Klein smiled, a look of certain victory in his eyes. "A few of us have formed a small circle to exchange cultivation experiences and share resources. Since you have Grade Five Aptitude, it's a waste to just hole up and cultivate on your own. Joining us will only benefit you."
After he finished speaking, he put his hands behind his back and lifted his chin slightly, waiting for Ethan's answer.
His posture didn't look like an invitation; it looked like he was granting a favor.
Ethan looked at him, his lips twitching slightly.
"Not interested."
He turned to walk away.
The smile on Klein's face froze for a moment before returning to normal. He turned sideways to watch Ethan's back, his voice carrying a hint of displeasure. "Do you know what you're refusing?"
Ethan didn't stop. "Say one more word, and we're going to the Life-and-Death Stage today."
Klein's expression changed.
Behind him, Benjamin and Cole exchanged looks, both showing a flash of shock. Even Yvette, the red-haired girl who had been indifferent until now, lifted her eyelids and fixed her gaze on Ethan's back.
"You bastard!"
The moment Klein spoke, Ethan stopped in his tracks.
He turned around, his gaze passing over the four of them and landing on the Spirit Bone Guard standing straight beside a bone pillar nearby.
"Sir," Ethan spoke to the Spirit Bone Guard, "I want to go to the Life-and-Death Stage with him. What procedures are required?"
Klein's face darkened completely.
The Spirit Bone Guard walked over slowly, its hollow eye sockets scanning between Ethan and Klein.
"The Life-and-Death Stage? The two of you?"
Klein's face turned grim.
Behind him, Benjamin and Cole exchanged looks, both showing signs of unease. Benjamin stepped forward and lowered his voice. "Klein, calm down. Don't be impulsive."
Klein ignored him, staring at Ethan with a gaze so dark it could practically drip.
Lately, he had been praised, respected, and surrounded by followers. He had almost forgotten his original background. With Grade Five Aptitude and an independent villa in the Talent District, people took the initiative to greet him wherever he went, and even senior students went out of their way to get close to him.
Now, even if you are also a Grade Five genius, you dare to challenge me to the Life-and-Death Stage?
"I accept..."
Before Klein could finish, Benjamin grabbed his arm and pulled him back forcefully.
"Are you crazy? Shut up!"
Cole forced a smile at Ethan. "A misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding..."
Unfortunately, it was too late.
Inside the hollow eye sockets of the Spirit Bone Guard, the eerie green soul fire suddenly flickered.
It raised its skeletal hand, and a green light as thin as a hair shot from its fingertip. The green light was incredibly fast, hitting Benjamin's chest in the blink of an eye.
Bang!
Benjamin's body felt as if it had been struck by a charging bull. He was sent flying, crashing heavily onto the stone floor three meters away and sliding a good distance before stopping.
He clutched his chest and coughed twice, his face pale, but he struggled to get up. Clearly, he hadn't suffered any major injuries.
The Spirit Bone Guard withdrew its hand. "The party has agreed; the judgment is established. The life-and-death contract between Ethan Leo and Klein Windsor is established. The Life-and-Death Stage will descend in three minutes. You both have three minutes to prepare."
The moment those words were spoken, Klein's expression changed completely.
It wasn't anger; it was fear.
On his handsome face, the color drained away at a visible rate. His lips trembled slightly, and a flash of undeniable panic appeared in his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, but his throat felt as if it were blocked, and he couldn't squeeze out a single word.
Cole, standing behind him, was also pale. He instinctively took two steps back, his gaze darting between Ethan and Klein. His lips moved a few times, but in the end, he didn't dare to speak.
Yvette, the red-haired girl, didn't have much of a reaction. She merely raised an eyebrow, her gaze lingering on Ethan for a few moments, a mysterious smile curling her lips.
"Klein," she spoke, her voice carrying a hint of casual laziness, "are you sure you want to take this?"
The moment Yvette finished, Ethan laughed.
"You dumbass, still asking if he's sure? Sure of what? Didn't you hear the official say the contract is already established? Are you deaf?"
Yvette's expression changed instantly.
The casual look on her refined face vanished, replaced by a surge of suppressed rage. She whipped her head around, her gaze cutting into Ethan like a knife.
"You!"
"You dumbass, say one more word and you'll be on the Life-and-Death Stage too."
Yvette's chest heaved several times, her teeth gritting together, but she eventually shut her mouth and didn't dare to say another word.
Klein was completely stunned.
He stood in place, his legs trembling slightly as a fine layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. His eyes were full of terror and confusion, as if he still hadn't recovered from the sudden turn of events.
"No... wait..." he finally spoke, his voice dry like rubbing sandpaper. "I didn't... I didn't agree..."
The Spirit Bone Guard's hollow eye sockets turned toward him, the green soul fire burning calmly.
"You have already agreed."
"I didn't!" Klein's voice suddenly rose, carrying a distinct tremor. "I didn't even finish! I don't accept! I take it back!"
The Spirit Bone Guard ignored him.
"Two minutes and thirty-nine seconds remaining."
The voice was as calm as a clock, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
Klein's face was as white as paper.
Ethan didn't look at Klein again. He slowly took out his short spear and small round shield from his storage ring.
With each item he pulled out, the expressions of Klein and the other three became grimmer.
The blade of the short spear glinted coldly in the sunlight, and faint silver patterns flowed across the surface of the shield. With the two pieces of Wizardry Tools in hand, Ethan's entire aura changed.
The killing intent of someone who had crawled out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood poured out without any concealment.
Klein stared at the two Wizardry Tools, his pupils shrinking violently.
"Wi—Wizardry Tools..." His voice had completely changed pitch, his lips trembling violently. "Where did you get Wizardry Tools..."
Ethan didn't answer.
He simply held the short spear and shield, standing quietly in place, looking at Klein with a calm gaze.
There was no killing intent, no anger, and not even any mockery in that gaze.
There was only a cold, almost indifferent calmness.
It was as if, in his eyes, Klein was already a dead man.
This kind of calmness was more terrifying than any threat.
Klein's legs began to shake violently, his knees going weak as he teetered on the spot.
Behind him, Benjamin and the others were filled with fear, but none of them dared to step forward.
At that moment, the sky suddenly darkened.
A thick pillar of eerie green light fell straight from the clouds, crashing into the open space ten meters in front of Klein with a boom.
The light pillar dissipated, and a massive stone stage appeared out of thin air.
The stage was circular, about fifty meters in diameter, and constructed entirely of some kind of pitch-black stone. The surface was as smooth as a mirror, and the edges were covered in dense runes. The runes flowed with a dark red glow, tracing a massive hemispherical light barrier in the air.
The Life-and-Death Stage.
The aura leaking from inside the barrier made everyone present instinctively feel a wave of heart-palpitating dread.
It was the aura of death.
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