Ethan's voice trembled, though he tried to keep it steady. "What happened?"
She sighed. "A mission your father once took—years ago. It involved an ancient ritual. He reported it was a dead end. But the client thought otherwise. They found him. Found Amanda. Found you all."
Ethan clenched his fists, but his face remained calm. Inside, he felt sothing boiling. Sothing that wasn't just his—but also belonged to this body. This blood.
"They weren't ready," Natasha continued. "Too long in peace and far from the shadows. They were… caught. The next thing we heard—was that they were dead."
There was silence.
Then Ethan finally asked, "Who was the client?"
Natasha's lips curled into a dark smile.
"It was Lyon Tusk… but you might know him better as the father of your forr classmate—Alex Tusk."
****
Ethan hadn't intended to care about Alex. He was just another pawn in a world already filled with threats. But the mont Alex sent people after him, that changed.
It put Alex on his radar. And now… now Ethan had learned that the death of his parents was connected to him too.
His blood boiled.
It wasn't even his anger—or at least, not originally. He wasn't the real Ethan of this world. But the rage that burned in his veins now felt real.
It felt familiar. He knew what it was like to lose family. And now that pain was alive again, raw and seething.
"It's like fate wants to go to war with them..." Ethan thought, his fists clenched tight. "Fine. I won't reject it. They deserve everything that's coming."
But emotions weren't enough. Right now, he didn't have the power to challenge the forces behind it all.
Not yet. He could kill Alex, sure—but that would only draw the attention of Alex's father. And Ethan wasn't strong enough to fight a war with a monster like that.
"I can't just rely on the Lancasters to fight my battles," he thought grimly. "This is personal. And I'd rather handle it on my own."
He turned to Natasha, his voice firm but quiet. "Do you know how they died? And Why after everything they didn't co after or Lisa?"
Natasha didn't answer right away. Instead, she finished the whole bottle in her hand with one long pull. Then she sighed. "I have no idea."
Ethan went silent. "....."
His look said it all—Aren't you guys supposed to know everything? "I don't know" wasn't sothing Natasha was supposed to say.
She t his eyes. "Don't look at like that. We tried. We couldn't dig any deeper. But what we did find… was the backer behind Lyon."
Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Isn't it the Green Serpents Clan?"
Natasha shook her head. "No. The true backer… is a Saint."
Ethan froze. He didn't even know how to react to that.
Saints weren't just powerful—they were legends. Heroes with divine abilities. Far beyond ordinary comprehension.
It was said that to beco a Saint, one had to be chosen by a supre being. It wasn't sothing you could train your way into.
And now Ethan was being told that one of them was supporting Lyon?
Even more painful was the irony—Ethan had hoped to find a Saint to help heal Sophia's father. The task already felt impossible.
But now it was even worse.
"If a Saint is behind Lyon," Ethan said slowly, "that gives him more reason to co after . Even the Lancasters won't be able to hold him back."
"You're right," Natasha admitted. Then she paused. "But… you can ask him why he didn't co after you and Lisa yourself."
Ethan blinked. "How am I supposed to do that?"
She smirked. "Let's see. You survived a Duality Pit incident with the Guardian evolving into an Abyss Dread. You took down five experienced Level 3 villains. And most recently—you saved all of Duskveil from collapse. And while still being a Level 1 who just awakened Two months ago."
Ethan stayed quiet.
"Your feats already rival those of seasoned heroes. Geniuses can't match what you've done. So believe , if anyone can face Lyon and get the truth, it's you. If not now—soon."
He considered her words. She had a point.
"But," she added, "it makes wonder—how can soone who awakened as a forsaken E-rank achieve all this?"
Ethan shrugged. "I experienced a rank surge in the Den."
Natasha stared at him a little too long. "Fine," she said at last, "I won't force you to talk. Out of respect for your parents."
Ethan exhaled in relief. He knew he couldn't fool Natasha the sa way he did Lisa. But he had to try.
"Luckily… she's a chill grandma." Ethan was amused by that thought.
Suddenly Natasha materialized sothing in her hand and passed it to him.
Ethan looked at it—a golden circular token, with the engraved image of a shield pierced by a sword in its center. "What's this?"
"This," Natasha said, "is a participation token for the Crownspire Ascension Tournant."
Ethan repeated it, confused. "Crownspire Ascension Tournant? What's that?"
"It's a prestigious event held once a year," Natasha explained. "Participants between the ages of 18 and 30 gather to compete. The winner earns the title Greatest of His Generation."
Ethan frowned. "The title is cool and all—but what does that have to do with ?"
She smiled. "Because there's a rumor… that the first-place prize is a request granted by a Saint."
Ethan's eyes widened. He looked at the token again, this ti gripping it tighter.
"When is it?" he asked.
"No rush," Natasha said. "It's in two weeks."
Two weeks. That was enough ti to prepare.
"How's the tournant structured?"
"It's a fighting tournant,"
"And the winner takes all. Simple."
Ethan nodded at Natasha's explanation, feigning appreciation. "Thanks," he said dryly, sarcasm lacing his tone, "you explained it so well."
Natasha picked up on the sarcasm imdiately and shot him a smug smile. "You're welco," she replied coolly.
Ethan resisted the urge to click his tongue, only to see her extend a small flash drive toward him. He took it with a curious glance, thinking, 'Generous grandma strikes again. Must be trying to make up for all the Christmas and birthday gifts she never sent.'
"This contains intel," Natasha explained. "Nas and profiles of those you need to be careful of—especially the ones expected to make the top ten in the tournant."
Ethan was unexpectedly touched by the gesture. Her help had been constant, yet the motive always eluded him. He lowered his voice, a rare hint of warmth in his tone. "Thank you, Grandma."
Realization hit him a second too late—he had said the G word.
The temperature in the room dropped instantly.
"What did you just say?" Natasha's voice was soft, but her smile was anything but comforting.
Ethan, knowing better than to fall for the bait, replied quickly and with absolute clarity, "I thanked you."
The warmth in the room returned like a switch had been flipped. Natasha nodded, satisfied.
Ethan exhaled a sigh of relief, his inner thoughts sharp as ever.
'Why is she so upset? She literally called herself Grandma earlier, whatever it's not worth overthinking.'
"There's no need to thank ," Natasha suddenly said, her expression unreadable. "After all, having a future powerhouse owe a favor is worth more than your gratitude."
Ethan narrowed his eyes slightly.
'Right. I forgot,'he thought.
'She's not just an affectionate old lady. She's the leader of the Black Widows. Sentint isn't her style—profit is and every move she makes is calculated.'
'But even so,' a final thought settled in his heart like an ember refusing to die out. 'She helped my parents before. There's still a little love left in her. Sowhere.'
His reflection was broken as Natasha's voice sliced back into the mont. "Since you've gotten what you ca for, we can end this eting."
Ethan nodded. "Okay."
"We'll et again, Ethan," Natasha said, a cryptic smile on her face.
Before he could respond, a faint glow enveloped the ground beneath him. He looked down just as the light surged, and in the next second—he was gone.
Natasha remained in the room, her expression turning pensive, lost in so silent thought.
—
Ethan reappeared inside a dimly lit, abandoned building.
He glanced around, slightly dizzy from the sudden teleportation.
"They really need to stop teleporting people without warning," he muttered, brushing dust off his sleeve.
He exited the building and waved down a passing hover taxi.
It slid to a smooth halt, the door hissing open. He climbed into the back and gave the driver the coordinates for the Hero Association HQ.
As the vehicle hovered across the skyline, Ethan leaned back, arms folded.
'I need to prepare for this tournant, he thought. But how the hell do I even begin?'
Suddenly sothing flashed in Ethan's eye.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
>> Sanctum of Beasts cooldown has ended.
>> New Feature Unlocked
>> Detected: Host has increased in level. Compatibility threshold surpassed.
>> Feature now accessible.
Ethan's lips curled into a grin as he read the glowing blue notification in front of his eyes.
"Interesting," he murmured.
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A/N I will release 3 extra chapters if I get 200 power stones or 100 Golden tickets.
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