Ethan didn't retreat. He pressed in instead.
His energy spread in an instant, wrapping the entire gemstone. He forcibly shoved the leaking power back inside, and at the same time seized complete control of it.
He stared at the gem, the excitement on his face impossible to hide now.
"The power coming off this thing is beautiful. Didn't think you had something like this in your hands. Why didn't you pull it out sooner?"
Before the last word even fell, Ethan didn't give Kaejirolar the slightest chance to snatch it back.
He drove the gemstone straight into his own body.
In that instant, the compressed energy inside the gem was like a floodgate being thrown wide open, seeping violently through his arm, his chest, his flesh—everywhere.
That power was unbelievably dense, carrying an explosive, propulsive push. The moment it merged, it sent the energy inside Ethan—already swollen from the void power—climbing again.
His Tier rose.
His strength rose.
