Chapter 432: Fourth Stage Advancing Quest

[You have received a new mission: Fourth Stage Advancing Quest]

[Mission: Fourth Stage Advancing Quest

Description: During your brief journey through the world of Estria, you have earned the wrath of the God of War. He will not allow you to advance to the fourth stage so easily.

The avatars of the God of War are physical manifestations of his power, sent down upon mortals to deliver his divine justice.

Confront and defeat a third-stage avatar of the God of War.

Difficulty: Infernal

Rewards: 1x Pearl of Advancement to the Fourth Stage (SSS Rank) + 1x Random Mythic-Rank Beast Heart (SSS Rank)]

[You have received: 1x Third-Stage God of War Avatar Summoning Card (SSS Rank).]

[Name: Third-Stage God of War Avatar Summoning Card

Description: This card allows you to summon one of the twelve children of the God of War. The chosen avatar will descend to the mortal realm in its original body, wielding the power of its father, though limited to level 120.

Even limited to the peak of the third stage, its power is terrifying.

The battle must be one-on-one and will only end with the defeat of one side. If the user receives help or flees, permanent death will be enforced.

Rank: SSS]

As Ethan read through the mission description, the smile on his face slowly faded.

He reread everything one more time, just to be sure.

That was fucking hard. Much harder than any mission the system had ever handed him!

Of course, at least he’d be on the same level as this enemy. And he had already defeated Zael Fallenwinter, a well-established fourth-stage warrior.

Still, facing a child of the God of War was another story entirely.

Each of them must have more than enough strength to fight someone at the fourth stage even though they’re only at the third stage, especially when using their father’s power.

Ethan scratched his chin as he walked. Little by little, a mischievous gleam crept into his eyes.

"System... I can choose which one of them I’m going to fight, right? Are there any women among them?"

[Yes, one of the God of War’s twelve children is a woman. And yes, the Touch of the God of Love would work on her.]

The system answered instantly, anticipating his second question before it had even fully left his mouth. Ethan chuckled dryly. Even the system knew the way he thought all too well.

"Ah... very well, that’s a reliable strategy. But I still need to prepare thoroughly."

He sighed and kept walking, crossing the wide streets of Goldenveil toward his palace.

The two academies in Goldenveil’s central district had already announced their talent recruitment campaigns. Both the Golden Tower and the Academy of Blooming Roses were beginning to put their powerful affinity-detection artifacts to work.

In a week, thousands would take the tests, all hoping to secure a spot in the first academic year of Goldenveil’s universities, set to begin this winter.

Ethan also had plenty of artifacts that would fit perfectly in the academy and the Golden Tower, including one that allowed students to make contact with great experts lost to the past.

He had already stored them in special rooms. They would only come into play once the competition among the students really started heating up, and only the elite would be chosen to use them.

There was still a lot to do, but Ethan was at ease.

Ysara was organizing the academy, while Amelia and Alice took care of the Golden Tower.

Elena and Ophelia handled general government matters. Elena, in particular, was also compiling information on the geography of Fallenwinter and Greenleaf so she could draw up urban development plans tailored to each city.

Evelyn was in charge of training the Order of the Silver Roses, and Arwen looked after the Tree of Life and basically everything else related to nature and the environment in Goldenveil.

As the city grew larger and larger, so did his list of responsibilities.

But he stayed relaxed. After all, he had his beautiful wives to share that burden with him.

Before he knew it, he was back at his palace, greeted—as always—by the deep necklines of the Golden Rose Guards protecting the main gate.

The women snapped to attention as he approached, fists thumping against their chests.

The sharp motion sent a soft, heavy jostle through the plump cleavage straining at the front of their armors.

Ethan returned the salute with a smile, his eyes lingering there a little longer than they should have.

Soon, he would set out on yet another journey to develop the other three cities of Goldenveil and, of course, to found his new order.

So, before leaving, he went to see his wives.

A few hours later, with their scent still clinging to his skin and a satisfied smile on his face, Ethan left Goldenveil.

Only Evelyn, Mireya, and a small detachment of Golden Rose Guards who had recently reached the third stage went with him.

Fifteen women in all, each of whom had gone through the equivalent of years of training inside the Hell Soldier’s Portal.

Against opponents of the same level, they were almost unbeatable. Though, of course, they were still no match for Ethan or Evelyn.

They were all mounted on some of the most docile, well-trained spirit horses from the Palace of Beasts—animals that easily reached eighty kilometers per hour at full gallop.

The train service between Goldenveil and the other cities was already up and running, but Ethan still preferred to travel on horseback.

Those horses—third-stage magical beasts—were fast enough to cut the travel time down significantly.

Besides, Ethan would need to take a few detours to places Goldenveil’s rail system, still short and under development, didn’t reach yet.

He tightened his grip on the reins, feeling the firm leather press into his palm, and looked out at the road stretching ahead.

Behind him, hooves thundered against the packed earth. The Golden Rose Guards rode in tight formation.

It was time to establish Goldenveil’s first true order of knights.