Ethan walked in silent thought, feeling the new energy pulsing within him.

  The system was already changing him.

  His hand instinctively hovered over his sword. He could feel the weight of his power growing, like a beast waking up inside him.

  And then—

  A screen flickered before his eyes.

  —

  [Fusion - Essence Ssh + Blood Infusion?]

  [Confirm?]

  __

  His lips curled into a smirk.

  Yes. He clicked

  —

  [New ability created: Blood Ssh (Uncommon)]

  Effect: Unleashes a crescent-shaped arc of blood-infused energy, cutting deep and causing wounds to bleed more than normal.

  —

  Ethan clenched his fist, feeling his blood stir with newfound strength.

  But he wasn’t done.

  Another idea surfaced.

  —

  [Fusion - Shadow Bde + Blood Infusion?]

  [Confirm?]

  —

  Ethan's pulse quickened.

  He pressed yes.

  —

  [New ability created: Crimson Swordsmanship (Uncommon)]

  Effect: Enhances sword combat by drawing upon the user’s blood, increasing attack speed, sharpness, and adaptability in combat.

  —

  Ethan grinned.

  "Two new abilities," he muttered under his breath, flexing his fingers.

  With these, he felt even stronger.

  Stronger than before.

  Maybe now, they could stand a chance against something bigger.

  Lisa raised an eyebrow at his sudden smirk. “Good news?”

  “Yeah,” Ethan said, his voice dripping with confidence. “I just made two new skills.”

  Lisa snorted. “Of course you did. Anything crazy?”

  Ethan tapped his sword’s hilt. “You’ll see.”

  She rolled her eyes, but grinned slightly.

  —

  As they walked, Ethan suddenly felt a presence.

  A familiar one.

  Then, a soft, velvety voice purred into his mind.

  "Hey there, little blood source. Miss me?"

  Ethan froze mid-step.

  Lisa noticed. “Ethan?”

  He ignored her.

  Instead, he closed his eyes, focusing on the voice inside his head.

  “… Reyna.”

  A musical chuckle filled his thoughts.

  "Good, you remember me," she teased. "I need to expin a few things, now that I’m your Patron.”

  Ethan’s jaw tightened.

  “… Go on.”

  Reyna hummed. “Firstly, Earth? Yeah, it’s about to become a battleground.”

  Ethan stilled.

  “What?”

  “The System didn’t descend for fun, darling,” Reyna purred. “It’s preparing you. In a few months, Earth will be invaded. Forces from other universes are already watching.”

  A cold shiver ran down his spine.

  “… And what are these forces?”

  “Monsters. Conquerors. Beings far beyond what you can imagine.”

  Ethan’s fingers twitched.

  He had assumed the system was just a way to evolve. A way to survive.

  But now—

  It was so much more.

  "Lovely, right?" Reyna's tone was amused. "Of course, the System will prepare you. There will be events, challenges, dungeons, and all sorts of opportunities to grow."

  Ethan inhaled sharply.

  “And?”

  "And," Reyna said, "you’re not the only one chosen."

  Ethan’s eyes narrowed.

  “There are others,” Reyna continued. “People like you, who have received Patrons from different worlds. Some allies. Some threats.”

  Ethan gritted his teeth.

  “So I’ll have to kill them.”

  Reyna giggled.

  "Or work with them. But knowing you, I doubt it."

  Ethan exhaled.

  Lisa was staring at him. “Ethan?”

  “I’ll expin ter,” he muttered.

  Lisa didn’t look convinced but nodded.

  They kept walking.

  —

  After another hour, Ethan and Lisa arrived at an abandoned district.

  Skyscrapers stood in eerie silence, covered in moss and decay. Cars y rusted, streetlights flickered, and the distant sound of monsters echoed through the wind.

  Ethan pulled out an item they had bought earlier—

  The Seeker Compass.

  It was a small, metal device, shaped like a circur dial, with an arrow that reacted to hidden dungeon entrances.

  He gripped it tightly.

  “Alright,” he muttered, holding it up. “Let’s see what we find.”

  Lisa watched as the compass shuddered to life.

  The arrow spun rapidly—then locked onto a direction.

  It pointed northeast.

  “… Got something?” Lisa asked.

  Ethan grinned.

  “Yeah.”

  The two moved swiftly, following the compass through ruined streets and shattered highways.

  Every step sent them deeper into the unknown.

  Eventually—

  They found it.

  A massive, ancient-looking structure stood before them, hidden beneath a colpsed overpass.

  A gate of bck stone, glowing with pulsing red runes, sat in the center—an ominous portal to something beyond.

  The compass vibrated violently.

  [Dungeon Detected.]

  —

  Ethan and Lisa exchanged gnces.

  Lisa smirked. “You wanted a challenge?”

  Ethan unsheathed his sword.

  “Let’s find out what’s inside.”