I Am a Hero With A Hundred Abilities-Chapter 35: Ch 34. Sweet Suprise

As the hover car glided smoothly through the city's skyline, Ethan sat in the front passenger seat while Lisa lounged in the back, eyes flicking between him and Sophia with growing curiosity.

The silence was peaceful—until Lisa leaned forward slightly and whispered just loud enough for Ethan to hear.

"Now I see why you got over your old relationship so fast... she's a real keeper."

Sophia's face remained calm and unreadable, eyes focused on the road ahead.

Not a single flicker of emotion betrayed her thoughts. Ethan, on the other hand, dragged a hand down his face with a groan.

"It's not what you think, Lisa," he muttered.

Lisa tilted her head, golden eyes twinkling with mischief. "But you are sleeping with each other, right?"

This time, Sophia's cold expression cracked—just a little. Her eyes shifted toward Ethan with the subtle sharpness of a blade.

"So you told your sister?"

Her voice was smooth, but Ethan could sense the disappointment under it. A quiet thought crept through her mind.

'Should I have captured him back then instead of letting him go?'

"No!" Ethan quickly shook his head, waving a hand defensively.

"I swear I didn't tell her anything!"

He looked over his shoulder at Lisa, suddenly unsure. Wait... could she actually be a secret telepath or something?

Before the tension could rise any further, Lisa burst into loud laughter. She wiped away a nonexistent tear, grinning from ear to ear.

"Oh my god! You guys really are sleeping together! I just said that to see your reactions—and it was totally worth it!"

Ethan stared at her, exasperated. That was devious absolutely devious.

Sophia blinked once, then looked at the girl in the rearview mirror with a rare flash of amusement. Is this girl some kind of secret genius? She really got me.

"I'll deal with you later when we get home," Ethan muttered, narrowing his eyes.

"What did I do?" Lisa said in a mock-innocent voice, feigning a pout.

Before their sibling banter could continue, Sophia smoothly cut in.

"You won't be going back to that home."

Both Ethan and Lisa turned to her, startled.

"What?" they said in unison.

Sophia didn't take her eyes off the road. "Because I got you two a new place."

****

The car hovered to a smooth stop in front of a sleek, two-story house nestled within a gated estate. As the engine cut off, Ethan and Lisa stepped out, their eyes drawn to the surroundings.

The house was modern but elegant—soft beige walls trimmed with obsidian black accents, a wide glass balcony on the upper floor, and well-tended hedges bordering the path to the entrance.

The other homes nearby, though equally luxurious, gave the entire area a uniform sense of refinement.

It was clear—they were in a private estate, and not just any estate.

Sophia stepped out last. "This is my family's estate," she said plainly.

Lisa's mouth parted slightly, awe painting her face as the realization sank in. "Wait… your family's estate? As in... all of this?"

Sophia didn't bother to answer. The quiet confidence in her posture said it all.

Ethan glanced around, then turned to her with a furrowed brow. "Why are you letting us stay here?" he asked, voice low and curious.

"I figured after everything… you'd want nothing to do with me."

Sophia met his gaze coolly. "I heard you got hurt during a mission and because of that a villain has their eyes on you."

She paused, her blue eyes flicking to Lisa. "You have a family to protect. And there's nowhere safer than here."

Ethan blinked, momentarily touched. She actually… cared?

But then her voice sharpened like a knife's edge. "After all, someone as weak as you—passing out in a lesser den—can't protect his sister."

A vein twitched on Ethan's forehead.

"For your information it was a Duality Den," he muttered, irritation bubbling in his voice. "And there was foul play involved. If it were just a lesser den, I would've handled it easily."

Sophia tilted her head, unbothered. "Handling a lesser den is nothing to brag about."

Is she just trying to piss me off? Ethan thought, jaw tightening.

Before he could fire back, Sophia continued, tone shifting. "Also... for allowing you to stay here, I'll need your help with something."

Her words were laced with arrogance, yet there was something in her voice—an edge of vulnerability, carefully hidden under pride.

Ethan's annoyance faded as he studied her face. Whatever she needed—it wasn't something small— For her to show this side of her.

"As long as it doesn't hurt Lisa or me," he said, "or make me cross a line I'm not willing to cross… I'll help you."

Sophia blinked, surprised. She hadn't expected him to agree so quickly.

After all, he could've found a safe house elsewhere, or asked someone else.

Yet he agreed to help—no hesitation. Maybe… I was wrong about him.

"Good," she said simply. "You two should head inside. The guards at the gate won't stop you from coming or going. And if you need anything—"

She extended her hand.

Ethan looked at it, puzzled. "What… are you asking for?"

Lisa, still present throughout this whole conversation, sighed dramatically. "Sometimes you can be so dense. She's asking for your phone, dummy."

Ethan blinked, a little embarrassed. "Right... I wasn't being dense," he mumbled, pulling out his device and handing it to her.

Sophia calmly added her number and passed it back. "Call if you need anything."

With that, she turned and slipped back into the car, starting the engine once more.

As the vehicle pulled away toward the heart of the estate, Ethan and Lisa stood in silence, staring after her.

****

It took a while, but Ethan and Lisa finally settled into their new home within the sprawling Lancaster Estate.

To be honest, Ethan was grateful that Sophia had allowed them to stay at her place. It was only a matter of time before the Guardian Initiative program ended, and then Ethan and his sister would be forced to leave their home.

It wasn't that Ethan didn't have any money; the Duality incident had resulted in the Hero Association paying him more than the initial reward for the mission.

He also had the strength to earn more if needed. However, even with money, he wasn't sure he could find a place as secure as the home Sophia provided them.

The house itself was modest compared to the grandeur they had glimpsed earlier—clean, minimalist, and surrounded by well-maintained walkways and hedges.

But what intrigued Ethan most wasn't the house itself—it was how the entire estate was designed.

The Lancaster Estate was arranged in a circular format, almost like a living, breathing fortress. Three distinct rings, or "circles," made up its structure.

The inner circle was the most protected zone—where the Lancaster main family resided. Towering walls and a private security network made it almost impenetrable. It radiated power, wealth, and a sense of distance from the rest of the world.

The middle circle housed those close to the family—trusted allies, high-ranking staff, and elite bodyguards. Everything about it was clean, efficient, and subtly fortified.

The outer circle, where Ethan and Lisa now stayed, was designed for visitors, auxiliary workers, and those considered "temporary residents."

Despite its designation, the security was nothing to scoff at. Guards patrolled discreetly but efficiently, their auras radiating calm strength. Even from a distance, Ethan could feel it—the sheer pressure they emitted was leagues above his own.

He watched one of them walk past the gate, and a cold realization settled in his chest.

Sophia was right.

He was weak.

If someone came after Lisa… could I stop them? The question echoed in his mind, bitter and accusing.

No, he couldn't—not like this.

Not at Level 1.

He needed to get stronger. Fast.

With a deep breath, Ethan opened his interface. ƒгeewebnovёl.com

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[Aethermark Interface]

Name: Ethan Cross

Rank: E (Forsaken)

Level: 1 (Novice)

Ability Limit: 1 (Unlocked: 100+)

Abilities: [Force Might]

Innate Talent: Sanctum of Beasts

Meta Essence: 10/10

---

He stared at the screen, focusing on the last line. 10 out of 10 Meta Essence.

He had enough to level up.

But still, he remained at Level 1.

He clenched his fists.

"I need a trigger."

In this world, meta essence alone wasn't enough to advance. Heroes needed something more—an emotional or physical catalyst.

A moment that would break them... or shape them.

Some awakened their strength through intense meditation. Others found it during harsh training. But most? Most needed to be pushed—forced into life-or-death situations where instinct took over, and something within them snapped, evolving them.

There was a theory whispered around elite academies and battle units: one could force a trigger by hunting powerful monsters or dread beasts, pushing their meta essence into overflow.

It was risky.

It could burn out your essence and leave you stuck.

But there were those who succeeded regardless.

Ethan looked out the window. The estate's walls might have been safe, but he couldn't afford to hide behind them.

Not when his future—and Lisa's safety—depended on his strength.

"I have to find a way," he muttered to himself. "I have to force it. Somehow."

If he was going to protect anything—Lisa, the world, himself—then he had to grow.

Even if it meant stepping into the jaws of death to do it.

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A/N I will release an extra chapter if I get 90 power stones or 30 Golden tickets.

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