"So strong…?"
The moment Ethan said it, everyone in Fallen Star Squad felt their hearts lurch.
They'd already been mentally overestimating the enemy, and it still wasn't enough.
Tier 28. That wasn't just "strong."
That was a straight-up curb stomp from another dimension.
"Captain…" Even Big Mike sounded unsure for once. "Dopey can really handle this?"
"He can," Ethan said, firm.
He was Dopey's master. He couldn't see Dopey's full limit, but he could feel it—vaguely, like a pressure behind a door.
And it was absolutely not below Stage S.
"Back off," Ethan ordered. "If a real fight starts here, you won't even have space to run."
"Got it!"
Nobody hesitated. They pulled back immediately.
In a situation like this, they weren't helping—they were liabilities. If things went sideways, aside from Ethan, none of them would be able to escape.
Ethan told Ember to go with them too. Then he jumped off Ember's back and dropped to the ground.
