In Ebonreach District, the beating heart of City X, the rich, elite, and powerful lived in a world apart from the struggles of the common people.
The streets were lined with hovercars, their sleek forms gliding noiselessly along the private lanes designated for the upper class.
Among these luxurious vehicles, a jet-black hovercar moved smoothly through the streets, cutting through traffic with an aura of silent authority.
This car wasn't just a display of wealth—it was a statent.
And the driver?
He was a Level 5 Champion, a warrior powerful enough to command respect in any circle.
Which begged the question—who inside the car was important enough to be chauffeured by such a fighter?
The answer was simple.
Sophia Lancaster.
The Prodigy of the Lancaster Family.
As the only child of one of the most powerful families in City X, Sophia Lancaster had been born into greatness.
She was a prodigy in every sense of the word—brilliant, ruthless, and powerful.
The mont she awakened as a Legendary Hero, her destiny had been set in stone.
At 25 years old, she had already reached Level 6 Master, an accomplishnt that placed her among the elite.
She was the envy of countless won and the subject of countless n's fantasies—a woman who had everything: power, beauty, and prestige.
As the hovercar approached the Lancaster Estate, its sheer grandeur beca visible.
The Lancaster Estate wasn't just a mansion—it was a city within a city.
Spanning hundreds of acres, it housed gardens, training grounds, personal research labs, and private buildings for various family operations.
The main building alone was a fortress of elegance, towering over the rest of the estate like a monunt to the Lancaster family's dominance.
The hovercar pulled into a private entrance, stopping smoothly before the main building's entrance.
The mont the car halted, the front doors of the mansion swung open, and a butler stepped forward with precise, practiced movents.
With a slight bow, he opened the door for Sophia.
"Young Miss, your mother is expecting you in the dining hall."
Sophia simply nodded, stepping out of the car and making her way into the building.
As Sophia entered the dining hall, she saw her mother already seated at the head of the table, waiting.
Alia Lancaster was a woman of poise and power, her presence commanding even in silence.
Sophia greeted her with a respectful nod before taking her seat.
"How are you feeling?" Alia asked, her voice smooth but probing.
Sophia paused briefly, noting the way her mother's sharp erald eyes studied her.
It was a look that had dissected kings and broken rivals—but Sophia was used to it.
She forced a small smile. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" her mother pressed, tilting her head slightly. "You didn't seem fine yesterday evening."
At those words, Sophia's expression faltered.
Her fingers clenched slightly against the fabric of her dress before she quickly masked it, frowning.
"I don't want to talk about it."
Her mother's eyes lingered on her for a mont longer before she leaned back, as if considering whether to push the issue.
Instead, she simply asked, "Where were you last night?"
Sophia's breath hitched, but only for an instant.
Her training kicked in, and she answered smoothly, "I was at an associates eting."
A clear lie.
But her mother didn't challenge it. Instead, she rely nodded and picked up her glass of wine, saying nothing more as they began to eat.
But Sophia knew.
She knew her mother was still going to investigate further and it will be a matter of ti before she found out.
Sophia's years of experience started formulating plans to avoid future trouble with her mother.
If she wanted to get out of this she had to outsmart her mother and the queen of tactics—Alia.
'What the hell did I get myself into'
After finishing her al, Sophia excused herself and left the dining hall.
As Alia Lancaster sat at the dining table, she took a slow sip of her wine, deep in thought.
Sophia was not herself.
She was always composed, always in control—but today, she had been shaken.
And sothing had happened last night.
Sothing that had made her distracted.
Alia sighed internally, hoping her instincts were wrong.
****
The mont Sophia entered her room, she exhaled deeply.
Her fingers ran through her silky blond hair, frustration and unease swirling inside her.
Her mother had noticed.
Of course, she had. That woman missed nothing. And the way Sophia had reacted would only make her more suspicious.
But there was nothing she could do about it now.
She slowly walked to the edge of her bed, her mind drifting to the reason for all of this.
Him.
Ethan.
His dark hair, his golden eyes—that sharp, defiant gaze that looked like the world itself was against him.
She had seen herself in those eyes.
And maybe that's why she had done it.
Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was the thrill of rebellion.
Or maybe it was because, for the first ti in a long ti… she had seen soone who understood.
And that had terrified her.
Sophia let out a slow, shaky breath, her hands tightening into fists.
Damn him.
Her jaw clenched. She needed to handle this before it beca a problem.
Reaching for her phone, she dialed a number.
The mont the line connected, she spoke, her voice sharp and to the point.
"Rember that favor you owe ?"
A pause.
"I found a way for you to pay back."
****
Ethan moved through the vast, open flatlands, his body low as he navigated the treacherous terrain.
There was no real cover, only large, scattered rocks that provided little protection.
Worse still, the distance between each was far too great, making it nearly impossible to rely on them for a proper cover.
But difficulty wouldn't stop him.
He had set out with a goal, and no matter the obstacles, the risks, or the pain, he was going to achieve it.
As he ascended a gentle hill, his sharp eyes caught movent in the distance.
Below, standing amid the tall, wind-swept grass, was a Horned Skervel.
At first glance, the creature looked almost harmless.
Its round, furry body was compact, no larger than a small calf.
Its big, beady black eyes gave it an innocent, almost adorable expression as it lazily nibbled on the grass.
Its short, sturdy legs and soft brown fur made it seem more like a docile farm animal than a monster.
But Ethan wasn't fooled.
The single, spiral horn jutting from its forehead wasn't just for show—it was a lethal weapon.
Ethan steadied his dagger, gripping it tightly.
Killing this monster was the first step in a thousand—the first necessary kill on his path to power.
His golden eyes burned with determination.
"You should be honored," he muttered under his breath. "You are the first to support my rise to power."
And with that, he lunged forward.
In an instant, the Horned Skervel's ears twitched.
The mont Ethan's dagger stabbed forward, the creature twisted its body, dodging with unnatural speed.
What?
Ethan's eyes widened—but it was already too late.
The Skervel sprang off its back legs, its movents shockingly fast, and before Ethan could react—
SHLK!
The horn drove straight into his chest.
Pain exploded through his body. His breath hitched, his vision blurred, and his strength vanished.
His fingers twitched weakly, his dagger slipping from his grasp as blood spilled onto the dry grass beneath him.
The Skervel yanked its horn free, and Ethan collapsed onto the grass, gasping for breath as his world turned black.
---
Light flooded Ethan's eyes.
The sensation of cold stone beneath him sent a shiver down his spine. He blinked rapidly, his chest heaving as he processed what had just happened.
He was no longer in the flatlands.
Instead, he stood before a faintly glowing altar, a massive, circular platform engraved with ancient runes.
The Rebirth Altar.
His heart pounded, his mind racing.
He looked down at himself—his chest was whole again, no trace of the fatal wound.
A second passed in stunned silence before a single thought escaped his lips.
"What the hell?"
A/N: Any ideas for an ability can be given in the comnts and it may be used as an ability Ethan will awaken in future chapters.
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