Ethan hung up the phone and slumped back against the cab door, the adrenaline finally starting to wane, leaving him cold and aching. He stared out the window, watching the familiar streets of the North End turn into the residential blocks near Sarah's apartment.

[Look at how beaten up you are right now,] the System commented, its tone light and mocking. [You have a steel skin System, money, men, power, and you ended up in such a lamentable state. You really are pathetic, you know?]

"I know, don't even start," Ethan conceded, wincing as the taxi swerved. "It was tough. I barely survived. It doesn't matter; I made it, and those sons of bitches will pay me back for this."

[That's the spirit, kid. If you get humiliated again, you'd bring me great shame. Why don't you buy a healing potion and end your suffering right now?] the System asked.

"I'm in public, and I don't want anyone to know about me yet," Ethan replied quietly. "I don't know how people will react. If someone found out, I'd be a dead man. The System is the secret weapon."

[Fine, suffer in silence, then,] the System replied, sounding thoroughly bored.

The taxi pulled up to the curb. Ethan paid the driver and, wincing at the sharp protest from his chest, slowly opened the car door. He was bleeding, battered, and surrounded by enemies he hadn't known existed five hours ago.

Ethan, wincing with every step, managed to reach Sarah's apartment door. He had sent several messages on the ride over and even tried to call her, but the call went straight to voicemail. Having no other choice, he had to climb the steps and knock on the door.

The door opened, and Sarah appeared in her pajamas. Her eyes widened in panic at Ethan's current appearance—his torn, bloodied clothing was utterly inappropriate for a social call. Startled, she immediately began to rush around, instinctively slamming the door shut in Ethan's face.

But then, her mind processed the shocking image she had just seen: Ethan's face was bleeding, his clothes were shredded, and they were riddled with small holes, as if from bullets. She flung the door back open, trembling, her face stark white with fear. She extended a hand, trying to touch his cheek.

"Hello, I'm fine," Ethan said quickly, but it was too late. Seeing him, Sarah screamed, a high-pitched cry that quickly dissolved into panicked tears.

Ethan simply stepped past her, smiling faintly as he entered the apartment without saying anything else.

"Ethan! What can I do? What happened to you?" Sarah asked, grabbing his arm lightly, terrified of hurting him.

"I'm fine, really. I'm not hurt," Ethan assured her, though his voice was rough.

"How are you not hurt? Look at yourself!" Sarah cried, horrified.

Ethan didn't argue further. He slowly pulled off what little remained of his shirt; the fabric looked more like rags, simple pieces of shredded cloth hanging on his body.

Sarah gasped. Her eyes scanned his torso, taking in the powerful, defined muscles of his chest and abdomen. She remembered he wasn't particularly handsome before, but now he looked like the best fantasy she had ever dreamed of. Sarah had always been weak for bad boys and intense emotions.

Despite the fact that there were no bullet holes in his skin, internally, Ethan's body was screaming for mercy from the fractured bones. That day, Ethan understood something interesting: his body was hard as steel, but his organs were too; therefore, when struck violently, the internal organs shifted drastically. They weren't soft enough to return to their place easily, which caused incredibly sharp pain with every movement.

"I need to use your bathroom," Ethan requested, his voice tight, "to clean the blood off my face."

Sarah quickly gave him permission. Ethan rushed into her shower. He stepped inside and began washing the dried blood from his body, revealing a large cut on his head that had been mostly hidden by his hair—which was why Sarah hadn't been overly alarmed by the specific injury.

Once the door was closed, he opened the System interface and selected the Healing Potion again. He saw the price of 100 Lux Points, sighed, and pressed the purchase button. He immediately drank the potion. He felt his bones move back into place, but the sensation wasn't painful; it was almost delicious. Even the crunching of the bones was unusually comforting.

[Ready as new, Champion!] the System announced.

Ethan looked at the empty potion vial and then at his remaining points: 431.5 Lux points.

[Such a pity to lose a third of your effort. Such a costly ambulance!] the System lamented dramatically.

"A little, yes," Ethan admitted. "I was actually hoping to get to 1,000 points to obtain Erovision or maybe Erotouch. I could even get that danger perception ability, Celestial Qi Resonance Scan. But now I'll have to work even harder."

The System laughed uncontrollably. [Oh, my dear Champion! Those are the lowest-level items! They are practically on sale for you to acquire them easily! They are almost a bonus that the System prepared just for you!]

"Then how expensive are the items above Silver level?" Ethan asked, genuinely curious. He couldn't see them as they were still blocked.

[When you see them, you might get discouraged, so they will remain a secret for now. They will unlock only when you have the capacity to use them,] the System said cryptically.

"I feel like crap about what happened today," Ethan admitted, his voice low.

[You mean that despite having supernatural powers, they kicked your butt, destroyed your car, and if Jason hadn't been nearby, you'd currently be having dinner with Saint Peter?] the System summarized, mocking his distress.

"Yes, exactly what you said. It sucks," Ethan agreed.

[What can I tell you,] the System replied, its tone becoming slightly philosophical, though still mocking. [They were prepared. You, on the other hand, act as if you are immortal, and yet you are only slightly more powerful than a human.]

Ethan sighed, knowing he was at the mercy of the System's twisted guidance.

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