Ethan looked at the newcomer, and his brows sank.
The system scan results popped up almost instantly.
35 Tier — peak.
That was leagues above the group he'd just crushed.
More importantly, this guy's internal energy structure was weird as hell. On top of the usual power, there was a fire-aspect energy Ethan had never seen before, cycling nonstop through his flesh, his bones, and his core.
A heavier focus settled into Ethan's eyes.
He lifted his right hand. Translucent lightning spun in his palm, compressing fast until it became a massive sphere of thunder.
Arcs churned inside it. Violet runes coiled around the outer layer, and every twitch left hairline cracks in the air.
"This one's at least worth looking at," Ethan said, staring him down, the provocation completely unhidden.
"Question is—how strong are you when you really start swinging?"
Then he threw the lightning sphere.
