Ethan vanished from the battlefield in a flicker of golden light.
When he reappeared, he was standing in front of Rose’s house. His clone still guarded the courtyard, unmoving, like a divine knight descended to watch over them.
Inside, the others were slowly awakening from their forced slumber.
Rose was curled on the couch, her delicate face wet with tears. In her sleep, she kept murmuring broken words.
"Please don’t go...I won’t argue anymore. I won’t shout at you. Co back, Ethan...I’ll only love you..."
Hearing her soft, choked voice, Ethan’s expression softened. What was this silly girl dreaming about?
A mont later, everyone began to stir. As soon as Rose opened her eyes, she searched the room in panic. The instant she spotted Ethan beside her, she threw herself into his arms without hesitation.
He held her close, steadying her trembling shoulders.
Jack sat up, rubbing his forehead groggily. "Ethan...do you know what happened?"
"We probably all fainted," Ethan said calmly. "I woke up a few minutes ago and found everyone still unconscious."
Jack frowned. What could attack the entire city and make everyone collapse at once? He knew there were rare soul-attacker beasts capable of such feats...but they were almost never seen.
Could it have been a soul-type monster?
He pulled out his phone to check the news—and saw over thirty missed calls. All of them were from his grandfather, Alexander Hunt.
Grandpa must have heard about the attack, Jack thought, heart tightening. He opened a news site.
Every channel was broadcasting the sa story: the titanic battle between the Wind Eagle and a golden-armored warrior. The entire city was in awe. People called that figure a legend already—the man who had fought a monster alone and saved thousands with his godlike healing light.
Jack stared at the footage, his eyes wide. That healing radiance...why does it look so familiar?
His gaze flicked to Ethan, who sat quietly between Elina and Rose, as if nothing had happened.
No...impossible. Ethan is just a warrior. Even if he were so reincarnated entity out of a fantasy novel, he couldn’t beco a Level 9 King in a matter of days. He forced himself to look away. It must be soone else.
His phone rang again. This ti, he answered.
"Hello, Grandpa. We’re all g—"
Before he could finish, Alexander’s voice thundered from the other end.
"Your father and uncle have disappeared!"
Jack shot to his feet, his face pale. "What do you an, disappeared? They’re Emperors!"
"I sent them toward Base City Five for Ethan’s engagent ceremony," Alexander said, his tone raw with tension. "We lost all contact forty-five minutes later after their departure. They vanished while passing by the sea."
Jack swallowed. It can’t be... But the details were too precise. Sothing terrible had happened.
He realized Alexander likely hadn’t even heard about the attack in the city. The old man was worried sick about his sons.
"Don’t worry, Grandpa," Jack said softly. "I’m sure they’ll be alright."
Ethan had been listening to every word, his brows knitted together. Two Emperors—gone without a trace? Was it an accident? Or sothing orchestrated?
Jack looked at him. "Ethan, your great-grandpa called."
"I heard, Dad," Ethan replied. His voice was calm, but his eyes were cold with focus. "It’s a matter that needs investigation." He exhaled.
Elina asked, "What exactly happened?"
Jack explained in a few terse sentences.
Rose wiped her cheeks and whispered, "Ethan...let’s hold the ceremony so other day. Too many bad things happened today..."
Ethan shook his head slowly. "Fate doesn’t want to complete this ceremony. That’s exactly why I will. Nothing will stop today from making you mine—not even destiny itself."
He extended his hand to Jack. "Dad, give the ring."
Rose’s eyes turned red again as tears welled up and spilled down her cheeks. Warmth flooded her heart, driving away the lingering fear.
Elizabeth covered her mouth, sobbing quietly. She was simply happy to see her daughter loved this much.
Jack and Elina exchanged a look and nodded. That’s the resolve a man should have. Go on, kid.
Ethan took the slender silver ring and gently slipped it onto Rose’s finger. Then he pulled her into his embrace, resting his chin against her hair.
"You’re mine, Rose," he murmured. "Nothing in this world can tear us apart."
When he finally stepped back, he looked at Jack. "We’ll need to decide when to leave for Super City."
He’d had other plans for tomorrow, but now everything had changed. They might have to depart sooner.
Suddenly, Alexander called again—this ti, his voice booming with excitent.
"Hahaha! Jack, don’t worry anymore—they ca back! Your father and uncles are fine. They discovered a new realm. That’s where they vanished to. Ethan really is the Hunt family’s lucky star!"
Relief washed over Jack’s face. Ethan also felt a weight lift from his chest. But the word realm echoed in his mind. A realm? What kind of place could make Great-Grandfather this excited?
Jack cleared his throat. "We’ll discuss it later. For now, let’s go ho. We have to prepare for tomorrow’s party. All three old n will probably co."
Ethan nodded. "Alright."
He kissed Rose’s forehead before leaving with his parents. At the doorway, he paused.
"Aunty," he said gently, "soone will co to pick you up tomorrow morning. You can co to our house to get ready for the party."
Elizabeth smiled through her tears. "Okay."
Ethan returned to his room alone.
He wasn’t in the mood to eat.
If I’d been a little stronger today...I could have killed that monster instantly. He clenched his fists. I was gambling with everyone’s lives. If even a single breath attack had struck the city...
He didn’t let himself finish the thought. He had only one answer: I need to break through tonight.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Ethan activated the Primordial Three-Elent Breathing Technique.
A vortex of energy swirled around him, rippling the air.
Three hours later, he broke through to Level 2 Grandmaster.
Another three hours passed.
Level 3 Grandmaster.
It was almost morning. He could feel that breaking through to Level 4 would take at least another five hours. He didn’t have that much ti.
Still, the two breakthroughs had granted him 4,500 points of physique and spirit.
He looked at this core. It was 88 cm before. Now it beca 94 cm. 3 cm increasent per level. Not bad. The core would soon beco 1 ter.
He glanced at his status panel. At 5 a.m it would double, as always.
Now it was 4:55 a.m. Only five minutes to go.
> [Master: Ethan Hunt]
Physique: 282,260
Spirit: 282,260
Talent: Infinite Competition
Ethan rose and went to wash his face. He wouldn’t be sleeping tonight. In a few hours, he needed to visit the Martial Hall and see Charles—and check on the others who had fought beside him.
At exactly 5:00 a.m., he checked his panel again.
> [Master: Ethan Hunt]
Physique: 564,520
Spirit: 564,520
Talent: Infinite Competition
His base strength now rivaled a Level 4 King.
With his 72x combat multiplier, that ant a force of 40.6 million tons—equivalent to the power of a Level 2 Emperor.
Ethan finally felt a asure of security. But he didn’t stop. He drew his sword and began practicing the Extinction Sword Art.
At Level 3, it gave him a 6x multiplier. If he could reach Level 4, it would increase to 9x.
Hours passed in a blur of motion and focus.
Finally—
> [Ding! You have reached Level 4!]
He exhaled, sweat streaming down his face.
With a 9x multiplier from the technique and 12x from his sword intent, his total amplification reached 108x.
His maximum combat power soared to 60.9 million tons.
Damn, he thought, gripping the blade. That’s the base strength of a Level 3 Emperor which was 54 million.
Confidence settled in his chest like a solid stone.
It was 9 a.m. Ti to head to the Martial Hall.
He had promised Ryan and the other three boys that he would help them with their awakening. And he needed to see if Charles was ready to take the test.
Now that his core had expanded again, Ethan felt his reserves surging. He could create another clone without strain.
He focused, and a second projection of himself materialized beside him—a silent figure, perfectly lifelike. He placed a simple white mask over its face, concealing its identity.
"Go," he instructed softly.
The clone nodded and vanished, heading straight for Rose’s house to stand guard.
Ethan took a deep breath, then swung a leg over his sleek black bike. With a low growl of the engine, he sped toward the Martial Hall.
When he arrived, the place was still in disarray.
Shattered glass littered the walkways. Workers moved back and forth, replacing windows and sweeping debris into piles. Even the walls were pitted with claw marks and scorch trails—a testant to how close the city had co to disaster.
Ethan parked and made his way through the halls without stopping. He reached Charles’s office and knocked lightly before stepping inside.
The old man looked up from a stack of reports. He seed tired, but far better than he had the day before—when he’d been barely clinging to life.
Wasn’t he on the verge of death yesterday? Ethan thought.
Charles studied him for a mont, then offered a quiet smile.
"I’m happy to see you’re alright, Ethan."
The words were simple, but Ethan could feel the depth behind them. A warmth spread through his chest. Even after everything, Charles still cared.
He inclined his head. "I saw the video. I’m glad to see you alive too, old man."
Charles gave a raspy chuckle. "So, what brings you here? Did you co just to say that?"
Ethan shook his head. "I ca for sothing else."
He explained his purpose—about the boys he’d promised to help.
Charles listened, then nodded with a thoughtful look. "Alright. We can always use fresh blood. Who knows—maybe soone among your friends will awaken a good talent."
He gestured toward the door.
"Call them here. I’ll make the arrangents for their test."
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