Ethan sat for a long time after that, staring at the glowing texts in front of him. His mind was quiet, but deep inside, he could feel an uncontrollable excitement brewing.

He looked down at the Dragon Bloodline Potion that shimmered faintly with a deep crimson hue. Its surface reflected a faint, scaled pattern, as if a dragon itself was coiled inside the bottle.

It belongs to the same spices as earlier.

The Flame Dragon.

"Why is the system giving me Flame Dragon Bloodline Potions.."

He held it up against the light, and his eyes narrowed slightly "Five percent purity," he muttered softly. "This isn't just any potion… this one can really change my body."

Ethan could already feel the mana in the air reacting faintly to it. The liquid carried a terrifying pressure that made his fingers tingle. Just holding it made his veins pulse faster.

He exhaled and set it down carefully on the table. "Not yet," he murmured. "I'll use it when the time's right." He knew how dangerous this kind of transformation could be. Even a small mistake could tear the body apart from within.

He turned his attention to the Sacred Luminous Sword Art.

Unlike before he got a manual this time.

When he touched it, a soft golden light emerged from the surface, flowing around his arm.

Instantly, his mind was filled with images.

It was the image of a knight clad in brilliant silver armor, standing tall beneath a blazing sun. His sword shone with light that burned away darkness, each swing like a burst of dawn. The five techniques revealed themselves in a blur of radiant strikes and divine energy.

Ethan gritted his teeth as the information rushed into his mind. His hands clenched tightly on the table while faint veins popped on his arms. The flood of memory was almost overwhelming, but he endured.

When the light faded, he opened his eyes slowly, his breathing heavy. "So that's how it works," he whispered. "Faith as the foundation… strength as the blade."

He stood up and picked up his greatsword, walking to the center of the room. With a deep breath, he raised it high and whispered, "First move… Sacred Luminous Slash 1st Form."

The air trembled as faint golden light wrapped around the blade. It wasn't strong yet, but it shimmered faintly pure and warm. Ethan swung the sword slowly, and the air split with a faint sound like a hymn.

A small smile formed on his lips. "I can feel it.

''The light..It's warm and the source of all right.''Ethan murmured as he analysed the feeling over and over again until he understood it properly.

He then switched his focus to the Battle Frenzy Art. The moment he activated the technique, a rush of energy exploded inside him. His heartbeat quickened, and his muscles tensed as if fire had ignited under his skin.

A faint red aura flickered around him, violent yet intoxicating. His breathing grew rough, and he could feel the raw instinct for battle rising within.

"This power…" he muttered, gripping his sword tighter. "It's fierce… and wild. If I'm not careful, it could consume me."

He steadied himself, exhaling slowly until the red aura faded. "Still, this is the kind of edge I need."

After a few moments, Ethan sheathed his sword and sat down again, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "A holy technique fueled by faith and a berserk art driven by instinct," he said with a faint grin. "It's like fire and light — opposite but perfect together."

He looked at the potions and scrolls laid before him the Dragon Bloodline Potion, the Breakthrough Potion, and the glowing manual.

A soft smile spread across his face.

"With all this, I'll be unstoppable soon."

Then his eyes softened. "I'll make sure my children live in a world where they don't have to live in fear like I did."

He stood and walked to the window. Outside, the sky was painted in a calm orange glow of dusk. The faint sound of laughter came from the courtyard his children playing, their voices full of innocence and warmth.

Ethan leaned against the wall and watched quietly. His gaze softened as he saw Lia, Sophia, and the others tending to the children. Arnold was in Sophia's arms, giggling as she swayed him gently.

For a brief moment, all the weight he carried the wars, the blood, the burdens had faded away.

He smiled faintly. "This peace… I'll protect it no matter what."

Just then, the door opened softly, and Hall walked in, bowing slightly. "My Lord, we've gathered reports from the eastern borders. There's been unusual movement among the mercenary troops. I thought you should know."

Ethan turned around slowly, his calm expression hardening. "Unusual movement?"

Hall nodded. "Yes, my Lord. It seems someone is trying to organize them secretly. We're still tracing who's behind it."

Ethan's eyes narrowed, a faint edge returning to his voice. "Looks like trouble never truly ends.What happened to those we send?"

"We haven't received any word from them."

Ethan frowned a bit, falling into deep thoughts.

Hall hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Should I send our shadows to investigate?"

Ethan thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes…"

"Send experienced ones and tell them to stay out of sight. I want to know who's pulling the strings without alerting anyone."

"As you command, my Lord."

Hall bowed and turned to leave, but Ethan's voice stopped him midway.

"Hall."

He paused. "Yes, my Lord?"

Ethan looked at the window once more, the sunset reflecting in his eyes. "Make sure they're careful. We can't afford to lose more.If they find it troublesome,they should retreat."

Hall gave a deep nod. "Understood."

After he left, Ethan remained standing for a while, staring at the horizon as the last rays of the sun disappeared. The light faded, and shadows crept across the floor.

He clenched his fist slowly and whispered,"Damn…Just what is going out there..I hope I don't get affected.."

"Wait.."Ethan paused and his eyes widened.

"Fuck...Did I just planted a Red Flag."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.