Chapter 170: Awakening and the Arrival of Lilith’s Wrath

Inside the Survival Space, Ethan stood beside the corpse of the Red-Haired Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey.

He had already removed the creature’s Core from its skull.

It was a Leader-grade Core, and intense Spiritual Power fluctuations rolled beneath its reddish surface. Even without touching it, he could sense the unusual energy contained within.

Ethan turned it over in his hand.

’This should be enough.’

He had another person in mind for this gift.

Rose.

She had been unconscious for days, and he hoped this Core would finally wake her.

"Sofia, you should come with me."

He headed toward the villa where Rose and her daughter were staying.

Sofia followed closely behind.

When Ethan reached the bedroom, he pushed the door open without knocking.

Then he stopped.

Sofia was wiping her mother’s body with a damp towel.

Rose was lying on the bed, completely naked beneath the woman’s hands. Her pale skin looked almost translucent, and her long hair was spread across the pillow.

Sofia immediately grabbed the blanket and pulled it over her mother.

"Ethan! What are you doing?"

Ethan looked at her, then at the blanket she was clutching.

"I’m here to check on the patient. Do I need to make an appointment?"

Sofia glared at him.

"You’re such a pervert!"

Ethan ignored the insult and raised the Core in his hand.

Sofia’s expression changed the moment she saw it.

Her eyes widened, and her voice softened with anticipation.

"Is that... for Mom?"

Ethan nodded.

"That’s right."

A flicker of excitement passed through her eyes.

Earlier, she had wanted to remove the Core from the monkey herself and give it to Rose. However, Daisy had stopped her, explaining that Ethan needed to personally give the Core for the system to activate its effect.

Since then, Sofia had been waiting for him to return.

"Should I call Daisy?" she asked.

"Yes. Ask her to come and help."

Sofia quickly left the room.

A few moments later, Daisy arrived.

She glanced at the Core in Ethan’s hand and immediately understood what he intended to do.

"You’re going to give it to her now?"

"Yes."

Daisy moved to the other side of the bed, ready to assist.

Ethan approached Rose.

Her face was still pale, but her breathing had become much steadier. She no longer looked as though she might slip away at any moment.

He sat beside her and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

"Come on, Rose. It’s time to wake up."

He placed the Core against her lips.

With a gentle push of his fingertip, he guided it into her mouth.

The Core disappeared.

Ethan waited.

Several seconds passed.

Then ten.

Then twenty.

Sofia stood beside the bed, barely breathing.

Finally, a notification sounded in Ethan’s mind.

[ Ding! Gifted a Leader-grade Core to Rose, age 26. Beauty Score: 93.]

[Base Return: 70x.]

[Detected intense emotional fluctuations in the target: overwhelming gratitude and joy at the prospect of awakening.]

[Ultra-high Bonus Drop triggered!]

[Return: The hidden Spiritual Power Mark planted inside Rose by Dr. Lilith Cross has been absorbed by the host.]

[Congratulations! You have acquired the S-Rank Ability: Telepathy.]

[Telepathy: Allows the host to read the thoughts of any creature within a 20-meter radius. Current Spiritual Power reserves permit one use per day.]

[Rose’s S-Rank Plant Growth Ability has evolved to SS-Rank!]

[Plant Growth: Growth speed increased by 50%. Control range expanded to 50 square meters.]

[New Ability unlocked: Vines.]

[The host can transform ordinary green plants into offensive and defensive vines. These vines possess a toxin capable of temporarily paralyzing their targets.]

[Ability strength increases alongside the user’s overall strength.]

Ethan’s eyebrows rose.

’Telepathy?’

That was an unexpected reward.

The ability to read the thoughts of any creature within twenty meters could prove incredibly useful. He could use it to detect hidden enemies, uncover someone’s intentions, or gain an advantage during a fight.

The one-use-per-day restriction was unfortunate, but it didn’t diminish the value of the ability.

Then there was the other reward.

Rose’s S-Rank Plant Growth had evolved to SS-Rank.

Not only had its growth speed and control range increased, but she had also gained the ability to turn ordinary plants into weapons.

That was a considerable improvement.

Ethan was still examining the notifications when something moved on the bed.

Rose’s eyelashes fluttered.

Her fingers twitched slightly against the blanket.

Then, slowly, her eyes opened.

Sofia gasped.

"Mom!"

Rose blinked several times, struggling to adjust to the light.

Her gaze wandered across the room before finally settling on Ethan.

"Eth...han..."

Her voice was hoarse and weak, as though she hadn’t spoken in days.

But there was no mistaking the emotion behind it.

Ethan leaned closer.

"You’re awake."

Rose stared at him.

Tears began gathering in her eyes.

Although her body had been unconscious, her mind hadn’t been completely shut off. She had been aware of what was happening around her, even when she couldn’t move or speak.

She knew how much Ethan had done for her.

She knew how worried Sofia had been.

And she knew he had refused to give up on her.

"Thank you..."

Her voice broke.

Before Ethan could response, Rose suddenly threw her arms around him.

He was caught off guard by the sudden movement.

"Hey, easy. You’ve only just woken up."

But Rose didn’t seem to hear him.

She held him tightly, burying her face against his shoulder as tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Thank you," she whispered again.

Ethan gently placed a hand against her back.

"It’s all right. You’re safe now."

He was about to say something else when he noticed the blanket slipping.

Rose had been naked beneath it, and her sudden movement had exposed her shoulders.

Ethan opened his mouth to remind her.

But before he could speak, Rose lifted her face.

Her eyes met his.

Then she leaned forward and kissed him.

Ethan froze for a brief moment.

Sofia’s eyes widened.

She glanced at Daisy, who looked equally surprised.

Neither woman said anything.

Sofia quickly caught Daisy’s hand and pulled her toward the door.

"Let’s give them some privacy."

Daisy glanced back once before allowing herself to be led out.

Sofia closed the door quietly behind them.

The room fell silent.

Rose’s arms remained around Ethan’s neck.

He looked into her tearful eyes, then returned her kiss.

Whatever reservations he might have had disappeared as he responded to her affection.

Three hundred kilometers away, inside an Air-raid Shelter in the heart of Linhai City, Dr. Lilith Cross abruptly opened her eyes.

She had been sitting in meditation, carefully guiding the energy inside the red meteorite through her body.

But now her entire body had stiffened.

A thin line of blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

Her eyes widened.

Then her expression twisted with fury.

"Ethan..."

She clenched her teeth, and her voice came out cold enough to freeze the air around her.

"I underestimated you."

The red meteorite trembled in her hand.

She could feel it.

The hidden Spiritual Power Mark she had planted inside Rose had vanished.

Not weakened.

Not damaged.

Completely erased.

Her carefully prepared contingency plan had been destroyed.

For a moment, she sat motionless.

Then a flash of madness appeared in her eyes.

"So you managed to find it and remove it..."

Her fingers tightened around the meteorite.

"Fine."

A greedy smile slowly spread across her face.

"Enjoy your little victory while you can."

She looked down at the red crystal in her hand.

Its surface pulsed with a faint, reddish glow.

The energy inside was becoming increasingly concentrated. She was close to completing her absorption.

"Once I’ve absorbed the remaining energy and reached SS-Rank, I’ll go to Silvermont City myself."

Her smile widened.

"And then we’ll settle our differences."

She leaned back, staring at the glowing meteorite.

"Ethan..."

"That Survival Space of yours can shelter living people and keep them hidden from the outside world."

Her eyes gleamed with greed.

"Something that valuable shouldn’t belong to someone like you."

She closed her fingers around the crystal.

"One way or another, I’ll make it mine."