Ethan Cole - The Unlimited System

"No," Ethan said firmly, shaking his head. "This ends here."

Maya studied him, her gaze calm but probing, as if trying to see past the layers he had built.

"You sure?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ethan nodded and looked directly at Maya. "I appreciate your offer, but I don't want to get involved in violence unless it's really necessary. Let's be clear that this is just a warning. Donald's already lost, and he knows it."

Donald breathed a sigh of relief. He opened his mouth to speak, but Maya shot him a sharp glare that stopped him immediately.

Maya looked at Ethan for a moment and smiled slightly. "Okay," she said with a shrug. "Your call. But if he crosses you again…"

"He won't," Ethan interrupted, his tone cold and final. He turned his attention to Donald, his gaze piercing. "Because if he does, I won't be this forgiving next time."

Donald nodded frantically, his voice trembling. "No trouble! I swear, no trouble!"

Maya stepped aside, giving Ethan and Mark a clear path to the door. Mark did not release Donald, as they were going to walk out together. The guards stayed still, clearly afraid as they remained in their places.

"Let's go," Ethan said as he turned to leave.

Mark and Maya followed him without a word, their movements precise and confident. As they left the room, the tension eased, but their message was clear.

For Donald and everyone else in that warehouse, this wasn't just a near miss, it was a warning. One they wouldn't soon forget.

The group moved with precision and purpose, Mark still holding Donald as a hostage.

The guards watched, unable to act. Their weapons hung loosely in their hands as they were too afraid to challenge the Five Ghosts or to risk Donald's life.

As they left the main area of the warehouse, Ezra came out from the shadows with his sniper rifle over his shoulder. He walked up alongside Maya and nodded toward Mark.

"You've got this handled, I see," he remarked coolly, his sharp eyes scanning the area. "I really wish to be able to shoot and kill some more."

He chuckled lightly, the sound almost out of place amid the tension. Then he added with a hint of amusement, "You know, it's been a while since the last time we used weapons instead of our—"

But he didn't get to finish.

Mark shot him a glance. Sharp. Unmistakable. The kind that didn't need words to send a message.

Ethan went quiet.

That look, it wasn't just a warning. It was a wall. A boundary was drawn in silence. And Ethan, even without understanding all of it, instinctively knew not to push further.

Still, something gnawed at him.

'What was he about to say?' Ethan wondered. 'Instead of our… what? Powers? Forces? Abilities?'

His mind started racing. He had seen glimpses of Mark's speed, his strength, the way he carried himself like nothing around him could ever touch him. And now this?

'What exactly are they? Who are they?'

The thought sat heavy in his chest.

Not fear. Not yet.

But something close to it.

Because it wasn't just about Mark. It was about all of them, the people around him who moved with quiet purpose, who fought like they'd done this all their lives, who treated gunfights like minor inconveniences.

'What kind of world have I stepped into?'

Ethan didn't ask out loud. But the question lingered, unanswered, as Mark looked away like nothing happened.

And the silence between them said more than any explanation ever could.

Steve emerged next, his shotgun resting comfortably in his hands. His towering figure and the combat axe strapped to his back made the guards step back instinctively.

"Guess I missed all the fun," he said with a grunt, his cigar still tucked between his teeth.

"Combat axe?" Ethan muttered under his breath.

The weapon looked like something ripped straight from a high-tier video game. It was a polished black steel with an engraved handle, and a vicious blade curved like a predator's grin.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

To see one up close, gleaming under the warehouse lights… it was surreal.

Steve noticed his gaze and smirked.

"Oh? This?" he said, pulling the axe free with one hand and giving it a few lazy spins.

It moved with terrifying grace. His other hand still casually held a shotgun slung over his shoulder. "I'll test you later. See if you've got the wrists and guts to swing something like this."

The axe came to a stop with a soft whump against his boot.

Maya shot him a look. "Don't get carried away. You'll need Mark's permission before you teach this kid anything."

Steve gave a light-hearted shrug. "Yeah, yeah. You're right. My bad."

He chuckled, but Ethan caught the glint in his eyes—like a lion entertaining the idea of raising a cub.

Mark, as usual, didn't say a word.

He was still walking with steady, unhurried steps while dragging Donald along like a sack of grain.

Only then did Ethan realize Donald's feet weren't even touching the ground. Mark was holding him up by the collar, carrying his entire body weight without the slightest strain.

Ethan blinked. 'That's… not normal. That's monstrous strength.'

But what unsettled him even more wasn't the axe or Mark's inhuman power.

It was how relaxed they all were.

Gunfire had just stopped echoing through the warehouse, bodies lay across the floor, and the tension in the air was still sharp enough to cut steel. Yet here these people were chatting, joking, and strolling like it was just another training exercise.

Weapons pointed at them from every angle, and not a single one of them looked worried.

They move like the guns don't even exist… like fear is a language they've forgotten how to speak.

Ethan's mind spun, trying to keep up with the pace of what he was seeing.

Then, a calm voice behind him spoke. "You'll get used to it."

Yamal was the last to appear, his twin kukris glinting faintly under the dim warehouse lights. He moved with an eerie quietness, his eyes darting to every corner, ensuring there were no surprises left.

'Stealth?' Ethan wondered.

"Perimeter's clear," Yamal said simply, his tone steady.

Donald's face turned white. His voice shook as he tried to stay calm. "Please… I'll let you all go. No trouble. I swear."

Steve rolled his eyes and barked, "Oh, shut up, Donald. I've heard all about your little kingdom here in Brookville. You're lucky you're still breathing."

Donald whimpered, shrinking further into the seat as Steve's words echoed in the warehouse. He didn't dare respond, not with the silent but deadly presence of the Five Ghosts around him.

The group dragged Donald toward a parked SUV inside the warehouse. At first glance, it appeared to be an ordinary black vehicle. But to anyone who knew better, its reinforced frame, bulletproof windows, and subtle modifications were clear indicators that this was no regular car.

Mark shoved Donald into the back, securing him tightly. His hands and feet were tied with strong restraints. His eyes were covered with a blindfold, and a rag was stuffed in his mouth to keep him quiet.

"Get in, everyone," Ezra ordered.

Ethan got into the SUV. His mind was still full of everything that had happened. He kept quiet, sitting between Maya and Yamal, both of whom radiated calm but lethal energy.

Ezra sat in the front seat with his sniper rifle next to him. Steve was in the driver's seat, smiling like he was about to have fun.

"Let's get going!" Steve shouted merrily as he started the engine loudly and drove out of the warehouse quickly.

The sun shone brightly over Brookville, but the air felt tense.

As the SUV sped through the quiet streets, people turned to look, their curiosity mixed with fear.

Ethan clutched the side handle as Steve navigated the narrow roads with reckless precision. The vehicle had a strong suspension that absorbed every bump and pothole as Steve swerved, sped up, and navigated through side streets.

"Is this how he always drives?" Ethan finally asked, gripping the handle tighter. He directed the question at everyone.

"Only when I'm having fun," Steve said, smiling at Ethan in the rearview mirror.

The SUV drove past the edge of Brookville and into the countryside. The busy streets turned into dirt paths surrounded by thick trees, and the afternoon sun created long shadows on the road.

Ethan glanced at Donald, who was now squirming in his restraints, his muffled curses barely audible.

"Noisy, isn't he?" Maya commented with a smirk, nudging Ethan slightly. "Don't worry. We'll deal with him soon."

After another 15 minutes of chaotic driving, they reached the edge of a forest. Steve didn't slow down. He drove right through a rusty gate with a worn "No Trespassing" sign.

Steve drove the SUV into the forest, with sunlight filtering through the trees onto the windshield as he skillfully navigated deeper into the restricted area.

After a long drive, Steve stopped the SUV suddenly in a quiet clearing. The area was still, except for the sound of the engine and the leaves rustling in the distance.

"Time to stretch our legs," Steve said casually as he turned off the engine.

Ezra and Yamal moved swiftly, opening the rear doors and hauling Donald out. He stumbled to the ground, his muffled shouts now louder as they removed the rag from his mouth.

"You can't treat me this way!" Donald spat, his voice dripping with anger and desperation. "Do you know who I am? You'll pay for this!"

Maya crouched next to him, her green eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, we know exactly who you are, Donald. And now, you're going to learn who we are."

Ezra cut the restraints on Donald's wrists with a quick slash of his knife, and Yamal leaned against the SUV, watching the scene unfold with a faint smirk.

Donald held his freed wrists and glared at the group. "Do you really think you can get away with this?"

Steve stepped forward, towering over Donald. "Oh, we're not getting away with anything. We're leaving you here... alive. That's more than you deserve."

With a swift motion, Maya kicked Donald square in the chest, sending him sprawling onto the dirt. She stood over him, her expression icy.

"Good luck finding your way back," she said flatly, her voice cutting through the silence.

The team got back into the SUV without saying another word. Donald dropped to his knees and shouted curses at them, but his voice was lost in the loud engine noise as the vehicle drove away into the forest.

Ethan sat quietly as the SUV sped off, his mind racing. He had just seen a side of Mark and his team that surprised him.

They were ruthless, efficient, and frightening.

He stared out the window, but the passing streets blurred into nothing.

'Who are these people, really?'

Ethan clenched his wounded shoulder lightly, feeling the dried blood through the bandage.

'Am I really walking among monsters... or just people who've seen too much to care anymore?'

A part of him respected them. Another part feared them.

But what scared him most was this, 'If I stay on this path… will I become like them too?'

He exhaled slowly, the silence around him heavier than any gunfire. The road ahead was no longer just dangerous.

It was transforming him.

And deep down, he wasn't sure if that was a good thing.