Chapter 425: Ethan Soto’s Provocation

Chapter 425: Chapter 425: Ethan Soto’s Provocation

Seraphina Sullivan’s brow furrowed at the news of the conflict.

She wasn’t worried that Sean Chandler would be on the losing end.

Given his Power and extensive combat experience, run-of-the-mill Players were no match for him.

What puzzled Seraphina was who could be so foolish. ’They just arrived at the Central Base, a place where we’re complete strangers. Who would start trouble with Sean Chandler at a time like this? Is this a random scuffle, or... does someone have an ulterior motive?’

"Let’s go! We’ll check it out!"

Brandon Barton made a snap decision and said to Seraphina Sullivan.

"Comrade Sullivan, you should come with us. Get a feel for the situation."

Seraphina Sullivan nodded, a cold glint in her eyes.

"Fine. I’d also like to see who’s so ’enthusiastic’ about ’welcoming’ us this soon."

「Meanwhile, in a temporary parking area near the Central Base.」

Sean Chandler flicked his wrist, his expression frigid and his gaze sharp as a blade.

At his feet, three or four men in standard-issue combat uniforms lay scattered about, groaning in pain while clutching their stomachs or arms.

Evidently, in the brief skirmish, they had been effortlessly defeated without even managing to touch the hem of Sean Chandler’s clothes.

"You... you just wait!"

A young man in his early twenties was being held up by his cronies. He’d clearly received Sean Chandler’s special "attention," as his left eye was blackened and his fine clothes were now a mess. He pointed a finger at Sean Chandler, blustering.

"Do you have any idea who my brother-in-law is?! He’s a senior figure in the Central Base! How dare you hit me? With a single command, I can have all you bumpkins who just showed up thrown out! No, I’ll make your lives here impossible!"

The youth’s name was Ethan Soto.

He was used to throwing his weight around, relying on the power his brother-in-law held at the base.

He was especially brazen with newcomers—survivors or Players who looked like they didn’t have any backing.

Sean Chandler didn’t even bat an eye at Ethan Soto’s threats, as if he hadn’t heard a thing.

His gaze traveled past the bellowing Ethan Soto and locked onto a man standing silently behind him. The man was built like an iron tower, his arms crossed over a chest of knotted muscle.

Just by standing there, the man radiated an Aura far more powerful than the grunts on the ground, causing Sean Chandler to take notice.

’Though that was all it was—just a bit of notice.’

The muscle-bound man’s name was Simon Young.

He had been hired by Ethan Soto’s sister at great expense to be a personal bodyguard and enforcer. He was also a fairly powerful Player in his own right.

Simon Young sensed Sean Chandler’s stare and slowly opened his eyes, revealing pupils as sharp and wild as a beast’s.

He tilted his head slightly, his voice deep and hoarse. "Mr. Soto, should I... take care of them?"

His tone was placid, yet it held a chilling indifference, as if human lives were worth nothing more than weeds.

The moment he heard that, Ethan Soto got a shot of adrenaline. He pointed at Sean Chandler, then at Dexter Luther, Crystal Lynn, and the others who had just arrived and were now protectively standing by the RV.

He shrieked, "Get them! Beat the hell out of them! Especially that stone-faced bastard!

And these idiots who don’t know their place!

Teach them a good lesson about what happens when you cross me, Ethan Soto, in the Central Base!"

Nearby, Laura Lowell’s expression was so grim it looked like it was about to drip ink.

’It was one thing after another today. This just wasn’t her day.’

She tried to mediate. "Mr. Soto, Mr. Young, please calm down! These are new survivors, according to the rules..."

"Rules? My brother-in-law *is* the rules!" Ethan Soto cut Laura Lowell off belligerently, showing no regard whatsoever for the Level 3 Administrator.

Dexter Luther’s face flushed with anger. He stood in front of the RV and roared, "Are you completely unreasonable?!

This is our RV! We drove it all the way from Vorlag! What right do you have to just take it because you’ve taken a fancy to it?

Is there no law and order anymore!"

Ethan Soto scoffed, his gaze filled with contempt. "Law and order? Here in the Central Base, my word is the law!

Simon Young, what are you waiting for? Make your move!"

Dexter Luther saw that words were useless. With a low roar, he yelled, "Crystal Lynn, stay safe!" and instantly activated his Talent Ability!

[Shield]!

A semi-transparent, shimmering Energy Giant Shield appeared out of thin air in front of Dexter Luther, protecting him, the RV behind him, and Crystal Lynn and the others beside him.

Light swirled across the shield’s surface, giving it a very sturdy appearance.

A trace of surprise flashed in Simon Young’s eyes, but it was mostly disdain.

He cracked his neck with a sharp CRACK. His muscles swelled as if being inflated, and the veins beneath his skin bulged.

He was just about to step forward.

Just as the tension reached a breaking point and the conflict was about to escalate, a thunderous roar cut through the air:

"Everyone, stop right there! What in the world is going on?!"

Brandon Barton and Victor Sharp arrived in a hurry with Seraphina Sullivan and the others.

When Laura Lowell saw them—especially Seraphina Sullivan—she finally let out a long sigh of relief, as if her pillar of support had arrived.

Seraphina Sullivan’s gaze swept across the scene the moment she arrived.

Seeing that Sean Chandler was unharmed and that a few grunts were lying on the ground, she felt a little more at ease.

Then, her gaze fell on Ethan Soto, Simon Young, and the others who were confronting Sean Chandler.

Her Eye of Resume activated silently, and an invisible stream of data flowed across her vision.

Ethan Soto’s profile was unremarkable. He was only Level 1, and his Ability was a support-type, [Resource Perception]. He was clearly just a tyrant coasting on his connections.

Of course, it was this Resource Perception Talent that had allowed Ethan Soto to sense that Seraphina Sullivan’s RV was something special, which was why he wanted to snatch it for himself.

He just never expected to provoke someone like Sean Chandler, a man who didn’t listen to threats or reason.

Usually, when he brought up his brother-in-law, the senior official at the base, people would just back down.

But this time, the situation was completely different.

However, the profile of the muscle-bound man, Simon Young, made Seraphina’s eyes narrow:

[Name: Simon Young]

[Gender: Male]

[Level: Level 3]

[Professional Skills and Talents:

1. Muscle Growth: Can actively consume stamina to significantly enhance the strength, density, and Power of specific body parts or the entire body, gaining terrifying physical attack power and defense. Extremely high resistance to blunt and cutting attacks. In its passive state, physical constitution is also far beyond that of an ordinary person.

2. Transform into a Giant Tiger: By activating bloodline or special Energy, can perform partial or complete Beastification. Partial Beastification results in a Tiger-Man form, retaining a humanoid shape and partial sanity while greatly increasing speed, Power, and the sharpness of claws and teeth. Complete Beastification results in a Raging Tiger form: Loses most sanity, transforms into a bloodthirsty giant tiger, with attack power, explosive force, and survivability reaching their peak, but the consumption is massive and it is difficult to Control.]

[Skills: Tearing Claw (Focuses Power into the hands to deliver a claw strike powerful enough to rip through steel plates)]

[Weaknesses:

· Itchiness (Nerve Sensitivity): A common weakness for Transformation System Power Users. They are abnormally sensitive to specific vibration frequencies, high-frequency sound waves, or certain irritating chemical substances (such as potent itching powder?), which can trigger an uncontrollable itching sensation, severely interfering with movement and concentration.

· Massive Energy Consumption: Especially during complete Beastification. The duration is short, and it is followed by a long period of weakness.

· Low Mental Resistance: Sanity decreases during Beastification, making him susceptible to mental-type attacks.]