Ethan slowed his breathing and allowed his senses to spread outward. The ruined terrain around him remained silent, yet the silence felt unnatural. Several presences lingered at the edge of his perception, deliberately suppressing their movements.
He counted them quickly. Multiple level two signatures surrounded him from different angles, attempting to close in gradually. Among them, one presence stood apart. It carried a heavier pressure, stable and disciplined, far more dangerous than the others. A level four.
Under normal circumstances, Ethan would have withdrawn immediately. A direct confrontation with a level four opponent carried too much risk at his current strength. Even if he fought with everything he had, the outcome would remain uncertain at best.
