Apocalypse with my SSS Harem Beauties-Chapter 148: Bigger Altar

Ash drifted through the air like gray snow as the last tongues of fire died across the street. The ground that had burned moments ago now cracked quietly, heat fading into dull warmth.

The thick orange mist still lingered between buildings but it thinned with every passing second and dissolving into the air.

Myles climbed out of the crater first. Victor followed, then Kade, Clara, George, and Daniel. They regrouped near the edge of the ruined road where Michael’s team waited.

"It’s done," Myles said. Relief showed clearly in his voice and in the way his shoulders lowered.

"Yes. It’s done." Michael’s reply came stiff. His eyes swept once over Myles’ group before returning to neutral. The difference between their teams lingered in his mind, sharp and uncomfortable, but he forced the thought aside for now.

"Everybody okay?" Myles asked. His gaze shifted past Michael toward Rafe, Selene, and Darius. They stood upright without visible injuries.

"We’re fine," Rafe answered with a small smirk. "Good thing someone charged into that crater. Couldn’t be me. That looked stupid. But hey, good thing you did it for us."

The words carried a light tone, but the edge beneath them was obvious.

Myles, Victor, Kade, Clara, George, and Daniel all turned toward him at once.

"Well, someone had to do it, right?" Daniel said calmly. "Definitely not a role for a coward."

Rafe’s smirk vanished. His jaw tightened. "Did you just call us cowards?"

"Of course not," Daniel replied smoothly. His grin widened, and he held Rafe’s stare without blinking.

Michael said nothing. Darius and Selene also remained silent, but their sharp looks cut toward Rafe instead of Daniel. The implication settled heavily in the air.

"Okay that’s enough," Myles said before the tension escalated further. "We still have work to do. Let’s check the altar."

No one argued.

Those who had been positioned on the rooftops earlier climbed down and joined the group. Ethan landed lightly beside Samantha. Hana followed, and Tobias stepped off a broken ledge with controlled balance.

Myles walked toward them first. "You two okay?"

Samantha nodded. A faint scorch mark traced along her sleeve, but she stood steady. "I’m fine. Hana’s healing helped a lot."

Hana gave a modest smile. "It wasn’t serious."

Myles inclined his head. "Thanks."

Tobias folded his arms and glanced upward briefly. "Your friend with the wings showed up at the perfect time. If she hadn’t, we would’ve been done. Being able to fly like that is a serious advantage. I hope I have that skill."

Myles blinked. Lilian had revealed her wings openly. He had not expected her to act so directly. Without her intervention, Ethan and the others would have faced that empowered monster on their own.

At this point, Myles was sure that Lilian was willing to help them.

But where was she now?

He lifted his gaze toward the fading mist. She would not disappear without reason. Maybe something unusual had occurred so she would have gone to confirm it. He would ask her later.

The group moved together toward the center of the ruined district.

The altar stood tall among fractured pavement and melted debris.

Myles frowned and looked at the altar. It resembled the Soul Forge Altar they had encountered inside the Ether Rift before. But this one towered higher, carved from darker stone.

More intricate runes spiraled around its base and climbed upward in layered formations. The Ether density around it felt heavier and more structured.

He was certain that this altar was in higher rank and more complex.

Myles kept his expression neutral. His team did the same. They had already agreed that they would not mention prior experience if they had seen an altar like this.

"How do we use it?" Michael muttered, more to himself than to anyone else.

He stepped closer to the towering structure, eyes fixed on the layered runes along its surface and eagerness sharpened his movements.

He reached out.

"Careful, Michael," Selene said immediately.

His hand paused inches from the stone. For a brief second, he felt a little bit of hesitation. Then determination hardened his expression. He pressed his palm against the altar.

Ether gathered beneath his skin, responding to the contact.

A translucent panel appeared before his eyes.

[You have discovered a B-Rank Soul Forge Altar.]

Michael’s pupils dilated.

B-Rank.

His heartbeat quickened. He was certain that this was a huge opportunity.

He swallowed and focused. "How do I use it?"

The altar responded immediately. New lines of text unfolded across his vision.

[Requirement: Ether Shard.]

[Function: Convert Ether Shard into permanent attribute enhancement.]

[F-Rank Ether Shard: +1 permanent stat point.]

[Higher rank Ether Shards grant greater enhancement.]

[Warning: Enhancement irreversible.]

Michael’s breathing turned heavier. A permanent stats. Not temporary buffs or consumable boosts but permanent growth.

"Yes..." he whispered under his breath.

Images flashed through his mind about Red. The overwhelming pressure he had felt when facing him before. If he could stack enough permanent stats, if he could gather higher-rank Ether Shards... He could close the gap.He could surpass him and kill him!

He clenched his fist against the altar stone, barely containing the surge of excitement.

"I can use this to increase my power. I can take revenge."

"What is it?" Rafe asked impatiently. He had already noticed the subtle shift in Michael’s body and the tension in his jaw. "You found something, didn’t you?"

Michael pulled his hand back slowly. He turned toward the group. His expression tried to remain controlled, but the intensity in his eyes betrayed him.

"It’s said that it’s a B-Rank Soul Forge Altar," he said. "It converts Ether Shards into permanent stat increases. F-Rank shards give one permanent point. Higher ranks give more."

Rafe’s eyes widened. Darius straightened slightly. Even Selene’s calm expression tightened.

"Permanent?" Darius asked.

Michael nodded once. "Permanent."

Rafe let out a short laugh. "That’s insane. We don’t need to level up to get stats."

Selene narrowed her eyes. "There must be a cost."

"It just consumes the Ether Shard and the enhancement can’t be reversed," Michael replied. "But that’s not a downside."

His gaze drifted briefly toward Myles’ group.

With something like this, the gap he sensed earlier would not remain permanent. He just needed enough things called Ether Shards which he could obtain by killing monsters around this area.

Behind him, Myles watched in silence, his expression steady. B-Rank. Higher than the one inside the Ether Rift. He also needs this.

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