Beyond Reality : the beginning of the end : Ethan path

Ethan was still standing in front of Lian, trying to catch his breath.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at the traces of the battle around them.

With a faint smile, he said:

“Honestly? This is starting to get a little fun.”

Lian looked at him in disbelief.

“A little?”

“What do you mean?”

“You don't really fight. You just act on instinct.”

She raised her hand and pointed at him.

“In the first fight, you would've been hit if I hadn't told you what to do. You see an opening, then move before you even think.”

Ethan laughed.

“And yet, I succeeded.”

“Because of my guidance.”

“For the same reason, I'll consider us a good team.”

She didn't answer.

Suddenly, something appeared behind her.

She turned—

But it was already too late.

Clark was standing behind her.

His scythe was in his hand.

He spoke calmly.

“Looks like you forgot one.”

Ethan didn't understand what he meant.

Then he saw the blade.

Everything changed in an instant.

Lian's head was severed, and her body disappeared.

Ethan didn't move.

He stared at the place where she had been standing only moments ago.

There was nothing left.

Slowly, he raised his head toward Clark.

For the first time since he had met him, there was no confusion or amusement on Ethan's face.

He was angry.

Clark smiled.

“There it is.”

“What?”

“That look.”

Ethan grabbed his book.

But before opening it, he recalled the inscriptions he had learned during the test.

Speed.

Flight.

Strength Enhancement.

He didn't need the book anymore.

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He raised his hand.

The symbols began appearing around his fingers.

One line.

Then another.

And in an instant, the inscription was complete.

His body exploded into motion.

He vanished from his position and appeared in front of Clark.

He struck him in the ribs.

Then came a sideways punch to his face, followed by another from the opposite direction.

He didn't stop.

He drove a punch into Clark's stomach and slammed him against the wall with all his strength.

The room shook.

Ethan stepped back.

He expected to see him on the ground.

But Clark emerged from the dust as if nothing had happened.

He smiled.

“Is that all you've got?”

Ethan tightened his fist.

“No.”

He drew another inscription in the air.

The explosion inscription.

His fist began to glow.

He charged again.

This time, Clark moved as well.

The two collided in the middle of the room.

Clark's punch was faster.

It struck Ethan in the face.

Ethan staggered backward, holding his bleeding nose.

Then another punch came.

Ethan tried to block it, but couldn't.

Clark continued pressing him until Ethan lost his balance and fell to the ground.

Then—

BOOM.

Clark drove a punch into the ground beside him with enough force to make Ethan's body jolt.

Clark stood over him.

“I expected more from you.”

Ethan slowly raised his head.

He didn't answer.

He reached for his book.

Before his hand could touch it, the book suddenly flew from somewhere and landed beside him.

Ethan froze.

He looked around.

No one.

He quickly opened the book.

His eyes stopped on a page he had never seen before.

Holy Protection Inscription.

He read its description.

It was designed to deal with beings that had crossed beyond the boundaries of death.

He looked at Clark.

Then back at the page.

“Why this inscription?”

He had no time to wonder.

Ethan memorized every detail of the inscription.

He closed the book.

From now on, he wouldn't need the page.

He raised his hand and drew the symbols he had memorized.

The mark glowed.

He moved toward Clark.

This time, Ethan didn't try to think.

His body moved before his mind could catch up.

He reached him.

He thrust his hand forward.

And in the next instant, Ethan's fist pierced through Clark's back and emerged from his chest.

Clark froze.

He stared at Ethan as if he couldn't understand what had just happened.

Then his strength gave out, and he fell.

Ethan remained standing for a few seconds before dropping to his knees.

Clark smiled from the ground.

“Finally...”

He closed his eyes.

“I can rest.”

The room fell silent.

Then Ethan heard a voice behind him.

“Ethan?!”

He turned.

Lian.

Alive.

Standing there as if nothing had happened.

He stared at her for a long moment.

“You...”

She approached him.

“Are you injured?”

He didn't answer.

He looked at the place where she had fallen moments ago.

Then back at her.

“But I saw you die.”

She frowned.

“What?”

Before he could get an answer, the ground moved.

A black shadow emerged from beneath Clark.

A mysterious woman appeared in front of his body.

She leaned toward him.

“Clark.”

He opened his eyes.

“Yes?”

“Our contract isn't over.”

A strange energy spread around his body.

A few moments later, Clark moved again.

He sat on the ground and sighed.

“At least I tried.”

Ethan stared at him.

Then at Lian.

Then back at Clark.

“What the hell is going on?”

Clark smiled.

“I was wondering when you'd ask.”

He moved closer.

“Everything you saw was a lie.”

Ethan remained silent.

“Lian's death?”

“A lie.”

“Her disappearance?”

“A lie.”

“Your fight with me?”

“No. That wasn't a lie.”

Ethan continued staring at him.

Clark said:

“My ability doesn't simply make people believe what I say. I can construct an entire lie inside their minds.”

Then he added:

“But if you knew how my ability worked, I'd lose a major advantage. That's why you couldn't know the truth.”

Ethan pointed toward Lian.

“And you knew she would come back?”

Clark laughed.

“Of course. She never left in the first place.”

“Then why did you do it?”

His smile disappeared for a moment.

“To see what you would do. Watching you fight like that excited me. And I also took the opportunity to free myself.”

Ethan remained silent.

He understood now that the test wasn't simply about measuring his abilities.

They had been watching his reactions too.

Amanda approached.

The wires emerged from behind her, moved around Ethan, and began treating his injuries.

He said nothing.

His eyes remained fixed on Clark.

Then he heard hurried footsteps.

Adrian appeared.

“Ethan!”

He approached him.

“Are you okay?”

Ethan raised his hand.

He slapped him.

Adrian froze.

He touched his cheek.

“Why?”

Ethan said coldly:

“Because you drugged me.”

“Oh.”

Adrian thought for a moment.

“Fair enough.”

Ethan stared at him.

“And that's not all.”

Adrian took a step back.

“Okay... maybe I should've let you sleep.”

Lian laughed.

Ethan looked at her.

Then, despite himself, he smiled.

For the first time since the beginning of the test, he felt that something had changed.

The book was no longer the only source of his strength.

The book opened new doors for him.

But whatever he learned...

stayed with him.

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