After resting for a few minutes, Ethan began circulating his cultivation technique to slowly recover his aura. As the familiar warmth of his own power flowed back through his meridians, he took the opportunity to test whether the foreign energy would react to the movement, but it simply remained where it was, completely undisturbed by the flow around it.
He gathered a thin thread of Intent and probed it carefully once more, watching closely for any sign of resistance. Still nothing. No violent reaction, no defensive flare. It offered no resistance at all, submitting completely to his presence. Once he was fully certain it posed no threat to him, he decided to experiment with it further, drawing his focus inward again, curiosity beginning to outweigh his earlier caution.
Peter remained calm throughout the process, assuming Ethan was simply recovering his depleted strength after the exhausting ordeal, entirely unaware of what was actually unfolding within him. Luna, on the other hand, could sense that something about his earlier reaction had been different, some subtle shift in his expression she couldn’t quite place—though she chose not to disturb his concentration.
Slowly, carefully, Ethan fed the unknown energy a thin strand of his own aura, wanting to see exactly what it would do in response.
It reacted immediately, though not aggressively, unlike the way it had fought him inside Peter’s body only moments earlier. Like a child handed a piece of chocolate, it eagerly absorbed the offered aura, converting it seamlessly into more of itself, growing without any visible struggle at all. Ethan tested it further, redirecting a somewhat larger amount toward it this time. The same thing happened again. The marble-sized sphere grew—barely, almost imperceptibly, a change so small he nearly doubted his own senses, but he could still feel the difference all the same.
The golden panel materialized silently in front of him without his notice, his attention entirely consumed by the small, glowing sphere resting beside his Warrior Core.
[Notification]
[Foreign Energy Detected — ???]
[Possesses no threat to the Host]
[Analyzing...]
[Function Locked]
[Current Realm insufficient for further analysis]
This time, rather than aura, he directed a thread of raw mana toward it instead, wanting to see whether the energy would respond any differently. The same result followed, it made no distinction whatsoever between the two types of power, greedily absorbing whatever was offered to it, indifferent to the nature of the energy itself.
A familiar warmth spread through his abdomen once more, spreading outward in slow, steady pulses.
This is the same sensation from earlier...
Don’t tell me it’s reacting specifically to whatever I feed it.
Does it possess consciousness? He considered the thought carefully for a long moment before dismissing it. No... it’s instinct.
His thoughts shifted toward why the energy had suddenly begun behaving this way, transforming into this small, contained sphere, subdued and passive, only accepting what he willingly offered it, when earlier it had been draining strength continuously from Peter with no restraint at all. He considered the Heavenly Sovereign Physique, and a handful of other possibilities besides, turning each one over carefully in his mind, but he couldn’t arrive at any real conclusion.
An hour passed as Ethan continued testing it from every angle he could think of, until finally, having exhausted what little he could uncover on his own for now, he withdrew his focus entirely, accepting that this particular mystery would have to wait.
His attention shifted back to the notification still hovering before him. He read through it quickly.
It seems I’ll have to find the answers myself, for now.
The moment he dismissed it, another notification appeared.
[Ding!]
[Ding!]
[Pending Notifications]
Ethan recalled the notifications he’d received back when he was with Iris—ones he’d never had the chance to check, too occupied at the time to spare the attention.
System... show the notifications.
The golden panel expanded before him.
[Significant Accomplishment Achieved]
Host has accomplished a feat despite facing a threat significantly beyond the Host’s current threat level.
Achievement: Won the First War of This Life
Threat Level: Beyond Host’s Current Threat Level
Rewards Acquired:
50,000 War Merit
100 Free Stat Points
[War God Divine Exchange Voucher — 30% Discount ×1]
[Title Acquired]
Title: Black Reaper
Description: A title bestowed upon those who leave the battlefield stained in the blood of their enemies.
Effect: Increases the Host’s presence and intimidation when facing hostile targets.
Ethan studied the notifications carefully.
The rewards are generous this time. I didn’t expect to get another exchange voucher. But it seems this one only offers a 30% discount, unlike the previous one. His attention lingered a moment longer on it before shifting to the title.
This is the epithet I earned recently. He read through its effect once more. It seems useful. I’ll have to test it properly later.
He closed the notifications.
Peter and Luna were still watching him, waiting.
"My Lord, are you alright?" Peter asked, while beside him, Luna’s expression carried quiet worry. It was Peter’s voice that finally broke through Ethan’s focus entirely.
"It seems I worried you both," Ethan said, looking at them calmly, a faint smile crossing his face.
Seeing him well again, the concern in their expressions eased at once. Both Luna and Peter moved toward him as he rose to his feet.
"It seems the others are eager to hear what happened," Ethan said, noticing Drake, Corbin, and Teresa waiting just beyond the chamber.
"Yes, My Lord," Peter replied.
As they walked, Ethan’s thoughts drifted back to the conversation he’d once had with Peter about the origin of his injury. Peter had explained that it happened during a battle several hundred miles from their sanctuary, while they’d been hunting beasts in the surrounding territory to train the Order’s next generation of warriors.
He’d been attacked by a strange beast wielding a sword—and after killing it, the blade had disintegrated, leaving behind a small fragment of unidentified metal, which Peter had always suspected was somehow connected to the foreign energy lodged inside him. He’d assumed circulating his aura would resolve it naturally, but it hadn’t.
He’d since sought help from every high-tier healer he could find across the Empire, but none had been able to resolve the problem. He had never brought the matter directly to the Supreme Leader, however, as the man had entered seclusion shortly before Peter was injured, and Peter hadn’t wanted to disturb him while he was in seclusion.
Noticing Luna and Peter watching him intently as he walked, lost in thought, Ethan finally stopped.
"What happened?" Luna asked quietly, turning to face him.
Ethan explained the whole sequence, how the foreign energy had reacted the moment he tried to move it, refusing to dissipate, and instead transferring directly into him, settling into a small sphere now resting beside his Warrior Core.
Both of them shared their concern, worrying it might cause him problems somewhere down the line. But Ethan reassured them, telling them it was completely under control for now, and that they didn’t need to worry about it.
"Sir Peter, you said a fragment of it was left behind. Do you still have it with you?" Ethan asked.
"Yes, My Lord, but it’s currently in the sanctuary," Peter said. "I sealed it away, thinking that once the Supreme Leader emerged, he might be able to identify what it actually is, and help me, if I still hadn’t found a solution on my own by then."
"Sir Peter, could you bring it here?" Luna asked, almost the instant Peter finished speaking.
"No, Lady Luna. It would take months to reach the sanctuary, and once I enter, I can’t leave again until the Supreme Leader comes out himself."
Luna looked faintly disappointed at that.
"It’s fine. We can look into it later," Ethan said, sensing the growing restlessness of the others waiting just beyond the doors. "For now, let’s not mention any of this to them. It’ll only give them more to worry about."
Both of them nodded, and Peter finally pushed open the training chamber doors.
Seeing the Mercenary Leader’s serene expression and the faint smile on his face, both Corbin and Drake let out visible sighs of relief.
"Leader, you’re finally cured!" Drake shouted, lunging forward to hug him—only for Peter to sidestep smoothly at the last moment, sending Drake stumbling face-first onto the floor instead.
"Ouch...!!"
Everyone else simply continued on, ignoring him entirely.
"Congratulations on your recovery, Vice Leader," Corbin said. Beside him, Teresa offered the Mercenary Leader her own quiet well-wishes.
After that, everyone returned to their own work, while Ethan made his way to the guest chamber, where Rune lay sleeping soundly on the bed, one ear twitching faintly at the sound of the door opening without ever fully waking. Ethan smiled at the sight before heading in to shower, letting the hot water soak away the last of his exhaustion, then changed into fresh clothes.
Dawn had arrived nearly an hour earlier, the morning fog already clearing, the sky painted in soft gold.
Rune woke shortly after, stretching lazily before following Ethan outside, where they found Luna already waiting by the door. She’d known Ethan intended to leave within the hour, since he’d mentioned wanting to depart early.
"You said you had something to tell me?"
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