Chapter 127: King Of Heroes

"Hm?"

Noticing the three individuals approaching from behind, Ethan turned away from the construction site, a trace of confusion flashing across his face.

The workers hadn’t reacted with alarm.

Which meant these people weren’t enemies.

At least, not openly.

"What do you want?"

His calm gaze swept over the trio before settling on the elderly man standing at their center.

"I..."

One of the younger men instinctively took a step backward.

The pressure radiating from Ethan was subtle, yet after everything that had happened within the clan recently, merely standing before him made their hearts pound uncontrollably.

Fortunately, the Seventh Elder recovered first.

Straightening his robes, he forced a courteous smile onto his face before walking forward.

"We came to discuss the current situation of the clan."

His tone was calm and dignified.

"The rebuilding efforts you’ve begun are certainly admirable."

He glanced toward the nearly completed clan hall, where hundreds of workers busied themselves carrying timber and stone.

"I must commend your initiative. Young men willing to shoulder responsibility are becoming increasingly rare."

Ethan simply watched him.

He had already met enough people like this to know what came next.

The Seventh Elder slowly closed the distance before placing a wrinkled hand upon Ethan’s shoulder.

From a distance, the scene appeared almost heartwarming.

An elder praising a junior.

Only those standing close enough could see the greed hidden beneath the old man’s smile.

"However..."

"The Algar Clan has always possessed strict rules regarding authority."

"I don’t know who granted you permission from the royal family to undertake such an enormous project..."

His smile widened.

"...but I’m here now."

"So naturally, I’ll be assuming control from this point onward."

The words were spoken as though they were the most reasonable conclusion imaginable.

"I was once one of the clan’s ruling elders. Matters such as these fall under my jurisdiction."

"You’ve worked hard."

"I won’t let your efforts go unrewarded."

"I may not be able to compensate you financially..."

His eyes swept across the bustling construction site.

"...but everything you’ve accomplished here will be recorded within the Algar Clan’s history."

The old man nearly laughed aloud.

Judging from the scale of the rebuilding alone, Ethan had undoubtedly spent a fortune.

Spirit materials, Labor, Timber, Formation arrays.

The cost was astronomical.

There was no chance the Seventh Elder would spend his own money on such a thing.

Far easier to arrive after everything had been completed and claim ownership.

As for Ethan...

He could disappear for all he cared.

"So that’s your plan."

Ethan sighed.

"It’s one of you people again."

There wasn’t even anger in his voice anymore.

Only disappointment.

Ever since construction had begun, people exactly like this had appeared one after another.

Distant relatives.

Former managers.

Minor officials.

Every one of them convinced that a drop of noble blood entitled them to everything built through another person’s effort.

Corruption had seeped so deeply into the clan that many genuinely believed authority mattered more than contribution.

The Seventh Elder frowned.

"What exactly do you mean by—"

He never finished.

A massive armored figure suddenly materialized beside Ethan.

Over eight feet tall, Vlad’s crimson armor reflected the afternoon sunlight as his clawed hand silently wrapped around the elder’s wrist.

Crunch.

The bones immediately groaned beneath the pressure.

"W-What?"

The elder’s pupils shrank.

Tier Six.

His instincts screamed the answer immediately.

This summon...

...was at least Tier Six.

Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

He hadn’t even sensed the summon’s appearance, Before he could process what had happened, he suddenly realized something else.

The construction site...Had gone completely silent, Hundreds of workers had stopped what they were doing.

Every gaze had turned toward them.

The Seventh Elder forced himself to remain calm.

"I’m merely discussing clan affairs."

"There must be some misundersta—"

Clink.

Dark crimson chains suddenly erupted from the ground, Before he could react, they wrapped around both his arms and legs, binding him firmly in place.

"What?!"

He instinctively struggled.

Nothing happened.

Instead, the chains tightened further, His breathing became difficult, A second later, razor-sharp claws gently rested against his throat.

Not enough to kill.

Just enough to draw blood, At first, the elder wasn’t particularly worried, Surely this was merely intimidation.

After all...He was a Tier Six summoner.

Someone of his status couldn’t possibly be killed in broad daylight, Not here, Not in front of everyone, Summoning energy immediately surged through his body.

He attempted to call forth his contracted beast.

The response never came, An overwhelming suppression descended upon him,The summoning circle failed to manifest.

His connection to the Spirit World felt as though it had been frozen solid, Fear rapidly spread throughout his body.

It wasn’t an act, He genuinely couldn’t move, Ethan looked into the old man’s terrified eyes.

"Don’t bother."

"You’re already dead."

The elder opened his mouth.

Whether to beg, Threaten, Or curse, No one would ever know.

Ethan gave a small nod.

Vlad moved.

Slash.

His claw tore cleanly through the old man’s throat before anyone could blink, Blood sprayed across the dusty ground.

The Seventh Elder collapsed onto his knees, desperately clutching at his ruined neck.

Moments later...His body crashed lifelessly onto the earth.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Not even the sound of construction remained, The remaining two men stared blankly at the corpse, Their legs trembled violently.

The Seventh Elder...

One of the ruling figures of the Algar Clan...

Had been executed without hesitation, Without trial, Without negotiation, Without even learning his name.

To Ethan...He simply wasn’t important enough.

"Continue working."

Ethan spoke casually, as though nothing unusual had happened.

"Add it to the collection."

The workers exchanged uncertain glances.

Then one after another...

They returned to work.

Hammers struck iron.

Timber was lifted.

Stone was carved.

Within minutes, the construction site had resumed its previous rhythm.

Only the growing pool of blood served as proof that anyone had died.

...

Later that evening...

The newly rebuilt estate beside the main clan hall glowed beneath countless lanterns.

A massive bonfire burned brightly within the courtyard.

Dozens of Algar clansmen gathered around it, laughter echoing throughout the estate.

Barrels of ale had been rolled outside. Roasted beast meat filled the air with an enticing aroma. For the first time in years...The clan actually felt alive.

The final repairs to the main hall had been completed earlier that day.

What had once stood as little more than shattered ruins had become a proud symbol of the clan’s rebirth.

Many of those present still couldn’t believe they had witnessed its restoration. Children ran between the tables. Veteran guards shared stories over drinks.

Even the craftsmen responsible for rebuilding the hall were invited to celebrate. No one mentioned the corpses still hanging from stakes beyond the outer walls.

No one spoke about the blood spilled throughout the day.Instead...The atmosphere overflowed with hope, With loyalty. With purpose. For the first time in generations...

The Algar Clan truly seemed to have found its footing.

Ethan quietly sat near the edge of the bonfire, absentmindedly turning his broken blacksmith’s hammer over in his hands.

Its cracked head reflected the dancing flames.

"So..."

"I suppose it’s finally time."

A familiar voice suddenly echoed inside his mind.

[Congratulations,You have successfully summoned...The King of Heroes.]

[Name: Gilgamesh of Uruk.]

[Tier 6]

[Rank: SSS]

[Potential to Evolve: 100%]

[Description: The legendary King of Uruk. Builder of its mighty walls. A ruler whose ambition reshaped an age through civilization, conquest, and craftsmanship. The king who sought immortality. The Hero King, Gilgamesh.]

The notification faded.

An overwhelming pressure descended upon the estate.The bonfire flickered violently.

Every conversation stopped.

A colossal figure slowly materialized beside the flames. He was enormous. Even while crouching, his shoulders nearly reached the roof of the newly rebuilt hall.

Golden eyes silently swept across the gathering before settling on the broken hammer resting in Ethan’s hand. Without speaking a single word, the giant lowered himself into a squat.

Then, with the curiosity of a master craftsman examining an ancient relic... He carefully reached out. His rough fingers gently lifted the shattered hammer.

The legendary King of Heroes turned it over several times, studying every crack and every fracture with intense concentration.

For several long moments...

He said nothing at all.