Chapter 393: I’ll Keep Trying

’Five beasts...’

Ethan leaned against Wolfy on a small plot of land, huddled with all of his beasts. Spark buzzed around as always, Storm settled down a distance away from them, while Talon stood there gracefully.

All of his summons were just as fatigued as he was, and Ethan couldn’t maintain them for much longer, but he didn’t plan on staying in the Tower either.

’To think it would tire me out that much.’

Every single fight had forced him to work harder than the last.

Especially the last one, the Elite Beast, which was practically an A Rank.

And he hadn’t even been able to eat it alongside his beasts.

’At least the other beasts were closer to normal food.’

They tasted fish, and while he wasn’t the biggest fan of seafood, it was much better than giant insect flesh. Not that he would complain about any beast meat right now.

’I’d even eat one of those rock worms from Floor One.’

The recovery effects consuming the flesh of his prey had in the Tower were unmatched, but he didn’t worry about it. Ethan was going to leave soon, and his condition would reset.

The same couldn’t be said for his beasts.

He looked around at their injuries and exhausted bodies, and couldn’t help but feel guilty.

’I’ll heal you all up when I get out of here.’

He just wanted a moment to breathe, and ironically, this floor of the Tower was quite peaceful when he wasn’t facing some giant beast.

The Aquatic Expanse itself was enormous.

Traversing it had taken nearly as much energy as some of the battles, especially because Ethan had been forced to rely on flame flight. The scattered lands were too few and too far apart, leaving him with no choice but to burn mana simply to move around.

’It’s really like this place is intentionally making my life difficult.’

But the struggle wasn’t without reward.

He leaned back and checked the System Interface.

{Evolutionary Shards: 5894}

Ethan stared at the number.

He had already gathered more than half of what he needed to attempt another evolution for Talon.

That meant he could try again soon.

Still, the failed attempts continued to bother him.

He could feel that Talon was unsettled by the repeated failures, understandably so. Every failed attempt had hit Ethan hard, but it seemed to affect the poor Griffling even more.

Ethan frowned.

’System. What’s going on with Talon’s Race Crystal attempts?’

The response appeared almost immediately.

{Some beasts are more resistant to Race Crystals. Two of the most prevalent reasons are as follows:}

{First, the bloodline may be too weak, making it difficult to draw upon and awaken. Or second, the bloodline may be exceptionally powerful, requiring more time and attempts to unlock.}

{Either way, the host has two options: continue attempting to evolve the beast or-}

Ethan cut the system off before it could finish.

’I’ll keep trying.’

There had never been another option in his mind.

He had no intention of abandoning any of his beasts if there was still a chance to make them stronger. Talon had stood beside him from the beginning, and Ethan wasn’t about to give up on the wind-based bird simply because the process was taking longer than expected.

Especially not now.

’With floors like this, I’ll be able to try evolving you every night or two. It won’t be long, buddy.’

He reached out to the Griffling that didn’t particularly like being touched and ran a hand along its feathers. It didn’t seem to enjoy the physical contact, but it appreciated the sentiment, offering him a nonchalant nod in response.

Ethan smiled.

"Seventh time’s the charm."

With that, he flicked to the Tower Tab.

{Exit The Tower}

The Aquatic Expanse faded away.

And just like that, he returned to his actual body, completely unaware that another surprise was waiting for him on the other side of sleep.

-

For once, Ethan wasn’t expecting anything.

After everything that had happened lately, he had learned that expecting the unexpected was practically a requirement of his life. Still, when his eyes opened and he found himself lying on the rooftop of Crowe Inc, his first thought wasn’t about his father, his friends, or whatever problem was waiting for him next.

He just wanted a cigarette.

Ethan sat up and reached into his pocket.

"Finally."

He pulled one out and placed it between his lips.

Then he paused.

A small grin appeared on his face.

"Why use a lighter when I’ve got this?"

Ethan raised his hand.

’Minor Assimilation: Spark.’

A vibrant orange flame flickered across his fingertips.

It was noticeably different from the flames he had produced before. The fire was brighter, more intense, and hot enough that Ethan could feel the scorching heat even though it wasn’t touching his skin.

He brought the flame to the cigarette.

Fwoosh.

The tip ignited instantly.

Ethan took a long drag and exhaled a thin cloud of smoke.

’That might still be the best part of acquiring Spark,’ he joked internally.

He had barely enjoyed the first breath while overlooking the city when something moved beneath him.

Ethan was immediately prepared as the rooftop floor rippled.

"What the-"

A hand suddenly emerged from the concrete.

Then a head.

And then an entire person.

Phantom casually rose through the floor as though it were water.

Ethan stared at him.

The man brushed some imaginary dust from his clothes before looking up with his usual playful smile. His ice-blue eyes practically sparkled with amusement, and it was too well timed to be a coincidence.

’Was he watching me sleep while I was in the Tower this whole time?’

Naturally, that unnerved Ethan slightly.

"What do you want, Nate?"

His smile widened.

"I’ve got someone for you to meet."

Ethan’s cigarette stopped halfway to his mouth.

His expression changed, and his heart skipped a beat as he thought about the person he was likely talking about...

Jessica.

For seven years, Ethan had tried not to think about her too much.

It wasn’t because he didn’t care.

He cared too much, and he didn’t have the luxury of lingering emotions while incarcerated in that place. He had only been seventeen when his entire life had been ripped apart and thrown behind bars.

Jessica had been there before all of that.

Before the prison, before his Gates, before his Title.

She was Ethan’s first of many things, but when he went to prison, she had disappeared from his mind.

He never expected to see her again.

But it seemed he was mistaken...