NOVEL WEB Chapter 133: Between Two Worlds
That evening, Ethan sat alone in his study. The only source of light came from his laptop screen, casting a pale glow across the room.
The chaos from earlier had been cleaned up. The research papers were sorted, read, and reviewed.
Now, his fingers moved across the keyboard as he compiled everything he had uncovered about the LaRues. Every detail about their experiments, their goals, and especially the pill they had developed.
The pill was at the center of his investigation.
If the LaRues had really succeeded in creating such a powerful enhancement, then the real question was just how far they had gone.
How many pills had they made? Were they testing them? Distributing them? And most importantly, was there any way to counter the effects?
Ethan leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples.
His mind felt like it was spinning, but he refused to rest. The LaRues weren't just a threat to him or the people he cared about. They were becoming a threat to the entire world.
"I'll figure this out," he muttered, jaw clenched. "No matter what it takes."
His gaze lingered on the laptop screen. Images and memories flashed across his mind. Jessica's tear-streaked face, Jordan bleeding out, and Steve still standing after everything, refusing to fall.
They were the reason he kept going. The reason he couldn't stop.
If he didn't stand up to this, who would?
With a long breath, Ethan called up his Status Panel.
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[Status Panel]
Name: Ethan Cole
Level: 8 Lower One-Star Golden Ascendant
EXP: 101,000 / 186,000
Ascension Points: 304
Wealth: Unlimited
Attributes:
Strength: 701 Speed: 701 Endurance: 701 Intelligence: 701 Charisma: 701
Ascendant Energy: 7010
Free Attribute Points: 20
Skills:
Divine Eyes [Divine] Krav Maga [Master] Close Quarters Combat [Master] Tactical Firearms [Master] Heightened Senses [Passive] Stealth [Master] Tracking [Master] Leadership [Intermediate] Public Speaking [Intermediate] Cooking [Master]
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He hadn't even looked at his panel properly since completing the mission against Donald and the other Ascendants.
The results had pushed him all the way to Level 8.
He stared at the glowing screen, absorbing the numbers. Just a few weeks ago, these stats would've seemed like a fantasy. But now, they were his.
Even so, power on paper wasn't enough.
He raised his hand slightly. A golden shimmer flickered across his fingers, then disappeared.
"7010 Ascendant Energy…" he said softly. "That's a lot. But how does it is calculated?"
It looked like a huge number, but without context, it meant nothing. He had no idea how fast it would burn up during combat or how much his techniques consumed.
If this was anything like a game, he needed to understand how to smartly use everything.
He thought back to Anterra.
Back then, he hadn't formed any elemental affinity. That left him without Ascendant Energy. But now, things had changed after he had successfully formed the Dragon Core.
"I think it's tied to one of the attributes," he said to himself. "Probably not Strength or Charisma. So that leaves Intelligence."
He frowned.
"In games, they usually linked Mana and Wisdom... but I don't have Wisdom here and my Mana is the Ascendant Energy."
He leaned forward, his elbows on the desk, his hands steepled. He wanted an answer, but the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like chasing shadows. There were too many unknowns. Too many variables.
He shook his head.
"Maybe I shouldn't waste time figuring it all out right now."
His eyes moved to his Ascendant Rank.
"Lower One-Star… How can I raise my rank?"
He had more than enough strength to take on even a Lower Four-Star Ascendant if he combined his elemental powers with the Flame Dragon Sword and the Golden Core's support.
So why hadn't his rank moved?
It frustrated him.
Even with all the attributes, the level-ups, and the progress, his rank hadn't changed at all.
He remembered what the Eternal Dragon Codex said.
It spoke of a secret Peak Stage that came after the High Stage. And if he reached that Peak Stage, he could unlock the Body Gates.
But now, he hadn't moved a stage at all. That thought stuck with him.
He ran a hand through his hair, annoyed. Even with all his Intelligence, there were still so many things he couldn't solve. The codex had helped, but real-world answers didn't come easy.
He needed data.
He needed knowledge, not just numbers.
Understanding the limits of his own body would help him fight smarter. Every decision, every technique, every ounce of energy had to be used with precision. There was no other way.
"I won't get all the answers tonight," he whispered. Then his eyes shifted slightly. "Right, system?"
But the screen said nothing. The panel remained, glowing quietly in the dark.
Still, Ethan found a strange comfort in its silence. Because in that moment, he wasn't giving up.
He was just getting started.
Ethan's thoughts wandered to Anterra.
He leaned back in his chair, his eyes unfocused now, no longer seeing the glowing panel in front of him. A deeper silence settled into the room as his mind drifted toward the other world.
'How many days had passed there?'
Their faces came to mind. They were strangers when they first met, thrown together by circumstance, but over time, they had become allies. Trust had grown between them. And when he was pulled away from Anterra, they had stayed behind.
He could still hear Hera's calm reasoning and Alden's quiet strength. He remembered the promise they made, to keep building the Eternal Kingdom, even if he was no longer there.
It made his heart ache. He didn't know how long it had been in Anterra since his departure. Days? Weeks? Months?
Was the Eternal Kingdom still standing? Were they safe?
The questions never stopped.
'Is there a way for me to open a portal between worlds?'
That single thought lit a fire in his mind. A flicker of possibility. Magic might not exist on Earth or so everyone believed, but in Anterra, it was real. And he had studied it. Touched it. Used it.
He reached into his Inventory and summoned the storage ring Hera had given him. Inside were the materials she had left. There were books, scrolls, notes scribbled with strange symbols and ancient language.
Ethan set everything on his desk and began sorting through them. His eyes scanned the titles, some written in runes, others in languages he barely remembered but somehow understood.
"Let's see…" he murmured, spreading the materials out into categories. Basic theory. Foundational spells. Intermediate practices. Advanced channeling.
He would start at the very beginning.
Even if he already possessed the intelligence to memorize every line with a single read, Ethan knew mastery wasn't just about knowledge—it was about understanding, practice, and control.
And if learning magic was the only way to return to Anterra… then so be it.