2025-05-06 06:16:23"You're here for the banquet? With this piece of trash?" Sierra and Marcus burst into loud laughter, drawing the attention of people nearby.
"Please, I know you've spent the past few years trying to get a partnership with Nova," Sierra said smugly. "Too bad—they chose me every single time!"
"You know why that is?" she asked, wrapping her arm around Marcus's proudly. "Because I know who can help me. And you... just look at that garbage beside you. Don't tell me you actually believe he got you that invitation?"
Sierra let out an exaggerated laugh. "You're pathetic, Alice. Truly pitiful! You must've begged someone on your knees to get in, huh? Oh wait—you probably still won't get in."
Alice tilted her head, a slow, amused smile forming. "Don't worry about me. I'm exactly where I need to be."
Sierra rolled her eyes. "Spare me the cryptic lines, sweetheart. This is a Nova Company event, not a street carnival. Only invited names make it through."
"You and Ethan are perfect for each other. He's always been a freeloader, relying on whatever woman is willing to drag him along. And you? You're the underdog startup that'll never break into the big leagues. So desperate to climb that you're pretending you got invited here?" She continued.
Alice's jaw tensed, but her smile never faltered. "It's funny how threatened you sound, Sierra."
Sierra sneered. "Threatened? Don't flatter yourself."
Alice arched a brow. "You're right? Want to make it interesting?"
Sierra's eyes glittered. "Are you challenging me?"
"Let's bet," Alice said smoothly. "Whoever fails to enter tonight kneels right here at the entrance—and admits they were wrong."
A small crowd began to gather at the entrance, sensing drama brewing.
Marcus snorted. "You're seriously betting against Sierra? Her name's on every guest list from here to the capital."
Sierra didn't even hesitate. "Deal. I hope your knees are in good shape."
With that, she flicked her hair, strutted up to the security team, and handed over her diamond-embossed invitation. The guard scanned it once, nodded, and stepped aside.
"Welcome, Miss Sierra. Mr. Marcus," he said politely, gesturing them in.
Sierra turned with a smirk and winked at Alice. "I'll keep the floor warm for you."
Alice's smile stiffened. She reached into her clutch, pulled out her invitation, and handed it to the security guard with confidence.
Alice looked at the arrogant Sierra with growing frustration. She let out a cold snort and handed over her invitation letter—personally delivered to her that morning via express courier from Elsa herself. She was confident there wouldn't be any issues.
However, the security guard took the invitation and frowned.
"Miss, may I have your name?"
"Alice Morgan. My companion is Ethan Storm," Alice replied.
The guard typed in their names, then said sternly, "Sorry, Miss, your names aren't in the system. You'll have to leave."
Sierra and Marcus burst into loud, mocking laughter.
"Alice, I can't believe you'd embarrass yourself like this. Don't tell me you were fooled by that piece of trash next to you?" Sierra sneered. "Did he say he could get you into Nova's banquet?"
Sierra laughed even louder. "And you actually believed him!"
Alice's face turned pale. She looked at Ethan with a trembling voice. "W-What's going on?"
Ethan frowned and gently held her hand, trying to calm her. "Don't worry. I'll call Elsa right now and ask what happened."
"Hahahahaha! Did you all hear that?" Sierra howled with laughter. "He said he's going to call Elsa! Does he think he's someone important? Elsa Logan is an incredibly important figure—why would she take his call?"
"Shut your mouth," Ethan said coldly. "One more word, and I'll be happy to teach you what manners are."
Sierra flinched under Ethan's icy gaze, then bristled with rage. "How dare you talk to me like that, you garbage!"
Just then, a man in a suit rushed out of the banquet hall and called to the security at the entrance.
"Restart the system! Have all guests who just entered step out for a moment!"
"There's been a change to the guest list—we need to update the registrations!"
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Latest Chapter
701
Ethan caught him before he fell.For once, Malikar did not resist.He simply looked tired.“You…”A weak laugh escaped him.“You really did it.”Ethan looked at him.“Why?”Malikar looked up.His eyes were calm.“You finally became someone…”His breathing became weaker.“…who doesn’t need Cael.”Ethan’s expression changed.“Why?”Malikar closed his eyes slowly.The faintest smile remained.“Because…”A pause.“That was the only way…”“To surpass him.”The ancient laboratory became silent.The last flames of Blackwater faded.And beneath the ruins of a forgotten city, the man who had spent centuries searching for the answer finally found it.Ethan Storm was not Cael reborn.Not a copy.Not a vessel.He was something even Cael could never become.Someone who chose his own path.***The silence after Malikar’s death was heavier than the battle itself.The ancient laboratory no longer shook.The black flames that had consumed the battlefield slowly faded away, leaving only broken stone an
700
The ancient laboratory trembled violently around them.The awakening of the C.A.E.L. system had not stopped.Deep beneath Blackwater City, something enormous was beginning to stir.Ancient mechanisms that had been silent for centuries started moving again. The twelve symbols carved into the floor burned brighter, releasing waves of energy that made the entire underground settlement shake.Ethan looked at the formation beneath his feet.Then he looked back at Malikar.“You knew this would happen.”Malikar stood in the center of the chamber, surrounded by black flames that moved like living creatures.“Yes.”Ethan’s expression hardened.“You brought me here because you needed my power.”Malikar did not deny it.“I needed you to recover.”A pause.“Only you can destroy the final seal protecting C.A.E.L.”The words echoed.Ethan’s eyes narrowed.“The final seal.”Malikar nodded.“The seal was created from Cael’s original resonance. No ordinary person can break it.”“Not the Watson family.
699
The ancient laboratory continued shaking.The old mechanisms buried beneath Blackwater City awakened one after another, releasing waves of energy that had remained dormant for centuries.The symbols carved into the walls burned brighter.The air became heavier.Even Ethan, whose strength had finally returned, could feel it.Something beneath them was waiting.Something ancient.Something connected to C.A.E.L.He turned toward Malikar.“What did you activate?”For a moment, Malikar said nothing.Then he looked at Ethan with an expression that was almost peaceful.“The final stage.”Ethan’s eyes narrowed.“You knew.”“Yes.”“You knew this laboratory would react when I recovered my strength.”“Yes.”“You knew the antidote would restore my resonance.”Malikar nodded.“Yes.”The realization settled heavily.Ethan’s expression became colder.“You planned everything.”Malikar did not deny it.“I needed you to become complete.”A pause.“Not because I wanted to save you.”“Because I needed yo
698
The battle continued beneath the ruins of Blackwater City.But something had changed.Ethan no longer fought blindly.He stopped chasing Malikar’s movements and started observing.Every attack.Every alchemical formation.Every change in the battlefield.Malikar was not simply fighting him.He was guiding him.Every time Ethan was pushed back, Malikar forced him toward a specific direction.Every time the battlefield changed, certain paths remained open.At first, Ethan thought it was coincidence.Then he saw it.A barely visible alchemical mark carved beneath the rubble.A symbol.One he had seen before.Not in Malikar’s techniques.Not in demon records.In Harry’s journals.Ethan’s eyes narrowed.“Harry…”Malikar noticed his expression.But he said nothing.Ethan ignored the next attack completely.Instead of confronting the enemy in front of him, he turned toward the ruined structure behind him.The copies of his former opponents followed.Malikar’s expression changed slightly.“Yo
697
The words remained hanging in the air.Ethan was always meant to exist.For several seconds, neither man moved.The ancient chamber beneath the demon settlement was completely silent.Ethan stared at Malikar, trying to separate truth from manipulation.After everything he had learned, he no longer knew what was real.His creation.His memories.His connection to Cael.The Twelve Keys.Everything had become a puzzle with missing pieces.Then Ethan extended his hand.“Give me the antidote.”Malikar did not move.The answer was obvious from his expression.“No.”The atmosphere changed instantly.Ethan’s eyes became colder.“You still refuse?”“Yes.”“You poisoned me.”“Yes.”“You know how to save me.”“Yes.”A dangerous silence followed.Ethan stepped forward.“Then you are choosing this.”Malikar looked at him calmly.“I am choosing what must happen.”Ethan’s aura flickered weakly.“You don’t get to decide that.”Malikar’s expression did not change.“Actually…”A faint smile appeared.“
696
The entire settlement fell silent.The ancient symbols carved into the walls continued glowing, casting a faint silver and crimson light across the underground city.The demons who had been watching from a distance no longer looked curious.They looked afraid.Because they knew.Whatever Malikar was about to reveal was something even their ancestors had tried to bury.Ethan stood opposite him, his weakened resonance barely stable, but his eyes remained sharp.He refused to show weakness.Not in front of Malikar.Not in front of anyone.“Enough games.”His voice echoed through the chamber.“You brought me here because you wanted me to know the truth.”“Then tell me.”Malikar looked at him for several seconds.Then he slowly walked toward the center of the room.“The truth is that everything you believe about the past is incomplete.”Ethan frowned.“Explain.”Malikar glanced toward the ancient artifacts surrounding them.“For thousands of years, the Storm family and the Watson family we
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