Strange phenomenon...

This was the kind of person who shaped empires, the kind of man whose presence alone could change the atmosphere of an entire room.

As the silence stretched, Gareth's piercing gaze settled on Ethan, and for a moment, he felt like he was being weighed, measured, and judged all at once.

The tension in the room was palpable. And Ethan knew this was only the beginning.

The silence in the dining hall lingered as Lord Gareth Drakethorne took his seat at the head of the table. His piercing gaze swept over everyone present, lingering briefly on Ethan before moving on. Even with his gruff demeanor and commanding presence, there was an air of weariness about him tonight, like a predator that had just returned from a long hunt.

For a moment, he said nothing, allowing the weight of his presence to settle. When he finally spoke, his deep, gravelly voice filled the room, cutting through the silence like a blade.

"There's something strange happening in the dungeons," Gareth began, his tone calm yet laden with authority. "Something I've never encountered before in all my years of raiding."

Ethan felt a chill run down his spine as his father's words hung in the air. He wasn't the only one. The rest of the family sat straighter, their attention now fully fixed on the man at the head of the table.

---

"The difficulty of some dungeons has started increasing," Gareth continued, his brow furrowed as though the very thought troubled him. "I've raided countless dungeons in my time, and I can read them like a book. Their energy flows, the patterns of their beasts, the way their terrain shifts. But recently…" He paused, letting the tension build. "Recently, that pattern has begun to change."

"Change how?" Kaelen, the eldest, asked, his voice steady but curious.

Gareth's expression hardened. "The dungeons are evolving. In the middle of a raid, I've seen their difficulty spike by levels far beyond what should be possible. Beasts that were manageable become monsters that can wipe out seasoned teams. Terrain reshapes itself into death traps. Even the energy within the dungeon feels… different. Darker."

The room was silent as everyone absorbed his words. Ethan, sitting near the middle of the table, found himself gripping the edge of his chair. He had been trying to piece together the mechanics of this world, but this new information felt like a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit.

"This isn't just a coincidence," Gareth said, his voice lowering, drawing everyone further into his words. "Something is happening in this world. Whether it's tied to the Great Labyrinth or something else entirely, I can't say yet. But one thing is certain—our survival depends on strength."

He leaned forward, his sharp gaze locking onto each of his children in turn. "You've all been raised to understand the importance of power in this world. Strength isn't just about pride or legacy—it's about survival. The beasts don't care about your name or your status. The dungeons don't care about your intentions. If you're weak, you die. It's that simple."

His words were brutal, but they carried the undeniable weight of truth. Ethan felt his chest tighten. The memories he had inherited from the original Ethan told him that this wasn't an exaggeration. This world thrived on danger, and only the strong could carve out a place within it.

"You've all seen what happens to those who can't keep up," Gareth continued, his voice taking on a harder edge. "You've all seen the aftermath of dungeon breaks, the destruction, the loss. This family stands where it does because we have the power to fight back. Never forget that."

---

Gareth leaned back in his chair, his hand resting on the table as he exhaled deeply. "The phenomenon I encountered may not be isolated. Reports are coming in from other regions of similar occurrences. Higher-level beasts appearing in low-level dungeons. Sentient creatures rallying their forces. Even whispers of the Great Labyrinth itself stirring."

Ethan's breath caught. The Great Labyrinth… Even from the fragmented memories of this body, he knew that the Great Labyrinth was a name spoken with both awe and fear. It was the source of all dungeons, a dimension so vast and mysterious that it was said no one had ever reached its true heart.

"I don't know what's causing this," Gareth admitted, his tone softer now, almost reflective. "But whatever it is, it's changing the rules of this world. And if the rules change, we must adapt."

---

Gareth stood, signaling the end of the discussion. The servants immediately moved to retrieve his greatsword and cape, their movements practiced and efficient.

"Train hard. Prepare for what's coming," he said, his voice carrying an unspoken command. His gaze lingered on each of them again, pausing briefly on Ethan. "And remember, the moment you stop growing stronger is the moment you start falling behind."

With that, he turned and left the room, his footsteps echoing faintly as he disappeared into the hallway.

For a moment, no one spoke. The air was thick with tension, the weight of Gareth's words pressing down on everyone. Kaelen was the first to break the silence, leaning back in his chair with a thoughtful expression.

"Well," he said dryly, "he's in a cheerful mood tonight."

Darius snorted, though there was little humor in the sound. "He's right, though. If the dungeons are changing, it'll affect everything. Trade routes, guild operations, even city defenses. We'll all have to be on high alert."

Mia, sitting beside Ethan, crossed her arms and leaned toward him slightly. "Looks like you've got more to think about, little brother. The Rite of Awakening is coming up, and now you've got even more reason to succeed."