"Is this your boat?"
Young Arthur was still marveling at everything around him. Having spent most of his life in the secluded valley with Merlin, the vastness of the sea and the sight of the boat filled him with excitement and curiosity.
After spending extra time on Arthur's plane, Ethan had returned to the Sea of Calm once more.
This time, however, he wasn't alone. The young King Arthur had accompanied him, and Ethan had finally figured out how to bring someone back thro...
"A book?"
What Merlin placed before Ethan was a thick tome with a leather cover that felt both strange and unsettling to the touch. Ethan couldn't determine what kind of material the cover was made from, but it exuded an unusual sensation, something flowing beneath its solid surface, almost alive.
Embedded in the center of the cover was a white magic stone, seamlessly fused into the book. It protruded slightly, though its presence defied logic. The cover was too thin to accommod...
A magical tool that could store knowledge and information?
Ethan's request wasn't unreasonable. In fact, many magicians had similar tools. However, Ethan added an extra requirement: the tool needed to be capable of "absorbing" or "copying" new books or materials he obtained so that he could review them later.
"Oh, that's an interesting idea," Merlin replied. "But I'll need to study how it could be implemented."
For a magician of Merlin's caliber, their immense mental powe...
Merlin was surprised by how quickly Ethan made his decision and couldn't help but wonder why Ethan had chosen such a difficult path so easily.
"You said that as long as I stick to this path, I'll eventually reach a level of strength comparable to yours, right?" Ethan asked.
Merlin nodded. "That's correct. As long as you persevere and don't die from some unforeseen accident⌠Although this path is difficult, it doesn't have any significant bottlenecks."
Ethan had sensed t...
Ethan had read in many of the books he currently owned that when a mage first absorbs energy and converts it into usable magic power, it's a critical moment that demands caution. The choice of energy is especially important, as it not only determines how effectively the mage can wield magic but also impacts the mage themselves.
For instance, elemental energy is a common starting point for new mages. Most begin by aligning with a specific element. This initial energy not only grants gre...
Arthur Pendragon.
Even without the "language package" Merlin had transferred into his mind, Ethan would've recognized the boy's identity based on the pronunciation alone.
"Is this King Arthur?"
The realization left him mildly stunned. He was now certain that this world wasn't part of any movie universe he knew. If it were, movies about King Arthurâmostly produced by British and American studiosâwould have featured characters speaking English, not this unfamiliar langu...
The all-too-familiar sensation of shifting planes struck Ethan once more, accompanied by a blinding brilliance that rendered him temporarily sightless. As the light faded and the world settled, he instinctively scanned his surroundings, his right hand already gripping the hilt of his sword.
For once, he wasn't immediately surrounded. This was a rare occurrence. In his previous two plane-jumps, he had landed smack in the middle of groups of hostile individuals. In the dark, grim world o...
"Am I really this lucky?"
Ethan examined the white magic stone in his hands for a long time, turning it over and scrutinizing it carefully. However, he couldn't determine whether it truly matched the type he was hoping for. Despite his doubts, the sheer magical fluctuations emanating from it filled him with cautious optimism.
"Even though I know good luck doesn't last forever⌠I really hope this streak holds out a little longer."
It was a shame, though, that his "cheat"...
In this skirmish, Ethan, armed with the overwhelming advantage of his equipment, utterly dominated his opponents, leaving no room for resistance.
The enemy lacked the courage to fight to the bitter end, leaving Ethan no opportunity to test his other equipment.
Even so, the battle served as a good chance for him to gauge his combat capabilities.
"Against regular bandits in the future, not only will they be unable to harm me, but I'll also be able to counter them with ease....
Ethan eyed Rodney and the burly man, fully anticipating their next move.
"Hand over the magic stone, kid!" the burly man demanded, his voice rough and laced with greed.
Ethan almost rolled his eyes. It was just as predictable as he had imagined.
"Have you been tailing me all this time?" Ethan asked, ignoring the leader's barking orders. Instead, he focused on Rodney, his tone calm but with a hint of mockery.
"You were on State Island with me," Ethan continued, spre...
After docking the boat, Ethan surveyed the beach carefully. Initially, he considered setting up camp directly on the sand near the shoreline, but after some thought, he realized it wasn't a practical idea. The rising tide could easily submerge his hard-built resting spot, forcing him to move further inland.
"This looks better," he muttered to himself, stopping at a small dirt slope farther from the water.
The spot had a few clear advantages: it wasn't too close to the woods, red...
Back on his familiar ship, surrounded by the familiar endless sea, and under the familiar warm sunshine, Ethan exhaled deeply.
Though it had only been a month, the feeling of the sun on his skin was something he had almost forgotten.
"Sure, I gained a lot and made some good friends... but I'd really rather not go back to that cold, dark world again," he murmured to himself.
Still, Ethan knew that if he ever became powerful enough in the future, he wouldn't hesitate to ret...
Ethan looked at the ring now snugly sitting on the index finger of his left hand and briefly tested its function.
The ring was incredibly straightforward to use. More importantly, the enchanted magic circle inscribed on it was exceptionally stable, it wouldn't lose its effectiveness from a mere bump or scrape.
Ethan thought back to the pair of bracers he had crafted previously. Despite surviving direct hits without much physical damage, the engraved magic circles on those bracer...
After successfully annihilating all the dark creatures within the den of evil, the three adventurers took time to sweep the surrounding areas of the cave to ensure no lingering threats remained. It wasn't until the night of the fourth day that they finally returned to the Rogue Camp.
Ethan had been considering his options ever since arriving in this world. After some thought, he decided to continue hunting Blood Raven with Xul and Isendra.
Blood Ravenâonce known as Moreina, th...
With the shield strapped to his left arm and the electric baton firmly gripped in his right hand, Ethan's combat capabilities had improved significantly. Though he was still far from being able to decimate hordes of dark creatures like Xul and Isendra, he was now capable of holding his own in the chaos of battle.
Without the need to constantly monitor Ethan's safety, the two mages unleashed their full strength. This time, the dark creatures inhabiting the Den of Evil met their end in s...
Ethan's shield blocked a heavy blow just in time. Pivoting swiftly, his dagger struck out, piercing through the chest of the fallen demon that had lunged at him from the side. The creature let out a guttural snarl before collapsing, and Ethan quickly withdrew his blade, scanning his surroundings and repositioning himself for another potential attack.
"Well done, Ethan. You've made significant progress," Isendra said approvingly, her tone calm but with a note of genuine praise.
I...
On the way back to Camp Rogue, Ethan found himself torn between relief and discomfort.
He was thrilled to have finally gained some basic combat training from Xul, the so-called Rathma priest, whose skills in close combat were unexpectedly sharp.
But the discomfort? That came from Xul's teaching methods, which were blunt, brutal, and unrelenting. Beyond an initial explanation of basic movements and how to apply force effectively, Xul's "training" sessions primarily consisted of s...
"What is a priest of Rathma?"
As Ethan carried the letter Isendra had entrusted to him, this question occupied his thoughts. His understanding of this dark and dangerous world was surface-level at best, and he had no idea what kind of organization Rathma was or what kind of person he was about to meet.
Following Isendra's directions, Ethan headed north along a worn path that wound its way through the wilderness.
It was called a road, but in truth, it was little more than ...
Ethan and Isendra arrived at Akara's tent together. While Isendra sought Akara's help for her own reasons, Ethan was there to keep his earlier promise of assisting with potion-making.
The tasks Akara assigned him weren't difficult, but they were time-consuming and required a great deal of patience. Ethan's job was to process the herbsâcleaning, sorting, and preparing them into semi-finished products that Akara could later use to craft the finished potions.
For Ethan, this was ...
Ethan couldn't fully understand Isendra's words, but as the day wore on, the sky grew darker, and his vision began to blur. It was time to head back to the camp.
Despite their inability to communicate properly, Ethan gestured for Isendra to follow him and led her toward Rogue Camp.
The wooden fences and the Rogues patrolling at key points around the perimeter made it clear to Isandra that this wasn't the "town" she had been hoping to find. However, from her interactions with Eth...
After his first successful kill, Ethan didn't allow himself to feel overly triumphant. His mind was clear, there was still danger. The second zombie stood nearby, its stiff movements betraying its intention to make him its next meal.
Pulling his dagger free with a sharp tug, Ethan slashed again for good measure, severing the first zombie's head entirely. The rotting body made the task easier, its brittle bones offering little resistance. With the first threat neutralized, Ethan turne...
Money? Ethan didn't have any. In fact, he didn't even own much of anything. Everything he possessed was on him: a set of clothes, the spiritual training book, the island pointer from State Island, and a small supply of dry food and water.
"There's no way I could steal anythingâI don't have the strength or the skills to pull that off," Ethan muttered to himself.
After thinking it over, he decided the safest option was to work at the Rogue Camp. Selling his labor in exchange for...
The tall, long-legged archers, with arrows glinting dangerously in the dim light, made it clear just how precarious Ethan's situation was.
"Um⌠hello. I mean no harm," Ethan said, raising his voice slightly to sound more confident.
He was met with stony silence. None of the archers reacted in the slightest.
Language barrier.
The realization hit Ethan like a punch to the gut. Out of all the frustrating scenarios he had imagined when traveling between planes, this ...
Whether the Endless Land was a fabricated legend or truly existed, Ethan still didn't have a clear answer.
After completing his guild membership, Ethan was handed a small, unassuming pointer and directed to a resting area specifically prepared for adventurers.
Though the room was modest, just a private bedroom and a small bathroom, it was a haven compared to life at sea. For adventurers who spent weeks floating in cramped, unstable boats, these basic comforts were a luxury.
<...
The Adventurers' Guild, this was the official name of the organization Wood had mentioned.
The guild's headquarters was conveniently located right at the port's exit, at the end of the main street. Its large, prominent building was impossible to miss. However, there was one peculiar detail, there were multiple entrances, each without any signage or indication of their purpose. For a newcomer unfamiliar with the layout, choosing the correct door might be a frustrating task.
Fortu...
After quickly rescuing the two people who had fallen into the water, Ethan asked if there were any other survivors. Upon receiving a negative answer, he wasted no time in turning the ship's bow and steering away from the area as quickly as possible.
His boat was far too small to withstand the chaos of the storm, and even though they were some distance away from its core, the aftermath alone made him feel as if the fragile vessel could capsize at any moment.
It wasn't until Ethan...
The slight rocking of the boat made Ethan a little uncomfortable. He had finally gotten used to the constant motion of being at sea, but after a few days of steady ground during his stay in the Marvel universe, his body was back to square one.
"Doesn't matter, I'll get used to it again in a few days," he muttered, shaking his head.
It was clear to him now that his days at sea would be long. This trip had taught Ethan that his so-called golden fingerâthe glowing orbâcame with...
Ethan jolted upright, his consciousness snapping back all at once. His first instinct was to check his body. The worn, dirty clothes he had been wearing after days at sea were gone, replaced with a clean set of plain white robes. The fabric wasn't new, but it was fresh and neatly laundered.
He touched his lips, once cracked and dry from lack of water. Now, they felt much better, almost completely healed. His body, too, felt reinvigorated, as though he were brimming with energy. That sl...
Ethan swallowed hard, his parched throat protesting as he took a small sip of water from the wooden spoon.
"This is it, my last bit of water. If I don't see land or rain soon, I might go down in history as the first reincarnator to die of thirst." Staring at the bottom of the bucket, he let out a bitter chuckle. The thought of such an inglorious death was both depressing and absurd. To think he might meet his end this way.
Placing the wooden spoon aside, Ethan carefully covered ...
Benjen gave a firm order to gather the remaining horses closer to the tent. He then took Aegor and Yoren to set up traps and alarm mechanisms among the surrounding trees to guard against another ambush. After organizing a rotation for night sentry duty, he allowed everyone to move about freely before focusing on preparing dinner again.
"What did I just witness? One moment you're quoting philosophers, and the next you're a proper warrior," Tyrion said, drinking what little broth was lef...