My Life Changed with the Unlimited System

As the smoke cleared, a figure emerged from the inferno, stepping through the blaze with a calm, deliberate stride. Flames licked at the edges of his cloak, casting an eerie glow that framed his face in shadow. The air around him pulsed with an intense, unyielding energy that made the ground tremble.

Darius and his team froze, their expressions twisting in shock and dread as they recognized the man who had appeared before them. There was no mistaking him—the cold, piercing gaze, the unmistakable aura of authority and power.

"Reynard LaRue…" Darius murmured, his voice barely a whisper, the weight of the name pressing on him like a physical force.

The Head of the LaRue family, Reynard LaRue, stood before them, the inferno at his back, his eyes gleaming with a dark and ruthless intent.

Rhea's eyes widened, and she took a small, cautious step back. Her mind raced as she processed what she was witnessing. She turned to the others, her voice tight with barely concealed dread.

"That power… there's no doubt. Reynard LaRue has reached the rank of a Knight Ascendant," she said, her words hanging heavily in the air.

Lucan nodded grimly, his gaze fixed on Reynard. "Only those at that rank can start manifesting their Ascendant Energy into one of the four main elements—Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind," he added.

The group looked at each other with a look of realization and unease, each understanding what they were against.

Ethan's fists clenched, a cold shiver working through him as he activated his Divine Eyes, hoping for any glimpse of Reynard's strength. Instead, a message appeared, blunt and unyielding.

=====

Error! Unable to Scan.

=====

'So, even my Divine Eyes can't scan him,' Ethan thought grimly. The power gap was more than just a number; it was a wall. 'What chance do we have against that?'

Reynard LaRue's presence was crushing, his aura humming with raw power. The air seemed to throb with the heat of his lingering Ascendant Energy, radiating a deadly calm.

Normally, Ethan would be curious and search for some clue or angle. But now, the sheer danger seemed to drown out that instinct entirely.

Before Reynard moved, footsteps echoed from behind, catching everyone's attention. Turning, they saw four more figures emerging from the shadows with quiet authority.

Ethan's heart sank. He could not believe this would happen. Things just got worse.

The Elders of the LaRue family approached, each with a gaze that held more than just resolve—it held judgment. Walking smugly behind them was the Illusionist, his lips curled in a self-satisfied smirk.

"There they are. It was that brat who killed Lucien," accused the Illusionist.

A ripple of unease spread through the group as they entered the scene. They were truly surrounded—caught between Reynard's fury and the rest of the LaRue family's might. Escape, once a faint hope, now seemed nearly impossible.

One of the Elders stepped forward, his expression twisted with disdain. "How dare you take the life of a LaRue? Killing a member of this family is nothing short of a declaration of war."

Axel's fists clenched, and he shot back without hesitation. "We didn't kill him! That coward swapped places with Lucien, getting him killed in the process. If anyone deserves blame, it's him!" His voice rang out, frustration fueling his words as he glared at the Illusionist.

The Elder scoffed, crossing his arms as if the statement was beneath him. "As if the Petrovas—noble allies to the LaRues—would resort to such tactics. Have you no shame, spouting such nonsense?"

The smug dismissal hit hard, and silence fell over Ethan's group as they absorbed the harsh truth. Justice here was not a matter of right or wrong. The LaRues would never admit the fault of an ally, not when the situation could be twisted to their advantage.

From their viewpoint, the blame rested solely with the Coles; if Ethan and his group hadn't existed, Lucien would still be alive.

Ethan's thoughts raced, grasping for options. He realized, 'There was no way they'd hear us out,' feeling the weight of their one-sided judgment pressing in.

His gaze drifted to his system inventory. The Ascendant Leapstone glowed faintly—a beacon of possibility, but only a limited one. Using it himself would promote him to High Star Soldier Ascendant, yet that wouldn't be enough to face Reynard.

But if he gave it to one of his Warlords…

Ethan's jaw tightened as he considered the choice. 'It might be the only way to tip the scales.'

Quickly, he turned his gaze on the Elders. Scanning them had been easy enough; all were High Star Soldiers—manageable for his Warlords. The real threat was Reynard, whose strength remained out of reach.

Ethan took a deep breath, his voice steady but laced with urgency as he looked to his Warlords and then to Darius and his team. "Listen closely. I need all of you to keep Lucan undisturbed. By any means necessary."

Confusion flickered across their faces, but the weight of Ethan's tone left no room for hesitation. They nodded, trusting his judgment, each moving to form a protective ring around Lucan without questioning the command.

With the briefest pause, Ethan reached into his inventory. He pulled out the Ascendant Leapstone, its faint, otherworldly glow catching Lucan's attention. The Warlord looked at Ethan, stunned, but Ethan simply pressed it into Lucan's hand, his gaze intense.

"This is yours," Ethan said, his voice low. "Eat it to absorb its power."

Lucan's eyes widened, but he took a steadying breath, feeling the immense energy coursing through his fingers when he touched the stone. Ethan had already checked the process for absorption. To his surprise, it was as straightforward as consuming the stone itself. Lucan swallowed his expression, a mix of awe and disbelief.

"Eat it?" he whispered, half to himself, glancing up at Ethan in disbelief. But seeing the resolute expression in Ethan's eyes, he chose to trust his leader's instincts.

Without further hesitation, Lucan assumed a meditation pose, steadying his breathing. With one final glance at Ethan, he lifted the stone to his mouth and bit down, feeling the unfamiliar texture as he began to chew, each piece filling him with a growing surge of power.

The Illusionist scoffed, a mocking smile twisting on his lips as he watched Ethan and the others move into position around Lucan. His gaze lingered on Lucan, seated in meditation, and he chuckled, shaking his head in disdain.

"Do you really think this little ritual of yours will change anything?" he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "No matter what you attempt, you'll never stand a chance against the LaRues. Not when the Head has reached the Knight Ascendant rank."

The words landed heavily, and for a split second, a flicker of doubt passed over the faces of Ethan's group. The sheer power gap between them and someone at the Knight Ascendant rank loomed like a dark shadow, and the Illusionist's sneer only deepened as he took in their reactions.

"Do you understand the futility here?" he continued, his tone almost pitying. "Nothing you do will make a difference."

Ethan raised his steady and unwavering voice. "Don't listen to him!" he called out, his tone carrying a command that cut through the tension. We stick to the plan. Focus, and don't let his words shake you."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

As he spoke, a strange, powerful energy began to pulse within him, increasing intensity. It felt familiar, like the force he'd unleashed against Lucien in that final blow—raw and fierce. His mind raced, piecing together fragments of his recent experiences. Could this energy be stirred only when he was under extreme pressure?

A shiver of excitement mixed with uncertainty ran through him, but he pushed it aside. Now wasn't the time to question it.

Just ahead, Reynard stood silent, observing without any sign of intervention. His gaze was sharp and calculating as if he were testing the mettle of those before him. Yet he made no move to join the fray, leaving it to the three Elders and the Illusionist to make the first assault.

Ethan gritted his teeth, his focus tightening as the Elders and Illusionist stepped forward, their auras flaring with fierce intent. The Warlords and Darius's team tensed in response, preparing to meet the incoming wave.

"Don't falter!" Ethan shouted. "Remember, our priority is to hold them off—Lucan needs time."

The battlefield erupted into chaos as each group sprang into action, charging forward with fierce determination. Darius rallied his team into their well-practiced formation, each member moving with precision honed from years of battle. They circled one of the Elders, and each step was calculated and synchronized.

The Elder scoffed, eyes narrowing with contempt. "How dare you turn your backs on the LaRue family? Traitors deserve nothing but death," he sneered, his gaze icy as he prepared his stance.

Hale met his gaze, his voice steady despite the tension. "Return to the LaRues? Just to die for a family that values us less than pawns? I'd be a fool."

The Elder's lips twisted into a dark smile. "Then you'll die here just as well. There's no difference," he spat, lunging forward with a swift, brutal kick aimed at Darius.

Darius deflected the strike, grunting as he countered with a rapid punch to the Elder's torso. "Stand firm!" he shouted to his team, sidestepping the Elder's follow-up blow and driving his elbow into the man's ribs. "Stay in formation—don't let him break us!"

Meanwhile, the Warlords split off, forming two groups. Calder, Rhea, and Flint went after the Illusionist and one of the Elders, moving swiftly to close in on their targets.

Rhea took point, her eyes focused and sharp, reading every move of the Illusionist as he twisted and shifted, trying to keep her at bay with evasive maneuvers.

"You think you can handle me?" The Illusionist laughed, darting to the side as Rhea lunged at him. "Your little strength won't be enough!"

Flint joined her, his fists aiming low to force the Illusionist to retreat. "Not enough?" Flint grunted, catching the Illusionist off guard with a quick uppercut. "Are you sure?"

The Elder, alongside the Illusionist, attacked Calder with a flurry of precise punches, forcing him on the defensive. Calder barely dodged a strike aimed at his jaw, gritting his teeth as he shifted his weight to counter with a roundhouse kick connected with the Elder's shoulder, staggering him back.

The two remaining Warlords, Axel and Seraph, took on the last Elder. Axel moved in quickly, blocking a jab before retaliating with a heavy punch to the Elder's midsection, his fist sinking in with satisfying force. "This one's stubborn!" Axel called out, glancing at Thorne, who circled around to flank their opponent.

Seraph struck out with a kick aimed at the Elder's knee, forcing him off balance. "Then we don't give him a chance to recover," Seraph muttered, pressing forward with a powerful jab.

In the center of the chaotic scene, Ethan remained by Lucan's side, casting glances over his shoulder as the battle raged around them. Thorne, standing nearby, kept his gaze locked on Reynard, every muscle tensed and ready.

The Head of the LaRue family watched with an impassive expression, his arms crossed as he observed the battle unfold. He seemed content to let his Elders and the Illusionist handle the initial assault. Still, his eye had a keen, predatory glint as though he were assessing each fighter's worth.