My attributes are increasing infinitely - Chapter 481: Choosing a faction
Chapter 481: Choosing a faction
Ethan finally chose to speak, breaking the heavy silence that had settled across the room.
“And what level has your strongest reached?”
Dominic’s eyes sharpened immediately, and a clear sense of pride surfaced within them as he answered without hesitation.
“Our ancestor has already reached level one hundred and forty.”
After stating the number, he allowed a deliberate pause to follow, giving the weight of those words time to settle properly within the minds of those present.
“That existence stands as an ultimate supreme being,” Dominic continued in a steady voice. “He is counted among the most powerful entities in all of Elysium, and his authority extends across territories that most clans would not even dare to approach.”
The room grew completely silent after that declaration.
Harold’s expression hardened into something rigid and unreadable, as though every trace of emotion had been forcibly locked beneath the surface.
Ethan, meanwhile, remained seated, though his mind moved rapidly as he processed the information that had just been revealed.
Level one hundred and forty.
He had only recently been merged to the structure of the level system, yet even with his limited understanding, he could grasp the significance of such a number. Each level represented a vast and absolute increase in power, and the gap between them was not something that could be bridged through simple effort or determination alone.
A being who had reached level one hundred and forty would not simply be strong.
Such a being would exist on an entirely different scale.
Entire worlds could be erased without effort. Civilizations could be reduced to nothing more than scattered remnants before anyone even understood what had occurred.
And the most significant detail of all was that this overwhelming existence had once been an outsider.
Just like him.
Dominic watched Ethan’s face closely during this moment of reflection, as though he were carefully observing every subtle change in expression.
“You destroyed thousands of corrupted beasts using a form of power that I still cannot fully understand,” Dominic said after a brief pause, his voice returning to its low and rumbling tone. “Immediately afterward, your energy collapsed almost completely, and you made the decision to retreat from a creature that was far weaker than anything you had already faced.”
He inclined his head slightly.
“However, you did not panic during that moment of weakness. Instead, you adapted to your situation, assessed your limitations, and relied on spatial techniques in order to preserve your life.”
He slowly shook his massive head.
“A calm and controlled mindset under that level of pressure cannot be taught through ordinary means. It must either be something you were born with, or something that has been carved into you through repeated hardship and survival.”
His gaze remained fixed on Ethan.
“In either case, it is something that holds significant value.”
As he finished speaking, Dominic extended one of his large hands toward Ethan.
The hand was massive, with thick fingers and a rough surface that suggested immense physical strength. It was the kind of hand that could easily crush stone without any visible effort.
“Come with me, outsider,” he said in a steady and confident tone. “Allow the Aurora Clan to show you what someone like you can truly become within Elysium.”
Ethan’s eyes moved from Dominic’s extended hand to his face, and then slowly shifted toward Harold.
The Ragnarok envoy remained seated, his posture perfectly still and controlled. His expression revealed nothing openly, yet the tension that had built within his body was impossible to ignore. His shoulders were rigid, and the faint tightening of his jaw suggested that he was holding back more than he was willing to show.
Despite his position and power, he could not interfere.
The rule that governed outsiders was absolute in this situation.
Ethan understood the nature of what was happening almost immediately.
This was not simply a recruitment attempt.
It was a matter of political balance between two powerful factions.
Two level seven beings, each representing a major clan, both seeking to claim the same individual. Both fully capable of overwhelming him by force, yet both restricted by laws that prevented them from acting openly.
Slowly, Ethan rose from his seat.
Harold’s eyes followed the movement carefully, tracking every shift in his posture.
Ethan then turned to face Dominic directly.
“The Aurora Clan was formed entirely by outsiders?” he asked, his tone calm and measured.
Dominic gave a firm nod.
“Every member of our clan shares that origin,” he replied. “We came from different worlds and different circumstances, but none of us were born within Elysium itself. We do not belong to this realm by birthright. We exist here because we arrived, endured, and claimed our place through strength.”
Ethan absorbed the explanation in silence.
Then he asked another question.
“What is it that you want from me?”
Dominic’s expression shifted once again into a faint smile.
“What we want is your potential,” he answered. “The ability that allowed you to destroy thousands of corrupted beasts while leaving almost no detectable energy signature behind is not something that can be explained through conventional understanding. It is not normal, even among outsiders who possess unique traits.”
He made a slight gesture toward the distant city beyond the walls.
“The native clans of Elysium have maintained control for a very long time,” he continued. “Whenever an outsider with talent appears, they collect that individual and integrate them into their existing hierarchies. Over time, those outsiders lose their identity and become nothing more than tools within a system that does not truly belong to them.”
His eyes hardened.
“The Aurora Clan does not follow that path.”
His voice grew more intense.
“We remember where we came from. We refine our strength without surrendering our identity. And eventually, we will rise to a position where no native power will be able to stand above us.”
Ethan remained silent for several seconds after hearing those words.
The room felt heavier with each passing moment.
Finally, Harold spoke from behind him.
“You should consider your decision carefully,” he said in a controlled but firm tone. “The Ragnarok Clan operates across multiple super continents, and the scale of our resources cannot be compared to that of a single outsider faction. We offer protection, knowledge, and stability at a level that very few can match.”
There was a brief pause before he added,
“A newly formed clan of outsiders will not be able to provide you with the same level of support.”
Dominic responded with a deep and unrestrained laugh.
“Newly formed?” he repeated, the amusement clear in his voice. “We possess an ultimate supreme being who has already reached level one hundred and forty. Tell me, Harold, how many individuals within your clan have reached that same height?”
Harold did not answer.
His silence carried more weight than any spoken reply could have.
Dominic turned his attention back to Ethan.
The decision now rests entirely with you,” he said. “You may come with me, or you may remain here and accept the offer of those who will view you as an asset to be managed rather than an equal to be respected.”
Ethan’s gaze moved slowly between the two of them.
Two level seven beings stood before him, each backed by powerful organizations that spanned worlds and histories far beyond his current understanding.
Both of them wanted him.
Both of them were constrained by rules that prevented them from simply taking what they desired.
He drew a slow and steady breath before finally making his decision.
“I will go with Dominic.”
