Chapter 45: Winning Before the Match (2)

Though the night was dark, Ethan’s enhanced vision captured every detail with chilling clarity .. even the faint freckles dusting the stranger’s cheeks.

But what drew his attention most was the Hunter’s attire the visitor wore.

The young man studied Ethan briefly, as though assessing him, then smiled.

“Did you dig all of this… by yourself?”

Ethan smiled in return.

“Yes. I did.”

With effortless agility, he leapt out of the pit and landed lightly on solid ground.

The visiting Hunter stepped back a few paces, standing face to face with him .. the smile never leaving his lips.

“You’ve got excellent digging skills. Are you a gravedigger by chance? Or perhaps a treasure hunter?”

Ethan shook his head.

“Neither. I’m a Hunter… just like you.”

His smile sharpened.

“But you already know that, don’t you?”

His gaze hardened.

“James Heart.”

The moment the name left his lips, the young Hunter’s expression shifted .. something darker flickered beneath the surface.

But the sly grin quickly returned.

“That’s curious… I heard you lost your memory. Was that a lie, I wonder?”

“I don’t need memories to recognize you,” Ethan replied with quiet mockery. “Your intent is obvious.”

He chuckled softly.

“You should work on your mask if you plan to deceive me next time.”

Seeing that he had been exposed so easily, James Heart .. Ethan’s opponent in Maria’s Reckoning .. let out a faint sigh before stepping past him.

He stood at the edge of the pit and looked down into its depths.

“You’re perceptive. I’ll grant you that.”

He turned back with a sneer.

“But aside from that…”

“You’re utterly pathetic.”

“I won’t argue with that,” Ethan replied calmly, unmoved by the provocation — which only encouraged James further.

“To be honest, I’ve always believed you were unfit to be a Hunter. Let alone a member of the Uncrowned Emperor’s granddaughter squad.”

Time, James claimed, had proven him right.

“And here you are. Level 1 trash… holding a shovel instead of a sword.”

He paused deliberately.

“Or perhaps…” His lips curved upward. “Are you digging your own grave?”

He laughed lightly at the sight .. a Hunter coated in dirt, wielding a shovel like some disgraced laborer.

Ethan watched him in silence for a few seconds.

Then he spoke, the smile never fading.

“Did you come all this way just to say that? Because if that’s all you have…”

His eyes gleamed faintly.

“Then I regret to inform you that you’re even more pathetic than I am, my fellow Hunter.”

James’ laughter ceased instantly.

He stepped forward until they stood nearly chest to chest.

“I came to warn you, Ethan Heart.”

His voice lost its playful edge. It carried weight now.

“Give up. Preserve your life. You have no chance of winning.”

His gaze sharpened.

“If you fight me at your current level… death is the only thing waiting for you.”

To emphasize his words ..

James released his power.

Before Ethan’s eyes, James Heart’s body erupted in brilliant white light. It enveloped him completely, radiating outward in oppressive waves.

The pressure descended like a physical force.

Standing upright became difficult.

The air itself seemed heavier.

The pressure radiating from James’ body pressed against Ethan’s skin like a physical weight.

’Aura Armor…’

Ethan recognized it instantly.

This was the power that defined a Hunter.

By reinforcing their bodies with aura, those who had reached the Advanced Rank and beyond could perform movements no ordinary human could ever hope to replicate.

It vastly enhanced their defenses as well.

“Save yourself,” James said, his voice firm — a warning wrapped in advice. “There’s no need to spill blood.”

His white radiance burned brighter.

“Withdraw. Once you do, you can dig graves or work in the mines for all I care… just stop pretending to be a Hunter.”

His eyes hardened.

“Because you are not one.”

Under that suffocating pressure, Ethan remained silent for several seconds, calmly analyzing the opponent chosen for him.

James Heart.

From his tone alone, Ethan could tell there was more than simple duty behind this encounter.

There was hostility.

He did not know the exact reason .. but based on James’ words, he already had his suspicions.

’Knight. Likely a swordsman. Shorter than me. Younger. Inferior in physical build… no Blessings… no unique weapon… but he has Aura Armor.’

One glance was enough.

James possessed nothing worth boasting about .. except that.

He had come all this way simply to flaunt it.

’If he had any additional ability or hidden trump card, he would have revealed it already. He’s exactly that type of person.’

As those thoughts flowed through his mind, a wide smile formed unconsciously on Ethan’s face.

James frowned.

“Your answer!?”

He wanted the duel settled before it had even begun.

Ethan simply shook his head.

“I’ll see you on the battlefield, Hunter James Heart.”

His tone remained light.. almost amused.

“We’ll settle this with our swords then… not our mouths.”

And with that, he turned and walked away.

James froze.

“You’ll die! Do you value your life so little?!” he shouted.

Ethan waved lazily without looking back.

“I have nothing more to say to you. Go home, James. Spare me the empty words.”

He paused slightly.

“Oh .. and please don’t touch the pit. I worked quite hard digging it.”

He laughed loudly as he left, leaving James standing there in stunned disbelief.

“What the hell is wrong with him? Is that really Ethan Heart?”

James had come intending to crush his spirit .. to break his resolve through sheer pressure and superiority.

Instead, the effect had reversed.

Ethan hadn’t seemed intimidated by Aura Armor in the slightest.

If anything…

He looked pleased.

And that unsettled James more than anything else.

—

As Ethan walked farther into the night, he chuckled softly.

“The upcoming fight against James Heart is a PvP duel… player versus player.”

“In this kind of match… the first step to victory is knowing exactly what your opponent is capable of .. and forcing him to reveal every trump card.”

He glanced back briefly. James was now a distant silhouette.

“James Heart… you’re a terrible player.”

His smile widened.

“Not only do you lack hidden cards .. you’re foolish enough to reveal everything before the match even begins.”

He laughed openly now.

“I thought this would be difficult. But if this is my opponent…”

“There’s nothing easier.”

James had shown everything.

Ethan, on the other hand ..

Possessed an arsenal of hidden cards vast enough to make the entire world fall silent in shock.

He rested the shovel on his shoulder once more, satisfied.

Digging was done for today.

“Time to see old Asterion.”

With a new destination in mind, Ethan moved beneath the veil of night ..

Toward the Uncrowned Emperor.

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