He hurried closer, but before he could reach the training courtyard, a line of guards appeared before him, blocking the way.

Their armor gleamed under the bright light as they raised their spears in unison. At the front stood two women.

It was Sophia and Diana both looking tense and worried.

Ethan had commanded them to be on guard if they saw any extraordinary phenomenon but they never expected it to be so wild.

Blanco stopped, holding up a hand. "Step aside! I mean no harm. I need to see the one inside, this is an extraordinary reaction!"

Sophia's sharp gaze fixed on him. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice cold and commanding. "And what are you doing here?"

The soldiers behind her instantly went on alert, forming a defensive stance. One of them shouted, "Enemies!" Another followed, "How dare you trespass on our lord's land!"

Within seconds, weapons were drawn, and mana began to flare around the guards. None of them could afford to be careless. Their lord was attempting a breakthrough, and an unknown man with foreign armor had suddenly appeared so it was natural to assume the worst.

Blanco frowned and raised both hands slightly, trying to calm them. "Wait! You misunderstand. I'm Sir Blanco, a Paladin of the Church of Light. I was only—"

Before he could finish, the guards lunged forward, charging with fierce determination. Their movements were sharp and disciplined as their loyalty unquestionable.

Blanco's eyes narrowed in frustration. "Damn it! At least let me explain!" he shouted.

But it was already too late.

As the soldiers surrounded him, Blanco sighed heavily and released a small fraction of his aura. The air around him exploded outward with an invisible shockwave.

BOOM!

The pressure hit the guards like a sledgehammer.

"Kurhhh!" one of them gasped, clutching his chest as his knees buckled.

"Kaash!" another fell backward, his sword clattering to the ground.

The very air seemed to crush down on them, and even the ground cracked slightly beneath their feet. Their breathing grew ragged, their eyes wide with disbelief.

"What is this pressure…" one of the knights managed to say, trembling.

Sophia's face paled as she felt the immense power radiating from Blanco. Her instincts screamed that this was no ordinary man. "Guards, calm down and retreat!" she commanded quickly.

The soldiers hesitated for a moment, then obeyed, slowly stepping back while keeping their weapons raised.

Sophia looked at Blanco warily, her hand still gripping the hilt of her sword. "Fine, sir. Who are you, and what do you want here?" she asked again, her tone steady but cautious.

Blanco exhaled and lowered his aura. "I told you, I'm Sir Blanco, a Paladin from the Church of Light. I came here only to—"

Before he could finish, a familiar voice echoed across the courtyard.

"Mother!"

Everyone turned toward the sound. Ray came running in, his clothes covered in dust, Oliver following closely behind him and panting heavily.

"My Lady!" Oliver called out as they both stopped to catch their breath.

Sophia's eyes widened as she saw them. "Ray? Oliver? What are you two doing here?"

Ray, still coughing, pointed at Blanco. "Mother… he's Sir Blanco! A Paladin from the Church of Light. He's not an enemy!"

The tension in the air eased slightly. Sophia's expression softened, though her guard didn't completely lower. She glanced back at Blanco, studying his calm posture and sincere eyes.

Blanco nodded politely. "I assure you, Madam, I mean no harm. I merely followed the phenomenon. The power radiating from this place is unlike anything I've ever felt."

Sophia exchanged a quick glance with Diana, both of them visibly unsettled. The ground beneath them still trembled faintly, and the air continued to hum with residual energy.

Ray looked toward the back of the estate, his small hands clenching tightly. "It's Father, isn't it?" he whispered.

Sophia's expression grew grave, her gaze fixed on the direction of the secluded chamber where the roaring light continued to surge.

"Yes," she said softly. "It's your father."

A fresh burst of energy erupted from the chamber, lighting up the sky once more. Everyone could only watch in stunned silence as the mass chnaged.

.....

RAOARRR!

Ethan's roar echoed through the secluded chamber, shaking the walls and rattling the air. He could feel his body changing, every bone in his frame hardening and becoming denser. His muscles grew tighter, filled with strength that pulsed like fire through his veins. His pupils began to shift, narrowing into draconic slits as his senses sharpened.

A wave of heat spread across his skin as flames burst out, wrapping him in a blazing cocoon of crimson light. His heartbeat thundered like a drum in his chest. He clenched his fists as the power of the dragon blood surged violently inside him, threatening to tear him apart from within.

Moments later, the burning began to fade, the effect of the dragon blood slowly settling. His breath came out heavy and uneven. "I'm just a bit away from breaking through to Master," he muttered. "Now it's time."

He took a deep breath. "Use the insight of Knight," he commanded.

The moment the ten years of Knight Insight poured into him, Ethan's eyes widened. "Holy shit…" he gasped, his body trembling as an immense wave of power crashed into him like a tidal surge. The pure essence of energy poured through his veins, too strong for his body to handle at first.

"Elemental Breathing Technique!" he shouted, forcing his body to move.

He guided the flow of energy through every limb, every muscle, washing away impurities that lingered within. His skin began to glisten with sweat as his body reacted violently.

BOOOM!

BOOM!

RUMBLE!

A loud explosion echoed from within him, then another, and another.

Mana churned around as if the entire mana in surrounding was compressed towards him

The shackles binding his strength shattered one by one. The overwhelming surge of energy coursed through his being, burning, purifying, and remolding him.

Black, foul-smelling impurities oozed from his pores, dripping onto the floor like tar.

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