While Randall focused on stabilizing his new realm, Ethan began his own preparations for a breakthrough.
He could have done it earlier, but he had chosen to wait and improve his understanding first.
From watching Randall, he had learned something important.That the body contained certain points, or nodes, where mana gathered.
There were two at the toes, two at the knees, two around the waist, one at the heart, two near the shoulders, and one at the forehead.
Mana would slowly fill these points, and when they were overloaded, the user only needed to condense it and force it to burst, spreading energy throughout the body. It sounded dangerous, but the process was actually simple.
Ethan sat in a secluded spot, focusing on his breathing.
The fresh air moved in and out of his lungs, heavy with mana. Soon, he felt something strange, a fine, invisible thread of energy winding through his body.
This was the sensation a Novice Rank warrior was supposed to know well, but because of his unusual path of gaining power from the system, he had skipped much of that experience. Over the years, however, he had learned to recognize and control it.
He guided those thin mana threads toward each node in his body. They slowly gathered at the points he had memorized. When they were full, he compressed them, forcing the energy to build. Then, with one final push, it happened.
BOOM.
A jolt ran through him like an explosion in his bones. His head rang, his entire body shuddered, and he felt his bones rattling in place.
His joints ached as if they were being broken and reforged. His muscles tightened, his circulation sped up, and each breath drew in more mana than before.
Heat spread through his limbs. Sweat poured from his pores as his body adapted. The transformation was sharp and intense.
When the pain eased, Ethan sat there for a moment, catching his breath. He could feel the difference in his body.
It was stronger, denser, faster. "Randall didn't go through any big body changes. So why me?" he muttered to himself.
Standing up, he noticed a faint stiffness in his movements, a new weight in his steps. He bathed and then went to the mirror.
His reflection caught him off guard. His eyes, which had grown a little dull over the years, now glowed with clarity. The faint blue color had deepened into a striking, vivid blue.
"Wait… my eyes were never this bright."
He looked down at his body. He seemed taller. When he first came to this world, his body had been fixed at the age of fifteen by the system.
"That means I'm hitting twenty now… and with the breakthrough, I must have grown again," he thought, a small smile forming.
That was a good thing. A very good thing. Even though he had always been tall by his old world's standards, people in this world tended to be taller. His wife was still a few inches above him.
Thankfully, heels didn't exist here yet, unless he invented them himself.
He turned to leave but paused. There was another change, something deep inside him. It was subtle, but he could not ignore it. He decided to check the system.
Name: Ethan Blank
Status: Son-in-law of the Blank Family
Aptitude: Warrior [E]
Rank: Early Intermediate Knight
Partner: 1
Children: 1
"Hiss… System, what is this? My aptitude changed to E?"
[Irrespective of the aptitude, once you break through the realm cap, your aptitude will improve.]
Ethan's eyes widened. "So that means Randall can now go further, all the way to the late stage. And here I thought this breakthrough was the end. It's actually just the start."
A thought crossed his mind, and a grin spread across his face. "Randall can't waste this. With such talent, he needs to get married… and have children."
Meanwhile, on the training grounds, Randall was overseeing a group of new recruits. As he barked out commands, a sudden chill ran down his spine.
"Achoo!" He rubbed his nose and frowned. "Which fool is talking about me?" His gaze swept across the young men in front of him.
"Are you speaking behind my back?"
His eyes darkened, and the trainees flinched.
That was the day their training became far more difficult and far more painful.
....
Sophia walked slowly through the gardens, one hand resting on her belly.
The flowers were in full bloom, and she smiled as she admired them. With the family's fortune growing, many decorative pieces had been brought to the mansion, and the entire estate had been renovated. Everything looked brighter and livelier than before.
After her morning walk, she stepped back inside. As she moved through the hall, she noticed a tense atmosphere near the kitchen.
Maids were gathered, whispering nervously. Sophia's brows knitted in confusion, and she made her way over.
When she reached the group, she saw Nina clutching the arm of one of the maids. Her hands trembled slightly.
"Aunt Nina, what happened?" Sophia asked, worried clear in her voice.
"Miss…" Nina began, but before she could finish, a loud popping sound came from inside the kitchen. Everyone flinched and stepped back with startled cries.
Sophia's heart jumped. "What's going on in there?"
"We… We don't know," one maid stammered.
"The Lord went inside, and after some time, those popping sounds started."
"I think the Lord might be fighting someone," another maid added in fear.
Sophia paused, remembering something Ethan had said earlier about experimenting with food.
She gave a small sigh and took a step forward, but Nina quickly grabbed her arm.
"You absolutely can't, Miss. What if something happens to you?" Nina said firmly.
"It's fine," Sophia said gently. "He's just trying out a new dish. You can come with me if you're worried."
Nina hesitated but eventually nodded, keeping a protective hold on Sophia's arm as they entered together.
Inside, the popping noises were louder, echoing through the kitchen. Along with the sound came a burst of laughter.
"Heheheheheh…"
"Kekekeek."
"It's… It's finally here!" Ethan's voice rang with excitement but to others it rang like whisper of devil.
"Ethan!" Sophia called out.