The Last Human Returns.
Chapter 8 - Ethan Power

The Presidential Palace of RI, Bogor, West Java. All Cabinet Ministers were gathered to discuss the issue regarding the Spiral and Tower. The world became very busy after the first video of Sistube was released.

The current President of Indonesia, Sobri Priyana, looks at his Cabinet Ministers one by one. It was a face that showed disappointment and resentment.

"Have you guys seen the video from Sistube two days ago?"

No one dared to answer the President's question. Everyone just lowered their faces.

Brak!

The president slammed the table loudly and shouted in annoyance. "Don't you say if we better gather a lot of superhumans first and strengthen the State, then just start researching Spiral? Are you guys crazy!"

His anger exploded like a volcano that had been asleep for a long time. This is the first time the president has been so angry.

That's natural. All the Ministers said to invest in the superhumans who had suddenly appeared and ignored Spiral completely. This made the president very angry. If this continues, Indonesia may not survive.

Finance Minister Sherly Agustina tried to calm the President's anger. "We don't exist, excuse, sir. However, isn't it necessarily that the beings inside the Spiral came out and attacked the Earth, right?"

Unfortunately, those are superficial, persuasive words. The president glanced at him sharply. "If so. Would you be responsible if that thing came out of there, Ms Sherly?"

Hearing that, the Minister of Finance fell silent. Of course, the responsibility of the deaths of many people is not just the death penalty, but, fines and confinement. The Finance Minister is not a fool who likes to gamble.

At that time, the Minister of Defense raised his hand to ask permission to argue.

"Do you have a proposal, Mr Alex? If you just want to make an excuse, save it for later. Right now I just want to hear a suggestion."

"Yes, Sir. I have a suggestion."

"... Say."

"Before the worst happens and the Government will lose integrity in the eyes of the people. We better start making special units for Spiral handling immediately. As people in the video say, we can create Institutions that house superhumans and organize them. It's like shooting two birds with one stone, right?"

Hearing that, the President seemed to think for a moment. The proposal was very interesting not only for the President, but, other Ministers.

"... I-i understand. Immediately ask the DPR to make a bill. Don't do anything stupid that takes advantage of the law so clearly."

"""Understand me, sir."""

***

Ethan, the owner of Sistube's first video, is reading the news on the Internet. Everything moves according to plan. Governments around the World began to create special Institutions that housed Superhumans or what are now called Players.

"Everything really suits Brother's wishes, yes." Erica who sat on Ethan's lap, exclaimed in admiration.

Ethan nodded, but, he put on a bitter smile. "Although, this is much faster than expected."

It wasn't until a week after Ethan sent the video that the Government began to establish Associations and draft laws that would be related to superhuman and Spiral management.

Erica looked up to look at Ethan's serious face staring at the computer. "I sometimes feel like you know what's going to happen in the future."

Ethan's heart almost stopped when Erica said that. However, luckily, the poker face he had trained for a long time was functioning properly and his face did not look surprised at all.

"... Did ya? I think everyone can guess the future up to a point if they can do the calculations about cause and effect."

Ethan is not lying. He took action while thinking about the butterfly effect that had occurred. The law of cause and effect is an absolute law that no one can avoid.

"If so, according to Brother's guess ... what will happen in the future?"

Ethan put on a complicated face. He hesitantly opened his mouth. "Lost ⅓ inhabitants of Earth."

Erica widened her eyes. That was an answer Erica did not expect at all.

"That bad? Even after the Government established the Association?"

Ethan takes the brown envelope from the drawer and hands it to Erica. Opening its contents curiously, Erica's pupils trembled at what was inside the envelope.

"This ... are all these red dots, Spiral?" Erica asked with a trembling voice.

In his hand, a satellite image showed so many red and orange dots that they filled the Earth. Assuming the red and orange dots are Spiral ....

"Not like you guys. Most hunters are just ordinary people who get their power from a gift. They never kill, wield weapons, or fight. It's impossible to protect themselves when the whole Gate on Earth collapses, right?"

Erica took a sip of saliva and her face turned pale hearing Ethan's explanation. Perhaps, 1/3 of the Earth's population is already the best result. Imagine if the Government will continue as before ... Erica felt shivering.

Ethan, who had been sitting behind Erica for some time, held her gently, trying to calm down Erica's unnecessary worries.

"Just calm. It's just a guess. Besides, I won't make this guess a reality, Miss Saint." Ethan whispered softly in Erica's ear making Erica amused by her breathing.

Erica's expression became brighter. He smiled slightly and pinched Ethan's waist. "Sister, you're really very good at taking advantage of situations."

"Eh, what do you mean, I don't understand." Ethan tightened his embrace. "In addition, isn't Erica happy now? I can even see the tip of your lips from behind."

"Please don't equate me with Brother." Erica tried to deny. However, his voice sounded so happy that it was contrary to what he said.

"Yes, yeah. Our Saint Miss must not be like this filthy Master." Ethan tried to pull his hand. However, it was stopped by Erica.

Erica glanced with a timid face and teary eyes. "... This is Service from Saint. So, it's okay to do it longer."

Ethan was surprised to see Erica's expression like that for the first time.

"Then don't blame this Master if Miss is no longer holy tonight."

***

The Trouble Guild was on as usual. They will practice in the morning and evening every day. Then, every two times in one week, they would descend the Mountain conquering Spiral that was around or return home. After all, they still had a personal life.

A month after the Spiral appeared, already many other Players had started to enter the Spiral. However, the results were so bad that the death rate was much higher than those who survived. This made the Trouble Guild a guest arrival.

An old man with grayed hair was sitting in front of him. Although he was old, he had a still sturdy body. Combined with his military uniform made his aura even more extraordinary.

However, Ethan did not care about the three stars in his uniform and sat with his legs crossed staring at the old man. "So, why did you come here, Mr Secretary of Defense?"

The Minister of Defense laughed bitterly as Ethan went straight into the subject. "Don't you want to make small talk with me first? It has been a long time since we met. Last time you graduated from High School."

"If you weren't Kiaa's parents, I would've kicked you out, sir." Ethan did not hide his displeasure over this sudden visit.

The expression of the Minister of Defense became stiff. However, he decided not to fuss over it and got into the subject.

"The first Sistube video. That's you guys, isn't it, Trouble Guild?"

The Defense Minister laughed and shook his head slowly. "No. It would be great if it was like that. However, right now, I did not come for it. The reason I came was, for something else."

Looking at the complicated expression on the Defense Minister's face, Ethan could guess more or less what the Secretary of Defense was trying to convey. However, Ethan decides to pretend not to understand it.

"So, what is the important reason that made Mr. Defense Minister himself come?"

After hesitating for a while, the Defense Minister bowed his body. "Please, participate in the Spiral conquest of Indonesia!"

Ethan is not too surprised by the Defense Minister's request. However, he was more surprised to see the Secretary of Defense bowing his head in front of a child who had just graduated High School. That means, Indonesia's situation is so bad that it is approaching despair.

"I understand. However, you're not asking for free, are you?"

Hearing that, the Minister of Defense looked like someone who saw a light after being trapped inside the darkness for decades.

"certain. We will provide everything you need to our ability!"

Ethan raised two fingers. "I asked for two conditions. I want to ask for an heirloom weapon. The minimum age of a weapon is 100 years. Meanwhile, the second condition is, I want our identities to remain secret. Of course, even from the President."

The Minister of Defense blinked a few times with a surprised expression. "Have you?"

Ethan nodded. "Yes. If I could I'd like to go inside the Tower. However, I realize it is impossible to accept military personnel from other countries when the situation is as chaotic as it is today."

The Minister of Defense laughed bitterly. He had already prepared himself, worried that Ethan would ask for something very expensive and beyond the Government's ability.

"certain. For your last wish, I will try. However, there is no guarantee for this right. Is it okay if we make such a contract?"

Ethan nodded. He then issued a contract that had been prepared before the Minister of Defense came into place.

"If so, sign it."

Seeing the contract that had been prepared, the Minister of Defense was shocked. "Have you prepared this?"

"really. When I saw the Association hurriedly send Player into the Spiral, I knew the situation would end up like this."

The player is ultimately just an ordinary person who is lucky to gain strength. However, those who could not master their strength were no different from ordinary people. Ethan knows it and guesses what the situation will be like.

The Defense Minister is shocked by Ethan's predictive ability. He was eager to praise her and draw her to the Government. However, at this moment, he suppressed his desire and read the contents of the contract.

The contract is not so bad. In addition to the three conditions mentioned earlier, Ethan also requested the distribution of Magic Stone 9:1 to the Trouble Guild and the Government. The figure was quite generous considering the current government needed help from the Trouble Guild.

So, without a doubt, the Secretary of Defense signed the contract. Then, Ethan signs after.

"So, when are you going to start?"

Ethan keeps the contract in his drawer back. "today. I've got the other kids ready."

"So ... since we are going today then– huh? Today?" The Defense Minister put on a stupid face in shock.

"We don't have much time left. No one knows when the Spiral will be destroyed."

The Minister of Defense immediately got up and nodded. He doesn't understand whether Ethan is intelligent or a psychic.

"I understand. If so, I'll lead you to the Spiral you guys need to clean up."

"Ah. The other Guild members had already descended the Mountain to clear the Gate. So, right now, it's just me. I'll go alone."

The Defence Minister's foot steps stopped. "... Yea? Alone?"

Ethan glanced at the Defense Minister who was silent in his place. "If you don't believe me, you can cancel our contract now."

"Ti– No. Let's do it." The Minister of Defense tries to gamble. He doesn't know how strong Ethan is. However, if Ethan dies, he has nothing to lose.

***

The Minister of Defense stood up with a blank face like his soul had already left his body. He follows Ethan into the Spiral and ends up in a very difficult situation. The spiral contained only a narrow one-way street covering an area of three meters. There was no way to retreat other than the same Spiral they had entered.

"Ethan, should I go back first? I thought I'd just be a burden–" the Secretary of Defense tried to escape. However, his tongue and his entire body stopped when he saw the gray energy in Ethan's hands.

Ethan focused on spinning the void energy in his hand into a circle the size of a marble. The Void energy was so ferocious that even before it became an attack it had already eroded space a little.

"."

Swing!

"Ughhh!?" The Minister of Defense closed his eyes as darkness fell on his eyes.

A pitch-black darkness in which no light enters, spreads out and swallows everything Ethan allows to swallow. Everything just disappeared in a matter of seconds. Even the enemy has not appeared.

[Gate successfully completed.]

[Strength +1.]

[Intelligence +5.]

[Agility +1.]

[Levels Up!]

[Levels Up!]

[Level-]

[Gate will be closed in 15 minutes.]

The notification of the System appeared just as the darkness began to fade. Ethan and the Secretary of Defense are sent back to the outside of the Spiral.

The Minister of Defense opened his eyes and was shocked. "Eh? Is over?"

There was not a minute he was inside the Spiral and a settlement message had already appeared in front of him when he closed his eyes for a few seconds.

The Defense Minister looked at Ethan who was currently muttering with a dissatisfied face.

"Hm. Which output is too bad. It seems like it's hard to do more magic control than this right now."

The Secretary of Defense does not understand what Ethan muttered or what made him dissatisfied. Destroying a Gate that no other Player can complete in less than five minutes, Ethan should be more proud of the feat.

Ethan looked at the Defense Minister who was still in shock. "Sir, should we go to the next Gate?"