Chapter 11: The Prodigal Brother Returns
Five Years Later —
Five years had passed since Ethan's so-called "charity event."
Back then, it was just a test of his heavenly Reciprocity skill of the system.
But now?
Ethan had become the lifeline of the Yagami family.
He pumped resources into their ranks at an absurd rate, making sure that everyone—from his parents to the lowest-ranked members—had what they needed to grow stronger.
And during these fives years…The Yagami Household had changed tremendously.
The power they now weld is unfathomable.
The power of Iris and Lionnel had become stronger. Iris is still at S rank stage and Lionnel at the SS rank stage because you can only rank up by clearing floor in the tower, but their power now is more consolidated. More impactful.
It's because of new skills perfectly tailored for them given by Ethan.
The Yagami household business also is flourishing thanks to Ethan and his artifact Hand Of Midas.
They are now the richest and strongest of the Original family.
And this rise of power did not go unnoticed by his other pairs.
And one of them has already acted.
That aside.
The insane part of all this ?
Even with all the resources he gave away, he only got richer.
At this point, Ethan wasn't just supporting his family.
He was funding a dynasty.
But it wasn't just wealth that had changed.
Ethan himself had undergone a startling transformation.
It all started with a single Siren's Tear.
A precious treasure he had given to Ellie, his personal maid.
And in return?
Eldertide Heart—a legendary potion, a treasure 10,000 times stronger than what he gave.
The effects?
Unreal.
His already handsome features became inhumanly perfect.
His midnight-black hair shimmered like liquid starlight.
His emerald-green eyes glowed, holding the depth of an ancient forest.
But that wasn't all.
The potion had granted him an S-rank water affinity, the ability to breathe underwater, and a passive charm that made water-based creatures naturally drawn to him.
And that not the only transformation he had during these five years.
Ethan's talent had evolved to B rank. And with comes evolution of each new skill but no addition of other skills.
And His aura.
His Aura of Trust had evolved into something far more terrifying—Aura of Devotion.
It wasn't mind control per see.
It simply took people's natural emotions of trust, admiration, and respect… and amplified them.
To the point where even wild beasts, creatures that should attack on sight, would hesitate before him.
And in that hesitation…
They would submit.
…
Ethan sat casually in the grand meeting hall, dressed in a simple black tunic.
Even in plain clothes, his presence was magnetic.
Sitting beside him was Chloe, his ten-year-old sister, clinging to his arm like a koala.
And today was special.
Because after 6 long years, his eldest brother, Lucas Yagami, was finally returning from the Tower.
The heir of the Yagami family.
The genius.
"Big Brother Ethan," Chloe's soft voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She hugged his arm tighter, her green eyes gleaming. "Even if Big Brother Lucas is here, you'll always be my favorite."
Ethan chuckled.
"You probably shouldn't say that in front of him," he teased. "You might hurt his feelings."
Chloe huffed, crossing her arms. "He'll live."
Ethan simply shook his head.
Suddenly—
The air shifted.
A presence descended upon the room.
The temperature fluctuated.
And then—
A figure appeared.
A tall man, with white hair like burning silver and red eyes that blazed like molten blood.
His aura was sharp—like a drawn blade.
Yet also searing—like a miniature sun.
He had arrived.
Lucas Yagami.
And the moment he did..
Lucas vanished from sight.
And in the blink of an eye—
CRACK!
Ethan's bones screamed as he was crushed into a powerful embrace.
His lungs barely got enough air before Lucas tightened his grip.
"MY BABY BROTHER!" Lucas grinned ear to ear, his voice filled with genuine warmth. "I'VE MISSED YOU!"
Ethan, struggling for his life, managed to choke out—
"LUCAS—CAN YOU LET GO?! I'M GOING TO DIE."
Lucas blinked. "Eh? You'll be fine."
"No, I WON'T."
Lucas smirked. "But you're my little brother."
"…How is that relevant?"
"It just is."
"No, it's not."
"It is."
"No, it—"
"ENOUGH."
Lionnel's deep voice cut through the air like a blade.
Lucas finally let go, though his cheeky smile remained.
Lionnel folded his arms. His green eyes—so similar to Chloe and Ethan's eyes—locked onto Lucas with a serious gaze.
"Lucas," he said. "Why were you late? You should have returned days ago."
The warmth in Lucas's expression disappeared.
His blazing red eyes filled with irritation.
His aura shifted.
Lucas walked forward, stopping just short of the table. His voice was low, yet it carried enough weight that the room fell silent.
"…I was making preparations."
A pause.
Lionnel narrowed his eyes. "For what?"
Lucas exhaled. His gaze hardened.
"…For the Floor 30 Trial."
Ethan's eyebrows raised slightly. Ah. So that was it.
Tower floors weren't just simple levels to clear.
Certain floors acted as bottlenecks—trials that determined if a climber was worthy of advancing.
Floor 30 was one such floor.
If Lucas cleared it, he'd officially rank up from B to A.
But the catch?
The Trial of Floor 30 required climbers to tame a beast.
The tower make it so the beast you have to tame is at something you will struggle with.
And the higher your talent and strength, the harder the beast you had to tame.
And Lucas?
He had two SS-ranked talents.
Which meant—
"…The Tower is making me tame a legendary beast." Lucas finally said.
The room fell dead silent.
Even Lionnel's expression tightened slightly.
A legendary beast.
Something that was supposed to be untamable.
Iris exhaled. "That… is ridiculous."
Lucas scoffed. "Tell me about it."
Ethan leaned back, a slow smile creeping onto his face.
Only legendary ?
He already had a solution.
He sighed dramatically. "Wow. That really does sound impossible."
Lucas looked at him warily. "…Why do I feel like you're about to say something ridiculous?"
Ethan smirked.
"Because I am."
—End of chapter 11—