CHAPTER 50: 325 MILLION TONS COMBAT STRENGTH

Ethan and the others spent the afternoon touring several important sites before returning to Hunt State. Tonight, the grand ancestral manor would host a formal family banquet.

Leila, who had once only seen Ethan’s photographs and heard the news of his genius, was now practically starstruck. She was a shameless admirer of good looks, and meeting her handsome cousin in person only deepened her fascination. Zara, also became a little fangirl of Ethan after today’s event.

When they arrived at the estate, Ethan wasted no time. Led by Cedric through the echoing marble corridors, he walked straight to Alexander’s study. He was about to knock when a deep, steady voice called from within.

"Come in."

Ethan pushed the heavy door open and stepped inside. Alexander Hunt, his great-grandfather, was seated by the tall windows, sunlight silvering his hair. The old man’s eyes softened with warmth as he looked Ethan over.

"Good evening, Great-Grandfather," Ethan greeted respectfully.

Alexander’s smile broadened. The more he studied this young man, the more satisfied he felt.

"I heard what you did to that Morningstar brat," Alexander said, chuckling. "Hah! That damned old bastard will finally taste what it feels like to watch his precious young ones to be thrashed, unable to intervene. Serves him right. After all, this rule—no interference from elders in the fights of the younger generation—was established by all the great families together."

His gaze drifted toward the gardens outside, nostalgia creasing his features. "In the past, Hunt children were bullied again and again, and we had to watch in silence. But now..." He exhaled contentedly. "Today, the air seems sweeter."

"Don’t mention it, Grandfather," Ethan replied indifferently. "He was nothing more than a pest."

Alexander burst into booming laughter, "Indeed. But be cautious. Tomorrow, all the powerful families will send their heirs to the banquet. Some will no doubt try to provoke you. That Caseous Morningstar boy will almost certainly come seeking revenge for his brother. He’s a true prodigy. Under our rules, anyone younger than twenty-five can be called younger generation. So he has the right to challenge you."

Ethan nodded without the slightest flicker of worry. Forget the younger generation—even most older experts below Emperor rank could not threaten him now. With his strength doubling again tomorrow, who among them could possibly endure his attacks? In truth, he rather enjoyed the prospect of bullying the weak.

"Grandfather," he asked with careless calm, "if I were to break this Caseous fellow’s hand or leg, would that cause any...inconvenience?"

Alexander blinked, momentarily taken aback. Then he threw back his head and roared with laughter. "Good! Very good. That’s the spirit our Hunt lineage needs. We were never cowards. We simply lacked worthy successors." He straightened, eyes shining. "No problem at all. As long as you don’t kill anyone outright, any level of injury is permitted. If someone dares show you true killing intent, you may end their life. That is the rule."

"Understood."

Ethan took his leave and headed to the chambers prepared for him. The suite was vast, elegant, and attached to a fully equipped training hall stocked with every kind of cultivation apparatus. After a quick shower, he examined the facility with satisfaction. Everything he required was here.

After that he called Rose. After confirming that Rose, Zara, and Elizabeth had been settled comfortably in their guest accommodations,Ethan finally allowed himself to relax. He stepped into the adjoining dressing chamber to change.

He’d developed a preference lately for white attire as it emphasized the heavenly handsomeness and absolute confidence he carried wherever he went.

Tonight, he went all in: a fitted white suit, crisp white shirt, slim white trousers, and a narrow white tie. When he checked the smart mirror for a final scan, it projected a green indicator: Presentation: Impeccable.

He didn’t linger. He left the suite and took the lift down to the main banquet floor.

The hall was alive with conversation, laughter, and the muted pulse of background music.

Ethan’s eyes swept the room.

He spotted Rose first. She was wearing the gown he’d given her—a sleek, ice-blue design that set off the gentle curve of her shoulders. She looked even more graceful than he’d imagined when he’d picked it out.

Zara stood beside her, beaming in a little white-and-pink gown that matched her sister’s colors. She kept turning in slow circles to make the skirt swirl.

Nearby, Elina and Elizabeth were talking with some of the Hunt family’s older relatives. They looked elegant and composed, fielding questions and greetings without missing a beat.

Jack stood off to one side, deep in conversation with several of his brothers and a few men Ethan didn’t recognize—probably directors of the family’s corporate branches.

It didn’t take long before Ethan’s arrival drew attention.

Cedric noticed him first and started walking over, and within seconds Maria, Leila, and the other cousins clustered around as well.

Leila was practically vibrating with excitement.

"Big Brother," she blurted, eyes bright, "you look so handsome tonight. Like—like a movie star! Can I please take a picture with you?"

Ethan smiled. "Sure."

Leila’s eyes widened even further, and she fumbled with her wrist comm to activate the camera. Cedric and a few others laughed quietly as she rushed to his side, almost tripping over her own heels. Ethan waited patiently while she took a handful of photos, thanking him about six times in a row.

Once the group had greeted him and taken their pictures, they gradually drifted back to their conversations, leaving Ethan with a little space.

He crossed the hall toward Rose and Zara. As he approached, the cousins nearby politely stepped aside, giving them some privacy.

Rose turned, her expression softening when she saw him.

"How are you liking this family so far?" Ethan asked. His tone was casual, but he watched her closely for any trace of discomfort.

Rose’s eyes flicked around the hall—Elina smiling at a distant table, Elizabeth chatting with some of the Hunt women, Zara giggling over her dress—and she nodded.

"They’re all so kind," she said. "I like them."

Ethan felt something in his chest ease. He nodded back. "That’s good."

"By the way," he added, "tomorrow there will be a lot of prodigies coming. Maybe you can meet some of them—make a few friends before you start at Aurora Martial University. That way you won’t feel like you’re going in alone."

Rose smiled faintly. "Let’s see first. I don’t know if I’ll get along with them."

Ethan tilted his head. "If anyone gives you trouble, you can just tell me."

She laughed under her breath. "I think you’re the last person they’d want to annoy."

Zara tugged at Rose’s sleeve, holding up a small dessert from the table. "Can I have this?"

Rose nodded, and Zara bounced away, leaving Ethan and Rose alone for another moment.

He reached for a plate from the nearest table and started sampling the dishes. The catering was as extravagant as he’d expected—fresh seafood, fusion entrees, and a selection of desserts that seemed to disappear the moment they were replenished.

He ate slowly, scanning the room in between bites. No one approached him directly; most guests seemed content to observe from a safe distance.

A few minutes later, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see Cedric standing there.

"Brother, great grandfather would like a word," Cedric said with a respectful nod.

Ethan set his plate aside. "Understood."

He followed Cedric toward the head of the hall, where Alexander was seated at a long table flanked by high-ranking officials.

As they approached, the conversations quieted, and dozens of pairs of eyes turned in his direction.

Alexander gestured for him to come closer.

"Ethan," he said, his voice carrying easily across the hushed space. "You’ll need to meet the senior officials. And they should have a chance to greet the next heir in person."

Ethan inclined his head. "Of course."

One by one, they rose from their seats.

He met directors of defense manufacturing, managers of the Hunt family’s off-world mining operations, the heads of logistics, finance, research. Some were older, with faint lines around their eyes; others were barely middle-aged.

They introduced them selves one by one.

Ethan didn’t rush the process. As each person introduced themselves, he studied their face, repeated their name, and offered a handshake.

A few seemed cautious, measuring him with the polite reserve of experienced executives. A few others were openly curious.

Some of them offered simple congratulations:

"We’ve been expecting your presence for some time."

"It’s an honor to finally meet the next heir."

"I look forward to working under your leadership."

Ethan kept his responses calm and professional.

"Thank you."

"I’m glad to be here."

"We’ll build something stronger together."

Eventually, the introductions concluded. The officials resumed their seats, and the hall’s usual hum of conversation returned.

Alexander leaned back, regarding Ethan with a small, satisfied smile.

"You handled that well," he said quietly, so only Ethan could hear. "It’s important they see your face and hear your voice before tomorrow."

Ethan nodded. "I understand."

Alexander’s smile widened a little. "Good. Go on—enjoy yourself. I’ll speak with you later."

Ethan stepped away from the head table, scanning the hall once more.

He spotted Leila in the distance, already showing off the photos she’d taken with him. Zara was perched on a chair next to Rose, trying to steal another dessert without being noticed. Jack was still deep in discussion with several other family heads.

For a moment, Ethan simply watched the scene—the lights, the muted music, the hundreds of conversations crossing paths.

He hadn’t imagined himself in this place even a month ago. He was a nobody living a pathetic life in another world.

But now, standing here in the center of the Hunt estate, he knew this was exactly where he needed to be.

Tomorrow would bring challenges. He could already imagine the arrogant heirs of other families, eager to measure themselves against the Hunt family’s so-called prodigy.

He welcomed it.

If they wanted to test him, he would show them exactly what separated him from the rest.

And after tomorrow, no one in this city—or any other—would question who he was.

The evening passed without incident, and Ethan retired to his room. He knew he couldn’t delay his next breakthrough much longer—once he advanced to King Realm, he would finally be able to manipulate elemental forces freely and experiment with techniques he’d only ever dreamed of.

He sat cross-legged in the center of the training room and began cycling his breathing technique.

Hours passed.

Kacha!

A crisp sound echoed inside him. His aura surged, condensing and refining itself. He opened his eyes. Dawn’s light was spilling over the rooftops.

He examined his cultivation core—it had grown to nearly a meter across,exactly 97 cm. He’d successfully advanced to Level 4 Grandmaster Realm.

It was already morning.

But Ethan didn’t stop, he drew his sword and resumed practicing the Extinction Sword Art.

Three hours later, sweat dampening his collar, he felt a sudden clarity—but not quite the breakthrough he sought. He paused, breathing steadily, and summoned his status panel.

[Master: Ethan Hunt

Physique: 2,262,500

Spirit: 2,262,500

Talent: Infinite Comprehension]

His raw strength alone now surpassed that of an ordinary Level 9 King. And with his 108x force multiplication, his maximum combat power reached an astonishing 244 million tons—even stronger than the base strength of a Level 7 Emperor.

He reviewed the benchmark data in his mind:

Level 1 Emperor: 18 million tons

Level 2: 36 million tons

Level 3: 54 million tons

Level 4: 90 million tons

Level 5: 126 million tons

Level 6: 162 million tons

Level 7: 234 million tons

Level 8: 306 million tons

Level 9: 378 million tons

He felt a surge of grim satisfaction.

A knock interrupted his thoughts. Ethan rose, wiped the sweat from his brow, and opened the door.

A young maid stood there, hands clasped nervously.

"Young Master... Madam Elina asks that you join the family for breakfast."

"Understood. Anything else?"

"No, sir."

"Very well. You may go."

He showered , dressed in fresh white robes, and descended to the dining hall.

The immense table was already filling with relatives: his parents, Rose, Zara, Elizabeth, his uncles and aunts, cousins of all ages. At the head sat both his grandfathers and Alexander himself, radiating the quiet authority of decades.

Ethan stepped forward and offered a respectful greeting to everyone present.

Alexander beckoned him with a smile. "Come, sit beside me. From this day, this will be your seat—until you are ready to take my place as head of the family."

Ethan inclined his head, smiling softly. "Great-Grandfather, I wish you could remain head of the family for all eternity."

Alexander chuckled. "Ah, that tongue of yours—silver as always."

They shared a warm meal together, filling the hall with conversation and laughter.

After breakfast, the household staff began preparing the manor for the grand banquet to be held that evening. The event had been widely advertised; emissaries from every major power in the city and beyond were expected to attend. It would be the most lavish gathering the Hunt Family had ever hosted.

But Ethan felt none of the anticipation that electrified the estate.

He returned to his training room, ignoring the bustle outside.

When he resumed his practice, he felt the final barrier of comprehension melt away almost immediately.

Two hours later—

Ding!

[You have reached Level 5 in Extinction Sword Art.]

He exhaled slowly, a razor-edged calm settling in his chest. This level added another 3x multiplication to his strength.

Now, his total amplification was 144x, and his peak combat power soared to over 325 million tons, exceeding even the raw might of a Level 8 Emperor.

At last, he rose and sheathed his sword.

Tonight, he would not merely attend a banquet.

He would inscribe his name into the minds—and the fears—of every elite who dared challenge him.

[Author’s note: Thanks for the support until now. And hoping for more support from you esteemed readers in the future.]