You can do anything you want to her?
Ethan raised an eyebrow, his gaze drifting from Miss Black's face down to her hips.
He shook his head with mock regret. "You know, Miss Black, many gods prefer their offerings lean."
Eve: ???
She froze for a moment, then it hit her, her cheeks burning bright red!
Her teeth gritted in frustration as she snapped back, "Where am I fat?!"
Ethan, having landed his tease perfectly, burst out laughing.
Watching the infuriating little brat with that devilish grin, Eve ground her molars.
Then, she shrugged, a shadow crossing her beautiful features.
She thought of the children who had fled through the back door.
According to the goblins, they were all dead now.
It was her fault for botching the orders.
Eve clenched her fists, her nails biting deep into her palms.
She wished she could rip those damned goblins apart with her own hands all over again!
Just then.
"Hey—are you all okay? What the hell is going on?!"
A shout rang out from nearby.
Eve and the others turned as one to look.
In the next instant.
Her pupils shrank!
There were the children, along with the other staff and cats.
Rushing toward them at full speed!
"Sister Eve!"
Little Amy, with her twin pigtails, barreled into the stunned Eve like a tiny cannonball.
She buried herself in Eve's arms, sobbing and babbling incoherently.
It took a long while.
But Eve finally pieced it together.
It had been the servant of "Light" who spotted the ambush early and saved them.
No one had died.
Everyone was alive and well.
Eve's eyes brimmed with tears.
She hugged little Amy tight, her shoulders shaking.
High in the sky, countless skulls with pitch-black eyes gazed down at the reuniting group below.
The dark clouds parted, sunlight streaming through, illuminating faces streaked with joyful tears.
Professor Lupin watched the scene, a profound sense of fulfillment rising in his chest.
But at the same time, seeing everyone reunited, he felt a twinge of loneliness.
If he weren't a werewolf—
Suddenly.
Clap, clap, clap.
A dull sound echoed.
A bloodthirsty aura erupted from nearby, making Professor Lupin's hair stand on end!
Another attack?!
Professor Lupin gripped his wand and whipped around!
There was Ethan's hellhound, standing on its hind legs with a look of utter despair, clapping its front paws in a pathetic pat, pat, pat.
Like some circus performer.
Ethan wiped away a tear with the back of his hand, his eyes gleaming as he stared at the frozen crowd, murmuring, "What a touching scene! The righteous knight drives off the villains, restoring peace to the village!"
Ethan glanced at the Cerberus, smirking. "The applause seems a bit quiet, doesn't it?"
Hellhound: !!!
Maybe I'm not human, but you're a real dog.
"Howl!"
The massive, ferocious Cerberus whined, cowed by the overwhelming pressure, and clapped its front paws with renewed vigor.
Professor Lupin:
Very good.
All traces of loneliness vanished.
As expected of Ethan.
Miss Black wiped away a tear, looked at Ethan, and said in a hoarse voice, "I'm sorry, I misunderstood you—you saved our entire camp. You and your servant are true heroes!"
Though whether they were "righteous" heroes was debatable.
She strode up to Ethan.
Then.
"Hmph!"
Everyone gasped in shock!
Miss Black, of the noble House of Black, actually dropped to one knee!
This even made Ethan raise his eyebrows in surprise.
He looked down at Miss Black, kneeling before him on one knee.
Even in this position of submission, her back stayed ramrod straight, her face radiating unyielding resolve.
Eve Black: "You saved me, you saved all of us, 'Light.'"
"On behalf of the House of Black, I offer you my highest respect!"
Her voice rang out clear and firm, like the strike of iron, strong and echoing.
The sight.
It actually conjured in Professor Lupin's mind the image of a knight pledging loyalty to a king.
—Ethan really had a knack for this.
Eve bowed her head and continued, "Right now, I have nothing else to give you—I assume you've already taken what you wanted from the camp."
"The most valuable thing I have on me is this."
With that.
Miss Black unpinned the shield-shaped emblem, engraved with two greyhounds, from her left breast, over her heart.
She took Ethan's hand and placed it solemnly in his palm.
"This is the House of Black crest, inscribed with magical patterns. It will only shatter, never be lost."
"Holding this crest means the bearer has done a great kindness to the House of Black."
[You have obtained the House of Black Crest!]
[Show this crest to any member of the House of Black to immediately change their attitude and command their obedience.]
Command my obedience?
Hypno—cough, no.
Ethan gazed down at the exquisite emblem in his hand.
It was flecked with blood.
Its cold, hard edges pressed into his skin.
This counted as an ancient artifact too!
"Thank you, Miss Black. I'll make good use of it."
Ethan's lips curved into a pleased smile as he tucked the emblem away.
He looked up at Miss Black in front of him; she was watching him intently now.
Even with grime on her face, her beauty shone through.
Ethan had a feeling he knew what she was about to say.
Miss Black: "Since your goal is ancient magic as well, would you be willing to join us in fighting the goblins?"
Worried he might refuse, she quickly added, "I've heard that the goblin leader, Ranrok, is also a wielder of ancient magic. The dark power he commands rivals even a dragon's!"
"He rules an entire goblin tribe with an iron fist!"
"Though I've seen how powerful you are—I don't think you can take on all the goblins alone, plus their leader Ranrok."
At that, Ethan snorted. "Do you make a habit of downplaying your own side and hyping up the enemy?"
Miss Black:
"..."
Her teeth clenched hard once more.
Ethan waved it off. "You don't need to worry about that. I have my ways.
Mere goblins—could they possibly be stronger than the monsters guarding the Gate of Promotion?
Anyone who tried to stop him from learning ancient magic.
Just eliminate them.
Besides, he was about to head back to the present world.
Hearing this, Miss Black took it as Ethan's polite way of turning her down.
She bit her lower lip, reluctant to let it go.
She glanced at the blonde girl behind her.
They seemed about the same age, which was promising.
"Alright, I respect your decision."
Eve masked the brief flicker of disappointment in her eyes and stood up.
She shivered, rubbing her arms.
She looked up, still with a trace of fear, at the horrifying creation hanging in the sky.
...She wondered if it was her imagination.
But she always felt those empty, pitch-black eye sockets were staring right at her.
[Your painting left a deep impression on everyone!]
[Soul Fusion increased by 1%]
As the notifications appeared.
Ethan felt a rush of magic surging through him.
His exhausted body filled with energy in an instant.
Ethan let out a contented sigh, feeling like he could handle a few more goblin squads.
At the same time, Ethan sensed that.
The further along he got, the harder it was to boost his soul fusion.
Like leveling up in a game—the higher you go, the more experience you need.
He'd have to aim bigger, then.
After gathering their things.
Ethan and his two companions prepared to use the silver key to return to the present world.
To meet the higher being—the girl in the mirror.
Before leaving, Ethan turned back.
He looked at the wizards, their spirits battered and uncertain.
Frowning, he said in a low voice, "I'm heading out."
"But what I want to say is, 'Our struggle, our fight for a better world—it's not over yet!'"
The bold declaration made everyone shudder!
From afar, they stared at this young man, not yet fully grown.
Ethan glanced at little Amy, cradled in an adult's arms.
He continued, "Believe me, a peaceful future will come.
"Children won't have to roam homeless. They won't live in fear of goblins invading their homes at any moment."
"That peaceful, beautiful future— you'll create it yourselves."
"Crush those invaders until they're utterly defeated and never dare rise again!"
The fervent words thundered like war drums on the battlefield, pounding into everyone's ears.
Stirring their emotions uncontrollably!
And Ethan's conviction, as if he'd witnessed that bright future himself!
It filled them with renewed vigor!
"Yeah... well said!"
One voice responded.
Then more!
"Damn right, I'm pumped! What are goblins, anyway?!"
"The future's ours to shape!"
"Smash those damned invaders so they never get back up!"
Shouts erupted one after another.
Hands waved with passion.
This time, if not for the mysterious [Mr. Lamp], they'd have lost the battle.
But no more.
Never again!
Next time, they'd claim victory with their own hands!
[You have spread the teachings of "Light," and the light of Light has been ignited in everyone's minds.]
[You will have greater appeal in the past.]
[When you appear, Human faction gains 10% buff. At the same time, you can slowly absorb emotional energy from friendly forces to replenish magic power.]
[Light Brightness Increased]
Amid the deafening chorus of cheers.
Ethan's lips curled upward.
His cobalt-blue eyes reflected the exhilarated faces.
In an instant, it was as if he'd become a war leader.
Professor Lupin stared at the scene, stunned.
Mesmerized.
With just a few words from Ethan, the warriors' spirits had skyrocketed!
...This wasn't magic.
But it was more terrifying than magic!!
No wonder the Minister of Magic and Headmaster Dumbledore kept such a close eye on Ethan.
It wasn't just his formidable, enigmatic powers.
But this horrifying ability to incite and rally.
One misstep.
And it could ignite another upheaval in the wizarding world, like Voldemort had done.
As Ethan and his two companions vanished into the thick forest.
Miss Black's gaze lingered, unable to pull away for the longest time.
"In the end, I never asked his real name..."
Eve murmured, her red lips pressed lightly together.
Like a sudden breeze sweeping across a meadow.
Brushing her cheek, then whisking away without pause, charging ahead at an uncatchable pace.
But she wasn't saddened.
Because she had a feeling.
She and this mysterious "Light," this [Mr. Lamp] seeking ancient magic, would cross paths again!
On the other side.
Goblin main camp.
Inside the steel fortress, shielded by a potent alchemical barrier.
"Bang!"
A thunderous crash.
A goblin was hurled against the wall, exploding into a splatter of blood!
The goblin leader, Ranrok, slowly lowered his arm, his palm radiating a menacing crimson glow.
He was clad in heavy armor etched with alchemical runes.
His weathered face emanated a cold, bloodthirsty malice.
Under the sway of ancient magic and the Dark Arts, his eyes had turned black.
The crimson pupils at their centers now blazed with unbridled fury!
"I pulled forces from other fronts, committed a host far outnumbering the wizard camp, armed with alchemical cannons and bombs that could raze a forest..."
"Now, you're telling me."
"The mission failed."
"Not only did we not seize the ancient magic, but our forces were wiped out... while the wizards took next to no losses."
Ranrok's gaze swept over his kneeling subordinates.
He spoke slowly, "Are you... joking with me?!!!"
"Boom!!!"
A massive wave of magic erupted!!!
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