’I was given a second chance at life.’
’A chance to conquer this ga once again and achieve what everyone before failed to accomplish.’
’But lately... I’ve started wondering whether that’s truly the reason I keep fighting.’
"I think..."
"I’m simply afraid."
He admitted quietly.
’Afraid of being nothing more than a pawn in so higher being’s hands.’
’Afraid of dying without aning.’
’Afraid of living another life that brings nothing good in the end.’
Luna had described him as emotionless.
Soone who never appeared desperate.
Soone who showed no fear whatsoever, even when faced with a colossal monster like the Iron Demon or trapped inside an ancient prison overflowing with nightmares.
But reality was different.
Ethan believed the fear inside him was greater than anyone else’s.
"All this effort..."
"This exhausting training day and night..."
"And all the insane plans I keep coming up with..."
He smiled faintly, though the smile felt forced.
"They’re nothing more than my attempt to run away from fear."
It was a rare mont of weakness from Ethan.
A mont where he exposed feelings he almost never allowed anyone to see.
Luna listened silently the entire ti, observing him from the corner of her eye before eventually looking ahead.
"...I see."
She answered quietly.
Ethan laughed softly afterward.
"I should really stop hanging around you."
"I always end up saying things I never intended to say."
"That isn’t my fault."
"You’re the one who keeps coming to every ti."
Luna replied while sitting beside him.
Then she pointed toward the scrolls resting in his hands.
"Let’s begin the lesson."
"We’ve wasted enough ti already."
In response, Ethan smiled and gave her a small nod.
"As you wish, my lady."
The two spent the next several hours studying magic together, and for the very first ti in his life, Ethan successfully cast several low-tier spells.
Every single ti he attempted to learn magic, he risked changing classes.
But fortunately for him—
The cooldown period of [Class Change At Will] had decreased significantly after his recent advancent in rank.
Now he only needed to wait six hours between each change.
The transition from an Elite Knight to an Elite Mage was astonishing by itself.
Yet Ethan still had not begun applying it in actual combat due to his lack of powerful spells.
And because of his extrely limited mana reserves, restricted by the Blessing of Eventual Greatness.
Even so—
Ethan knew the day he would rely on magic would eventually co without question.
Magic was one of the greatest weapons in all of Ordeal.
And Luna herself was the perfect example.
The high-tier spells she unleashed each ti were enough to annihilate dozens of powerful monsters effortlessly.
There existed countless thods of combat within the vast world of Ordeal.
Far beyond simply swords and magic.
Endless paths.
And because Ethan possessed the ability to change classes at will, he intended to place his hand upon as many of those paths as possible.
To accomplish sothing like that—
He first needed to beco stronger and free himself from the Heart Curse so he could finally leave and roam the vast world without chains binding him down.
Surviving Old Ashvarn...
Was rely the first step he needed to overco.
’If I survive this city...’
’I’ll undoubtedly beco far stronger.’
And so, two entire days passed quickly.
The Hunters spent them in their own ways while waiting for Jackson to recover.
Ethan and Raiden trained like madn.
Especially Ethan, who benefited enormously from his demonic body.
Others spent their ti ntally preparing themselves for what awaited them in the depths.
Preparing to face the nightmares hidden there.
And so simply remained lost in thought, looking as though they stood on the verge of collapse.
Then there was Schierke—
The strange witch whose smile never once left her face, laughing and playing around despite everything they were going through.
Jackson’s injuries after fighting the Iron Demon had been horrifyingly severe.
So severe that most Hunters believed his recovery would take a very long ti.
The priest himself even assud Jackson would never fully recover at all.
Yet the giant shocked everyone when he stood up on his own feet rely two days after the battle.
The body that had once looked utterly destroyed had stabilized dramatically, and his overwhelming muscles had regained their usual intimidating presence as though nothing had ever happened.
The priest personally ca to examine him in front of all the Hunters, many of whom suspected Jackson was simply pretending to appear strong.
But their doubts quickly vanished.
The mont the priest examined those monstrous muscles, confusion beca obvious across his face.
"Most of his internal injuries..."
"They’ve already healed?"
Even he struggled to believe it.
"I told you already, you incompetent priest."
Jackson casually punched the empty air.
"All I needed was so sleep."
The punch produced a deafening explosion, and the pressure generated from it cracked one of the distant walls despite not even striking it directly.
Jackson had returned to normal.
And that strange grin of his returned as he stretched his body casually.
"I can fight again."
"So let’s head back into the depths."
His words were t with long silence from the Hunters.
Especially Moon Heart, who now stood as their appointed leader.
"This... is far faster than I expected."
She sighed quietly before continuing.
"I should’ve expected ordinary standards wouldn’t apply to soone at the level of Kings."
Jackson’s recovery speed stunned everyone.
Most had believed several more days remained before they could return to battle.
But the giant Hunter shattered those expectations completely and caught them off guard.
"That recovery speed is definitely abnormal..."
Ethan muttered aloud unconsciously, causing Raiden beside him to glance at him with a frown.
"You’re the last person who has the right to say that."
"Your recovery speed isn’t any worse than his."
"Haha... you’re exaggerating."
Ethan replied with a dry laugh before shifting his gaze back toward Jackson.
"This happened faster than we expected..."
"But it changes nothing."
"We were going either way."
"Tomorrow or a week from now... it’s all the sa."
Moon Heart now held authority over the Hunters, aning the decision ultimately rested in her hands.
Jackson himself showed no opposition whatsoever.
He had left the issue of leadership entirely to them from the beginning.
After several monts of thought, Moon quickly made her decision and announced clearly for everyone to hear.
"We resu the plan tomorrow."
"Get as much rest as possible."
"Because we’re returning to the depths."
"Either our fire reaches the Hunters outside..."
"Or we die trying to ignite it."
Many nodded firmly after hearing those words.
Others stiffened silently.
The ssage still had not reached the Elders outside.
And no help had arrived yet.
anwhile...
Deep within the Cathedral—
At its deepest region, where a magnificent throne rested—
The throne itself remained completely empty.
No one sat upon it.
A long staircase stretched downward before it, and upon one of the countless steps near the throne—
The Golden Knight sat alone with his arms resting atop his legs and his head lowered silently.
His crimson cloak spread behind him while his golden armor continued shining despite the imnse amount of ti he had spent waiting within that place.
His red eyes glowed faintly as he looked ahead.
And he was already aware that Ethan and the others had defeated the Iron Demon.
"Ah..."
"So the ti has finally co?"
He spoke in a deep, cold voice completely different from the one he had used while speaking to Ethan previously.
"The ti..."
"For these hands to be stained with blood once more."
"The blood..."
"Of my beloved clan."
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