Ethan couldn't stop himself. His feet moved on their own, carrying him straight toward the crystal orb. He reached out and lightly touched its surface.
In an instant, a powerful surge of energy burst out like a flood, slamming directly into his body.
His entire frame swelled, overloaded with a force that felt way beyond anything human—untamed, all-encompassing. It was like the world around him blurred at the edges, merging with him.
Within moments, the entire crystal orb dissolved into his body, vanishing without a trace.
Ethan's breathing grew labored. He could feel everything, every subtle shift inside him—his power twisting, expanding.
The energy boiled over, breaking his previous limits in one massive surge. He wasn't just pushing into the next tier—he jumped straight to Tier 33, early stage.
That wasn't even close to where he'd been. He'd still been stuck at the peak of Tier 31—Tier 32 had felt like a distant climb, let alone this.
