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Chapter 13: Gains

A fraction of a second later, a feminine voice, similar to the one he had heard in the Trial, sounded again in his ears, accompanying the Rune.

[ "What do you intend to do with their Souls?" ]

Ethan remembered that he could manipulate their Souls, healing their wounds, enslaving them, or taking their power for himself. Right now, he wanted to acquire their power.

'Lets see what I got.'

He extended his consciousness outward, reaching into the very souls of his fallen enemies and intending in his mind that he wanted to take their power and attributes for himself.

Ethan felt the Souls of the fallen enemies merging with his own, their attributes starting to become his own.

His muscles tensed with newfound strength, his movements becoming more agile and precise, and his energy reserves expanding to new heights. The sensation was exhilarating, like a rush of power coursing through his veins.

Lines of Runes appeared again.

[ The Soul of Meadow Specter (Common Rank) have been absorbed! ]

Gained Attribute: Strength: 10, Agility: 15, Energy: 10

Gained Abbility: Stealth.

[ The Soul of Meadow Specter (Common Rank) have been absorbed! ]

Gained Attribute: Strength: 10, Agility: 15, Energy: 10

He could feel the pulse of energy within him, resonating with the Soul of the fallen enemies. With a sense of satisfaction he knew that he had grown stronger. His Attributes has been enhanced by the souls he had absorbed, and he even gained an abbility.

All of that unfolded in just a fraction of seconds. Irene, who was watching Ethan, didn't even realize what had happened.

"You alright?" Irene asked.

Ethan looked up with a crooked smile on his face. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Irene noticed a dangerous glint in Ethan's eyes, something that made her flinch slightly. But then, Ethan's face returned to normal. The dangerous glint disappeared.

"Lets keep moving. I'm sure they won't stop," Ethan said, then walked past Irene.

Irene looked back again. There were more than 5 Invited who had now fallen to the invisible attackers. A few others were still oblivious, but she also noticed that some of them had begun to wake up and fight back.

She pushed the matter to the back of her mind. She had to think about herself now, associating herself with someone strong. Someone who could help her climb higher. Not people who were weak and couldn't even handle the danger on the First floor.

She followed Ethan as they entered the forest beside the vast plain.

Ethan knew that this place would surely be more dangerous than the plain. But that was his goal. By doing so, he would be able to absorb more Souls and get stronger faster than everybody else here.

He hid his grin from Irene to avoid making her suspicious. But deep inside his mind, Ethan pondered something.

'What if I were to kill her? Would her Attributes and abilities also become mine?'

"This forest looks more dangerous. Do you have a plan?" Irene asks.

"We need to find the Floor Guardian as quickly as possible and defeat it," Ethan replied.

"That's it?" Irene looked at him in disbelief.

"Yeah," Ethan nodded.

Irene glanced at him from the side. He seemed so confident to the point of seeming unnatural. It made her suspicious.

"Are you from one of the Conqueror Houses?" Irene asked.

"No. I'm just a construction worker."

That only made Irene more confused. "So you don't know who I am?"

Ethan turned to her and looked at her. "Not really. Who are you exactly?"

He had a feeling that Irene was a girl from one of the Conqueror Houses. Maybe his intuition was right after all.

"My name is Irene Evernight."

"Evernight?!"

Irene nodded. Ethan realized he had just hit the jackpot. Initially, he didn't want to deal with a Conqueror House because they would only exploit him and discard him later.

But now that he had saved one of the heir from that house, he was sure to gain her favor. He could gain a lot of advantages from Irene if he stayed close to her.

Ethan couldn't help but let a smile creep onto his face. "I see. That's why you seem calmer than the others."

'I guess I don't have to kill her,' Ethan thought.

Irene nodded and smiled. "But if it weren't for you, I'd probably be dead by now."

Just as he thought. This girl even considered him her savior. He would surely be able to gain advantages from her family later.

"Sure. I expect the same from you to help me later."

The sky was still bright despite the absence of the sun. They continued their journey and encountered the same invisible humanoid creatures – Meadow Specters – and killed them.

Ethan felt his fists getting stronger. The addition to his Attributes made his physique two to three times stronger than his old self.

He decided to save the remaining chance to use his Soul Manipulation again. The day was still long, and maybe he would encounter stronger monsters than these Meadow Specters.

They kept going, unaware that someone was watching them from a distant place.

---

Inside a room made of black rock, a woman was sitting. She looked comfortable in her high seat, staring at the screen where the figures of Ethan and Irene were walking side by side in the forest.

Her red lips parted, forming a wide smile. On her face, the smile appeared seductive yet terrifying.

"That boy, who is he?" she asked.

From somewhere, a voice answered her question. It sounded mechanical as if coming from a machine. Moreover, that voice could only be heard in her head.

[ "His name is Ethan Holmes." ]

The woman sighed, annoyed. "Can't you provide other information?"

[ "No. Maybe if you can ascend to higher Floors, I can give you more than that." ]

She sighed again. It couldn't be helped since she was just a Guardian on the First Floor. Her access to the Nexus was limited.

But that boy named Ethan intrigued her. His skill and ability to survive, and how he acted coldly towards the other survivors made the woman want to make him hers.

"I will go and greet them."

She stood up from her chair and left the room.

---


Chapter 14: A Surprise

'So the First Floor consists of this forest and plain?'

Ethan and Irene are still in the forest. They haven't encountered anything else for a few minutes. The Meadow Specters haven't approached them again, perhaps because they are afraid since both of them have killed a lot of their kind.

That's what Ethan feels. He looks at his companion. Irene initially seemed like an amateur who would struggle to survive in this Tower. But it turns out she has received enough training so that her skills are actually amazing.

It's just that Irene still feels too shocked because she almost died earlier when she couldn't see the threat coming towards her.

There is some information Ethan has obtained from her. She seems to be opening more to him and answering some less classified things.

The House Evernight is indeed the strongest house in this country. But Irene said she is not the favored child in that family.

Michael Evernight, the head of the House, has five wives, and Irene's mother is the youngest of them. It makes the other wives hate her, which means they also hate Irene.

Upon hearing this story for the first time, Ethan feels a little pity for her. But then he remembered that she is rich and has never lacked anything since childhood. It makes him think that he pity himself than the daughter of this wealthy family.

Nevertheless, Ethan still puts on a sad face as if understanding her feelings.

She has also received good training from mentors her father has prepared for her. Making her definitely have more chances to survive in this Tower than the others. And more than him if he didn't get that Soulweaver Talent.

They have been searching for hours but haven't found anything other than trees and bushes. There are animals in this forest that Ethan has already killed, so they won't have trouble with food later. The only important thing is to find the Floor Guardian.

Although Jane said they couldn't possibly complete a Floor in a day after arriving, Ethan still wants to try it. The faster he climbs, the faster his father will receive his cure.

"Lets rest for now."

Suddenly, Ethan hears Irene's tired voice from behind her.

"Okay."

So they agree to rest for a while. They sit on the grass, mostly under the giant trees. Ethan's Soul Sense doesn't give him any signs of danger nearby. There are Meadow Specters around, but they seem afraid and choose to stay away from them.

Irene takes a glass bottle from her small bag. She drinks the water from there.

Ethan sees a symbol he doesn't recognize next to the bottle. It makes him think it might not be an ordinary bottle.

"Do you want to drink?" Irene offers the bottle when she sees him looking at it.

Ethan smiled. "Don't worry. I got my own water."

Ethan immediately takes a mineral water from his backpack and drinks it.

"What's that symbol?" Ethan asks.

"This bottle is actually a Gear. Someone gave this to me before I entered here." A wistful smile appears when she says that. "This bottle can be refilled with water after I drink it."

"That's an amazing Gear," Ethan said, genuinely impressed.

Suddenly, he senses the presence of something that alarms his Soul Sense. Ethan jumps to his feet, aiming his Aether arrow at the target behind him.

A mysterious woman clad in sleek black attire is standing there. Her silhouette exudes an aura of allure and mystery. She looks surprised.

Ethan eyes the woman warily, his instincts tingling with a mixture of suspicion and fascination. "Who are you?" he asks.

The woman flashed a tantalizing smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I'm actually impressed that you could detect my presence. Just as I thought, your Talent is of high grade."

Irene glanced at Ethan, her curiosity piqued by the woman's flirtatious demeanor, but she knew whatever this woman was, she might not be an Invited.

"You didn't answer my question," Ethan repeated firmly.

"Well, I am this Floor's Guardian."

That answer surprised both Ethan and Irene. They had been busy looking for it, but suddenly the Floor Guardian herself appeared before them.

They both knew that the Floor Guardian was a terrifying existence. So, no matter how beautiful and tempting this woman was, they couldn't help but feel alarmed.

"What do you want?" Ethan asked.

"I will let you pass if you agree to do as I say."

Irene approached Ethan. She didn't miss the fact that the woman was only looking at Ethan and ignoring her.

Ethan also noticed it. "What do you want?"

"Become my partner. Then we can ascend to the higher Floors together." The woman extended her hand to Ethan, completely ignoring Irene's presence.

Ethan approached her. Slowly. Irene watched him with wide eyes. Was he going to leave her here?!

"Good," said the Floor Guardian. "Now, kiss my hand."

Ethan looked at the woman and then extended his hand. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Ethan couldn't help his curiosity. He touched the woman's hand.

Then, using his Soul Manipulation ability.

"Arghhh!"

The woman screamed. She grimaced in pain.

Meanwhile, Ethan was delighted. For he saw a line of Runes in his vision.

[ "What do you intend to do with her Soul?" ]

His Soulweaver Talent was working on a Floor Guardian!

---


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