My Life Changed with the Unlimited System

Under the dim glow of the distant fires and settling dust, Ethan glanced around, his gaze falling on Leah, trembling as she held her children close. Evan and Lira clung tightly to her, their small bodies shaking with lingering fear.

Hale knelt beside them, his voice soft as he reassured the two children, speaking words meant to calm, even if they were too young to fully understand.

On the other side, Flint rested a gentle hand on Leah's shoulder, speaking to her quietly, a steady presence to ground her amidst the chaos.

In the distance, Darius and his squad moved forward slowly, their figures outlined against destruction. They wore expressions of deep gloom, shadows of pain etched into their faces. In contrast, the Warlords moved quickly to get Ethan and the others.

Even though Lucien had never been the most honorable leader, they had spent years under his command, bound by loyalty, responsibility, and the duties of their roles. The silence around them was heavy, each absorbing the loss in their own way.

Darius walked at the forefront, cradling Lucien's lifeless body with a haunted expression. His face was pale, his eyes hollow, as though a part of him had died alongside his leader.

Each step seemed to sap more life from him, the burden extending beyond the physical weight of Lucien's body. He was already imagining what awaited them—the LaRue family's punishment was as certain as unforgiving. Lucien was one of the five heirs; his loss would demand retribution.

Ethan watched them approach, his mind turning as he pieced together the gravity of the situation.

As the heavy silence lingered between them, Lucan stepped forward, his gaze steady but cautious. He looked at the woman closest to Darius, a lean figure with sharp eyes that held a guarded intensity despite the sorrow written across her face. Though he didn't know her name, her stance and presence marked her as someone accustomed to leading within Lucien's squad.

"What's your plan now?" Lucan asked, his voice low but direct. "With Lucien gone, it's clear the LaRue family won't show any mercy."

The woman—Vera—stiffened slightly, her eyes flicking to the others before settling back on Lucan. A flash of grief crossed her face, but resignation quickly replaced it. Her shoulders tightened as she absorbed his words. She knew he was right. Lucien's death had sealed their fate.

Ethan stepped forward, his gaze steady as he looked over Lucien's former team. His voice cut through the somber silence with surprising conviction. "Join the Cole family."

The unexpected invitation stunned everyone present, and an almost audible ripple of shock passed through the group, especially Lucien's underlings. Darius looked up, his eyes widening slightly, while the others exchanged hesitant, bewildered glances.

Axel, clearly caught off guard, turned to Ethan with a frown. "How can you just… ask them to join us? We don't even know them," he said, his voice laced with skepticism.

Ethan held his ground, his gaze unwavering. "They're not bad people," he replied calmly. His eyes moved to Hale, who was gently comforting the still-trembling Evan and Lira, whispering soft reassurances to calm their fear.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"And him," Ethan continued, nodding toward Darius, "he's barely able to stand, but he's still holding onto Lucien. That kind of loyalty… it means something."

Ethan continued, his tone calm but persuasive. "He was the one who told me where Steven's family was," he said, his gaze shifting between the Warlords and Darius's group while pointing at Hale. "He was so worried about them and asked if I could ensure their safety. That doesn't sound like something a 'bad guy' would do, does it?"

He let the question hang in the air, watching the expressions of everyone around him, especially his own team. He then looked at the Warlords, the hint of a smile on his face as he added, "They were just doing their duty, following Lucien's orders."

The Warlords shifted uncomfortably, glancing at each other. Ethan's words carried a weight of truth they couldn't easily ignore. Hale had indeed shown genuine concern for Steven's family, and Darius's grief over Lucien's death was palpable.

"So, if they acted as they did because they had to obey their master," Ethan concluded, "maybe there's nothing wrong with that. It doesn't make them bad people. It makes them loyal."

Axel glanced at Ethan, crossing his arms thoughtfully. "If that's how you see it, Ethan, then we'll back you up," he said, a hint of a smirk playing at his lips. He seemed ready to accept Ethan's decision without hesitation.

But then, Thorne, who had been silently observing, tilted his head with a curious expression. "I have no issue with that either," he began, his tone slightly puzzled, "but… something's different about you, Ethan. Your aura feels stronger, like someone at the rank of a Middle Star Soldier?"

At this, everyone turned toward Ethan, a look of surprise spreading among the Warlords. They focused, sensing the shift in his strength, their gazes intent as they tried to gauge the full extent of his aura. The Warlords picked up on it immediately, exchanging impressed glances with one another.

Darius and his group, however, stood back, unable to fully grasp the change. Ethan's aura now held a weight slightly above their own, leaving them just out of reach in sensing its exact nature. Yet, the intensity emanating from him was unmistakable, and even without feeling the full force, they could sense something had shifted within him.

Ethan chuckled, his expression light yet guarded. "I've got my forbidden techniques. Everyone's got their own secrets, right?"

Rhea nodded but looked around anxiously. "We really need to get moving now," she urged, glancing nervously at their surroundings. "Who knows how quickly someone from the LaRue family might show up."

Lucan nodded in agreement, his gaze lingering on Darius. After a moment, he asked, "What do you plan to do with Lucien's body?"

Darius exchanged a look with his team, their expressions a mix of resignation and practicality. "It's… probably best if we leave him here," he said, his voice heavy. "We can't risk bringing him back to the LaRues ourselves. For now, hiding out at the Cole residence sounds like our only option."

Ethan turned to Darius, curiosity and caution mingling in his expression. "While we're at it... just how strong are the Head and the Elders of the LaRue family?"

Darius's shoulders slumped, and he exhaled deeply as though the weight of his knowledge was a burden he'd carried alone for too long. "Publicly, the Head of the LaRue family is recognized as a High Star Soldier Ascendant, with the Elders ranked around Middle Star Soldier Ascendants. But that's just what they want everyone to think."

His gaze turned somber as he looked between Ethan and the Warlords. "They've been training with the Petrovas, learning techniques and pushing boundaries few can imagine. With that kind of support, I wouldn't be surprised if the Head has reached the Higher Star Soldier rank… or even crossed the legendary realm of a Knight Ascendant."

Lucan's eyes widened, and the Warlords fell silent, the weight of Darius's words sinking in. They hadn't anticipated the LaRue family's true strength to be so formidable, and a ripple of unease passed between them. The potential for fallout now seemed far more daunting than they'd expected.

Hale took a step forward, his tone grave. "You need to understand just how deeply this could run. Lucien wasn't just a member of the LaRue family; he was one of the Head's direct descendants. Killing him—it's not something the Head will just ignore."

Hale paused, his voice dropping lower, thick with warning. "Even if Lucien wasn't the favored contender to inherit the family's legacy, he was still an heir. No head of a family like the LaRues would tolerate an outsider… especially an unknown family like the Coles… killing his bloodline. The retribution will be swift, and it will be merciless."

Ethan's mind raced as he processed Darius's warning. He knew his current strength was temporary, a fleeting advantage the Energy Surge Potion granted.

At best, he had less than 48 hours at this power level, after which he'd return to the High Star Apprentice rank, while the rest of the Warlords held steady at High Star Soldier. If the LaRue Head truly was a Higher Star Soldier Ascendant, or even a Knight Ascendant, as Darius suspected, any attempt to confront him would be nothing short of suicide.

A grim sense of reality settled over Ethan as he weighed their options. His concentration broke when Rhea's voice cut through the tension. "The support vehicles have arrived," she announced urgently. "Let's move. Now."

The gravity of their situation settled over them like a thick shroud as they sprinted toward the extraction point. Thorne held Leah tightly, his grip steady but gentle, offering a silent reassurance as they moved.

Flint carried Evan, who clung to him wide-eyed with fear. Calder had Lira cradling her close, whispering words of comfort. Rhea took the lead, her pace unwavering as she cut a path for the others, her determination pulling them forward.

"There they are!" Rhea called, spotting the row of support vehicles waiting ahead, engines ready. Relief flickered in their eyes as they closed the distance, the thought of safety spurring them onward.

But then, without warning, the air grew dense and thick with heat, a strange, foreboding hum rising above them.

A fiery blast lit up the sky. Fireballs rained down from above in a blinding cascade.

"Look out!" Rhea's voice cut through the chaos as she halted mid-stride, horror etched across her face.

The fireballs struck the vehicles with a loud impact, each erupting into flames that instantly consumed the support cars. The Ascendants inside were engulfed in the firestorm, with no time to react, and reduced to ashes in a heartbeat.

"No!" Axel shouted, his voice filled with disbelief as the vehicles were obliterated.

"This can't be happening," Flint muttered, stunned as the acrid smell of burning metal and scorched earth hit them.

Calder's face went pale. "Are they here?"

The blazing remnants of their escape plan left them in silent, horrified shock. Their only path to safety had turned to ash before their eyes.

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