My Life Changed with the Unlimited System

Reynard LaRue's gaze darkened as he watched the chaotic battle unfolding. His thoughts swirled with anger and frustration, directed at both himself and his dead son. 'Damn, Lucien,' he thought, clenching his fists so tightly his knuckles went white. 'If only he had listened and shown a hint of sense… we wouldn't be in this mess.'

The memory of the Elders' arrival was still fresh, still searing. They had come to him with urgent expressions, their voices sharp as they informed him of Lucien's death.

The words had struck him like a blow, shattering the fragile calm he'd carefully built. He had been in seclusion for months, meticulously stabilizing his strength as he broke into the Knight Ascendant rank—a realm achieved by only the most powerful, especially in Novan City.

He had been on the edge of perfecting his foundation, his energy woven into a delicate balance. But the news, the shock of it, had broken that concentration, and his control had snapped.

Reynard had tried desperately to hold on, to keep his focus steady, but the surge of anger and grief had been too much. Now, he could feel the instability in his Ascendant Core, the imbalance that made his power volatile.

The Knight Ascendant rank allowed him to wield the element of fire by transforming his Ascendant Energy into a blazing force. But with his foundation now shaken, that elemental fire was as much a threat to him as to his enemies.

"I can't freely use it yet, or else... I'll never be able to taste advancement anymore," Reynard reminded himself.

He knew he couldn't let anyone see it—not even the Elders or the LaRue allies. They could never know how fragile his control had become. He was still the Head, who held the power over the LaRue family. He couldn't allow anyone to see his weakness.

Meanwhile, Calder's mind was racing, consumed by a wave of fury that clouded his every thought. His eyes stayed fixed on Reynard, the man responsible for every ounce of suffering his family had endured.

Reynard was the one who had poisoned his father, leading him to a slow, painful death. His mother, once vibrant, was now a frail shadow of herself, terminally ill thanks to the same insidious poison. The pain in his chest felt raw, throbbing with a desire for vengeance that nearly blinded him.

'This is my chance,' he thought, his fists clenched so tightly he felt his nails digging into his palms. 'If I could just reach him, I could end this...'

But as he lunged forward, his gaze locked with the Illusionist's sneering face, and a familiar, piercing voice cut through his rage.

"Calder." Ethan's words were firm and steady, grounding against his anger. "Don't let your anger blind you."

Calder hesitated, the burning rage within him struggling against Ethan's calm yet powerful reminder. "How can I not?" Calder growled through gritted teeth. "He took everything from me. He killed my father and ruined my mother. I can't just stand back—"

"You're not ready," Ethan interrupted, his tone carrying a mix of understanding and authority. He moved in closer, his eyes sharp and unwavering. "Reynard is far beyond your strength right now. If you rush in now, revenge will be your last accomplishment."

Calder opened his mouth to argue, but Ethan held up a hand, stopping him. "Listen. I know what this means to you. I know the pain and rage you feel," Ethan said, his voice low but filled with conviction. "But I promise you this—I'll help you. You'll become stronger, and when the time is right, you'll take Reynard down yourself."

Ethan's words hit him like a cold shock, dousing the flames of his rage just enough to think clearly. 'Stronger… to take down Reynard myself?'

Calder felt his fists loosen as he absorbed Ethan's promise, his breaths slowly steadying. He forced himself to nod, though the anger still simmered beneath the surface. "Fine," he muttered, the edge of frustration in his voice. "But remember what you promised, Ethan. I won't let this go."

Ethan gave him a firm nod, his gaze unyielding. "I'll make sure you get your chance."

Ethan sprang back to Lucan's side, his feet barely touching the ground as he landed next to Thorne. Thorne stood as solid as a fortress, unyielding and focused, his gaze locked forward with fierce determination.

Ethan could see it in Thorne's stance—the tension in his shoulders, the rigid line of his jaw. Thorne had prepared himself for this moment, and it was clear he was ready to do anything, even sacrifice himself, to ensure Lucan's safety.

In the silence, Ethan noticed something stirring around Lucan, an energy building, pulsing in rhythm with his breath. It was intense, raw, and unmistakable, the threshold of the Knight Ascendant realm.

"He's almost there..." Ethan marveled at how a reward from the system could have such a powerful effect. It frustrated him for such an item to end up in someone else's hands.

However, given the circumstances, he felt compelled to act this way, believing it was the best course of action for now.

'This... is how taping into the Knight Ascendant realm feels. It differs from when I first entered the Soldier Ascendant realm.' Lucan's aura grew denser, emanating a power that filled the air—something he had never experienced before.

But it wasn't just Lucan who sensed it; everyone in the vicinity turned, eyes wide with recognition. His allies were smiling broadly.

Across the battlefield, Reynard's eyes narrowed as he focused on Lucan, his expression hardening. 'Is he trying to break into the Knight Ascendant realm?' he thought, the weight of what it would mean settling heavily in his mind.

Lucan's breakthrough threatened everything, and Reynard knew the consequences for his family and control. He couldn't afford to let it happen, not now, not ever. "Don't think I will just sit by and do nothing."

Steeling himself, Reynard took a step forward, the intense flames of his Ascendant Energy igniting around him. He knew his power was still unstable, but the risk was one he had to take. Ignoring the dangerous repercussions, Reynard surged forward, preparing to launch his strike, his expression deadly serious.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

But before he could close the distance, Thorne stepped in his path. His stance was firm and unwavering, with a glint of determination in his eyes. His voice was barely a whisper, words only to himself, "Not today… Not while I'm here."

Reynard's attack faltered briefly, his eyes landing on Thorne, assessing him. Thorne met Reynard's gaze with an intensity that surprised even him, his hands trembling slightly as he held his ground.

Thorne had activated his forbidden technique, an ultimate defense that required him to draw from his very life force. His strength surged, but it came at a heavy price; blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, evidence of the toll it was taking.

"You think you can stop me?" Reynard sneered, his voice laced with contempt.

Thorne's response was quiet and committed. "I'll hold you back… for as long as I must." He planted his feet firmly, his aura crackling with raw energy as he prepared to face Reynard's fury head-on, every heartbeat now a countdown of his life.

Ethan darted in and out like an elusive shadow, weaving between Reynard's strikes, landing quick jabs wherever he could—an elbow to Reynard's side, a punch to his ribs. Each hit barely left a mark, but Ethan knew his goal wasn't to cause damage. It was to disrupt, draw Reynard's attention, and keep him off-balance for a few seconds longer.

Thorne, blood staining his lips from the toll of his forbidden technique, held his ground with unwavering focus. Each time Reynard's gaze snapped to Ethan, preparing to retaliate, Thorne was there, his arms raised in a defensive stance, ready to intercept.

"You're persistent, aren't you?" Reynard growled, his voice dripping with irritation as another one of Ethan's strikes brushed his shoulder.

Ethan flashed a grin, his breathing heavy but steady. "What can I say? Just doing my job."

Reynard's eyes narrowed, and he raised his fist, gathering power, ready to strike Ethan down. But before his fist could connect, Thorne appeared between them, deflecting the blow with a fierce block.

"Focus on me," Thorne grunted, gritting his teeth against the impact.

Reynard's expression darkened, frustration beginning to show. "I'll tear you both apart!" he spat, his voice tinged with anger.

Thorne glanced briefly at Ethan, the ghost of a smile on his face. "Keep at it. Every second counts."

Ethan nodded, taking another quick breath. "I've got your back," he replied, moving again to throw off Reynard's focus. With every sidestep, every jab, he managed to divert Reynard's attention just enough, forcing him to split his attacks.

This interference dance continued, with Thorne stepping in to shield Ethan each time Reynard's patience wore thin. The seconds turned into minutes, each stretching longer, and for those few minutes, they had successfully stalled Reynard's assault.

Meanwhile, Lucan, seated cross-legged behind them, could feel the strain. He was painfully aware of the battle happening just steps away. Every impact, every grunt of effort from Ethan and Thorne reached his ears, a constant reminder of the stakes. He clutched the Leapstone, his focus slipping as the sounds of the fight threatened to pull him from his task.

Glancing at the stone in his hand, Lucan made a decision. "Guess it's all or nothing."

With a deep breath, he brought the Leapstone to his mouth, swallowing it in one determined motion.