I Am a Hero With A Hundred Abilities-Chapter 36: Ch 35. Rank Surge?

As Sophia stepped into the inner circle of the Lancaster Estate, the grandeur of the main house loomed ahead like a silent titan.

Ornate pillars framed the mansion's structure, and elegant sculptures lined the walkway leading to the grand oak doors. The air felt heavier here—carried by the weight of legacy, power, and expectation.

She didn't pause as she reached a familiar door down the east corridor—her father's private study.

Mounted just beside it was a sleek, silver scanner. She leaned in as it glowed softly, reading the contours of her face.

A faint click followed.

The door slid open silently.

Inside, the scent of old leather, fine whiskey, and scorched ozone filled the air. Books lined every wall, neatly ordered in polished mahogany shelves.

Behind a wide blackwood desk sat Richard Lancaster, otherwise known in the world of heroes as Detonatus—a Level 8 Overlord renowned for his ability explosive energy manipulation.

His presence was commanding. Short silver hair swept back, chiseled jaw tense with constant thought, and blue eyes that carried the weight of a city on their shoulders.

Despite being dressed in a tailored three-piece suit, Richard radiated power like a dormant volcano—one that could erupt at any moment.

He didn't look up from his work, but his voice came firm and clear.

"I assume you're here to talk about the visitors you brought in."

Sophia wasn't surprised.

Of course he knew—they were on his estate, and nothing happened here without his knowledge.

"Yes, Father. They're my guests. They needed a place to stay."

Richard finally looked up, his sharp gaze piercing. "It must have to do with the villain after the boy. Ethan Cross, correct?"

Sophia gave a small nod.

Her father's network was vast—governmental, private, and even underground. He likely knew more than she did about the threat Ethan faced.

"They can stay. As long as they don't cause trouble," Richard said, returning his gaze to his work.

Sophia felt a small wave of relief. She opened her mouth to thank him when—

"And what of Jonathan Drexel?" he asked without lifting his eyes. "I trust you've smoothed things over after your... public outburst?"

Sophia froze for a second, her expression tightening.

There it is, she thought.

The politics. The expectations. Her father's obsession with alliances and appearances always came before her emotions.

She answered coolly. "I haven't had the chance to meet with him yet."

Richard's eyes flicked up again, unreadable. "Make sure you do. You know how important this is for our family."

Sophia's jaw clenched ever so slightly, but she gave a measured nod.

"Good." He turned back to his desk, clearly dismissing her.

Sophia stepped out of the office without another word, her heels clicking softly down the marble hallway.

As she walked through the lit corridor, she stared at her own reflection in a glass window, blue eyes flickering with quiet resolve.

"Guess there's no other choice," she murmured under her breath. "I'll have to go ahead with the plan."

****

The dining room was quiet.

Too quiet.

Ethan and Lisa sat across from each other at the long, polished table, the faint beeping of the digital wall clock the only sound cutting through the silence.

The air was thick with unspoken thoughts, the weight of recent events pressing down on both of them. In just two days, their lives had changed dramatically—and her brother was at the center of it.

She stared at him, eyes wide with a mixture of worry and curiosity. She needed answers. She deserved them.

Ethan exhaled slowly.

"Where do I even start…" he muttered.

Lisa leaned in slightly, her tone gentle but firm. "Just start from when the change happened."

Ethan gave a faint nod, his thoughts racing.

He'd already decided what he would and wouldn't say.

There were truths too dangerous to reveal—especially what the voice had warned him about. If he so much as thought about certain beings, the [ENEMY] might sense it… and the last thing he wanted was to paint a target on Lisa.

So, he decided to stick to a believable version of the truth.

"Okay," he began. "Have you ever heard of something called a Rank Surge?"

Lisa blinked. "Rank Surge?"

"It's a rare phenomenon I read about on a few obscure hero forums. They say it happens when someone goes through extreme conditions and suddenly awakens into a much higher rank than what they started with. It's not officially recognized, but some people swear it happened to them."

He looked at her, trying to gauge her reaction. She nodded slowly, absorbing every word.

Ethan continued, "That's what happened to me. In the Den, we discovered too late that it was a Duality Pit. That's how I ended up fighting a Guardian. Striker was there, so he witnessed the whole thing, which is why he got the impression that I was strong."

The moment the words left his mouth, Lisa stood up abruptly, her voice rising in disbelief.

"Wait— what?! A Duality Pit? You fought a Guardian?! What the hell, Ethan!"

Ethan winced. "Okay, maybe I should've eased into that part..."

He quickly got up and tried to calm her down, guiding her back into her seat.

He explained everything he could—the ambush, the monsters, the surge of power, the feeling of something awakening inside him during the battle.

His words were cautious, carefully omitting anything related to the Sanctum or the mysterious voice.

Lisa sat in stunned silence for a moment, trying to process it all. Then, finally, her expression softened.

"So you had a Rank Surge," she said, her tone quiet, almost reverent.

Ethan nodded, relieved she believed him. He half expected her to call him crazy.

And then, with no warning, Lisa jumped out of her chair and practically tackled him in a hug.

"I'm so happy for you!" she beamed. "I know how frustrated you were with being a low rank, but now… now things can change. What rank are you now?"

Ethan had prepared for this moment. "A-Rank."

There was a pause. Then—

"WHAT?!" Lisa shouted, stumbling back. "You awakened as an A-Rank Paragon?! Ethan, that's insane! We have to celebrate!"

Before he could stop her, she was already racing into the kitchen. A few clinks and rustles later, she returned with a bottle of wine and two glasses.

"This is a celebration!" she grinned, pouring for both of them.

Lisa raised her glass proudly. "To a perfect future."

Ethan chuckled and raised his as well. "Cheers."

Clink.

And just as she brought the glass to her lips—snatch!

Ethan deftly plucked the wine from her hand.

"You've got school tomorrow. And you're too young for alcohol."

"Oh, come on!" Lisa groaned. "You're only older than me by a year!"

"Exactly. That means I'm old enough to be responsible—for both of us."

"I wasn't even gonna drink much—just a sip!"

But no matter how much she argued, Ethan stood his ground, pouring her wine back into the bottle and replacing her drink with soda.

Grumbling under her breath, Lisa finally gave in. "Party pooper."

Ethan smirked as he took a sip of his own drink, a warm feeling settling in his chest—not from the wine, but from the realization that despite everything… they were still together.

And for now, that was enough.

****

In a dimly lit room, the soft sound of running water echoed from the bathroom.

Alex sat on the edge of the bed, shirtless, brown eyes fixated on the fogged glass of the semi-transparent door.

Behind it, the silhouette of a woman moved gracefully beneath the shower stream—a fleeting glimpse of curves and shadows that teased the imagination.

The water stopped, a moment later, Emily stepped out, a towel clinging to her petite figure, her long black hair damp and clinging to her shoulders.

A small black beauty mark under her right eye only added to her striking aesthetic. She caught Alex staring and smirked faintly.

"You should stop looking at me like that, Alex," she said playfully, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "It makes me feel embarrassed."

Alex leaned back slightly, his voice smooth and teasing. "It's not my fault you make it so hard not to look, Emily. Feels like you wanted me to watch."

He tapped his lap, and with a roll of her eyes, she sauntered over and sat on him, adjusting her position with subtle purpose.

He rested his head on her shoulder, inhaling the scent of her freshly washed hair.

"I heard some news," he murmured.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice still light.

"Ethan was hospitalized."

Her expression shifted instantly, her brows furrowing. "Really, Alex? You had to ruin the moment by bringing that loser up?"

He chuckled. "That's a bit harsh. He was your boyfriend, after all."

"Don't remind me. I still don't understand why you even told me to approach him in the first place. He had nothing and worst of all he awakened as a low-rank hero. What was the point of me acting like I cared?"

Alex went silent for a long moment, eyes distant.

"Guess I just wanted to see the loser suffer," he said eventually, his tone more casual than sincere.

Emily frowned. She had heard this excuse before, but it never sat right with her.

If Alex wanted to humiliate Ethan, there were easier ways. The role she played—the false affection, the emotional manipulation—and worst of all, the drug...

Her thoughts darkened. It wasn't just emotional. That drug—Devotia—wasn't something to be used lightly.

Once ingested, it latched onto the subject's emotional patterns, deepening their fixation on the person they spent the most time with.

It wasn't just cruel—it was deliberate. Too calculated for something as simple as spite.

As she stared at the wall, Alex tilted her chin toward him, smirking. "Hey. What are you thinking about while I'm right here?"

...

...

...

A/N I will release an extra chapter if I get 90 power stones or 30 Golden tickets and I appologize for the late release.

...

...

...

...