DOTM: Chapter 292/293

Chapter 292: Unable to Reject

Taking potions, training, and teaching Sherry.

Ethan's life became very peaceful. Occasionally, he would also give Selene some guidance on using the Holy Light. After several months of focused training, the female vampire was finally able to skillfully cast Holy Light spells.

There was even an unexpected gain. When Selene wanted to hide herself, her presence became extremely faint. Even if Ethan wasn't actively looking, he would easily overlook Selene hiding in a corner.

"What is this? Did your bloodline react with the Shadow Energy and awaken some kind of special talent?"

"I'm not really sure either. I've been thinking about that recently."

Ethan held a bag of potato chips in his hand. Ever since enhancing himself with potions, his appetite had increased significantly. The main reason was that his physical enhancements required large amounts of energy. Although Ethan could absorb magic power directly, he still preferred to replenish his energy by eating, so he often carried snacks and munched on them whenever he had free time.

"When I wrap myself in Shadow Energy, I can hide better in dark areas. Even the sounds my body makes, like footsteps, are absorbed by the energy and don't get transmitted."

"Hold on." Ethan raised the hand holding the potato chips, motioning Selene to pause. "I remember giving you a priest's notes back then, right? Though he was a Shadow Priest, that guy definitely wasn't moonlighting as an assassin."

He had read those notes himself. They were all focused on training Shadow Energy and balancing the relationship between Holy Light and Shadow, preventing the practitioner from leaning too far into or falling into the shadows.

It was a very thorough set of notes, giving Ethan deeper understanding of Shadow Energy and also offering useful references for mastering Holy Light.

But there was absolutely nothing in them about stealth or concealment, so there was no way Selene had learned that from the notes.

"So why did you awaken this ability?"

Selene said she didn't know either. She had simply followed the prescribed steps to study Holy Light and Shadow, spending time each day training both energies. At the same time, she had maintained her physical training. Her fitness had improved significantly thanks to both energies, but this new ability had appeared completely out of nowhere.

After some thought, the only explanation was the influence of her bloodline.

"What a convenient ability."

The two didn't bother hiding their conversation. Ada stood not far away and heard Selene's words clearly.

She suspected that Ethan was deliberately letting her hear it. So many magical powers seemed just within reach, but she didn't dare reach out easily, unsure whether immense benefits like these were hiding something more dangerous underneath.

Still, that didn't stop her from feeling envious. For a spy, Selene's ability was extremely useful and could make infiltration missions significantly easier.

"You want to learn? I can teach you."

"Why do you keep showing me so much favor?"

Ada had been wanting to ask for a while. She had planned to find the answer through her own investigation. That kind of cautiousness seemed to come with the job. People like her always trusted what they discovered themselves more than what others told them directly.

However, after observing for some time, Ada gradually understood Ethan's personality. He disliked trouble and wasn't one to beat around the bush. Maybe because he was too proud or too confident, he didn't seem to bother lying to them.

Under these circumstances, if she had questions, she could simply ask him. The answers he gave were usually the truth. After probing for a while, Ada finally decided to ask directly.

"Because I find you pleasing to the eye."

Ethan wasn't lying. That was indeed one of the main reasons he wanted to bring Ada along. To put it bluntly, it came down to her appearance… and the rest of her figure.

"Then what do you want me to do?"

"There aren't many people on my ship. I just want to find companions I enjoy being around to go on adventures together."

As for what Ada could do, Ethan had thought of her as a recon-type operative for gathering intelligence, and a long-range sniper-type support in combat.

"So it's not about what I want you to do, but what you can do."

Now that the number of companions had increased, assigning specific roles or responsibilities didn't seem necessary anymore. This wasn't a game, after all. There was no need to worry about team composition or class balance.

With the many potions he had 'accidentally' created, and the various knowledge he had gathered across different worlds, even an ordinary person could be transformed into a non-human existence in a short time.

Once everyone was strong enough, combat roles didn't matter. They could switch responsibilities depending on the situation.

In short, it was about using overwhelming strength to crush the enemy. That was also Ethan's favorite method.

"Then what kind of reward do I get? From the sound of it, you want me to work for you long-term. That one bottle of potion obviously isn't enough."

Ada understood what Ethan meant. He wanted her to join his team.

During this time, Ada had already learned that Ethan lived in a world of oceans. He had a warship that looked like something from the Age of Sail, but with many unique devices.

Several companions lived with him on that ship, but this time, only the female vampire named Selene had accompanied him here.

After spending so many days together, Selene's identity as a vampire had long been exposed. Because of this, Annette and Sherry were somewhat wary of her, probably afraid that Selene might suddenly lose control and bite someone.

From the daily conversations between Ethan and Selene, Ada had gathered that there were likely two other men and a little girl on that ship. That was her professional assessment.

It looked like a small elite team. What Ada didn't understand was why Ethan had taken such a liking to her and wanted to recruit her.

This mage could freely travel between different universes and planes. That kind of life sounded fascinating, but she was still a bit uneasy, worried that it might not be so simple.

"What do you want?"

"Shouldn't work come with compensation? Since you're inviting me to join, you should at least explain what benefits you're offering."

Ethan hadn't expected Ada to raise such a topic. He wasn't sure whether Ada was a freelance spy, but that seemed likely now, so discussing compensation made sense.

"An enhanced version of the potion you've seen. Beyond that, I can guarantee your lifespan will far exceed that of ordinary humans."

The serum improved from the G-virus couldn't directly increase lifespan. It could only keep one's appearance and physical condition in peak form for a longer period. At best, being extraordinarily healthy would allow someone to outlive the average person.

But that wasn't difficult for Ethan. He had already accumulated enough methods for increasing lifespan. He couldn't promise too much, but living a few hundred years was no problem.

If he found more fortuitous encounters during future travels, or made breakthroughs in any of the training methods he had mastered, living for thousands of years wouldn't be out of the question.

"That sounds very appealing."

Ada was indeed tempted. Getting to visit many different worlds was also interesting—an extremely challenging job. She could live longer, gain enhanced physical capabilities, and see all kinds of strange and wondrous things.

It seemed perfect in every aspect. Now, she was only concerned about one thing.

"Once I board your ship, am I not allowed to leave?"

Normally, if someone gave you so many benefits, they'd expect you to serve them like a slave for life. Want to leave? Pay back everything you took first—which, more often than not, meant death.

But Ethan hadn't thought that way. Although he hoped his companions could stay with him for a long time—ten years, decades even—he couldn't say for sure whether conflicts might eventually arise after hundreds or thousands of years.

He believed in parting on good terms. He didn't want conflicts to develop. The best-case scenario would be to separate peacefully before ideological differences became too great.

That way, they could remain friends. Ethan could even visit his old teammates from time to time.

"So if that day comes, and you no longer want to stay aboard the ship, you're free to leave anytime."

As for where to go afterward? She could return to her original world, or choose another she preferred. Ethan could help send her there.

Ada was surprised that Ethan would hold such a view. She had thought this mage might be like those historical tyrants who never tolerated betrayal—even if it was just someone choosing to stop working for them.

"Do you really mean that?"

"I can't guarantee my views won't change in the future, but at least for now, that's how I think."

Maybe that sounded naive or immature, especially when so much was at stake. If such a situation really occurred, could Ethan truly bear to watch his 'investment' walk away?

He couldn't speak for the future, but at present, Ethan had a bottom line. So although he never considered himself a great man, he didn't see himself as a bad one either.

"If that's the case, then I'm very willing to join."

Ada's quick agreement surprised Ethan a bit.

"What? Surprised? Honestly, accepting your offer is the rational choice. The benefits you're offering are too good to refuse."

Not just Ada couldn't say no—even Annette, who had been standing nearby, changed her mind. She no longer wanted to find a new world. Now, she wanted to stay aboard Ethan's ship.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 293: Changes in Ada and Sherry

Annette's reaction wasn't strange. For an ordinary person with average intelligence, when faced with the possibility of a longer lifespan, better health, and even a superior body, how many would refuse?

Even putting aside people like Ada, who worked in special professions and relied heavily on physical fitness, ordinary people still hoped for good health. A healthy body allowed one to live more easily and comfortably. Even if some claimed "good enough is fine," when a better option was presented right in front of them, within reach, no one would willingly turn it down.

"It seems I was overthinking it."

Through this incident with Ada, Ethan realized just how powerful the resources he held were. Recruiting companions in the future might be much easier than he had thought. Previously, he'd been worried about how to convince Ada. In his mind, this female spy wasn't someone who could be easily fooled, and he had thought his bargaining chips wouldn't be enough to sway her.

After Ada agreed, Ethan immediately fulfilled his promise. He was now holding the potion that was especially suitable for Ada's use.

This was a strengthening potion created by fusing the T-virus and G-virus, with a bit of Fountain of Life added. It not only enhanced physical fitness in all aspects, ensuring the body remained in a youthful, peak state for a long time, but also significantly extended lifespan.

According to Ethan's estimation, after taking this potion, Ada would have a lifespan of at least three hundred years and would maintain her current peak appearance—around twenty-five years old—for the first two hundred years or more.

Only during the final twenty years of her life would she begin to show signs of aging. Even then, her aging process would be much slower than that of a normal person. Perhaps by the time her life ended, she would still look only around forty.

"That sounds great. Are there any side effects?"

"I've made adjustments to the potion based on your condition. It's highly compatible with your body and will definitely have no side effects."

He had studied and practiced potionology for many years, and one of the most important chapters was how to avoid various drug side effects on the human body. Knowing that he would continue to develop various potions in the future, Ethan had put a lot of effort into mastering that part.

The magical knowledge of potion-making, and the methods for eliminating side effects, were quite "magical." Ethan still didn't fully understand the principles behind it, but that didn't stop him from practicing the spell with great proficiency.

The fact that none of the many potions he had made so far had any side effects proved his capability.

"How do I use it? Just drink it?"

Ada had assumed that such a small vial of potion would need to be injected with a syringe or some other device. She didn't expect it to be taken orally. Was it really that simple and straightforward?

"Most of the time, you won't have tools like syringes available. Are you supposed to just stare at the potion you made and do nothing? That's why the potionology I studied emphasizes that potions should be either applied externally or taken orally."

Ada nodded. That was a very practical approach. Luckily, she didn't mind this detail. She then asked if there was anything else she needed to be aware of. After learning that there wasn't, she drank the potion.

She had expected something made from various viruses and unknown ingredients to taste awful, but it turned out to be surprisingly pleasant.

"Why does it taste a bit like juice?"

"Because I mixed juice into it."

"..."

Ada suddenly felt like this whole thing was a bit unreliable. What kind of logic was that? Mixing juice into a potion? Wasn't he afraid it would affect the medicinal properties?

"I just wanted it to taste better. I've been taking similar potions every day recently. If it tastes awful, isn't that just making things harder for myself?"

Through numerous experiments (which also wasted some virus samples), Ethan had successfully created potions with different flavors. From now on, he no longer had to worry about making unpleasant-tasting medicine.

Standing still, Ada tried to ignore Ethan's questionable behavior and quietly observed the changes in her body. But after standing for a while, she realized that nothing seemed to be happening. She had expected some pain or perhaps a comfortable sensation, but there was nothing. It felt like she had just drunk a sip of juice.

She didn't think Ethan was trying to trick her, as he had no reason to do so. She was just wondering if the potion needed time to take effect, perhaps after her digestive system absorbed it?

"You don't need to wait. This potion was adjusted specifically for the physical constitution of ordinary people like you. It won't cause dramatic changes all at once."

Although Ada's physical fitness was strong for an ordinary human, she was still just a regular person. If the drug's effects were too strong, it could place a huge burden on her body and, in severe cases, lead to death.

Moreover, this kind of explosive transformation still had a few problems.

Although it could quickly enhance the user's strength, the sudden surge of energy would exceed the body's tolerance, and some of it wouldn't take effect at all.

In the best-case scenario, that unused energy would remain dormant in the body, waiting to be released as the person's abilities developed further.

In worse cases, the energy might dissipate or simply vanish. A potion that could have enhanced someone tenfold might only deliver six or seven times the effect—or even less—due to the body's inability to absorb it. Having made many potions, Ethan naturally understood this issue well and made detailed adjustments to prevent it.

The potion Ada took would convert into pure energy and lie dormant in her body. It would then be released gradually and gently to transform her physique bit by bit.

As Ada's physical condition improved, the rate of energy release would increase until all of it was absorbed.

In the early stages, Ada would feel no different than before, but after a while, she would begin to notice the changes.

At the same time, the gradual improvement would allow her to adapt to her growing strength, preventing loss of motor control from a sudden power surge.

As a spy and agent, she placed high value on control over her own body. After hearing Ethan's explanation, she was very satisfied. The potential issues she had been worried about were all addressed in advance by Ethan.

"So I just need to wait quietly?"

"Do some light exercise when you can. Training helps you burn energy more quickly, which in turn prompts more of the dormant energy to be released and used to rebuild your body. That will indirectly speed up your transformation. Also, when you're physically exhausted, you can sense energy more clearly. Since you'll eventually be using energy in the future, this will help."

Ada nodded, memorizing everything Ethan said.

"And after getting exhausted, it becomes easier to practice control over your growing strength, right? I'm not too sure about that part. I'll assume you know better."

Ethan's physical fitness had always improved through his own training. The potion he previously used didn't significantly boost his strength. That potion had mainly enhanced his potential and raised the ceiling of what his body could achieve. The subsequent strength gain still came from regular training.

So far, Ethan hadn't experienced a sudden power-up that he couldn't control. Maybe he would feel that this time after using the new potion improved with the G-virus?

After finishing the instructions for Ada, Ethan resumed his daily teaching time. Sherry's talent was better than Ethan's had been in the beginning, but not so amazing that veteran mages would rush to take her as an apprentice.

She simply had slightly stronger mental power than the average person. Plus, being young, she was in the most active stage of mental development and had the fastest growth rate. Her ability to absorb new knowledge was also better.

Aside from that, Sherry was just an ordinary child. If Ethan were a traditional mage, he wouldn't even consider teaching her. According to conventional standards, Sherry might be able to learn a few minor tricks, but becoming a true mage would be impossible.

But Ethan was not a traditional mage, and he wasn't training Sherry to be a top-tier mage. He was simply teaching her to pass the time.

Besides, Ethan had a large reserve of resources. Even if Sherry's talent was average, he could force the path of a mage upon her by throwing enough potions at her—if he really wanted to.

"Ethan, I can play for an hour now."

At the moment, Ethan hadn't considered investing significant resources into Sherry, but watching the little girl joyfully learn was rather fun. For example, with the nine-square puzzle Ethan had created using magic, Sherry could now manipulate it quite smoothly.

The game was simple, but completing it wasn't easy. While using mental power to connect with the puzzle and move the squares, she also had to think about how to solve it logically.

So this form of game-like training was very effective in developing both control and strength of mental power.

Sherry had progressed from barely being able to sense the puzzle and make minimal movements to now being able to play with it continuously for an hour. Once she could complete the puzzle while still having energy left, Ethan could introduce her to a new game.

Just as Sherry managed to solve the puzzle without showing signs of fatigue—proving her mental strength had improved—the snow that had sealed the town finally began to melt. The temperature started to rise.

It was time for them to leave.

(To be continued.)