Chapter 130: Council of Angels of Bark

"Hmm... these are some serious charges you have here, kid."

Seated at the head of the round table, an elderly man slowly lowered the petition in his hands, his weathered gaze settling on Ethan.

Thick vines grew from the top of his scalp, twisting together to form what resembled a crown of living hair, while patches of bark-like skin climbed along his neck and temples. There was an indescribable dignity about him, one that made even the air around the clearing feel heavier.

This man was Zeron Martel, one of the former kings of Bark who had ruled nearly three hundred years ago.

His reign had come to a tragic end during a campaign deep within demi-human territory, where he sacrificed himself to ensure the safe retreat of his soldiers. Even now, centuries after his death, a colossal statue bearing his likeness still stood proudly at the center of Windgrave Square, untouched by weather or time, silently watching over the kingdom he had once led.

He folded the petition and rested it on the table before studying Ethan from head to toe.

"So... you’re Ethan Algar. The young man Martin has been speaking so highly of."

His tone carried neither praise nor ridicule, only curiosity.

"I’ve heard quite a lot about you these past few weeks."

Martin—the current king—merely crossed his arms without saying a word.

"You’ve been causing quite the stir," Zeron continued. "Repeated S-Rank summons, rebuilding a fallen clan from the ground up, surviving encounters that should have killed you several times over... even the Lord has begun paying attention."

A faint smile tugged at the old king’s lips.

"Martin seems convinced you’ll become a Demi-God before long. If fortune smiles upon you... perhaps even an Angel."

Those words alone caused Ethan’s heartbeat to quicken.

Until today, he hadn’t even known Angels existed. Yet here they were, sitting around a simple wooden table like ordinary retirees enjoying tea.

"Yes, Your..."

Ethan hesitated. For perhaps the first time since arriving in this world, he genuinely didn’t know how he should address someone.

King? Ancestor? Lord? None of them seemed appropriate.

"Grace."

Zeron answered with an amused smile.

"You may address us as Your Grace."

"I understand, Your Grace."

The old king gave a satisfied nod before turning his attention back toward Martin.

"As for the charge regarding his high-tier summons... tell the Magistrate Council that the Martel Royal Family is fully aware of the matter."

His voice became calm, yet carried unquestionable authority.

"Furthermore... the World Tree personally recognizes and supports Ethan Algar."

Martin simply nodded.

"That alone should silence half the council."

Ordinarily, the royal family never involved itself in struggles between the great noble houses. Their role was to stand above such conflicts, acting only when the stability of the kingdom itself was threatened.

This situation, however... was different.

The existence of repeated S-Rank summons wasn’t merely a family matter. It had the potential to reshape the balance of power across the entire kingdom.

The moment the great houses realized Ethan could consistently summon heroes of such caliber, every influential family would begin moving. Some would seek to recruit him, others would attempt to marry into the Algar Clan, while the more ruthless among them would simply attempt to eliminate him before he grew any stronger.

The kingdom couldn’t allow that. At least... not yet.

Zeron lightly tapped the table before continuing.

"As for the second matter..."

Suddenly... his voice stopped.

The old king’s expression froze, his pupils losing focus as though he were staring beyond the world itself.

Then he slowly closed his eyes, raising one hand to massage his temples.

The peaceful atmosphere surrounding the table instantly vanished. Every other Angel turned toward him, their expressions becoming unusually serious, while even Mister Mysteries quietly set down his teacup.

No one spoke. They simply waited.

Several long seconds passed before Zeron finally opened his eyes again, a trace of solemnity lingering across his face.

"The Lord..." He paused briefly. "...wishes to offer a solution."

Those words immediately drew everyone’s attention.

Zeron turned back toward Ethan.

"You and the Algar Clan will receive the protection of the Church of the World Tree."

"The Magistrate Council... the noble houses... and every organization beneath the Church’s authority will be instructed to cease all political pressure against your people. We will dispatch a Deacon to oversee the territory personally."

"You needn’t concern yourself with the bureaucracy anymore."

Ethan’s eyes widened slightly.

A Deacon. Even without knowing the Church’s internal hierarchy, he could already guess the significance of such a promise.

The Church of the World Tree was the single greatest religious institution throughout Bark. Its influence reached every city, every noble estate, and every village.

If it openly declared the Algar Clan under its protection, very few people would dare continue causing trouble.

"But..." Zeron’s tone changed. "There is a condition."

Silence settled over the clearing.

"You must do something. Not for Martin, not for the royal family... but for the Lord, and for Bark itself."

Ethan instinctively frowned.

Doing a favor for the king was one thing. Kings could negotiate, compromise, and be reasoned with.

Gods... were an entirely different matter.

The weight behind those words alone made him hesitate, but seeing the uncertainty in Ethan’s eyes, Zeron gave a reassuring smile.

"Relax. It isn’t a punishment. In fact... it will benefit you more than anyone else."

Ethan remained silent.

"You’ve been worried about your next evolution requirement... haven’t you?"

The moment those words left the old king’s mouth, Ethan froze, his pupils contracting ever so slightly.

Only a handful of people even knew he had evolved. Even fewer knew another evolution requirement had already appeared.

How...

Then he remembered the conversation he’d shared with Martin. The king had been so disturbed by the requirement that he had immediately consulted Bark himself.

At the time, Ethan hadn’t fully understood why. Now, standing before the Angels, he finally realized just how seriously they had taken it.

The familiar words resurfaced within his mind.

[Survive a Cataclysmic Flood for 10 Days.]

Every time he thought about that requirement, an indescribable sense of unease crept into his chest.

The System hadn’t asked him to kill anyone. It hadn’t demanded the defeat of some legendary beast, nor had it required him to conquer a dungeon.

Instead, it had issued only one command: *Survive.*

That single word frightened him more than any previous evolution requirement. What kind of flood could last ten entire days? Would the Great Sea swallow the continent, or was something even more terrifying approaching?

Even Martin—the King of Bark—had looked disturbed after reading it. That alone spoke volumes.

Yet judging from Zeron’s expression, Bark had apparently discovered something—something that changed everything.

"Whatever the Lord wishes me to do..." Ethan said after a long silence, his voice steady despite the questions racing through his mind.

His gaze met Zeron’s without wavering.

"Tell me. I want to hear it."

A faint smile appeared on the old king’s face.

"Good. Because what comes next..."

He slowly leaned forward across the table.

"...will determine whether you survive the future at all."