With the door closing behind him Ethan heard his footsteps on the walls since everything from before vanished in that final room-shutting sound. He felt the same power that had burst inside him as he transformed still vibrated under his flesh as a permanent marker of his recent enlightenment. His physical being had undergone a permanent alteration. Every nerve within his body burned with unrestrained intensity making all of his body movements possess the power to destroy the universe.
{System Alert: Blood Sovereign's Bloodline Enhanced.}
The synthetic voice automatically delivered the message as the system broke through his streaming thoughts. His system sent an alert to demonstrate its persistence over him despite his improving abilities. The system's directives pounded through his perception encouraging him towards the journey destined for him as a god. Ethan had finished his need for the system's guidance. After breaking free from his chains he was taking full responsibility for determining his destiny.
The expansive room extended toward complete darkness which ate up the lantern's illumination. The walls displayed bizarre impossible shadows which twisted as they moved across the surfaces. Yet, they weren't. They were real. The ancient power that had previously ruled this place remained as remnants which drew Ethan toward them.
{Blood Sovereign's Will Activated: Fear Does Not Apply.}
The power inside Ethan intensified and caused his eyes to emit an abnormal crimson brightness. People experienced fear but he continued beyond its grasp which made him superior to weak individuals. But for him? Fear was a foreign concept. Such power operated as a tactical device which served as a fighting instrument only. The power he worked with exceeded his need for protection because he now represented all the frightening elements their fear created. The air around him became saturated with an ancient magical essence that saturated his entire body as well as the smell of old blood.
Surviving ceased to define him anymore. The person he had become went beyond ordinary levels of danger. Background noise turned out to be all that the System's messages along with its notifications offered throughout my existence. Fear no longer bound him since he had overcome his doubts about lacking enough competence or reaching unattainable goals. Ethan Blackwood perished when the former version of himself ceased to exist. The figure standing in his place had only one malicious intention which was to devour all that came within reach.
{System Message: Blood Sovereign Skill: Fearless Dominance Unlocked.}
A new skill. A fresh tool emerged which would help him maintain his absolute authority over the realm. Fearless Dominance. Through this talent he intended to break down every person's resolve so they surrendered without needing physical force. The power of fear would disappear completely under the eyes of his presence. His skin echoed that pulsing energy which twisted the natural qualities of people who would defy his authority.
Ethan felt an odd sense of peace enter his mind while he accepted his new capabilities. All the brutality he had experienced seemed to match the person he now was. He made decisions with absolute certainty because his thoughts lacked any doubts. Precise understanding guided him after he decided to take what he wanted unsympathetically.
The power which ran through his body made him question his past way of thinking. What was the price of this? Did he truly sacrifice anything by reaching this position? He dismissed the question instantly when it crossed his mind because it served as a brief moment of uncertainty. There was no time for doubts. Ethan intended to dominate the world because the world itself underwent significant changes which did not affect his determination to lead.
{Blood Sovereign Title Gained: Fearless Conqueror.}
The notification interrupted him because he stood at the threshold to achieve something which exceeded all his expectations. His existence rejected the element of being afraid. Through his actions he rewrote the world to match his desires as he moved forward while leaving death in his wake.
His attention moved toward the dark shapes moving by the walls of the room. An unknown power moved the shadows across the room with a vibrant force which matched the global corruption dominating the world. The structure at that location united its vast dominance over all other forces which had once controlled everything. The structure had become forgotten and decayed while hiding in forgotten darkness across the world. Now, it was his to command.
One stride took Ethan farther into the room through which he fixed his stare as he watched the moving dark shapes. His presence brought a response from them because they recognized it as part of their destiny. Total command now belonged to him since the former power holders departed from this domain. And those who had created it? Time erased them from existence while the progressing forces made them vanish from memory. Through his actions Ethan would redirect their heritage into a revolutionary power structure he controlled individually.
{Blood Sovereign Skill: Bloodward Activated.}
Another skill, another tool. The Bloodward skill generated an undetectable defensive barrier using his blood which would transform enemy attacks into strength for his abilities. This hidden power let him confront every enemy directly without receiving any harm whatsoever. Resistance against him was futile since his body represented an unbreakable stone barrier facing ocean waves. Ethan would survive the ruin and become even more powerful than his previous state.
Ethan showed no more concern for the moving shadows since his awakening occurred. Ethan sensed their apprehension along with their panic. Fear of him. The instinct to fear him by his enemies eventually led to their demise.
A recognizable shape formed from the collecting darkness. Although its contours were unclear it proved impossible to deny that something mysterious stood before his eyes. It was not human. Ethan could detect the darkness which enveloped the corrupt entity while feeling its evil nature right through the air.
{System Alert: Entity Detected. Class: Shadowborn. Rank: Unknown.}
A Shadowborn. Ethan had learned about these creatures called Shadowborn which emerged from dead mystical elements and maintained their life energy through shadow energies. Ethan had evolved into something more powerful than the shadow creatures which he could dismiss as merely dangerous. The being would experience defeat as every other creature had before it. Everyone needed to know how much time would pass before his demise.
When Ethan extended his hand he experienced another power surge. Biologically his blood transported itself with a strong pulse and nourished him in a way identical to his heartbeat. His power caused the atmosphere to cool down and the shadows to swirled in response.
The Shadowborn briefly stopped within its movement just before Ethan could finish his strike. He tightened his fist so the universe momentarily stopped before his eyes. All the shadows throughout the room remained completely still because his power created a momentary stasis. Ethan could detect the fearful energy from the creature because his power was making it tremble in its presence.
Ethan slammed his hand forward to release all his potent capabilities. The crimson energy produced from his hand shot through the room with hurricane-power force. The Shadowborn released an organic roar before its body decomposed into complete destruction due to the blood magic which fragmented it into extinction.
Ethan took his position as rightful leader as he stood still in the middle of the room while his upper body moved steadily with controlled breathing.
{System Message: Challenge Complete. Blood Sovereign's Path Uninterrupted.}
No power remained able to halt the expansion of his new existence as he became ruler of everything in his path.