Chapter 437: Last Moments
Ethan stared down at her for a few seconds before speaking. "You know, Beatrice... maybe, just maybe, I could’ve understood you wanting revenge against me, or even my late wife, whom you succeeded in killing."
His expression hardened.
"But you planned to go after people who had nothing to do with what happened to your father. You attacked my guild, killed Maya, and threatened to do the same to the others."
"Do you think all of that would have gone unanswered?" Ethan sighed. "This doom is yours and yours alone."
Beatrice immediately cut in, her voice filled with venom. "And you think you’re any better? You fuckin hypocrite! You and your friends killed people’s fathers, mothers, took away loved ones..."
Her eyes burned with hatred as she stared at him. "Your wife took and killed my father!, the only man who ever truly loved me."
Her tone changed into a deeper one as she said, "My only regret is that I wasn’t the one who killed that bitch myself."
Ethan reached down instantly and seized Beatrice by the mouth with his right hand. "Your father and those other clan leaders were consumed by hatred for Eduardo, the man who literally raised me. Time and again, they came after his life."
He then pointed toward Hayley and Percival, who stood close to one another. "those clan leaders were also the reason they lost their own father, who, by the way, was a dear friend of mine."
Ethan released her and shoved her back with his right hand. "Words are wasted on you."
Then he turned away and began walking, "We’re done here."
The others followed right after.
Wilson, however, remained where he was.
He slowly stepped toward Beatrice and grabbed her by the neck, his expression in anguish as tears built in his eyes.
"This is for my sister."
His grip tightened up. The muscles in his arm bulged as he applied tremendous force, crushing down on her neck until her head was severed from her body.
Beatrice Morgenstein was dead.
—
Several hours later, that same night...
Ethan had just stepped out of the shower and changed into a plain white shirt and black trousers.
He was currently standing on the balcony outside his room, looking through the system interface as he checked his progress.
[Host: Ethan Alexander Stark]
[Age: 18]
[Race: Half-Demon/Half-Dragon]
[Classification: Hybrid]
[Demon Trait: Amplification]
[Dragon Trait: Inverse]
[Race Perks:
Regeneration
Dragon Physiology (Adult Dragon→ 19%)]
-World Dragon’s Affinity:
•Aspect Of Charge Lv.2,
•Aspect of Dominion Lv2
[Special Perks: All Class, Infinite Mana, Eyes of the Sage]
[Talent Level]
∙ Summoner: Ex
∙ Caster: Ex
∙ Saber: Ex
∙ Magi-Engineer: Ex
∙ Ranger: Ex
∙ Warrior: Ex
∙ Guardian: Ex
[Inventory:
∙Ragnarok (Bond Progress: 92%)
. The Arrancar (Shortblade)
∙Growth Sprout Rune
∙Key Fragment (3/4) to Special Summoning Space]
[Experience Points: 255,650]
[SUMMONER STATUS]
[Summoner Level: 26]
[Summon Contracts: 17]
[Summoner Perks:
-Spirit King’s Authority
-Sigil Of The Spirit King (2/2)
-Culling Rite]
[Summoner Skills:
∙ Basic Summoning
∙ Borrow (Lv.5)
∙ Bonding (Lv.3)
∙ Fusion (Lv.1)]
∙ Exchange (Lv.2)
∙ Proxy (Lv.1)
[CASTER STATUS]
[Special Skill: Multi-casting]
[Caster Skills:
∙ Fireball (Tier 4)
∙ Lesser Heal (Tier 3)
∙ Air Bullets (Tier 4)
∙ Air Bomb (Tier 4)
∙ Lightning Fury Bolts (Tier 5)
∙ Water Dragon Descent (Tier 6)
∙ Ars Levitas (Tier 6)
∙ Stillbind (Tier 6)
∙ Ars Orbis (Tier 6)
∙ Interference Sealing Barrier(Tier 6)
∙ Space Sealing Barrier/Reverse Bind Sealing(Tier 6)]
∙ Ars Levavius (Tier 6)
∙ Vol Stasis (Tier 6)
[WARRIOR STATUS]
[Meridians Opened: Eight Level]
-1% progress to next level]
[Warrior Skills:
-Cannon style: Basic form
[GUARDIAN STATUS]
[Foundation Phase: Eight Level]
-1% progress to next level]
[Guardian Skills:
∙Provocation
•Titan frame
∙Rage]
[SABER STATUS]
[93% Battle Aura]
[Saber Skills: Threefold Stance]
[Ragnarok (Bonded Weapon): Battle Sense, Recall, Sentience]
[RANGER STATUS]
[Effective Range: 6km]
[Accuracy: 80%]
[Ranger-type Weapon Needed!]
[MAGI-ENGINEER CLASS HAVE NO STATUS TO DISPLAY]
His progress had also been quite significant.
His Adult Dragon level had increased by an additional 10% percent, rising from the nine percent it had previously reached to 19%.
Both his Warrior and Guardian Classes had also advanced to new levels. Even his Ranger Class, interestingly enough, had continued to develop.
Overall, the progress was substantial.
After examining the information for a while and taking note of the various developments, he dismissed the screen.
His attention then fell upon the glowing talisman attached to his arm. He stared at it for a few seconds before finally turning away and leaving the room.
—
Much later, Ethan stood before his friends, who had all gathered in the manor’s living room.
After the battle at House Morgenstein, they had chosen to spend the night at the Stark residence. Everyone had already freshened up and changed into the sleeping clothes provided for them.
"I gathered everyone here because there’s something I need to tell you." Ethan began. "I’ll be leaving for some time."
Percival made a weird face. "Leaving? To where?"
Ethan turned to him. "The Demon Continent."
Most of them had surprised expressions on their faces.
"Why?" Percy asked.
Ethan took a moment before answering. "It’s an agreement I have with my father, but it’s not solely about that...."
"I’ll be working with him on my growth because I do need to become stronger... strong enough to eventually go and rescue my mother."
For a moment, nobody seemed to know what to say.
Percival then noticed Hayley had looked strangely calm. "Wait... you know?"
Hayley gave him an incredulous look. "Duh. Of course I know. I’m going with him."
Percival made another face, "Huh?"
Hayley raised her hand, deliberately displaying the engagement ring on her finger. "Hello?"
Percival stared at her for a moment before looking back at Ethan. "Well, I’m coming too."
Ethan raised both hands in a placating gesture. "Hold on, man. Hold on.... Don’t just say you’re coming too if you don’t honestly understand what you’re walking into."
Ethan pointed toward Hayley. "Hayley is only coming because I couldn’t get her to back out. I was originally supposed to go with Eduardo and Miss Bernadette."
Percival frowned. "But what’s this really about? You just said you need to grow stronger and then go rescue your mom. What other reason is there?"
"Well, I need to grow stronger too," he added, "And I’m sure you’ll need help rescuing your—"
He trailed off when Ethan sighed and shook his head and said "Do you even know where my mother is?"
Percival paused. "No, but does that matter?"
"Yes." Ethan’s expression became more serious. "My mother is being held prisoner by the Dragon Emperor."
Percival’s eyes widened, as did those of the others.
Aliyah and Bettie seemed a little bit more creeped out than the others.
"Yes," Ethan continued. "The Dragon Emperor."
"My journey doesn’t end at the Demon Continent."
He shook his head. "This isn’t like just clearing Breach Zones. It’s not some simple expedition... We’re entering a den of Dragons, and we might not even make it out alive."
Percival suddenly went quiet.
Ethan looked around at everyone before continuing. "I just wanted to let you all know because I intend to leave every other responsibility in your hands until I return."
"So please, handle things properly at the guild. There’ll be plenty more pay of course."
Percival stared at him for a moment before saying. "I have one question."
Ethan sighed. "Okay, Percival. What’s the question?"
"If my father was alive and was being held prisoner by the Dragon Emperor, would you not help me fight him?"
Ethan’s expression change. "Percival, this isn’t the same. It—"
Percival immediately raised a hand, cutting him up. "Nope. Don’t even start."
"Listen, man. I don’t know how you thought you could get me to back down when you didn’t succeed with Hayley"
He shook his head. "We’ve gone from being best friends to being brothers here. And if my brother is going to walk into something this dangerous, then he’s going to need someone watching his back."
"This isn’t a debate. All you have to tell me is what I need to pack and when we’re leaving."
Ethan stared at him for a second then said, "Who the hell is going to take care of the guild? I don’t intend to stop either the guild or the company’s operations while I’m gone."
Percival shrugged. "Come on. Wilson’s here, along with the others. They literally know how this guild shit works."
Wilson, however, suddenly raised a hand. "I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to count me out of that.... Because I’ll be coming with you guys too."
Ethan immediately slapped his palm over his face and dragged it down slowly, while Percival chuckled at his declaration.
Ethan turned back to him. "What the hell are you doing, Wilson?"
"Honestly? I don’t know either." Wilson leaned back a bit, "But the truth is, I don’t think I want to be at the guild right now. I can’t.... I don’t think I can keep going there every day when all I would keeping seeing is Maya’s final moments."
His gaze dropped for a moment.
"I need some time away to clear my head, and honestly, this seems like the right thing for me right now."
He looked back at Ethan.
"So, yeah... I’m coming with you, if you’ll have me. But you won’t, then I don’t know, ... I’ll just fuck off somewhere else I guess, but the guild is not where I want to be right now."