Chapter 56: Breaking the Shackles of Genes, Awakening Ability

"Given by Mr. Hayes. He's an interesting person. It's been two hours since this business card was handed over, and there's no sign of it melting," Happy said as he returned the ice business card to Natasha Romanoff with a hint of pride.

Natasha raised an eyebrow. "You'd better keep it in the fridge, Happy, or it'll melt eventually. The Hell's Kitchen triad members who were frozen earlier only started to thaw out after months. S.H.I.E.L.D was fascinated by Ethan's freezing powers, but also more wary of him."

Happy blinked in realization. "You're right. I'll put it somewhere safe," he replied, rushing upstairs to his private office.

Meanwhile, Ethan Hayes touched the empty space on the bed beside him, shaking his head with a smirk. Gwen was still too shy, and Mr. George would never allow them to live together at this age.

"It's time to start practicing the Dragon Elephant Prajna Kungfu," Ethan thought excitedly. Every martial artist dreams of becoming stronger, and this practice was ingrained in his cultural roots. The Dragon Elephant Prajna Kungfu was famous, known for its immense power and the ability to push physical limits.

Ethan wasn't sure if this martial art was exactly like the one from the original story, but from his own understanding, it was incredibly potent. If practiced to its peak, it would elevate his physical prowess to new heights. While his elemental body and his Devil Fruit powers made him powerful, Ethan still longed to maximize his physical strength.

"The body is the source of all strength," Ethan reminded himself. "No matter how strong my Devil Fruit power is, it still relies on my physical endurance."

He brought up his system interface:

Name: Ethan Hayes

Wealth value: 1,018,775 points (can be used to improve abilities)

Desire points: 4.112 million points (can be used to break through)

Abilities: Frozen Fruit (Tier 2, Awakening peak), Psychic Immunity (Passive), Water Control Magic (Dominant level)

Skills: Phantom Fist (Transformation Realm), Dragon Elephant Prajna Kungfu (first floor, entry level)

Rewards: Red Blind Box (1)

Task:

[1. Destined Encounter: In the face of a special heroine, establish a super-friendship with her. Task reward: blue blind box (optional stacking). Task attribute: long-term branch.]

Ethan had already experienced how the system harvested desire points—whether through battles or more intimate encounters. His last "poker game" with Ghost Spider had earned him 100,000 desire points. He now understood how the system worked; it encouraged him to invest in both power and personal relationships.

"But I need to improve my physical strength. All this exertion, and even I have my limits," Ethan muttered to himself, thinking about his next steps.

"System, raise Dragon Elephant Prajna Kungfu to the peak level," Ethan commanded as he sat cross-legged to practice. A surge of powerful energy began to flow through his body. While his water magic was already vast, this new energy coursing through him was different—vital, physical power. He focused on refining his internal energy, letting it flow through his meridians and condense in his dantian, strengthening his muscles and bones.

[Dragon Elephant Prajna Kungfu has reached the peak of the first level. Consumed 1 million wealth points.]

As the system announcement rang, Ethan felt a surge of power. Just one level of this martial art was comparable to the mastery of traditional martial arts. Half an hour later, he had fully digested the new power, feeling that his body had become 20% stronger, and his shock resistance had increased by 50%.

Without hesitation, Ethan continued his progress, pushing the Dragon Elephant Prajna Kungfu further.

The second level consumed 2 million points.

The third level consumed 3 million points.

By the time Ethan reached the peak of the third level, his body had doubled in strength. He estimated that he could physically overpower a lizardman at this point.

The fourth level consumed 4 million points, further increasing his physical strength by 50%. His body now carried an aura of internal energy, which could protect him like an invisible shield.

Ethan marveled at the defensive properties of his new power, though it still paled in comparison to his ice and water shields. As he reached the fourth level, his total wealth consumption had hit 10 million points.

"My Dragon Elephant Prajna Kungfu feels different from what it was in the novels. System, did you modify it?" Ethan asked, feeling curious.

[Host, all martial arts in this system have been adapted to increase their effectiveness on your existing foundation.] The cold female voice of the system responded.

Ethan sighed, realizing he might have been better off enhancing his Phantom Fist first before tackling the Dragon Elephant Prajna Kungfu. Still, the improvements were undeniable. He spent the next ten minutes adjusting to his newfound power.

As Ethan continued his practice, he suddenly felt a breakthrough.

[Congratulations, host. You have broken the genetic shackles and gained the power of a special ability: Colossal Strength.]

[Congratulations, host. You have unlocked the Dragon Veins: your meridians now contain the treasure of the dragon, enhancing your physical potential.]

The Colossal Strength unlocked immense physical power, while the Dragon Veins enhanced the limits of his body's potential. Ethan's body had undergone a massive transformation. His cells were now teeming with life, as if they had evolved beyond human limits.

"I knew this universe wasn't ordinary. The extreme situations in the Marvel world force people to break through their limits and unlock their true potential," Ethan thought. The shattering of his genetic shackles had transformed him on a fundamental level.

With his cells now far more active, his healing ability and immunity were significantly enhanced. He estimated that his lifespan could now extend well beyond a thousand years, given the heightened activity of his cells and their capacity for regeneration.

"System, continue to improve the Dragon Elephant Prajna Kungfu!" Ethan commanded, determined to push his new potential even further.

Boom!

A powerful surge of energy erupted within him. The Dragon and Elephant energies coursed through his meridians, refining his body even further. As the internal energy pulsed through him, Ethan activated his frozen powers, forming a protective shield of ice around himself. He continued practicing, internal energy flowing through his twelve main meridians and eight extraordinary meridians, forming the Great Zhoutian.

His cells brimmed with vitality, as though millions of years of evolution had occurred in an instant.

By the time Ethan finished, the activity in his cells had increased tenfold, leaving his body brimming with explosive power.

Looking at the system panel:

Host: Ethan Hayes

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

Desire points: 4.112 million points (can be used to break through)

Abilities: Strength of the Mammoth, Dragon Veins

Other Abilities: Frozen Fruit (Tier 2, Awakening peak), Psychic Immunity (Passive), Water Control Magic (Dominant level)

Skills: Phantom Fist (Transformation Realm), Dragon Elephant Prajna Kungfu (Peak of the Thirteenth Floor)

Reward: Red Blind Box (1)

Task:

[1. Destined Encounter: In the face of a special heroine, establish a super-friendship with her. Task reward: blue blind box (optional stacking). Task attribute: long-term branch.]

Ethan had consumed 21 million wealth points, but the results were worth it. His physical evolution had reached another level, and he could feel his frozen powers expanding into new possibilities.

He estimated that his current power level put him on the same level as Marvel's top fighters—possibly even at a "quasi-God Father" level. While he wasn't quite at Odin's level yet, he was confident that he could at least retreat safely from a confrontation with him.

"I'm finally starting to feel like I belong in this world," Ethan thought with a grin.

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