No one knew how much time had passed.
When Ethan opened his eyes again, he was back at Emerald Castle.
But something in the air immediately put him on edge.
A strange, unfamiliar energy filled the sky—subtle, not violent, but instinctively unsettling.
His brow furrowed. He reached out and grabbed a patrolling soldier.
"This energy—where's it coming from?"
The soldier quickly pointed toward an open clearing not far away.
There—
A tall figure hovered in midair, dark energy pouring off him like a tide, warping the space around him.
Ethan had barely stepped closer when that energy wrapped around him, like invisible claws trying to tear him apart.
He instinctively pushed back with his own power.
But the moment his resistance kicked in—
Something strange happened.
His physical strength surged. His energy flow became smoother, more refined.
Ethan blinked, caught off guard.
