"A what…?" Ethan asked, puzzled, his brows furrowing as he looked deeply at Airi.
"An Archdemon," Airi replied calmly, her gaze drifting back to the black river and the grotesque beast statue that spat out its endless stream.
"An Archdemon is a demon who has reached Stage 3 godhood. But even among them, there were exceptions—monsters who were stronger, darker, deeper."
She paused.
"They were the ones who began to embody one of the Seven Deadly Sins."
Ethan tilted his head, his curiosity growing by the second.
"And what makes them so different?" he asked instantly, that familiar glint of excitent already burning in his eyes.
Because Ethan—above all—loved learning about gods, powers, titles, systems, histories. Especially the hidden truths of divine-level beings, the kind you weren't supposed to know unless you paid with your life or your karma.
And now… Airi had told him that he was standing in a place that held the corpse of one of those beings?
Ethan could barely stop himself from rushing in imdiately.
'An opportunity like this… without spending karmic points?'
Yes. He would milk this for all it was worth.
But before he could think further, Airi's voice brought him back.
"They're special because an Archdemon who embodies a sin isn't just any demon. It ans they were either a direct disciple or child of a Demon Lord."
She gave a wry smile.
"And even among gods, background matters. No one with a working brain would provoke a Demon Lord who embodies sothing like Greed, Wrath, or Pride. No one gets to that level by being stupid."
"But it's not just the background," she continued. "To embody a sin ans you gain power over that sin in others."
"aning?" Ethan asked—right as a grand obsidian table materialized in front of them, loaded with rich, steaming dishes and glittering drinks.
Airi blinked. Paused.
And she stared.
Ethan shrugged casually, smiling.
"It was getting long, and I figured—why not eat while learning sothing new?"
He gestured at the table. "Help yourself. I'm generous with food."
He handed her a thick cut of red at that glistened with sauce, aroma thick and mouth-watering. Airi found herself gulping uncontrollably, saliva pooling in her mouth before she could stop it.
Ethan raised a brow.
"You're drooling? For this? I wonder how you'd react if it were dragon at—or heavenly sheep from the those exotic beasts. "
He sighed dramatically.
Yes, his Saintess needed training in extravagance. He couldn't have her embarrassing his image.
Airi's lips twitched, but she wisely stayed silent. Though inwardly…
'Not everyone's used to being spoiled by wealth like it's air, Ethan…'
"So," Ethan said between elegant bites, "let's continue, shall we?"
Airi picked up another piece of at, eating while speaking.
"Soone who embodies a sin can control that sin within others. For example, soone who embodies Pride can amplify your pride to the point that it devours you from within."
She paused.
"But the deeper truths and deeper applications of it… only soone who embodies a sin could explain those themselves."
She didn't bother hiding the fact she wanted to focus on eating.
It was a strange sight—two dangerously beautiful beings enjoying divine cuisine while seated beside a cursed river of black water in a forest known for death.
A beautiful sight, too.
But that stillness ended the mont Ethan stood up.
"Then let go ask the Archdemon," he said softly, with a smile curling at his lips.
Airi blinked. Sighed inwardly. She should've expected this.
"How do you plan to ask a dead being?" she asked, rising to stand beside him.
Ethan just smiled again.
"You know better than anyone, Airi… gods are not easy to kill. And even if he's truly dead… does it matter?"
His gaze was far away now—focused on the beast from which the river flowed.
"Let guess. That grotesque statue it's the entrance, right?"
Airi nodded. "Yes. I've sent intruders toward it before. But once they reach a certain distance, it transforms into a real beast and kills them instantly."
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"Strength level?"
"Unknown," she said. "Its strength matches the intruder's level. But it always wins. Easily."
Ethan nodded slowly.
He wasn't worried.
There were a dozen ways he could kill the thing.
But as he stared at it, a new thought crept into his mind.
'Why not build my own realm like this?'
A secret entrance filled with traps, trials and even puzzles. And only those who pass—those worthy—could et him.
He could scatter entrances throughout the Tower. Every corner of the narrative.
And whoever succeeded… would be rewarded.
It would be a perfect system. A perfect way to create legend.
A thod to spread his influence.
[…That's actually a very good idea.]
The system's voice echoed.
Ethan frowned.
'What do you an actually ? Are you surprised I ca up with it?'
[Yes, indeed. I am surprised, Host.]
Ethan didn't bother responding.
He knew he was the smart one. He had nothing to prove to his system.
So, instead, he focused again on the beast.
"Hm… I would've used my sword bloodline… but I haven't absorbed any sword techniques yet, so…"
His face brightened.
"Let's just do what I do best."
Which ant—
Using money to brute-force reality.
He lazily slid his hand into his pocket.
"You said we need to approach for the beast to activate, right?" he asked, tone soft and lazy.
Airi nodded. "Yes."
"What if," Ethan said, smiling now, "we don't approach at all?"
Airi blinked.
"…I've never tried that."
Ethan smirked. "Then let's try it now."
And with that, light began to form around him.
Thousands of shimring motes appeared—then tens of thousands.
The sky changed color as the world seed to pause, the air thinning under the pressure of the incoming power.
Ethan looked up.
Still not enough.
He will for more.
The sky filled with lights, glowing spheres of destruction that vibrated silently with power too dense to be natural.
"Explosions are fun," he said with a grin. "But this ti…"
"…let's just erase everything in silence."
SSS-rank Skill: Void Explosion.
Ethan stood there, hands still in his pockets, unbothered by the weight of the annihilation hovering above him.
Airi, at his side, looked up with only mild surprise. Not fear. Not awe. Just calm intrigue—because by now, this was simply who Ethan was.
He smirked.
"Boom."
He whispered the word, almost fondly.
And—
Everything was erased.
—End of Chapter 76—
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