7. Breaking Free

'.....'= Thoughts 

"....."= Conversations 

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Ethan decided that once he was far from the mansion, he would copy the ability. It might be a risky choice, but he didn't know what the future held. Waiting wasn't an option because there were too many unknowns. He was unsure how far the mansion was or how long it would take to reach it. If he waited too long and they got to the mansion first, he might miss his chance to escape, especially if a vampire was there.

So, he made up his mind to copy the ability while in the carriage, away from the mansion. He didn't know how his body would react after copying the ability, but from reading various novels, he knew it would likely attract attention. Therefore, he planned to wait until he was out of range of the vampire's senses.

Besides, Eliza wanted him alive, so the masked men wouldn't dare to harm him. They might be alerted or confused by his actions, but they definitely wouldn't pose a threat to him.

Time passed quickly as Ethan and the masked men traveled through the forest, but for Ethan, each minute felt like an eternity. Still, he stayed patient and focused.

'I guess I'm pretty far from the mansion now,' he thought, glancing at the countdown on his system panel. Two days and five hours were left for him to copy the ability. By the time he had left the mansion the countdown was two days and nine hours. So about three hours had passed since he had left the mansion.

'It's now or never,' Ethan decided, ready to copy the vampires' ability.

As he closed his eyes and concentrated, a sharp pain shot through his body, as if every cell was being torn apart and rebuilt. He clenched his teeth and groaned as the sensation intensified, feeling like fire was burning him from the inside. His muscles twitched, his bones shifted, and his organs felt like they were rearranging themselves in a way that was both painful and confusing.

The masked men around him became alarmed, unsure of what was happening. They saw the agony on Ethan's face and exchanged worried looks. They had been ordered to bring him to their mistress unharmed, and they were determined to keep him safe, even if it meant risking their lives.

Ethan's body continued to change dramatically. His skin became tough and resilient, his muscles grew stronger, and his senses sharpened like never before. His bones felt unbreakable, and every part of him was being transformed, as if he were being reborn as something greater.

However, the pain was unbearable. It felt like he was being ripped apart and put back together again, like a jigsaw puzzle with pieces that didn't fit. The torture he experienced under Eliza was nothing compared to this. He just wanted to lose consciousness to escape the pain.

But Ethan held on. He knew that suffering often leads to success, a lesson he had learned since arriving in this world.

From the beginning, he had faced impossible situations, yet he had never lost hope. Now that luck was on his side and he had a chance to escape Eliza's grasp, he refused to let this opportunity slip away.

He understood that if he lost consciousness now, he would fail the ability-copying process and die.

As the minutes felt like hours, Ethan's body began to glow with a strange, bright aura. His eyes, previously shut in agony, snapped open, shining with an otherworldly light. Though his breathing was ragged, he felt an undeniable strength coursing through him.

The masked men watched in fear and awe, unsure how to react. They had never seen anything like this before, and they hoped nothing bad would happen to Ethan.

Finally, as the pain peaked, Ethan's body stopped shaking, and he dropped to his knees, gasping for breath. He struggled to understand the powerful sensations running through him. His every nerve felt alive, his muscles thrumming with energy, and his mind raced from the enormity of the transformation he had just undergone.

He was still human, Ethan realized after feeling his heartbeat. He had expected to become a vampire like Victor, but he was relieved to find he hadn't.

While becoming a vampire had its benefits, it also came with restrictions. Ethan, who already had an infinite lifespan, felt no need to change.

He stood up and looked around the wagon, which had stopped moving. The interior was covered in his own blood.

Turning to the masked men, who looked at him with confusion and weariness, he smiled and asked, "Is there a lake or river nearby?"

One masked man hesitated but replied, "We will pass a lake soon."

Ethan narrowed his eyes at the masked men with muskets, carefully considering his choices. He could let them live and risk them telling Eliza about his transformation and new powers, or he could kill them to prevent that. His instinct to survive urged him to choose the second option; he didn't want anyone to know what had happened. Even though he was getting used to violence in this world, he still hesitated at the idea of taking lives so easily.

But the risks of being caught were too high. After a moment of thought, he made up his mind. He couldn't leave any loose ends. Taking a deep breath, he decided to kill them, knowing it was the only way to protect himself and ensure his freedom.

Ethan made up his mind. With a rush of new strength flowing through him, he lunged at the masked man in front of him. However, the power he had just gained was too much to handle. As he threw himself forward, he not only tackled the masked man but also crashed through the side of the wagon. The impact was brutal; the masked man was crushed beneath Ethan's weight, his body folding under the force.

The other masked men barely had time to react, their eyes wide with shock and fear as they watched what happened to their comrade. A primal instinct kicked in for Ethan as bloodlust surged within him. He turned to face the remaining masked men, their weapons shaking in their hands. With a snarl, he charged at them, his muscles tense and ready to unleash their power.

Before they could raise their guns, he rushed forward, his fists striking hard enough to break bones and send bodies flying. One masked man tried to run away, but Ethan was faster; he grabbed him by the throat and lifted him easily, feeling his pulse. With a swift motion, he threw the man against the wagon's side, the sickening crack of bones ringing out. The others stood frozen in fear as Ethan continued his attack, moving with a speed and ferocity that felt strange yet thrilling.

He took them down one by one, the battle becoming a blur of movement and blood. His usual sense of right and wrong faded away as the need to survive took over. In moments, he stood amid the chaos, breathing heavily. Blood dripped from his hands, mixing with the fresh wounds of the masked men lying around him. Ethan stepped back, feeling the weight of his actions settle on him, but the taste of freedom was intoxicating.

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