Mark didn't even pretend to ease into it.
The second the initial shock passed, he leaned forward over the counter, eyes bright.
"So," he said eagerly, "what's your ability?"
There it was: the question of the hour.
It was still surreal to him that his best friend, his brother, was now one of the Titled. Even if it was only E Rank… it was still insane to think about.
Ethan scratched the back of his neck casually.
"I can summon a dog," he said.
Mark blinked.
"A… dog."
"Yep."
"That's it?"
Ethan shrugged. "Pretty much."
Mark stared at him, waiting for the punchline that never came.
"But I need you to keep that a secret," Ethan added, his tone shifting slightly.
Mark's brow furrowed. "Why?"
He was confused, but Ethan's eyes were steady and his expression stern.
Mark caught it immediately; his friend wasn't joking.
"…Alright," he said after a moment. "If you're serious about it."
Ethan nodded appreciatively.
He was already unnerved by Detective Holt. The way the man had spoken, the way he'd looked at him, it was like he could see through everything.
'I'm not giving that guy anything extra to chew on.'
He'd only revealed Beast Assimilation to the Association, and that was all he planned to show publicly.
As for Beast Summoning?
'That's my hidden trump card.'
Not just because it was strong, but because it was rare. He doubted there were any E, D, or even C Ranks who could summon something external, let alone a sentient beast that acted independently.
It was a literal S Rank Skill, the kind that drew attention.
Attention meant scrutiny.
Scrutiny meant problems.
He had already shown it to Mark, but he didn't plan on hiding much from him. If he couldn't trust him? Well, then, he couldn't trust anyone.
With everything else going on, he needed at least one person he could depend on.
Ethan seemed lost in his thoughts as the past two days replayed in his mind, but Mark snapped him out of it when he spoke.
"So that mutt won't be around all day, thank God."
Ethan laughed. "Hey. That mutt has a name."
"Oh yeah?" Mark snorted. "What kind of name?"
"Wolfy."
Mark stared at him.
"…You're not serious."
"What? It fits."
"What kind of grown man names his summon Wolfy?"
"Me," Ethan shot back.
Mark rolled his eyes, but a faint smile tugged at his lips.
Then the questions really started - from its range, limitations, and costs - he had bombarded his friend with them all.
"What does it feel like? Can the little dog fight? Does it obey? Where does it go when it isn't summoned?"
Ethan answered everything, flashing the tattoo on his chest with the Ulfen. He explained it all as best as he could without mentioning the system or the tower or explicitly stating his title.
It wasn't about trust; it was about caution.
'I've got a feeling Holt's going to keep snooping.'
If that man started digging?
The less Mark knew, the safer he'd be - or at least that's how he rationalised keeping part of his ability secret.
Then, halfway through what felt like a police interrogation, Ethan held up a hand.
"Pause."
Mark blinked. "What?"
"I'm starving."
He hadn't realised just how hungry he was until the excitement settled, but his stomach was literally twisting with famine.
Mark shook his head, but moved to fix him something.
Ethan demolished the sandwich in record time.
Then another.
And a plate of fries.
Mark just watched in disbelief.
"You pregnant or something?"
"Shut up," Ethan muttered between bites.
They kept talking while he ate.
"What do you plan on doing now that you're Titled?" Mark asked carefully. "You're not thinking of-"
Ethan nodded before he even finished.
"Going into Gates. Earning money. Getting stronger. All that shit."
Mark exhaled slowly.
He was worried.
How could he not be?
But looking at Ethan now…
He hadn't seen him like this in years: focused, driven, full of hope. As such, for now, he decided to just be glad his friend had found a purpose.
What surprised him more than anything?
Ethan didn't ask for a drink, nor did he even bat an eyelid at the array of bottles behind Mark.
"I'm gonna head down and sleep," was all he said once the interrogation was over.
Mark blinked. "Sleep?"
"Yeah."
That was even more shocking.
Ethan used to avoid sleep like it was poison - nightmares had ruled him for years. Mark recalled watching his friend writhe in his bed after just being released, as if fighting demons in his sleep.
But now?
Ironically, he sought demons to fight
'I need to get back into that tower,' Ethan thought. 'If I want to get stronger, I need to kill as many beasts as possible.'
That was all he wanted.
But he doubted he would be able to fall asleep anytime soon.
His body felt wired, charged almost, like electricity was buzzing under his skin, which was natural after the day he had just had.
'Great. Now that I actually want to sleep, I can't. Maybe a drink or two to...'
As if to shut down that thought, the System Interface suddenly appeared before him.
{The host will receive one Tower Token each day. These do not stack and must be used within the hours of that day.}
{Once within the Tower Of Beasts, the host receives a single Return Token. This token can only be used while the host is not actively engaged in combat or within the range of a hostile beast.}
Ethan's eyes sharpened.
Mark, meanwhile, was mid-sentence when Ethan suddenly went quiet, staring into nothing.
"…You good?" he questioned.
Ethan didn't answer, as he read the additional text that appeared.
{Time flows within the Tower the same as in reality. The host may spend a maximum of 24 hours at a time within the Tower.}
{The host will receive an alert if the physical body is in danger. Only in that instance may a Return Token be used while engaged in combat.}
Ethan nodded slowly.
'Now I don't need to worry about needing to fall asleep or that I will be dragged into the tower every time I sleep, either.'
He smiled, and just like always, there were rules and considerations with this system that might come in handy in the future.
Immediately, Ethan sprang up and told Mark he was heading down.
Mark watched him disappear into the basement and couldn't help but feel… strange.
He felt a little left out and concerned for his friend, who could be brash, but he was most of all relieved.
'He seems to be doing better; that is enough.'
-
Meanwhile, Ethan closed the door behind him and headed down into the basement he called home. He had eaten his fill, and his body felt ready as excitement buzzed in his chest.
But underlying it all was caution.
'That trial was brutal… and that was only Floor Zero.'
He sat on his deflated air mattress and pulled up the System Interface.
There were five tabs now: Objectives, Status, Beasts, Skills, and a new addition.
Tower.
His pulse quickened as he selected it. A single token floated in the interface, and in the centre, one ominous button.
{Enter The Tower}
Ethan lay back fully on the mattress.
'I might as well get comfortable.'
He didn't want to return to a body twisted awkwardly like before as he began steadying his breathing.
'No point overthinking it.'
He pressed the button, and he instantly felt it: something grabbed hold of his soul and yanked it out of his body...