Level 1 to Infinity: My Bloodline Is the Ultimate Cheat!-Chapter 278: The Blue Dragon Egg

Though she moved quickly, it was already too late.

When the Second Avatar appeared, Morzan had already entered it. He stepped in front of the dragon child.

She tried to dodge, attempting to slip around the Second Avatar and reach Gregor's body lying on the ground.

Unexpectedly, the Second Avatar didn't continue blocking her. Instead, it delivered a sharp back kick that sent Gregor's body flying.

Ethan, watching from the side, winced.

'This poor Gregor—truly unlucky.'

At this point, Ethan no longer believed he was just an NPC.

Gregor had been unconscious the whole time, likely because the dragon child had done something to him. And now Morzan, controlling the Second Avatar, had just delivered a brutal kick straight to his body.

Gregor's limp form slammed into a pillar at the waist. With a sickening crack, the back of his head folded toward his heels. His body bent in half.

If he had been a living person, he'd definitely be permanently disabled.

Yet this man had been rated by the Ethereal system as a Demigod-level character.

"You... you you you... waaah..." The dragon child, suddenly blocked, pointed at the Second Avatar in outrage. Then, crouching down, she began wailing loudly.

"Cut the crying. You're over a thousand years old—why are you acting like a child?" Morzan looked down at her, his face unreadable.

At his words, she quieted, though she still spoke with grievance. "I'm two thousand years old. But in our tribe, I'm still a child!"

"I remember your scent. That day, it was you..." she started to say.

But suddenly, Ethan couldn't hear her anymore.

Her lips continued to move, still forming words—but no sound reached him.

Morzan threw a glance over his shoulder, continuing to communicate with the dragon child.

But to Ethan, it was like watching a silent film. He couldn't hear a single word.

"Morzan... damn you!" Ethan cursed aloud.

Or at least, he thought he did.

The next second, he froze—he couldn't even hear his own voice.

Then everything went black.

The Ethereal system had forcefully ejected him from the game.

Ethan roared in frustration. "Morzan, what the hell secrets are you hiding?!"

"Who's Morzan?" someone nearby asked suddenly.

Ethan looked up to see Markham poking his head out of his VR capsule, eyes wide with curiosity.

"Nothing. Why are you out too?" Ethan asked, brushing it off.

Markham blinked. "Aren't you out too? Ethereal's under maintenance. Says we can log back in after an hour."

Ethan's mind spun.

This had to be Morzan's doing.

Hadn't he said he couldn't manipulate anything within Ethereal? Then how could he kick Ethan out—and trigger system-wide maintenance at will?

And that dragon child...

She said she was two thousand years old.

Her last words echoed in his mind: I remember your scent. That day, it was you...

What exactly had happened that day?

What had Morzan done?

Questions flooded Ethan's mind. But even if he asked Morzan directly, he knew what answer he'd get: You'll understand later.

"Bro, you hungry?" Markham interrupted, stretching as he wandered around the room.

The question made Ethan pause. He realized he was a bit hungry.

Noting Ethan's look, Markham grinned.

"In the middle of the night? Don't tell me you're setting up another barbecue," Ethan said, eyeing him skeptically.

Markham shrank his neck like a turtle and glanced outside. "Uh... forget it. If I grill here, the Matriarch might roast me instead."

Ethan chuckled.

So even Markham had someone to fear. Probably scarred by childhood trauma and a slipper-wielding elder.

Still, this guy had a Dimension Pouch—he never lacked food.

He bustled around the room for a bit and, to Ethan's astonishment, began setting up a large fold-out table.

At its center, he placed a cast iron skillet and a portable burner, looking entirely too prepared for a late-night meal.

Ethan stared. This guy really never stopped. Barbecue during the day, skillet-fry at midnight.

Markham pulled out a cooler from his pouch and began unpacking ingredients. Thick-cut bacon, sausage links, ground beef patties, hash browns, eggs—everything looked fresh.

He even pulled out a small bottle of oil and a spatula, then lit the burner and set the skillet on top. The sizzle of bacon filled the room almost immediately.

Looking over at Ethan, he grinned. "Getting ready to eat. I'll go see if the others want to join!"

Speechless, Ethan watched him run off. Curious, he got up and wandered over to the table.

The smell was incredible. Smoky, greasy, rich. Exactly the kind of thing you shouldn't be eating this late—but couldn't resist.

There were even slices of cheddar and a bag of burger buns. Frozen fries too, still crisp with ice.

Could Markham's spatial storage freeze things?

When he came back, Ethan was definitely going to ask where he got that storage device.

He wanted one for himself.

Soon after, Leeroy, Ryan, and Evelyn arrived.

The aroma from the skillet was unbeatable. The sizzling meats, the crisping hash browns—way better than any high-tech meal dispensers.

Everyone crowded around the table, grabbing plates and piling them high.

Time passed quickly, and before long, the hour of Ethereal's maintenance was up.

As they laughed and ate—even Evelyn had ketchup smeared at the corner of her mouth—Ethan suddenly stood up.

The others looked at him in surprise.

He didn't explain, only said, "Keep eating," and walked over to his VR headset.

Sliding it on, he re-entered Ethereal.

Ding... [System notification: Ethereal system upgrade complete.]

Ding... [System notification: New feature 'Pet System' activated! Players can purchase pet eggs from the system store or capture wild creatures.]

Ethan blinked.

His location hadn't changed, he was still in that same basement. But Gregor's body had vanished.

Then the system notifications hit him like a wave.

The update had activated the Pet System.

But this didn't make sense.

In his previous life, the Pet System had only gone live after the Fortress Wars. It was supposed to unlock just before the Regional Wars.

And just a while ago, Lyla had obtained the server's first pet, causing a buzz among players wondering where pets came from.

Just then, the Second Avatar appeared again.

Ethan didn't need to ask—he could tell from its eyes that Morzan was controlling it.

Before Ethan could say anything, the Avatar extended its hand and handed him something—an egg the size of a basketball.

Ethan froze.

Could it be...?

He reached out and took it.

Ding... [System notification: Obtained special item: Pet Egg (Blue Dragon) x1.]

It was a pet egg. Just as he'd guessed.

The words Blue Dragon made him break into a sweat. He looked at Morzan, alarmed.

"You didn't turn that dragon child into an egg, did you?"

Morzan nodded. "Don't ask. Even if you do, I won't tell you. You'll learn her origins eventually.

She's been hiding inside an NPC's body. That's held her back. Letting her be reborn and stay by your side will benefit you both.

Her memories are temporarily sealed, so don't try prying anything out of her.

As for this place's existence... all I can say is, it's for their own good."

It was the most Morzan had ever said in one sitting.

Ethan fell silent, thinking. Then, slowly, he asked, "I'll ask just one question."

Without waiting for permission, he continued, "Ethereal... it's a real world, isn't it?"

Morzan was quiet for a beat, then replied just as slowly, "Hmm... it used to be."

Ethan's eyes widened.

Used to be?

But no matter how much he pressed, Morzan refused to say another word.

Eventually, he simply vanished from the Second Avatar.

Frustrated, Ethan logged out again and returned to the others—to finish eating.