Ethan''s face darkened.


    "Joshua, you''re a teacher! Have you listened to yourself? Anyway, I wanted to ask, with all those meteorites falling during the magical invasion, everything okay at your end?"


    "Not a damn thing to worry about! Even before those space rocks started falling, your dear teacher had rallied all the veteran Psychics in the district. Thirty thousand strong, Ethan! Ready for battle!"


    Joshua''s voice took on a wistful tone.


    "Thirty thousand, under mymand! We were going to show those mages what happens when the people rise up...ah, never mind."


    "Must have been static on the line, Joshua. Didn''t catch thatst part."


    Ethan would have hung up if he wasn''t curious about something.


    "By the way, Joshua, about that extraterrestrial creature sample..."


    Joshua chuckled.


    "You''re in luck! With the magical invasion and all, things are a bit hectic. School''s canceled, everyone''s in shelters, so a few things going missing here and there is to be expected. I''ll have someone send that sample over. Wait at the gate; your grumpy security guard wouldn''t appreciate a visit from me."


    "Thanks, Joshua! You''re the best."


    Ethan grabbed his takeout, a contented grin on his face.


    He''d been craving Lisa''s cooking.


    The neighborhood was eerily quiet, most of the residents having fled during the invasion.


    If it weren''t for his remaining neighbors, Ethan would have been tempted to investigate the secrets hidden within those opulent, now-empty mansions.


    "I bet those ''reclusive masters'' who joined the army and fought off the mages were from this neighborhood."


    Ethan shuddered, pushing the thought away.


    This ce was a breeding ground for secrets, and he knew better than to pry.


    Some things were best left undisturbed.


    "Mr. John, good to see you! Brought you some of Lisa''s cooking – tomato egg stir-fry, spicy stir-fried pork, and mouthwatering chicken!"


    Mr. John, the ever-stoic security guard, had remained at his post throughout the invasion, unfazed by the chaos.


    He greeted Ethan with a rare smile, his usual drowsiness reced by genuine warmth.


    "You''re too kind, Ethan. The only one who still remembers this old man."


    After a brief chat with Mr. John, a young man approached, holding a small box.


    Ethan''s eye twitched.


    He had no idea where Joshua found these people.


    The young man marched towards him, stopped, and presented the box with a stiff salute.


    "Salvation Army, Unit 0325, reporting for duty, sir! Mission aplished! Please ept this package, Mr. Ethan!"


    "...."


    Ethan stared at the young man''s retreating figure, a wave of unease washing over him.


    He decided it was best to avoid dwelling on the oddities of the outside world and focus on the familiarfort of his game.


    Ethan returned home and called n.


    His associate arrived shortly, his face stered with a nervous grin.


    "Mr. Ethan, you sure know how to give a guy a challenge! Getting my hands on that item you requested...let''s just say I had to deal with some unsavory characters. That group, they''re bad news, I tell ya!"


    Ethan''s eyes widened as he saw the contents of the Storage Ring.


    He''d only mentioned it casually, never expecting n to actually find it!


    He found himself intrigued by this mysterious group.


    "n, if you don''t mind my asking, what was the name of this organization?"


    n nced around nervously, then leaned in and whispered, "The Salvation Army."


    "..."


    "Mr. Ethan, is something wrong? You know about them?"


    n asked, noticing Ethan''s stunned silence.


    "No, not at all."


    Ethan shook his head, forcing a neutral expression.


    "Thank you for this, n. You''ve been a lifesaver. Things are a bit chaotic right now, so I''m leaving thepany in your capable hands."


    ...


    After n left, Ethan rushed back to his room, his face grim.


    He briefly considered blocking Joshua''s number.


    He nced at the box.


    "It''s because of the extraterrestrial sample, isn''t it? That kind of request screams ''criminal underworld.'' And then there''s that incident with his student...Joshua must have revealed his connection to the Salvation Army because he wants to recruit me."


    "Damn it!"


    Ethan rubbed his face, a chill running down his spine.


    "Joshua, you sly dog. Well, two can y at this game. I''m just going to stay home and y my game. Let''s see you try to recruit me now!"


    He sat down at hisputer, pushing all thoughts of the Salvation Army aside.


    The game loaded, and he was greeted by the sight of the ckwood ancestral hall, more magnificent than ever.


    ckwood descendants were returning from far and wide for the uing ceremony.


    Nathan and Luna, despite being seasoned warriors, walked hand-in-hand, their attire simple and understated.


    Luna barely reached Nathan''s chest, even with the Death Coffin strapped to his back.


    They entered the hall, enveloped by an aura of reverence.


    Lucas, his health somewhat recovered, arrived next, his ck robes billowing behind him as he carried his sword case.


    Amelia followed, her clothes still worn, her hair a mess, a small gourd dangling from her waist.


    Then came Julian, his arms and legs now gleaming silver, his torso bare and covered in intricate runes, his head shaved bald.


    Olivia, her youthful vigor reced by the frailty of old age, was wheeled in by Julian.


    Marcus, his ck robes shimmering like the night sky, arrived next, his presence radiating an otherworldly aura.


    Daniel, d in ck armor, his white hair flowing behind him, walked alongside Marcus, deep in conversation.


    Behind them came the boisterous third generation of ckwood.


    George, Justin, William, and the others followed, their eyes widening at the sight of Jessica, d in crimson armor, her demeanor confident andmanding.


    It was as if they were silently questioning how their usually carefree cousin had transformed into such a formidable figure.


    Then came the fifth generation: Edward and Donna.


    Both had cultivated in the Thunderfire Demon Cave, but their paths had diverged.


    Edward, now a leader in his own right, exuded an air of authority, his attire refined, his expressionposed.


    Donna, on the other hand, still retained her fiery spirit, berating her juniors despite her diminutive stature, her pigtails bouncing as she scolded them.


    In stark contrast, Charles and Christopher, the devout siblings, walked with their hands sped in prayer, their faces serene and detached from worldly concerns.


    Joseph and Katie arrivedst, Joseph being pushed in a wheelchair, his hand mped over his ear as if to block out a barrage of nagging.


    Katie, meanwhile, seemed to find the situation endlessly amusing.


    "A house full of descendants, a house full of blessings," Ethan thought, a wave of warmth washing over him.


    "To have so many filial children...my life has been worthwhile."


    As his descendants knelt before him, a message appeared on the screen:


    [Year 200 of ckwood.]


    [Your descendants offer their respects!]