Eric Turner took a deep breath, then stared intently at Ethan Brooks and said, "Your reason isn't convincing at all! There must be some reason you absolutely have to stay away from us! I know you too well, you're my brother, we've been together for over ten years, there's no way you'd just leave university so easily. I'm here, and so is Grace Miller—can you really bear to leave us? Tell me, what is your real reason? Did something dangerous happen? Are you afraid of bringing that danger to us?"

Ethan Brooks turned his head away, not looking at either Eric Turner or Grace Miller. Instead, he silently gazed up at the sky, and only after a long while did he say, "Sorry, I can't tell you the reason. I have to leave this university... You two are my only family in this world, and you'll always be my family. If possible... never mind, let's part ways here. When I change this world into the one we want, my family, then we'll meet again." With that, he turned and started to walk away.

"Do you still consider us your family?" Eric Turner gritted his teeth, rushed in front of Ethan Brooks, grabbed him and spun him around, shouting loudly, "What could there be that we can't face together? Even if you're worried about dragging Grace Miller into this, what about me? I will never lose to you! With my help, wouldn't your dream be even easier to achieve? Why do you have to face it alone? Tell us!"

(Please... my family, tell us about the matter of the Investiture of the Gods, even if it costs my life, I will use my own Investiture of the Gods to help you, to help you realize that dream. Let's fight for it together!)

Ethan Brooks opened his mouth as if to say something, but after a long pause, he finally sighed and said, "No, only I was chosen, so only I can fulfill this dream. I alone am enough. When I finish this dream, I think we can meet again..."

"Smack!"

Eric Turner punched Ethan Brooks hard in the face, sending the handsome young man flying two meters away. The anger in his chest still hadn't subsided; he rushed over, picked Ethan Brooks up from the ground, and at the same time, Grace Miller let out a frightened cry, immediately rushing over to grab Eric Turner and shield Ethan Brooks behind her.

"Ethan Brooks! Aren't we companions? Why don't you trust us? Chosen or not, let me tell you, I..."

(...also have the Investiture of the Gods!)

Just as Eric Turner was about to say these words, Ethan Brooks suddenly raised his hand and punched him in the eye. Instantly, Eric Turner's vision went black, and his hand loosened instinctively, allowing Ethan Brooks to break free.

"I've had enough of you! Eric Turner, you've always been smarter than us since we were kids! You always understood everything! You were always a natural leader! But we're geniuses too! Why have you always been better than us since childhood? Why are you always number one at school? This is my dream—even if I die or fail, it's still my dream, understand? I will change this world, with my own hands, until she is reincarnated in this world! I will create a truly pure world for her, Eric Turner! I will not allow you to interfere with my dream!" Ethan Brooks shouted madly, then shoved Grace Miller aside and stood in front of Eric Turner, glaring at him fiercely.

Eric Turner was stunned, not even knowing what to say. Even though he was smarter than anyone, that didn't mean he understood people's hearts and feelings. Faced with this situation, he had no idea how to react. After a long time, he finally asked bitterly, "Aren't we family?"

"We are family! But it's precisely because we're family that I have to tell you! I have my own hands, I have my own strength. When our strength wasn't enough, I could accept your help, because only by working together could we get a little closer to that faint hope of a dream... But now that I can achieve that dream on my own, why should I let you command me? Answer me!"

Ethan Brooks touched his swollen, bruised face, turned, and walked out. As he walked, he said, "...I'm a proud person, Eric Turner. My dream is for me alone to realize, because I am the chosen one! And don't stand in the way of my dream, or even if you are my family, I will definitely defeat and remove you!"

Eric Turner watched in despair as Ethan Brooks walked farther and farther away, until he finally disappeared. He never snapped out of it, his mind churning with memories—playing together, studying together, facing that fire nine years ago together, encouraging each other, leaning on each other, always together as companions... Why did it suddenly all become so unfamiliar at this moment?

"Was I wrong? All this time, treating him like a younger brother, always wanting to fulfill that dream together... Was I wrong?" Eric Turner slumped onto the stone bench, muttering to himself, questioning himself over and over. Was he really wrong?