Ethan took out the body of the boar from the storage ring.
Thud.
The body fell to the forest floor, sending a small whisp of wind across the fallen leaves.
He knelt beside it, hands hovering over the beast's body. Despite his exhaustion, he couldn't waste this opportunity. Every attribute point mattered now.
"Devour," he whispered, activating his ability.
<Ferocious Beast: Razorback Boar>
<Iron Enhancement Talent: E> <Devour>
<Rank: Mid-Bronze>
Ethan devoured the talent without hesitation.
<You have devoured Razorback Boar>
<You have evolved the talent: Iron Enhancement (F+ -> E-) >
<You have gained +10 Strength >
<...>
Ethan's power increased dramatically.
Ethan checked his status, noting the improvements
...
<Human: Ethan Brandon>
<Rank: Mid-Bronze>
<Talents: Enhanced Speed (F+), Protective Shield (F), Iron Enhancement (E-), Accuracy Enhancement (F+), Regeneration (F+), Dagger Wield (F-)>
<Transformations: Shadowfang Wolf(Peak-Iron), Razorback Boar(Mid-Bronze), Black Beetle(Mid-Bronze), Brown Bear (Mid-Bronze)>
<Level 2>
<Health Points: 700>
<Mana Points: 600>
<Strength: 85> <Agility: 60> <Intelligence: 60> <Vitality 70>
<Free Attributes: 5>
<Skills: Basic Footwork (Novice - 13%)>
...
"Not bad. My strength has stepped into the Mid-Bronze range, and the Razorback Boar transformation has also evolved."
Ethan stood, eyes fixed on the distant city walls.
Infiltrating the city walls was as easy as always. A few minutes later and he was back in the third district.
That's when he noticed it—thick smoke billowing into the night sky, orange flames flickering against dark clouds.
'What happened there?' He changed direction, drawn to the commotion despite his exhaustion.
As he drew closer, dread pooled in his stomach. The smoke rose from the exact direction of the orphanage. His pace quickened, Enhanced Speed activating almost subconsciously.
He arrived to find his fears confirmed. The orphanage engulfed in flames that reached hungrily toward the night sky.
Ethan watched from the shadows as water-talented awakeners fought a losing battle against the inferno. Their faces streaked with soot, desperation evident in every movement.
"Where are the backups?" A woman shouted, her water talent creating spheres that hissed into steam upon contact with the blaze. "Why is it only Third District people here? The fire's too advanced—we can't contain it!"
The crowd stood helpless, shock written across their faces.
Ethan's throat tightened. He was a transmigrator—these weren't technically his memories, his people. But something in him resonated with his predecessor's attachment to this place.
'Too late. They're all dead.' His fists clenched at his sides. The building's structural integrity had already failed in multiple places. No one could have survived that inferno.
A terrible suspicion formed in his mind. This timing... with him being hunted by Han Wei... with him defending Tiana...
This wasn't an accident.
Ethan took one last look at the burning building before melting back into the shadows of an alleyway.
Although he had a hunch that Han Wei's people were behind this, it remained just that—a hunch. No proof. No witnesses. Just the suspicious timing.
'If it was them, they'll make their next move soon,' he calculated, moving silently through backstreets toward Lin's restaurant. 'They'll want me to know it was them. Want me angry, reactive, careless.'
That's how hunters operated. Create a wound, then wait for the prey to leave a blood trail directly to their hiding place.
It was the same way his bullies operated back in the previous world.
Ethan slipped through Lin's restaurant's back entrance, careful not to disturb the sleeping family. He needed rest and needed to recover his mana.
As he settled onto the storage room couch, resting his body, his mind was not resting.
After a few hours, sleep came reluctantly, memories of flames mingling with visions of the beast horde in his dreams.
Before the next day could arrive, Ethan woke to urgent knocking on the storage door.
His eyes snapped open instantly, his reflexes bringing him to full alertness in a heartbeat. His hand reached for the sword that he withdrew from his storage ring.
"Ethan..." Lin's voice came from the door, stuttering.
Ethan frowned and stored his sword.
"Come in," he called.
The door creaked open. Lin stood there shivering, her father behind her.
The old man clutched a large kitchen knife, his knuckles white around the handle. Their faces were drained of colour, eyes wide with unmistakable terror.
They slipped inside, closing the door with painful slowness, as if afraid the slightest sound might draw attention.
"What's wrong?" Ethan frowned, rising to his feet.
Lin's lips trembled as she tried to form words. "T-The monsters. They are here..."
Her father nodded grimly, the knife shaking in his grip. "The outer wall is being attacked."
"WHAT?"