Chapter 13: The Weight of Power
"What is that, Ethan?"
Iris's voice was sharp, serious—so much so that she used his actual name instead of calling him her "baby" or "beloved son." That alone was enough to make everyone freeze.
Ethan sighed, realizing his family was about to overreact.
So he shrugged and said in the most casual tone, "Oh, it's just a drop of blood from a Stage 1 True Dragon. Nothing too serious."
Silence.
Not the normal kind of silence. No, this was the type where the entire world seemed to stop.
Even Lionnel, who had faced countless horrors in the Tower, just stared at Ethan as if he had grown two heads.
Eva, the cold and reserved one, who barely reacted to anything, was now gripping the table so hard that ice started to form around her fingers.
Lucas?
His jaw actually dropped.
And Iris?
"W-WHAT?!" The entire family screamed at the same time.
Ethan winced, rubbing his ears. "Relax, you guys are acting like I just said I burned the house down."
"Ethan," Lionnel said, his voice unusually strained, "do you have any idea what you just said?"
"A Stage 1 God's blood?!" Eva's usually calm voice rose an octave.
"Yes?" Ethan said, tilting his head. "I thought that was clear the first time."
Lionnel ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "You—You casually pull out something that no one in the entire world has never possessed and expect us to just sit here and act normal?!"
"Exactly!" Lucas joined in. "Where the hell did you even get this?!"
Ethan chuckled, amused by their reactions.
"Where do you think?" He leaned back, grinning. "From my skill, obviously."
Lucas blinked. "What?"
Ethan waved his hand dismissively. "You all know how my skill works. If I give something with genuine goodwill, I get back something five times better. I've been giving away many things for years now. After enough cycles, I got this."
His family was still stunned.
They knew his ability was broken, but… this?
Iris finally snapped out of it, rubbing her temples like she had the worst headache in existence.
"Ethan," she started. "Do you have any idea what kind of chaos this would cause if word got out?"
Ethan shrugged. "Then we just don't let word get out. Problem solved."
His family stared at him.
Lucas sighed and slumped back into his chair, muttering, "This guy is insane."
Iris, on the other hand, was staring at him with a complicated expression.
Her son…
Her little baby…
Had become something completely beyond their understanding.
—
After a long pause, Lucas hesitantly asked, "You were planning to give this to me, weren't you?"
Ethan nodded. "Yeah. Why?"
Lucas sighed, rubbing his face. "And… you want me to give this to a beast?"
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Obviously. You need to tame the Ashen Fire Wyvern, right? Give it this, and it'll worship the ground you walk on."
Lucas stared at Ethan like he had lost his mind.
"Are you insane?!"
"Depends on who you ask," Ethan quipped.
Lucas groaned. "No. Absolutely not. Do you have any idea how rare this is? If I drink this, my talent, Empyrean Hellfire, will evolve beyond SS-rank! I might even have a shot at reaching Stage 1 God in the future!"
Ethan sighed, already expecting this reaction.
"You can't, Lucas."
"Why not?!"
Ethan leaned forward, his emerald-green eyes glowing slightly.
"Because your body is too weak."
Lucas froze.
Ethan continued, "Even Mother would struggle to absorb it. You? A mere B-rank? You'd explode on the spot."
Lucas' mouth opened, then closed.
"…Tch." He clicked his tongue in frustration. "Damn it. You're right."
Ethan smiled softly.
Lucas glared at him.
Ethan chuckled before adding, "But don't worry, big bro."
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
Ethan grinned.
"When you reach Floor 50 of the Tower, I'll give you something even better than Stage 1 God blood."
Lucas froze again.
"What…?"
Ethan turned to the rest of his family. "That goes for all of you. I'll give you something far more powerful than a mere True Dragon's blood. Just wait."
Silence.
Then—
Lionnel exhaled sharply, a slow grin spreading across his face.
"Hah…" He leaned back, shaking his head. "You really are something, Ethan."
Lucas just slumped forward, resting his forehead against the table. "I came back home expecting a nice break. Instead, I find out my little brother has become an actual monster."
Ethan smirked. "Welcome home, big bro."
Lucas grumbled.
—
Suddenly, Lionnel's expression turned serious.
"We don't have time to relax."
Ethan's gaze sharpened. "What do you mean?"
Lionnel exhaled. "The Bloodsanguine are coming to visit."
The temperature in the room dropped.
Ethan's smile vanished instantly.
"…Who's coming?"
"The Patriarch and Matriarch themselves. And their youngest daughter."
Ethan's expression darkened.
The Bloodsanguine.
An Original Family, just like the Yagami. But unlike them…
They have a bloodline.
And,
They were maniacs.
Blood-wielders. Monsters that could control the very lifeblood of their enemies.
For them to personally come here…
It was nothing good.
Lucas scoffed. "Tch. They're taking us seriously now, huh?"
Iris nodded solemnly. "Our recent growth didn't go unnoticed. The Bloodsanguine must see us as either a threat or a potential ally."
Ethan's fingers tapped against the table in thought.
"…Then we need to prepare."
He turned to his parents.
"Mother. Father. Where are your contracted beasts?"
Iris blinked. "Why?"
Ethan smirked. "I'll check if I can evolve them, too."
A long pause.
Then—
"You know what?" Iris exhaled, shaking her head. "I'm not even going to ask."
Lucas chuckled.
Iris sighed again. "They're in the Beast Taming Space outside the mansion."
Ethan nodded. "Good. I'll deal with them tomorrow."
Then—he pulled out the vial of True Dragon Blood and handed it to Lucas.
Lucas took it carefully, holding it as if it were the most precious thing in the world.
Ethan smiled. "You've missed us, I know. But go back tomorrow and clear Floor 30."
Lucas sighed. "Yeah, yeah. I get it."
Ethan patted his shoulder. "We'll have plenty of time later."
Then—he stood up.
"I have things to do."
As he walked away, he called out in a smooth voice—
"Ellie."
The shadows shifted.
A tall, elegant woman stepped forward. Her once-brown hair now had blue streaks at the edges. Her beauty was ethereal, enhanced by the Siren's Tear Ethan had given her years ago.
"Yes, Young Master Ethan?"
Ethan smiled slightly.
"Call Mei for me."
Ellie bowed slightly. "As you wish."
Ethan whispered to himself—
"It's time to unlock that Phoenix Bloodline."
—End of Chapter 13—