"You asked for it, kid," the woman said as she walked toward them, followed by a slender man wearing the same grin.
Irene was about to draw her daggers, but Ethan's hand suddenly stretched out in front of her.
"Let me take care of them," Ethan said with a smile on his face. Irene could see the spark of malice in his eyes.
Irene nodded. "Alright," she said, sheathing her daggers back. 'I definetely do not want to interfere about whatever he will do to them.'
Those Invited—who she didn't know how they found out about this structure and the Gear—were doomed. Irene thought that even if he was alone and they were five, they still wouldn't be able to defeat Ethan.
The woman and the thin man launched their assault. Ethan felt a surge of adrenaline and thrill coursing through his veins.
Right now, he relied solely on his physical prowess and combat instincts. He wanted to see how his strength now fared after taking Attributes from the two monsters earlier.
Ethan charged forward, meeting his attackers head-on. The woman wielded a pair of gleaming daggers, while the thin man moved with lightning speed.
The woman swung her blade in a wide arc, Ethan ducked gracefully beneath the attack. His reflexes is quick.
With lightning speed, Ethan then countered with a swift jab to her stomach. His fist connecting with a satisfying thud.
*BUAGH!*
Sensing an opening, he followed up with a series of rapid punches, each strike finding its mark with pinpoint accuracy.
The woman coughed up blood and staggered back a few steps before finally falling onto her back.
Ethan wanted to pursue and finish her off, but the slender man and the thin man surged toward him.
Ethan spun to meet him head-on, his muscles coiled like a spring ready to unleash its kinetic energy. With a burst of speed he launched himself forward.
*WOOSH!*
His powerful legs propelling Ethan into a devastating flying kick that sent the thin man staggering backward.
But these Invited were not so easily to give up. With a snarl of frustration the woman bounced on the ground and charged at him again.
Her blade flashing in the dim light as she pressed her attack.
Ethan danced nimbly out of reach, his reflexes honed to a razor's edge as he evaded each strike with uncanny precision.
The battle raged on for several seconds. Throughout that moment, a smile remained etched on Ethan's face.
His foe also realised, making them even more frustration.
'My body is much stronger and faster than before. Just after few hours after entering this Tower.' Ethan thought. 'Then, if I aborbed more Souls, what can happen to me?'
He now had become a superhuman just by absorbing two Common-rank creatures with little intelligence. He could already outmatch two people fighting him at once.
With each soul he absorbed, he knew he was inching closer to dominating the Tower.
Feeling excited, he unleashed a punch without holding back.
*BUAGH!*
The punch landed on the woman's head, causing her to spin in the air before crashing to the ground.
Then, he turned to the slender man and caught his leg, hurling him to the ground beside the woman.
Ethan leaped toward the woman when he saw her reaching for her dagger again.
He seized her arm as she reached for the dagger then twisting it with a resounding crack, eliciting a cry of pain from her.
Her dagger clattering to the ground beside her. With a cold glint in his eyes Ethan wasted no time in delivering a powerful blow to her rib, incapacitating her further and leaving her writhing in agony.
Turning his attention to the thin man, who lay sprawled on the ground. Ethan moved in with a calm smile on his face.
With a swift and strong strike he delivered a crushing blow to the man's legs, letting out a guttural cry of pain.
Standing tall amidst the chaos of battle, Ethan surveyed the scene with a mixture of satisfaction.
His grin widened, taking on a crooked edge as he glanced at his hands. He still had one more chance to use his Soul Manipulation. His energy reserves were also sufficient for one more use.
The rest of their group looked on in stunned silence. Their expressions a mix of awe and fear at the display before them.
They had underestimated Ethan's strength, and now they will faced their consequences.
One of the enemies, a burly man with a scarred face, took a step back, his hands trembling as he surveyed the scene before him.
"We... we should retreat," he stammered. "This... this is madness. We can't defeat him!"
The ringleader shook his head.
"No," he declared, his voice tinged with anger. "We came here for a reason, and we're not leaving empty-handed."
But despite his brave words, the fear in his eyes was unmistakable. And it was clear that doubt had begun to creep into the minds of the entire group.
They had thought themselves is strong enough to kill just the two young kids, but now they faced the harsh reality.
Ethan continued to disregard them, approaching the man who was still writhing in pain, and touched his face.
With a surge of energy, Ethan delved into the man's Soul.
The slender man's body convulsed as Ethan's power coursed through him, drawing out the essence of his strength, agility, energy, and charisma.
[ The Soul of a human (Common Rank) have been absorbed! ]
Attributes gained: strength: 15, agility: 17, energy: 35, charisma: 3
The slender man was now dead, his soul absorbed by Ethan, and he immediately felt the effects as his attributes increased once again.
Irene watched in horror as Ethan used his talent on the man without hesitation, and he seemed to take pleasure in it.
Ethan stood up and glanced at the remaining members of the group. "I haven't even used the talisman's power yet," he said. "Now, I will."
He summoned air to swirl around him, then hurled it toward the group, sending them backward all at once.
With a small smile, Ethan approached them, sparks of fire appearing in his hands.
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