The morning sun shone on Novan City as Ethan stood outside his house. He felt nervous about the day. A lot had happened in the past week, and he hoped today would help him find answers and make sense of things in a confusing world.

He had just finished breakfast with his family. It was a special quiet time. But, he was forced to lie and told them he would be away for a few days on a business trip.

Ethan received mixed reactions. While he was used to being away from his family as a university student, his family was still worried about him. This concern grew after the recent events with Jordan and Joseph Moore.

Elise, his mom, looked at him but didn’t say much. His dad, Aaron, gave him advice and reminded him to stay safe and avoid anything that might harm him.

Jacob and Lily, his younger siblings, asked him many questions about his "business trip." Their innocent curiosity touched his heart.

Now, they stood on the porch, waving goodbye with bright smiles that made him feel even tighter in his chest.

"Stay safe, Ethan," Elise said softly, her hand lingering on his shoulder. Her voice carried an undertone of concern that she didn’t bother hiding.

“I will, Mom,” Ethan assured her with a faint smile. “It’s just work. I’ll be back in a few days.”

Lily waved enthusiastically, her youthful energy a stark contrast to the heaviness Ethan felt inside. “Bring us something cool, okay?”

“Sure,” Ethan promised, giving her a small nod before stepping into the car waiting for him.

As the vehicle drove away from the curb, Ethan looked back at his family. Their figures became smaller in the distance. He tightened his fists, feeling the burden of his duties. "I will protect all of you, no matter what," he promised himself.

When Ethan reached Nova Tech, he saw Maya waiting for him in the lobby. She wore her usual sharp black outfit, and she exuded quiet authority. Her face looked serious, but she also seemed reassuring.

“Morning,” she greeted him briefly, walking with him to the elevator.

“Morning,” Ethan replied, matching her tone. “Everything in place?”

Maya nodded. “Yes. Ezra will keep an eye on your family while Yamal monitors the company. We’ve also deployed additional Nemesis operatives to cover any gaps. Lower-ranking agents, but capable enough to handle anything unexpected.”

Ethan absorbed the information, nodding slightly. “Good. Thank you.”

Maya glanced at him, her sharp eyes studying his face. “You seem quiet. Nervous?”

“Not nervous,” Ethan replied, his voice even. “Just… focused. I'm pretty excited to learn more about Nemesis and how it will help me.”

The elevator doors opened, and they entered. The silence was heavy as the numbers went up, bringing them closer to the rooftop where their ride was waiting.

On the rooftop, a sleek black helicopter was ready for them, its rotors turning slowly as the engine ran. The pilot stood nearby, checking over the aircraft, while a Nemesis operative in tactical gear handed Maya a dossier. She flipped through it quickly, nodding her approval before turning back to Ethan.

“This will be a trip for a few days,” she reminded him. “When we get to the base, you will have an evaluation. They will want to learn about what you can do—your strengths, weaknesses, and the range of your skills. It’s standard procedure.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “And by ‘they,’ you mean the leadership of Nemesis?”

Maya smirked faintly. “Something like that. Don't worry. Nemesis values allies with potential, and you’ve already proven you’re more than capable.”

Ethan crossed his arms, his gaze steady. “I’m not worried."

He smiled as he looked at Maya before adding, "I just want to know more about Nemesis. Especially its goals.”

“You’ll get your answers,” Maya assured him. “But remember, Ethan—Nemesis isn’t a charity. We each have our own goals. Right now, our goals may be similar to yours, but that doesn’t mean they will always be. Keep your guard up.”

Ethan nodded slightly, appreciating her honesty. “Got it.”

As the helicopter took off, Ethan watched the city get smaller. Maya sat next to him and looked straight ahead. Her expression was hard to read.

The loud noise from the helicopter's rotors filled the cabin. This was Ethan’s first big step into the world of Nemesis, a secret organization where the people that he believed he could trust were from.

‘Who's behind Nemesis, really?’ Ethan wondered. ‘And what do they really want from me?’

Stolen novel; please report.

He thought of Steve, still recovering in the hospital, of Jordan fighting to wake up, of Jessica grieving the loss of her father. He thought of Mark, trapped somewhere in the clutches of the LaRues. The weight of their struggles fueled his resolve.

‘Whatever it takes,’ he vowed. ‘I’ll get the answers.’

The path ahead was unclear, but one thing was clear: Ethan was no longer just watching. He was now part of it, whether he liked it or not. He wanted to play the game his way.

***

The grand study in the LaRue estate was designed to look grand and intimidating. It has tall shelves of books, nice furniture, and pictures of past family leaders on the walls.

Victor LaRue was at the center of the room. He was the head of the family and had a presence that could make everyone quiet. His sharp eyes scanned the two men standing before him—Mike and Taison—both of whom had served the LaRue family faithfully for years.

Seated to Victor’s right was Alexander LaRue, his adopted son and the family’s only Silver Ascendant. Alexander showed quiet confidence. He watched the exchange closely, taking in and analyzing every detail.

Victor brought his fingers together, showing both interest and annoyance. “So, let me clarify,” he said, his deep voice filling the room. “Lucien took one of the silver pills and was able to match Steve of Five Ghosts of Nemesis?”

Mike nodded solemnly. “Yes, sir. The pill elevated his strength significantly. He wasn't just keeping up with Steve; he was pushing him back.”

Victor frowned and leaned back in his chair. His mind was racing. “And you stopped him from taking a second pill?”

“Yes,” Taison interjected, his tone firm. “Lucien was insistent, but we couldn’t allow it. The pill hasn’t been tested for multiple doses within such a short timeframe. We didn’t know what kind of reaction it might trigger.”

Victor’s eyes narrowed. “What reason did he give for wanting to take another pill? Surely, defeating Steve should have been enough to satisfy him.”

Mike and Taison exchanged a glance before Mike spoke. “It wasn’t about Steve, sir. Lucien wanted the pill to go against someone else.”

Victor’s expression darkened. “Who?”

“Ethan Cole,” Mike answered.

Victor froze for a moment, the name hanging in the air like a phantom. “Ethan Cole?” he repeated, his voice edged with confusion.

Mike nodded again, his expression serious. “Yes, sir. But Ethan Cole is… not what we think he was.”

Victor’s frown deepened. “What do you mean?”

Taison stepped forward, his voice calm but carrying an undertone of urgency. “Ethan Cole is an Ascendant, sir. He’s already at the rank of Lower One-Star.”

Alexander, who had been silent until now, leaned forward, his silver eyes narrowing. “That’s impossible,” he said coolly. “Ethan Cole wasn’t even on our radar as an Ascendant. And a Lower One-Star? He’s already twenty. Why would Lucien need a silver pill to deal with someone so new to the fold?”

Mike’s jaw tightened. “Because Ethan Cole isn’t just any Ascendant. During the confrontation, he eliminated Donald’s hired Ascendants—Lower, Low, and Middle Three-Stars—with a single attack each.”

Alexander’s brows lifted slightly, his interest piqued. “A Lower One-Star Ascendant taking down opponents two ranks above him? Either you’re exaggerating, or this Ethan has access to something extraordinary.”

“It gets stranger,” Taison added. “His aura—it wasn’t like any other Ascendant’s. There was a faint golden glow to it.”

Victor sat up straighter, his sharp gaze snapping to Taison. “Golden?” he repeated, his voice low and deliberate. The room seemed to grow colder as the weight of that word settled over them.

"I see..." Alexander’s lips curled into a faint smile, though his eyes remained serious. “He must be a Golden Ascendant,” he murmured. “That would explain his ability to fight so far above his rank."

He paused for a while. "But it also raises questions. How does someone like Ethan Cole ascend to a title that’s considered legendary? And more importantly… who is he?”

Victor’s fingers drummed against the desk, his mind racing. He leaned back, his gaze distant. “A Golden Ascendant… If that’s true, then we may have stumbled into something far more dangerous than we anticipated. He could be connected to one of the Grand Families, the Supreme Families, or…” His voice trailed off, his expression tightening.

“Or an Ancient Family,” Alexander finished for him, his tone amused. “And that terrifies you, doesn’t it, Father?”

Victor shot Alexander a sharp look, but the younger man merely smirked, unfazed. “Relax. I’ve looked into Ethan Cole extensively. He’s a nobody. No connections to any of the great families, no illustrious bloodline. He’s an anomaly—a nobody who somehow stumbled into incredible power.”

Victor’s jaw tightened, his unease evident. “Anomalies are dangerous, Alexander. They don’t play by the rules.”

“Which is precisely why we should capture him,” Alexander countered smoothly. “If what Mike and Taison say is true, Ethan Cole could be the key to boosting our work.”

Mike and Taison remained silent, their expressions carefully neutral as Alexander continued.

“Our silver pill,” Alexander said, his voice measured, “isn’t a true reflection of its namesake. The strongest essence we’ve been able to extract was from Mark, a High Three-Star Bronze Ascendant. That’s why the pill has its limitations—it’s a poor imitation of what true Ascendants can achieve.”

Victor nodded slowly, his brow furrowed. “But you… You've inserted your blood essence, too.”

Alexander smirked faintly, his eyes glinting. “It is just a small amount. I can't jeopardize my power. My essence allowed us to create the prototype. But even that is a diluted version, it's already giving a great effect.”

“And you think Ethan could change that?” Victor asked, his tone skeptical.

Alexander leaned back in his chair, his expression contemplative. “If Ethan is a Golden Ascendant, his blood essence could create a pill unlike anything we’ve ever seen. A real gold pill. If we could harness his power, we wouldn’t just enhance our artificial Ascendants—we’d redefine what’s possible for ourselves.”

Victor’s gaze darkened, his fingers curling into a fist. “If he’s truly a Golden Ascendant, capturing him won’t be easy. He’s already proven he can fight far above his rank.”

Alexander’s smile widened. “That makes it interesting, doesn’t it? Besides, Father, we have an advantage.”

“And what’s that?” Victor asked.

Alexander’s voice dropped, his tone laced with quiet menace. “He doesn’t know the game he’s playing yet. But we do.”

Victor leaned back and thought as the room got quiet. The LaRues always wanted to be powerful. Now, with the chance of getting something bigger, they were planning a big move against Ethan Cole.

“Fine,” Victor said finally. “But we proceed with caution. If Ethan truly is a Golden Ascendant, we’re walking a very fine line. One wrong step could bring disaster to all of us.”

Alexander’s smirk didn’t waver. “Then we’ll just have to make sure every step is perfect.”