutritious meal, stretching his limbs before issuing his command. "Tower, start the eighth trial." {You are being transported.} The world around him dissolved. When it reformed, Ethan found himself in a vast white space, filled with mirrors. The ground. The walls. The ceiling. Everything was reflective. His own image stared back at him¡ªhundreds, thousands of reflections. The sight sent a strange shiver down his spine. {Eighth Trial: The Trial of the Mirrored Self.} {Description: Battle the perfect copy of yourself. But this version never gives. He takes everything. His hunger for all things between heaven and earth is endless.} {Victory is the only option.} S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. {Failure means the mirrored version of you will take your place.} {Rewards: SS-grade Question Voucher, Fire Affinity (B-Grade).} {Good luck, O Giver.} Ethan clicked his tongue. "Troublesome." Then, the presence appeared. A young man¡ªhis perfect copy. His mirrored self. But there was one difference. The eyes. Not green. Black. Bottomless. A void that devoured everything. "Oh? Finally." The mirrored Ethan grinned, stretching his arms like a prisoner tasting freedom. "I''ve been waiting." Ethan frowned. "What do you mean?" His copy didn''t answer. He attacked. Dozens of concentrated water spheres shot forward at terrifying speed. Ethan reacted instantly¡ªdodging what he could, forming a water barrier with his left hand to absorb the rest. With his right, he counterattacked, sending a tidal surge forward. Then¡ª His own attack was absorbed. And thrown back at him. "Wha¡ª?" BOOM! Pain exploded in his chest as he was sent crashing into the mirrored wall, coughing blood. "Are you seriously asking how?" His copy laughed, stepping forward, his aura decaying the space itself. "Did the Tower not warn you?" Ethan gritted his teeth, forcing himself upright. "You take everything¡­ even skills?" His mirrored self smirked. "Think, my dear other self." He spread his arms. "You give. So why wouldn''t I take?" "We are the same." "Everything you give, I take." Ethan''s breath came short. His heart pounded. How do you beat an opponent like this? "KNEEL." BOOM. Ethan''s knees slammed into the mirrored ground. Damn it. He had been too distracted. Too injured. His copy conjured a water sword, his black eyes gleaming with dark joy. This was it. The mirror self would take his place. Would live his life. Would have everything he had built. No. Not today. And certainly not tomorrow. A sound barrier. A water barrier. Both conjured simultaneously. CLANG! The strike met resistance, reverberating through the space. His copy was forced back a step¡ªjust enough. Ethan reached into his inventory, chugging an SS-grade healing potion. His wounds closed. He drank an SS-grade mana potion, energy flooding back. Across from him, his mirror self trembled with fury. "Fuck. I was so close." Meanwhile, Ethan''s mind was racing. This was never about just winning a fight. It was about understanding himself. The Tower was forcing him to face the truth. He had always called himself The Giver. Yet, deep down, he knew¡ªhe wanted everything. Power. People. Things he had no need for. Things that were forbidden. He lusted for it all. He had told himself he accepted this part of him. But he had never truly lived it. He only gave. He never took. Because he had feared himself. Feared that once he started taking, he would never stop. But¡­ Why was he afraid? Give. Take. They were two sides of the same truth. He gave everything. So why wouldn''t he take? Everything belonged to him. Everything he desired. His heart steadied. His mind clear as a crystal. A realization settled into his bones. He was not just The Giver. He was also The Taker. He was the balance. He was Sovereign. DING! DING! [You have awakened your Intent: The Grand Accord.] The Tower''s voice resonated. {You have passed your trial.} {You have understood your true self.} {You have been granted a main title¡ªone that will be known throughout the Tower and beyond.} {You are now: The Allholder.} [Your talent has evolved to: The Infinite Claimant (SSS-grade).] {You are being transported to the rest zone.} Ethan vanished. Behind him, his mirrored self began to fade. Erased. Because Ethan was whole ¡ª and only one could remain. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 47¡ª Chapter 48 - 48: My Goal Ethan reappeared in the rest zone¡ªhis body breaking, reforming, evolving. A Talent is bound to one''s soul. And when a Talent changes, the soul follows. The body, in turn, obeys. A burning sensation coiled within him, like molten steel pouring into his bones. His muscles tensed, compacting¡ªeach fiber tightening with raw, condensed power. His pale skin stretched as he grew taller, now standing at a commanding six feet. And then¡ªhis hair. It shifted. Bled. Black strands intertwined with streaks of white, cascading to his shoulders, shimmering like dusk and dawn entwined. His emerald eyes darkened, the color draining into an abyss¡ªdeep, endless, consuming. But within that void, something remained: pupils glowing like celestial rings of balance, stark white against the darkness. If he had once been striking, now he was otherworldly. Even the so-called Handsome Goblin was unworthy of sitting at his table. His beauty rivaled the gods. Ethan inhaled deeply. Huuu¡­ This trial had done more than make him stronger. It had made him whole. And with that, a truth settled in his core¡ªone he had ignored for too long. He was not perfect. Perhaps he never would be. He would make mistakes. He would fail. He would take on more than he could handle and suffer the consequences. Because like all mortals¡ªhe was flawed. But that was what made mortals dangerous. They fall. They break. And still, they walk forward. Trial after trial. Suffering upon suffering. They bleed, they despair, and yet¡ªthey rise. They forge bonds. They find love. They carve a path toward something greater, not because they are perfect, but because they refuse to stop. It is a journey. A journey toward perfection. A journey toward immortality. And when the final moment comes, there must be no regrets. To live without regret means to live by one''s belief until the very end. Every action must align with one''s true purpose. One''s goal. So¡­ "What is my goal?" His voice cut through the silence, directed at the unseen forces watching¡ªhis system, the Tower, the very universe itself. "Do I really need to chase something grand?" His words hung in the air. "Do I need that? Can''t I just want to be strong enough so that no one can threaten me or my loved ones? So that I can live freely, lazily, without worry?" The answers came swiftly. [You can do so, Host.] {You can indeed do so, O Allholder.} See? Let the complicated things be handled by my subordinates. I''ll just be strong enough to protect them if they mess up. Or to protect myself. "Show me my intent and my new talent." A notification flashed before his eyes. [Intent - The Grand Accord] All power is balanced in your presence. No one can cheat in your presence. In your presence, all is fair and just. Note: Stronger beings or those with immense willpower can resist your intent. [Talent - The Infinite Claimant] You can claim anything and give endlessly. ¡ª You can claim abilities, skills, artifacts, bloodlines, memories¡ªanything¡ªfrom those who direct killing intent toward you (up to two ranks above you). ¡ª Everything you give can be reclaimed. ¡ª Everything you give, you may keep a copy of, should you wish. [You have lost your auras: Aura of Profanity and Aura of Sacred Devotion.] [You have gained a new aura: Aura of Balance¡ªa weaker version of your intent.] I see¡­ so auras are just incomplete, unrefined versions of intent. When you find your aura, you build upon it, shaping it until you awaken your intent. But for me? My auras were given to me. I skipped the basics. That''s why I couldn''t master intent. My foundation is weak. If I grow too fast without a solid foundation, I will c Most of his skills had come from the system, not through training or true mastery. Knowing a skill isn''t enough. Understanding it isn''t enough. My body and mind must become attuned to them¡ªso that in battle, they activate as instinct, not just thought. And for that¡­ I need training. His foundation had to be the strongest in existence. I have all the resources one could dream of. The question was¡ªhow should he use them? His knowledge was limited. He had neglected his House''s library out of laziness, and now it had come back to bite him. Tch. For now, only one thing could fill the gap. The 10th floor. His plan remained unchanged¡ªreach the 10th floor. But before awakening his class, he had to perfect his foundation, create his bloodline, and grant himself new traits. Ethan exhaled slowly. Huuu¡­ Alright. I feel refreshed after this transformation. Let''s clear the ninth trial. He raised his gaze. "Tower, I am ready." {As you will.} ? The world shifted. Ethan found himself in an arena¡ªno, atop a mountain of ice. The air was freezing, his breath visible in the sharp cold. The ground beneath him was pure ice, slick and unforgiving. And he was not alone. Surrounding him were dozens of humanoid beings¡ªblue-skinned, battle-scarred, eyes glinting like frostbitten steel. {Ninth Trial: The Skadryn} {Description: The Skadryn are a territorial race who worship the Goddess of Winter, Skadi. You have trespassed upon their land. They demand your blood.} {Objective: Kill them all.} {Time Limit: One day.} {Reward: A direct audience with the Goddess of Winter, Skadi.} {Good luck, O Allholder.} Ethan cracked his knuckles, feeling the new power coursing through him. This wasn''t just another trial. This was the beginning of his true journey. ¡ªEnd Of Chapter 48¡ª S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 49 - 49: Skadryn Ethan looked at the menacing figures before him, his expression calm despite the clear hostility in their gazes. "What if I told you I was actually lost here?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. "Would you believe me?" One of them, a Skadryn warrior with deep blue skin like the rest but striking yellow hair, sneered. "We do not believe the words of human trash." "Wow," Ethan raised an eyebrow. "That''s a really racist thing to say." "You dared to trespass," the warrior growled, ice-cold fury in his eyes. "You will die here." The attack came without warning. Instantly, the air crackled with energy as multiple ice-based skills activated at once. The ground beneath Ethan exploded with jagged ice spikes, forcing him to leap high into the air. But as soon as he did, a javelin of pure ice materialized right in front of his face, hurtling toward him at terrifying speed. "Shit¡ª!" Ethan reacted in a flash, thrusting his hand forward. A dense burst of pressurized water surged outward, colliding with the incoming projectile. BOOM! The impact sent him rocketing toward the ground, where two Skadryn warriors awaited with their swords drawn. A frigid aura surrounded their blades as they took a stance¡ª Ice Slash! The glacial arcs of energy streaked toward him. "For god''s sake¡­" Ethan muttered. His mind raced. There was no time to play around. "System, use my rewards¡ªS-rank armor card and the S-rank weapon card . Choose a sword." The response was instant. A sleek black armor with white streaks materialized around him, molding perfectly to his form. In his hand, a katana shimmered into existence, its blade exuding a quiet lethality. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clench. He gripped the sword tightly, raising it in a defensive stance as he activated a trick he had learned with his sound affinity¡ªResonance Wave. A low, reverberating hum filled the air. The sound waves distorted space, slowing the incoming attacks just enough. Ethan pivoted sharply, dodging one strike and parrying the other with his katana in a precise arc. But he wasn''t done yet. "System, upgrade my fire affinity to S-grade. Grant me Flame Maker and Flame Manipulation. Mastery at Grandmaster level." [Ding! All done, Host.] A sudden surge of heat erupted around him. Flames coiled at his feet, dancing up his arms like living serpents. The Skadryn warriors froze in place. Their eyes widened as they instinctively recoiled, their bodies tensed in alarm. "Oh?" Ethan smirked, rolling his shoulders. "So fire is your weakness, huh?" Figures. The momentary pause gave him the breather he needed. But he wasn''t about to waste time. With a flick of his wrist, he conjured dozens¡ªno, hundreds¡ªof fireballs, each the size of a basketball. They hovered around him like miniature suns, illuminating the battlefield with their scorching glow. Then he added another layer¡ªfire arrows by the dozens, sharp and deadly. The temperature surged dangerously. The icy landscape around them began to crack and steam as the fire magic warped the air. The Skadryn warriors shifted uncomfortably. Their breaths came quicker, their power visibly waning. They were beings of ice and cold¡ªagainst Ethan''s inferno, they were at a crippling disadvantage. But Ethan wasn''t finished. "You like to gang up on people, huh?" His eyes gleamed with dangerous amusement. "Let me return the favor." He reached into his inventory and downed an S-rank mana potion in one gulp. The moment the liquid coursed through his veins, he channeled a massive surge of mana into a new spell. A flaming river. The ground beneath them erupted with fire, a molten current rapidly expanding across the battlefield. The Skadryn warriors'' expressions shifted from hostility to alarm. "What the hell¡ª?! How much mana does he have?!" one of them shouted. "Don''t let it spread! Freeze the ground!" They moved quickly, channeling their energy together. Their combined power created a massive burst of ice, counteracting the river of flames and slowing its advance. Ethan merely watched, smirking. Do you have unlimited mana potions like me ?Let''s find out. He lifted his hand and unleashed a volley of fireballs and arrows, forcing them to split their focus. Some had to defend against the incoming barrage while others struggled to maintain their freezing countermeasure. The fire river continued to grow hotter, consuming the battlefield. Ethan''s smile widened. "Let''s test my new ability." He activated his unique skill, his talent. Take the Ice Affinity. [Ding! You have taken the ice affinity from the Skadryn warriors.] [Ding! You have gained a new affinity: Ice (A-grade).] A sudden, eerie silence fell over the battlefield. The Skadryn warriors froze¡ªliterally and figuratively. Their bodies trembled as something within them was forcefully severed. Then¡ª CRACK. Their skin began to fracture. Their limbs stiffened unnaturally, like puppets with broken strings. The essence of ice had been stripped from them, leaving them as hollow, crumbling husks. Some dropped to their knees, their eyes wide in horror. Others collapsed entirely, spasming as their very existence unraveled. Ethan took a step forward, his black armor gleaming ominously in the firelight. His katana rested lazily on his shoulder as he gazed down at the fallen warriors. "I really didn''t expect taking your affinity would make you collapse like malfunctioning robots," he mused. "If I''d known, I would''ve done it earlier." He clicked his tongue in disappointment. "Oh well." Then, his expression hardened. "Unfortunately, I need to kill you to clear the trial. So don''t blame me." Raising his hand, he conjured an avalanche of ice boulders¡ªironic, considering their origins. With a flick of his wrist, he sent them hurtling downward. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The battlefield was swallowed in chaos. The impact sent up colossal clouds of ice and smoke, obscuring everything from view. Ethan looked at this scene. He is feeling more and more at ease in battle. His battle instincts are being honed real time. And he liked this feelings. {Ding! You have completed your trial.} {Ding! You have earned one opportunity to speak directly with the Goddess of Winter, Skadi.} {Ding! Use it wisely.} {Ding! You are being transported to the Rest Zone.} ? Back in the Rest Zone Ethan sat down, exhaling as he glanced at the new reward notification. A conversation with a goddess, huh? He smirked. Why not? But then a thought struck him. What could he even talk about with her? He, a mortal. Ask for a blessing? He didn''t need it. Ask about her divine life? He wasn''t interested. No, not all of this. He was thinking about this all wrong. The real question wasn''t what he should ask. It was what Skadi wanted. What did a goddess crave? And more importantly¡ª How could he use that to his advantage? A slow, knowing smile crept onto his face. Let''s find out. ¡ª End of Chapter 49 ¡ª Chapter 50 - 50: A Meeting With A Goddess (1) Ethan sat in silence for a moment, contemplating his next move. Then, a thought struck him. "System, in your opinion, what would a goddess like Skadi want?" [Host, even gods require resources to grow stronger and develop their abilities.] [While they have divine followers, faith is merely a conduit¡ªa means to accumulate power more rapidly. Gods can absorb faith to enhance themselves, but it''s not their only method of advancement.] [That is why most deities on the higher floors maintain connections with the lower floors. If they bless a mortal and that mortal proves exceptional, the return on investment is immense.] [However, should that mortal die, the deity suffers severe consequences. They not only lose the power they invested but may also experience a backlash that weakens them significantly.] "So blessings aren''t handed out lightly," Ethan mused. [Precisely. The truly blessed ones are rare.] "So, it all comes down to resources again." Ethan opened his inventory, scanning through the wealth of materials he had accumulated. He had plenty of resources¡ªsome valuable even to stage-3 gods. The problem? They were all flame-based. Not a single ice-related divine resource. "System, how many points do I have?" [1.5 trillion.] Ethan smirked. That''s a lot of bargaining power. But there was no point in blindly offering resources without knowing what she needed. It was better to talk to her first. Then an idea struck him. He reached into his inventory and pulled out a potion¡ªAphrodite''s Blessing. It was the same potion that had transformed Gobu from an ordinary goblin into a strikingly handsome one. But for Ethan? He was already dangerously attractive. Still, he wasn''t taking any chances. Every advantage counted. He downed the potion in one swift motion. The transformation was immediate. His already silken black-and-white hair grew longer, cascading down his back like a divine tapestry of Yin and Yang. His eyes deepened, the stark contrast between his void-black irises and his glowing white pupils becoming more pronounced¡ªhypnotic. His facial features adjusted, reaching impossible levels of symmetry. Every detail¡ªhis jawline, his lips, his proportions¡ªbecame so flawless it was almost unnatural. At the end of the transformation, Ethan stood there, his beauty transcending mortal limits. And then¡ª {Your beauty is unparalleled among mortals and gods. Your only worthy rival is The Goddess of Love, Charm, and Sex¡ªAphrodite.} {You have received a new title: "The Mortal Whose Beauty Surpasses the Gods."} {Your soul has significantly strengthened.} {Your presence has greatly increased.} {Be cautious. Such beauty can also be a curse.} {Do not become the second Adonis.} Ethan smiled¡ªa sight so breathtaking that words failed to describe it. "I have the strength to protect myself. Adonis didn''t." Even his voice had changed. It was richer, more soul-stirring¡ªlike a melody woven from the stars themselves. [Your Charm Affinity has increased to Supreme grade.] Ethan exhaled. Now, let''s meet the goddess. "Tower, use my reward." {As you will.} ? A Court of Ice and Divinity The moment Ethan opened his eyes, he found himself standing inside a grand throne room. The ceiling stretched impossibly high, shimmering with hues of blue, as if woven from the essence of the frozen sky itself. Tiny ice spirits flitted about, glowing softly, their presence adding an ethereal beauty to the chamber. The air was cold¡ªnot a biting chill, but something deeper, primal. The very concept of winter seemed to emanate from this place. Ethan took a slow step forward, noticing the spirit beasts and elementals that roamed the chamber. Their intelligent eyes fixated on him¡ªnot in hostility, but in shock. Some of the spirits blushed. ¡­What? Ethan frowned. Even spirits had preferences? That''s new. But his attention quickly shifted upward. At the highest point of the throne room sat a single throne. It was crafted from black ice, radiating an aura of absolute coldness¡ªso intense it felt like the concept of warmth had never existed in its presence. And upon that throne sat Skadi. The Goddess of Winter. She was breathtaking in a way that was not human¡ªan otherworldly beauty sculpted from the purest essence of ice. Her skin was blue, yet not simply blue¡ªa divine hue, rich and layered, shifting between shades of ice and frost. Her eyes were like frozen lakes, unfathomable and deep. She gazed at Ethan. And for the first time in her immortal life¡­ Skadi was stunned. Her thoughts halted as she took in his presence. ''How¡­ how can a mortal be so beautiful?'' ''More than that bitch''s plaything, Adonis?'' Her fingers tightened slightly against her throne. The way his black-and-white hair cascaded behind him, the way his deep eyes held an almost gravitational pull¡ª Skadi stopped herself. She was a goddess. There were certain behaviors she could not display. She composed herself, her voice smooth and regal. "So you are the mortal granted the opportunity to speak with me." She tilted her head slightly. "Tell me¡ªwhy have you come?" Ethan inclined his head in a respectful bow¡ªnot too deep, but enough to acknowledge he was a guest in her domain. "It is an honor to meet you, Goddess Skadi." His voice was silken, magnetic. "Please forgive my bluntness, but I was curious¡­ What does a goddess like you need most right now?" For the first time in centuries, Skadi frowned. "What?" S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan''s smile remained. "I have a very particular talent. It has allowed me to reach this point¡ªstanding before a goddess¡ªwithout even reaching the tenth floor of the Tower." "I don''t want to waste your time, so let me be direct. If there is something you need¡ªa skill, a potion, a rune, a bloodline, even a talent¡ªI will find a way to acquire it for you." Silence. Skadi studied him carefully. Her expression remained composed, but there was a flicker of intrigue in her eyes. For a moment, she considered dismissing him outright. But¡­ The Tower itself had granted him this meeting. That alone proved he was not ordinary. Finally, she spoke. "I am a Stage-3 Goddess." Her words were calm, yet carried undeniable weight. "I am preparing to ascend and take my Trial for Stage-4." Ethan''s breath hitched. A Stage-3 Goddess¡­ That was a realm beyond his current understanding. "What do you need?" he asked. Skadi''s expression remained unreadable. Then¡ª "I need three things." Her fingers rested against the arm of her throne. "A Fragment of the Origin of Ice." "The Tears of the Stage-3 Goddess of Beasts and Oceans." "And the Blood of one who carries the Bloodline of Ymir¡ªthe Primordial Frost Giant." She leaned forward slightly. "Can you acquire them for me?" Ethan stood frozen. ¡­Okay. I''m fucked. He had definitely bitten off more than he could chew. ¡ª End of Chapter 50 ¡ª A/N: Ladies and Gentlemen, support with power stones please. Thank you for reading. Chapter 51 - 51: A Meeting With A Goddess (2) Ethan stood frozen, hearing the list of the items the goddess needs. Even without checking, he knew they were absurdly expensive. But still, ever the optimist, he asked anyway. ''System, do I have enough points to purchase all three?'' [No. The cost of even one¡ªThe Fragment of the Origin of Ice¡ªfar exceeds your current balance.] ''Fuck.'' Ethan cursed inwardly, but his expression remained composed¡ªcalm, neutral, unreadable. His poker face was immaculate. Then, he turned to the goddess and smiled. Not a warm smile, but the kind a con artist gives right before swindling someone. "My lady," he began smoothly, "I did say you could name anything, and I would give it to you. But¡­ you must understand, I''m still new to the Tower. There are things even I have yet to grasp." Skadi''s lips curled in amusement. "So, in the end, you don''t have it. All that confidence, all that boasting¡ªonly to fall short." Her eyes gleamed with quiet menace. "And now, you''ve lied to a goddess. A Stage-3 goddess on the verge of reaching Stage-4." She tilted her head slightly, the weight of her power pressing into the space around them. "Tell me, mortal, do you understand the gravity of what you''ve done?" Ethan held her gaze, his mind working rapidly. He had let his guard down¡ªgrown complacent because things had been going smoothly. One trillion points had seemed like a fortune. But he had underestimated what it meant to deal with gods. A mistake. ''I should''ve measured my words.'' He exhaled slowly, analyzing his options. ''She can''t kill me. The Tower wouldn''t allow it. But she can make my life hell¡­ and I''d rather avoid that.'' His thoughts sharpened. ''System, tell me¡ªwhat can I offer her with all the points I have? Something valuable enough to satisfy her¡­ without putting me in danger.'' [Titles.] [Titles can elevate the soul. At her level, obtaining a new title¡ªone that strengthens her soul¡ªis nearly impossible. That''s likely why she asked for those three resources in the first place.] Ethan''s lips twitched. ''Didn''t I just say without putting me in danger?'' [Your only other option is to walk away and return when you can afford her request.] Or¡­ he could simply wish for it. But he wouldn''t. Pleasing a goddess is worth shouldering the burden of a wish. His decision was made. Ethan straightened, then inclined his head slightly. "I apologize, goddess. I should have been more careful with my words." His voice was measured, deliberate. "I may not be able to provide the resources you asked for¡­ but I can offer you something else. Something I believe you will find satisfying." Skadi barely looked interested as she leaned back, her posture relaxed, almost dismissive. "I''m listening." Ethan ignored the attitude. ''Use all my points. Create the title: The One Loved By Ice and Water.'' [Ding! You have created the title: The One Loved By Ice and Water.] [Remained points: 0] Ethan''s eyes twitched. His lips pressed into a thin line. He exhaled. Then, he turned to her with a charming, knowing smile. "What I''m about to give you¡­ could bring me trouble." His voice was smooth, almost conspiratorial. "So, before I proceed, I need your word. A vow that you will never speak of this¡ªneither in life nor in eternity." His eyes locked onto hers. "If you give me that, I promise¡ªyou won''t be disappointed." Skadi studied him. A secret? If what he offered was truly valuable, she had no reason to share it. If it wasn''t, she''d dismiss him altogether. Either way, the vow cost her nothing. She raised a hand. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I swear on my name¡ªSkadi, Goddess of Winter¡ªthat I will not reveal what happens here, nor use it against you." Tink! An unseen force descended, the air itself vibrating violently before settling. The oath was sealed. Ethan smiled. "Then, allow me." He gave the command to the system. Immediately, a translucent window appeared before Skadi. The Tower''s voice rang out. {You have received a title from The Allholder.} {You have received the title: The One Loved By Ice and Water.} {Your soul has been greatly strengthened.} {You have reached the soul requirement for advancement to Stage-4 Godhood.} {Complete the 103rd floor to ascend.} Skadi shot to her feet. Her pupils dilated, emotions colliding in a chaotic storm. The air trembled. Snowflakes formed in the space around her, swirling in silent awe. She forced herself to calm, suppressing the phenomenon. Then, slowly, she turned to Ethan. He stood there, unfazed, a soft, knowing smile on his lips. Finally, he spoke. "It seems I forgot to introduce myself properly, goddess." He let the silence stretch, the tension settle. Then¡ª "I am Ethan Yagami." His voice was steady, yet carried undeniable weight. "I have obtained many titles since I started climbing this Tower. Some, I imagine, would even surprise you." His gaze sharpened. "But recently, I acquired one I particularly like." His lips curved into a flawless smile¡ªbrilliant, effortless, and utterly captivating. "I am The Allholder. The one who possesses all things." He extended his hand slightly and bowed lightly. "Pleased to meet you." ¡ªEnd of Chapter 51¡ª Chapter 52 - 52: A Meeting With A Goddess (3) Skadi stood frozen, eyes wide with shock and disbelief. She simply couldn''t believe it. In all her experience as a goddess, nothing had ever come close to something so absurd. So nonsensical. A D-rank being granting a title¡ªto a god? Madness. Absolute madness. And yet¡­ the proof was right there. Clear. Unmistakable. The Tower''s system had been deliberate with its wording. It hadn''t simply said, You have received a title. No. It had said, You have received a title from The Allholder. A shiver ran down her spine. Because in that moment, she understood the terrifying implications. If Ethan could bestow titles upon others¡­ Then he could grant them to himself. He would never be bound by the limits of soul power. Never be stalled in rank. He could tailor his own divine attributes, refine them, stack them¡ªuntil something obscene was born. Now she understood. She understood why a mortal¡ªa D-rank mortal¡ªwas granted an audience with her, a Stage-3 goddess. A feat so rare that even most Stage-1 and some Stage-2 gods weren''t deemed worthy. The man standing in front of her¡ªthis impossibly beautiful young man¡ªwas an irregular. No¡­ an anomaly, even among irregulars. And so, her decision was made. She stepped forward, slow and deliberate, stopping just an inch away from him. Ethan didn''t flinch. Didn''t blink. Didn''t step back. His face wore a calm, unbothered smile, as if he hadn''t just committed an act of divine-level blasphemy. Skadi spoke. "I don''t know how you just did something only the Tower should be able to do¡­ but I won''t ask." "I''ve already sworn an oath¡ªbinding and absolute. I won''t speak of what happened here. I won''t use it against you." "So, you don''t need to worry about betrayal." She paused, eyes¡ªicy blue¡ªlocking with his dual-toned black-and-white gaze. "I have a proposition. If this ability of yours¡ªgranting titles¡ªis something you can repeat, then let''s cooperate." "Tell me what you want. What you need. I will do everything in my power to provide it. In return¡­" Her voice lowered, more serious. "You''ll grant titles. Ones I personally select." Ethan stayed silent, his smile unchanging. ''It''s good to have the upper hand,'' he thought to himself. Then he spoke¡ªgentle, but with unmistakable weight. "But¡­ not to sound presumptuous, dear goddess¡­" "¡­as someone who can enhance the soul of a goddess like you¡ªwhat exactly do you have to offer me?" Skadi didn''t answer right away. But when she did, her voice was calm and sure. "Information." "I''m a goddess. I''ve lived millions upon millions of years. I know things you couldn''t begin to fathom¡ªsecrets of the Tower and what lies beyond." She stepped closer, her eyes glowing now¡ªnot with power, but with certainty. "So¡­ are you in, Allholder?" Ethan smiled. "Yes, Goddess of Winter. I''m in." They held each other''s gaze¡ªand smiled. For the first time, a god treated a mortal as an equal. And the Tower responded. ? {Impossible Achievement Unlocked!} {You have received a new title.} {Title Received: The Mortal Who Humbled a Goddess} {Your soul has been greatly enhanced.} ? Skadi watched him carefully, then added one final note. "Normally, no god may speak with a climber who hasn''t passed the 50th trial. But for you¡­ I''ll make the sacrifice." "Call my name. I will answer." Ethan nodded. His body began to dissolve¡ªhis time here was up. "Okay then. I''ll call you." And just like that, he vanished. Skadi stood alone, still processing everything that had just happened. Then, slowly, a smile crept across her lips. "With this," she whispered, "I can challenge the 103rd floor¡­ and finally become a Stage-4 goddess." She couldn''t wait. ? Ethan reappeared in his rest zone, letting out a long sigh of relief. Things had ended on a good note¡ªbut they''d started off horribly. "I really need to shut my mouth sometimes," he muttered. "But¡­" He opened his system panel. [Current Points: 0] His body trembled. He''d kept his cool in front of Skadi, but now that he was alone¡ªhe could finally react. He dropped onto the cold grass, staring blankly up at the sky. "¡­Is life even worth it?" he muttered. "What the hell am I gonna do, System? I was counting on those points to prepare for my class awakening on the 10th floor." "Now I have zero. Zero. From trillions to nothing. Seriously, who told me to mess with a goddess?" [Once you reach the 10th floor, you''ll be able to help others. That will earn you points.] "I know that," he groaned. "But I''m lazy. Can''t you tell?" He clicked his tongue in annoyance. Then, after a beat, he exhaled. The act of despair ended. He sat up. Cracked his neck. And smiled. "Let''s go meet them. I hope they''re waiting for me." He looked upward. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Tower¡ªtake me to the 10th floor." {Understood, O Allholder.} Chapter 53 - 53: Solaris Ethan appeared in the heart of a bustling city. Around him stretched a vibrant landscape¡ªvarious races, shops, food stalls, guild recruiters. The air was thick with noise and excitement. ? {You have stepped into the First Realm of the Tower: Solaris.} {You are in the territory of the Kingdom of Balor.} {You are currently in: Newbie City.} {You may remain here as long as you like. To ascend to the 11th Floor, you must awaken your Class and clear the 10th Floor Trial.} {To awaken your Class, simply will it.} {The choice is yours, O Allholder.} ? "Hey newbie, first time here? I''ve got the best guide to Solaris!" "Join our guild¡ªThe MusclesMan! We''ll take care of you!" Voices shouted from every direction. The energy of the city was overwhelming. Ethan''s sudden arrival didn''t go unnoticed. His appearance¡ªdivine, ethereal¡ªwas enough to turn heads instantly. Whispers followed him. People stared, some even drooled, struck dumb by his beauty. But no one dared approach him. His presence was simply too unapproachable. Too divine. Ethan frowned. Attention was the last thing he needed. Without a word, he turned and slipped into a shadowed alley, away from the crowd. Once alone, he pulled out a sleek artifact from his inventory¡ªan SSS-grade appearance-altering tool. A flash of light¡ªand he changed. His silver hair turned to raven black. His unnatural eyes shifted to a calm, verdant green. His features settled into a more human, unremarkable form. He looked¡­ normal again. Pulling out his mana communicator, he dialed the one person he trusted most. The line clicked instantly. "Young Master Ethan?" Ellie''s voice came through, eager and anxious¡ªlike she had been waiting for the call. "Yes, my adorable maid, it''s me. I finally made it to the 10th floor. Where are all of you right now?" "We''re in the capital city of the Kingdom of Castria¡ª" Ethan''s heart skipped a beat. "Wait. Wait, say that again. Which kingdom?" "¡­The Kingdom of Castria. Do you¡­ know them?" "Who''s their king?" Ethan asked sharply, tension surging through him. "King Lucius. Also known as the King of Swords and a devout follower of the Church of the Giver. He''s infamous for rejecting all other religions¡ªhis loyalty is only to the Giver Church. He has many enemies because of that." Ethan went still. They were really here. On the 10th floor. In his world. His heart thudded with excitement. "I''m in the Kingdom of Balor. How far is that from you?" "What??" Ellie''s voice spiked with alarm. "Master, the Kingdom of Balor is on the complete opposite end of the realm! The only known path is through the Forest of Death. No one''s ever survived it. It''s said to be the grave, the prison of some ancient being." Ethan sighed heavily. Of course it wasn''t going to be easy. That would''ve been too convenient. He clicked his tongue. "Tower¡­ you really don''t know how to take it easy, do you?" "There must be another way," he muttered. Ellie''s voice dropped in tone. "The royal family of Balor could help you. But¡­ relations with Castria are cold. Rumors say war could break out at any moment." "The King of Balor hesitates. He knows the power of the Sword King and his noble houses." Ethan resisted the urge to curse. This was turning into a political nightmare. And then¡ª ? {You have discovered the location of individuals you once saved during a Trial.} {They are waiting for you.} {You have received your 10th Floor Trial.} {Trial: Traverse the Forest of Death. Survive. Reach the Kingdom of Castria.} {Time Limit: None.} {Rewards: Based on performance.} S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ? Ethan''s eye twitched. "Now you''re just trying to kill me, huh?" He shook his head. This was getting ridiculous. "Ellie¡­ I don''t know how long it''ll take, but I will make it there. In the meantime, if you can contact King Lucius, do it. Once you do, I''ll guide you from there." "I have to move quickly. Say hi to Mei and Julie for me." Tiint. The call ended. Ethan exhaled. "Alright¡­ first step: gain points. Awaken a bloodline. Get a class. Then I''ll face that damn forest." He mapped it out mentally. The fastest way to gain karmic points? Help those who truly needed it. And so¡ª Ethan moved. Over the next few days, he roamed through slums, hospitals, and prisons. Offering food. Healing wounds. Donating artifacts. Using his vast resources, skills, and Eyes of Judgment to help those deemed worthy. He gave with no expectation of return. He simply helped. ? Several days later¡­ Ethan sat alone in a rented inn room. Space-time barriers surrounded the area¡ªlayered, sealed, untraceable. He had returned to his original form. "System, how many points did I earn?" [75 billion.] "Only that much? After days of effort?" He clicked his tongue. "Tsk. Not worth it." He leaned back, considering. "I''ll hold off on creating a bloodline for now. Instead¡­ I''ll create a new talent. One that will actually help me." "Ready, System?" [Yes, Host.] He inhaled deeply. This step mattered¡ªit would shape the class he awakened. He thought about his path. His nature. He was balance. He gave, and he took. But he disliked combat. He preferred the shadows. Pulling strings. He didn''t want to stand at the front. He wanted to command from behind the curtain. No one really knew him yet. Except for the Tower¡­ and Skadi. But she was bound by oath. King Lucius too. So why not create an identity? A second face. One that could act in secret. The true Giver and Taker. A name that wasn''t Ethan Yagami. And for that, he needed the right talent. "My current talent lets me take what I need from hostiles. My system lets me give anything. My intent is about balance." "So this next talent¡­" He paused, eyes sharpening. "¡­Concealment. Deep, absolute concealment." "If I''m to move without the gods noticing¡­ I need to be hidden even from them." "System¡ªcreate it." "A talent in concealment strong enough to hide me from divine eyes." [Understood, Host.] ¡ªEnd of Chapter 53¡ª Chapter 54 - 54: The Merchant Beneath The World [Please wait, Host.] A few seconds passed. [Talent creation complete: Veil of Silence (Supreme Grade).] Ethan felt it immediately¡ªsomething slipping into his body, into his very soul. Knowledge flooded his mind. He could feel the essence of the talent, its skills, its subtle yet overwhelming power. He opened his eyes minutes later. He hadn''t activated anything. He hadn''t moved. But already, his presence felt¡­ dimmed. Distant. Like even standing in a crowd, no one would ever truly see him. "System, show me the description." ? [Talent: Veil of Silence ¡ª What is not seen, is not touched.] ? Blank Presence (Passive): You become unnoticeable. Even in plain sight, you appear forgettable¡ªbackground noise to the world. ? Erase Step (Active): Every step leaves no trace¡ªno sound, no prints, no scent. You pass like a ghost. ? Mindblind (Passive): Attempts to detect, track, or remember you without your consent lead only to confusion and false memories. ? Seal Truth (Active): You may hide truths¡ªyours or others''. Intentions, past actions, even facts vanish from knowing. ? No One Beneath The Sky (Active): For a short time, you cease to exist. Untraceable. Erased from fate, magic, memory, time, and divine sight. ? Ethan grinned, eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "With this, even the Forest of Death might become just a long walk." His thoughts drifted. "Esmeray¡­ Anita¡­ I wonder where they are. Have they reached the 10th floor too?" He frowned. He''d forgotten to give them communication tools before they separated. "Knowing those two, they''ll cause some kind of chaos. Especially Anita¡­ she''s an angel. She draws attention like fire draws moths." He paused. "¡­Worst case, I will have to make myself known. Not as Ethan, of course. But as¡­" He blinked. "¡­Wait. I never came up with a name for this new identity." A wicked grin spread across his face. "Let''s go with something cool." "I''ll be the one who trades beneath the light of the world. I deal in everything¡ªlife, death, souls, emotions. So long as one is ready to pay the price of their wish¡­" "I will be known as¡­ The Merchant Beneath the World." The grin widened. The persona was born. Time for its debut. First step? A simple act of trade. Granting common folk what they desire. Build whispers. Spread reputation. Nothing too flashy¡­ yet. And with Veil of Silence, no one could trace it back to him. Ethan stood, activating Erase Step. His footsteps vanished as he headed toward the heart of the city. ? Meanwhile¡­ Esmeray had just completed her 9th Trial. She now stood on the 10th floor. But not in the Kingdom of Balor. She stood amidst shadows¡ªin demon lands, her new racial homeland. A realm of twilight skies and cursed soil. Demons turned to stare. Her appearance was unhidden¡ªhorns, wings, and a scent that made male demons around her nearly fall into madness. A true succubus. "A succubus? It''s been ages¡­" sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "There''s only one other in this city¡ªthe Red District leader." Esmeray heard them whisper and smirked faintly. She wasn''t here to hide. A voice echoed in her mind, deep and ancient. "Master¡­ what shall we do? Awaken your class and challenge the 10th floor?" It was Dracula¡ªher strongest undead. An ancient vampire, loyal and bound. Esmeray smiled. "Yes. Let''s awaken my class¡­ but not to challenge the floor." "I have someone to meet, my master." Dracula frowned. "I still don''t understand how you can have a master. It''s¡­ confusing." "You''ll understand when you see him." "And how are we supposed to find him? For all we know, he''s on the other side of this realm." Esmeray chuckled¡ªlow, sultry, confident. "He''ll do something absurd. He always does. I just need to keep my ears open." She turned toward the west. "Let''s head toward the human kingdoms. He''ll be in one of them." Dracula nodded, his curiosity piqued. "Let''s call him Grandmaster, then. Otherwise, things might get awkward." And so, Esmeray began her journey toward Ethan. ? Elsewhere¡­ Anita was already on the 10th floor. She had been dropped into a poor, sickly village. Disease, hunger, despair¡ªshe had seen it all upon arrival. She healed them. Fed them. Her holy aura, her angelic presence¡ªthese people had never seen anything like her. To them, she was not a visitor. She was a divine messenger. They began to worship her. And now¡­ she was stuck. She sat in the most lavish room they could offer¡ªstill modest, by most standards¡ªand pondered. Her appearance had changed. Taller, more mature. A woman now. As beautiful as she was powerful. A perk of her race. She frowned, whispering softly, "I miss Mister¡­" She could leave. Nothing stopped her. But something pulled at her heart. "I want to build something here. A faith. For him." Yes. That was the reason she stayed. She would play along. Act the angel. Because she was one. But not just any angel. "The Angel of my Mister." She tapped her chin, eyes shining with mischief and devotion. "But¡­ what divine name should I give him?" She grinned. "Let''s go with something mysterious¡­ something weighty." Her voice dropped to a whisper, reverent and resolute. "The Forgotten One. The True God." She rose from her seat. "Yes. I am his Angel. And I am here to spread his name through every world, every dimension. His message¡­ will be heard." Anita smiled. This was going to be fun. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 54¡ª Chapter 55 - 55: A month A month had passed. Deep within a shadowy corner of Beginner City, a hidden cave entrance had become the center of quiet whispers and long lines. People gathered¡ªsome desperate, others hopeful¡ªall drawn by one name that now echoed in hush tones through the streets: The Merchant Beneath the World. "Hey, brother," one man whispered to another as they stood in line, "it''s my first time here¡­ are the rumors true?" The other grinned, clearly a frequent visitor. "Brother, you wouldn''t believe it even if I told you. This man¡ªthis being¡ªcan grant any wish. Any. But there''s always a price. Sometimes it''s easy, sometimes¡­ not. But it''s always fair." "You''ve been here before?" "I was one of the first," he said proudly. "Back then, I didn''t even pay anything. I just asked for one million platinum coins to clear my debts. He gave me two million¡ªfor being the first." He gestured to his fine clothes, a smug smile on his face. "Look at me now." The other man''s envy was clear, but excitement burned brighter. The Merchant, they said, rarely asked for material wealth. His prices were¡­ different. Inside the cave, cloaked in layers of enchantments and shadow, Ethan sat in silence. His Veil of Silence talent was active. No one who entered saw Ethan Yagami. They saw only a formless silhouette¡ªfaceless, genderless¡ªa presence shaped from living shadow. His eyes, twin voids, stared lazily, calmly. Even his voice became a memory that faded the moment one stepped away. He had become truly unknowable. A woman now sat before him. Old. Hunched. Her face marred by age, acne, and something deeper. Ethan didn''t flinch. He didn''t judge. His expression¡ªif anyone could even see it¡ªremained unchanged. He didn''t care about appearances. "What do you wish for, my lady?" he asked, his voice smooth, respectful, even kind. That was part of his growing reputation. The Merchant Beneath the World was always polite. Always fair. The woman didn''t hesitate. "I wish to marry¡­ and have children. But I''ve always been ugly. Since I was born. No one''s ever even looked at me twice." Her voice trembled. Ethan didn''t blink. He''d heard countless wishes by now. He activated Eyes of Judgment, peering into her soul. She was good. It didn''t matter too much¡ªhe had systems in place. Anything he gave, he could take back. If someone misused his gifts, he''d know instantly. And he would reclaim them¡ªno matter where, no matter when. That was the nature of his path: balance. Give and take. ''System, do I have a potion that can improve her beauty?'' [You do. But she is cursed. The potion alone won''t suffice. The curse is powerful¡ªit must be lifted. Once done, her true form will return.] A curse? That explained a lot. ''How many karmic points do I have?'' [1 trillion.] ''What''s the cost of removing the curse?'' [5 billion.] ''Do it.'' A moment passed. [You have received: Curse Removal Potion (Stage-1 God Grade).] Ethan held the shimmering vial, then turned to the woman. "You have been cursed. That is the reason your appearance has always been this way." The woman''s eyes widened in shock. "Cursed? But¡­ who would curse me?" "I do not know," Ethan replied evenly. "But if you wish to learn, I can find the answer." He paused. "However¡­ judging by the strength of the curse, the consequences will be heavy. You may not like what you learn." The woman hesitated¡ªthen slowly shook her head. "Not yet. I''ll come back¡­ when I''m ready." "Now, for the cost of your wish¡­" sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan now has the authority to determine the cost of the wishes. Most of the time he is lenient. But sometimes he can''t even if he wanted to. And for lifting a curse at the stage 1 god level it''s no easy matter. So, "The cost will be your beauty. Your beauty will be too exceptional. And because of that you will live in constant trouble. Men will do all to claim you." The woman trembled. Her expression hesitant. But she does not back down. She had lived in this state for too long. As a woman she wanted to beauty and to be loved. So she accepted the burden. The cost. "I accept it." Immediately when she did, a coin appeared in her palm. Cold. Impossibly smooth. Black and white¡ªlike dusk and dawn trapped in metal. One side bore a perfect scale. The other, the faint etching of a veiled figure¡ªfaceless, watching, unknowable. "This is my mark," Ethan said. "All who strike a deal with me carry one. With it, you may call upon me, wherever you are, whenever you wish." He paused, voice soft as a falling blade. "I might answer. Or I might not." She nodded. She took the potion and left, her heart full of gratitude¡ªand something new. Hope. But even as she walked away, her mind fumbled to remember what his voice sounded like. It left no echo. No tone. Just¡­ silence. Ethan exhaled softly. One more soul helped. One more balance struck. Then the final visitor of the day stepped forward. A man. Plain. Ordinary. Unremarkable in every way. But Ethan''s instincts screamed otherwise. There was something off. Something hidden. The man bowed slightly. "Greetings, Merchant Beneath the World. I come with a request." "Speak." Ethan was calm. Unworried. He had enough Stage-2 and Stage-3 artifacts, barriers, poisons, and explosives on hand to wipe out armies if needed. Any fool who tried to strike him would be erased before drawing a second breath. But this man wasn''t a fool. He felt the pressure, the chill in the air, the weight of legends. "I am the last prince of this kingdom," the man said. "I was sent here on an assignment by my royal father. And by chance¡ªor fate¡ªI heard of you." Ethan tilted his head slightly, intrigued. "The kingdom plans to declare war against the Kingdom of Castria. The king has decreed that whoever contributes most to the war effort shall be named his successor." "I¡­ am the weakest of his children. The least talented. But I want to be king." His eyes burned with resolve and determination. "I know I am worthy. So I ask of you, Merchant Beneath the World¡­ grant me this wish." Ethan sat in silence. A smirk played on his lips, hidden behind the veil of shadows. Now this¡­ was interesting. ¡ªEnd Of Chapter 55¡ª Chapter 56 - 56: Eternal servitude Ethan stared at the man seated before him, his twin void-like eyes calm and unreadable. "You wish to be king?" he asked, his voice soft and smooth¡ªneither loud nor whispering, but perfectly balanced. A sound that made even the most nervous of visitors feel strangely at ease. Jack Balor nodded, the last prince of the Kingdom of Balor. "Yes. I want it." Ethan tilted his head slightly. "And are you ready to pay the price?" "I am." "Are you sure?" Ethan''s voice remained calm, but the air around them grew colder, heavier. "The burden of the throne is no light matter. Your chances are slim, and the consequences¡­ great. Once you ascend, you will carry the weight of the crown until the end of your days." He paused, fixing his unblinking gaze on Jack. The prince flinched. But he didn''t back down. "Yes," Jack said firmly. "I am ready for everything." Ethan nodded once, slowly. "Why do you wish to be king? Is it to rule wisely? To bring prosperity to your people?" "Tell me the truth. If you lie¡­ I will know. And if you do, not only will your wish be denied¡ªbut you''ll bear the consequences of lying to me." The temperature in the cave dropped sharply. Jack swallowed hard. Fear and tension ran down his spine like ice. But he steeled himself. He''d come too far. "I want to be king¡­ to rule," he admitted. "I want to stand above all. I want the power to shape this kingdom as I see fit¡ªto mold it into my image." S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The people?" He gave a half-shrug. "If they benefit from what I do, fine. If not, it''s no concern of mine." He said it all honestly, laying bare his soul before the Merchant. Not because he wanted to. Because he had to. Because this being¡ªthe one cloaked in shadow and mystery¡ªwas his only path to the throne. Ethan had already judged him. From the moment Jack walked in, he''d seen it all using Eyes of Judgment. This man wasn''t evil in the traditional sense. But he was selfish. Hypocritical. Ambitious to the point of delusion. The kind of man who''d justify any atrocity for the sake of his goals. A snake. The kind that would bite the hand that fed it if it meant tasting power. The kind who looked weak only because he''d never had power. Give a man power, Ethan thought, and you''ll see who he truly is. He should''ve refused. But he wouldn''t. No¡ªhe saw a better path. "Let''s bind him to me." Let me show you, little prince, just how heavy a wish can truly become. "I see," Ethan said aloud. "If your desire is to become king, it can be done. As long as you are willing to shoulder the cost." Jack''s face lit up with joy. "Yes! Yes, Honored One¡ªI''ll pay any price!" Ethan, still calm, spoke silently to his system. ''Any ideas?'' [Plenty. If you were more powerful, the simplest way would be to grant him the destiny of a king. But you are not yet strong enough. Altering fate is no small thing.] Tch. Damn system. I''m climbing the tower, aren''t I? Just give me an answer. [You can grant him a talent, or knowledge¡ªsomething that can make him a key figure in the war and lead him to the throne naturally.] I don''t care about the war. This is against Castria. I''m not helping that. System, take whatever points you need. Just tell me: who''s at fault in this conflict? Balor or Castria? [Balor.] Why? [They covet Lucius''s daughter for her extraordinary talent and bloodline. Her elemental affinity is unmatched, and Balor attempted to kidnap her. Though they failed, Lucius retaliated by killing two Balorian Dukes. Now the King of Balor, desperate to reclaim his authority, is pushing for war.] Lucius has a daughter, huh¡­? Interesting. Fine then. Let''s skip the game. Let''s wipe out this entire corrupt royal family and put this snake on the throne. [You''ve chosen. Cost: 500 billion points.] ¡­System, you''re bleeding me dry. Still, he didn''t care. He turned his gaze back to Jack, who was trembling with anticipation. "Are you willing," Ethan asked, voice now colder, sharper, "to kill your entire family for the throne?" Jack froze. Then, slowly, his lips twisted into a grin. "Yes, Honored One. I am." Ethan clicked his tongue softly in amusement. Not even a second of hesitation. But it didn''t matter. "I will give you the means to do so. The power to kill them all¡ªand make it look like you had no part in it. When the dust settles, the throne will be yours." He let that settle in the air. Then added the final twist. "But the price¡­ the true price of this wish¡­" Ethan''s voice turned into a whisper of fate itself. "You want to stand above all. To rule everyone." "In return, your burden is this¡ªeternal servitude to one being. No defiance. No betrayal." Ethan leaned forward, shadows stirring. "That being¡­ is me." "My will shall be your command. You accept this, and you will have the throne until you are tired of it. You refuse, and you will leave here forgetting everything we spoke of." Silence. Heavy. Jack trembled. The magnitude of the pact washing over him. To rise above all¡­ he would have to kneel to one. Forever. To this being. He hesitated. Then¡ªhe opened his eyes, now burning with twisted ambition. "I accept." So what if I''m a servant to one being, he thought, when all others must kneel to me? The pact was sealed. And with a whisper and a grin, the Merchant Beneath the World didn''t just grant a wish¡ªhe claimed a kingdom. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 56¡ª Chapter 57 - 57: Bloodline "Take this." Ethan held out a coin, his coin, etched with faint, shifting runes. "You''ll be able to contact me through it." Jack accepted the coin without hesitation. The moment his fingers touched the cold metal, a weight settled in his chest. A presence. He couldn''t explain it¡ªbut he instinctively knew: he would never be able to disobey this being. Not truly. Not yet¡­ but once he became king, the pact would bind. Still, Jack didn''t linger on that thought. His mind was elsewhere. ''I will finally be king'' he thought, a hungry gleam in his eyes. "If you''re done," Ethan said, tone dismissive, "then go. You have the tool. Use it. Take your crown." Jack rose to his feet and bowed deeply, reverently. "Thank you, Honorable One. I will not disobey." Then¡ªhe was gone. Silence returned to the cave. Ethan sat alone, fingers steepled, eyes distant. If everything played out as intended, he would soon have an entire kingdom under his shadow. And with that¡­ the legend of The Merchant Beneath the World would only grow. "I need power," he murmured to himself. "And a way to maintain this presence. A place where clients can always reach me." "Suggestions, dear system?" [You could create a personal realm, tethered to your coin. Anyone in possession of those coins could access it. You''d be aware of all who enter¡ªand hold absolute authority within.] Ethan''s eyes lit up. "A realm, huh? I like that." "But wait¡­ how many points would that cost?" [For a small, functional realm: 100 trillion.] He winced. "And I have?" [15 trillion.] "Tch." He clicked his tongue in frustration. Still far too short. "Well¡­ I gained a fortune from all these deals. And a potential kingdom. But none of it will matter if I can''t protect what I build." He stood up and vanished with Erase Step, phasing back toward the city and eventually, his inn. There was still more to do. ¡­ Back in his room, Ethan activated a Space Time Barrier, cloaking the entire space in silence and isolation. He sat cross-legged on the floor, exhaling slowly. Time to design my bloodline. He didn''t want something complicated. No flashy bloodline with a dozen random traits. He wanted one thing: power. Clean, simple, absolute. He now had two ''identities''¡ªand his second talent paired perfectly with his dual nature as a giver and taker. It cloaked him from unwanted gazes, made him invisible to the curious and the cursed alike. But avoidance would only go so far. Eventually, there would be battles he couldn''t walk away from. Time to prepare. "I want a combat bloodline," Ethan muttered. "One skill. A skill that will evolve with me. Not flashy. Not complex. Just effective." "As a taker¡­ I''ll eventually absorb talents and techniques from others. I want a skill that can fuse those stolen techniques into my own. Something that grows with each battle." He paused. "A sword technique, maybe?" A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "¡­Why not? My family¡­ is a swordsman family. All men have been known as great swordsmen. So, let''s fall in line for once." He closed his eyes. "A single strike. A strike that devours every sword technique it touches. A living blade that evolves with every duel." "System. Create the bloodline. Pour in every point I have." [Understood. Please wait, Host.] Seconds passed. Then¡ª [Bloodline Created: Sable Inherit.] [Sable Inherit: A blade born of shadow, shaped by the legacies of fallen swords. It remembers all¡ªit forgets nothing.] [Skill: One Strike ¡ª A sword technique that absorbs and adapts. Defeat other sword-based skills to strengthen and refine the strike. Each victory adds to its perfection.] A blade materialized in front of him. Long, sleek, and completely black¡ªits edge shimmered with faint white runes that pulsed like a heartbeat. Ethan reached out. The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, something clicked inside him. Wholeness. Completion. As if the blade had always been waiting for him. He rose and took a stance¡ªsloppy, full of openings, more instinct than form. But the moment he moved¡ª Fshhhh! The blade corrected him. Guided his body. The slash grew cleaner, tighter. A faint crack split the stone beneath his feet. Ethan smiled. "¡­Well then, guess it''s time to train." He looked down at the blade. "We''ll be great friends, you and I." The sword pulsed softly in response. Grinning, Ethan slipped out of the room, bound for the training grounds. He would drill the strike into his soul until it became perfect¡ªuntil he could use it in any situation, instinctively. ? Meanwhile¡ªfar above¡ªon the 50th floor of the Tower. A massive sky stretched endlessly, pierced by clouds of flame and light. Upon a flying dragon stood a man¡ªhis white hair flowing, his presence now overwhelming. Lucas. His aura was no longer what it once was. He stood tall, bathed in quiet power. Nearing the threshold of S-Rank. And with this final floor¡­ he would reach it. He would return home. He would find his brother. A glowing screen hovered before him. {You have reached the 50th floor. The Great Divider.} {To pass, you must face a weaker incarnation of a god-level being.} {Your foe: Agni, God of Fire.} {He will be the same rank as you¡ªbut he retains the skills of a god.} {Defeat him, and you''ll enter the realm where the eyes of gods forever watch. Take one step closer to divinity.} {When you are ready¡­ will it.} Lucas narrowed his eyes. He turned to his dragon. "How confident are you against Agni?" sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The dragon¡ªVeldra¡ªsnorted. "I''m a Stage 1 god. If he''s scaled to your current rank, it''ll be easy." But the tower heard. And it answered. {Veldra''s power will now be limited to A-Rank.} Lucas stared at the system message. Then slowly turned to his dragon, lips twitching. "¡­You just had to open your mouth, huh?" Veldra let out a sheepish chuckle. "I was only answering your question¡­" Lucas groaned inwardly. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 57¡ª Chapter 58 - 58: Swordy Clink. Clink¡ª! The sharp clang of metal rang through the training grounds as Ethan stepped inside, the air buzzing with tension and effort. He had returned to his normal appearance¡ªnothing too striking, just a touch above average. Enough to blend in, not stand out. His sword rested calmly in his right hand, its matte black sheen dull under the training ground''s filtered light. It didn''t need to be out, not really. He can just store it and summon it whenever he needs it. But Ethan couldn''t help himself. "I feel whole when I''m holding you," he whispered to the blade. "So unless there''s a damn good reason, you''ll stay by my side." The sword hummed softly, a content resonance thrumming through his palm. As if pleased¡ªno, honored¡ªto be kept close. Ethan smiled faintly, turning his eyes to the expanse ahead. This was the training ground of Solaris¡ªFloor 10 of the Tower. A place where Climbers honed their skills before ascending further. It was wide, spartan, dust floating under the golden light of floating lamps. Sparring pairs and solo trainees littered the field, each absorbed in their own challenges. Ethan scanned the area. "Now¡­ where''s the instructor?" he muttered. He looked around for nearly a minute but found no one who fit the role. ''Classic setup¡­ Shouldn''t there be some grizzled old master here? Hey, System?'' [Indeed. There is.] ''Where?'' [The beggar. Far end of the grounds.] Ethan followed the system''s instructions and spotted him: an older man slumped against a wall, half-empty liquor bottle dangling from his hand. Torn clothes clung to his wiry frame, red hair tangled, black eyes half-lidded with disinterest. He might''ve been handsome once¡ªbut now he reeked of apathy and neglect. Ethan tilted his head. ''Hidden master trope, huh? Hell, this feels like a hidden quest¡­'' ¡­Stop. You''re not in a game, Ethan. Focus. Still, his instincts said this man was important. He approached. A few nearby trainees noticed and called out. "Hey, man¡ªdon''t bother with him. He''s insane." "Yeah, you''ll just waste your time." Ethan smiled and ignored them. If the system says he''s a teacher¡ªhe is. Whether good or bad¡­ he''d find out soon enough. He crouched before the man and spoke politely. "Hello, Great Elder. I seek guidance in the way of the sword." The man didn''t respond at first, hell he didn''t even meet his eyes. His gaze remained fixed on one thing: Ethan''s sword. Finally, he stirred, his posture subtly shifting. His voice rasped, unused. "¡­How¡­ how did you get that sword?" "This?" Ethan glanced at the blade. " I Earned it. From one of my cleared floor of the Tower''s trials." The man''s eyes sharpened. "I''ll buy it." His tone had changed¡ªserious now. Grounded. "I''ll buy that sword from you. You don''t understand what you''re holding. I''ve never seen balance so pure¡­ form so flawless. What do you want for it? Millions of platinum coins? A lifetime of training under me?" Ethan didn''t interrupt¡ªhe just listened. Amused. People offering him money was always a little funny to him. They never knew¡­ His system inventory held trillions in platinum. Wealth was not even on the list of his problems. But this reaction confirmed one thing: this man knew swords. Deeply. ''Might be worth it to win him over,'' Ethan mused. And¡­ I still need a name for mine¡­ Then a better idea sparked. ''I''ve got that bloodline¡ªthe Monarch of Swords at Supreme rank. The return I got from the Sword King bloodline I gave to King Castria.'' He smiled softly. ''Maybe it''s time to earn some points back¡­'' He looked the man in the eye and smiled gently. "I''m afraid I can''t sell this sword. It means too much to me." The man''s face started to darken with disinterest again. "But," Ethan continued, "if it''s a good sword you want¡ªI can offer you one. And more, if you''d like." He extended a hand. "I''m Ethan Yagami. Pleased to meet you." The man was quiet for a moment. "¡­Syed," he said at last. "But most here just call me¡­ ''Swordy.''" Ethan''s lips twitched. ''Swordy''? Seriously? How old are you really? But he held his tongue. Syed rose unsteadily, still buzzed from his drink, and motioned for Ethan to follow. "Let''s talk in private." Whispers followed them as they left. "He fell for it." "Total scam." But Ethan didn''t care about what they thought. ¡­ In a private room, the two sat across from each other at a small wooden table. "I''m listening," Syed said. Ethan snapped his fingers and applied his Space-Time Barrier. A translucent field shimmered into place around them. Syed''s posture went rigid. He looked around sharply. "No need to panic," Ethan said calmly. "Just a little privacy. No one sees in. No one hears out." But the elder''s unease didn''t vanish. His eyes narrowed. ''A D-rank? Casually casting a barrier like that?'' Syed sat a little straighter now. He thought he had the advantage in this discussion but now it seemed like it''s not the case. ''His background¡­ it must be monstrous.'' sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ethan leaned forward. "Tell me, what''s your sword type?" Syed hesitated, then answered: "Katana." System, any SS-rank katana in inventory? [None.] ¡­Wait, what? Ethan''s mind stumbled. ''Why didn''t you say anything before I got cocky? Now I''ve got no points either!'' [You don''t have SS-rank katanas. You do have a SSS-rank one.] Relief flooded him. Well it was not what I wanted to give but never mind. Give it to me¡ªnow. A sword materialized before him in a flash of golden light. Syed''s eyes widened. He lurched from his seat and snatched the blade with reverent hands. For the first time since Ethan met him, his eyes held life. The katana gleamed¡ªpure white, with golden markings that spiraled down its flawless blade. Even the hilt shimmered with holy elegance. Syed''s fingers trembled. Ethan''s voice broke the silence. "It''s yours." The man looked up, stunned. "A SSS-rank weapon. The Golden Katana of Sky." Ethan smiled. "I hope you like it." ¡ªEnd of Chapter 58¡ª Chapter 59 - 59: Afaq Syed Swordborn Swordy was beyond thrilled. No¡ªthrilled didn''t even come close. In all his years, he had never once held an SS-rank sword, let alone an SSS-rank one. To be offered such a divine weapon so casually¡ªit shook the very foundation of his understanding. "C-Can I really¡­ have this?" he asked again, voice trembling. Ethan nodded, completely unfazed. "Of course." As usual, he barely cared about the exchange. [Applying the x10,000 effect.] [You have received: Skyfall Katana of the gods (Stage-1 God Rank).] A superior version of the sword appeared in Ethan''s inventory¡ªuseless to him, really. His own black sword was far beyond it and more suited to him. But Ethan only smirked inwardly. ''I am a merchant, after all. The ability to give¡­ is the foundation of my power.'' Swordy¡ªno, Syed¡ªwas stunned, speechless. He couldn''t fathom how someone could just give away a weapon of that caliber. This man¡­ he didn''t look that impressive. Not even a little. Ordinary clothes, average build¡ªno divine aura, no power flare. For a being able to give such a treasure casually¡­ Suspicious. Yes, very suspicious. But Syed let it go. Some truths weren''t worth digging into. Especially when the answer might bring more trouble than insight. "So all this," he said slowly, "just for me to teach you the sword?" Ethan''s expression turned solemn. "Yes. I''ve only recently started walking the path of the sword. I''ve obtained a great blade, and I want to be worthy of wielding it." He gently rested his hand on his black sword''s hilt, fingers moving with quiet fondness. Syed watched him carefully. There was sincerity in his voice¡ªquiet but real. He slipped the golden katana into his inventory and stood. "No time to waste, then." His back straightened. His slouch vanished. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "For that¡­ you deserve to know my full name." Before Ethan could reply, Syed''s appearance began to change. His matted red hair shimmered¡ªturning gold. His tired, sunken eyes cleared into bright blue. His weathered features smoothed, his body straightened into that of a man in his prime¡ªmid-twenties, at most. Elegant. Handsome. Regal. This was no drunkard. "I am Afaq Syed Swordborn," he said, voice now calm and crisp. "An A-rank climber who passed the 30th Trial." Ethan gave a respectful nod. "Still Ethan Yagami." Afaq chuckled lightly. "I may only be A-rank now, but I come from a long line of master swordsmen. I can build your foundation stronger than steel." "That''s exactly what I need," Ethan replied, smirking. "Then let''s begin. We''ll start with something simple as it''s just the first day. Do you see this training ground?" Ethan followed his gaze. The field was massive¡ªlarger than most stadiums back on old Earth. His instincts flared with unease. "¡­Yes?" Afaq''s grin widened. "As your warm-up, we''ll just do five laps." Ethan blinked. "Five¡­ what?" "Five laps around this training ground." Ethan stood there stunned. Afaq''s grin widened even more seeing his face. "Oh, this is going to be fun," Afaq said with unmistakable delight. ¡­ Back on Earth¡ª In the grand halls of the Bloodsanguine Estate, Jade Bloodsanguine stood by the towering windows, watching the ancient city that symbolized her family''s legacy. Since returning from the Yagami estate, she and her daughter, Julie, had thrown themselves into consolidating control over the Bloodsanguine power structure. And to say it was difficult would be an understatement. Jade sighed in exhaustion. Suddenly, a ripple in space shimmered beside her. Julie stepped out. "Did you find Ethan?" Jade asked without preamble, urgency sharp in her voice. Julie''s brows furrowed. "No. He didn''t appear in the Castria Kingdom. He showed up in Balor." Frustration laced her tone. She''d longed to meet him again¡ªand now, distance and political tensions between Castria and Balor made things all the more complicated. Julie sighed. "It''s fine," Jade replied coolly, eyes narrowing. "We haven''t secured full control of the house yet. What right do we have to appear before him without results?" "I know, Mother¡­ I just miss him." Jade''s expression softened for a heartbeat. "I miss him too, you know?" The words were playful, but her voice was deadly serious. Julie''s fingers twitched¡ªbut she said nothing. "I''m glad you''ve come to terms with that," Jade murmured. "It means we''re aligned." Then her tone hardened. "Anyway¡ªlet''s focus now on the serious issues. We''ve secured the support of two out of five Grand Elders." "Still not enough," Julie noted. Jade nodded. "Yes, but I might have a way to sway another." Julie''s eyes narrowed. "Who?" "Grand Elder Sabine. She''s always wanted the top seat. To rule this family and so she always resented Eric." A slow smile crept across Jade''s face. "All we need is to offer her a path to achieve it. And she won''t be able to resist." "But Mother," Julie cautioned, "we can''t ignore Lyra and Fely either. They''re father''s other wives. Pure-blooded, just like us. They have their own factions." "Small ones," Julie continued , "but not insignificant. If they combine their factions together they can rival us." Jade stayed silent and turned back toward the window. Her voice was quiet. "What do you propose, then?" Julie''s lips curled into a smirk. "They both have sons¡­ don''t they?" Jade''s head snapped toward her, voice icy. "What are you suggesting?" "You''d use your body? You think Ethan would accept that?" She stepped forward, tense. "And what do you think he''ll think of me if I allow it?" Her words trembled¡ªnot with fear, but with desperation. She had no room for mistakes. Not with Ethan. Not when she was already on thin ice as Julie''s mother. Her obsession had a purpose. She wanted to prove to Ethan that she could be useful. That she was more than a liability. Maybe it was pathetic. But she didn''t care. She never had. The Bloodsanguines were used to scorn. Used to whispers about their¡­ peculiar traditions. But still¡ª Julie''s voice was colder than hers. Steel beneath frost. "What do you take me for?" "My body, mind, and soul all belong to Ethan. No one else will touch them." "I''m not going to sleep with them. Not even allow them to even touch me. I''ll just seduce them. They already have a thing for me. I''ll offer¡­ a little attention. Some words and some stare longer than usual." "And they''ll fall into place." Jade slowly relaxed. Her shoulders dropped. "¡­As long as you know what you''re doing," she said quietly. Julie nodded. "I know mother." Together, the mother and daughter stood side by side, watching the estate and the bustling territory beyond. Planning and Scheming. Preparing to hand this whole territory all over¡ªwrapped in blood if necessary¡ªas a gift to Ethan, the man they love. A truly dangerous, dedicated duo. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 59¡ª Chapter 60 - 60: Update Three months later¡ª In a crowded inn nestled near the border of the human domain, a cloaked woman sat alone at a table in the corner. Her aura suppressed, her face hidden beneath a shadowed hood. It was Esmeray. The inn was alive with noise¡ªlaughter, music, clinking mugs, and crude jokes. Beings from all races mingled freely here, letting their guards down in this crossroads city. Beyond this place lay the human kingdoms¡ªThe Human domain. Esmeray had journeyed here from the heart of the demon domain, on foot. It had been grueling¡ªbut worth it. On the way, she had encountered many beasts, some of which she hadn''t seen even in her previous life¡ªbefore her transformation into a succubus by Ethan. All of them fell before her, their corpses now part of her growing undead army. Yet only a few stood out. And only one could speak. Our dear Dracula. "Master¡­ why are we here? We''re so close to human territory. Isn''t this a waste of time?" Esmeray sighed. "Dracula, for an ancient vampire, you''re remarkably impatient. Think¡ªbefore charging into unknown territory, shouldn''t we gather intel?" "And what better place than a drunken inn, where beings from every corner of the world spill their secrets between drinks?" The vampire fell silent. He hadn''t considered that. He was simply worried¡ª "I just thought you''d be¡­ restless. You''ve heard nothing from the Grandmaster in three months." "You said he was a magnet for chaos, yet there''s been no trace. Isn''t that odd?" Esmeray nodded. "Very odd. Knowing him, he''s probably out there gifting divine weapons to beggars and raising powerful beings in back alleys just for entertainment." She chuckled softly. Ethan Yagami. That man was chaos incarnate. Even gods hoarded power¡ªyet he gave freely. "Grandmaster seems¡­ wealthy?" Dracula asked. "You''ve no idea." She smirked and turned her attention back to the room. It had been months since she heard any news. With only the dead as company, this tavern was her first connection to the living world. She listened. "Darky, you dumb bastard! Why''d you cheat on your wife?! Who''s gonna want your crusty ass now?" A human slapped his friend across the face. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I''m not ugly, you are!" Darky shouted back. SLAP. "Say that again?!" Then came the scramble¡ªcurses, slurs, chasing around the inn. Esmeray''s lips twitched. She nearly laughed. Nearly. She forced her attention away, resuming her silent listening. Nearby, a lion beastman teased his crow beastman friend: "Ravin, I heard you got rejected again." "Shut up, Ramjan." Naturally, Ramjan didn''t shut up. Esmeray rolled her eyes and tuned out again. Until¡ªshe heard it. "I heard Castria and Balor are about to go to war." Her ears sharpened. Two gruff men sat hunched over drinks. "Yeah, apparently someone tried kidnapped the Sword King''s daughter. Can you believe it?" "Insane. The man can kill you from a million miles away with a sword just by thinking about it and you dare to touch his daughter? Mad." "But Castria too is in trouble. He got the whole territory around him pissed. They refuse to allow any faith except that weird new one¡ªwhat was it again?" "The Giver''s Faith." "Right. Who the hell is that?" The conversation went on. They delved into the rising tension between Castria and Balor. Religious upheaval. Strategic blunders. Esmeray''s eyes narrowed. The Church of the Giver. ''What does this remind me of, Ethan?'' She stood. If Castria was tied to Ethan¡ªin any way¡ªthen that was her next destination. She can either find him there or have his whereabouts. And as fate would have it, Castria was the closest major kingdom to her current location. How convenient. Coincidence? Definitely. ¡­ Elsewhere¡­ In the heart of a peaceful village, Anita stood tall on a wooden platform. Her wings hidden, her golden eyes kind. Villagers¡ªhundreds of them¡ªstood below, gazing up at her with devotion. Three months had passed. Three months during which Anita had changed everything. She hadn''t declared herself an angel at first. She hadn''t spoken of gods or divinity. No¡ªshe acted. She healed the sick. Taught them how to farm. Blessed their soil. Enriched their minds with books. She gave, without asking anything in return. And now, they worshipped her as an angel¡ªnot because she demanded it, but because she earned it. She took a deep breath. "People of this village. The past three months have been a joy for me. Watching you grow, watching your lives improve¡ªit has brought me peace." "But¡­ it is time for me to leave." The crowd erupted. "No!" "Please don''t go!" "You''re our light! Our savior!" They have become truly dependent on her now. They can''t no longer fathom a life without her. Anita remained calm, but inside, she smiled. ''Exactly as planned.'' An elder woman stepped forward. The village chief. She raised her hand, and silence fell. "O Angel¡­ have we offended you? Why must you leave us?" Anita looked troubled. She clasped her hands in a prayerful gesture. "No. You have done nothing wrong. But I am not simply a healer¡ªI am an angel, sent by my god to spread His name." "I came here by accident¡­ but when I saw your suffering, I could not ignore it." "Still¡­ I must continue my mission. And I cannot fulfill it here¡ªyour hearts already belong to another." She spoke, of course, of the village''s worship of Soleil, the god of the rising sun. She had bided her time. Waited until their faith was strong¡ªin her, not in their god. The chief''s voice trembled. "Then¡­ tell us. Who is your god?" Anita''s voice became reverent. "He is the Forgotten One. The Absolute. The God who deserves remembrance." Gasps spread across the crowd. "But I do not wish to shake your faith. That is why I must leave." She turned to go. But then¡ªthe chief knelt. Followed by every man, woman, and child. Hundreds on their knees. "We will worship your god." "He saved us¡ªthrough you." "So Please¡­ stay." They couldn''t afford to let her go. So they submitted. And at that moment, a sound only Anita could hear echoed in her mind. {You are doing something devious¡­ but interesting.} {You have received a Title: The Propagander of Faith.} She smiled. ''Wait for me, mister¡­ Anita''s preparing a gift worthy of a god.'' ¡ªEnd of Chapter 60¡ª Chapter 61 - 61: Class Awakening [1] Ethan was not yet aware, but somewhere in the tower, a faith in his name had already begun to take root. For now, it was just a small village in a desolate region on the 10th floor of the tower¡ªbut who could predict the future? One thing was certain: Anita was hell-bent on using her new title, {Propagander of Faith}, to its fullest extent. All for her mister. All for the one who saved her. All for him¡ªEthan Yagami, the man who had become her entire world. He had saved her, and now she would spread his greatness as far as possible. To her, only he was worthy of being called a god. ¡­ Meanwhile, the very being a faith had begun to form around lay flat on the ground, gasping for air. Ethan''s mouth hung open in exhaustion, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths. Sweat covered his body. It was clear he had just finished yet another brutal training session with his dear teacher, Afaq. "You''ve improved a lot, Ethan," Afaq said as he approached and handed him a towel and a bottle of water. "Thanks," Ethan replied, taking both. He wiped the sweat from his face and drank deeply. Ahhh¡­ He sighed in relief. "With all the hellish training I''ve gone through these past three months, it would be an insult to all my ancestors if I hadn''t improved," he muttered. The past three months had been relentless. He had focused on consolidating his foundations and sharpening his reflexes through sheer physical discipline. He hadn''t learned any formal sword techniques. He didn''t need them. His bloodline¡ªhis sword¡ªcame with a unique skill: "One Strike." A skill that allowed him to absorb any sword technique from a defeated opponent. If he fought a swordsman wielding wind techniques and won, he would consume that technique and make it his own. And this cycle could continue¡ªinfinitely. Ethan smirked. ''I really created a good bloodline.'' He was thoroughly satisfied with his progress. "What are you smiling about now?" Afaq interrupted his thoughts. "If you have time to daydream, then get back to training. Strap the boulder to your waist and run ten laps." "Then give me a thousand slashes¡ªeach with perfect posture and stance. Or you''ll start over." "Then¡ª" "Hey, hey, hey, you''re going too far!" Ethan cut him off, alarmed as Afaq kept piling on tasks. But Afaq only grinned evilly. "And as today is your final day training under me, we''ll finish with a duel. I can''t let my only disciple leave without evaluating his skills, can I?" Ethan''s lips twitched. But after spending three months with this madman, he knew arguing would only get him more task. So, without another word, he went back to training. ¡­ Hours passed¡ª Now, Ethan stood facing Afaq, a wooden sword in hand. Afaq, calm and collected, looked almost lazy in his stance¡ªbut Ethan could see it. There were no openings. No matter how annoying he is, the guy''s a genius with the sword, Ethan admitted. I still wonder¡­ What happened to him? Why was he in such a state when I found him? And why is someone of A-rank here of all places? Questions without answers. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For now, he had to focus. He took his stance. Unlike when he first picked up a sword, this time it was perfect¡ªthe result of months of hard work. Raising the sword to eye level with both hands, Ethan exhaled. "Ready?" Afaq asked. "I am." The moment the words left his lips, Afaq was already upon him, sword raised. CLINK¡ª! Ethan managed to block. "Not bad. Your reaction time is solid." Afaq pressed on, targeting every weakness, every hole in Ethan''s defense. Ethan parried again and again¡ªbut he was slowing down. His stance began to falter. He was only defending¡ªand barely. The pressure was mounting. I can''t keep this up. My body won''t last. I need to strike too¡­ He breathed in deeply, grounding himself. One strike¡­ Just one, and I''ll be satisfied. His mind flashed to the endless runs, the countless slashes, the exhaustion, the pain, the moments he nearly collapsed but didn''t. Afaq stepped forward, his sword raised high¡ªthis one was different. A finishing blow. Ethan saw it, clear and sharp. And as he looked at this strike targeting directly his head, something clicked in Ethan''s mind. Time slowed. His body moved instinctively. He shifted his stance¡ªno longer holding the sword with both hands, but just one. His feet slid, his weight shifted. Then, in a fluid, almost poetic motion, Ethan drew the sword with a strike as swift and graceful as a falling petal caught in the wind. CLINKKK¡ª! Afaq''s wooden sword hit the ground. He stood stunned, staring at Ethan. Then he smiled. "Seems like I''m a genius teacher, too." Ethan didn''t respond. He collapsed to the ground, completely drained. ¡­ BAM¡ª! Ethan landed face-first on his bed. He had no idea how he even made it back to his inn. A miracle, perhaps. "So¡­ tired." Today marked the end of his training. And he had managed to land a blow on Afaq. Ethan smiled proudly. Tomorrow, he would begin the true trial of the 10th floor. And for that¡ª "It''s time to receive my class." He had prepared as much as he possibly could. Now it was time to take the final step. "System, how many points do I have?" [5 trillion.] Three months of relentless training meant he had barely held any giving sessions. He had hardly played the role of the Merchant. He''d even overheard people in the city wondering where he''d disappeared to. To keep things smooth, he had sent a message to all those who held his coin, informing them he was busy. "But I guess I can hold one session before leaving," he muttered. "Since I don''t have my own realm to meet them in yet¡­ Damn, I need so many points for that." He sighed. He shook his head and focused. "Alright, let''s do this." "Tower, I am ready for the class awakening." A pause. {Understood, O Allholder.} ¡ªEnd of Chapter 61¡ª Chapter 62 - 62: Class Awakening [2] {Understood, O Allholder.} A pause. {Analyzing your being and your accomplishments¡­} Like always, Ethan felt a gaze piercing through him and analyzing his very being. He felt naked, but he couldn''t do anything about it¡ªit was a necessary process, so he held on. The Tower spoke. {You are a Giver, but also a Taker.} {You are a Merchant that sells the most illustrious and impossible things.} {You have a SSS-rank talent in you: The Infinite Claimant.} {You have a Supreme-grade talent in you: Veil of Silence.} {You have a Mythical bloodline in you: Sable Inherit.} {You have obtained glorious titles since you started climbing this Tower. Titles incredible enough to shock most people.} {Your path until now has been glorious.} {There is no fixed path for you. You have received the following Classes¡ªplease choose one: 1. Eclipser of Realms (Mythical rank) 2. Infinite Sword Sovereign (Mythical rank) 3. Infinite Arbiter (Mythical rank) 4. Mythwright of the Everpossible (Mythical rank) Noah looked calmly at these Classes. Each of them looked especially tailored and made for him. "And I have to choose only one?" Ethan laughed. "No way. I want all of them." ''System, do you have something for me to help me?'' [I have everything. The question is, do you have the necessary points?] Ethan''s lips twitched. ''Well, I hope I do.'' ''What do you propose?'' [You can buy 3 seconds of Limitlessness. In that time, there will be no limit, and you can choose all the Class options.] Before Ethan even asked the cost¡ª [It will cost you almost all your current points. 4 trillion.] Simple. No other words were needed. But this time, Ethan didn''t complain. The concept of Limitlessness was something he couldn''t even fathom yet. And the fact that just 3 seconds of it required almost 4 trillion points? That was absolutely mad. "Ha, should I just focus all my energy on being The Merchant Beneath the World?" That was a serious question. After all, that was the fastest way to gain points. He sighed. He flicked his finger and set in place his usual space-time barrier to block sound and vision. Then¡ª "I will take it, System." DING! [You have purchased 3 seconds of Limitlessness.] Instantly, without even looking at the notification panel¡ª Ethan shouted with all his might¡ª "ALL! I CHOOSE ALL OF THEM!!!" Silence. Then¡ª {Confirmed.} Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. {Due to your unique state of existence, you have been granted all four Classes.} DING! DING! DING! {Impossible achievement!} {You are the first being to obtain four Classes since the creation of the Tower.} {Title received: The Anomaly.} {Your soul has been considerably strengthened.} {Your presence has been enhanced.} Ethan suddenly felt something added to his soul. His Classes. He felt the incredible power each of them gave him. But Ethan always liked simple things. Having four Classes was too troublesome. ''How will I navigate each of them separately?'' It would be such a hassle. So the best thing to do was¡ª "Combine all of them into one single Class." Yes. A single Class. A combination of all four of them. "System, don''t tell me I don''t have enough points for that. It''s just a simple fusion." If the System had lips, they would have twitched. Simple fusion? Fusing four Mythical-rank Classes was just a simple fusion? [¡­It''s possible.] [It will just cost you the remaining points you have left.] Ethan agreed rapidly. "Go on." Points could be earned again anyway. It was just troublesome. DING! [You have fused all four Mythical Classes.] [You have obtained the Class: Epochwrought Sovereign (Transcendent Rank).] The air immediately stilled. Ethan gasped and fell to his knees. In his soul, something was transforming. His four Classes were fusing¡ªand in their place, a single Class stood. A Class that was so heavy that, if not for the strength of Ethan''s soul thanks to his multiple titles¡­ He wouldn''t have been able to bear the weight of it. He breathed heavily. "What is this, System?" He asked softly, as he tried to control his breathing. The weight had now been lifted. He sat on the ground. It was short, but in that short moment, he felt like the weight of an entire world had been on his shoulders. It was maddening. [Classes also reside in your soul. So a powerful Class has weight, and if your soul cannot bear it, you would have collapsed.] "And you didn''t think that was important enough to tell me?" [You will learn more by experiencing things.] Ethan''s lips twitched. He chose to remain silent on that matter. "Is Transcendent the best rank after Mythical for Bloodlines and Classes?" [Yes.] [For Artifacts and Potions, after SSS rank, it''s Stage-1 God, Stage-2 God, and so on.] [For Talents and Skills, after SSS rank, it''s Supreme rank, then Paragon rank. You have no business knowing higher than that.] [The gap between Supreme and Paragon is massive, so you may have Supreme+, Supreme++, and Supreme+++ before reaching Paragon.] [For Bloodlines and Classes, the progression is: Common ¡ú Rare ¡ú Unique ¡ú Legendary ¡ú Mythical ¡ú Transcendent.] Seeing all these power progression names, Ethan sighed heavily. His head already hurt just trying to remember all of this. "Why make it so complicated? Should''ve just made the same names for everything." "This is just unnecessary complications." And it really was. Whoever did this was truly a fool. Ethan decided to forget it and focus on what truly mattered now. "Show me this new Class of mine," Ethan said with excitement, eager to find out the abilities of the Class that almost killed him. [Name: Epochwrought Sovereign] Rank: Transcendent Description: You do not follow myths. You become the reason myths exist. Abilities: ? Myth Rewrite (Active): Sacrifice one of your Titles or claimed Truths to do anything you want. Either create a new rule or forge an impossible artifact. ? Sable Mandate (Passive): All enemies in your presence must either speak truth or fall silent. Any hidden effects, illusions, or lies are instantly destroyed. ? Epoch Ender (Active): Call judgment on all existence in your field of vision. Limit: One time every month. Ethan looked at these abilities and couldn''t help but say¡ª "¡­Damn." ¡ªEnd of Chapter 62¡ª Chapter 63 - 63: My own realm Ethan couldn''t help but be surprised. His class was way too powerful. "Damn." [What did you expect? This is a Transcendent-rank class.] [You might be the only one with this class rank.] Ethan''s ears twitched. "I might be? Meaning it''s not certain?" [Yes. We never know.] Ethan nodded¡ªunderstandable. "But how can I accept having anything less than the best with you here?" "With a system that lets me have everything I want, as long as I have enough points?" "It would be a disgrace to my name¡ªThe Merchant of the World." He paused, scratching his chin with a pensive expression. "No¡­ I think the name Allholder is more fitting here." "Well, bref¡ªyou get me, right?" [To go beyond Transcendent, you will need an astronomical number of points.] "How many?" [You don''t want to know, Host.] "Just tell me." [You will shout in anger.] Ethan''s lips twitched. "I''m changing, man. I don''t do that anymore. Just tell me and don''t waste my time." [It will cost thousands upon thousands of quintillions of karmic points.] Ethan stood there, mind blank. He wasn''t even able to react because¡ª He simply couldn''t fathom that number. Because you only react to things you can understand, and have some notion of. But this? Thousands upon thousands of quintillions of karmic points? Yeah, leave that. "Never mind, system. Forget I asked." He shut his mind off to the matter, deciding never to think about it again. He didn''t want to get depressed by his own poverty. Poverty. If Ethan dared to say that to anyone¡ªanyone¡ªwith all the goods and riches he held in his inventory¡­ he''d never see the light of day again. "I want to try Myth Rewrite." Instantly, a panel appeared in front of him. This one was different. Not the system, not the Tower. This panel was solely for his skill Myth Rewrite. Ethan looked at the panel with curiosity. "How interesting." He smiled softly, his black-and-white eyes glowing with mysterious light. "Do you have any idea about this?" he asked. [Certain skills are special. Yours seems to be one of them.] Ethan nodded absentmindedly, because right now, his mind was entertaining something¡­ absurd. But he immediately shook his head. ''Not yet,'' he said quietly in his mind¡ªunheard by the system. Then he smiled beautifully. "Well, let''s try this skill." "What do I wish to sacrifice, hmm?" A title or a claimed truth. But¡ª "What does it mean, a claimed truth?" [It''s something you believe is true. It might not be objectively true¡ªbut if you believe it, it becomes a claimed truth. Because you''ve claimed it as truth.] "Oh¡­" Ethan nodded. "Something I claim to be the truth¡­ So it has to be something I believe in." This¡­ This could be used in truly unexpected ways. "I''m becoming more and more obscene." Ethan shook his head in pity. Not for himself¡ªbut for his enemies. He was almost unfair at this point. But¡ª "Since the day I awakened, I was already unfair." "Dear skill, I will sacrifice my title: Savior of the People." That was the least important title¡ªand he could always create another one himself with enough points. Ethan thought for a moment, but he didn''t need long. Lately, there was one thing he wanted. "A realm. I want a realm that will be connected to my coins, so that those who have them¡ªmy customers¡ªcan access the realm if they wish to meet me." "Tut tut tut. Dear skill, calm down¡ªI''m not done yet." "Maybe I don''t need to say it, but you never know. I want absolute power over that realm. And whoever enters it must have no power to affect anything within it." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Silence. "I''m done now. You can do your thing," Ethan said, waving his hand dismissively, as if speaking to a subordinate. Ethan''s lips twitched. "Dude. I sacrificed a whole title." "What do you mean it''s not enough?" [Your wish is not an easy one, Host. You must understand that.] Sigh. "I sacrifice the title: The Anomaly." It was the title he had just received¡ªand it didn''t matter. He didn''t like it very much anyway. Ethan muttered as his fingers trembled slightly. "The name will be: Nexavran, The Vault Below All Things." "And as for the environment¡­?" Ethan rubbed his chin softly. "An illusive realm. The sky will be a fusion of stars, heavenly and demonic phenomena. At the center, I want a simple table." "With my throne¡ªa throne made of all precious things I can afford with the things I''ve sacrificed. Make it a mix of good and bad. Heaven, demon, human, gods¡ªeverything." "The table should be special too. Let it be a table that reflects all things. Even if a being comes here trying to act¡ªlet the table reflect their true self." Ethan smiled. "That''s all." <¡­Ding! Confirmed.> After a couple of seconds¡­ Ethan instantly felt a connection. A connection to somewhere. To a place. To¡ª The panel disappeared. Ethan didn''t waste any more time. He had an instinctive feeling¡ªhe could enter this realm whenever he wished. So he did just that. WHSOOOH¡ª Ethan disappeared¡­ and appeared in a mysterious realm. The sky was a mix of all things. Stars so beautiful they felt timeless. Heavenly and demonic phenomena surged across the horizon: an old man with a long beard grasping the concept of space¡­ a colossal demon with infinite eyes seeing the tapestry of fate. It was dreadful¡ªbut also beautiful, in its own way. The realm was calm. Serene. At its center stood a throne whose grandeur could make all beings on the 10th floor kneel in awe. Crafted from the bones of legendary beasts: dragons, heavenly turtles, phoenixes, tigers. The blood of a demonic kraken. The throat of a hollow banshee. The sword of a sword saint. The heart of an elder elf. The wings of an archangel. And all of it mixed together into something¡­ Perfect. Even Ethan¡ªone used to treasures beyond most people''s dreams¡ªwas awestruck by this throne. He walked forward slowly, until he reached it, and sat. The moment he did, his figure shifted¡ªbecoming formless, like a shadow. When you looked at him, you saw a mass of darkness in human form, with eyes that seemed to have seen all the universe''s mysteries. Ethan sat calmly. He rested his right arm on the armrest, crossed one leg over the other, and leaned his head gently to the side. At that moment¡­ he was no longer Ethan Yagami. At that moment¡ª He was The Merchant Beneath the World. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 63¡ª Chapter 64 - 64: The new King Ethan sat there, cross-legged on his beautiful throne. With a small motion, he raised his hand, and a cup of tea appeared in his grasp. Instantly, the entire realm shifted. The atmosphere softened into a glowing green-golden forest, with small beasts running freely through the underbrush. Ethan''s form changed too. To any outsider looking upon him, he now appeared as a formless golden light¡ªtoo pure, too holy, as if it had descended straight from the heavens. He tilted his head in mild intrigue. "So¡­ the realm and my appearance change based on my mood?" he muttered, almost to himself. Then a new thought crossed his mind. "Wait¡ªcan I also change my appearance depending on the client?" Because not everyone could bear his current form. That light, that shadowless shape¡ªtoo divine for some, too alien for others. They would be more at ease if he looked¡­ different. Something they could relate to. But each person would prefer something different. So, the most special and fair solution¡ª "Make me appear as my clients perceive me." Yes. That would be perfect. If they saw him as a demon, then so be it¡ªhe would become a demon. If they believed him a saint, he would wear the face of holiness itself. Whatever they imagined, that would be what they saw. The best solution. But first¡ª "Don''t tell me I need points for this too, system?" Ethan muttered lazily. "I did say I''ve changed, but everything''s got limits." His voice was lazy. So lazy, it was almost comical compared to the divine glow he currently radiated. [You do not need points for this. You already have your realm. You are the ruler here. Not the other one.] [If you order the realm to shape your appearance as your clients perceive it¡ªthen it will.] "Oh, that''s cool." Ethan nodded. "I want to be what others see me as." And instantly, something changed. He didn''t know what, but something deep, invisible, shifted. "Well. Now that that''s done¡­" "I need to notify everyone holding my coins that this realm exists." Luckily, that part was simple. He was connected to every single coin he''d ever handed out. So¡ª "You can now meet me using the coin," Ethan said, his voice deep, mysterious, and solemn. "You will be teleported into this place¡ªmy realm¡ªfor the meeting. But only by my will." His words echoed through the entirety of the 10th floor, to reach only those who had his coins. And immediately, multiple people began trying to connect¡ªeach hoping to be let in. But Ethan wasn''t about to open the floodgates just yet. "I''m not doing much today. Just a few." "Tomorrow, I''ll travel the Forest of Death. I need to be in peak condition." So, he chose to accept only the first three who called. "Come." Instantly, a young man materialized before Ethan in the realm. And at that moment, Ethan''s appearance shifted. He became an old man¡ªone cloaked in radiant, heavenly light. Ethan smiled inwardly. ''So that''s how this young man sees me.'' He referred to the visitor as "young man" in his thoughts, as if he himself wasn''t still young. The young man, Kiriko, stood frozen in shock. The realm itself was awe-inspiring¡ªbut the throne¡­ and the being sitting on it¡­ His mind could barely process it all. "Ah¡­ ah¡­" Kiriko tried to speak, but his voice caught in his throat. Ethan''s smile remained calm and gentle. "At ease, young man," he said. "Take your time. Speak your wish." The moment he spoke, something in Kiriko calmed. His trembling heart settled, just a little. After a long moment, he bowed. "I''m sorry, Honorable One, for this embarrassing display." Ethan nodded. That single gesture gave Kiriko the strength to raise his head and speak. "Honorable One¡­ my wish is not small." His eyes sharpened. "I want to become someone whose name alone causes fear." "My talent is just ordinary. And to reach greatness, one needs at least SS-rank talent." "So please¡ª" He bowed again, deeper than before. This time, he kept his head lowered. "Please grant my wish, O Merchant Beneath the World." Ethan''s golden light flickered gently. His aura was ancient. Eternal. "Everything has a price," Ethan said, his voice calm. He could have chosen a price himself¡ªbut today, he was curious. "What will you offer for this? For an SSS-rank talent?" Silence. Then¡ª "My senses," Kiriko said firmly. "I will sacrifice all of my eyesight." Ethan smiled. As soon as Kiriko declared his offering, Ethan''s skill silently accepted the trade. "I accept." "And for this, I grant you an SSS-rank talent." He pulled it from his inventory. One of many he''d never use. "The Eyes of Heaven." It was rare. A sensory-type talent of immense value¡ªespecially to one who could no longer see. As the glowing sphere of light entered Kiriko''s chest, he absorbed it. And instantly, the basic knowledge of the talent filled his mind. He was stunned. He dropped to his knees and bowed¡ªdeeper, more sincerely than before. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Thank you so much¡­" Even without his vision, there were other ways to sense the world. But Ethan had not merely replaced Kiriko''s sight¡ªhe had elevated it. That was mercy. Because with his Eye of Judgment, Ethan could see the truth: Kiriko was a good person. Soon, Kiriko vanished¡ªand the next visitor appeared. This time, Ethan transformed into a gigantic demon¡ªbleeding eyes, black-flame wings. Ethan smirked inwardly. They''re quite creative with their image of me. And so it continued. ¡­ Meanwhile¡­ In the Kingdom of Balor, a storm was brewing. An event that would forever change the fate of the land. And no one knew. In the royal palace, Jack Balor stood before four kneeling figures. His father. His three brothers. They glared at him with eyes full of pure hatred. If looks could kill, Jack would''ve been torn to pieces. But in response, Jack only grinned. A wild, triumphant grin. "You have no idea how long I''ve waited for this," he said, his tone soft¡ªbut heavy. "YOU FUCKING¡ª!" BAAM! Before his brother could finish, Jack had already smashed a fist into his face. "I''ve sacrificed everything for this moment. So please, brother Karl, don''t ruin my day with your whining." "Jack, why?" asked Emperor Romeo, confused. "Did I not give each of you the same chance to earn the throne?" "Did I ever show favoritism? Ever once?" "So why?" Jack was quiet for a moment. Then he responded¡ªvoice colder than ice. "You did nothing wrong, Father. None of you did." He paused. "Or maybe¡­ maybe you did." "You birthed me." "That''s the only mistake you made. Because this¡ªeverything I''ve done¡ªit''s not about fairness or reason." "I want power. I want to rule. I want to crush everyone who stands in my way. And I won''t be able to do that with you alive." "So please¡ªgo rest in peace, dear Father. And you too, dear brothers." Silence. "It was nice knowing you." Jack took out a crystal ball from his inventory. His grin widened. And then¡ª He crushed it. BOOOOMMMMM!! The palace exploded. That day, the royal family of Balor was slaughtered by a huge explosion from a group of assassins. Only Jack Balor survived. Even with half his body burned. That day¡ª Jack became king. Not because the people chose him. But because he had made himself the only choice. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 64¡ª Chapter 65 - 65: The Forest of Death, Prelude Morning came, and Ethan stirred. With his usual lazy energy, he moved through his morning routine, not in a rush, not in a hurry. Just¡­ Ethan. A few minutes later, he was ready. He sat on the edge of his bed, his thoughts racing. Today, he would begin his 10th floor trial. He had everything he needed: his class, his bloodline, a new talent¡­ and let''s not forget¡ª He had finally started training with the sword. He had the foundation. The beginning of a path. All in all¡ª "I''m ready," Ethan muttered under his breath. But there were still two things he needed to do before heading out. One: say goodbye to his teacher. Two: gather information on the Forest of Death. "And I can do both by meeting Syed," he said, stretching. "Hopefully he knows something useful." Decision made, Ethan changed his appearance with a thought¡ªand vanished in silence. ¡­ Ethan found Syed seated cross-legged, the sword Ethan had gifted him resting on his lap. His expression was serene, lost in deep meditation. But the moment Ethan arrived¡ªdespite his near-invisible presence¡ªSyed''s eyes snapped open. His body tensed, ready to draw his sword. His glowing sapphire-blue eyes locked onto Ethan. "Ethan? So it''s you." Syed let out a quiet breath of relief. Inwardly, he was glad he hadn''t struck on reflex. Not that it would''ve harmed Ethan anyway. "I startled you," Ethan said with a curious tilt of the head. "Were you doing something important?" "Nothing much. Just my morning meditation¡ªkeeps the mind and the sword aligned." "And you?" Syed asked. "Just here to say farewell," Ethan replied, "and ask a few questions¡­ about the Forest of Death." The moment Ethan mentioned it, Syed''s face shifted¡ªserious, solemn. "You''re planning to go there?" sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "If yes, don''t even think about it, Ethan." His voice was sharp, intense. "That forest is called the Forest of Death for a reason. No one has ever gone in and made it out alive." "What do you mean?" Ethan asked, genuinely surprised. Was it that dangerous? he wondered. "Are you dumb?" Syed snapped. "Do you think it''s called a forbidden zone for aesthetics? No, Ethan. That forest is the real deal. The only thing we know¡ªbarely¡ªis that everyone who enters dies." "No survivors. No escape. That''s why we call it what it is." Ethan listened quietly, his expression calm and unreadable. He wasn''t dismissive, not even cocky. Just¡­ thoughtful. He believed in his strength. He had his system. But belief didn''t mean recklessness. If this forest was that dangerous¡ª Then I''ll need to approach it more carefully. Still, he couldn''t help but curse in his mind: Damn Tower. Why would you give me this kind of quest? Are you trying to kill me already? He was almost certain he was one of the few getting such extreme trials this early. And he couldn''t have been more wrong. He wasn''t one of them. He was the only one. The Tower was watching him closely¡ªtoo closely. And for good reason. Ethan''s abilities were too strange. Too powerful. Even Vaelith, our tower spirit, didn''t know where his powers came from. She was curious. Deeply curious. She wanted to see just how far Ethan could go. And right now, all her attention was on him. ? Sigh¡­ Ethan let out a breath and flashed a bright smile at Syed. "Of course not. I''m not going there. I only asked because I overheard some folks in the city talking about it." He waved lazily, dismissively. "And seriously, how could you think I''d go there? Don''t you know who I am?" Syed gave a faint smirk. "I hope so, Ethan. I don''t want to lose my first disciple this early. Let me enjoy that feeling a little longer." Ethan chuckled and shook his head. "Well, I came to say farewell. So¡­ farewell, Teacher." His voice softened slightly. "I don''t know what drove you to the state I found you in months ago¡­ but I hope you''ve moved past it. Strive forward. Take care of that sword I gave you." Ethan turned to leave, but paused mid-step. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a coin¡ªblack and white. His coin. He tossed it toward Syed without looking back, his voice echoing behind him. "This is something I earned through difficulty. It''s a coin that lets you meet a being who can grant anything¡­ for a price." "So take it. Use it if you need to." "Farewell, Teacher." And with that, Ethan''s figure faded into the distance. ¡­ Syed stood still, eyes fixed on where Ethan had disappeared. He looked down at the coin¡­ then tucked it into his storage ring silently. "Ethan, Ethan¡­ you really can''t lie. We''ve been together for three whole months. I know you more than you think." He paused. His expression twisted¡ªconflicted, pained. "You''re going to the Forest of Death¡­ aren''t you?" He didn''t need an answer. He already knew. His stomach churned. ''Should I¡ª'' "Do not even think about it, young master." A voice cut clean through his thoughts. It belonged to a tall man in a pristine butler''s uniform. Posture perfect. Face unreadable. A man who radiated pure "no-nonsense" energy. Syed said nothing. "You''ve wasted enough time playing teacher," the man continued. "Your mother is calling." "Give me a little more time," Syed muttered. "I have things I need to finish." But the butler¡ªLary¡ªshook his head. "No can do, young master. We already gave you three months to train that boy. There will be no extension." Syed''s eyes turned cold as he slowly faced him. "And if I refuse? Will you force me?" His tone was icy. But Lary didn''t even flinch. "It is the mistress''s order." "And her orders are not negotiable." "You''ve been summoned to participate in the battle between heirs. It is your duty. And if I must use force to bring you¡ª" "I will, young master." Syed''s expression didn''t change. He looked at Lary for moment. Then he stepped forward and began to walk past Lary. But before leaving, he spoke softly¡ª "Remember this day, Lary." "This is the third time you''ve threatened me." He gave him a cold smile. "Please¡­ don''t forget it." Because I won''t. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 65¡ª A/N: Your support is my motivation, so don''t hold back. Shower me with everything you have. ???? Thank you for reading! Chapter 66 - 66: The two brothers Ethan stood at the entrance of the Forest of Death. It had been hours since he''d parted ways with Syed. And after making all his preparations, he was finally here¡ªready to step into the unknown. But now, standing before the infamous forest, a chill crept up his spine. He couldn''t help but feel¡­ uneasy. ''It''s fine. It''s fine. The worst thing that can happen is me dying.'' ''But I won''t. Not with my system. At worst¡­ I make a wish and pay the price.'' He repeated those thoughts over and over, steadying his nerves. Still¡ªwhy did this place feel wrong? "This is weird, System. I don''t usually get like this. What''s going on?" [You will need Karmic Points for that answer.] Ethan''s lips twitched. "I gained some from my last three customers. Isn''t that enough?" [No.] He sighed. "Thanks, System. You just made it worse." He cursed under his breath. But there was no point in stressing. It wouldn''t help. The only way forward¡­ was through. And with his transcendent class, he doubted he''d be completely helpless. So¡ª "Let''s do this." He stepped forward and crossed the boundary. ¡­ The moment Ethan entered the forest, it was like stepping into another dimension. The usual blue sky above turned pitch-black, like ink had spilled across it. The air grew thick, almost liquid¡ªmurky, suffocating. And the darkness¡­ The darkness felt alive. It pressed against his skin, trying to seep in. Ethan shuddered, his instincts screaming. "What the¡ª?" Without hesitation, he deployed his Space-Time Barrier, cutting himself off from the surroundings. But even within it, he felt¡­ watched, his body shuddered uncontrollably. It was very eerie and disturbing. And then he noticed it¡ªcracks forming across the barrier. "The hell?" He looked closer. The darkness wasn''t just pressing in¡ªit was corroding his barrier. Very rapidly at that. "This is fucking crazy." It was the first time his SSS-rank Space-Time Barrier had failed. Ever. But Ethan didn''t panic. Because if there''s one thing he prided himself on¡ª "It''s that I''m a fucking tycoon." Ethan said with arrogant voice and with a flick of his hand, dozens of white lights blinked into existence around him¡ªdozens of SSS-rank Space-Time Barriers. Ethan smirked. "One wasn''t enough hun? How about these?" And as if feeling provoked, the darkness reacted immediately, surging forward like a tidal wave. Within seconds, half of his barriers shattered. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Ethan''s eye twitched. "Oh? You were holding back too?" He grinned, pride flaring. "Then let me show you why I''m called The Absolute Tycoon." In an instant, the sky lit up with a storm of red and white¡ªmillions SSS-rank Space Time barriers and SSS-rank fire bombs. The sight was terrifying. Ethan''s grin stretched wider. "Oh I''m gonna enjoy this." BBOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!! The entire Forest of Death trembled. ¡­ While Ethan battled an enemy he couldn''t understand, far away¡ªhis brother, Lucas, faced something even worse: The incarnation of a god. Agni, the God of Fire. BAAMMM! Lucas crashed into the ground, hard enough to flatten a house. "Arghh¡­" Before he could recover, the sky darkened again. Above him, the massive body of Veldra, his dragon companion, was plummeting straight down. Lucas''s lips twitched. "Oh, come on¡ª!" He rolled and launched himself backward just as Veldra slammed into the ground with earth-shaking force. The dragon''s body dispersed into glowing mist¡ªand a man in his thirties appeared where he landed. His hair was Ash-white and slitted white eyes. He stood there as blood dripped from his lips. Veldra''s human form. He stood beside Lucas, panting slightly. "And you call yourself a true dragon, huh?" Lucas muttered. "You can''t even hold your ground against an A-rank incarnation. What a disappointment." He sneered. Veldra coughed awkwardly. "Master¡­ a god is a god. And Agni''s an ancient one. I can''t¡ª" "Are you two done talking yet?" A voice cut through the air. High above, a blazing red figure hovered¡ªAgni himself. The heat around him twisted the air like a mirage. His eyes glowed red, looking down at them with arrogance. "Is that all you''ve got?" he said, voice dripping with condescension. "You''re not even worth getting serious." His voice was too arrogant, as if talking with inferior beings. But Lucas didn''t even answer, his face was serious, his previous playfulness now gone. Instead, white fire ignited around him. The temperature spiked¡ªdangerously so. But it still paled in comparison to Agni''s presence. Agni''s gaze sharpened. He tilted his head slightly. "You¡­ you have potential. Your fire is interesting." Lucas didn''t even respond to him, he immediately shot into the sky without even acknowledging his words. A hundred white flame spears formed above him¡ªand rained down. Behind him, Veldra opened his mouth wide and roared with all his might. ROOOOOOAAAARRRRRR!!! BOOOOOOOMMMM!!! The air around Agni exploded. He was hurled backward¡ªstraight into the path of the incoming spears. "Tch." Agni clicked his tongue and threw up a red fire barrier¡ªbut he was too late. Half of the spears pierced through and slammed into him. BAAMM! Agni crashed into the ground. But when the dust cleared, he stood unfazed. Not in pain. Just¡­ annoyed. The white spears burned away as Agni dusted himself off. "You''re strong," he admitted. "But do you really think you can beat me with fire?" "I am the incarnation of Agni, god of fire." "Fire is my authority." He raised a finger¡ªand conjured Lucas''s exact white flame on it. "I can replicate any fire that touches me. So¡ªtell me¡ªhow will you win now?" Veldra stayed silent, but his expression remained calm. Because he knew. Lucas wasn''t even using his full strength yet. So far, he had only used his fire talent. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Lucas had another. His true strength. His SSS-rank sword talent. Lucas smirked. "That''s fine." He raised his right hand¡ªand a gleaming white long sword appeared in it. "Fire isn''t my only strength," he said softly. He lifted the blade high into the sky. "I''m a swordsman too." SLASH¡ª! Agni''s arm was instantly severed. ¡ªEnd of Chapter 66¡ª