Ethan Cole - The Unlimited System

The Moore family gathered around the dinner table with Ethan, Jordan, and Mark. Laughter and conversation filled the space, the scent of roast beef and warm rolls hanging in the air like a comforting blanket.

Julie had gone all out—roast beef perfectly browned, creamy mashed potatoes, a crisp garden salad, and golden-baked rolls straight from the oven.

While the boys were at the field earlier, Jessica and Julie had taken the chance to shop and prepare everything.

Mark had gone with them—at Ethan's insistence.

Given everything that had happened, Ethan didn't feel comfortable letting Julie and Jessica leave the house unaccompanied.

When he asked Mark to go with them, there was no argument. Mark had seen enough in the past twenty-four hours—what Ethan and Jordan could do when things got ugly—and he understood the need for caution.

Before they left, Mark handed Ethan the same pistol Ethan had used against the LaRues. It was a quiet exchange, wordless but understood.

Ethan accepted it, fingers tightening briefly around the grip. He tucked it away without a word, the weight familiar—but heavier now. And in his heart, he hoped that nothing would ever force him to use it here.

Now, the mood was light. The twins were the loudest, barely able to stay in their seats.

"Grandpa, you know what? Ethan's amazing!" Josh said, scooping another helping of mashed potatoes. "He showed us how to move without wasting energy. I didn't even realize how much I was overdoing my steps."

"And when I kept messing up my timing," Joshua added, "he broke it down so simply. Like, he didn't just say 'run faster'. He explained why I was late to the ball."

Mark glanced over and smiled. He was happy to see the twins this animated and even more, he was impressed with his employer, Ethan.

Jessica chuckled. "You two sure picked up a lot in one afternoon."

"Oh, and Jordan too!" Josh added quickly, turning toward the other end of the table. "He helped us with power shots. He showed us this stance that lets you push through the ball like a hammer."

Joshua nodded eagerly. "It actually worked! I hit the net so hard, I thought I broke it."

Jordan gave a mock bow. "The Sledgehammer Method, patented and proven."

Julie laughed as she passed him the salad. "You boys better not be out there breaking things."

"No promises," Josh said, grinning. "But seriously, thank you, both of you."

Harold smiled at the exchange, carving another slice of beef. "Sounds like you've both got some fine mentors."

Ethan raised his glass of water in a toast. "They've got the heart for it. Just needed a little push."

Jessica looked toward Ethan. "So… do you guys miss it? Playing?"

Jordan didn't say anything. He was thinking.

Ethan paused, eyes softening. "I think… I miss what it felt like. The freedom. The rush. But life pulled me another way, and I've made peace with that."

"Yeah. Me, too," Jordan agreed.

Mark, quiet until now, added, "Still, it's rare to see someone so good at something and still this grounded."

Jordan grinned. "Don't be fooled. He loves this. He just acts chill so we don't put him on a pedestal."

Ethan gave him a look. "You're the same. But I also think it's more fun when we're just kicking the ball, no pressure."

Julie leaned forward, smiling. "Well, whatever you boys are doing… it's working. I haven't seen Josh and Joshua this excited in months."

"They wouldn't stop talking about it up until now," Jessica added. "They're already planning drills for tomorrow."

Harold chuckled. "Just make sure they don't skip their homework."

Josh and Joshua gave matching groans. "We know, Grandpa…"

The table laughed. Between bites and stories, the mood stayed bright. Jessica told the group about her life in Brookville, and Julie filled in childhood stories that made the twins roll their eyes and everyone else laugh.

Jordan shared a few animated stories from his brief travels, like the time he got lost in a mountain village and accidentally joined a local wedding celebration. Most of it was clearly embellished, but it kept the table laughing.

Even Mark, usually the quietest at the table, chimed in with a rare story from his army days, about a supposedly routine night watch that turned chaotic when a stray dog triggered the base alarm and sent the whole unit scrambling. His dry delivery made it even funnier.

It wasn't just the stories, it was the way they were told, the way the room felt lighter with each laugh.

For a while, the pain of the past, the fear of the unknown—it all faded. There was just food, laughter, and the sense of something rare.

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Belonging.

Later that night, Ethan sat on the stairs outside the house, feeling the cool night air on his skin as he looked at his Status Panel hovering in front of him.

=====

[Status Panel]

Name: Ethan Cole

Level: 5

EXP: 14000 / 22,500

Ascension Points: 57

Wealth: Unlimited

Physical Stats

Strength: 39

Speed: 39

Endurance: 39

Intelligence: 38

Charisma: 38

Free Attribute Points: 0

Skills:

Krav Maga [Basic]

Close Quarters Combat [Basic]

Tactical Firearms [Basic]

Heightened Sense [Passive]

=====

Earlier, before dinner, Ethan had purchased the remaining Lower Grade Intelligence Potions from the Shop Panel and distributed his Free Attribute Points equally across all stats.

It was the most balanced decision he could make at the moment.

His gaze shifted to the small notification at the corner of the Shop Panel, signaling newly unlocked items. However, he had barely had time to review them before dinner.

Sharing a house with others meant shared spaces, especially the toilet, and he did not want to make anyone wait for him for too long.

Now, with the day winding down, he could take his time to strategize. He knew it wasn't just about spending his points, it was about spending them wisely.

The night air was cooler now, sharp against Ethan's skin as he sat on the porch steps, staring out into the backyard where the shadows of trees swayed gently in the wind.

'I still couldn't believe what happened this morning,' Ethan was lost in his thoughts. 'Gunfire... Luckily I unlocked the Tactical Firearms.'

The events of the day still played on repeat in his head, the roar of engines, the screech of tires, the sound of gunfire.

It had all come too close. Too real.

'I wonder if I killed someone just now.'

That thought had haunted him all day. He hadn't dared say it out loud—but it lingered, heavy and cold.

The creak of the back door broke his thoughts.

The sound of soft footsteps behind him stirred him. He turned slightly and saw Jessica standing in the doorway, holding two mugs in her hands.

"Coffee," she said with a smile. "Or at least Julie's version of it. Mind if I sit?"

Before he could answer, another voice followed, casual and unbothered. "And I brought snacks."

Jordan appeared behind her, balancing a small plate of biscuits like it was some ceremonial offering.

Ethan blinked. "I thought I was brooding alone."

"Too bad," Jordan said as he sat down on Ethan's left. "You're bad at it."

Jessica took the spot on Ethan's right, handed him a mug, and held her own close for warmth. They sat in silence for a while, the three of them, watching the sky fade deeper into black.

The tension that had been gripping Ethan's chest since morning was still there. He could feel it in every breath. He didn't want to say it out loud, but the more he thought about it, the clearer it became:

He had dragged people into something dangerous. People who didn't ask for it.

People who deserved better.

Jessica broke the silence first. "Today was the first time I felt… completely powerless."

Jordan stopped mid-chew and glanced sideways, his expression softening.

Ethan didn't speak.

She continued with a lowered voice now. "That moment on the highway, when I saw those cars speeding toward us… I thought that was it."

"Yeah," Ethan said, voice low. "Me too."

"Four black sedans full of guys with guns," Jordan muttered, shaking his head. "That's not exactly a Tuesday afternoon."

He turned to Ethan, brows raised. "But seriously, man… how the hell do you even know how to use a gun like that?"

Ethan blinked, caught off guard. "Huh? Oh." He gave a short laugh, scratching the back of his head. "Shooting club. Back in uni."

Jordan stared at him. "You're kidding."

"I'm not."

"And you got that good just by shooting paper targets?"

Ethan shrugged, smiling faintly. "Let's just say… I spent a lot of weekends there. Helps clear the head."

Jordan narrowed his eyes. "So instead of yoga or therapy, you decided to practice headshots?"

"Basically," Ethan said, half-grinning. "Cheaper than therapy. Less awkward than yoga."

Jessica laughed softly beside them, easing the air a little. But Jordan didn't stop watching Ethan.

"Remind me never to get on your bad side."

"You? You talk too much to be a threat," Ethan quipped.

Jordan smirked. "Fair."

"Talking about that," Jessica said, looking at Jordan with a raised brow. "Mind if I ask something?"

Jordan tilted his head playfully. "You just did."

Jessica rolled her eyes. "Okay, smartass. How on earth do you fight like that? When you went out to buy the hotdogs."

Jordan smirked, but there was a flicker of something more serious behind his eyes. He looked at the mug in his hands and gave it a swirl before replying, "Honestly? I'm not even sure where to begin."

Ethan glanced at him curiously but didn't interrupt.

Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you just woke up one day and suddenly knew how to fight a guy twice your size."

Jordan gave a soft chuckle, the kind that said I know how crazy it sounds. "Yeah, I figured that wouldn't fly. Let's just say... life threw me into a few situations. And I adapted."

"Adapted?" Jessica echoed.

He leaned back, gaze lifted toward the stars. "After high school, I didn't go straight to college. Did some odd jobs. Got bored. Traveled a bit."

Ethan looked over. "Yeah. That was when we lost contact."

Jordan shrugged. "Sorry, dude. It was really a mess back then. But one trip turned out... memorable."

Jessica leaned in slightly, intrigued. "Where to?"

Jordan hesitated for a beat. "Arang."

Ethan blinked. "You went to Arang?"

Jessica frowned. "Wait. Isn't that the place where even the embassy tells tourists to stay away from?"

"Yup," Jordan said with a grin. "I thought I'd be fine. Cheap food, cool vibes. What could go wrong, right?"

Ethan shook his head, already knowing the answer.

"I got mugged," Jordan said, confirming it with a laugh, not because it was funny, but because it felt like another life now. "Real nasty bunch. And I don't know what happened Jess… but something just clicked. One second, I was surrounded, and the next… they were on the ground."

Jessica stared at him. "You fought them off?"

Jordan nodded. "Didn't think. Didn't plan. Just moved."

"That doesn't just happen," Ethan said, finally speaking. "Instinct doesn't turn you into a martial artist overnight."

Jordan's smile faded into something softer. "It wasn't overnight. That incident made me realize I had... something. So I chased it. Ended up spending six months in Thailand."

Jessica's eyes widened. "You trained there?"

"Muay Thai, mostly. Picked up a few tricks along the way."

Ethan whistled. "You're full of surprises."

"Trust me, I surprised myself," Jordan replied, stretching.

Jessica didn't respond right away.

She just looked at him, really looked, and something shifted in her expression. A bit more understanding. A bit more trust.

Ethan didn't catch the look between them—but someone else did.

From the hallway window inside the house, Mark stood with his arms crossed, watching them through the thin curtain.

He saw the way Jessica's shoulders relaxed around Jordan's presence. The way Jordan didn't joke this time. The way Ethan, as always, focused on everyone's safety, but missed the signs right in front of him.

Mark smirked and shook his head faintly.

"Ethan, you brilliant fool," he thought. "You might know how to build a billion-dollar business… but I believed you still haven't learned a damn thing about women."

Then he walked off, quietly as ever, leaving the three of them to the peace of the porch, and the storm still brewing in the shadows.