My attributes are increasing infinitely

Chapter 496: Asking for favours

Ethan’s main body sat quietly inside the sealed room, the air around him completely undisturbed. The faint glow of the Cube hovered above his palm. Its surface reflected layered geometric patterns, and every turn produced a subtle distortion in the surrounding space.

A slow smile formed on his face. He had finally found a method to increase his strength at an unprecedented pace. However, raw resources were still necessary. Without sufficient materials, even the most powerful tool would remain underutilized.

Ethan raised his head slightly and spoke in a calm tone.

"Sir, I want to have an audience with you."

The moment the words left his mouth, the space in front of him trembled faintly. No light appeared, and no sound echoed. Instead, the air folded inward as if someone had peeled open reality itself. A tall figure appeared silently inside the room. The Founder stood there with his hands behind his back, his expression was composed and indifferent.

"What is it?" he asked in an even voice.

Ethan did not waste time. He had already prepared his request.

"Sir, can you catch one monster at every level from level three to level one hundred? It would be best if they are all restrained."

The Founder’s eyes narrowed slightly. He did not show surprise, but there was a brief pause that indicated he was evaluating the request. Such a demand would not be difficult for him in terms of strength, yet it would require time and deliberate effort.

"I can do that," he replied slowly. "However, catching monsters above level ninety is not simple. They do not reside in ordinary locations. Most of them serve as guards for supreme creatures, or they exist in isolated territories controlled by higher entities. Retrieving them without disturbing those forces would require preparation. It will take time."

He did not ask why Ethan needed them. The Founder had already decided to observe everything this young man attempted. There was something unusual about Ethan. His decisions appeared reckless on the surface, yet they often revealed hidden layers of calculation. The Founder was curious about how far this would go.

"Then how many levels can you catch instantly?" Ethan asked.

He intended to utilize every opportunity while the Founder remained willing to help. He understood clearly that such favors would not last forever. Once he gained sufficient strength, he would repay everything. Until then, he would extract as much advantage as possible.

The Founder considered briefly before answering.

"In one day, I can bring you monsters from level three to level eighty. Capturing those between level eighty-one and eighty-nine will take approximately ten days. As for level ninety and above, I will need additional time depending on their locations."

Ethan nodded slowly.

"Please do that," he said sincerely. "I will remember this favor forever."

The Founder studied him for a moment, then gave a slight nod.

"Very well. I will return in ten hours."

Before Ethan could respond, the Founder vanished. There was no trace left behind. The room returned to silence, as if no one had ever appeared.

Ethan leaned back in his chair and exhaled slowly. Everything was proceeding according to his plan. Once the monsters arrived, he would begin an intense cycle of refinement. Even if he reached level eighty, his combat power would surpass ordinary standards. After that, he could hunt stronger targets personally.

He closed his eyes briefly, then his consciousness shifted.

...

On the battlefield, Ethan’s clone stood quietly among the scattered remains of slain monsters. He wore the simple uniform of an errand boy, which contrasted sharply with the composed expression on his face. Around him, soldiers were slowly regrouping after the sudden massacre that had wiped out an entire wave of enemies.

Max, Elina, Mira, and the others approached him.

"Hey Ethan, when did you come here?" Max asked.

"I arrived a while ago," Ethan replied calmly.

Mira glanced around the devastated battlefield before turning toward him.

"You have extremely sharp perception. How do you interpret what just happened?"

Ethan observed the empty horizon. The air still carried traces of residual energy that had not fully dissipated.

"There is nothing complicated to interpret," he said. "A supreme being has taken action."

Kael let out a dismissive laugh.

"What? You think someone who can nearly stop time would intervene in this low-tier battlefield? No wonder you are still an errand boy. You clearly do not understand how powerful beings operate. Entities of that level remain occupied in higher battlefields. They would not waste their time here."

Ethan looked at him with mild curiosity.

"Then what is your interpretation?"

Kael folded his arms confidently.

"I believe a new type of weapon has been developed and tested here. That level of instantaneous annihilation fits experimental technology."

Ethan nodded without arguing.

"Sure. Whatever you say. Now that all the monsters are dead, what will you do?"

Max gave a wry smile.

"The monsters are endless. They originate from the dark dimension. Even if one batch is cleared, countless others will appear within a day. That is how this battlefield operates."

"I see," Ethan replied. "Then let us leave for now. I want to explore the base camp properly. I did not have time earlier. We can also hold a small party."

Max looked at the others. They exchanged glances and nodded. None of them treated Ethan as an ordinary errand boy. He was the son of Haris Johnson’s close friend, and his analytical abilities had impressed them repeatedly. His calm judgment during crises made them value his presence.

"Alright, let us go," Max said.

They turned to leave. However, Ethan suddenly stopped and looked behind them.

The air twisted.

A dark fracture appeared in space, as though reality itself had been sliced open. A rift formed silently, spreading outward like a wound. Instantly, every combatant halted. Weapons were raised. Defensive formations activated.

"What is going on?" Max muttered. "They should not appear until tomorrow. Why would a rift open now?"

The fracture expanded violently. Two enormous black hands emerged from within. They gripped the edges of the rift and began tearing it apart. The sound resembled fabric ripping, but magnified to an overwhelming scale.

Boom.

The moment the hands entered reality, a terrifying pressure swept across the battlefield. The ground cracked. The air compressed. Soldiers collapsed to their knees, unable to resist. Even experienced fighters struggled to breathe under the weight of the presence.

Only Ethan remained standing.

He tilted his head slightly, his interest clearly visible.

The entity beyond the rift pushed forward. Its arms alone were the size of towers, covered in jagged black armor-like scales. Dark mist poured from the opening, spreading across the sky. The pressure intensified as the creature forced its body through.

Ethan observed carefully. He immediately recognized the level of the being.

Progenitor class.

One level below his current existence.

That alone made the situation intriguing. Such creatures never appeared in low-tier battlefields. Their movements were usually tied to strategic operations in higher dimensional zones.

"What is a monstrosity like this doing here?" Ethan murmured.

The rift widened further. The creature’s head began to emerge, revealing burning crimson eyes that scanned the battlefield. Every soldier felt as though their souls were being crushed under its gaze. Fear spread instantly.

Max struggled to stand, but his legs trembled uncontrollably.

"This... this is impossible," he whispered.