Chapter 367: Dynamics

While Ethan went on a rampage in the dreamland that only he could access, Nate phased through the ceiling and landed back inside Victor’s office.

The smashed desk Ethan had left behind didn’t bother the sunglasses-wearing man in the slightest. Victor remained calmly seated in his chair, seemingly unconcerned by what his son had done and said.

"What do you think of your brother, Phantom?"

Nate opened his mouth to answer, then he suddenly stopped.

"Call me by my name," he said, somewhat hesitantly.

Victor had called Ethan by his name, so why didn’t he do the same for him?

"Hoh? You’ve grown a pair now, have you?"

The eye beneathb Victor’s sunglasses began to glow.

Nate immediately tensed, already preparing to phase into the ground and escape, but before he could do so, the glow disappeared.

"I can call you Nathan if you prefer."

Nate blinked.

"Phew. I thought you were going to blast me."

He then transformed, his body shifting until he looked exactly like Ethan.

"So who do you like better?" Nate asked in Ethan’s voice. "Me, who’s been doing your dirty work, or the dude who shot you in the face?"

Victor didn’t answer.

But the slight smile that appeared on his face was telling enough.

The two continued their strange back-and-forth, with most of their conversation revolving around Ethan and how he had reacted to everything he’d learned.

Eventually, Victor ended the conversation with a single order.

One that Nate was more than eager to obey.

"While he’s still sleeping on the roof like a lunatic, fetch Jessica and his daughter to speak to him once he awakens."

"Yes... Father."

Nate was used to calling the man before him Cyclops.

Their relationship was certainly an odd and strained one, nothing like what most people would expect between a father and son. In some ways, it reminded Ethan of the twisted relationship Greg had with his own father, though Nate’s relationship with Victor was different in its own strange way.

Yet while Ethan joining the mix seemed to have already changed the dynamic slightly, it was still one very odd family.

-

Back in the Ashen Wasteland, Ethan continued eating away at the leg of one of the beasts he had just killed.

The creature was some kind of enormous lizard, its body covered in a rough, coarse hide that felt almost like hardened leather beneath his teeth. Getting through the exterior had been a pain, but once Ethan managed to bite through it, the meat underneath was surprisingly good.

’Kinda like chicken if it was as chewy as a tyre.’

Ethan continued chewing as he brought up his beasts’ statuses.

He had accumulated a considerable number of Evolutionary Shards over the past week, and after seeing his beasts grow stronger through repeated evolution attempts, he was determined to try again.

First up was his first beast.

{Name: Wolfy

Race: Fenrir

Growth Stage: Prime

Beast Rank: B

Beast Potential: B+

Strength: 65

Speed: 65

Stamina: 65

MP: 40/40

Skills: Predator’s Frenzy (D), Cross Slash (C), Crescent Fang (C), Sovereign Howl (B)}

Wolfy’s stats had improved slightly since the last time Ethan had checked them. They were already incredible, especially considering the Fenrir’s current rank, but Ethan doubted they would make much more progress until his next evolution.

Next was his second beast.

{Name: Talon

Race: Griffling

Growth Stage: Prime

Beast Rank: C

Beast Potential: C

Strength: 20

Speed: 87

Stamina: 33

MP: 30/30

Skills: Gale Rend (D), Skyshatter Cry (C), Wild Whirlwind (B)}

Talon’s stats had also increased slightly.

Unfortunately, the Griffling was still frustratingly stuck at C Rank potential despite Ethan’s repeated attempts to evolve it. Still, its new B Rank skill was a reminder that evolution wasn’t the only way his beasts could become stronger.

There were infinite possibilities for growth, and all of his beasts still had plenty of room to develop their abilities.

Spark’s status appeared next.

{Name: Spark

Race: Cinder Wisp

Growth Stage: Juvenile

Beast Rank: C

Beast Potential: C

Strength: 1

Speed: 25

Stamina: 25

MP: 111/111

Skills: Ember Pulse (D), Flare Drive (C)}

Spark’s MP remained insane as always, but its physical stats and lack of skills made it feel slightly lacklustre compared to Ethan’s other beasts.

Then there was his most recent addition.

{Name: Storm

Race: Lightning Dragonfly

Growth Stage: Juvenile

Beast Rank: B

Beast Potential: A

Strength: 46

Speed: 69

Stamina: 49

MP: 69/69

Skills: Volt Sense (D), Electric Blast (C), Thunder Dash (C), Chain Lightning (B), Kinetic Charge (B)}

Storm was arguably Ethan’s most impressive beast alongside Wolfy. Its stats were excellent, but its skills were even more impressive. It still also had a lot of room to grow, both in terms of its size and its abilities.

Ethan finished another bite of the lizard’s leg and looked toward Talon.

’Sixth time’s the charm.’

He was beginning to hope that sheer stubbornness might eventually force the system to give him what he wanted.

"Come out, buddy."

The tattoo on Ethan’s back shimmered.

A streak of wind suddenly burst into existence overhead.

Talon emerged from within the swirling current, gliding effortlessly through the hot air of the Ashen Wasteland before circling once above Ethan. The proud Griffling then descended onto a large slab of black obsidian, its emerald-tinted wings folding neatly against its sides.

Ash drifted constantly through the air, carried by the powerful winds sweeping across the barren plains. The black volcanic rock beneath Talon’s talons radiated immense heat amidst the sweltering atmosphere, while distant cracks in the earth glowed with molten orange light.

Talon appeared completely unbothered by the harsh environment.

It almost seemed to be shielding itself with the wind.

"You ready, Talon?"

The Griffling let out an anxious chirp.

Through Beast Communication, Ethan didn’t need words to understand what it meant.

’It’s prideful, but it’s losing its confidence.’

Ethan couldn’t blame it.

He had tried five times already.

"Don’t worry," Ethan said, giving the bird a reassuring look. "This time it’ll work."

But even Ethan wasn’t sure he believed himself anymore.

{The host has exchanged Evolutionary Shards for a B-Rank Race Crystal.}

{11,000 Evolutionary Shards have been expended, including the mandatory 10% exchange fee.}

Ethan stared at Talon in anticipation...

Nothing happened.

A few seconds passed, then the disappointing notification appeared.

{Race Crystal Unsuccessful.}

Ethan’s expression fell.

Even after his sixth attempt, the Griffling simply refused to evolve.

’Come on, you’re killing me here.’

Still, Ethan didn’t blame his beast, and whatever was preventing Talon’s evolution clearly wasn’t something Talon could control.

"Well, we’ll just have to try again."

Ethan had initially assumed his luck had simply run out, but after six failures, it felt like there was something more to it.

’Maybe Talon just isn’t ready yet.’

It was definitely a possibility he had to consider.

{Evolutionary Shards: 21,894}

Ethan stared at the number.

’Well, I’ve got one more try.’

He had originally wanted to evolve his beasts chronologically, following the order in which he had acquired them, but that clearly wasn’t working.

’Let’s switch it up.’

Perhaps it was time to give his Cinder Wisp a chance.

Ethan turned toward the small creature.

"Come out, Spark."

The tattoo representing the Spark shimmered as an orange flame burst to life and began zipping around him. This time, however, Ethan had a feeling things might be different...