Chapter 1005: You Blew Your Chance to Lie

"Ethan, you think it was Ray’s crew that hit us?" Chris asked suddenly, his voice tight with suspicion.

Ethan nodded. He’d been thinking the same thing.

They’d been gone for three days. Ray probably assumed they’d skipped town—so he’d helped himself to their supplies.

Ethan stepped out onto the balcony and activated his ability—[True Sight]. His gaze cut across the distance, zeroing in on Ray’s luxury home.

It didn’t take long.

In the backyard, tucked behind the house, he spotted a small iron cage. Inside, curled up and barely breathing, was Pumpkin.

The poor thing looked like hell—fur matted, body trembling, clearly abused. They hadn’t just taken her. They’d tried to break her.

Ethan’s expression went cold.

"So that’s how it is, Ray," he muttered. "I’ve let you live long enough."

He turned and headed downstairs, voice calm but sharp. "Let’s go."

The others didn’t ask questions. They saw the look in his eyes and followed without a word.

...

Meanwhile, on the third floor of his own luxury home, Ray stood by the window, watching Ethan’s group approach. A slow, smug smile curled across his lips.

"Well, well. I thought they’d run off. Didn’t expect them to come crawling back."

He turned from the window, already savoring the moment.

"Better this way," he said to himself. "I tried to play nice. Tried to bring them in. But if they want to play hardball..."

He headed downstairs, settling into the living room like a king on his throne. He crossed one leg over the other, lit a cigarette, and leaned back on the couch, waiting.

Every time before, he’d been the one going to their place—always having to bring food, play nice, pretend to be friendly.

Not today.

Today, they came to him.

And as for their strength?

Maybe he would’ve worried—yesterday.

But not anymore.

Yesterday, he’d finally succeeded in cultivating a Tier 5 zombie. That breakthrough had pushed him into Tier 5 himself—an Awakened, and a powerful one at that.

According to intel from the Safe Zone, there were barely a dozen Tier 5 Awakened in the entire region.

And with his ability?

He was untouchable. Unmatched at his Tier.

Behind him stood Evan, Brent, and Mason—all at the peak of Tier 4. And scattered around the room were over a dozen Tier 4 Enhanced without abilities, but still deadly in a fight.

Even in the Safe Zone, this kind of lineup would turn heads.

He heard footsteps outside.

Ray smiled wider.

"Evan," he called lazily, "go greet our guests."

"And don’t forget to ask for a door gift."

"You got it," Evan said with a grin, already picturing Skinny Pete’s sour little face. That monkey-faced bastard had made them bring food every damn time. Now it was their turn to beg.

Evan stood behind the door, waiting for the knock. He was already rehearsing the smug little speech he’d deliver.

But then—

BOOM.

The reinforced fiberglass door exploded inward, slamming into Evan like a freight train and launching him across the room. He landed in a heap at Ray’s feet, groaning.

Seven figures stepped through the doorway, calm as a breeze.

No words. No hesitation. Just presence.

The room went dead silent.

Everyone inside stared, stunned.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

"You—! You’re not playing by the damn rules!" Evan shouted, pointing a trembling finger at Ethan and the others, his face twisted with rage and disbelief.

Ray’s smug expression had long since vanished. His jaw clenched, eyes narrowing as he stared at the shattered door and the seven figures now standing in his living room like they owned the place.

Ethan didn’t say a word. He walked straight across the room and sat down on the couch opposite Ray, calm as ever. Chris and the others fanned out behind him, silent and steady.

"You broke into my house," Ethan said, voice flat, emotionless. "Did you steal from me?"

Ray took a long breath, snuffed out his cigarette, and looked at Ethan with forced composure. "Every time I came to your place, I was polite. Respectful. And this is how you repay me? Kicking down my door?"

"That’s because you were scared," Ethan said coldly. "Now answer the question. Did you or did you not rob my home?"

Ray’s face darkened. "Ethan, I’ve always respected your strength. I wanted you to join the Harlan family. That’s why I treated you with courtesy. But don’t mistake that for fear."

His voice dropped, hard and sharp. "You kicked in my door. If you don’t give me a damn good reason, none of you are walking out of here."

At his signal, the room shifted. Ray’s men moved fast, surrounding Ethan’s group in a tight circle.

Ethan didn’t even blink. He just shook his head slowly. "You had your chance to lie. You blew it."

He pointed at Ray. "Leave him. Kill the rest."

The moment the words left his mouth, Chris and the others exploded into motion.

The enemy fighters reacted instantly, blades flashing—katanas slicing through the air toward Ethan’s crew.

But the difference in power was immediate—and brutal.

In less than a minute, it was over.

Bodies hit the floor one after another, skulls caved in by barbell bars, blood pooling fast. Not one of Ray’s men lasted more than sixty seconds.

Ray’s eyes went wide. "Tier 5...? All of them?!"

He nearly leapt off the couch in shock.

Evan, Brent, Mason—every one of them stared at Ethan’s group like they were seeing ghosts.

They’d never underestimated Ethan’s team—but this? Seven people, all Tier 5? That was insane.

There were barely a dozen Tier 5 Awakened in the entire Starlight City Safe Zone. And Ethan’s crew made up more than half that number?

It shouldn’t have been possible.

But the truth was right in front of them. Six of the seven had just wiped out a room full of Tier 4s like they were nothing. And the seventh—Ethan—hadn’t even moved.

"Protect Ray!" Brent shouted, panic in his voice.

He and Mason lunged toward Ethan, hoping to take him down fast—cut off the head of the snake.

They didn’t make it.

A katana, slick with blood, suddenly lifted from the floor and sliced clean across both their throats before they could get within ten feet.

They collapsed mid-stride, gurgling.

Evan froze, eyes wide with horror.

Ray’s face drained of color.

"You really are an Awakened," he said, voice low. "I knew it. No one climbs Tiers that fast without an ability."

His right arm suddenly shifted, transforming into a sleek, black metallic limb that gleamed under the lights.

"I admit I underestimated you," Ray said, locking eyes with Ethan. "But don’t think this is over. We’re both Tier 5. I fear no one. If you’re an Awakened too, then fight me. One-on-one."

Ethan tilted his head, almost amused. "You? Fight me?"

He stood up slowly, then shook his head. "You’re not worth my time."

He turned to the side. "Garrick. Play with him."

"Gladly," Garrick said, stepping forward.

Ray’s eyes narrowed. "You’re mocking me?"

Ethan didn’t even look at him. "I’ve never taken you seriously."

"..."

Ray’s face twisted with fury. "Then I’ll kill him first—and see how long you keep that smug mouth of yours!"

He lunged, his metal fist flying toward Garrick.

Garrick met him head-on, swinging his barbell bar with a grunt.

CLANG.

The impact rang out like a bell. Garrick staggered back a few steps, and everyone’s eyes widened as they saw the barbell bar—bent nearly in half.

"Holy shit..." Chris muttered.

No wonder Ethan had said Ray’s ability was strong. He hadn’t been exaggerating.

Ray sneered. "You think you can take me? You’re nothing."

Garrick dropped the warped bar with a clatter and rolled his shoulders. "You talk too much."

Then, without warning, a jagged spike of earth shot up from the floor—right beneath Ray’s ass.

"AAAHHH—!"

Ray screamed, launching six feet into the air like he’d been launched from a cannon.

Blood dripped down the spike.

Damn. He just got rear-ended in the worst way.

Everyone in the room instinctively clenched and took a cautious step away from Garrick.

No one wanted to be next.

...