Chapter 68: Heroes of the past!

Time soon passed, and just around the time Ethan and the others had finished the pack of cigarettes,

Christian was finally back, with fifty old men and women behind him.

Even though some had canes in their hands, others could barely see, and some could barely walk,

within those fifty elders in front of him, Ethan could sense an unprecedented fighting spirit.

"Hahaha! Christian, you old fellow! Are you sure you’re not busting our chops?!"

"If that grandkid of yours can truly let us go into battle once more, then this old man will serve him for the rest of his life, if we make it back alive!"

Laughing without a care, a blond-haired old man with shaggy hair hollered.

"Heh~ Serve him for the rest of your life? How long do you think an old fellow like you has left to live?"

"Instead of keeping a sack of old bones like yours by his side, why don’t you tell your son and grandkids to obey the Patriarch?!"

Another old man spoke up, and many people agreed with him.

Seeing his old friends active again, Christian couldn’t help but smile.

Even though he knew they wouldn’t reject him, he had never expected their reaction to be so intense.

Upon telling them that he needed their help to protect the shelter,

all of them couldn’t wait to join, completely disregarding their health or safety.

’Perhaps for people like us, watching and being unable to do anything when our home is threatened is scarier than death itself.’

’Ethan kid, you young ones are the future of the family and this Smith shelter,’ thought Christian as he brought them into the meeting room.

Hopefully, his grandson would not be overly emotional and would agree to his plan.

"Do it. Help us achieve the second circle."

"You know this is the only way."

Hearing this, Ethan remained silent for a while as he thought back to his uncle’s story.

Perhaps his grandpa truly wanted to die; maybe he felt there was no longer a need to live since a new Patriarch had been born.

Unfortunately, even if that was the case, Ethan had no plans to let his grandpa die.

’In my past life, I already lost all of you once. Never again!’

Taking a look into Christian’s eyes, Ethan finally spoke.

"Alright, I agree, Grandpa. I’ll help everyone break through to the second circle."

"However, there is one condition," he paused.

"That is, you let me go with you."

With unwavering eyes, Ethan stared directly at his grandfather.

This was the one condition he would absolutely not yield on.

And perhaps sensing this, Christian in turn agreed.

"Alright, but if anything goes wrong, leave us and run!"

"You are the future Patriarch of the Smith family. For your sake and for the family’s sake,"

"Absolutely nothing must happen to you!"

Saying that last part in a raised voice, Christian found an empty spot and sat cross-legged on the ground.

"Alright, we don’t have much time. You can start!"

Taking off his shirt, it was time for him to reach the second circle!

.......

Fifty veterans, about thirty-five men and fifteen women, people who had achieved what could only be called miracles in the military.

Sniper Lauren Laroche: separated from her unit with only one hundred rounds in her possession and a sniper rifle,

no food, no water, yet with her exceptional stealth and aim, she alone took down three military vehicles and over one hundred fifty enemies, remaining hidden long enough to be rescued later.

Alexander Dmitrov, the Helicopter Buster, had personally used rocket launchers to shoot down over a hundred enemy aircraft.

He alone was called the living air defense.

Looking at all these people in front of him, each legendary in their own right, Ethan was completely shocked.

These were people he had only heard stories about before, yet he never expected to see them here—in such a situation, no less.

’Indeed, with the skills of these people, our combat power will increase by a huge amount!’

’Unfortunately, Grandpa, I really don’t want to put you in such danger.’

’However, you’re leaving me no choice.’

Sitting cross-legged behind his grandpa, Ethan sighed inwardly and then placed his palm on his back.

Activating his Mana Sight, he began to control the mana in his body, guiding it along with the principle of Density directly into Christian’s body,

after which he would control it to form the second circle.

"Alright, Grandpa, focus on the mana circle as it’s entering your body."

"Although you didn’t comprehend the principle of Density yourself, understanding it now while I’m transferring it should help!"

Saying this, Ethan began to act.

Unlike before when he was at the first circle, his mana was much more dense and powerful, meaning he had to be extremely careful.

He had to avoid damaging Christian’s heart as well as causing any backlash with the first circle.

At the same time, as he began doing this, his 10,000-fold feedback mechanism, sensing the first strand of mana entering Christian’s body, began to activate.

’This is—!’

Feeling his total mana pool begin to spike, Ethan unconsciously began to smile.

’Perhaps after this, I won’t need to be so careful with mana spending when I activate Mana Blade or Victoria’s Ice-Make magic!’

A ten-thousand-fold increase, and fifty more people to help...

Thinking of how much mana he would have when everything was over, Ethan felt that taking down this monster might not be so hard after all.

"Everyone else, line up and get ready! Once I’m done with Grandpa, I’ll move on to the next person."

"We don’t have much time. I also need to explain to you how to use mana and the characteristics of Density."

"Not only that, but I’ll teach everyone a spell before we leave."

"Veterans of the past, I, Ethan Smith, the current Patriarch of the Smith family, thank you for coming here today to help the people once again."

"After this mission, if everything goes well, you all will no longer be heroes of the past, but heroes of the present!"

"For this, I sincerely thank you."

Still with his palm on Christian’s back transferring mana, he bowed his head slightly to the old men and women in front of him.

Regardless of their individual thoughts and reasons, as a human and as the Patriarch of the Smith family, it was only right for him to thank and acknowledge them.