Chapter 6:
"Where… where am I?" Ethan muttered, slowly opening his eyes.
The world around him was endless sky,an infinite canvas of deep, glowing blue. No trees, no wolves, no ruins. Just an ocean of clouds beneath his feet and silence above.
"I'm sure what I saw was some kind of orb of power… so what's happening?" he asked aloud, spinning around in confusion.
"That is correct," came a gentle, feminine voice,smooth as silk but echoing with power.
Ethan's muscles tensed. "Who said that?"
"You are in my domain now," the voice replied. "I am the orb you touched."
Ethan crossed his arms, unimpressed. "Let me guess. This is a trial to prove I'm worthy of your power?"
"Exactly. But you must know… this trial will not be easy."
He sighed, brushing the air like it was dust. "Then get it over with already."
Without warning, the sky around him shattered like glass, and the infinite blue gave way to a dense, fog-shrouded forest. Trees rose like towers into the heavens, their trunks glowing with faint runes. A wind howled through the leaves like whispers of the past.
From between the mist, she appeared.
She stood tall, graceful, and deadly. Her long silver hair swayed with the breeze, and her skin shimmered like the scales of a moonlit dragon. She wore flowing obsidian mage robes, etched with golden glyphs that glowed and pulsed. Her sleeves flared with magic, and her violet eyes carried a thousand years of wisdom.
But the first thing she noticed wasn't his resolve or his aura.
It was his complete lack of clothing.
"…Why are you…?"
"Naked? Yeah. Been like this most of my life, thanks for noticing," Ethan deadpanned.
She turned her head, covering her eyes. "I… I can't fight you like this!"
"Well, sorry I can't magically conjure clothes."
The woman sighed and snapped her fingers.
Golden light spiraled around Ethan's body. Magic wrapped him like thread, weaving fabric into existence. A sleek black shirt formed over his chest, glowing golden runes tracing from shoulder to wrist like veins of power. Tight, black-tailed pants hugged his legs, patterned with intricate glyphs of protection. Dark boots, etched with golden flames, formed on his feet, pulsing in sync with his heartbeat.
"…Whoa," Ethan said, impressed as he looked himself over. "You just made this?"
"It will remain with you even after the trial. It regenerates using your Qi—"
"Cool." Ethan began peeling the shirt off.
"Wha—WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
"You didn't say it was auto-repairing. I was just checking."
"PUT IT BACK ON!" she shouted, flustered.
With a smirk, Ethan slid the shirt back on. "There. Happy?"
She exhaled sharply. "Let's just begin."
Ethan clenched his fists, taking a stance unfamiliar to this world. A soldier's stance. His legs were spaced for balance, his arms raised like a boxer but firm like a trained assassin.
"I'm ready."
BOOM.
The forest exploded with pressure as their battle began.
The woman surged forward, flames coiling around her fists. She twisted her body and launched a blazing uppercut straight at Ethan's chest.
He sidestepped effortlessly and countered with a sharp jab to her face. CRACK! Her head snapped back, and her body soared through the trees like a cannonball.
She hit the ground with a grunt, sliding to a stop against a massive tree.
"You're a Grand… aren't you?" she said, rubbing her jaw with a grin.
Ethan paused mid-step. His golden aura began rising, swirling violently around his small frame. His red eyes shimmered into glowing gold, reflecting a power few had ever seen.
"What's a Grand?" he asked honestly.
Her expression darkened. "Grands… are anomalies. Beings who defy the world's limits. They don't level up with age or training like others. They evolve every single day. Until now, only dragons, elves, or other mythical races have been recorded as Grands."
She stood again, her breath steady. "If an elf Grand could control nature, it might reach a point where it bends reality itself without incantations or gestures. Their abilities transcend."
Ethan touched his chin, his expression calm. "Sounds broken."
"And you might be one of them."
"I'll figure that out later. Right now..." His aura flared like molten lava, cracking the ground beneath his feet. "—we fight."
She smiled.
They collided in a storm of fists and fury, trees snapping around them. Her punch landed first. A fiery blow to Ethan's forearms as he blocked. The force lifted his feet off the ground.
He skidded back, hands trembling.
"She's stronger," he realized. "Was she holding back before…?"
Before he could recover, she blurred and appeared in front of him.
BAM! Her punch hit his face, sending him flying across the battlefield. He broke through two trees before hitting the ground hard, coughing blood.
"Still breathing?" she called.
Ethan groaned. "Barely…"
"I'm only using Grand level 1.5 right now."
His eyes widened.
"You… what?!"
"I'm a dragon. My full Grand level is 60."
His hands tightened into fists. "Level 60… and I've just reached… what?"
"Grand 1.2... well That's my guess," she replied, floating above him. "But your speed… your instincts… you're evolving as we speak."
Ethan's grin returned. "Then bring it on."
She descended gently and offered her hand. "You've passed. I'll give you 50000 units of my power. We don't yet know how much your body can handle."
He nodded, expression serious now. "Do it."
Golden light surrounded him again, but this time it felt deeper. His bones trembled. His blood vibrated. His soul expanded.
Then his body began to dissolve, starting from his feet.
"WAIT!!! WHY ARE YOU TAKING OFF YOUR CLOTHES AGAIN?!"
"Personal reasons," he said with a wink. "Oh, and I'm Ethan, by the way."
She laughed in disbelief. "And I am Seraphira. Remember that name. Seek out the other ruins if you want to grow. Each one will give you power… and truth."
She stepped back as the light fully consumed him.
"Be safe out there, young Grand."
And then he was gone.
Seraphira stood alone beneath a pale sun, her robes fluttering in the wind. A small smile touched her lips.
"Never thought I'd enjoy sparring with a human," she whispered. "But something about him… feels like destiny."