Although Ethan still lacked any deep understanding of the Space Element, the integration of the Blue Dragon’s Heart had granted him profound, instinctive insights into the Element of Time.
Coupled with his century-old mastery over the Flame Element from his past life, his foundation was unprecedented.
Standing amidst the dust and debris, Ethan swept his gaze across the desolate ruins. Raising a hand, he whispered a low, rhythmic incantation, casting a temporal-spatial detection spell to scan his immediate surroundings.
[Temporal Resonance: Ripple Scan.]
Invisible waves of temporal mana rippled outward, sweeping through every nook and cranny of the dilapidated house and its perimeter, checking for any hidden life forms or prying eyes.
Once the feedback confirmed that the area was entirely deserted and secure, Ethan let out a steady breath and decided to test his capabilities.
It has been a full hundred years... Ethan thought, his eyes turning melancholic yet sharp.
He had been thrown into that dark, inescapable prison when he was only eighty years old, spending another century locked away in pitch-black despair without ever being able to cast a single spell or engage in combat.
Before rushing headfirst into a deadly confrontation and seeking his vengeance, he needed to stretch his limbs, shake off the rust, and thoroughly practice his spells to test the true limits of his newly awakened power.
So far, he had only tested a basic scanning spell.
Now, it was time to move on to actual combat magic, starting with Rank-1 and Rank-2 offensive spells.
Concentrating his mana, Ethan flicked his wrist. "Rank-1 Spell: Fireball."
Instantly, a crackling sphere of compressed red flame materialized right in the palm of his hand. With a sharp flick of his arm, he hurled it straight at a decaying pillar across the room.
Bang! A sharp, crisp explosion echoed through the ruin as the pillar charred and smoked.
Satisfied with the basic test, Ethan grinned coldly. "Next... Rank-2 Spell: Fire Bombardment."
Normally, this wouldn’t have been possible.
But he possessed the heart of a Blue Dragon, which provided him with an almost infinite supply of mana.
Because of that, using Rank Two and even Rank Three spells was completely possible for him.
As he channeled a heavier surge of crimson mana, the ambient temperature in the room skyrocketed.
The fiery energy rapidly fractured and condensed, transforming into three distinct, blazing red fireballs hovering in mid-air. With a wave of his hand, they locked onto a single target and struck simultaneously.
Boom—!
A deafening blast shook the dilapidated cottage, sending dust and splinters flying in all directions.
Magnificent, Ethan thought, feeling the terrifying efficiency of his spells. Now, it’s time for a Rank-3 Fire spell.
Taking a deep breath to steady his core, Ethan prepared a higher-tier incantation. "Rank-3 Spell: Crimson Lotus Flame Prison."
Gathering his dense mana into a concentrated point, he slammed his palm against the floor.
Instantly, crimson runes flared across the dirt, and four pillars of swirling scarlet flames shot upward, forming a cage of blazing heat that instantly incinerated the rubble inside its radius into fine ash. The destructive output of a Rank-3 spell, backed by his century of combat experience, was breathtaking.
With his offensive spells tested and warmed up, it was time for the ultimate objective: testing his spatial movement.
Closing his eyes, Ethan began channeling his immense reserves of mana into the stone array.
Using his telekinesis, he carefully placed each stone in its designated position, making sure that even the slightest deviation would not affect the formation.
Once every stone was in place, he ignited his spell flames and began engraving different magical marks onto their surfaces with precise control.
After completing the inscriptions, he arranged the marked stones in their proper positions and slowly channeled his mana into them.
The moment his mana flowed through the stones, the magical marks began to glow, connecting with one another and forming a complex network of energy.
The surrounding space started to tremble as the formation gradually took shape. Within moments, a powerful Teleportation Formation had been successfully constructed.
Ethan locked his mind onto his destination. Kael’s family estate was located far away in a secluded coastal town, perched right at the edge of the roaring ocean.
Because Kael’s father city knight commander preferred absolute isolation and peace, their sprawling manor was built a significant distance away from the town’s main residential area, completely cut off from neighbors.
This is an absolute godsend, Ethan realized, a cruel smile touching his lips. Right now Kael will be too weak, Even if I launch a brutal, destructive surprise attack on Kael right now, the distance and isolation mean no one in the town will notice or interfere immediately.
...
In a dim, desolate corner away from the chaotic center, a four-year-old boy sat huddled in the shadows.
His messy raven-black hair fell over his forehead, framing a pair of striking golden eyes that burned with bitter frustration.
His small, frail body was covered in a constellation of minor cuts, bruises, and healing scars—the distinct marks of physical abuse and harsh beatings he had suffered in this brutal world.
Clenching his tiny fists, Kael stared into the empty space before him, his mind swirling with a torrent of self-pity and boiling rage as he cursed his fate:
"Damn it... I am a transmigrator from another world. It’s already been a full year since I transmigrated into this realm, but look at how wretched my luck is! I was reborn as the son of a City knight Commander who is already dead and gone."
"My mother is paralyzed, completely bedridden like a lifeless statue, unable to move a single muscle of her body... and right now, my two-year-old baby sister is screaming her lungs out from sheer hunger in the next room."
A wave of overwhelming despair and helplessness crashed over him.
"Damn it all! I can’t handle this anymore. Why the hell was I reincarnated into such a pathetic, hopeless body and family? Where is my legendary system?! Why don’t I have any overpowered cheat codes, god-tier abilities, or golden fingers like every other transmigrator gets? Why is the universe treating me like this?!"