The Core of Power

"Mutated lobster killed. Reward acquired: Advanced Thunder Breathing Technique stored in inventory."

Ethan's eyes lit up at the notification. "Advanced Thunder Breathing?" he muttered, grinning. It sounded like a major upgrade—something far more powerful than the standard technique he'd been using. He didn't have time to examine it just yet, but he was excited by the potential.

Before he could dwell on it further, Ned came barreling toward him, practically tackling him in a bear hug.

"Ethan! My hero! You're a god!" Ned shouted dramatically, squeezing so hard Ethan almost lost his breath.

"Alright, alright, get off me!" Ethan groaned, shoving him away. "You're making me question your life choices, dude."

"Sorry, man, I just couldn't help myself!" Ned laughed, bouncing with excitement. He turned to look at the destroyed lobster carcass, shaking his head in awe. "Seriously though, that thing was built like a tank. I couldn't even leave a dent in it, and you turned it into a bloody pincushion! You're like a human wrecking ball!"

Ethan chuckled but didn't respond. Instead, he caught Lynn approaching, her expression calmer but still curious. She studied the massive wounds Ethan had inflicted on the lobster.

"That level of raw power…" Lynn murmured. "Even with my A-tier talent, I couldn't have taken that thing down like this."

Ethan caught her words and flashed a grin. "What can I say? Hard work pays off."

Lynn didn't smile back but nodded thoughtfully. "You're stronger than I imagined. I'll give you that."

"Glad to hear it," Ethan said with a wink.

Lynn ignored his playful tone, stepping toward the lobster's head. She pulled a gleaming knife from her boot and stabbed it into the creature's skull. After a few moments of digging, she extracted a shimmering, multi-colored gemstone roughly the size of a pigeon egg.

"What's that?" Ned asked, leaning closer, his eyes wide with curiosity.

"This is a core," Lynn explained, holding it up. The gemstone sparkled under the lights, radiating a subtle energy. "We call it an Awakening Core. It can boost an awakened person's talent level and enhance their abilities significantly."

Ned gasped. "Wait, seriously? You mean this thing can power up our talents?"

"Yes," Lynn replied. "It's rare and incredibly valuable. These cores are one of the key factors in determining who rises to power in this chaotic world."

Ethan frowned, the gravity of her words sinking in. It made sense now—why Lynn had been so much stronger since the last time they fought a mutated creature together. If her family had access to these cores, it explained their growing power.

"This could change everything," Ethan thought. The opportunity to gather more Awakening Cores could give him a crucial advantage in the days ahead.

Ned, meanwhile, was practically drooling over the idea. "Man, if I could get a few of these, my Iron Fists would finally stop being a joke!"

Lynn handed the core to Ethan, catching him off guard. "Here. You earned it," she said calmly.

"Wait... you're giving this to me?" Ethan asked, blinking in surprise. "Isn't this super valuable for you?"

Lynn nodded. "Yes, but you're the one who killed the creature. Besides, I've already claimed the core from the first lobster. It's only fair."

Ned's jaw dropped. "Holy crap, Ethan! Do you have any idea how rare this stuff is? She's basically handing you a golden ticket!"

Ethan hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "Thanks, Lynn. I appreciate it."

Before he could pocket the core, a cold voice interrupted.

"Hold on."

Everyone turned to see Ged striding back into the hall, flanked by several awakened individuals from his family's security team. His face was dark, and his eyes locked onto the core in Ethan's hand with barely concealed greed.

"You've got to be kidding me," Ethan muttered under his breath. "Ged, what do you want?"

"This isn't up for debate," Ged replied, his tone sharp. "That lobster was part of a shipment imported by my family. It was already wounded by our people, which made it easier for you to kill. That core belongs to us."

Ned stepped forward, his fists glowing faintly. "Bullshit! Ethan did all the heavy lifting. You think you can just waltz in here and steal the reward?"

Ged sneered. "This isn't stealing—it's called reclaiming what's rightfully ours. I'm giving Ethan a chance to hand it over peacefully."

One of Ged's men, a large, bearded man with a B-tier talent, crossed his arms and nodded. "We were hunting that lobster first. You just happened to finish it off. You should be thanking us for the assist."

Ethan's eyes narrowed. He sensed the tension rising. "So, what's your plan? Strong-arm me into giving it up?"

Ged's expression turned smug. "I'm not here to fight, Ethan. In fact, I have a better offer. Join my family's organization. If you do, I'll let this slide and make sure you're treated like royalty. We could use someone like you."

Ethan chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Not interested."

Ged's face twisted in anger. "You're making a mistake."

"No," Ethan replied calmly, stepping forward. "You are."

Ned cracked his knuckles, stepping beside Ethan. "We're not afraid of you, Ged. You want the core? Come and take it—if you can."

The tension in the room reached a boiling point. Ged's men braced themselves, and Ethan's muscles tensed, ready for a fight.

"Your move, Ged," Ethan said coldly, his gaze unyielding.