Chapter 40: Rose’s kiss Zara’s small footsteps pattered across the floor before she appeared in the living room doorway. She wore a soft pink dress and held a plush rabbit to her chest. When she saw Ethan, her bright eyes widened, then darted shyly to the side. "Big Brother Ethan..." Ethan smiled gently. "Hello, little princess." Zara’s cheeks glowed pink. She shuffled in place, almost hiding behind her mother’s leg. Rose watched the scene, warmth flooding her heart. Elizabeth stepped aside. "Come on, Zara, don’t be shy." Ethan leaned down and ruffled her silky hair. "I brought something for you." He handed her a box wrapped in pastel blue paper. Zara peeked inside, and her eyes sparkled. It was a delicate crystal hairpin shaped like a snowflake. "Thank you..." she whispered, her voice soft as cotton. Ethan’s smile faded a little as his mental power swept over her fragile body. He hadn’t planned to probe so openly, but he needed to know the truth. His consciousness slipped into her meridians and bones, every cell revealing itself under his perception. Suddenly, he felt it. In Zara’s bone marrow—deep in her third lumbar vertebra—a cluster of dark, crystalline cells was lodged like a parasite. They radiated a cold aura, an unnatural ice energy that poisoned the surrounding tissue. Even as he examined it, a flicker of that chill reached his mental sense, pricking him with discomfort. Cancer...? No. It was similar, but not a normal disease. What the hell is this? Was it planted by someone... or born inside her? His jaw tightened. Zara had always been weak, but no one could have imagined this. He turned to Elizabeth and Rose, composing his expression. "Zara," he said softly, "I’m going to use a special technique. You may feel warm." Zara nodded, clutching her rabbit tighter. Ethan placed his palm on her small shoulder. Pure, golden light elemental energy surged from his core. It wrapped around her like a gentle tide, flooding her veins, restoring the damage that insidious cold had caused for years. Her brittle marrow grew stronger, her pale skin brightened with healthy color, and the faint tremors in her limbs vanished. Elizabeth covered her mouth. She hadn’t seen her daughter look this lively in years. Yet as Ethan focused, he realized something alarming. No matter how he poured his light force into the cancerous seed, it didn’t wither. The surrounding damage healed perfectly, but the icy crystal remained lodged there, inert yet pulsing with cold power. He drew back slowly, frowning. "Big Brother..." Zara blinked up at him, touching her arms. "I feel warm...like Mama’s hugs." Elizabeth’s eyes brimmed with tears. "Ethan, what did you—?" "I awakened a healing talent when I awakened my core," Ethan said quickly, though the lie tasted bitter on his tongue. "It’s limited, but it can restore injuries and fatigue." Rose looked at him with a thousand questions in her eyes. Why didn’t he tell her before? Why only now? But she didn’t press. He turned to Elizabeth, studying the lines that hardship had carved into her face. With a sigh, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "May I?" Elizabeth’s voice wavered. "I...of course." He closed his eyes. Light energy surged again, sweeping through her body like a river dissolving silt. Years of exhaustion, malnutrition, and stress melted away under the tide of life force. The dull ache in her bones disappeared. The fading luster of her hair brightened to a soft chestnut sheen. When Ethan lifted his hand, Elizabeth’s skin glowed with vitality. She looked barely past her early thirties—beautiful in a way that stunned even Rose. "Mama..." Rose’s eyes turned red. Elizabeth raised trembling fingers to her cheek. "This...how is this possible?" "It’s just something I can do," Ethan said gently. "Consider it a gift." Then, without warning, Rose stepped forward. She threw her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. Her body trembled as their warmth mingled. For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. Her breath shivered against his mouth. Then she pulled back abruptly, eyes wide with panic, and sprinted to her room, slamming the door behind her. Elizabeth blinked, stunned. Ethan chuckled under his breath. His heart felt impossibly full. He stood, exhaling slowly. "I’ll be going." Elizabeth took his hand in both of hers. "Thank you...for everything." He nodded and left the apartment, stepping into the dusk with a soft smile lingering on his face. --- Martial Hall Ethan walked through the main hall without slowing, ignoring the startled looks that followed him. He went straight to Charles’s office and pushed the door open without knocking. Charles was hunched over his desk, scribbling something on a document. When the door banged open, he looked up, ready to unleash a barrage of curses. But when he saw it was Ethan,hie swallowed his words. But then he cursed in a different tone. "You bastard!" he snapped, pointing his pen like a dagger. "Didn’t even knock—what if I was having personal time with a woman? Would you have stared like an idiot?" Ethan sneered. "What can an old geezer like you even do with a woman? Does that thing even stand anymore?" Charles’s face turned purple. "You little shit! Who said it doesn’t stand? I could father ten sons like you if I wanted!" "Yeah, yeah," Ethan waved lazily. "Sure you could." Charles was about to fire back when Ethan cut him off. "Listen, old man. I’ve broken through to Master Realm. I came to update my information. I don’t have time to bicker with you." Charles felt like he’d been struck by lightning. "What did you say, punk? Are you here to mess with me?" "Huh?" Ethan rolled his eyes. "Do you think you’re some great beauty that I’d mess around with you? Just check for yourself." They walked to the punching machine. Boom! Ethan’s fist sank into the steel plate. A clear number flashed: 50,000. This was undeniably the strength of a Martial Master. Charles’s legs almost gave out. This bastard will be the death of me someday. His breath came fast. He fumbled for the secure phone Leon had given him personally. The line connected after two rings. "Hello, Charles," Leon’s deep voice came. "You called directly. Urgent news about Ethan?" Charles swallowed. "Yes, sir." "This boy is standing in front of me. He has broken through to Master Realm today." Silence. Then Leon’s voice came again, low and incredulous. "Are you joking?" Charles rolled his eyes to the ceiling. Do you think I have the guts to do that? He thought silently. But he said seriously again. "No, sir. I wouldn’t dare. Ethan has really broken through. I confirmed it." Another long pause. Charles heard a faint muttering. "Three days ago...I visited that boy. He was at Warrior Level Nine. He broke through the day before that. So he reached Master Realm from Level Nine Warrior in...four days." Silence again. Then Leon started laughing. Maniacal, booming laughter that echoed through the speaker. "Hahahahaha! The Earth has hope! If we can hold on five or six more years...if we can hold on, we might survive the calamity!" Charles felt his heart slow to something like normal. Leon’s voice returned, steadier but tinged with something like awe. "Give him the phone." Charles passed it over. "Here." Ethan took it, casual as ever. "Hello, Mr. Vice President. How are you?" Leon’s chuckle rumbled like distant thunder. "Good? No, I’m better than good. My soul feels lighter than it has in decades. You little monster—you didn’t disappoint me. You’ve shown your worth again." Ethan smiled faintly. "Thank you." "I want to give you a gift," Leon said. "Tell me, what do you want?" Ethan didn’t hesitate. "Vice President, I’d like to ask a favor." "Oh?" Leon sounded surprised—and delighted. "If it’s in my power, I won’t refuse. Speak." "I’d like three additional residence permissions in the Super City. For Rose and her family." Leon went silent for a heartbeat. "Only that? You didn’t even need to ask me. You can bring anyone you want. Ask for something else." Ethan shrugged, though Leon couldn’t see it. "What can I ask for? You’ve already made everything free in the Alliance market. If I need anything, I’ll ask later." Leon laughed softly. "Fair enough. When are you coming to Super City?" "Two days from now, I think." "I’ll be waiting," Leon said. "Rest well. And...be careful." The line clicked off. --- Super City One – Hunt Family Estate Leon set the receiver down. His hands were steady, but his eyes burned. He called Alexander immediately. Alexander’s face appeared on the hologram. "Vice precident? What is it?" "Your great grandson. He’s reached Master Realm." Alexander’s face froze. Then his expression shifted through disbelief, then wonder, then quiet satisfaction. He turned, shouting into the hallway. "Call everyone!" James and Ryder came running. "Father, what happened?" Alexander looked them in the eye. "Ethan has broken through to Martial Master Realm. Decorate this house like the greatest occasion is arriving. We will welcome him in a manner befitting his achievement." "Yes, Father!" --- Martial Hall Charles leaned back in his chair, wiping sweat from his brow. He glared at Ethan. "You little monster. If you keep this up, you’ll reach the sky in a single step." Ethan’s eyes darkened. "Don’t curse me, old man. Before I reach the sky, you’ll be kicking the bucket." Charles froze. Then he realized what he’d said and coughed awkwardly. "I meant it in a good way." "Yeah, yeah." Charles sighed, half exasperated, half proud. "When are you throwing your farewell party? You’re leaving soon." "Maybe the day after tomorrow," Ethan said. "I’ll visit the school tomorrow. And order 35 supreme-tier body strengthening fluids for me. I’ll pick them up then." ---