Ethan Cross panted heavily, his complexion gradually regaining color as the bloodshot veins in his eyes faded.
Strands of withered yellow straw, as though alive, began to coalesce once more. The crushed "Straw Heart" slowly reformed into its original shape.
Finally, the Strawskin Manifestation dissipated entirely, his body reverting to flesh and blood, his heartbeat steadying.
Yet, Ethan's face remained unnaturally pale.
The repeated use of supernatural abilities had drained him, both mentally and physically.
But when a wisp of black energy drifted from the distance and seeped into his chest—
A surge of warmth flooded through him, his pallor vanishing as vitality fully restored him.
It was as if all his expended strength and energy had been replenished.
[Ding! Host has eliminated a Class-D Entity: Starving Specter. Randomly extracting one supernatural ability…]
[Ding! Congratulations, host has obtained a Class-D ability: Gluttony.]
(Gluttony (Class-D): When activated, the host will experience insatiable hunger. Teeth, esophagus, and stomach undergo special enhancement, allowing continuous consumption of any substance to extract maximum nutrients and strengthen the body.)
"This ability?!"
Ethan's eyes flashed with surprise.
This was clearly the Starving Specter's innate power.
Earlier, the middle-aged man it had possessed, after devouring an enormous amount of food, had seen a drastic increase in physical strength—
Enough to effortlessly bite through a human skull and chew through bone.
Its raw power could tear through an inch of steel plate, and its speed surpassed human limits, rivaling that of a cheetah.
All of this was thanks to the Starving Specter's Gluttony ability!
At this realization, Ethan's gaze sharpened. His feet carried him like the wind, darting toward his apartment with lightning speed.
Compared to ordinary food, he still had a bag of rare, aged medicinal herbs stored there—originally intended for a strengthening bath.
Now, they would serve as the perfect test subjects for his new ability.
Grand Aurora Hotel
Due to the supernatural incident, the police had swiftly responded to the emergency call and relayed the situation to the Bureau.
Soon, armed officers surrounded Grand Aurora Hotel, screening all individuals entering or exiting for signs of possession.
Conference Room
Sophia Laurent, clad in her police chief uniform, stood beside an elderly man with a scholarly demeanor, examining the corpse before them.
Kael Stormcrest's head had been twisted backward, his features contorted in death—eyes bloodshot, tongue purpled, face frozen in horror.
The sight sent a chill down the spines of everyone present.
No human could contort their neck to such an extent.
Only an Entity could do this.
"Winters, any leads?" Sophia asked, her voice tense as she addressed the Bureau's special investigator.
Gale Winters adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his expression grave.
"Likely the work of a Neck-Snapper Wraith or a Telekinesis Specter. Both enjoy twisting heads off."
"If it's the former, we're in luck—it's a physical-class Entity, easier to handle. But if it's the latter…" His face darkened. "Telekinesis Specters are spectral-class. They ignore physical damage. Only elemental-imbued Awakened can deal with them."
His fists clenched in frustration.
By all rights, Winters should have retired by now, relegated to logistical support—not standing in another crime scene.
But the Bureau was critically understaffed.
Most agents had been dispatched to other missions, particularly to the abandoned building in the South District.
The moment Grand Aurora Hotel's incident was reported, he had volunteered, despite his limitations.
Yet, the scene only filled him with fury and helplessness.
If the killer was a Neck-Snapper Wraith, he could fight it—his D-grade Ironclad ability was effective against physical-class Entities.
But against a Telekinesis Specter?
Useless.
And according to witnesses, aside from this unknown Entity, a Starving Specter had also been present.
Fortunately, the Starving Specter—still puppeteering a human host—had fled the scene, minimizing casualties.
But a Starving Specter loose in the city was an even greater disaster.
"Didn't the Bureau repeatedly warn against nighttime gatherings?!" Winters snapped at the hotel staff. "This hotel blatantly ignored regulations, and now Entities have killed on its premises. You will be held accountable!"
The hotel manager, trembling, offered no rebuttal, only nervous apologies.
This old man was the Bureau's authority—a man with the power to combat Entities.
Not someone a mere manager could defy.
Even the chairman of Obsidian Group wouldn't dare oppose him.
"Chief Laurent," Winters said coldly, "seal this place. It's high time北海市 had a cleanup."
"Understood." Sophia gave the order without hesitation.
The manager's face drained of color, his legs buckling beneath him.
If not for his employees catching him, he would have collapsed outright.
Grand Aurora Hotel was one of Obsidian Group's primary revenue streams—a golden goose.
Its nightly earnings were astronomical.
A shutdown would enrage the board.
And worse—Kael Stormcrest, the chairman's eldest son, had just been killed by an Entity in the hotel.
That scandal alone was catastrophic.
With the chairman en route, the manager knew his career was over.
Survival was now his only concern.
He was ruined.