Ethan and Freddy boarded the regular train at the station. Although it was a "regular" line, it still ran twice the speed of sound — the elite had faster lines, but this one served ordinary civilians. A ticket cost 2k Ace Coins, a fair price.
Ethan rode back to town, waved Freddy off, and promised lunch next time. He hurried home. His mother wasn't back yet, so he slipped into Little Finger's room. The cheeky girl was fast asleep; Ethan covered her with a blanket and tiptoed out. He cooked a simple dinner — omelette and toast — and kept the aromas low so he wouldn't wake her. After a quick shower he crashed into bed.
The next morning he dressed in a tracksuit for his daily quest. He dropped Little Finger at school; his mother was working overtime again. Ethan went straight into his marathon.
[Daily quest completed: +50 EXP, +5 Agility.]
He now had 30 stat points. He spent them: +10 Stamina, +10 Speed, +10 Strength.
[Attributes: Strength 40, Agility 22, Stamina 32, Speed 41.]
Ethan checked his new beast soul: Ork Chief (Mutant level).
[Ork Chief — Level 6 (Mutant)] [Soul type: Mount — Berserker. Will attack anything when commanded.]
He'd never heard of someone owning a beast soul before. One mount and a pile of possibilities. He didn't summon it — he was in the dojo doing push-ups, getting his muscles to arch and his skin to smooth.
Walking to his mom's shop — about a dozen blocks — Ethan saw a mess: boys overturning tables, the canteen scrambled. His mother sat on the floor crying while a head goon shouted.
"We gave you two months! Where's the money?" the goon barked.
"I'm sorry, I'll pay tomorrow," she cried.
Another thug loomed, squatting down, eyes cold. "You try our patience and the boss kills you and your worthless son."
Ethan stepped in. "That's enough. Take your money and leave."
The head goon sneered. "Who are you to barge in?"
"I'm her son." Ethan's calm made the goon furious. He rushed to slap Ethan — and before his hand landed, his teeth were gone. The goon staggered back, mouth full of blood.
Ethan could have finished them then, but he didn't want trouble. He asked, "How much do you need? Take it and go."
The head goon stammered, "Two million. But—since she's your mother—1.5 million."
Ethan transferred it without a fight. Then, when the head goon tried to rise, Ethan slapped him cold. The others fled.
"Mom, are you okay?" Ethan helped her up.
"Where did you get the money?" she asked, wiping tears.
"I cleared a Tier 2 dungeon," Ethan lied, patting down wreckage. She fussed but didn't press. He promised to buy a proper shop in Harper's Center, a real restaurant — a fresh start.
"How much do we have?" she asked.
"Enough for a decent life," Ethan said. "Little Finger will go to a good school."
His mother smiled with weary hope. "Promise me you'll be safe."
"I will," Ethan said. "I'll enter military school soon — I'll make sure you and Little Finger are safe while I'm gone."
After Awakening, teenagers were drafted into military service to fight the new threats: the Xeridians. These humanoids came from another galaxy — intelligent, organized, and militarized. Their infantry sported red skin; their strength rivaled or exceeded Awakened fighters. The universe had shifted, and Ethan's city lay on the frontline.