Infinite Returns : The More I Give, The Stronger I Become-Chapter 66: The two brothers

Ethan stood at the entrance of the Forest of Death.

It had been hours since he'd parted ways with Syed. And after making all his preparations, he was finally here—ready to step into the unknown.

But now, standing before the infamous forest, a chill crept up his spine. He couldn't help but feel… uneasy.

'It's fine. It's fine. The worst thing that can happen is me dying.'

'But I won't. Not with my system. At worst… I make a wish and pay the price.'

He repeated those thoughts over and over, steadying his nerves.

Still—why did this place feel wrong?

"This is weird, System. I don't usually get like this. What's going on?"

[You will need Karmic Points for that answer.]

Ethan's lips twitched.

"I gained some from my last three customers. Isn't that enough?"

[No.]

He sighed.

"Thanks, System. You just made it worse." He cursed under his breath.

But there was no point in stressing. It wouldn't help. The only way forward… was through.

And with his transcendent class, he doubted he'd be completely helpless.

So—

"Let's do this."

He stepped forward and crossed the boundary.

…

The moment Ethan entered the forest, it was like stepping into another dimension.

The usual blue sky above turned pitch-black, like ink had spilled across it. The air grew thick, almost liquid—murky, suffocating. And the darkness…

The darkness felt alive.

It pressed against his skin, trying to seep in. Ethan shuddered, his instincts screaming.

"What the—?"

Without hesitation, he deployed his Space-Time Barrier, cutting himself off from the surroundings.

But even within it, he felt… watched, his body shuddered uncontrollably. It was very eerie and disturbing.

And then he noticed it—cracks forming across the barrier.

"The hell?"

He looked closer. The darkness wasn't just pressing in—it was corroding his barrier. Very rapidly at that.

"This is fucking crazy."

It was the first time his SSS-rank Space-Time Barrier had failed. Ever.

But Ethan didn't panic.

Because if there's one thing he prided himself on—

"It's that I'm a fucking tycoon."

Ethan said with arrogant voice and with a flick of his hand, dozens of white lights blinked into existence around him—dozens of SSS-rank Space-Time Barriers.

Ethan smirked.

"One wasn't enough hun? How about these?"

And as if feeling provoked, the darkness reacted immediately, surging forward like a tidal wave. Within seconds, half of his barriers shattered.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Ethan's eye twitched.

"Oh? You were holding back too?"

He grinned, pride flaring.

"Then let me show you why I'm called The Absolute Tycoon."

In an instant, the sky lit up with a storm of red and white—millions SSS-rank Space Time barriers and SSS-rank fire bombs.

The sight was terrifying.

Ethan's grin stretched wider.

"Oh I'm gonna enjoy this."

BBOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!

The entire Forest of Death trembled.

…

While Ethan battled an enemy he couldn't understand, far away—his brother, Lucas, faced something even worse:

The incarnation of a god.

Agni, the God of Fire.

BAAMMM!

Lucas crashed into the ground, hard enough to flatten a house.

"Arghh…"

Before he could recover, the sky darkened again. Above him, the massive body of Veldra, his dragon companion, was plummeting straight down.

Lucas's lips twitched.

"Oh, come on—!"

He rolled and launched himself backward just as Veldra slammed into the ground with earth-shaking force.

The dragon's body dispersed into glowing mist—and a man in his thirties appeared where he landed. His hair was Ash-white and slitted white eyes.

He stood there as blood dripped from his lips.

Veldra's human form.

He stood beside Lucas, panting slightly.

"And you call yourself a true dragon, huh?" Lucas muttered. "You can't even hold your ground against an A-rank incarnation. What a disappointment."

He sneered.

Veldra coughed awkwardly. "Master… a god is a god. And Agni's an ancient one. I can't—"

"Are you two done talking yet?"

A voice cut through the air.

High above, a blazing red figure hovered—Agni himself. The heat around him twisted the air like a mirage.

His eyes glowed red, looking down at them with arrogance.

"Is that all you've got?" he said, voice dripping with condescension. "You're not even worth getting serious."

His voice was too arrogant, as if talking with inferior beings.

But Lucas didn't even answer, his face was serious, his previous playfulness now gone.

Instead, white fire ignited around him. The temperature spiked—dangerously so. But it still paled in comparison to Agni's presence.

Agni's gaze sharpened. He tilted his head slightly.

"You… you have potential. Your fire is interesting."

Lucas didn't even respond to him, he immediately shot into the sky without even acknowledging his words. A hundred white flame spears formed above him—and rained down.

Behind him, Veldra opened his mouth wide and roared with all his might.

ROOOOOOAAAARRRRRR!!!

BOOOOOOOMMMM!!!

The air around Agni exploded. He was hurled backward—straight into the path of the incoming spears.

"Tch."

Agni clicked his tongue and threw up a red fire barrier—but he was too late. Half of the spears pierced through and slammed into him.

BAAMM!

Agni crashed into the ground.

But when the dust cleared, he stood unfazed.

Not in pain.

Just… annoyed.

The white spears burned away as Agni dusted himself off.

"You're strong," he admitted. "But do you really think you can beat me with fire?"

"I am the incarnation of Agni, god of fire."

"Fire is my authority."

He raised a finger—and conjured Lucas's exact white flame on it.

"I can replicate any fire that touches me. So—tell me—how will you win now?"

Veldra stayed silent, but his expression remained calm. Because he knew.

Lucas wasn't even using his full strength yet.

So far, he had only used his fire talent.

But Lucas had another.

His true strength.

His SSS-rank sword talent.

Lucas smirked.

"That's fine."

He raised his right hand—and a gleaming white long sword appeared in it.

"Fire isn't my only strength," he said softly.

He lifted the blade high into the sky.

"I'm a swordsman too."

SLASH—!

Agni's arm was instantly severed.

—End of Chapter 66—