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

The sheer strength threw him off balance and his body shot back. Before he could even land, Baron Fenwick appeared in front of him and kicked his torso.

BOOOOM!

The impact twisted Ethan's face with pain as blood burst from his lips. His body screamed in agony.

'What the hell is this?'

'How is the gap between late Intermediate and early Advanced so big?'

The difference was overwhelming. Without Lightning Steps, he felt he would have been killed in one move. His body crashed onto the ground, rolling and tearing across the dirt, leaving deep marks as he struggled to breathe.

To them, the gap between Intermediate and Advanced was as vast as heaven and earth.

"My Lord!"

"No, this can't be!"Oliver gasped, grabbing his head.The only silver lining in all this was that his Lord won't be killed.

He broke through…"

"Advanced Knight… he's an Advanced Knight now…"

Some noble ladies gasped, covering their lips with trembling hands. Commoners clung to one another, feeling the pressure of Fenwick's aura.

"This is it. He will become a Count."

"No one can oppose him now."

The whispers cut through the noise of the arena. Many looked at Ethan with pity, thinking it was over for him.

Some covered their mouths, unable to watch, while others shouted Ethan's name in panic.

Among the nobles, the reaction was no less intense. Baron Bragot clicked his tongue, his beard twitching with anger.

"Tsk… Tsk… I didn't expect this bastard to break through," he spat bitterly.

The nobles sitting in the stands exchanged uneasy glances. Their hearts raced as they realized what this meant for the balance of power. Baron Bragot clicked his tongue in anger, his beard twitching with frustration.

"This bastard really breaks through here of all places.Why do I feel that this is deliberate?" he muttered, his voice bitter.

He had thought Ethan's victory would weaken Fenwick, yet it had only made him stronger.

Baron Copper leaned back in his seat, his eyes flashing with greed and envy. His lips curled faintly as he whispered, "Yes… Now no one can stop his rise. With this, Fenwick will crush anyone who stands in his way."

Another Baron slammed his fist onto the armrest of his chair, his expression twisted with both jealousy and fear. "Damn it! He planned this. All of this!"

The older Barons exchanged silent looks. Each of them realized the truth in their own way. Fenwick had not been desperate. He had been patient, calculating, waiting for the perfect stage to display his strength.

"It seems everything was according to his plan," one of the more cautious Barons murmured, his eyes narrowing.

The other Barons looked on with a mix of jealousy and fear. In their hearts they could already see it. Everything was unfolding exactly as Baron Fenwick had planned.

The atmosphere shifted completely. What had once been just a trial had become a stage for Baron Fenwick's rise. The Barons who had earlier mocked him now sat stiffly, weighing their own positions. They could feel the shift in power as clearly as the ground trembling beneath them.

Among the commoners, the reaction was no less intense. Some cheered loudly, as if clinging to the new power that had revealed itself before them. Others, especially the young maidens cursed under their breath, calling this act as blatant bulling

"This is it… He will become a Count…"

"No one can challenge him now."

Whispers spread through the stands like fire through dry grass. The crowd could not look away, their eyes fixed on the two figures in the arena. Ethan stood bloodied, struggling to rise, while Fenwick shone with new strength.

For many, the outcome already felt decided.

...…..

Fenwick stepped forward, his face calm yet cold. He looked down at Ethan who was coughing blood on the ground.

"You fought valiantly, Ethan, but you cannot win. So give up willingly. You have done more than enough. You have earned everyone's respect and proven yourself before all of us."

He paused for a moment, his tone firm but not mocking. "I accept that you may be a genius. In the future, you might surpass me easily.I might not be comparable to even a finger of your's in future but…"

But not today. So let us end this here."

Ethan clutched at his stomach,as his body trembled from the pain. His ribs felt cracked, his insides churned as if beaten with hammers.

He staggered a bit and his knees wobbled, but he refused to collapse. Blood stained his lips yet his eyes carried a strange light. Then, against everyone's expectation, he began to laugh.

"Hahaha!"

"Hahahahaha!"

The bewildered laughter echoed through the arena, ringing strangely under the open sky. His voice carried madness, but behind it there was clarity.

"I understand now…" Ethan said, wiping the blood from his mouth. "You could have broken through long before this, but you chose this moment. You wanted to put on a show."

He pointed weakly toward Fenwick.

His body was shaking but his gaze was sharp. "You wanted to establish your reputation and prove your strength before everyone. That is why you held back until now. Hahahaha!"

The laughter echoed again, sending a ripple of unease through the crowd.

Then it stopped.

Ethan's smile faded. His face hardened,and his eyes turned cold. The playful spark was gone, replaced by a chilling calmness. His white hair hung loosely across his bloodied face, yet the cold expression made him look like something beyond human. It was a sight that froze hearts and raised goosebumps.

Even Oliver, who had known him for years, stared with wide eyes. None of his people had ever seen Ethan wear such an expression before. It was not the boyish or relaxed Ethan they knew.

This was the face of a person who had enough.

He had enough of bullshit.

Ethan spat blood to the side and locked his eyes on Fenwick.

He looked at Fenwick with an evil grin."Sorry, Baron Fenwick. This time you chose the wrong opponent."

He then beckoned him with a twisted smile.

"You want some..Then come and great some…"

Fenwick sighed softly as he steadied hmself"Haa… These young ones. They never know how to reciprocate an elder's words."

"If you want to get beaten so eagerly then so be bit it."