Path To Godhood Begins With Marrying Wife And Gaining SSS Rank Skill

For the next few days, Ethan did not step out of the forge even once, and the sound of hammer striking metal continued without pause while heat and sparks filled the space and the air remained heavy with effort and intent.

Day and night blurred together, and the only thing that marked the passage of time was the growing pile of finished equipment that lay carefully arranged beside him, and each new piece carried a faint glow as if it had life within it.

His body looked tired and his face remained pale, but his movements did not slow down, and every strike carried focus while the flames around him moved in a controlled flow that responded to his will and wrapped around him like a silent companion.

Each weapon and each piece of armor was crafted with precision, and faint runes flickered across their surface before settling, and it was clear that none of them were ordinary items but rather something far beyond common craftsmanship.

Finally, after days of continuous work, the hammer stopped, and the forge grew quiet while the echoes slowly faded into silence.

Ethan stood there for a moment while breathing slowly, and then he turned and stepped out.

Soon, the children were gathered in the courtyard, and their eyes turned toward Ethan as he walked toward them while carrying the finished equipment in his hands.

One by one, he began to distribute the items, and he handed over swords, shields, and armor carefully while making sure each piece matched its owner.

Each item was received with both hands, and the moment the children touched them, their expressions changed as if they had felt something unusual.

They could feel it clearly.

The weight.

The power.

The faint energy that moved within the artifacts.

Arnold held his sword and looked at it closely, and his eyes widened slightly while his fingers tightened around the grip.

“This…” he muttered, and his voice carried surprise.

Sally ran her fingers along the edge of her blade, and a faint glow responded to her touch while a soft hum spread from the weapon.

“It feels… alive,” she said quietly.

Christina adjusted the armor piece she received, and her expression turned serious while her gaze sharpened.

“This is not normal equipment,” she said.

The others reacted in similar ways, and surprise mixed with awe spread across their faces while they realized the value of what they had just been given.

Ethan watched them for a moment, and then he took out a set of amulets while stepping forward.

He handed one to each of them carefully, and his movements slowed slightly as if the items held more importance than the weapons.

“These are more important,” he said.

The children looked at the amulets in their hands, and their expressions turned curious while they examined the faint glow within them.

“Each of these can form a shield,” Ethan continued.

“It can protect you from an attack at SS rank, and it can even withstand a strike from a Divine Knight.”

The moment they heard that, their eyes widened in shock, and their grip on the amulets tightened slightly while a sense of seriousness settled in their hearts.

Ethan then looked at all of them, and his expression grew serious while his posture straightened.

He took a step forward and spoke slowly, and his voice carried weight.

“Listen, kids. On the battlefield, bravery only matters if you can live,” he said.

“As long as you can survive, you can slay enough enemies, and you must know when to retreat and when to advance.”

His gaze moved across each of them while his tone grew heavier.

“Surviving is of utmost importance, and every problem can be solved if you survive long enough, so don’t be foolish and run ahead to lay down your lives.”

He paused briefly and then continued.

“Stay back, stay calm, and observe the intent.”

His voice lowered slightly.

“There is no unsolvable situation when you have an unshakable will.”

The courtyard fell silent as his words settled, and the children looked at him while their expressions slowly changed.

They could see it now, because the fatigue in his body and the paleness of his face were no longer hidden, and the strain he carried was clear even without words.

One by one, they dropped to their knees.

“Father…” Arnold spoke first, and his voice carried respect and determination.

“We swear that we will not bring shame to the Blanks name,” he said.

Sally followed while lowering her head slightly.

“We will make sure to uphold our reputation,” she added.

Christina spoke next.

“We will return stronger,” she said.

The others spoke as well, and their voices carried the same resolve.

“We will not fail.”

“We will protect what you have built.”

“We will make you proud.”

Ethan looked at them quietly, and although he did not say anything, his eyes softened slightly while a faint emotion passed through them.

Soon after, the children stood up again, and without hesitation, they mounted their horses while the atmosphere turned firm and resolved.

Then they moved, and the sound of hooves echoed as they accelerated out of the Blanks estate while dust rose behind them and their figures moved forward without turning back.

Ethan watched them leave, and then his body lifted slowly while he floated into the sky and followed them from above.

He stayed there for a while, and his gaze remained fixed on them as they moved across the land while their figures slowly grew smaller.

From above, they looked like small dots moving forward across a vast world.

After a few regions, Ethan slowed down and finally stopped, and he stood in the sky while watching those distant figures fade further away.

A faint sigh escaped his lips.

“I wonder what the Emperor meant by such moves,” he murmured.

His eyes narrowed slightly while his thoughts deepened.

“Was he trying to test my scions, or was there something else?”

His expression turned thoughtful.

“Just what is that guy playing?” he muttered to himself.

For a moment, he remained there while the wind moved quietly around him, and then he gave them one last look before turning away.

He began to move back toward the estate, and what greeted him when he arrived at the estate was a grim Outlook surrounding.