Chapter 93: Impossible!

“Impossible,” he gasped between impacts. Blood streamed from a dozen wounds. “You shouldn’t be this strong. How can you possibly be as strong as the monkey!”

Shouldn’t. Couldn’t. Can’t.

Ethan’s response came as a horizontal sweep that cracked ribs beneath damaged armor. The City Lord’s grunt of pain echoed across the ruined plaza.

Ezekiel’s knees buckled.

His axe wavered, point dragging against broken stone as strength slowly abandoned his exhausted body.

Almost over.

From their distant vantage point, Ruan and Zhao watched in stunned silence. The impossible was unfolding before their eyes—their mighty City Lord, reduced to desperate defense against an anomaly who fought with the power of legends.

“He’s going to kill him,” Zhao whispered.

Ruan’s throat worked soundlessly. Part of him wanted to intervene. Another part felt satisfaction.

They long since hated how the city operated.

The reason why they were all stuck in the middle stages of silver was because of the city lord, he would horde most of the higher-end resources. Furthermore, even if they hide such resources, they couldn’t hide their advancement.

Inside the city, there was a rule that all silver-rank individuals could only advance in front of the city lord. He had made it clear that advancing alone without telling him had harsh consequences, all on the pretence of defending such silver ranks.

Justice has many faces.

The staff blurred into motion once more.

Wood connected with Ezekiel’s body in a wet thud. Then another. Another.

The City Lord collapsed, his silver aura guttering like a snuffed candle. His axe clattered across broken pavement, the sound unnaturally loud in the sudden stillness.

Ethan stood over the fallen figure, his staff poised for the killing blow. Peak-Silver power radiated from his transformed frame, authority absolute and undeniable.

One strike. End this farce forever.

Yet something held him back.

“Tell me. What is the world spirit? What is a junior city lord?”

Ezekiel grinned despite knowing his impending doom. Blood stained his teeth as he spat to the side, defiance burning in silver eyes.

“Why don’t you try figuring that out yourself? Asking the man you’re going to kill for advice? You’re quite shameless.”

Still has spirit. Admirable.

“I don’t mind sparing you. But on one condition.”

“Not happening.” Ezekiel’s voice carried absolute conviction. “I will not be working for you. Give it up.”

“Why not?”

Despite the attempt on his life, Ethan held no personal grudge. Ezekiel was a powerful warrior—if he could rope him in, it would be beneficial.

“Because I don’t like being under someone else. It never goes well.”

The City Lord’s gaze shifted to Ruan and Zhao, acknowledgement flickering across his bloodied features.

“The same way I used to hold resources from others, others will hold them from me. I want to become as strong as I can, without any limit to my growth. That’s why I always took the resources from them.”

His eyes lingered on the two generals. “I know they hated me for it, but I didn’t care. All I cared about was advancement.”

That’s it?

Ethan raised an eyebrow. He’d expected some complex political motivation, a grudge, or philosophical difference.

But in reality, the problem was completely solvable.

“That’s it?”

“Huh?” Ezekiel blinked in confusion.

“Do you have a storage ring? Some silver cores?”

The City Lord nodded slowly. I’m a dead man anyway. Doesn’t matter what I say. He will take it either way.

The ring glinted on his finger, a lifetime’s accumulation of power contained within spatial magic.

“Take out the silver cores you have. I want to show you something.”

Ezekiel somehow wanted to see what the anomaly planned. I guess I can get some entertainment before I die.

He activated the storage ring.

Silver cores cascaded onto broken pavement like crystalline rain. Dozens became hundreds.

The pile grew until it resembled a small mountain of condensed power.

Ruan’s sword arm trembled. That’s… that’s more cores than our entire treasury.

Zhao’s lightning flickered weakly around her spear. A lifetime of hoarded resources.

“Do you know what rank I was before this transformation?”

Ezekiel nodded grimly. “Mid-Silver.”

“Good. Now watch.”

Ethan knelt beside the glittering pile, selecting cores.

“Devour.”

The first core dissolved in his palm, power flowing into his system like liquid lightning. No hesitation, no preparation rituals, no careful meditation to avoid cultivation backlash.

Just instant, perfect absorption.

Everyone watching felt their jaws drop. Impossible.

Ethan reached for the second core. “Devour.”

Then the third. Fourth. Fifth.

<+8 Strength>

<+9 Intelligence>

<+7 Vitality>

<+8 Agility>

Each absorption that should have required days of careful integration happened in seconds. Power that normally caused cultivation sickness flowed through him without resistance.

This is inhuman.

Ruan staggered backwards. His entire understanding of evolution had just been shattered. “No one can absorb cores that fast without dying.”

Unless…

Zhao’s eyes widened as comprehension dawned. “He’s not human. Not completely.”

Ethan continued his demonstration, each core vanishing from his hands.

Ten became twenty. Twenty became thirty.

<+9 Strength>

<+8 Intelligence>

<+9 Vitality>

<+7 Agility>

Power cascaded through his system, attributes climbing beyond conventional limits. What should have killed him instead strengthened him, each absorption pushing his capabilities higher.

Ezekiel watched in stunned silence, decades of evolution theory crumbling before his eyes. This violates every law of advancement.

At the thirtieth core, Ethan paused.

His status materialised in his awareness.

<Human: Ethan Brandon>

<Rank: Peak-Silver>

<Talents: Speed (E+), Crystal Hardening (E+), Wind(E+), Protective Shield (F+), Accuracy Enhancement (F+), Regeneration (F+), Dagger Wield (F-), Water (F), Fire (F+), Mental Enhancement (F)>

<Transformations: Shadowfang Wolf (Peak-Bronze), Razorback Boar (Peak-Bronze), Black Beetle (High-Bronze), Brown Bear (Peak-Bronze), Crystal Ape (Mid-Silver), Panther (Mid-Silver), Silver Serpent (Mid-Silver), Harpy(Mid-Silver), Tunneler Behemoth(High-Silver), Lazy Monkey(Peak-Silver)>

<Level 4>

<Health Points:2400> <Mana Points: 2400>

<Strength: 240> <Agility: 240> <Intelligence: 240> <Vitality: 240>

<Free Attributes: 0>

<Skills: Basic Footwork (Novice – 35%)>

—

Perfect balance. All attributes at Peak-Silver threshold.

He deactivated his transformation, returning to his human form.

“Ready?”

Silver energy erupted around him, Peak-Silver aura blazed from him.

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