Ancestral Lineage

Ethan leaned back against Galeno's massive shell, the cool surface a brief respite from the heat of exertion. His red eyes scanned the treetops above, though his thoughts were elsewhere. His crimson serpent companion, Angitia, slithered nearby, her movements silent but deliberate.

'System, how much longer until I reach Harley?' he asked mentally.

Answering Host!

Host has approximately 30 minutes left to reach Harley.

Distance is 2 km!

Ethan nodded slightly, his fingers brushing over the hilt of his greatsword. "Good," he murmured aloud, though the only ears to hear him were those of his companions. The faint vibrations of Galeno's steady gait reminded him of their progress, but the urgency of his team's safety weighed heavily on his mind.

'Would it be possible to teleport there directly?' he asked again, his gaze now fixed on the glowing text that materialized in front of him.

*You can teleport directly using the telepathic mark you have placed on Harley. However, it is recommended you remain cautious. Energy fluctuations indicate hostile activity near the marked individual. *

Ethan's brows furrowed. 'Hostile activity?' he thought. His heart quickened at the thought of his team under attack. He stood atop Galeno, his posture straightening as his decision solidified.

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"Galeno, Angitia, go back inside," Ethan commanded telepathically. The massive tortoise halted, and the crimson serpent coiled herself protectively around her master, sensing the tension in his tone. Ethan jumped of Galeno as a huge dark gold rift appeared in front of them. Galeno quickly entered while Angitia transformed into a dark grey tattoo around his arm.

With a flick of his wrist, Ethan's aura flared briefly, and he activated the telepathic mark. In a flash of purple light, his form disappeared.

...

The moment Ethan materialized on the battlefield, chaos engulfed him. Snarls, roars, and cries of pain mingled with the sound of clashing affinities, painting a vivid scene of desperation. Harley stood at the center of the group, her golden staff glowing as waves of radiant healing energy spread outward, rejuvenating her allies while amplifying their strength.

Nearby, Jerry unleashed Wind Spears infused with Blood Magic, their crimson edges carving through the Silver-ranked beasts. Terry Hills darted between the fray, his Lightning affinity crackling around him like a tempest, while Ferdinando Matthew's Poison affinity spread a toxic haze that corroded the monsters it touched.

Ethan's crimson eyes gleamed as he took in the chaos before him. The battlefield was a swirl of motion, a relentless cacophony of snarls, roars, and desperate shouts. Students fought valiantly, their affinities flaring in a dazzling array of colors, but it was clear they were losing ground. He felt the pulse of his teammates' desperation through the telepathic link—a faint echo of their fear and determination.

Drawing a deep breath, Ethan steadied himself. "Let's clean this up," he muttered. Xandros, the Crimson Cleaver, hummed in his hand, its blood-red blade glinting ominously under the dim sky.

Ethan wasted no time. As a Silver-ranked Beast lunged at Harley, its fanged maw wide open, he moved. In a blur of speed, Ethan intercepted the beast mid-air, Xandros cleaving through its body with brutal efficiency. The creature's body split in two, ichor spraying as its momentum carried its remains to the ground.

"Keep your focus, honey," Ethan barked, his voice sharp but steady. Harley nodded, her golden energy flaring brighter as she redoubled her healing efforts.

A trio of beasts turned their attention to Ethan, growling menacingly as they encircled him. Two were Silver-ranked Feral Fangs, their sleek, sinewy forms darting with uncanny agility. The third was a Bronze-ranked Slag Beast, its hulking, molten form oozing streams of lava-like liquid that sizzled against the earth.

Ethan smirked, his grip on Xandros tightening. "Let's dance," he said, his voice laced with challenge.

...

The Feral Fangs attacked first; their movements synchronized as they darted toward him from opposite sides. Ethan pivoted; his reflexes razor-sharp. With a fluid motion, he swung Xandros in a wide arc, the blade trailing a crimson afterimage. One Feral Fang yelped as the sword sheared through its torso, its body crumpling lifelessly to the ground.

The second beast was faster, ducking under the swing and leaping toward Ethan's unprotected side. It met only air as Ethan teleported a few meters away, reappearing with Voidstrike, his spear, in hand. The sleek weapon glowed with energy as he hurled it with precision, impaling the beast mid-leap. The Feral Fang hit the ground, twitching once before going still.@@novelbin@@

The Slag Beast lumbered toward him, molten drool hissing as it hit the ground. Ethan sidestepped its sluggish swipe, summoning Psykron, his warhammer, to his hands. He brought the weapon down with a deafening Telekinetic Smash, the force sending shockwaves rippling outward. The beast's molten core shattered under the blow; its fiery essence extinguished in a hiss of steam.

Ethan straightened, his crimson eyes scanning the battlefield for his next target. "Is that all?" he muttered, his voice carrying a hint of irritation.

...

The battlefield was far from cleared. Dozens of Silver and Bronze-ranked beasts surged toward the group, their primal roars promising death. Ethan dashed forward, meeting them head-on.

A Silver-ranked Razorback charged, its massive tusks gleaming like jagged swords. Ethan feinted to the left, letting the beast's momentum carry it past him before slashing Xandros downward, severing its spine in one clean strike. Another beast, a Bronze-ranked Shadow Claw, leaped from the shadows, its claws aimed for Ethan's throat. He intercepted it with Psykron, the warhammer connecting with a sickening crunch that sent the beast flying.

Ethan was a whirlwind of motion, teleporting from one beast to the next, his weapons switching seamlessly between strikes. Xandros cleaved through flesh, Voidstrike impaled with unerring accuracy, and Psykron crushed bone and armor alike. Blood and ichor painted the battlefield, a testament to his relentless efficiency.

...

A deafening roar silenced the battlefield momentarily. The Ironhide Ravager had finally decided to join the fray. The monstrous creature emerged from the forest, its metallic scales shimmering ominously under the dim light. Six glowing eyes locked onto Ethan, and its spiked tail lashed against the ground, sending tremors rippling outward.

Ethan paused, wiping ichor from his face with the back of his hand. "So, you're the big boss," he muttered, a dangerous grin spreading across his face. He glanced at his team, who were regrouping behind him. "Harley, maintain the buffs. Everyone else, cover me."

The Ravager charged, its massive bulk barreling toward Ethan with terrifying speed. He teleported at the last second, reappearing above the beast and bringing Xandros down with all his might. The blade struck one of its glowing eyes, ichor spraying as the eye shattered in a burst of psychic energy.

The beast roared in pain, thrashing violently. Ethan landed on its back, gripping its metallic scales as it tried to dislodge him. He activated Earthshatter, sending seismic waves rippling through the Ravager's body. The beast stumbled but quickly recovered, twisting its body and flinging Ethan into the air.

Ethan landed with practiced ease, summoning Voidstrike to his hand. The Ravager lunged, its jaws snapping inches from his head. He sidestepped and drove the spear into its exposed underbelly, Voidstrike's spatial distortion locking the beast in place momentarily.

"Now!" Ethan shouted telepathically.

Terry unleashed a torrent of lightning, the crackling energy converging on the beast's vulnerable underbelly. Ferdinando followed up with a dense cloud of corrosive poison, the noxious fumes eating away at the Ravager's metallic scales. Jerry's Wind Spears struck with deadly precision, targeting the joints and further weakening the beast.

The Ravager roared, its movements growing erratic. Ethan switched to Xandros, the greatsword's blade glowing with blood-red energy as he activated Bloodlust. With a feral roar, he leaped high, bringing the sword down in a devastating arc. The blade cleaved through the Ravager's neck, severing its head in a spray of ichor and sparks.

...

The battlefield fell silent as the remaining beasts fled, their leader's death shattering their resolve. Ethan stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving, crimson eyes scanning for any lingering threats.

"Status report," he said, his voice steady despite the exhaustion weighing on him.

Harley approached; her golden staff dimmed but still radiating warmth. "Everyone's alive," she said, her voice tinged with relief. "Thanks to you."

Ethan nodded, as Xandros disappeared in a swirling gold portal. "Good. Let's find out what they were guarding."

As the team regrouped, Ethan stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the dark forest ahead. He could feel it—a faint, almost imperceptible pulse of energy emanating from somewhere deeper in the woods. It was unlike anything he had encountered before, and it set his instincts on edge.

"Babe," Harley called softly, stepping closer. "Do you feel that?"

He nodded, his crimson eyes narrowing. "Something's ahead. Whatever those beasts were guarding, it's close."

Jerry approached, wiping blood and sweat from his brow. "Should we go after it? We're not exactly in prime condition."

Ethan turned to face his team; his expression unreadable. "We can't afford not to. That energy... it's dangerous. If we leave it unchecked, it could attract even worse."

Harley hesitated, her fingers tightening around her staff. "Then we should move cautiously."

Ethan gave a curt nod. "Form up. Stay close and stay alert. Whatever's out there, we're not letting it take us by surprise."