CHAPTER 127: THE SURGE

Chapter 125: The Surge

The two of them were about to step out of the overgrown garden when Ethan suddenly halted mid-stride.

"Wait."

Lirael, still brushing leaves off her sleeves, tilted her head at him. "Hmm? What happened?"

"I want to check something," Ethan said slowly, his gaze turning distant. "What happens if I distribute one stat point into everything?"

Her brow arched. "Oh? So soon?" Then, with a faint smile tugging her lips, she added, "Try it. That way I’ll also see what happens when I finally start raising mine... once I’ve gotten used to this new strength of mine."

Ethan nodded, and without further hesitation, willed the changes into his interface.

---

Base Stats Update

Strength: 3.0 → 4.0 [+1.0]

Vitality: 4.0 → 5.0 [+1.5]

Constitution: 3.5 → 4.5 [+1.5]

Agility: 3.0 → 4.0 [+1.5]

Stamina: 4.0 → 5.0 [+1.5]

Intelligence: 3.5 → 4.5 [+1.5]

Mana: 2.0 → 3.0 [+1.0]

Unallocated Stat Points: 98 → 91

---

The instant the last point locked in, the world shifted. It was as though the garden exhaled around them—air became denser, sounds sharper, even the smell of damp earth was richer.

But Ethan felt the most of it.

Heat surged through his veins like molten metal. His vision cleared to a crystalline sharpness, each blade of grass distinct, each flutter of leaf traced in perfect arcs. His muscles pulsed with an intoxicating pressure, the kind of power that whispered he could reduce that massive Venomfang serpent to pulp with a single punch.

"Whoa—" Ethan staggered as he tried to take a step. The ground beneath his boot compressed with a heavy crack, soil sinking, dust erupting outward in a cloud.

"Ethan!" Lirael’s eyes widened. "Control it, or you’ll tear the place apart!"

"I’m... trying—" he gritted his teeth, forcing a deep breath. Closing his eyes, he focused inward, steadying the rampant energy. When he opened them again, his pupils gleamed with clarity. He concentrated on the subtle flows around him, the faintest movements of the air, and carefully lifted his foot again.

This time, the step landed softly, the garden remaining intact.

Ethan let out a breath and glanced at her. "Better."

Then, with an odd little smirk, he said, "Punch me in the stomach. As hard as you can."

Lirael blinked at him, frowning. "What?"

"Punch me."

She crossed her arms. "No. I can feel it too—you don’t understand. This strength... I could shatter boulders now."

Ethan’s grin widened slyly. "Then it would only mean I’m stronger than a boulder."

Her eyes narrowed. "Hoh? You should know I’ve been wanting to hit you ever since you made me your maid."

"You’re most welcome, then."

She exhaled through her nose, but the wicked gleam in her eyes betrayed her anticipation. Dropping into stance, she planted her feet, coiled her arm back, and with every ounce of her newfound might—drove her fist into his abdomen.

The impact resounded like thunder. A shockwave rippled out of Ethan’s body and slammed into the derelict manor behind them. Cracked stone and rotten wood gave way with a deafening crash as one of the walls collapsed in a plume of dust.

Ethan staggered half a step...pretending to be hurt... and then chuckled.

"...ouch...That tickled."

Lirael’s jaw dropped. "Y—you bastard."

He grinned, teeth flashing. "No really—it barely felt like anything. Guess that confirms it. For now, at least..." He spread his arms, brimming with unrestrained confidence. "I’m effectively stronger than a boulder. Heh."

Lirael groaned and rubbed her fist, half in disbelief, half in irritation at his smug face.

Lirael folded her arms, giving him a flat stare.

"...You only did this to boast."

Ethan raised both hands defensively, though his grin betrayed him. "No, really. I wanted to feel the change properly. But... hmm." He flexed his fingers, studying the ripple of strength humming in his veins. "I’m still not used to it. How about this—you raise your stats by one as well, and we spar a bit?"

Her eyes widened slightly. "...A spar?" Then, narrowing with resolve, she jabbed a finger at his chest. "Fine. Let’s do it. I’ll show you that I can make you grovel beneath my feet."

Ethan smirked, feigning a wounded look. "Ohh! That hurts... But, if it’s for a beautiful lady like you, I’d gladly lie down just to have your feet pressed on me."

Lirael rolled her eyes. "Stop with your stupid cheesy lines. Flattery won’t help when I’m smashing your face in."

Even as she spoke, her interface flickered. She had already invested one point into each stat.

---

Attributes (Lirael)

Strength: 2.0 → 3.0

Vitality: 2.5 → 3.5

Constitution: 2.5 → 3.5

Agility: 2.5 → 3.5

Stamina: 2.5 → 3.5

Intelligence: 3.0 → 4.0

Mana: 2.0 → 3.0

Unassigned Stat Points: 93 (20) → 85 (20)

---

The moment her body adjusted, she gasped softly, flexing her hands as her senses sharpened. Her skin tingled with renewed vitality, her limbs lighter, her breath flowing effortlessly.

And before Ethan could even form a smug remark—she lunged.

Steel-blue eyes gleamed as she closed the distance in an instant, her foot kicking off the cracked stone with explosive force. Ethan barely twisted aside in time, her fist grazing the edge of his jaw with a whoosh that split the air.

"Not bad," Ethan laughed, sidestepping another flurry. "You’ve gotten faster."

"Less talking, more groveling!" she snapped, pressing forward with relentless strikes.

Their spar turned fierce. Each blow carried enough power to smash through stone, and each evasion sent Ethan skidding through dirt or Lirael rebounding off crumbling walls. Dust clouds rose with every step, ancient masonry shattering under stray impacts.

Ethan ducked low, sweeping a counter-kick that tore a furrow in the ground, but Lirael flipped over it gracefully and landed behind him. She lashed out again, her fist slamming into his shoulder. The shockwave blasted outward, scattering pebbles like shrapnel.

"See?" she said, triumphant, her cheeks flushed from exertion.

Ethan only grinned, brushing imaginary dust off himself. "That was cute."

Her eyes flared. "Cute?!"

"Adorable, even."

"Hold still so I can break you!"

She launched herself again, this time using a clever feint—pivoting mid-step, she twisted and hammered her knee toward his ribs. Ethan barely blocked, the force still enough to send him sliding several paces back, boots gouging trenches in the soil.

"Better," he admitted, chuckling. "You’re learning to use the boost."

"Shut up!" she barked, chasing after him with another furious strike.

They traded blows and evasions across the ruined courtyard, laughter and curses mixing with the thunderous cracks of their clashing strength. Yet as the minutes passed, Ethan’s movements grew smoother, his control tightening, while Lirael’s frustration mounted. Every time she thought she’d cornered him, he slipped away with that mocking grin plastered on his face.

Finally, her fist connected squarely with his chest—only for him to barely flinch.

"...Tch."

"Better luck next time," Ethan teased, stepping back with his infuriating calm.

She snarled, already winding up another strike—when a shout rang out.

"What was that noise?!"

"Check the courtyard—something’s collapsing!"

Both of them froze. The clash had been so loud that nearby patrols had taken notice.

"Ethan..." Lirael muttered, her eyes darting toward the voices.

He smirked, seizing the opportunity. "Guess that’s our cue." In a single fluid motion, he swept her off her feet, cradling her against his chest in a princess carry.

"Wha—?!" Lirael yelped, her face flushing crimson. "Put me down, you insufferable—"

But before she could finish, Ethan bent his knees and shot forward. The courtyard blurred, the wind howled past her ears, and in the blink of an eye they vanished from the garden ruins like a gust of wind fleeing into the afternoon.