Mark was the first to bring it up.
"All right, what's going on with you?"
Ethan looked up from his plate. "What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb. You look different."
Kaela nodded, her earlier misery momentarily forgotten. "He's right. Something about you feels... different."
Elara studied him for another moment before agreeing.
"You definitely seem stronger."
Ethan paused with his fork halfway to his mouth.
He'd expected them to notice eventually, particularly Elara, who'd been close enough to sense the difference firsthand.
His breakthrough to B Rank had changed more than the numbers on his status screen. His presence felt heavier somehow, more commanding. Even without actively using his abilities, a subtle pressure surrounded him that hadn't existed before.
He could feel it himself.
Especially since he now literally had an A Rank Beast within him, and two of his other beasts had A Rank Potential.
But in true Ethan fashion, he answered casually, "Had a productive night."
