I Am a Hero With A Hundred Abilities-Chapter 53: Ch 52. Ethan to the Rescue

As the news hit him like a thunderclap, Ethan didn't waste a second.

He broke away from the crowd and sprinted across the debris-littered street, eyes locked on Agent 777, who was overseeing the containment operations like a sentinel of order.

The man's stoic presence remained unshaken even amidst the controlled chaos around them.

"Agent 777!" Ethan called out as he reached him, breath slightly ragged.

The emotionless eyes of the agent locked onto him. "What is it?"

"I need to go. It's urgent. The Lancaster Estate is under attack — Striker and I are heading there now."

Agent 777's voice was flat, almost robotic. "No problem. We can handle everything here."

Ethan gave a small nod. "Thanks," he said, about to turn and run—

But then Agent 777 spoke again. His voice shifted slightly — just enough to be noticeable.

"...Be careful."

Ethan stopped in his tracks, surprised. He turned halfway back, eyes scanning the agent's neutral face.

A small smile crept onto his lips. "Don't worry. I will."

He turned and rushed back toward Radiant Striker, who was already forming a radiant energy barrier around them.

Without hesitation, Ethan stepped in, and the barrier launched skyward, piercing the clouds as they raced toward the Lancaster Estate.

The city below blurred into streaks of grey and gold.

Ethan clenched his fists. 'Mireveil must be attacking the estate... because of me. Dammit.'

His thoughts spiraled as they soared.

'I brought trouble to the Lancasters... I owe them more than I can ever repay. I just hope—

Lisa's okay.'

He gritted his teeth, the wind howling in his ears.

Moments later, the grand gates of the Lancaster Estate came into view — scarred from battle, smoke rising from various parts of the grounds.

Striker suddenly slowed, placing two fingers to his earpiece, listening intently. Ethan, tense, turned toward him. "What's wrong? Don't tell me there's more bad news..."

Striker looked up and shook his head.

"No. Actually... it's good news. The Lancasters managed to repel the invasion."

Ethan let out a deep breath, tension flowing from his shoulders. Relief washed over him like a wave. "Thank god..."

Striker added, "Seems I'm not needed here after all. But... Mireveil escaped. I'm needed back at the clan — the manhunt continues."

The Golden Emperor Clan, Striker's allegiance, was determined to see Mireveil brought to justice. After all, Mireveil had killed one of their own — and blood demanded blood.

Ethan nodded solemnly. "I understand. Thanks for the lift."

Striker grinned. "No problem. Anything for a future powerhouse."

Before Ethan could respond, Striker shot into the sky like a bullet of light, disappearing into the clouds.

Ethan looked up, shook his head, and chuckled. "What a strange guy..."

He turned and ran toward the estate.

The signs of battle were everywhere — shattered walls, charred earth, scattered debris.

He headed straight for the house he shared with Lisa. His heart skipped a beat when he saw it — partially wrecked, one wall caved in. Panic immediately surged.

She can't possibly be here...

He pulled out his phone, ready to call her — but paused when he saw someone standing near the ruined path.

It was Sophia.

She was out of her battle armor, dressed simply in a tucked white shirt and black trousers. Her expression was composed, but her eyes... told another story.

Ethan lowered his phone and approached her.

"Is Lisa safe?" he asked quickly.

Sophia turned, eyes meeting his. She nodded. "Yes. She's in the main house. She's safe."

Ethan exhaled in relief. "Thank god..."

Now that his mind had cleared, he took a good look at Sophia.

Her face was clean — too clean. It looked like she had splashed water over it recently. But even with the fresh face, he could tell.

She had been crying.

He frowned, stepping closer. "What happened? I thought the invasion was repelled..."

Sophia blinked. "What do you mean?"

"You look... sad," Ethan said gently.

Sophia was visibly stunned, her guard faltering.

Then, after a heartbeat, she gave a small, forced smile.

"You just keep surprising me, Ethan... I don't know how you do it."

She paused. Then her voice softened, almost cracking.

"But you're right. Something did happen."

She looked down for a moment — then back up, her eyes glistening.

"My father... is dying."

Ethan's eyes widened, the words hitting like a thunderclap.

"What...?"

The noise of the estate, the smoke in the distance, the aftermath of the battle — it all seemed to fade, leaving only her quiet grief and his stunned silence.

****

Ethan sat alone, shoulders hunched in the rubble of a half-collapsed house — one of the many scarred remnants from the earlier assault on the Lancaster Estate.

Dust clung to his clothes and ash coated the air, but his mind was far heavier than the ruin around him.

Sophia had left only moments ago.

She had told him everything — about her father, Richard Lancaster, the Overlord-level hero, the symbol of unshakable power... now facing something even he couldn't fight.

Meta Essence Carcinoma.

A rare, aggressive, and almost always fatal condition. His body, saturated with high-tier Meta Essence over a lifetime of war and victory, had turned on itself.

And after the recent battle, Richard's condition had worsened dramatically.

Ethan exhaled sharply and slammed his fist into a nearby stone, causing it to crack.

"Fuck."

Guilt twisted in his chest.

'If the Lancasters hadn't taken me in, hadn't gotten involved... would Richard still be stable?

Maybe. Maybe not. This disease wasn't caused by him, but...'

He clenched his jaw.

"No," he muttered, shaking his head. "I can't blame myself. That's... that's not fair."

He looked toward the blackened horizon. "He would've still gotten worse eventually. But..."

But there must be something I can do.

The Lancasters had helped him. Protected Lisa. Given him a place to stay when he needed protection. And now? Sophia — the usually unshakable, battle-hardened Sophia — had looked helpless. And that look hadn't left his mind.

If I had some divine healing ability, I'd have used it. But I don't. yet...

His eyes narrowed, a plan slowly forming.

I think I know where I can find one or who can direct me to one.

He stood, dusted himself off, and glanced toward the manor.

"Lisa will be safe here," he murmured. "I mean... what could be safer than the Lancaster Estate?"

He let out a dry laugh. The irony wasn't lost on him — the estate had just pushed back an attack.

Still, with a final look back, he turned and disappeared into the shadows of the city.

---

The Duskline District.

A scarred zone, still recovering from the rampage of a Colossus. Buildings were cracked and half-toppled, streets buckled and filled with debris.

But amidst the wreckage, one structure stood relatively intact — a dim, reinforced tavern with a flickering neon sign above its entrance:

The Cracked Core.

Ethan approached it, boots crunching over broken glass and dirt. He pushed open the creaky door. The usual noise and clatter of drunken patrons was absent. It was completely empty.

No surprise — most of the district's residents had fled or were in hiding after what happened.

Behind the counter, polishing a glass, was the same bartender who had served Ethan before. A thin man with sunken eyes and suspiciously clean clothes.

When he looked up and saw Ethan, a flash of surprise flickered in his eyes — quickly buried beneath a mask of feigned irritation.

"Well, well. Who do I owe the pleasure of serving you again?" he said, voice laced with annoyance.

Ethan just gave him a relaxed smile. "Need information."

The man raised a brow. "Does this look like a damned information guild to you?"

Ethan chuckled. "No. But you can point me to one... or maybe you've got a little hidden door in the back?"

The bartender was about to scoff, but suddenly went quiet.

His eyes glazed ever so slightly — as if receiving a silent message. A few seconds passed. Then he straightened.

"...Yes. I understand."

He turned toward Ethan, his tone completely changed.

"Follow me."

Ethan didn't flinch. He wasn't surprised. The first time he came here, his instincts screamed that something was off.

The bartender's ability to dig up Veilspur's exact location — down to the floor and building — had been too fast. Too clean.

Now, those suspicions were being confirmed.

The bartender walked briskly toward the back. As they moved, he pressed a barely visible button embedded under the counter.

A soft click echoed through the bar — the front door locked itself with a metallic hiss.

Ethan remained silent, his senses sharpened.

At the end of the hall, they stopped in front of a shelf stacked with liquor bottles.

One stood out.

A dusty, violet-labeled bottle marked "Oculta."

The bartender calmly placed his thumb over the O in Oculta.

Ethan instinctively braced himself, expecting the shelf to swing open or rise like a hidden vault.

Instead — a circular teleportation glyph ignited beneath his feet.

"Wait, wha—" was all he could say.

The disk flared — and in a blink, Ethan vanished.

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A/N I will release 3 extra chapters if I get 200 power stones or 100 Golden tickets.

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