2026-09-14 23:22:37Ethan paced under the old streetlamp outside Ava’s building. His phone felt cold in his hand. Every call went unanswered. The system’s three-hour window was almost gone.
Messages from Ava over the past months had already been short. I’m busy. Don’t call for a while. Tonight the silence felt final.
He kept thinking about Sophie. The surgery deposit was paid, but the hospital bills kept coming. Medicine. Extra care. Days of recovery. He needed the system’s power. He needed the Grand Alchemist path. Without it, how was he supposed to keep helping her?
A low, expensive engine growled around the corner. A sleek black sports car slid to a stop under the same yellow light. The passenger window was cracked open just enough for voices to spill out.
Ava’s voice, soft and breathless: “Tomorrow we’ll do it all over again, baby. What you just did… it was so good.”
A deeper male laugh answered. The words that followed made Ethan’s ears burn. He stepped closer without thinking, face almost touching the dark windshield.
The driver’s door flew open.
The hard edge caught Ethan square in the chest and sent him sprawling onto the asphalt. Fabric tore at his knees. Pain flared bright and sudden.
A tall man climbed out—broad-shouldered, wearing a designer jacket that probably cost more than Ethan’s old monthly rent. He moved like someone who trained hard. Behind him, Ava stepped onto the pavement in short overalls that showed long white thighs, high heels clicking against the street. An expensive bag swung from one hand.
She looked different. Sharper. More expensive.
“Ava?” Ethan’s voice came out rough with disbelief.
The man—Ryan—reached them first, catching Ava’s waist. “Honey, who is this? He was peeking at us.”
Ava’s eyes flicked over Ethan and dismissed him in the same breath. “I don’t know him. Just some creep. Throw him out.”
“Gladly.”
Ryan hauled Ethan up by the collar and drove a fist into his stomach. Air left in a violent rush. Ethan folded, yellow bile rising in his throat. The world tilted.
“I—I’m her boyfriend,” Ethan managed. “Who the hell are you?”
Ava’s voice turned sharp. “Don’t listen to him.” She stepped closer, heels striking the ground hard. “Listen carefully, Ethan. Whatever we had ended a long time ago. I’m done with poor people. You couldn’t even take me to a decent dinner. I’m bored.”
She lifted the bag and let it catch the light. “Ryan bought me this after a few weeks. You? You never even came close.” She spat on the asphalt near Ethan’s hand.
Ryan pulled her against him. They kissed openly, deliberately, Ava’s body pressed tight to his. The message was clear.
Ethan, still on the ground, began to laugh.
The sound was raw and unexpected. Ryan’s face darkened. “What’s so funny, loser?”
Ava tugged at his arm. “Leave him. He’s nothing.”
“I want to hear it.”
Ethan lifted his head. Blood and bile mixed at the corner of his mouth. The words came out steady even though his chest ached.
“You’re a little bitch whose pride was bought with a fancy bag. And I, Ethan Rivers, am done. I’m disgusted.”
Ava’s face twisted. She screamed, then threw herself against Ryan’s chest in a performance of tears. “Make him disappear. Please.”
Ryan needed no further encouragement. He was a ranked fighter. The first kick folded Ethan sideways. The second drove the air out again. Fists followed—measured, professional, meant to hurt. Stars exploded behind Ethan’s eyes. The last thing he registered was the taste of blood and the distant sound of Ava’s heels clicking away.
Somewhere in the pain he thought of Sophie. If I die here, who takes care of her? Who pays the next hospital bill? The fear cut deeper than the punches.
Sometime before dawn the black sports car idled at the edge of a ravine outside the city limits. Two figures moved quickly. Something long and heavy, wrapped in a thick blanket, was lifted from the trunk and thrown over the drop. It tumbled once, twice, then vanished into the dark.
“All done?” Ava’s voice was calm.
“All done.”
The sports car’s engine snarled to life and the taillights disappeared around the bend, leaving only the soft, fading sound of tires on asphalt.
At the bottom of the ravine the blanket lay crumpled against rock and scrub. A pale hand slipped free of the fabric. The eye-shaped tattoo on the palm flickered once, then burned with sudden red light.
A clear screen appeared in the darkness.
[Mission completed.]
[Primary emotional bond severed.]
[Profession unlocked: Grand Alchemist & Healer.]
[Nine Heavenly Path Technique Manual ready for integration.]
[See Inbox for full rewards.]
The robotic voice faded.
The hand remained still.
Ethan’s last thought before everything went black was simple and sharp.
Sophie still needs me. I can’t die here.
Whether he still lived was a question the system did not answer.
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Chapter 20
The loud pop of the silver pistol cut through the night air, and a small metal bullet tore straight toward Ethan's chest with deadly speed.Time seemed to slow down to a crawl. Ethan pulled Sophie behind his back with his left hand, his eyes locked on the flying piece of lead. The Nine Heavenly Path Technique surged through his veins, filling his fingers and palms with blinding speed. He did not dodge or jump out of the way. He raised his right hand in front of him and caught the bullet right out of the air between his thumb and index finger.A sharp metallic ring echoed through the quiet alley.Silence fell instantly over the entire street.David stopped smiling. His mouth stayed wide open, his eyes popping out in
Chapter 19
The heavy iron hatch sealed shut behind them, cutting off the roar of the fire and the choking smoke of the burning tower.Ethan stood in the dim light of the drainage tunnel, his arm wrapped firmly around Sophie to keep her steady. The air down here smelled damp and old, but it was clean enough to breathe. The distant sound of rushing water echoed through the concrete pipes, mixing with the low rumble of traffic far above their heads in the city streets of Lagos.We cannot stay here long, Victoria said, clicking off her small emergency flashlight to save the battery. My uncle Marcus controls the municipal security cameras. If he realizes we escaped through the drainage system, he will have every sewer exit blocked within ten minutes.Sophie looked up at Ethan, her face pale
Chapter 18
Thick gray smoke rolled through the open doorway like a creeping monster, filling the underground room with a sharp, choking chemical smell.Ethan pulled Sophie closer against his chest, wrapping his jacket tighter around her face to keep her from breathing the poisonous air. Her eyes were wide with fear, and her small hands grabbed onto his shirt.Don't worry, Sophie. I am right here. You are going to be okay, Ethan said, his voice steady even as his heart raced.Victoria stood near the edge of the smoke, coughing slightly as her face turned pale with fury. Her uncle Marcus was not just trying to trap them. He was planning to burn the entire lower level down and bury every secret of Sterling Holdings in ash.My unc
Chapter 17
The iron door slammed shut with a heavy, final sound, plunging the small medical room into total blackness.Ethan stood frozen in the dark. The cold air felt heavy against his skin. He reached down and touched the bed again, his fingers tracing the cold plastic of the oxygen mask. It was empty. The monitors were completely dead.Victoria stood near the door, her breathing shallow. Even in the dark, her voice cut through the silence with sharp surprise.This was not supposed to happen, Victoria said, her usual calm tone finally cracking. I gave strict orders. She was supposed to be kept as leverage, not moved or harmed.Ethan did not answer her. He closed his eyes and let his mind go quiet. For the past two days, sin
Chapter 16
The elevator shook violently and stopped dead between floors. The bright overhead lights blinked out completely. Only the dim, red emergency glow remained, casting long shadows across the small metal box.Victoria did not even flinch. She stood her ground in the dark cabin, her dark leather coat brushing against Ethan's arm as the robotic voice echoed from the ceiling speaker about the facility lockdown.It looks like my security team is very efficient, Victoria said, her voice entirely calm. They realized I was compromised and cut the power. We are stuck between floors, Mr. Rivers. And the air in this shaft is on a timed filter.Ethan kept the alchemical needle pressed firmly against her neck. He did not care about the lockdown or the dark elevator shaft. His mind was fixed
Chapter 15
The sound of heavy tactical boots filled the ruined office as a dozen armed guards fanned out across the room, locking down every exit. Victoria Sterling stood at the front, her dark leather coat catching the light of the city below. She looked down at David, who was still scrambling backward on the floor like a frightened dog, then turned her sharp gaze back to Ethan.Put that down, David, Victoria said again, her voice completely calm and deadly.David dropped the metal statue with a loud clatter. He scrambled to his feet, pointing a trembling finger at Ethan. Aunt Victoria! He broke in! He destroyed the office and tried to kill me! Make these men shoot him right now!Victoria did not even glance at her nephew. She kept her cold eyes fixed on Ethan.
