Chapter 76: Nine-Digit Desire Value, A Letter of War to God

"Beep, beep, beep," Frank's phone rang.

"Excuse me, everyone, I have to take this call," Frank said, his usual lighthearted demeanor suddenly shifting into seriousness.

"Mr. Vlad, it's Ethan," Frank said respectfully, as the call connected.

His usual carefree expression turned grave. For anyone associated with the Vlad family, maintaining proper respect was essential—after all, their words could determine one's fate.

"Frank, the plane doesn't need to land in New York. Fly directly to Gongwangjue County," said the heavy voice of Rafe Vlad on the other end of the line.

"Is something wrong, Mr. Vlad? Flying directly to Duke County is risky for us," Frank responded.

Duke County didn't exist on any map of the United States, but it was very real—a private stronghold owned by the Vlad family.

As Frank took the call, the X-agent mercenaries who had been chatting and laughing suddenly grew serious. The entire atmosphere on the plane shifted. All eyes were on Frank, as the mercenaries heightened their alertness.

"The Vatican has been destroyed," Rafe Vlad said, a tremble in his voice.

"What?!" Frank stood up in shock.

"We're in trouble," Rafe continued, his voice strained.

"I understand. I'll inform the captain to change course. We won't be flying through New York," Frank said solemnly, ending the call.

The X-agent mercenaries, sensing something was wrong, looked at him expectantly.

Forcing a smile, Frank said, "Everyone, rest up. We might run into some trouble soon."

Inez, the outlaw, spoke up, "What does it mean that the Vatican has been destroyed?"

Alex Haicheng also looked at Frank seriously. The Holy See was one of the most powerful entities on Earth. Even the U.S. government would think twice before crossing them. A disruption at the Vatican was unimaginable.

"Mr. Vlad informed me that the Vatican has been destroyed. I don't know all the details, but the news will spread globally soon. We're in serious trouble," Frank admitted.

The stolen artifact from the Vatican they were transporting was a ticking time bomb. Every move they made was being watched.

"Frank, what's going on? We were told someone from the Holy See was backing this mission. Now the Vatican's in chaos, and we'll all be in deep trouble!" Sandy Brandenburg shouted angrily.

Sandy was right. As long as there were believers, the Vatican could be rebuilt. But the destruction of the Holy See would mobilize their entire network, and they would want revenge. Everyone involved would become a target.

"Sandy, calm down. We didn't do anything. It's that young Chinese kid they're after. He's the one who challenged the Vatican," Frank said, trying to reassure the team.

A heavy silence fell over the mercenaries. Although Frank was right, the fear of retaliation was very real. No one wanted to face either the wrath of the Holy See or the mysterious young man who had destroyed it.

"The Vlad family has significant power here in the U.S. As long as we make it to Duke County, we'll be protected," Frank added.

Meanwhile, all of Rome had erupted into chaos. News outlets around the world were scrambling to cover the Vatican's destruction. Reporters raced to the scene, desperate to capture the first images.

Elsewhere in New York, Natasha Romanoff lowered her leg from the windowsill, giving Ethan Hayes a playful but tired look.

"Hmph, I don't know why you like that position. It's exhausting," Natasha teased.

Ethan grinned. "You seduced me, Natasha. There's nothing quite like standing in front of floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out over Central Park, don't you think?"

Natasha shook her head, smiling despite herself. "The view is nice, but it takes a toll on my energy," she said, heading to the bathroom, her body glistening with sweat.

"That's not usually your style," Ethan teased as he followed her.

"And what's my style?" Natasha shot back.

"Charging in like a Dragon Knight," Ethan replied, laughing.

Natasha giggled, the sound echoing off the bathroom tiles. The cold water from the shower hit them both, sending chills through their bodies.

As Natasha and Ethan moved on with their day, Ethan reflected on the chaos he had caused. News of the Vatican's destruction was spreading like wildfire, and millions of believers were mourning. The Vatican, their sacred stronghold, was frozen in ice, and the God they believed in had not saved them.

For Ethan, it was a sign of power. His Frozen Fruit ability, now at Tier 2, Awakening Peak, had allowed him to accomplish what no one thought possible. His Psychic Immunity ensured that no telepath, not even the most powerful among them, could pierce his mind or discover his true intentions.

Governments around the world were in a state of panic. The frozen Vatican was like a warning to all who would oppose him, but for Ethan, it was just the beginning.

The news reports were pouring in. Priests and cardinals from across the globe were gathering in Rome, trying to figure out how to proceed. In the meantime, Ethan's Desire Points were skyrocketing. The fear and despair of millions of believers were feeding into his system.

He took a moment to check his stats:

Host: Ethan Hayes

Wealth value: 28.06675 billion points (can be used to improve abilities)

Desire points: 198.9 million points (can be used to break through)

Abilities: Mammoth Strength, Dragon Pulse

Devil Fruit Powers: Frozen Fruit (Tier 2, Awakening Peak), Burning Fruit (Tier 2, Awakening Peak)

Passive Skill: Psychic Immunity

Magic: Water Drop Magic (Dominator level)

Martial Arts: Phantom Fist (Transformation Realm), Dragon Elephant Prajna Kung Fu (Peak of the Thirteenth Floor)

Reward: Red Blind Box (1)

Task:

1. Destined Encounter: Face a special heroine and establish a super-friendship with her. Task reward: blue blind box (stacked for the third time).

2. Destroy the Blood Coffin: The ancient Nightcrawler, cursed by God, lies within the blood coffin. Destroy the blood-sucking parasites and eliminate the bloodline of evil. Reward: Purple Blind Box.

His latest haul had brought his Desire Points up to almost 200 million, but this was only the beginning. He had broken into the Vatican, shattered the faith of millions, and ignited a crisis across the globe. More Desire Points would surely follow.

As Natasha joined Ethan for lunch, her phone buzzed incessantly. Ignoring it for as long as she could, she eventually stepped out to return Nick Fury's call.

"Are you with Ethan Hayes?" Nick asked.

"Yes, Nick. He's with me," Natasha replied.

"The Vatican was attacked last night by an ice demon. The Holy Knights were wiped out, and the entire place was frozen. The military is on high alert, and they're starting to investigate all ice-powered individuals," Nick explained.

Natasha was silent for a moment, piecing everything together. "Are you saying you think Ethan did it?"

Nick sighed. "I'm not saying anything, Natasha. But just be careful. There are a lot of people gunning for whoever did this."

When Natasha returned, Ethan was waiting for her at the dining table, a knowing smile on his face.

"You want to ask if I did it, don't you?" Ethan said with a smirk.

"Yes," Natasha said, looking directly into his eyes. "Did you freeze the Vatican?"

Ethan paused for a moment, then laughed softly. "Do you want the truth, or a lie?"

"Just tell me," Natasha insisted.

Ethan's smile faded slightly. "I warned them, Natasha. They didn't listen. So yes, I froze the Vatican."

Natasha's heart sank as the weight of his words settled in. This wasn't just a teenage boy with powers. This was someone willing to challenge the entire world, willing to fight God Himself.

"You need to leave," Natasha said softly. "I need time to process this."

Ethan stood, walking over to her. "I understand. But just remember, Natasha, this is who I am. I won't hide it from you."

With that, Ethan left, his thoughts already on the next steps in his grand plan. Natasha, meanwhile, was left to grapple with her emotions, torn between the man she thought she knew and the terrifying force he had become.

Ethan's challenge to the world—and to God—had only just begun.

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