For Imhotep, he didn't lack suitable methods, but those methods belonged to Ethan, and he didn't dare to make decisions on his own.
Ethan stroked his chin. It wasn't that he was unwilling to part with the training methods.
The humans in the Starship Troopers world were just ordinary people. Even if he gave them some training methods, it wouldn't immediately turn the Federation into a high-magic world.
What he was considering was whether there was any need to do so.
According to Ethan's vision, Starship Troopers would serve well as a logistics base world and a convenient port, allowing him and others to manufacture various equipment and purchase supplies.
All of this could be handled through Cherry Military Industries. It didn't seem necessary to cultivate a separate group of believers with extraordinary combat capabilities.
However, looking at it from another angle, these believers could continuously contribute the power of faith. After being refined and transformed by Ethan, this power could be converted into Holy Light energy and stored in the Holy Light Cross, allowing the small world inside the cross to continue growing.
"Or, to be more direct, upgrade this small world into a true heaven? Let the souls of sufficiently devout believers enter it after death and transform into angels?"
He still remembered the million-strong angel army he once envisioned. But even just condensing unintelligent angel soldiers using energy required a massive amount of Holy Light. After so many years, even draining all the Holy Light from the small world would barely be enough to form a small squad for Marvin.
Any more than that would risk damaging the foundation of the small world, and that was something Ethan wouldn't do.
If supported by countless believers, the growth of the small world could accelerate. Furthermore, after believers' souls entered it, they could become commanders of the angel army, leading unintelligent angel soldiers and unleashing greater combat power.
Ethan didn't know if this idea would work, but he could let Imhotep give it a try. In any case, there would be no loss even if it failed.
After explaining the idea to Imhotep, the next step was to create an item that would serve as a holy relic for the sect and be enshrined.
This was mainly for convenience. With this item, the power of faith would no longer need to pass through Ethan. Instead, it would establish a direct connection with the Holy Light Cross, channeling the gathered faith into it. Then, after being transformed by the small world, it would become Holy Light, which would in turn become a source of strength for the believers.
Thus, a perfect cycle would be formed: believers offered their faith, and the faith was transformed into power that protected them.
At the same time, the more faith the believers offered, the more the small world within the Holy Light Cross could improve and evolve until it became a true heaven, providing an ideal kingdom for the faithful.
Ethan thought for a moment and still chose to give believers the right to choose. After a believer died, their soul would not be forcibly drawn into heaven. Instead, their willingness would be asked first.
If they were willing, then their soul could enter heaven.
If not, the soul would either reincarnate or dissipate according to that world's natural laws. Ethan wasn't clear about how those rules worked, as he hadn't studied the concepts of death or reincarnation in that world.
Ethan could now make such tools very quickly. He didn't design the appearance specifically. It was simply a perfectly round, transparent crystal bead.
"With this item, you can begin teaching your believers how to use Holy Light."
Imhotep, once a High Priest, naturally knew how to teach others to wield power granted by the "Gods." This power didn't belong to the users themselves. They were merely borrowing it from a higher source.
In other words, although believers offered faith and gained Holy Light in return, the true owner of that power remained Ethan. If someone dared to challenge Ethan's authority using the power he had "granted," Ethan only needed a single thought to strip them of their abilities and return them to ordinary status.
Imhotep, as Ethan's "representative on earth," also had some level of authority and could revoke a believer's power.
"Once they've obtained Holy Light, believers will see a certain increase in their strength..."
Even though the power didn't truly belong to them, Holy Light would still bring some benefits.
For example, enhanced recovery abilities would allow warriors to push their limits without worrying about permanent physical damage.
As long as they kept pushing themselves, even without actively using Holy Light, their physical capabilities would far surpass those of ordinary people. After receiving military training, they would become elite soldiers. Even with advanced equipment like exoskeletons, solid physical fitness was still required to bring out their full potential.
Combined with the miraculous healing effects of Holy Light, if Imhotep developed it seriously, it wouldn't be impossible for the "Holy Light Sect" to become the Federation's number one organization.
"As for specific ways to use Holy Light, you can reference the Priests and Paladins from Azeroth, or figure something out on your own. I won't interfere."
Imhotep bowed respectfully to show he understood. Ethan had given him enough freedom. He could act as he pleased and was never denied rewards. Every time he contributed faith, Ethan would transform it and return a generous portion of power to him, which allowed Imhotep's strength to grow steadily.
With such conditions, Imhotep had plenty of motivation to keep pushing forward.
As for what kind of dramatic changes this would bring to that world... Imhotep didn't care, and neither did Ethan.
If everything went well, maybe one day, when Ethan wanted to recruit marines for his battleship, he could directly select qualified veterans from the Starship Troopers world.
After resolving matters here, Ethan took Artemis for another spin.
He had been hopping between various worlds for the past few years, and even though the spaceship was his home, he still felt a bit unfamiliar with its living areas.
Just before reconnecting to the Nasuverse, Ethan hadn't been living on the island during this period. Instead, he had been busy in the teleportation room every day. After establishing a connection to the new world, he ran several tests to ensure there were no bugs in the teleportation system after adding a new channel.
While he was at it, he visited various worlds and finally headed to the DC Universe to find Diana.
After making a big loop, Ethan finally slowed down and was surprised to find that it was already time to return to the Harry Potter world.
"I always felt like there wasn't enough time before. How did it pass so quickly this time?"
"Because you've been busy running around."
Scáthach was holding a phone, playing something unknown. Anyway, all the phones Ethan brought back had been magically modified, so there was no need to worry about battery life. She could play endlessly.
"When you have things to do, time really flies."
"Like two thousand years passing in the blink of an eye?"
Before Scáthach could react, Ethan had already disappeared.
Since summer break was almost over, it was time to prepare for the new school term.
He looked at himself in the mirror. Although he had been busy, his absorption of energy had never stopped.
The energy gained from the Land of Shadows had been fully digested. Combined with his habit of treating magic stones as snacks and soaking in the Arcane Spring every day, he had finally grown a little. Ethan now looked like he was around thirteen, not quite fourteen. Still a bit short, but finally nearing middle school age.
Considering that Ethan's height and build were above average among his peers, aside from a slightly younger-looking face, he no longer stood out when mixed among fourteen or fifteen-year-olds.
"That saves me a lot of effort."
He had originally considered using illusions to disguise his age, but it now seemed unnecessary.
After tidying everything up, Ethan went to find the few people who would be returning to the Harry Potter world.
In the upcoming year, the time in the Harry Potter world and on Artemis would be synchronized. However, Ethan didn't directly link that world to Artemis. This time, he would still use teleportation magic.
So everyone didn't gather in the teleportation room, but instead met on the island where most people usually stayed.
"This time we're really going to be away for a whole year. If there's anything else you need to take care of, say it now."
He would truly be off the ship for an entire year this time, so it was best to settle everything in advance. He didn't like running back and forth.
"There shouldn't be anything. We're just following the planned course now. We'll rotate watch duty as usual."
With Logan on board, there was no need to worry about problems. After Ethan nodded, he activated teleportation along with Scáthach, Rin, Leah, and Illya, and they arrived once again in the Harry Potter world.
For Ethan, this would likely be the last time he stayed in this world for an extended period. Even if he returned later, it wouldn't be for as long as a full year.
What was worth looking forward to this year were the Triwizard Tournament and Voldemort's resurrection. As for the Quidditch World Cup held in summer, he had no interest.
Besides, he already knew the match would end in chaos caused by Death Eaters. In such a situation, he had even less reason to attend.
Ethan didn't return to school on the train like the other students. Instead, he teleported directly to Hogwarts with a few people.
Although Dumbledore was helpless about Ethan teleporting in and out of Hogwarts so casually, he had no way to stop him.
"Are you sure this is the last year?"
"Yes. After this school year ends, I won't be continuing my studies... As for those girls, I'll leave them in your care."
After thinking it over during the break, Illya decided to stay at Hogwarts until graduation. That meant all three girls would remain.
Dumbledore was happy to hear this. Ethan entrusting these three girls to Hogwarts proved the school would be safe. Even if trouble did arise, Ethan could easily handle it.
Because Dumbledore already knew that the girl named Leah among them was Ethan's disciple.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)