Chương 46: Dropping bombs

Ethan came to a stop at the gates of Highrocks. Behind him, a group of around twenty people gathered loosely, exhaustion weighing heavily on their movements. The journey had taken its toll, but they had made it. A guard leaned over the wall above, recognizing them almost immediately.

"Ethan, Leah—you're back," he called down.

"And it looks like you've brought more people with you again." Leah stepped forward and gave a small wave, her expression tired but satisfied.

"Sure have." Ethan snorted quietly to himself as the gates began to creak open once more. For the past week, they had been doing exactly this—heading out into the desert, searching for survivors, and bringing them back. Nivia had been with them at the start, her healing making everything significantly easier, but Alex had pulled her away a few days in for something else. Ethan hadn't asked questions. From what he could tell, Alex hadn't been himself since Ethan returned.

The man barely left the guildmaster's side, and whatever was happening behind closed doors, it was clearly taking its toll. At the same time, there was a strange lull hanging over the settlement. Ethan had expected something to happen by now. He knew it was irrational, but part of him hoped the letter he had left had done something, maybe shifted events just enough to delay the conflict that had been building. Still, that quiet tension lingered in the background, like the calm before a storm. It kept him on edge.

So he kept himself busy, wanting to be as ready as possible. Over the past week, Ethan and Leah had pushed themselves hard. Every day they ventured out, only returning when night fell or when they found someone too injured to continue. Those rescue runs had paid off. Leah had climbed to level fourteen, gaining four levels in the process. It wasn't the fastest growth, but it was solid, even if she complained about it.

She had been fighting enemies below her level for the most part, but with the sheer number of undead flooding the desert, it was necessary. Ethan had stepped in frequently as well, cutting through groups when needed and using the opportunity to refine his own abilities. He had grown more comfortable with his greatsword again, the weapon beginning to feel like an extension of himself once more. His skills had followed suit.

[Steadfast] had leveled twice after he deliberately stopped dodging and began taking hits head-on, trusting his defense and control. [Keen Sense] had improved as well, though its progress had slowed to a crawl. The biggest gains, however, had come from [Mana Infusion]. Even though he hadn't actually improved its level, he had come to understand the skill a lot more. Without Nivia around, Ethan had been free to push the skill to its limits.

He had used it repeatedly, draining his mana again and again, learning how to control the flow more efficiently. He had even managed to slow the rate at which the mana dissipated, allowing him to maintain the enhancement for slightly longer durations. It came at the cost of raw power, but it was progress. But he still couldn't control exactly where the mana flowed. He was getting closer though. He could feel it. And once he cracked that piece, the skill would become something far more dangerous.

And hopefully fly through the levels. All things considered, it had been a productive week. Leah had grown stronger and more confident, Ethan had sharpened his abilities, and together, they had saved dozens of lives. The gates finally opened fully, and guards moved quickly past Ethan, heading straight for the group behind him. They began checking for injuries, calling for healers when necessary, organizing the newcomers with practiced efficiency. Ethan turned back to the group and gave them a small wave.

"You're in good hands now," he said.

"I'll leave you with them." Most of them were too exhausted to respond, but their eyes said enough. Gratitude, relief, even if some of them looked like they could collapse at any moment. Ethan nodded once and turned toward the open gates.

"Thank you!" The voice stopped him mid-step. Ethan glanced back to see a young Japanese man bowing deeply, his posture rigid despite his clear exhaustion. His clothes were worn and torn, and a poorly secured sword hung loosely at his side. Ethan smiled faintly.

"You don't need to bow," he said.

"Just keep moving forward and stay alive." With that, he stepped through the gates and into the settlement. Leah fell into step beside him as they moved into the familiar streets.

"Hey," she said after a moment, "do you think you might be developing a hero complex?" Ethan's step faltered for half a second before he recovered.

"You're the one finding them," he replied.

"I'm just tagging along for the ride." Leah laughed and bumped her shoulder lightly into his.

"I'm proud of you, Ethan." Ethan paused. For a moment, he just looked at her. Leah had been more reserved than he remembered, especially after everything that had happened. But over the past few days, something had shifted. She seemed lighter. Stronger in a way that had nothing to do with levels. Whatever she had been struggling with, she was starting to overcome it. Ethan smiled.

"Don't flatter me too much," he said.

"I'll get cocky."

"We can't have that," she replied seriously. Ethan shook his head with a quiet chuckle and started walking again. They moved through the crowded streets, passing through the housing district where more and more people had begun to settle. Space was already becoming an issue, and Ethan knew it wouldn't be long before rooms became even harder to come by. He and Leah were still sharing a room in the guild for now, though that probably wouldn't last. He imagined they would be sharing with more people soon.

But they weren't heading there. Instead, they turned toward another part of the settlement. After about twenty minutes of walking, Ethan and Leah came to a stop outside Mark and Sarah's place. The house was modest, like most in Highrocks, built more for function than comfort. Still, compared to the open desert and the chaos outside the walls, it felt almost like a different world. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Ethan raised a hand and knocked on the door, then waited. A muffled voice called out from inside.

"Someone's here!" Ethan recognized Tom immediately. A moment later, the door opened, and Sarah stepped into view. She looked… better. Noticeably so. Her brown hair was clean now, no longer matted with sand, and the constant edge of panic that had once lived in her eyes was gone. In its place were deep rings that signified sleep deprivation. She smiled warmly when she saw him.

"Good, you're here. Dinner's about half an hour away, so come in." Ethan returned the smile.

"It's good to see you too." Before anything else could be said, Leah slipped past both of them, already craning her head to look deeper into the house.

"Where is he then?" she called out.

"Where's the little monster?" From inside, Ethan heard Tom laughing. Leah didn't wait for a response. She made an exaggerated show of looking around before immediately stalking off in the direction of the noise. Sarah followed after her with a chuckle, leaving Ethan to step inside and close the door behind him. The house was small. A narrow hallway opened into a combined living room and kitchen, with a single bedroom branching off to the side.

Ethan stepped into the main room and immediately spotted Mark sitting beside a bassinet. Tom was nearby, crouched awkwardly behind a piece of furniture, attempting to hide. He was doing a crap job. Mark stood as Ethan entered, his large frame rising easily to his full height.

"You're here," he said.

"Hard day?" Ethan lifted a hand in greeting.

"Yo, yo. It wasn't too bad. Yourself?" He stopped in front of the man, taking in the difference in size between them. Mark was built like a wall, easily giving Thane competition in terms of sheer presence. When Mark extended a calloused hand, Ethan didn't hesitate to take it. Before Mark answered, Leah shouted behind them.

"Found you!" Her voice rang out as she lunged forward, grabbing Tom's legs and dragging him out from his hiding spot under the table. Tom burst into laughter as Leah dragged him out from under the table, his legs kicking uselessly as he tried—and failed—to escape her grip. The sound filled the small room, loud and unrestrained. Unfortunately, it had consequences. A sharp wail cut through the air.

The baby, wrapped tightly in cloth inside the bassinet, began crying almost immediately, the sudden noise startling him awake. The peaceful atmosphere shattered in an instant as the room descended into mild chaos. Mark reacted first. He stepped forward quickly, scooping the small bundle into his arms with practiced care. He began rocking the baby gently, murmuring something soft under his breath as he tried to calm him.

Sarah called out from the kitchen, checking on the pot that filled the room with the rich scent of stew, while Leah half-laughed and half-apologized as Tom continued to squirm beneath her. It was loud, messy, alive. And completely foreign to Ethan. Even after visiting a few times already, he still wasn't used to it. Eventually, the baby's cries softened, then faded as Mark soothed him back toward sleep. The tension in the room eased, settling into something quieter.

Sarah remained by the stove, stirring occasionally, while Leah finally released Tom, who stayed sprawled on the floor catching his breath. Ethan watched it all for a moment before speaking.

"Have you come up with a name yet?" Mark glanced toward Sarah. She met his eyes, then gave a small nod. Mark turned back.

"We're thinking Eric," he said.

"Eric Ethan Akamin." Ethan's breath hitched. For a second, he didn't react. His gaze flicked between the two of them, processing the words, while Leah slowly stilled beside Tom. The room seemed to quiet around him, the sounds dulling as his heart began to beat faster in his chest. They would do that for him? Even though he had spent some time with them, he hardly knew them. But then something clicked. Ethan's head turned sharply toward the boy on the floor.

"Akamin…" Ethan muttered under his breath. His thoughts began racing. He looked back at Mark, his expression tightening despite himself. In the man's arms rested a newborn, no more than a month old. A child born in the trials. A younger brother with an older sibling named Tom. Better know as the Akamin brothers. Ethan felt the pieces slide into place.

"Are you alright?" Mark asked, frowning slightly.

"I know it's a big surprise. If you don't like it, we can change it." A surprise. That was one way to put it. If Ethan was right and he was almost certain he was, then the odds of this were so absurd they bordered on impossible. There weren't many people with the last name Akamin. Ethan stared at the child in Mark's arms. The future Sage of Elements. The strongest being to ever walk the trials. The man who would stand at the peak of humanity. And right now he was a baby. A baby that now carried Ethan's name.

A laugh escaped him before he could stop it. Then another. It built quickly, bubbling up into something uncontrollable as the sheer absurdity of the situation hit him. Out of everything he had expected from this life, this hadn't even been on the list.

"What the hell…" he muttered between breaths.

"How does this even—""I think you broke him," Leah said dryly, standing up and moving closer. Ethan forced himself to stop, dragging in a breath as he steadied himself. His expression smoothed out, though the disbelief still lingered behind his eyes. He could still be wrong. Technically. But he didn't think he was. Everyone knew the Akamin brothers.

"That's amazing," Ethan said finally.

"Really?" Sarah asked, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

"Truly," Ethan replied.

"I'm honored." He looked back down at the baby, barely managing to hold in another laugh. The Sage. That arrogant, untouchable figure who had once stood above everyone else. Now tucked against his father and carrying Ethan's name. Ethan shook his head slightly, a grin tugging at his lips. Yeah. Maybe there really was a god after all. —~~— Ethan ate his dinner in silence. The conversation around him carried on easily enough.

Leah teasing Tom, Sarah asking about the desert, Mark chiming in here and there, but Ethan barely heard any of it. His thoughts were elsewhere, circling the same realization again and again. Every so often, his gaze drifted back to Tom. But not the way it had before. Not as just a kid. Now, Ethan looked at him differently. Everyone knew the story. Luka—Eric now—and Tom. The Akamin brothers. Two names etched into the history of the trials.

They had risen after the fifth level, climbing faster than anyone else, taking the number one spot and never letting it go. Legends. And yet, the story behind them had always been grim. It was said their parents had died early in the trials. That Luka had been born from a corpse, brought into the world under impossible conditions. Tom, barely more than a babe himself, had carried that burden. He had found a settlement, kept his brother alive, and done whatever it took to ensure he survived.

They had grown from there. Building power through the levels until the unfortunate day Tom Akamin had died. Poisoned by an assassin. And from that death, The Sage of Elements had risen. Ethan stared down at his plate for a long moment before glancing back up at the family sitting across from him.

"Fuck…" he muttered quietly under his breath. How the hell had he ended up here? More importantly, how much had he already changed just by being in the right place at the right time. Ethan barely touched the rest of his food. His thoughts spiraled quietly as the meal went on, the weight of the situation settling deeper with every passing minute. By the time they finished and said their goodbyes, he still hadn't spoken much at all.

Leah walked beside him for a few minutes before suddenly reaching out and smacking the back of his head.

"What the hell was that?" she snapped. Ethan blinked, thrown off.

"That was rude, Ethan. I thought I raised you better than that." He turned to look at her, but she didn't give him a chance to respond.

"What's wrong with you?" she continued.

"You couldn't even hold a conversation or look at them after they told you the boy's name. You should be happy. It shows how much they appreciated you saving them." She slowed slightly, studying him.

"So what's going on?" Ethan opened his mouth but he struggled to find the words.

"I… I don't know," he admitted finally.

"I need to think." Leah frowned but didn't push further, likely sensing his mood. They reached their room not long after, and Ethan stepped inside before dropping straight onto his bed. The moment his back hit the mattress, he let out a long breath and closed his eyes. But sleep didn't come. His mind refused to quiet. The same thought churned over and over again, refusing to let go. Ethan didn't believe in coincidences. Maybe once he could have written things off. Running into Bella, sure that could be luck.

But this? This was something else entirely. The future Sage of Elements. The most important figure humanity would produce. And Ethan had met him. Saved his family. The implications twisted in his mind, branching into possibilities he couldn't fully grasp yet. As he lay there in the dim light of the room, questions swirled in his mind. Was this why he had been brought back? Was he the only one capable of influencing the future this early? But one kept repeating itself more than any other.

Had he only been regressed so he could influence or change the pasts of powerful figures? And if so, why?