Ancestral Lineage

The crisp morning air carried the distant cries of birds, their calls blending with the excited chatter of the Smith Clan as dawn broke over the stronghold. The first golden rays of sunlight stretched across the land, casting long shadows as the clan members stirred from their homes, their hearts brimming with anticipation.

Children ran through the streets, their laughter ringing out like chimes in the wind, oblivious to the tension crackling in the air. Some rode atop small beasts, their tiny figures bouncing with each step of their mounts, while others weaved between the adults, eager to reach their destination.

The adults moved with urgency, some walking briskly while others soared through the air using wind affinities or flickered like shadows, their elemental abilities making travel effortless. Conversations buzzed through the crowd, whispers and excited murmurs growing louder as they all headed toward a single destination—the grand colosseum that towered at the heart of the stronghold.

Massive and ancient, the colosseum stood like a titan of stone and steel, its towering walls etched with battle scars from the countless duels that had taken place within. Rows of stone seating stretched high into the sky, promising a perfect view of the battle to come. The very ground beneath it hummed with old enchantments, powerful runes glowing faintly, their only purpose—to contain battles that could shake the heavens.

As more and more people flooded inside, the air buzzed with speculation.

"Are they really going to fight?" one man asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"They are both Primogenitors. Won't they tear this place apart?" another muttered, his tone a mix of fear and awe.

"I heard the arena has been reinforced just for this," a woman chimed in, her voice laced with excitement.

"Still, will it be enough?"

"It's been years since we've witnessed a battle of this caliber. This will be legendary."

A deep, hushed silence spread for a moment as the weight of the upcoming duel settled over the gathered spectators. Then, with renewed excitement, the crowd surged forward, eager to claim the best seats.

The battle they had all been waiting for was about to begin.

...

Inside the grand colosseum, the air was thick with tension and excitement. Thousands of spectators filled the massive stone stands, their voices blending into a low, thunderous hum of anticipation. The arena itself was a vast, open battlefield, its ground covered in smooth, reinforced stone inscribed with ancient runes that pulsed faintly, ready to contain the sheer destructive force of the combatants. Towering walls encircled the battlefield, each embedded with enchantments to prevent damage from spilling into the stands.

High above, banners bearing the insignia of the Smith Clan fluttered in the wind, their deep crimson and gold colors reflecting the clan's might and heritage. A translucent dome of energy shimmered into existence above the colosseum, the work of powerful formations designed to keep the battle contained—an unspoken reminder of just how intense this fight was expected to be. Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire

The audience was alive with restless energy.

"I can't believe I'm about to see this with my own eyes," a young warrior whispered, gripping the stone railing in front of him.

"This isn't just a spar. It's a clash between monsters," an older man muttered, his gaze sharp with expectation.

Parents held their children close, their expressions wavering between awe and anxiety. Even the seasoned warriors in attendance, those who had seen countless battles, found their hands tightening into fists, their bodies leaning forward in their seats.

A sudden pulse of energy rippled through the air, drawing a collective gasp from the crowd. The arena trembled slightly, responding to the presence of those who had just stepped onto the battlefield.

"They're here," someone breathed, barely audible over the growing roar of the audience.

All eyes turned toward the entrance tunnels, where shadows stretched long across the arena floor. The battle was about to begin.

Then—

BOOM!

The very foundations of the colosseum trembled as a violent shockwave erupted from the center of the arena. The ground cracked and split apart, sending web-like fissures across the battlefield, while even the reinforced walls groaned under the force. A thick cloud of dust and smoke billowed into the air, swirling like a storm before a deep crimson glow pulsed within, momentarily turning the entire arena blood-red.

A strange, ancient resonance filled the air. The vampires in the audience felt it first—a pull deep in their very souls, something primal and commanding. It was a presence that demanded respect, one that awakened the instincts buried in their blood.

Then, out of the smoke, Trevor emerged.

His red-streaked white hair billowed wildly behind him, as if carried by unseen winds of power. His tribal-like tattoos pulsed with a sinister crimson light that matched the glow in his predatory eyes. His entire form seemed to vibrate with raw, untamed energy, his clawed hands dripping with fresh blood—though it was unknown whether it was his or conjured through sheer force. His fangs gleamed under the morning sun, and his sharpened ears twitched as his instincts heightened.

"Haha! This is power!" Trevor roared, throwing his arms out wide as if embracing the very energy coursing through him. His usual smirk had morphed into a manic, wolfish grin. His muscles coiled and tensed, every fiber of his being preparing for the oncoming clash.

Just then, a second pulse of energy cut through the arena.

A mix of gold and blue light exploded outward, instantly erasing the smoke and replacing the crimson haze with a radiant glow. The battlefield, once obscured, was suddenly bathed in the warm golden light of the rising sun.

Striding forward with effortless confidence was Ethan.

His wild red hair shimmered, strands flowing like molten fire, while his crystalline horns glowed faintly, reflecting the morning light. His golden eyes burned with quiet intensity, their depths holding a vastness that made even seasoned warriors swallow nervously. The alchemic tattoos on his arms twisted and shifted, their symbols moving as if alive, radiating barely restrained power.

Unlike his usual composed demeanor, there was something feral in the way he walked—controlled, yet predatory. His powerful frame was bare save for a pair of black sweatpants and sneakers, his exposed skin gleaming under the sun.

Trevor let out a breathless chuckle, his grin widening even more. "Good fight, bro!" His body sank lower, his muscles flexing as the ground beneath him cracked and sank under his sheer pressure.

Ethan's lips curled into a matching grin. "Loser sleeps outside for three days."

Trevor's eyes gleamed. "Hope you like the cold, then."

Then—

PAH!

They vanished.

Their movements were so fast that the wind itself screamed in their wake. Before the sound of their departure even reached the audience, they collided mid-air in the center of the arena—a deafening shockwave exploding outward, sending dust, debris, and energy rippling through the colosseum.

The battle had begun.

The moment Ethan and Trevor clashed, the arena erupted in a storm of raw power. The sheer force of their impact sent shockwaves ripping through the colosseum, causing stone slabs to crack and debris to fly in all directions. The audience barely had time to react before the two combatants vanished once more, reappearing and colliding again mid-air like shooting stars in a furious exchange of blows.

Trevor launched a vicious right hook, his claws gleaming with residual energy, but Ethan ducked at the last second, twisting his body to deliver a brutal elbow strike to Trevor's ribs. The force sent Trevor hurtling backward, his body skidding across the battlefield, but he flipped mid-air, landing gracefully on all fours with a savage grin.

"Hah! Is that all you've got?!" Trevor taunted before launching forward with terrifying speed.

Ethan responded in kind, his feet barely touching the ground before he propelled himself forward like a cannonball. Their fists met in the center once again, a bone-crunching collision that sent another shockwave rolling across the colosseum. Dust and energy exploded outward, momentarily blinding the audience as the two warriors moved too fast for the untrained eye to follow.

Trevor suddenly feinted left and swung his knee upward, aiming for Ethan's abdomen, but Ethan twisted in mid-air, barely avoiding the strike. As he spun, he grabbed Trevor's extended leg, using his momentum to slam him into the ground with enough force to crater the stone floor. The audience gasped as a deep fissure spread from the point of impact.

But Trevor was not down.

With a feral growl, he kicked off the ground, flipping backward and twisting his body mid-air. His hands shot forward like twin spears, aiming for Ethan's shoulders, but Ethan reacted instantly, crossing his arms to deflect the incoming attack. Sparks flew as their strikes met, the sheer force of the clash creating small ripples of energy around them.

Without missing a beat, Ethan delivered a devastating sidekick to Trevor's chest, sending him flying across the battlefield once more. Trevor crashed into the colosseum wall, the impact causing the entire structure to shake. Dust and stone crumbled around him, but instead of falling, he used the momentum to push off the wall, launching himself back at Ethan at breakneck speed.

Their battle resumed in mid-air, a blur of strikes, kicks, and counters that sent shockwaves in every direction. Trevor unleashed a barrage of clawed strikes, his movements unpredictable and beast-like, but Ethan countered each one with precision, his alchemic tattoos glowing faintly as his instincts guided him.

Trevor went for a heavy downward strike, his claws crackling with raw power, but Ethan redirected the force with a swift parry, twisting his opponent's wrist before landing a brutal spinning backfist to his jaw. The impact sent Trevor spiraling, but he barely touched the ground before lunging forward once again.

This time, Ethan didn't dodge.

Trevor's fist connected squarely with his chest, and for a moment, everything went still.

Then—

BOOM!

The sheer force sent Ethan flying, his body carving a trench across the battlefield as he crashed into the ground. The audience roared in excitement, the vampires among them howling in appreciation for the raw display of strength.

Trevor cracked his neck, shaking his hand from the impact. "Damn, you're built like a wall, bro. That should've at least broken a rib."

Ethan smirked as he got up, brushing the dust from his chest. "Too bad. Looks like you're still not hitting hard enough."

Trevor grinned, his fangs glinting under the sunlight. "Oh, is that so?"

Then he disappeared.

A whirlwind of crimson energy surrounded Ethan as Trevor reappeared behind him, his leg swinging in a roundhouse kick that carried the force of a hurricane. Ethan barely managed to block, his forearms bracing against the impact, but the force still sent him sliding backward, his feet carving deep trenches into the stone floor.

Before he could fully recover, Trevor flashed forward again, this time unleashing a flurry of rapid punches, each one aimed at Ethan's vital points. Ethan dodged and blocked with masterful footwork, countering with swift palm strikes that forced Trevor to adjust his stance.

They moved as one, neither gaining the upper hand, their battle a perfect storm of attack and defense.

Then, in an instant, Ethan changed the rhythm.

He ducked low, dodging a high kick from Trevor, and delivered a brutal uppercut that lifted Trevor clean off the ground. Before Trevor could react, Ethan twisted his body and followed up with a spinning axe kick that sent his opponent crashing into the ground with an earth-shattering boom.

The ground trembled. The audience gasped.

Trevor groaned, wiping blood from his lips as he sat up, laughing. "Alright, alright! That one actually hurt."

Ethan rolled his shoulders. "Still wanna keep going?"

Trevor grinned despite his bruises. "Hell yeah. But let's crank it up a notch. No more holding back."

Ethan smirked, golden energy flickering around his body. "Fine by me. Just don't start crying when I kick your ass."

Trevor cracked his knuckles, his crimson aura burning brighter. "Bring it on, bro."

The battle was far from over.