The phone was ringing.

Jessica sat in the living area of her hotel suite. Ethan purposedly chose this extremely beautiful and comfortable place for her and her family. It had many bedrooms and provided a very nice view of the city.

However, everything felt heavy the moment she received the call and looked at her phone's screen.

"Who's calling me?" she asked herself. After everything that happened back in her hometown, she was being paranoid every time she received a call from an unknown number.

The TV was playing quietly, and she could hear her siblings laughing in another room. However, everything seemed to be drowned when her phone rang. She could not understand why, but somehow, it made her feel worried.

She took a deep breath and answered the call. “Hello?” Her voice was steady, but only just.

“Jessica Moore,” a gruff, unfamiliar voice greeted her. The way her name was spoken—mocking, almost amused—made her blood run cold.

“Who is this?” she asked, her tone sharper now, though her heart pounded against her ribs.

A low chuckle came through the line. “Ah, it’s been a while. Relax, sweetheart. I’m someone you should remember.”

Her breath stopped as the voice became familiar, bringing back memories she wanted to forget. “Donald,” she whispered, feeling sick.

“Bingo,” Donald drawled, his tone dripping with mockery. “It's an honor to not be forgotten by such a beauty.”

Jessica tightened her grip on the phone. “Why? What do you want, Donald? Why are you calling me?”

Donald’s laugh was sharp and cruel. “Oh, come on, Jess."

He paused, but Jessica could hear his laughter. "I believe you know why I'm calling. Your precious Mr. Cole and his little ‘rescue mission’ cost me a lot. And now, it’s time for some payback.”

Her heart sank. She opened her mouth to reply, but before she could talk, Donald’s tone became darker. “But you're wrong if you think this is about Ethan alone. If you think so, you seem to have forgotten something."

Jessica's heart was beating crazily. She could feel a sudden rush of something to her head. "What do you mean, Donald? I don't get it," she asked. Her voice was trembling even though she tried her best to sound calm and firm.

Donald let the silence linger for a moment, enjoying her discomfort. “How could you, Jessica? You've forgotten about him? He's eager to see you,” he finally said, his voice threatening.

Jessica heard a rustling sound and a quiet groan. It made her stomach feel twisted. “Who is that?” she demanded.

“See for yourself,” Donald said smoothly, and the call ended abruptly.

Jessica stared at her phone, her hands trembling. A moment later, a notification lit up the screen—a video message. Her fingers felt heavy as she tapped to play it, a sinking feeling pulling her deeper into dread.

The video began dimly lit and grainy but clear enough for her to recognize the scene. Her father, bound to a chair, bruises marring his once-proud face, sat slumped forward. He lifted his head weakly. His eyes, filled with pain and fear, looked at the camera.

“Jessica…” he groaned, his voice muffled by the gag in his mouth. He struggled against the bindings that held him tightly in place.

Jessica felt like everything was spinning. The phone almost fell from her hand as she went pale. “No…” she whispered, her voice almost silent.

In the background, Donald’s voice sneered, “Tomorrow, Jess. Bring Ethan Cole with you. No tricks, no security. Just the two of you. Or your dear old dad won’t make it out alive.”

The video ended, and Jessica stared at the blank screen. She breathed quickly. Her body was trembling, and tears began to form in her eyes. She was feeling extremely overwhelmed by the situation.

"No... Dad... No... Why it is becoming like this..."

The phone fell from her hand onto the soft carpet, and she held onto the armrest of the sofa for support.

Her father had neglected their family and left them to take care of themselves when they needed him most. She had every reason to hate and resent him. But even though she wanted to think otherwise, she still loved him. Now, he was in danger—because of her. That was what she believed.

She felt tears in her eyes as she tightened her fists. Her breathing was shaky, and her chest moved up and down quickly as she tried to calm herself. She couldn’t let herself break down. Not now.

Jessica pressed a trembling hand to her forehead, trying to think clearly. The call’s demand echoed in her mind: Tomorrow, Jess. Bring Ethan Cole.

“No... I can't do it,” she muttered. She shook her head a few times. That was the last thing she believed she should do. "I can't drag Ethan into my mess anymore."

He had already done so much for her, sacrificed so much. She could not keep adding her problems to him. This was her responsibility. Her father’s fate depended on her, and she would face it by herself.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

She wiped her tears and sat up straight. She took a deep breath. The call had asked her to come in the afternoon. The location was sent, too. That should give her enough time to prepare.

Jessica tightened her fists, her nails pressing into her palms. “I’ll try to think of other ways,” she whispered.

That was when another person came into her mind. It was Jordan.

"Maybe I can ask Jordan to help," Jessica wondered aloud.

However, she does not realize that excluding Ethan is her fatal mistake. This was something that she would regret for the rest of her life.

***

At the Cole residence, Yamal stood outside, his sharp eyes scanning the quiet night. Everything seemed calm until a sudden wave of energy passed through the air, making him shiver.

He looked at the house, moving from surprise to amazement. “What is this?” he said softly. He could sense an extremely strong energy coming from inside.

He faintly smiled as he realized something. “Ethan... You're a monster,” Yamal said quietly, shaking his head. “Just by forming his core, he’s already releasing such a terrifying aura. This kid… he’s something else.”

Inside the house, Ethan sat cross-legged in the study, his breathing steady as he adjusted to the new power coursing through him. Only now did he notice the state of the room. Papers were scattered everywhere, some even stuck to the walls. The energy released during his core formation had turned the once-organized space into chaos.

Ethan chuckled softly. He ran a hand through his hair. "Guess I need to call for the maids to clean this up tomorrow."

But the mess was far from his mind. His thoughts were consumed by the Eternal Dragon Codex. Extending his hand, he willed the codex to appear.

In an instant, the codex moved from the Inventory in the system and materialized right before him. It has a golden dragon carving on its cover. It was very beautiful.

"Eternal Dragon Codex..." Ethan read the title. It was actually in strange symbols and patterns. He believed it was a language, an ancient or foreign language. However, he could understand it perfectly.

"It must be the system's doing," he concluded.

His fingers traced the carving before slowly opening the first page. The glowing text seemed alive and full of power.

“Let’s see what you have for me, codex,” Ethan murmured.

His voice was steady, but he could not hide his excitement. This would be his first step in the path of Ascendant. He was ready to learn and grow. He wanted to prepare for the challenges ahead.

The golden writing on the codex shimmered softly in the light of his study. The first few pages introduced the codex, explaining where it came from and its role as a guide for growing Ascendant power.

As he flipped through the pages, the words changed and rearranged themselves, almost as if they were listening to his thoughts. Ethan felt that this was not just a book—it was alive, adjusting to what he understood.

The Ranks of the Ascendants.

Ethan’s eyes locked on the bold heading. The codex began with a detailed explanation of the Ascendant ranking system.

The ranks were categorized from One-Star to Nine-Star, each representing a monumental leap in power and mastery. Each rank was further divided into five stages: Lower, Low, Middle, High, and Higher.

Ethan nodded. “Straightforward enough,” he muttered, flipping to the next section.

But the codex wasn’t finished.

There was an additional stage, one that few reached or even dared to attempt: Peak.

The codex explained that most Ascendants chose to ascend to the next rank once they reached the Higher stage. However, those who pushed themselves to Peak could unlock a hidden potential known as the Body Gates—a concept that remained shrouded in mystery.

Ethan furrowed his brow. “Body Gates?” he murmured, his curiosity piqued. A smile formed on his lips. He wanted to learn more as he flipped the page. But, there was no more explanation for it. The codex seemed unwilling to reveal anything further for now.

"I guess it will tell me when the time comes." He continued flipping.

The next section addressed the unique distinctions among Golden, Silver, and Bronze Ascendants.

"I'm a Golden Ascendant..." he thought, wondering if everyone was given a title like this. Ethan read intently, eager to understand what made him stand out as a Golden Ascendant.

The initial lines indicated that not everyone received a title. Most Ascendants were ordinary and without distinction. Only the chosen few would be granted a title, signified by the color of the auras radiating from their bodies.

For Bronze Ascendants, the codex explained, their strength allowed them to fight on par with those half a rank above their current stage. For example, a Middle One-Star Bronze Ascendant could hold their own against a Lower Two-Star Bronze Ascendant.

Silver Ascendants were a step above, capable of battling those one full rank above their current stage.

But Golden Ascendants…

Ethan’s eyes widened as he read the next passage.

“Golden Ascendants possess strength comparable to those two full ranks or more above their current stage and rank,” the codex revealed.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, absorbing the implications. That meant, as a Lower One-Star Golden Ascendant, his strength was already on par with that of a Lower Three-Star Ascendant. The realization sent a ripple of excitement through him.

“This is cheating,” he chuckled.

The codex elaborated further: Golden Ascendants weren’t just stronger; their cores were unique, imbued with golden energy that enhanced their resilience, recovery, and energy reserve and control.

However, such power came with challenges. Golden Ascendants faced greater hurdles in advancing their ranks, requiring not only immense effort but also unique resources and techniques.

“As expected,” Ethan muttered. Being powerful would not mean everything was going to be easy for him. He did not really mind because even with the system, he was hoping for a challenge along the way.

Ethan’s thoughts turned to the world around him. “If this is the ranking of Ascendants,” he thought, “then where do the strongest stand? How powerful are the Five Ghosts of Nemesis?”

He flipped the pages, searching for insight into the strength of other Ascendants. The codex responded, revealing glimpses of the current state of Ascendants on Earth.

The text described Earth as a “hidden battlefield” where powerful factions vied for control since ancient times. It hinted at figures who had reached as high as Seven-Star or even Eight-Star Ascendants, their names whispered in secrecy. These were individuals capable of reshaping entire landscapes with their power.

Ethan felt a surge of determination. He needed to understand this world fully—its players, its power structures, and its dangers. He couldn’t afford to be ignorant, not when so much was at stake.

“Maybe when the Ghosts bring me to the Nemesis’s headquarters, I’ll learn more about the world.” Ethan hoped that the LaRues would not be too powerful since he needed to settle them first. The world was vast. It was not about the Novan City alone.

He believed that more challenges were waiting. He and Nova Tech would grow, and of course, he would face more challenges in the future.

Ethan turned the page, his fingers brushing over the glowing golden text that appeared next. The title at the top of the page immediately captured his attention: Combat Arts and Techniques of Ascendants.

His heart quickened. This was the part he had been waiting for—the key to understanding the awe-inspiring elemental powers he had witnessed in Mark’s battle against Alexander LaRue and the cloaked figures. The thought of wielding such abilities filled him with excitement.