And Hong Wei, brave even in captivity, had managed to send a warning with their childhood code word.
Ethan's hands clenched at his sides. His suspicion was finally solidified without any doubt. Han Wei had killed dozens of kids for his petty revenge.
'I will have him pay for every life lost in those flames.'
He stalked through the crowded streets of District Three, his eyes scanning every alley and corner for Hong Wei. The district was a chaotic mess of refugees heading inward, soldiers moving outward, and civilians trying to secure their homes against both human looters and monster attacks.
After nearly an hour of searching, Ethan finally spotted him—a thin figure slumped against a wall in a less trafficked side street. Hong Wei sat with his eyes closed, chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. Bruises decorated his face like macabre artwork.
'Is he sleeping?'
Ethan's gaze swept the area, searching for Han Wei's subordinates. His senses detected nothing unusual, but the crowded district made it impossible to be certain.
'There are too many people here, it's difficult to tell,' he thought, weighing his options. 'Either way, since they're setting a trap for me, I'll gladly walk into it.'
With deliberate motions, Ethan dropped his hood and approached Hong Wei. The boy didn't stir until Ethan gently shook his shoulder.
Hong Wei's eyes fluttered open, then widened in shock upon recognizing Ethan. His gaze darted frantically around the busy street.
"Why are you—"
Before he could finish, ten figures materialized from the crowd, forming a perfect circle around Ethan and Hong Wei. They moved with the synchronized precision of trained killers.
"Everyone leave. NOW!" The apparent leader barked, flames erupting around his outstretched hand.
Civilians scattered like startled birds, screams punctuating their hasty retreat. Within seconds, the street emptied, leaving only Ethan, Hong Wei, and their ambushers.
Ethan positioned himself in front of Hong Wei, scanning the ten attackers with cold eyes.
The leader was a Mid-Bronze rank with an E Rank Fire Talent.
The others were all in the Low-Bronze rank, each with E-Rank talents of various types.
"Hong Wei," Ethan said quietly, "when I move, run toward the main street."
"You can't fight them all," the boy whispered, his voice trembling.
The leader stepped forward, flames dancing between his fingers. "Han Wei sends his regards, you rat. He wanted you to know that the orphanage was just the beginning."
"Funny," Ethan replied, a dangerous smile spreading across his face. "I was about to deliver a similar message to him."
The leader's brow furrowed, confusion replacing his smug confidence. "You don't seem worried for someone about to die."
"That's because I'm not the one who's going to die today."
Ethan activated Iron Enhancement, a metallic sheen spreading across his skin as his body hardened to weapon-grade density. Simultaneously, Enhanced Speed coursed through his muscles, the world around him seeming to slow as his perception accelerated.
The ten men tensed, suddenly uncertain. This wasn't the reaction they'd expected from a cornered, runaway. They knew that he wasn't weak, but his power shouldn't be anywhere near enough to defeat the ten of them.
"Kill him!" the leader shouted, hurling a fireball directly at Ethan's face.
Ethan crossed both of his arms that had become iron and blocked the attack whilst charging forward.
With High-Bronze strength and E-Rank speed, he became a blur of lethal precision.
His first strike caved in the nearest attacker's chest, his arm punching through the man's defensive talent like paper.
The second attacker managed to activate a Shield Talent, but Ethan's follow-up kick shattered it completely, along with the man's ribs.
<You have killed Low-Bronze...>
<You have killed Low-Bronze...>
"Run!" he shouted to Hong Wei, who finally broke from his shocked paralysis and bolted toward the main street.
Three attackers moved to intercept the boy.
"You are not going anywhere!"
Ethan's speed let him reach them first, Han Wei's sword flashing in a deadly arc that opened their throats and severed their tendons.
<You have killed Low-Bronze...>
<You have killed Low-Bronze...>
In a span of a minute, Ethan had already killed four of the attackers without any mercy.
The remaining six, including the leader, watched in horror as their ambush collapsed around them.
The leader gritted his teeth as Hong Wei broke free, fleeing toward the main street.
"Fire Strike!" he roared, hurling a blazing sphere toward the boy's back.
Ethan moved with supernatural speed, intercepting the fireball with his iron-reinforced palm. The flames sputtered and died against his hardened skin, not even leaving a mark.
"Impossible..." one of the assassins whispered.
The leader's eyes widened. "Damn it. He is at least High-Bronze. His speed might have reached the peak of the rank!"
"We can't beat him," another blurted, backpedaling. "We should run."
"Run? But Young Master Han—"
Words died in his throat as Ethan closed the distance in a blur of motion. Han Wei's sword flashed once, plunging through the man's chest, coming out of the other side.
The assassin's eyes bulged in shock. Blood bubbled from his lips as he stared down at the blade protruding from his sternum, uncomprehending.
Thud!
His body hit the floor.
"Anyone else want to mention Han Wei?" Ethan asked, his voice eerily calm as he cleaned his blade with a single slash.
Whish!
The remaining five backed away in unison, formation forgotten in their panic.
"This isn't just some scout," the leader hissed to his men. "Spread out! Use your combined attacks! We can't run, he will kill us one by one."
They obeyed, circling Ethan with desperate coordination. Two water talents moved to flanking positions.
"Now!" the leader shouted.
Five talents activated simultaneously.
Water blades sliced from opposite sides, including the same fire strike, but a large scale coming from the leader.
The attack came with perfect coordination from inescapable angles. The kind of combination that should have shredded even a High-Bronze target.
"WE GOT HIM!" One of the attackers laughed maniacally, unable to comprehend that they had beaten a high-bronze awakener.