Chapter 54: Opening The Blind Box: Dragon Elephant Prajna Kung Fu

Ethan Hayes was lounging comfortably on the sofa, dressed in pajamas. The recent battle with Magneto seemed to have left no lasting impact on him. Magneto wasn't easy to handle—he had almost been caught off guard by the old man's schemes. But at the last moment, Ethan had used his Frozen Fruit elementalization to dodge an oil tanker attack and followed up with water control magic to form a dual-layered shield of ice and water, neutralizing the explosion.

The Freezing Moment ability had countered the tanker's high heat, ensuring that even though Ethan's elementalized state would protect him from physical harm, he had left nothing to chance. The explosion and flames were nowhere near enough to force him to pay a high price.

Even in the face of Fire Fist Ace's Great Flame Commandment, Ethan, with his Frozen Fruit awakened at peak ability, might have escaped serious injury. But the truth of nature remained: fire was still a natural counter to ice.

"My thinking is on the right track. I don't need to destroy the Brotherhood to complete my task."

"The blue mission involves super-powered beings, but it's clear now—establishing prestige isn't always about leading or conquering. Fear is enough."

Magneto's powers were formidable, but his ability to control metal was no match for Ethan's elementalization, which could neutralize any metallic attack aimed at him.

[Mission: Establish Prestige 1, contact the Mutant Brotherhood at Level 1, meet Magneto, and show him your strength. Your majesty must not be violated. Task Level: Blue.]

[Congratulations! The host has completed the "Establish Prestige 1" mission. Magneto retreated due to your power, and the Mutant Brotherhood now fears you. You have successfully initiated deterrence over the Brotherhood. Reward: Blue Blind Box.]

[The second round of the main mission is complete. Reward has reached the critical strike standard, and the Task Mode: ongoing rewards have triggered a 200% critical strike. Do you want to continue?]

Ethan thought for a moment and decided to conclude the ongoing task there.

Two blue blind boxes, with the 200% bonus, became cyan blind boxes. Two cyan blind boxes could then be exchanged for a red blind box. Ethan knew that the Frozen Fruit had come from a purple blind box, and Water Control Magic had come from a red one.

In retrospect, he realized that while his purple blind box rewards were strong, they hadn't reached the uppermost level of power, whereas Mela's Water Control Magic, from the red box, had been one of the more powerful abilities.

"I won't continue the ongoing task. Open the red blind box," Ethan said silently.

With Frozen Fruit and Water Control Magic, he already had enough life-saving abilities. His Psychic Immunity protected him from psychic manipulation, further strengthening his defenses. But his physical body—despite his martial arts mastery, including Phantom Fist and Bajiquan—could still be a weakness. To achieve true martial perfection, he needed to improve his physical condition further.

"I hope for a physical super ability this time," Ethan murmured as he prepared to open the box.

[Opening the red blind box…]

A red box materialized in Ethan's hand. He took a deep breath. Each blind box draw carried the excitement of the unknown, and with his growing wealth, Ethan had the means to maximize nearly any ability that came his way.

Gently opening the box, Ethan saw a glowing orb of light. A cold, clear voice from the system rang out:

[Congratulations, Ethan Hayes. You have obtained the full inheritance of Dragon Elephant Prajna Kung Fu.]

[Absorb?]

Ethan's breath quickened. It had finally come—exactly what he had needed. He had told Gwen that he knew martial arts, and now the system was helping him back up his words with actual skills.

"Absorb," Ethan commanded. He couldn't let this opportunity slip by.

[Dragon Elephant Prajna Kung Fu absorbed successfully.]

A flood of knowledge entered Ethan's mind. He quickly processed the intricate details of the kung fu. However, the system clarified that he had only unlocked the first level of the art.

[The host may use wealth points to exchange for practice experience to improve. The skill's maximum level is the 13th layer.]

Ethan relaxed slightly. The system confirmed that the 13th level was the ultimate bottleneck for the skill. Since this was a complete inheritance, he now had a clear path forward.

Although Ethan was already a martial arts master, he couldn't help but marvel at the profundity of Dragon Elephant Prajna Kung Fu. With his current understanding of martial arts, he was confident he could reach the fifth or sixth layer on his own without the system's help. But each subsequent layer would become exponentially harder than the last.

In martial arts lore, only Jinlun Fawang had reached the 10th level, and his strength had been unmatched—until he met the protagonist, Yang Guo.

"The system can't instantly push me to the 13th layer," Ethan reflected. "That would undermine my control over my own body."

He quickly formulated a plan. The technique was more than just a skill—it was a seed that would allow him to truly enter the deeper realms of martial arts. With Desire Points and Wealth Value, Ethan could push his physical strength to unimaginable heights.

This Dragon was no mere dinosaur, and this Elephant no ordinary animal. To Ethan, the Dragon represented the power of a real, mythical dragon, while the Elephant symbolized the might of divine beings. With this, he could stand against titanic forces in the future, such as the Celestials.

"This is the Marvel universe, after all. There are countless beings here who are invincible across the multiverse."

The Dragon Elephant Prajna Kung Fu might not have boosted his combat power immediately, but it gave Ethan a long-term, clear path for growth. His other abilities, such as Frozen Fruit and Water Control Magic, had nearly reached their peak. Further advancement would come with high risks and massive investments. But the Dragon Elephant Prajna Kung Fu could be improved gradually, layer by layer, at a more reasonable cost.

As Ethan considered his next steps, a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. He used Water Control Magic to detect the visitor's life signs—it was Raven.

"Did I go too far at the Crimson Bar?" Ethan wondered, sensing that Raven had been forced into a tough spot. If she harbored resentment toward him, it would be a significant loss.

But knowing Raven's character, Ethan was sure she wouldn't reveal everything just yet. He opened the door with a casual smile.

"Natasha Romanoff? What are you doing in Berlin?" Ethan asked in mock surprise.

But "Natasha" pushed her way into his apartment without a word, immediately drawing him into a kiss.

Ethan spent the next day and night in Berlin, occupied with "Natasha Romanoff." When she finally left, he prepared to return to New York. He allowed himself time, knowing the Mutants might seek revenge. But no one came for him.

As he arrived back at Kennedy Airport, Ethan felt his mood lift. As he exited the airport, he saw a well-dressed man holding a sign with his name: Happy.

Ethan approached the man, who introduced himself with a grin. "Mr. Hayes, I'm Happy. Mr. Stark's bodyguard and part-time driver."

Ethan smiled in return. "Mr. Happy, I've heard of you. If I remember correctly, though, Tony wouldn't normally hire a man as his personal assistant."

Happy chuckled. "That's true, sir, but that was before."

Ethan handed his suitcase to Happy, who placed it in the trunk. "Tony must have changed a lot recently."

Happy nodded. "Yes, sir. He's been through a lot, and I think it's changed his outlook. Mr. Stark personally asked me to pick you up and bring you to the Stark Industries Building for tonight's banquet."

Ethan got into the car. "I'm sure he's learned from his mistakes. Let's get going."

Happy smiled as he got into the driver's seat. As they drove to Stark Tower, Happy couldn't help but think about how mature Ethan seemed—far beyond his eighteen years.

When they arrived at the Stark Industries Building, Ethan stepped out of the car, immediately greeted by flashing cameras. Reporters swarmed, drawn by his casual but confident demeanor. The fact that Tony Stark's personal bodyguard had picked him up only made him more intriguing.

The reporters whispered to each other. "Who is this kid?"

"That's Ethan Hayes—he's the young Chinese shareholder in Stark Industries."

"He's the one who made billions shorting Stark Industries during the market crash."

The whispers grew louder as Tony Stark himself walked out of the building to personally greet Ethan. The photographers went wild.

"Who is he?"

"How does a high school student have this kind of influence?"

Ethan calmly shook Tony's hand as the cameras continued to flash. His influence in Stark Industries had only just begun.

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