Ethan began as a Cassardis fisherman, living peacefully with his pregnant wife Olivia and their adopted son Louis. His existence revolved around family and community until a devastating dragon attack shattered everything. The assault killed Olivia and their unborn child, while Louis was consumed by the beast. During the encounter, the dragon tore out Ethan's heart yet spared him, forging him into an Arisen—one destined to confront the dragon.

Revived by Hannah, a Pawn summoned by his new status who became his steadfast protector, Ethan embarked on a perilous quest fueled solely by vengeance. His journey was framed by confrontations with manifestations of the seven deadly sins. Increasing mental instability marked his path, erupting in moments of extreme rage where his eyes flashed crimson, signaling his fraying humanity and deepening connection to monstrous forces. Though he initially aided others—helping villagers against tyrants or defending travelers—his moral focus narrowed drastically as vengeance consumed him, prioritizing the dragon's death above all else.

His combat style mirrored the Arisen's abilities, including scaling massive monsters. He bore a prominent chest scar where his heart was taken, a constant reminder of his loss and mission. The dynamic with Hannah formed a core element: while she evolved from an emotionless Pawn to a more empathetic companion, Ethan underwent an inverse transformation, growing detached and cold, his earlier empathy buried beneath his singular obsession.

Ethan's journey culminated at Tainted Mountain where he confronted and slew the dragon, reclaiming his heart. This victory came at a profound cost. Succumbing to the sin of Pride—mirroring the dragon's own origin as a former Arisen—Ethan transformed into the next dragon, perpetuating the cycle he sought to end. His transformation underscored the narrative's themes of vengeance's corruption and humanity's fragility when consumed by obsession.