"Affirmative," the system chimed, the Bio-Dummy retreating into its hidden chamber.
Panting, Ethan dropped to the ground, his chest heaving, his clothes soaked with sweat.
"Fuck...that was awesome."
He wiped the sweat from his forehead, a smile tugging at his lips.
'Damn. This is what it feels like to grow strong...'
He took a deep breath, his mind racing.
After the last round, he is confident that he can defeat Lucas without too much effort, and this makes him look forward to the challenge.
After a few minutes, he took out the last recovery potion and drank it, sighing with relief as the pain faded.
He then spent a few minutes for his body to recover, as he did, he looked at the time and noticed that it was already nighttime which made him chuckle.
"Well, at least today's a success," he muttered, stretching his limbs.
And just as he was about to get up, he heard footsteps approaching.
Turning around, Ethan saw Liliana standing at the entrance of the training room, arms crossed, a slight smirk on her face.
"Looks like someone's been working hard," she mused, stepping forward.
Ethan exhaled sharply, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Yeah, gotta make sure I'm ready for Lucas."
Liliana chuckled. "If you keep training like this, Lucas won't even know what hit him. But don't overdo it. Strength is important, but knowing when to stop is just as valuable."
Ethan nodded, appreciating her advice. "I know. Just want to make sure I don't embarrass myself."
Liliana ruffled his hair playfully. "You won't. I'm sure of it. Now, come on, you need a break. Let's go, everyone is waiting for you."
Ethan chuckled, stretching once more before following her out of the training room.
He walked beside her, his body back to feeling light due to the potion.
"By the way, where's Mom?"
"She's working. A big business deal or something," Liliana replied.
"Huh, must be a lot of paperwork. Anyway, why are you the one fetching me? Not that I mind, but..."
Liliana's gaze softened. "Well, I thought it would be nice for us to spend some time together."
"That's very kind, but don't you have things to do?"
"Nothing that can't wait. Besides, spending time with my favorite brother is always a priority."
"You mean the only brother," he corrected, a playful grin spreading across his face.
"Oh, shush, you. Don't ruin the moment."
Ethan laughed.
"So, what's for dinner tonight?"
"I was thinking maybe Chinese or Italian."
"Chinese sounds great. Maybe some hotpot, too. It's been a while."
"Whatever my baby brother wants."
They continued walking, enjoying each other's company, the warm atmosphere making Ethan forget his fatigue.
Eventually, they arrived at the dining area, where Isabella and Seraphina were waiting.
"Took you long enough," Seraphina commented, a mischievous smile on her face.
"We were worried sick," Isabella added, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"Ha-ha. Very funny," Ethan replied, rolling his eyes.
"What can I say? We're comedians."
"Sure, sure. Anyway, what do you ladies want to eat?" Ethan asked, plopping down in his seat.
"Hotpot, obviously," Isabella said.
"Agreed," Seraphina chimed in.
"Well, looks like it's settled," Ethan said, leaning back in his chair.
"Great, then let's place the order," Isabella said, pulling out her holo-phone.
The four of them placed their orders, and within minutes, the food was delivered.
"Smells amazing," Seraphina said, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Let's dig in," Ethan declared, grabbing his chopsticks.
The next hour was spent eating and talking, the four of them exchanging stories and jokes.
It was a pleasant, relaxed evening, and the mood was light.
But all good things must come to an end, and eventually, the dishes were cleared, and the conversation faded.
"Well, guess we should call it a night," Seraphina said, stretching her arms.
"Hmm, I need to go to the club too," Isabella added.
Hearing this, the other three all nodded as this was a norm for them as Isabella ran one of the world's most popular club chains.
Her club has locations all over the world and brings in trillions of dollars in a month, but Ethan only knows that Isabella owns the popular club and has not connected the dots yet.
But this is not a big deal to him as he understands that each of his sisters has their secrets and, as such, does not press the issue.
"Alright, I'm off," Isabella said, a hint of enthusiasm in her tone.
"Stay safe," Seraphina reminded.
"Will do."
With that, she strode out the door, leaving the three alone.
Seraphina yawned. "Well, I'm off too. See you two tomorrow."
"Sleep well," Liliana said, offering a warm smile.
"I'll try."
Then, she turned to Ethan, her expression softening.
"Take care of yourself, baby brother. And remember, if you need anything, just ask. That's what big sisters are for."
"Don't worry, I will."
She gave him a gentle smile.
"Good. Now, have a nice night."
With that, she exited the dining area, leaving only him and Liliana.
"Okay, I should go rest up, too. I need to meet someone tomorrow," Liliana said as she followed Seraphina.
Ethan arched a curious brow. "Someone?"
"Yes, an old friend," she explained.
"Hmm. I see."
"Anyway, take care. Sweet dreams."
"I will. Goodnight, sis."
After she left, Ethan decided to return to his bedroom as well, as he needed to recharge his energy before meeting Lucas the next day.