I Control the World

As they reached the second level, the first sight to meet their eyes was the ouroboros carved into the wall, its dark golden patterns so lifelike they seemed to writhe. Rows of white candles stood in the corners, their delicate jasmine scent permeating the air.

Ethan Reed paid no mind to these details. His attention was fully drawn to the black muzzles of the guns aimed directly at him.

This time, only two members of the Viper Gang were present. But these two, armed with dual pistols, stood like a pair of imposing gatekeepers, blocking the path forward.

"Where's Lily?" Ethan demanded.

His question was answered with the crack of gunfire.

Bang!

From the dark muzzle, a brief flash of light accompanied the whistle of a brass bullet cutting through the air.

Ethan didn't dodge—he wasn't faster than a bullet.

Clang!

The bullet struck him, sparking off his body. His clothes were torn, revealing a patch of metallic skin glinting coldly beneath.

Ethan's face remained emotionless as he fixed his gaze on the two men. "This kind of toy..."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The rapid gunfire cut Ethan Reed's arrogant words short.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The barrage of bullets slammed against him like hitting an iron wall. Aside from shredding his clothes further, they left no visible marks on his body.

In the surveillance room, Sam observed Ethan's display of strength with growing satisfaction. At the same time, he noted a critical weakness—Ethan's eyes.

When the bullets flew, Ethan had instinctively raised his hands to shield his eyes.

"In that case, let's try grenades," Sam instructed calmly over the intercom.

Following his command, the two gunmen in black pulled grenades from their jackets.

Ethan's composure faltered the moment he saw the grenades. His expression shifted, and in a flash, he bolted toward the two men at a speed too fast for them to react.

But if they couldn't throw the grenades, they had another option.

"For the chief!"

The two black-clad men raised the grenades high and charged straight at Ethan, sacrificing themselves without hesitation.

Boom! Boom!

The violent explosion tore through the walls, reducing them to rubble.

As the smoke and dust cleared, the aftermath revealed two mangled corpses—and Ethan Reed, standing unscathed.

Sam's eyes burned with intensity as he watched. Is this the true power of the Transcendent?

Ethan had become a Transcendent less than a month ago, and yet here he was, shrugging off bullets and withstanding grenades head-on.

His thoughts were interrupted by a harsh, rattling cough.

On the screen, Ethan doubled over, coughing uncontrollably. Blood poured from his mouth, but he didn't stop moving. He wiped the blood from the corner of his lips and pressed forward without hesitation.

So, the weakness lies in his internal organs? Sam mused. It seems his insides aren't made of steel.

The Third Level.

The same ouroboros patterns. The same white candles.

But the enemies were different this time. Two figures stood waiting, clad in thick firefighting suits and wielding enormous flamethrowers.

The moment they saw Ethan, they didn't waste time with words. Jets of flame surged forth, filling the hallway like a tidal wave, swallowing Ethan's figure completely.

A second later, a scorched black figure burst from the inferno, moving like a predatory panther. Ethan charged at the two flame-wielders with ferocious speed.

The two men, as if anticipating their demise, discarded their flamethrowers without hesitation. From their suits, they pulled out grenades they had prepared in advance and rushed to meet Ethan head-on.

"For the chief!!"

Boom! Boom!

The two attackers were blown to pieces, but Ethan Reed didn't emerge unscathed. His internal organs suffered further damage, causing him to cough up mouthfuls of blood. His hair and eyebrows were completely singed off, and his clothes—clearly made of cheap plastic—had melted into a charred second skin that clung tightly to his body.

Yet, judging by his movement, the injuries didn't seem to hinder him much.

In the surveillance room, Lily's jaw hung open in shock. Only now did she fully grasp the terrifying reality of the man who had spent a night sleeping beside her. Bulletproof, fireproof—he was nothing short of a living Superman.

So this is what they call a Transcendent?

The term was something she had learned from Sam. No wonder he had gone to such lengths to capture Ethan Reed.

If it's someone like Ethan… maybe it's possible.

She cast a sidelong glance at Sam, hoping to glean some reaction from him. Yet, there was no trace of fear in his expression. What she saw instead was a subtle smirk—a look of amusement, as though a hunter had found an entertaining prey.

For reasons she couldn't explain, Lily suddenly felt that the man standing beside her was far more terrifying than Ethan Reed, even with all his monstrous abilities.

"Aren't you even a little worried?" Lily asked abruptly.

"Worried? Worried about what?"

Lily's expression turned serious. "You've gone out of your way to provoke a Transcendent. When he finds out you're the one pulling the strings, what do you think he'll do? Your men clearly can't stop him."

Sam tilted his head slightly, his piercing gaze locking onto her like a spotlight. "Are you testing me?"

Lily froze, her face stiffening. "I'm just… curious."

Sam chuckled softly, his tone as warm as his smile. "Instead of worrying, I'd say I'm more… looking forward to it."

"Looking forward to it?"

"Imagine this," Sam said, his voice almost playful. "Ethan Reed finally makes it to me, battered and exhausted, only to find his beloved woman safe and sound, enjoying a perfectly cooked M9 steak. What do you think his reaction will be?"

Lily's face drained of color. She immediately understood the implications behind Sam's words. When Ethan discovered that she had been working with the Viper Gang all along… what would happen then? The thought was too terrifying to dwell on.

"It must be quite entertaining, don't you think?"

Sam's gentle voice echoed in the surveillance room, but to Lily, it felt like the icy grip of death itself. A shiver ran down her spine, and she couldn't suppress the chill that spread through her entire body.

"Relax," Sam said, his tone light, as though discussing the weather. "It won't be so easy for him to find me. The fourth level is filled with toxic gas. From the earlier tests, we've confirmed that his invulnerability is limited to his outer body—his internal organs are still vulnerable. That means he can't resist the gas. And this isn't just any gas—it's a custom blend I spent a fortune on in the black market. I doubt even a Transcendent can withstand it."

"What if he does withstand it?" Lily asked, her voice low. "What if he manages to make it to you in the end?"

Hearing this, Sam's smile widened, his amusement growing more palpable. "Then it'll be even more interesting. I suppose… I'd probably be torn to pieces, wouldn't I? Hahaha..."

He laughed, as though he were genuinely looking forward to such a grisly fate. It was as if he could already picture it in his mind and found the image exhilarating.

Lily wasn't sure what to feel anymore. Her emotions were a tangled mess, and to her dismay, her thoughts began to wander to unrelated memories.

She recalled her childhood, back when her father hadn't succumbed to gambling and their family was still happy. There was a time she'd scored a perfect 100 on a test, and her father had promised to take her to the amusement park that weekend. She had spent the entire week in gleeful anticipation, laughing to herself just at the thought of it.

Now, looking at Sam, she realized he was in the same state of mind—completely and utterly thrilled by the anticipation of what was to come.

It wasn't relief or fear she saw in his expression. It was pure, unfiltered excitement.