The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 70: Ch : The New Ranking System- Part 2

If the party thought that Ethan’s earlier warning had been enough, they were proven wrong.

As soon as it was clear that Ethan’s mood had improved, people began to crawl around him like bugs to flies.

The air buzzed with excitement and envy as hunters crowded around the newly ranked individuals, their eyes alight with the system’s fresh rankings.

And, unsurprisingly, Ethan was the center of attention.

"Ethan! Can we form a party with you?"

"Your lightning skills are incredible! You’ve gotta train with us sometime!"

"Hey, what do you think about merging teams?"

A dozen voices overlapped, hands reaching, and faces crowding in. Ethan’s expression darkened, his patience thinning.

"Enough. Everyone, my tolerance for today is gone! It’s time to head back."

He growled, but the crowd only pressed closer, emboldened by his rank and power.

With a low sigh, Ethan decided he had enough. His eyes found Selene, who was standing back, her expression blank, but he knew her well enough to sense the discomfort underneath.

Before she could react, Ethan reached out, his arm wrapping around her waist. In one swift motion, he hoisted her up, tossing her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing.

"E-Ethan! What are you doing?"

Selene gasped, her voice muffled against his back, her cheeks flushing.

Their sudden proximity, the warmth of his hold, and the strength in his grip sent a flurry of sensations through her. These sensations were ones she had never felt before.

She was too surprised to protest, her fingers curling against his shirt for stability.

Ethan barely paused, his sharp gaze finding Zara and Orion.

"Zara, grab Orion. We’re leaving."

He commanded, his voice firm.

Zara didn’t hesitate, grabbing Orion’s hand and pulling him along.

"Wait, what—"

Orion stuttered, but Zara’s grip was unyielding. She decided to grab the kid and take the leap.

The crowd surged, confusion and protests rising.

"Hey! You can’t just—"

"Wait, Ethan!"

"Don’t leave yet!"

But by the time anyone moved, it was too late.

Ethan’s long strides, combined with Zara’s agility, put enough distance between them and the crowd.

They slipped into side streets, weaving through alleys until the voices faded, and the clamor dissolved into silence.

Only when they reached the safe confines of their home did Ethan finally set Selene down.

She landed lightly, her legs a bit shaky, her face still pink. She brushed off her clothes, focusing on the fabric instead of looking up.

"Warn me next time. I feel like I lost years off my life because of this."

She muttered.

Ethan’s lips quirked, a hint of mischief returning.

"It worked, didn’t it?"

Zara leaned against the wall, catching her breath, and grinned.

"I think you shocked everyone, not just Selene. I almost did not make it out in time because of you."

Orion, still slightly winded, plopped onto the couch.

"I’m glad we got out of there. People were getting... weird. I felt like I was about to get jumped!"

Orion shuddered in fear as he remembered what had almost happened to him.

Selene took a breath, recomposing herself.

"It’ll only get worse from here. The ranking system is going to fan the flames of competition. And with Ethan in the top ten, we’re going to attract attention—good and bad."

Zara’s expression sobered, her playfulness fading.

Things were starting to get serious now and Selene knew that it was only a matter of time before next past plans start to show results.

"So, what’s the plan now?"

Ethan asked with a bored expression on his face.

Selene’s gaze turned sharp, her mind already whirring.

"We wait. Now that the ranking system has been confirmed, the government will contact me. They’ll want information—and fast."

Ethan’s brows rose.

You’re that sure? What if they don’t get back to you?"

Selene nodded, her confidence unshakable.

"The Plentiful Collections dungeon is coming up. It’s a treasure trove, and the government won’t want to miss out. They’ll need insight, and we’ll be first on their list."

"Should we prep gear?"

Zara asked, already mentally checking supplies.

"Yes. Be ready to move at any moment. This next dungeon is going to draw every major player. We need to be first—and we need to be prepared."

Selene confirmed.

While Selene’s team prepared, elsewhere, a different kind of tension brewed.

______

Noah and Nora stood outside a dungeon, the cool air brushing against their sweaty skin. Their recent raid had ended, and the system’s ranking update had caught them off guard.

"What do you mean Selene was spotted at the C+ dungeon?"

Noah’s voice was sharp, his fingers tightening around his weapon.

The messenger, a young scout, fidgeted nervously.

"I-I mean, sir, she was there. The reports confirmed it."

Noah’s expression twisted, frustration flaring.

"And no one thought to inform me sooner?"

The scout’s face paled.

"W-We were told not to... because... well..."

"Because you’d abandon your training again. We’ve talked about this, Noah. You can’t drop everything every time Selene pops up."

Nora finished, her voice cool but her eyes sharp.

His jaw clenched, his fists tight.

"But—"

"No. We need to focus. You know what will happen if we fall behind."

Nora’s voice was steel, her gaze unwavering.

As if on cue, the scout gulped.

"A-Actually, I have another message. From your parents."

The twins turned, their expressions hardening.

"They said... you need to crack the top 100 by next month, no matter what it takes."

A heavy silence settled, and the weight of the expectation bore down on them.

Noah’s earlier frustration morphed into something darker, a mix of fear and determination.

"Understood!"

Nora said, her voice even, but the slight tremor in her hands betrayed her nerves.

"Guess we don’t have a choice, do we?"

Noah muttered.

"No, We never did."

Nora agreed.

In the twisting threads of fate, ambitions clashed, and the looming storm of rankings, power, and expectations threatened to upend everything.

Selene’s team and the twins, though walking different paths, were inevitably bound to collide. And when they did, the world itself might shudder.