For the subsequent few days, the Fallen Star Guard cycled through the Celestial Stairway in shifts. The sheer number of them meant this task wouldn't be completed in a day or two; at their current pace, it would require at least six to seven days for all twenty thousand to ascend. Ethan made an appearance on the first day and then ceased bothering to return. Instead, he brought the Fallen Star Squad back to his residence and essentially confined themselves, utilizing the power of the ritual circle to boost their strength. During their time in the Yamato Empire, their existence had been a constant cycle of killing humans or zombies, leaving them with scant opportunities during daylight hours. Most of their advancements had occurred during the nights, gazing at the sky and absorbing a mysterious energy. Though effective, the progress was slow. Ethan had been stalled at the peak of Stage B for some time. In the past couple of days, he had begun to sense an impending breakthrough, so he maintained the ritual circle's operation ceaselessly. Finally, on the third day, he achieved his breakthrough. Tier 19. He became the first human on Earth to reach this level. Following this, Ethan made a journey to Nova City. Rowan, along with a contingent of Nova City's senior officials, emerged to welcome him with a reverence akin to royalty—and then Ethan proceeded to beat Rowan severely. The confrontation was savage. Rowan's pitiful screams caused the onlookers' eyelids to twitch, yet no one intervened. After all, who would dare to challenge the man who had annihilated the Yamato Empire? Rowan, at least, fully comprehended the reason for his brutal punishment. His intentions had been honorable, but his communication had been lacking. That was his failing. If he had to endure a beating for it, so be it. Thus, he offered no complaints and made no pleas. He simply cried out louder, hoping Ethan would vent his anger swiftly and conclude the ordeal. Unfortunately for Rowan, the louder his cries, the more Ethan became engrossed in the act—until Rowan finally lacked the strength to utter another sound. Despite the ferocity of the assault, Ethan maintained control; while it appeared savage, he inflicted no permanent, serious injuries. Once his pent-up emotions were released, Ethan enjoyed a substantial meal in Nova City before heading to the mansion they had previously occupied. Upon his departure, he had explicitly forbidden Rowan and anyone else from approaching the property. Rowan had adhered to this directive diligently. Everything inside remained precisely as they had left it, a testament to its untouched state. Ethan proceeded directly to the backyard. There, hundreds of Infernal corpses lay piled high. These were the remains of those they had eliminated in Nova City. At the time, preparing for their expedition to the Yamato Empire and needing to clear space within their spatial storage rings, Ethan had simply deposited the bodies in the yard. Fortunately, the inherent resilience of Infernals ensured their corpses had not decayed even after this duration. And those bodies? They served as sustenance for the Flamebirds—and for Goldie and the other beasts. While the mutant beasts could hunt creatures in the mountains, the indigenous mutant animals of Earth were not particularly formidable. They were adequate for satisfying hunger but insufficient for genuine growth. Infernal corpses, conversely, were invaluable. Ethan gathered all the bodies into his spatial storage ring and departed Nova City without further delay. Upon returning to Fallen Star City, he specifically convened his companions to seek out the few remaining white-furred apes. Since the demise of their leader, Blizzard, Ethan had harbored a quiet sense of responsibility towards them. However, they were thriving, performing exceptionally well. It was evident that Miles had been providing them with specialized care. The bloodline of the white-furred apes was undeniably potent. In just over a month, each of them had already attained the peak of Tier 13. Upon sighting Ethan and the others, the apes visibly rejoiced, flocking towards them and engaging in playful wrestling and roughhousing like boisterous children. Their demeanor suggested they had finally overcome the grief stemming from their leader's loss in battle. Ethan instructed Skinny Pete to summon Goldie and Pumpkin. Subsequently, the entire gathering—humans and mutant beasts alike—partook in a barbecue. The primary delicacy, naturally, was Infernal meat. The mutant beasts eagerly devoured this offering. Ethan and his companions, however, opted for grilled mutant rabbit. They had no alternative. The Infernals, being humanoid, deterred them from consuming their flesh, regardless of its purported nutritional value. Moreover, humans were incapable of absorbing energy from corpses. To Ethan's group, the Infernal bodies held absolutely no appeal. Observing the feast, the distinctions between the beasts became strikingly apparent. Goldie and the others were unable to consume an entire Infernal on their own, typically requiring several of them to share one. The white-furred apes, however? Each one casually consumed an entire Tier 16 Infernal by itself. Their current strength was merely at the peak of Tier 13. To devour a complete Tier 16 Infernal in such a manner was genuinely astonishing. It was unequivocally their bloodline; there was an inherent difference in their constitution.
Following their meal, two of the white-furred apes experienced breakthroughs, ascending to Tier 14 right before the assembled crowd.
Ethan and the rest could only observe with sheer envy.
Once the barbecue concluded, Ethan summoned Grace, and then instructed Miles to bring forth sixty-nine Fallen Star Guard Squad Leaders who showed promise for investment.
Subsequently, Ethan bestowed upon them all seventy Awakened abilities he had secured from the Yamato Empire.
Grace finally attained the coveted ability she had long yearned for.
Ethan generously allowed her to select first, ensuring her ability was the most potent among the newly awakened.
Perhaps it was a turn of fate.
In the past, she had relinquished her own opportunity to become Awakened for another. Now, she had received something even more exceptional, and at a pace far exceeding expectations.
Her gratitude towards Ethan grew profound. She understood clearly who had orchestrated this favorable outcome.
As for the other sixty-nine Squad Leaders…
Their reverence for Ethan bordered on the fanatical. At this juncture, if Ethan commanded them to perish, they would likely comply without hesitation.
With these additions, Fallen Star City, encompassing the Fallen Star Squad and its second echelon, now boasted over ninety Awakened individuals.
This sheer number alone positioned them leagues beyond any other compound.
By the time Ethan and his companions had been back in Fallen Star City for a full seven days, every single member of the Fallen Star Guard had successfully navigated the Celestial Stairway.
All twenty thousand of them.
The least powerful among them had reached Tier 13, with the more formidable individuals already achieving Tier 14.
Currently, in most compounds, Stage C represented the pinnacle of power, achieved only by dedicating a compound's entire resource pool to synthesize Tier 12 crystal cores and forcibly promoting a select few. Settlements were scarce at this level.
But within these walls?
Attaining Stage C wasn't even sufficient to meet the basic entry criteria for the Fallen Star Guard.
Such was the formidable power Fallen Star City had amassed.
Yet, Ethan was far from content.
Tier 13 and Tier 14 advancements did not satisfy his ambitions.
The crystal cores he possessed were either too rudimentary to be effective or too advanced to be utilized. Those individuals who had just reached Tier 13-14 found themselves in a precarious bottleneck—he lacked Tier 13 or Tier 14 crystal cores to facilitate their continued progression.
He was still grappling with strategies to elevate the Fallen Star Guard further when Maxwell's call came through.
On the line, Maxwell informed him that Atlas City had devised a crystal core decomposition technique and inquired if Ethan required it.
Upon hearing this news, Ethan felt an overwhelming urge to embrace Maxwell.
The timing was impeccably perfect.
It was as if a solution had been presented the moment he encountered an insurmountable obstacle.
Ending the call, Ethan promptly assembled the Fallen Star Squad. Each member mounted a Flamebird, and they ascended directly towards Atlas City.
The Flamebirds exhibited remarkable obedience now—astonishingly so. When given an instruction, they executed it without fail.
Since their arrival in this world, their level of contentment had soared dramatically.
Back in that Void Realm pocket dimension, they might endure ten days or even half a month without sustenance, constantly living with hunger.
The environment there was unforgiving, compounded by the perpetual threat of discovery by Infernals. Their existence had been a relentless struggle for survival.
But in this reality?
They received meat daily. They had comfortable roosts. They were even attended to with baths.
It was, in essence, paradise.
A significant portion of the time, the Flamebirds seemed to believe this idyllic existence was too good to be true, fearing that insufficient effort might lead to its forfeiture.
Consequently, they flew with the utmost dedication, as if their very lives depended on it.
