Ethan walked towards them. His face was as cold as stone, showing no emotion whatsoever.
Now, only three people from the group were still alive. They struggled to rise from the powerful gust of wind. As they managed to stand, they saw Ethan approaching them.
At that moment, they realized they had made a fatal mistake.
Their leader crawled with his hands behind his back. His eyes widened in horror.
"What are you going to do?" one of them stammered, his voice trembling with fear.
Ethan didn't answer. He flicked his finger and the fire in his hand grew larger. He glanced back, impressed with what he had just done.
Then, he turned back to the terrified group. "Where did you get the information about this Gear?"
The three men exchanged fearful glances.
The flames in his hand flickered with intensity. "I suggest you answer now," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "Or things are going to get very unpleasant for you."
At this point, they knew Ethan was serious about his words. He might even do worse things to them.
The group exchanged nervous glances, their hearts wavering in the face of Ethan's overpowering presence. They knew they were no match for him, especially now that he had demonstrated his fighting prowess.
"Th-there is a man selling it to us!" one of the men said.
Ethan frowned. "Sell? Who is he?"
From behind, Irene came to Ethan and said, "There is a rumor about some Invited who have completed climbing up to a certain checkpoint in the Tower. They then sell the information they obtain from the Tower on the black market at very high prices."
"Isn't that illegal?" Ethan asked.
"Yes. But that doesn't stop them."
Ethan nodded, then turned to the group. "Tell me more about him."
"We...we got it from a guy we know," one of them admitted reluctantly.
"Go on."
The young man shifted uncomfortably, avoiding Ethan's gaze. "Um...his name is...uh...Shadowblade," he finally confessed, his voice barely audible.
"Shadowblade?" Ethan repeated incredulously. "That sounds like something out of a bad fantasy novel."
"It's just a nickname," another member of the group chimed in hastily. "We don't know his real name, but he's well-connected in the black market. He's got all kinds of information for the right price."
Ethan frowned, contemplating this new information. "And you trust this... Shadowblade?" he asked skeptically.
The group nodded in unison. "He's never given our friends wrong information before," one of them insisted. "If he says there's something valuable in the Tower, then there probably is. Our friend has already benefitted from him, so we believe him and buy the information from him."
As Ethan mulled over the information provided by the group, a sense of unease settled in the pit of his stomach.
The mention of Shadowblade and the black market, with the prospect of valuable treasures hidden within the Tower, was enticing, but it also spelled trouble. If word got out about valuable Gear or pieces of information, there would undoubtedly be other Invited racing to claim them.
Ethan thought he would have enough advantage over the others, but something like this could complicate things.
Ethan sighed, then extended his hand, enveloped in sparks of flame, towards the three men with an indifferent expression.
"No! Please! Haven't we answered all your questions?"
"Please forgive us! I promise we'll stay away from your path!"
"I don't wanna die!"
As they pleaded for mercy, their voices laced with fear and desperation, Ethan's grip on his power tightened. He knew what needed to be done.
Summoning forth the fiery essence within him, he unleashed a torrent of flames that engulfed the group in a blazing inferno. They screamed, but just for a few seconds.
The air crackled with heat as the flames consumed their bodies, reducing them to smoldering ash and silence in mere moments.
But Ethan's wrath did not end there. With a swift motion of his hand, he called upon the power of the wind to sweep away the remnants of them.
A fierce gust whipped through the air, carrying the charred remains of the group far from sight, leaving no trace of their existence behind.
He did the same to the woman and man behind him, then manipulated the earth to cover the scorched ground.
Behind him, Irene's jaw tightened. She watched with widened eyes and a pale face. Ethan had just ended the lives of five people with cold-blooded efficiency, as if they were nothing.
"This could be a problem. We need to move quickly," Ethan said, then turned to Irene. "There may be other people who know about the secrets on this Floor. We have to move fast."
"Y-Yes. You're right," Irene said.
After that, they walked back to where Claudia lived. They had to pass through the forest and hills to get there.
The hill where they both stood now was quite high. From here, they could see the vast green plain where they started earlier.
Ethan heard some voices from below. He decided to stop and check it out.
Irene followed behind him like a loyal friend.
They peeked from the top of the cliff. Below them, there was a group of about twenty people gathered. Some of them were injured, receiving treatment from those with Talent as healers.
Among them stood a young man with bright blonde hair, exuding an air of authority and confidence. His commanding presence immediately drew Ethan's attention.
"We've faced our fair share of challenges in this Tower," the man said. "But we're still standing, stronger and more determined than ever. We may have lost some comrades along the way, but their sacrifices will not be in vain. We must press on, together, and overcome whatever obstacles lie ahead."
'What the fuck? Is he really making a speech right now? Will that even work?'
But then, Ethan saw the other Invited looking at him with admiration. As if the man's words had just given them great hope.
'Well, guess that is working.'
Beside him, Irene frowned, staring at that man.
"He comes from one of the Conqueror Houses," Irene whispered.
Ethan turned. "Really?"
Irene nodded. "He is strong. He must have been given a lot of Gears from his family."
While Irene saw him as a problem, Ethan regarded him as another opportunity.
'So that guy has a lot of treasures.'
---