Chapter 61: The Military Is Sealed Off In The Frozen Moment, and Traces of the Sorcerer Supreme Ancient One Appear

Julia Roberts!

This was a name known worldwide in Ethan Hayes' previous life, so it wasn't surprising that he found himself intrigued by another Julia.

"Julia, here I come," Ethan teased.

"Catch me, and I'll treat you to afternoon tea," she smirked playfully.

Ethan, feeling a mix of excitement and discomfort, chased after her.

Dusk had fallen by the time the two of them were awakened by a phone call.

"Oops," Julia said, quickly getting dressed.

Ethan opened his eyes, admiring the view in front of him.

In the past, his attitude toward Julia had been that of a casual fling, but now things had shifted. She wasn't just a fleeting indulgence anymore.

The reason was simple: she wasn't just any real estate agent named Julia—she was Julia Roberts. It wasn't every day you crossed paths with a woman of such allure, and Ethan couldn't ignore that.

"Mr. Hayes, I really need to get home," Julia said, holding her high heels and leaning down to kiss him lightly.

"I enjoyed my time with you," she added, flashing him a sweet smile before heading downstairs.

Ethan didn't stop her. He knew she had family obligations, especially since she'd recently gone through a divorce and was now responsible for her child's care. Her situation was different from the others in his life, and he respected that.

As the door clicked shut behind her, Ethan stood up and checked his phone.

Gwen had sent him a few messages—nothing out of the ordinary, just the usual back-and-forth. He responded casually, knowing full well that Gwen was probably out there fighting for justice at that very moment.

He smiled. Gwen, his actual girlfriend, was busy fulfilling her role as Ghost-Spider. Lately, she'd been by his side almost every day, but today, she was likely catching up on her superhero duties.

"Being a hero is addictive," Ethan muttered.

When Gwen wore her mask, she transformed, basking in the praise and attention, but also feeling the weight of criticism. Ethan knew she was still at that stage where she sought validation. Soon enough, she'd experience life's harsher realities, though Ethan didn't want her to lose her innocence. He liked her as Ghost-Spider, pure and true to her ideals.

However, Ethan knew he needed space. With multiple women in his life, time management was key.

"Guess my novels rubbed off on me," he thought with amusement.

The success of Fifty Shades of Grey had influenced his perspective on relationships. He used to be the classic hopeless romantic—now, with money and power, that perspective had evolved.

As he prepared to move on with his day, Ethan's thoughts drifted to the future of Osborn. If the acquisition went as planned, he needed someone capable of managing the group.

"Connery would be a solid choice for now," Ethan mused. "But not the best long-term option."

Julia, during their pillow talk, had revealed she was a former Columbia Business School student. She had once been on track for a top position in her company, but family life had pulled her away from her ambitions. Now, as a real estate agent, she had returned to the workforce, earning the money she needed to maintain her lifestyle.

"The Osborn Group is too complicated to be left unattended," Ethan thought. "At the very least, the CFO needs to be someone I can trust."

That night, Ethan found himself walking through Central Park. Despite the late hour, the park was eerily quiet. New York's nighttime streets were always dangerous, but the stillness made him more alert.

Using his water-control magic, Ethan scanned the area for any signs of life. His senses picked up movement—someone, or a group of people, was closing in on him.

"So, they've finally made their move," Ethan thought, walking deeper into the park.

His system interface flickered in front of him.

Host: Ethan Hayes

Wealth Value: 1009675W points (can be used to improve abilities)

Desire Points: 508W points (can be used to break through)

Abilities:

• Frozen Fruit (Second Level Awakening, Peak)

• Psychic Immunity (Passive)

• Water Control Magic (Dominating Level)

Skills:

• Phantom Fist (Transformation Realm)

• Dragon Elephant Prajna Kung Fu (Peak of the Thirteenth Floor)

The desire points had accumulated significantly—5.08 million in total. Much of that had come from his encounters with Gwen, Julia, and even some lesser players like Connery and Lucian. Every interaction, every "conquest," added to his growing pool of power.

However, to push his Frozen Fruit ability to the third level of awakening, Ethan needed 80 million desire points.

Deep in the park, Major Terry of the elite Marine Corps was watching Ethan closely. His team had set up a trap, preparing to neutralize him.

"Ethan Hayes is at least a Level Four Mutant," the commander warned over the radio. "We need to inject him with the suppressant before he notices."

Terry's unit, highly trained and experienced in fighting mutants, was confident. They had eight snipers stationed around the park, ready to fire the suppressant darts at the same time. They believed they could prevent Ethan from using his ice powers to escape.

But Ethan had already overheard their plan. He smiled coldly. They think I'm just a mutant? How naive.

In an instant, eight darts whistled through the air, hitting Ethan. The suppressant spread through his body, but to no avail. His enhanced strength, bolstered by the power of the mammoth and dragon pulse, kept him unaffected. He quickly expelled the toxins from his body using his water-control magic.

Major Terry, watching from a distance, was horrified. "He's not a mutant!"

The commander on the other end of the radio shouted, "Attack now!"

Gunfire erupted, followed by explosions. Soldiers equipped with flamethrowers rushed toward Ethan, blasting him with flames.

Snap.

Ethan snapped his fingers, activating Frozen Moment.

With him at the center, ice spread rapidly, freezing everything in its path. Flames were extinguished, and one-third of Central Park was instantly transformed into an icy wasteland. The soldiers, trapped in their frozen suits, became ice sculptures, their weapons useless.

Ethan surveyed the frozen battlefield. "Connery, are you really not afraid of death?" he murmured.

Inside a military command base in Manhattan, General Ross stared blankly at the screen, watching in disbelief as Central Park turned into an arctic zone. The frost-covered streets were reminiscent of a cold snap straight from the Atlantic Ocean.

Elsewhere, on a rooftop in New York, a bald figure stood, her wise eyes glowing with knowledge. Sorcerer Supreme Ancient One observed the scene, her sight penetrating through timelines and realities.

"The future has become chaotic… Is the rise of the Ice Demon a blessing or a curse?" she whispered, contemplating the events that were unfolding.

For now, she knew that Ethan Hayes posed a significant threat, but she also knew that a direct confrontation would be dangerous. If she attempted to use the Time Stone against him, Ethan could potentially interrupt her spell, freezing time itself.

She turned and stepped into a portal, vanishing into the sanctum of Kamar-Taj.

Back in Central Park, Ethan received a sudden spike in desire points.

[Ancient One's shock has given you 180,000 desire points!]

The power of a single individual had provided Ethan with more desire points than killing dozens of soldiers. The Ancient One's recognition of him had sent a ripple through the fabric of the universe.

"The Sorcerer Supreme was in New York," Ethan mused. She was one of the few beings on Earth capable of harming him. Alongside the Phoenix and Scarlet Witch, she represented a significant threat.

"If she tries to trap me with the Time Stone, I'll have no choice but to unleash my full power," Ethan thought.

But for now, the Ancient One seemed to be watching, not acting.

As Ethan walked toward Connery's villa, he received another wave of desire points, this time from the many beings in New York who had witnessed the frozen chaos he'd unleashed.

Inside Connery's villa, the mood was tense. Connery was on the phone with General Ross, who was still reeling from the failed military operation.

"General, the price of failure is on you. I warned you not to go after him. He's far too dangerous," Connery shouted.

Luka, the bodyguard, opened the door, his face pale with fear as Ethan entered.

"Who's there?" Ross asked, panic creeping into his voice.

"The Ice Demon… He's here," Connery whispered, dread filling his heart.

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