Path To Godhood Begins With Marrying Wife And Gaining SSS Rank Skill

"My men!" Ethan's deep voice echoed through the chaos, carrying power and command.

"Yes!" The guards roared in unison, banging their weapons against their shields, the sound ringing like thunder.

Ethan's gaze swept across them. "Your job is to move with the mercenaries. Provide aid to the nearby villages, safeguard the people, and clear out any monsters that escaped."

"Ra—" Ethan paused mid-sentence and looked at Ray. His son stood at the side with his fists clenched, and eyes burning with determination.

Ethan hesitated for a moment. Ray was still just nine. His heart tightened with worry.

But before he could say anything, Ray tore off his cloak and stepped forward, his young face resolute.

"People of Blanks!" Ray's voice wasn't loud, nor was it full of intensity, yet it carried a firmness that made everyone turn toward him. "I know I'm not worthy. I know I'm not as good as you. But I'll do everything I can to help!"

The boy's aura flared suddenly. It wasn't strong compared to the knights around him, but it was pure and unmistakable. It was the aura of a beginner knight.

Gasps erupted among the soldiers.

"By the gods!" one whispered. "The Young Lord… he's already awakened!"

"At his age? Impossible!" another murmured in disbelief.

Then cheers followed.

"Like father, like son!"

"Young Lord Ray, we'll follow your command!"

Even Miranda stood wide-eyed, clutching the edge of her seat. She had always seen her brother as calm and cautious, but now she saw something different.

It was someone strong, someone brave. For a moment, admiration replaced her childish teasing.

The soldiers struck their weapons against the ground. "My Lord, go ahead! We swear to protect the Young Lord!"

"We swear to protect the Young Lord!"

Ethan couldn't help but laugh proudly, his heart swelling with pride. But as he closed his eyes, that laughter faded. A surge of overwhelming power spread through the air, shaking the earth beneath them. His aura exploded outward like a wave, making the horses neigh and the soldiers stagger slightly.

Then Ethan opened his eyes. His grin turned sharp. Since you're farming aura, why can't I? he thought.

He took a single step forward. To the soldiers, it looked ordinary, but in the next instant, Ethan's body vanished like a blur. He shot across the ground, covering over a hundred meters in a blink before disappearing from sight.

Everyone froze in awe.

"This..." one whispered.

"This is the power of an Advanced Knight!" another shouted.

"How is that possible?"

Ray exhaled deeply, pulling everyone's attention back. "Everyone, it's not time to stand around! Form up!" he shouted, his small hand raised.

"Uncle Rob, forms a squad to protect Miranda. The rest of you, split into smaller units and send scouts ahead. Running blindly will only get us killed so we need to stay coordinated!"

The knights quickly obeyed. Ray then turned to the trembling villagers. "Uncle, Aunties, please guide our men. You know the area better than anyone."

The villagers nodded hurriedly. "We will, Young Lord!"

...…..

Meanwhile, Ethan was already far ahead. His figure cut through the air like a shadow. The world blurred around him as he extended his divine sense, tracing the chaotic surge of monster energy. After covering nearly seven kilometers, he landed on a small rise overlooking the battlefield.

The ground was torn apart and a huge mound shaped structure appeared.

Dozens of gaping holes riddled the earth, each spewing waves of monsters—kobolds, goblins, and even larger beasts. The air was filled with blood and smoke. He could see around a hundred mercenaries struggling to hold the line.

Swords clashed and arrows flew. Fireballs burst across the field, lighting up the ground in flashes of red.

Ethan's sharp eyes scanned the scene. So that's the source… he thought, noticing one large main fissure being guarded by stronger monsters. But his attention shifted to a smaller opening on the side, where small kobolds were sneaking through toward the forest.

"I need to close that," he muttered. "The main one is being contained, but that side opening will cause trouble."

...…..

Meanwhile, on the ground, the battle was pure chaos.

"Take them down!" someone yelled.

"Move to the right flank! Don't let them break through!"

"Kill that bastard—he's a high-ranking one!"

Screams echoed as the front lines faltered.

"What the fuck is this?" a mercenary cursed, his voice shaking. "Why is there a high-ranking dungeon break here?"

Haro, a tall archer with messy brown hair, lost three arrows in quick succession. Each struck a goblin clean in the chest, dropping them instantly. But when he reached for another arrow, his hand found nothing.

"What the hell?!" His quiver was empty.

He turned just in time to see a kobold leaping at him, claws bared. His heart pounded. He grabbed his bow, ready to block, but before he could, a blur of movement appeared.

A woman darted in, grabbed the kobold mid-air, and slammed it hard into the ground. The creature let out a pained squeal before she drove her sword through its skull.

"Why don't you stay back?" she said sharply, brushing her long hair from her face.

Haro glared. "For your kind information,I am already at the back! It's the front line that's falling apart!" He kicked another dead monster aside. "How am I supposed to shoot when they let everything through?"

"Stop whining and fight!" Irdia, a mage wrapped in crimson robes, shouted from behind. Flames gathered around her hands as she hurled a blazing fireball that exploded among a group of kobolds.

"It's useless!" Haro growled, looking around. "There are too many! This is a damn mess!"

"Joel!" he shouted to another mercenary leader nearby. "We're losing ground!"

"I know!" Joel swung his blade cleaving a wolf-like beast in half. "No one wants to follow orders. Everyone's fighting for themselves!"

Then, suddenly, a thunderous crash shook the entire battlefield. A massive boulder came hurtling through the air and smashed into the high ground behind them with a deafening bang. Dust and smoke exploded outward, making everyone duck in panic.

"What the hell was that?!" Ryu shouted, eyes wide.

Haro coughed, waving away the smoke. "Did something collapse?"

But as the dust began to settle, everyone froze.

From the smoke, a blurry figure stood tall on top of the boulder, the light of the burning battlefield outlining his frame. His cape fluttered in the wind, and the air around him seemed to crackle with power.

Haro squinted, his heart skipping a beat. "Wait a minute… that figure looks familiar."

The realization hit him all at once. His eyes widened in disbelief.

"Am I seeing things ..no,it's him!" he whispered.