My Life Changed with the Unlimited System
Chapter 44 The Volkov's Warning

The aftermath of the battle between Ethan and Anton lingered in the air. The gathered elites whispered among themselves, the hum of their conversations filling the otherwise quiet rooftop.

The tension was thick, like a charged current, as everyone watched Anton struggle to push himself off the ground.

"Don't you think you have won!" roared Anton.

Anton's face was twisted with rage, his pride wounded far more than his body. He planted one hand firmly on the rooftop, trying to force himself upright, determined to continue the fight.

But before anyone could react, a figure appeared between Anton and Ethan, as if he had materialized from the shadows themselves.

An old man, thin to the point of frailty, with long white hair that drifted slightly in the evening breeze, stood there. His face was lined with age, but his pale blue eyes glowed with a sharp, almost ethereal light.

He wore a simple, dark robe that seemed out of place among the tailored suits of the elite. Despite his unimposing appearance, an air of quiet authority around him made every one pause.

"Who's he?"

"Where did he come from?"

Voices filled with surprise echoed around. The elite group was shocked by the old man's sudden appearance. Yet, no one dared confront him, not even the guards.

Usually, the guards would handle anyone disrupting the battle. But this time, they all remained frozen in their spots.

Still catching his breath, Ethan felt a chill run down his spine as he realized he hadn't sensed the man's presence until he was standing there. He exchanged a glance with Lena, who had the same uneasy look in her eyes.

Nikolai's typical arrogance was nowhere to be seen; his brow furrowed in confusion as he tried to understand why the old man had suddenly appeared. "What's he doing here?"

Lena's mind was working overtime, trying to figure out the possibilities. She had a hunch about the identity of the mysterious figure. "Petrova Elder? But Anton isn't one of the main heirs. Why would he be here then?"

One of the Twelve Elders of the Petrova family—a figure rarely seen, even among the highest circles of power. But she kept her thoughts to herself, knowing that revealing such knowledge would be unwise.

The old man spoke a single word, his voice quiet yet carrying across the rooftop like a final decree. "Enough."

The simplicity of his command cut through the lingering tension, its weight palpable. Anton's fury melted into something closer to dread as he met the old man's eyes. He clenched his fists, his body trembling with the urge to continue, but ultimately bowed his head.

"Yes, Elder," Anton said through gritted teeth, the words thick with frustration. He shot one last glare at Ethan but knew better than to defy the Elder's word.

"You too. Follow me," the Elder ordered Nikolai.

Nikolai, too, took a step back, his earlier excitement and smugness replaced with a wary respect. He gave Ethan a glance that hinted at a begrudging acknowledgment before returning to the old man.

Without another word, Anton and Nikolai followed the mysterious figure, disappearing into the shadows of the elite's area as silently as he had appeared.

As soon as they were gone, the tension began to ease, the weight in the airlifting slightly. The gathered elites started to disperse, murmuring among themselves about the unexpected twist. But their eyes continued to dart toward Ethan, a new curiosity in their gaze.

David and Charles rushed over to Ethan, their faces pale with concern. David reached out, steadying Ethan as he took a shaky breath. "Are you okay? That... that was intense."

Ethan nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow, his muscles still thrumming with the adrenaline of the fight. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just need a moment."

Charles gave him a relieved but serious look. "You surprised a lot of people tonight. But who was that old man? He came out of nowhere."

Ethan shook his head, his expression still puzzled. "I don't know. But he was... something else."

Before they could dwell on the mystery of the old man's appearance, a familiar notification flashed before Ethan's eyes, catching his attention.

=====

[Mission Completed: Defeat Anton Petrova]

Rewards:

5000 EXP 30 Ascension Points

=====

Ethan allowed himself a small smile, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He had survived the fight but knew this was just the beginning.

=====

Congratulations! You have leveled up!

Current Level: 4 → 6

EXP: 11500 / 15000

Ascension Points: 23 → 53

Free Attribute Points: 10 → 30

Attributes Increased:

Strength: +2

Speed: +2

Endurance: +2

Intelligence: +2

Charisma: +2

=====

The world of the elites had revealed itself in a way Ethan hadn't fully understood before. And now, whether he was ready or not, he had stepped into it.

Ethan slipped away from the crowd, his steps heavy with exhaustion. He needed a break from the tension, a chance to collect himself.

Behind him, Jessica followed, her concern evident in the quickness of her pace. "Ethan, you shouldn't be alone right now," she urged, her voice laced with worry.

Before Ethan could respond, Lena caught up to them, her expression unreadable. "I'm coming too," she stated flatly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

She glanced back at David, lingering nearby, and her voice sharpened with authority. "David, you can handle the rest of the event from here. Make sure everything proceeds smoothly."

David gave a resigned nod, turning back toward the remaining guests.

Charles, standing nearby, couldn't mask his surprise. He stared at Lena, then at David, his brows knitting together in confusion. "Who is she?"

Charles whispered urgently. "And why is she giving you orders like that?"

David let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Lena... she's one of the Volkovs."

Charles's face went pale, his eyes widening with realization. "The Volkovs? What is she doing here? And how is Ethan connected to all this?" His voice wavered, struggling to grasp the implications.

David could only offer a faint, tired smile. "She's one of our staff."

Meanwhile, Ethan made his way into one of the small resting rooms. It was simple and meant for NovaTech staff to catch a quick break during long shifts.

He moved to a sofa and lowered himself slowly, wincing as he pulled off his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves. His forearms were bruised, and dark patches of blue and purple marred his skin. He couldn't hide the injuries anymore.

Jessica gasped as she caught sight of the bruises. "Ethan, you need to see a doctor. There could be internal injuries. This is serious!" she said, her voice rising in alarm.

Ethan shook his head, offering her a weary smile. "I'll be fine, Jessica. These are just bruises. Nothing I can't handle."

Before Jessica could argue further, the door automatically opened, and Lena stepped inside, her expression calm yet focused. She tossed a small bottle toward Ethan, who surprisingly easily caught it despite his fatigue.

Ethan glanced at the bottle, noting the unfamiliar label and the small, round pills inside. He looked up at Lena, his gaze wary. "What are these for?"

Lena leaned against the wall, folding her arms. "Take one, and you'll recover faster. They're designed to accelerate healing."

Ethan studied her closely, his suspicion clear. "And why should I trust you, Lena? After everything that happened tonight, I can't afford to take risks."

Lena met his gaze evenly, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. "If I had any intention of harming you, I wouldn't have bothered giving you information about the Petrovas' fighting style."

Ethan let out a dry laugh, the sound edged with bitterness. "That information didn't do me much good. At the end of the day, I fought that battle alone. If you really wanted to help, you could have stepped in to stop it. You're a Volkov—one word from you, and it would have ended before it began."

Lena's expression softened slightly as if she understood his frustration.

She paused, considering her words carefully before responding. "I won't deny that, Ethan. But stopping the fight would have exposed me in ways that would bring more trouble for you. The Volkovs have enemies—powerful ones. If they knew I was getting involved with you, they'd target NovaTech just to get to me."

Ethan snorted, shaking his head. "And what difference does that make? I'm already a target, Lena. After tonight, the Great Families will be eager to take me down, especially after the way they fawned over Anton. They'd be happy to get revenge on his behalf, hoping he'll put in a good word for them."

Lena's eyes flickered with something like sympathy, but she kept her tone measured. "You're right, Ethan. But by keeping my involvement subtle, I can help you navigate this world without drawing the full attention of the Volkovs' enemies. Consider this... a way to level the playing field, at least a little."

Ethan studied her for a long moment, weighing her words. He glanced down at the bottle in his hand, turning it over thoughtfully. He wasn't sure if he could fully trust Lena, but he understood that rejecting help out of pride would be foolish.

With a reluctant sigh, he opened the bottle and took out one of the pills, swallowing it down with a swig of water. Almost immediately, a cool sensation spread through his body, dulling the ache in his muscles.

Lena watched him quietly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "You made quite an impression tonight, Ethan. But this is just the beginning. You're playing a much bigger game now, with far more dangerous players."

Ethan met her gaze, a steely determination in his eyes. "Let them come. I'm not backing down. Not from the Petrovas, the Great Families, or anyone else who thinks they can crush me."

Lena chuckled softly at Ethan's bold declaration, echoing through the quiet room. Her laugh was not mocking but rather filled with a bemused understanding as if she were watching a child claim they could conquer the world without knowing its true size.

"Ethan, you shouldn't be so overconfident," Lena said, shaking her head. "There's more to this world than what you think you know. The Great Families? They're just one part of a much larger picture."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, the intensity in his gaze unwavering as he studied her. He knew there were secrets, but he didn't appreciate being kept in the dark, especially after everything that had happened tonight.

"If that's the case, then maybe you should start telling me what I'm missing," he replied. "You said you wanted to help. This might be the best time to fill me in on all that information."

Lena's eyes met his, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them—perhaps hesitation or something deeper. She unfolded her arms, pushing away from the wall as she considered his words.

For a moment, it seemed as if she might brush him off again, but then she sighed, a rare look of seriousness settling over her features.

"You're right, Ethan. After tonight, you deserve to know more. But understand what I'm about to tell you... it's not something you can unlearn. It will change everything—how you see Novan City, the Great Families, even your place in all of this."

She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper as if even the walls might have ears. "You think the Great Families or the families similar to Petrova are the only ones with power, but there's a world beneath the surface—a shadow world where alliances and enemies are far more dangerous than you've imagined. And the real reason these families stay on top is because..."

She paused, a shadow passing over her expression. Her lips parted to reveal the truth that would shift everything for Ethan. But before she could finish, her voice lowered even further, barely more than a breath, leaving the final words hanging in the air.

"...because they've tapped the realm of..."