…
The same could not be said of the transcendent soul group. He had to end things with them immediately.
The grand hall of the Explorers' Guild, which was alive with the hum of activity, the chatter of explorers, and the clatter of weapons and armor, was now quiet.
Ethan stood at the center of it all, his staff glowing faintly with a golden light, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room.
His speech had just ended, and the air was thick with tension. The other explorers watched him with a mix of awe, fear, and curiosity.
Some were drawn to his charisma, while others were wary of his growing power and intentions.
But Ethan wasn't done yet.
As he stepped forward, his charm ability began to radiate from him like an invisible aura, seeping into the minds of those around him.
It was subtle at first, a gentle tug at their willpower, but it quickly grew stronger, more insidious. The effect was immediate.
A man near the back of the hall suddenly stopped mid-conversation, his eyes glazing over as he turned to face Ethan.
His companions tried to pull him back, but it was too late. He was already under Ethan's spell, his will bending to the Earth-King's command.
"Follow me," Ethan said, his voice low and smooth, like velvet.
The man nodded, his expression one of utter devotion, and stepped forward to join Ethan's growing group of followers.
Chaos erupted.
Explorers began to move away, some stumbling as they tried to resist the pull of Ethan's charm.
"Send me!"
"System to the next floor!"
Others, realizing the danger, quickly asked the system to send them to the next floors, escaping the grand hall before they too could fall under his influence.
The once-bustling hall was now a scene of panic and confusion, as people scrambled to get away from the Earth-King's growing influence.
But not everyone fled.
In fact, someone used their power to create a space-separating barrier that blocked Ethan's movement.
"Huh… Well, look at my friends here," Ethan said mockingly to the group responsible for blocking him.
In the midst of the chaos, five figures stood their ground. Liu Wei, Hiroshi Tanaka, Min-ji Kim, Viktor Petrov, and Emma Laurent—they were part of the ones who had once stood against Ethan in the past.
They had been surprised at first before they got over it, their expressions now a mix of determination and unease.
They hardly knew what Ethan was capable of, but they knew they had to stop him before it was too late.
Well, they would at least try.
After all they have heard about the situation with Lila, they were surprised after going to meet her to check up on her.
They discovered the situation was out of what they could control.
She was a fanatic who would gloriously offer her life to Ethan at any point if he ever demanded it.
Knowing that the only way to reverse the brainwashing on her was to take down the caster or use a high-ranking potion to cure her.
They had chosen to take the easier option. The portion in the system store was too expensive for them to buy, but taking out Ethan should be easier at least, right?
Liu Wei stepped forward first, his sharp eyes narrowing as he studied Ethan. "You've gone too far, Ethan," he said, his voice calm but firm. "This ends now."
Ethan smirked, his Charm ability still radiating from him like a dark cloud. "Oh? And how do you plan to stop me, Liu Wei? With your probability manipulation? Or perhaps you'll just stand there and watch as I take control of this tower?"
Liu Wei's lips curled into a faint smile. "We'll see."
Before Ethan could respond, the air around them shifted. A system notification flashed before everyone's eyes, glowing with an otherworldly light.
[Warning! A higher-order being has interfered.]
The grand hall dissolved into a swirl of light and color, the crystalline spires of Luminaris fading away as the explorers were transported to a new location.
When their vision cleared, they found themselves standing on a vast, open plain, the sky above them a swirling mass of dark clouds.
The ground beneath their feet was cracked and barren, and the air was thick with the scent of ozone.
[You have been transported to the realm of the constellation "Whisper of Ruin."]
[All participants must engage in combat. The duel will end when one side is defeated.]
[Representatives of the explorers will be Liu Wei, Hiroshi Tanaka, Min-ji Kim, Viktor Petrov, and Emma Laurent.]
The constellation's action shows support for Ethan's group as they enforced rules without permission from both sides.
Ethan's smirk widened as he looked around at the new battlefield. "Well, this is convenient," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "Now I don't have to hunt you down one by one."
The transcendent souls exchanged uneasy glances.
They had been caught off guard, their plan in disarray and their powers still weak from their low floor clears.
They weren't used to team battles, and the sudden shift in the environment had left them disoriented. The rules of the duel weren't even clarified.
But they didn't have time to think, just as they were about to voice their complaints…
Ethan's group moved first.
The Burly Man charged forward, his massive warhammer crackling with energy as he swung it in a wide arc.
Liu Wei barely had time to react, his probability manipulation kicking in as he dodged the blow by a hair's breadth.
The warhammer slammed into the ground, sending shockwaves through the cracked earth.
Hiroshi Tanaka stepped forward, his Mirror Dimension ability activating as he created a reflective surface in front of him.
The Burly Man's next swing was deflected, the warhammer bouncing off the mirror-like barrier and sending him stumbling back.
But Hiroshi's victory was short-lived.
The short sword holder darted forward, his blade flashing as he sliced through the air.
Hiroshi tried to create another mirror, but he was too slow. The blade cut through his arm, drawing blood and forcing him to retreat.
Min-ji Kim stepped forward, her voice ringing out across the battlefield. "Stop!" she commanded, her Sound Weaving ability giving her words power.
The short sword holder hesitated, his movements slowing as Min-ji's words took hold.
But before she could press her advantage, the Younger, Furious Man lunged at her, his daggers glinting with venomous green light.
Min-ji barely had time to dodge, the daggers grazing her side as she stumbled back. She tried to speak again, but the Furious Man was too fast, his attacks relentless.
Viktor Petrov stepped in, his ice control ability activating as he sent a wave of frost toward the Furious Man.
The daggers froze in midair, the venom on their blades crystallizing as the ice spread up the man's arms.
But his victory was short-lived because…
The calm but deadly man loosed an arrow, the projectile whistling through the air before embedding itself in Viktor's shoulder. He cried out in pain, the ice around the Furious Man shattering as he lost focus.
Emma Laurent stepped forward, her wind manipulation ability activating as she sent a gust of wind toward the Calm but Deadly Man. The arrow was blown off course, but the man was already preparing another shot.
The battle raged on, each side trading blows as the transcendent souls struggled to keep up with Ethan's group.
They were outmatched, their powers weak and their teamwork nonexistent. They fought valiantly, but it wasn't enough.
One by one, they fell.
Liu Wei was the first to go, his probability manipulation failing him as the burly man's warhammer connected with his chest.
He was sent flying, his body crumpling to the ground as the life drained from his eyes. His body disappeared immediately.
Hiroshi Tanaka was next, his Mirror Dimension shattering as the Short Sword Holder's blade pierced his heart. He fell to his knees, his body disappearing in a flash of light as the tower claimed him.
Min-ji Kim tried to fight back, her Sound Weaving ability giving her words power, but the Furious Man was too fast.
His daggers found their mark, and she too disappeared, her body vanishing as the tower took her.
Viktor Petrov and Emma Laurent fought side by side, their powers combining as they sent waves of ice and wind toward Ethan's group.
But it wasn't enough. The tall, armored man raised his shield, deflecting their attacks before bringing his sword down in a powerful strike that cleaved through Viktor's defenses.
He fell, his body disappearing as the tower claimed him.
Emma was the last to fall, her wind manipulation unable to protect her from the combined might of Ethan's group.
She tried to flee, but the Calm but Deadly Man's arrow found its mark, piercing her back and sending her to the ground. She too disappeared, her body vanishing as the tower took her.
The battlefield fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of Ethan's group as they stood victorious.
The transcendent souls were gone, their bodies disappearing as the tower claimed them.
[Duel Ended.]
[Victory: Ethan Caldwell and his followers.]
The other explorers watched in stunned silence, their fear of Ethan growing with each passing moment.
Ethan stepped forward again, his staff glowing faintly as he surveyed the battlefield. "This is the power of the Earth-King, my power!" he said, his voice ringing out across the plain. "This is what happens to those who stand against me!"
The other explorers exchanged uneasy glances, their resolve wavering as they realized the true extent of Ethan's power.
The world around them blurred once more, the plane dissolving into a swirl of light and color as they were transported back to the grand hall of the Explorers' Guild.
The crystalline spires of Luminaris stretched high above them, but the air was void of the hum of activity: the atmosphere had changed.
Some began to move away, their fear overcoming their desire to fight. Others, those who had already fallen under Ethan's charm, stepped forward, their eyes shining with devotion.
The people still resisting were trying to get the system to send them back, but it was unresponsive.
Ethan smirked as he watched them. This was just the beginning. The Tower was his to conquer, and he would stop at nothing to claim it.
The other explorers watched Ethan with a mix of fear and awe, their earlier bravado gone.
They had seen what he was capable of, and they knew that standing against him was a death sentence.
"This is only the beginning." Ethan stepped forward, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room, his voice low and smooth. "The Tower is mine for the taking. And those who stand with me will rise to greatness."
The explorers were now stuck between the devil and the Red Sea. But Ethan wasn't even done yet.
He raised his staff, the golden light intensifying as he channeled the power of the Whisper of Ruin. The air around him shimmered, and a system notification flashed before everyone's eyes.
[Debuff Enacted: Weakness of the Unbound.]
[All explorers present will experience a 50% reduction in stats until they pledge allegiance to Ethan Caldwell, the Earth-King.]
The effect was immediate.
Explorers stumbled, their weapons feeling heavier in their hands, their movements sluggish. Some tried to resist, their faces contorted with effort, but the debuff was too powerful.
They were weakened, their strength sapped, and they knew they would eventually have no choice but to comply.
Ethan smirked as he watched them struggle. "This debuff will only be lifted if you sign a contract of allegiance to me," he said, his voice smooth and commanding. "Those who resist will be sent to the next floor, stripped of their weapons and armor. The choice is yours."
The room erupted into chaos once more. Some explorers, desperate to escape the debuff, stepped forward to sign the contract, their eyes glazing over as they fell under Ethan's charm.
Others, those who still had some semblance of willpower, resisted, their faces set with determination.
But their resistance was short-lived.
Ethan raised his staff again, and the system responded.
[Explorers resisting the contract will be transported to the next floor.]
A flash of light enveloped the resistors, and when it faded, they were gone, their weapons and armor left behind on the floor. The remaining explorers watched in stunned silence, their fear growing with each passing moment.
Ethan's gang, emboldened by their victory, moved closer to the females in the room, their eyes gleaming with lust.
They had been waiting for this moment, and now that Ethan had established his dominance, they saw no reason to hold back.
"Hey, sweetheart," one of them said, his voice dripping with false charm as he approached a woman who had fallen under Ethan's spell. "Why don't you come with me? We'll have some fun."
The woman nodded, her eyes glazed over as she followed him without question. The other members of Ethan's gang did the same; their actions were met with little resistance from the weakened explorers.
Ethan, meanwhile, had other plans.
He moved closer to the bunny receptionists, who had been watching the chaos unfold with their mouths agape.
They had remained neutral throughout the ordeal, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. But Ethan was curious. Why hadn't his charm worked on them?
He stepped forward, his staff glowing faintly as he tried to exert his influence over them. But the receptionists remained unaffected, their eyes clear and focused.
Ethan frowned. "Interesting," he muttered. "It seems my Charm doesn't work on you."
The receptionists exchanged uneasy glances, but before they could respond, the air around them shifted. A system notification flashed before their eyes.
[Warning! A higher-order being has interfered.]
The Whisper of Ruin's voice echoed in Ethan's mind, smooth and commanding.
[Let me handle this, Earth-King.]
The receptionists' eyes glazed over, their will bending to the Constellation's influence. They stepped forward, their expressions one of utter devotion as they fell under Ethan's charm.
Ethan smirked as he watched them. "That's more like it," he said, his voice low and smooth. "Now, let's see what else we can do."
As the chaos continued, Ethan's attention was drawn to the system group chat.
Messages were flooding in, the other explorers discussing what had happened on the first floor. Some were warning others about Ethan, while others were expressing their fear and disbelief.
Ethan glanced at the messages, his smirk widening. "Let them talk," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "They can't stop me."
He turned his attention back to the room, his eyes scanning the crowd.
His gaze fell on two sisters who had just entered the grand hall through a brilliant flash. They had not been present during his rampage, and their presence piqued his interest.
"Those two," he said, pointing to the sisters. "I want them."
His gang members nodded, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. "We'll get them for you, boss," one of them said, his voice eager.
Ethan smirked. "Good. Take three of the new followers and bring them to me. I have plans for them."
The gang members moved quickly; their actions met with little resistance from the weakened explorers. They approached the sisters, their expressions one of false charm as they tried to lure them away.
The sisters, sensing the danger, exchanged a quick, panicked glance. Before the gang members could grab them, one of the sisters grabbed the other's hand and shouted, "Run!"
They bolted, their movements swift and desperate.
The gang members lunged after them, but the sisters were faster, their fear giving them an edge.
They darted through the crowd, weaving between the stunned explorers, and made a beeline for the stairs leading to the second floor.
"Stop them!" Ethan barked, his smirk fading as he watched the sisters escape.
The gang members gave chase, but the sisters were already halfway up the stairs.
They reached the second-floor passage and disappeared just as the gang members reached the base of the staircase.
The sisters didn't look back, their hearts pounding as they disappeared into the safety of the next floor.
Ethan's expression darkened as he watched them go. "No matter," he muttered, his voice low and dangerous. "They can't run forever."
He turned to his gang members, his smirk returning. "For now, let's focus on consolidating our power."
The gang members nodded, their expressions one of eager anticipation. They knew that Ethan's plans were far from over, and they were ready to follow him to the ends of the Tower.
As the chaos in the grand hall continued, Ethan's thoughts turned to the future.
He knew that his actions would have consequences, but he didn't care.
The Tower, the world, everything was his to conquer, and he would stop at nothing to claim it.