Chương 75: (B2) Chapter 2 - Master plan

Ethan paused mid-step, turning to face Tomas with a flicker of unease he didn't bother hiding. Tomas caught it immediately, the reaction earning him a small, knowing chuckle as he leaned back slightly, completely at ease.

"It's nothing too serious," Tomas said lightly.

"In fact, I think you'll find it rather beneficial." Ethan regarded him in silence for a moment. Tomas shifted where he stood, his blonde hair falling loosely over his ears as he moved.

"Let's hear it then," Ethan said.

"Simple. I heard you have a sister on this level as well?" Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly before he gave a short nod.

"You see," Tomas continued, "I also have a younger brother here. And unlike me… he's lacking in both levels and power."

"I'm not taking anyone under my wing," Ethan said flatly.

"I've got too much to deal with."

"You misunderstand," Tomas replied smoothly.

"I'm aware of the situation you're heading into. Finding an unclaimed monolith isn't going to be easy. It'll likely take you across most of the second level." His gaze sharpened slightly.

"And from experience, that becomes inconvenient when you're trying to protect someone at the same time." Ethan didn't correct him. There was no point. The journey ahead wasn't short, and it wasn't safe. Even knowing where to go didn't change that. The route to the monolith would take time, and the wilds between here and there weren't something he could take lightly. So, Tomas wasn't wrong, it would be far too difficult as he was now. Tomas seemed to read that much off him and continued without pause.

"We can make that easier. I have access to a dungeon with a level cap of twenty-five. I've been assembling a team to run it with my brother." He paused briefly.

"From what I've gathered, your sister would complete that team." Ethan nodded slowly, his expression unchanged.

"Then go talk to her. Doesn't sound like you need me for that."

"I already have," Tomas said.

"She told me the same thing she's likely told everyone else." A faint smile pulled at his lips.

"She'll follow your lead." Ethan studied him again, more carefully this time. Tomas had done his homework. Not just surface-level either. It shouldn't surprise him, but the fact remained that his and Leah's information was out there, likely supplied by the very same guild he had helped. Tomas wasn't subtle either. And the fact he wasn't even trying to hide it made it worse. Ethan frowned slightly.

"So what? You want her helping your brother level. What's in it for us?" Tomas pushed himself off the desk and walked around it, each step smooth, reminding Ethan this was the most powerful person he had met so far.

"In return," he said, stopping a few paces away, "you'll have full access to our guild's dungeons. Any of them. Up to level fifty." Ethan went still for a second. Now that was a good offer. Dungeons were the fastest way to grow. They offered controlled environments, consistent enemies, and steady progression. Exactly what he needed right now. Exactly what Leah needed too. He couldn't keep dragging her through dangerous terrain forever, couldn't be there for every fight, every mistake. That wasn't sustainable.

This could help, but it also came with risk. It would mean he couldn't follow her. He would need to put his faith in her and the team surrounding her. Something he wasn't sure he was comfortable with. He exhaled slowly.

"I'll talk to Leah," he said.

"But I want to see the team first."

"Of course."

"I'm not sending her into a dungeon blind," Ethan continued, his tone sharpening slightly.

"I don't care who you are."

"I wouldn't expect you to." Ethan frowned. This seemed like a good offer, and he was struggling to see the downside, apart from the obvious danger that is. But everything lined up with who Ethan knew Tomas was meant to be. He had a good reputation. Not a clean one—he was still a rogue—but he wasn't reckless. People spoke about him carefully, which in this world meant more than praise ever could. Still, that didn't mean trust came easy.

And Ethan, for all his knowledge, had never actually talked to Tomas before, had never actually met the man, so there was no prior trust there apart from word of mouth, something Ethan wouldn't rely on.

"Why?" Ethan asked.

"Why what?"

"Why offer this deal? We both know it doesn't really offer you anything." Tomas frowned.

"Do you really think that?" He sighed.

"Look, I've heard nothing but praise and good deeds from you, coupled with your power. If you were in my shoes, what would you do?" He didn't wait for a reply.

"Obviously, I want to continue building a good relationship with you in order to gain benefits later on." If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. Ethan opened his mouth to speak but paused, shocked at how honest he had just been. Obviously, Ethan wasn't dumb. He knew what he had to offer people and was quite frankly surprised Tomas hadn't tried to recruit him into the guild. He decided he quite liked the honest approach.

"I'll talk it over with Leah." Tomas smiled faintly.

"I look forward to hearing a response." Ethan nodded, turned, and left the office without another word, his mind already turning over the offer as he stepped out of the guild hall and back into the streets. It wasn't a bad deal. Far from it. But that didn't mean he'd take it without checking everything first. He understood what Tomas could gain and knew the man was just trying to build a good relationship, but Ethan still needed to think it over, to make sure there weren't any hidden agendas.

Ethan made his way through the city, his pace steady as he left the guild behind and moved deeper into the districts that sprawled across the floating island. It didn't take long for the structure of the place to shift, the taller buildings and guild halls giving way to something more uniform, more lived in. Luke, the receptionist from the arrivals office, had been more than helpful. He had explained where to go, allowing Ethan to navigate the city with ease.

He walked along the road, his gaze moving over the people around him as he went. There were a lot of them. More than he had seen gathered in one place since everything began. Unlike the first level, which had been stretched thin across vast distances, forcing settlements to stay small and scattered, the second level compressed everything. Less land. Less space. Which meant cities. It meant places like Nexus with hundreds of thousands of people.

Ethan was used to small groups, used to scattered populations and dwindling numbers. Here, it was the opposite. Strangers passing strangers, voices overlapping, lives continuing despite everything that had been lost. Humanity was still here. Still moving. Still fighting. The thought almost settled into something warm before the other side of it surfaced. The billions who hadn't made it. Ethan exhaled slowly and pushed it down before it could take hold. There was no point dwelling on it. Not now.

Not when there was still so much ahead of him. He found the housing complex soon after. A block of apartment buildings, constructed from smooth, pale concrete that reflected the light in a muted way. Ethan stepped inside. The temperature dropped slightly the moment he entered, the air cooler, quieter compared to the streets outside. His boots echoed faintly against the floor as he moved toward a large board mounted against the wall. It had rows of names and room numbers listed in tight, ordered lines.

He scanned it quickly until he found Leah, then turned and headed for the stairs. Ethan climbed without slowing, reaching the correct floor before stepping into the hallway. The lighting was dim, the corridor stretching out in both directions with identical doors lining each side. When he found the right door, Ethan knocked and waited. A few seconds passed before he heard movement inside. The door opened, revealing Leah.

For a moment, she just stared at him, her expression blank with disbelief as her eyes took in his form. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him in tight before he could react properly. Ethan let out a small breath, one arm coming up automatically as he returned it, pulling her into a one-sided hug.

"I'm glad you're okay," he said. Leah nodded against him before pulling back, her hands lingering for a second longer before she stepped away, her expression shifting as she looked him over.

"Your armor's freezing," she said, wrinkling her nose slightly. Ethan huffed quietly.

"Occupational hazard." She rolled her eyes and stepped aside, pulling the door open wider.

"Come in. I've been waiting way too long." Once inside, Leah shut the door quickly behind them and turned back to him, already talking before he'd even taken a proper step in.

"What took you so long? I've been here a couple of days," she said, running a hand through her hair.

"I thought you'd be here sooner. I was starting to think something went wrong." Ethan glanced around the room briefly before looking back at her.

"Sorry, I got held up." She huffed lightly.

"Yeah, I figured." She paused before adding, "I passed the trial though. It was easier than I thought. I think you built it up a bit much." She trailed off, looking away. Ethan watched her for a second. The mirage didn't work like that. It tested everyone with extreme illusions, be it fighting a powerful monster or, more in line with Ethan's experience, showing him visions to try and break him. She likely faced something just as bad. But looking at her, it was clear she didn't want to explain further.

"Good," he said instead of pushing for more. She would tell him when she was ready. Leah nodded, clearly happy to move on.

"I've also already gone to the monolith," she continued, stepping further into the room and leaning against the small table.

"Didn't pick anything yet, but I've got options. I wanted to wait and go over it with you." Ethan shifted slightly.

"What'd it give you?" he asked, taking his helmet off.

"Uh…" She frowned, thinking.

"Pathfinder, Skirmisher, Bladedancer, Windrunner, and Ranger." Ethan nodded.

"They are all good classes."

"Yeah, I'm not sure which one to go with. Pathfinder felt like just… Scout but better," she went on.

"Windrunner too, but more movement focused. Ranger was kind of in between those two." She glanced at him before continuing.

"Skirmisher and Bladedancer were different though. More combat. Skirmisher felt… messy? Like fast, aggressive, jumping in and out. Bladedancer was…" She hesitated, searching.

"Smoother, I guess. More controlled?" Ethan let out a quiet hum.

"Yeah, that tracks." Leah looked at him.

"You know them?"

"Some," he said.

"Pathfinder, Windrunner, Ranger, like you said, are upgrades from Scout. Same idea, just more specialized, depending on what area you shift into. Skirmisher and Bladedancer come from your weapon skills most likely."

"I came to the same conclusion," she said, then continued, "So, what would you pick?" Ethan leaned back slightly, thinking it over properly this time instead of answering straight away.

"It's up to you at the end of the day. But I think Bladedancer," he said after a moment.

"Why?" Ethan shrugged.

"It fits how you fight. Skirmisher is a more aggressive style and I wouldn't recommend it. The other three are also good options and I wouldn't be mad if you took one. But I like the idea of you being able to gain powerful skills, and I feel Bladedancer will offer that." She watched him for a second.

"I quite liked the sound of Pathfinder." Ethan shrugged again.

"Like I said, I'd be happy if you took that option as well. It likely stems from your Wayfinder skill and might have great synergy." She straightened slightly.

"We should go then." Ethan glanced at her, then looked around the room.

"Now?"

"Yeah, why not?" she said.

"I've been waiting on you anyway. Might as well just pick it and get leveling." Ethan let out a sigh. Looks like he wouldn't be getting to rest any time soon.

"Alright," he said.

"Let's go get your class."