My attributes are increasing infinitely

Chapter 490: The founder intervened

Ethan slowed his breathing and allowed his senses to spread outward. The ruined terrain around him remained silent, yet the silence felt unnatural. Several presences lingered at the edge of his perception, deliberately suppressing their movements.

He counted them quickly. Multiple level two signatures surrounded him from different angles, attempting to close in gradually. Among them, one presence stood apart. It carried a heavier pressure, stable and disciplined, far more dangerous than the others. A level four.

Under normal circumstances, Ethan would have withdrawn immediately. A direct confrontation with a level four opponent carried too much risk at his current strength. Even if he fought with everything he had, the outcome would remain uncertain at best.

However, his mood had already deteriorated. The previous battle, the constant ambushes, and the relentless pressure had pushed his patience to its limit. The sneak attack just now snapped that patience. He did not intend to retreat this time. He did not need to defeat the strongest one. Eliminating the weaker targets would still weaken the group and provide him with points and quench his anger.

His eyes grew cold as he made his decision.

Then he vanished.

The first attacker moved forward at the exact moment Ethan disappeared, expecting to strike a distracted target. The man’s weapon cut through empty air. Before he could understand what had happened, Ethan materialized behind him. The sword moved in a clean horizontal arc. There was no wasted motion, no warning, and no hesitation.

Puchi.

The sound was soft but decisive. The man’s body separated cleanly at the waist. The upper half slid forward while the lower half collapsed in place. Blood sprayed outward in a short burst before the remains hit the ground.

[You have gained 50 points]

Ethan gave a slight nod. The system response confirmed his expectation. Killing a level two monster usually granted thirty points, but a level two human provided fifty. The difference mattered. If he continued like this, he could accumulate enough points quickly.

He did not allow the others time to react.

Before the shock could spread through the group, Ethan disappeared again. Another level two had just realized something was wrong when a presence appeared behind him. The man began to turn, but the motion never completed. Ethan’s sword pierced through his back and exited from the chest. The body stiffened for a moment before collapsing.

The surrounding figures finally broke formation. Confusion turned into alarm. They had expected to overwhelm a single opponent, yet two of them had died within seconds. Their attention scattered, trying to locate him, but his movement remained unpredictable.

At that moment, the level four reacted.

"Bastard. How dare you kill my subordinates. Die," he roared, his voice filled with fury as he surged forward. His speed exceeded the others by a noticeable margin. The distance closed rapidly as he attempted to intercept Ethan’s next target.

However, Ethan had already moved.

He appeared behind another level two just as the level four rushed in. The target sensed danger too late. Ethan lifted his sword and cut downward. The strike split the man from shoulder to hip in a single motion. The body dropped before the level four could reach them.

Ethan raised his middle finger toward the approaching opponent, his expression calm and indifferent. The gesture lasted only an instant before he vanished once more.

The level four stopped abruptly, his attack hitting nothing but empty space. His anger deepened, yet there was nothing he could do. Ethan’s presence had already disappeared beyond immediate detection.

"Motherfuckers. I will come find you soon. Be ready for dying," Ethan said from a distant direction. His voice echoed faintly before fading completely.

Then he was gone.

He moved quickly through the terrain, putting distance between himself and the group. His goal had shifted. He needed to level up as fast as possible. Reaching level ten would dramatically improve his survival chances. Hunting isolated enemies, avoiding strong confrontations, and accumulating points efficiently became his priority.

However, as he continued forward, a sudden chill ran down his spine.

The sensation appeared without warning. His instincts flared, and every muscle in his body tightened. Something dangerous had just entered his awareness, and it felt far more threatening than the level four he had just avoided.

The space around him locked instantly. Teleportation no longer worked.

Ethan’s entire body froze where he stood. He could not move a single muscle.

A cold breeze brushed against the back of his neck. Slowly, the perpetrator stepped into view.

It was a monstrous being, its body covered in hundreds of eyes, each ringed with jagged, razor-sharp teeth. A flickering flame burned atop its head.

"Interesting," it said, its tone was mocking, as though amused by Ethan’s presence. "Even as a Level 1, you can use teleportation. How very fascinating. But according to Elysium, this should not be possible. Perhaps you possess a spatial treasure?"

The creature’s words suggested it already knew Ethan relied on nothing but his own abilities.

It snapped its fingers. In an instant, Ethan’s clothes vanished.

The monster’s anticipation was evident, expecting to see him completely exposed. But instead, a radiant glow materialized before it. Ethan’s form shone like a divine angel.

He had activated his Supreme One Physique. He would rather die than surrender his dignity.

"Oh? An interesting physique," it muttered again, a note of curiosity creeping into its voice.

"You are from the Aurora Clan, an outsider," it murmured to itself. "Yet you wield outsider abilities while merged with Elysium. How... unusual."

It laughed, a deep, resonating sound that seemed to shake the space itself. "Hahahaha! I believe I have found the target. The Association will surely vote me as their new leader."

"Yumiko," Ethan whispered softly, summoning his companion.

[Master, this being is above Level 100. I cannot sense anything else.]

Ethan understood that without immediate action, he was as good as dead.

"Let me devour you. Then we will ask the Seer if the threat remains," the monster said, its tone casual, as if Ethan’s life were inconsequential.

Though his body remained immobilized, Ethan could still use telekinesis. He reached for his Space Ring and crushed the stone gifted to him by the Founder. The Founder had instructed him to break it only in a true life-or-death situation, or it would not activate.

"This should qualify," Ethan thought. He could only hope it worked.

A black hole materialized in the monster’s mouth. Ethan felt its immense gravitational pull tug at his body, threatening to drag him in.

"Yumiko, am I going to die? Why can’t you create a special protocol, like before?" he asked calmly, his voice steady despite the peril.

[Master, I followed the power protocols according to the realm we were in before. But now, I have no true reference point to design a protocol. If either of us could live the life of a true elite for even one hour, I could construct one according to that realm.]

Yumiko’s voice carried frustration.

"I should have thought this through," Ethan admitted internally. "I acted out of desperation. I can only hope the Founder intervenes." His eyes remained calm, unshaken in the face of death.

Then it happened.

The space before them cracked open. From the fissure, a figure emerged.

"A general of the Dark Alliance?" the newcomer said, their voice soft but authoritative, carrying weight that silenced even the monstrous presence.