Late into the night, the group lay sprawled across the open-air terrace on the third floor, gazing up at the stars.
The luxury home had lounge chairs—way better than lying on cold hardwood.
Stargazing wasn't just a way to unwind. It was their edge. As long as no one else figured out the secret, they'd stay ahead. And every night they kept it to themselves, that lead grew a little more.
Especially for Ethan. He'd already gained over 600 extra pounds of raw strength. Even among Tier 4 Awakened, that was no joke.
Normally, a freshly advanced Tier 4 clocked in around 2,400 pounds of force. Ethan? He was starting at 3,000. That kind of gap wasn't just noticeable—it was crushing. And the longer it went on, the wider it would get.
Chris and Henry had each gained over 200 pounds of strength too. Maybe not enough to dominate their Tier, but definitely enough to outclass most of their peers.
Sean and the others were still early in the process. They'd need time.
