Ethan emerged from the dungeon, his body aching from the grueling battle against Aldric. The fresh air hit him like a wave of relief, but he knew there was little time to revel in his victory. Aldric's death wouldn't go unnoticed. The academy's power structure had just been shaken to its core, and soon, the consequences would come knocking.
The moment he stepped out, a notification flashed before his eyes.
[Passive Ability Mastered: Titan's Ascent → Colossus Rebirth]
Ethan frowned, analyzing the new ability. Colossus Rebirth. Unlike Titan's Ascent, this ability did more than just enhance his strength. It fortified his body even further, reducing incoming damage significantly and granting him a burst of regeneration when sustaining heavy injuries. His endurance had skyrocketed to an entirely new level. He clenched his fists, feeling the surging power coursing through him.
"Not bad."
A soft chuckle pulled his attention away from his system. Sylvia Frostheart stood nearby, arms crossed, her ice-blue eyes gleaming with amusement. "You look like someone who just took down a vice president. Oh wait, you did."
Ethan exhaled, cracking his neck. "And what about you? Are you here to lecture me or congratulate me?"
Sylvia's smirk widened. "A little bit of both. Aldric was a problem, but you just made a bigger one."
"Let me guess—the academy's higher-ups won't let this slide?" Ethan mused, already knowing the answer.
Sylvia stepped closer, her gaze serious. "Exactly. Aldric may have been a jealous fool, but he was still part of the hierarchy. His family won't let this slide, and the academy's council will start asking questions. You've made too many enemies, Ethan."
He smirked. "Good. They can line up one by one."
A heavy silence followed before Sylvia let out an exasperated sigh. "You're reckless, but that's what makes you interesting. Just don't die before you prove me right."
Before Ethan could respond, a sudden gust of wind signaled another presence.
Seraphina Nightshade.
The young mistress of the Nightshade family landed gracefully a few meters away, her raven-black hair flowing behind her. Her crimson eyes flickered between Ethan and Sylvia before settling on him.
"Ethan." Her voice was smooth yet laced with something unreadable.
"Seraphina," Ethan greeted, studying her closely. She had grown stronger since their last encounter, her aura sharper, more refined.
"I heard about what happened," she said, stepping closer. "Aldric is dead by your hands. The academy is in turmoil."
Ethan's expression remained neutral. "Are you here to scold me too?"
Seraphina's lips curled into a small smirk. "No. I came to see if you're still standing. Looks like you are."
Sylvia narrowed her eyes slightly. "You sound almost impressed."
Seraphina shrugged. "Should I not be?" Her gaze locked onto Ethan's. "Power is everything in this world. Aldric was an obstacle. Now he's not. I admire that kind of decisiveness."
Ethan arched an eyebrow. "Admire, huh?"
Seraphina held his gaze for a moment before turning away. "For now, be careful. Aldric's death won't be the end of this. It's only the beginning."
With that, she vanished into the shadows, leaving Ethan and Sylvia alone.
Sylvia sighed. "She's not wrong, you know. You just started a storm."
Ethan smirked. "Then let it rage."
As he walked forward, he could feel it—the weight of his actions settling in, the shift in the balance of power. More enemies would come, more challenges would rise, but one thing was certain.
He was ready.
To be continued…