Ancestral Lineage

The air inside the grand hall was thick with tension. The once luxurious hotel room had been repurposed, its lavish furniture pushed aside to make room for battle maps, makeshift weapon racks, and supplies. The wives of Ethan stood in a loose circle, the flickering lamplight casting shifting shadows across their determined faces. The battle with Barki had ended without a victor, but it had changed things. A new force had joined their ranks, and now it was time to act.

"Veryan City is too large for us to take all at once," Harley began, her voice steady. "We have secured this town, but we are far from done. The Blade Clan still holds a firm grip on the rest of the city, and if we don't act now, they'll regroup and push back harder than ever."

Standing beside her, Lisa tapped a finger on the map before them. "We've already established control over the central district of this town. The Smith Clan is holding the defensive lines, but we can't just leave everything to them. We need to start pushing outward, securing the surrounding areas before Blade Clan forces can react."

Pisces nodded, arms crossed. "We should split into groups. A full assault in one direction will leave our flanks open, but moving in multiple directions will spread us thin."

"And we don't know what kind of reinforcements they might have," Andriel added, her violet eyes scanning the map. "The Blade Clan isn't stupid. They'll have countermeasures in place."

Barki, who had been standing silently with her arms crossed, finally spoke. "We don't have the luxury of playing it safe. If we hesitate, they will regroup, and we'll be forced into a prolonged war. I say we hit them hard and fast before they have time to recover."

Elaine, despite her exhaustion, frowned. "That's reckless. We need a balance between speed and caution. We should focus on controlling key locations before expanding further. The towns near us serve as supply routes for the Blade Clan. If we take those, we cut off their resources."

Christel, standing slightly apart from the others, finally spoke up. "She's right. If we rush in without securing our foundation, we'll only be fighting in enemy territory with no fallback point."

The room fell silent for a moment as the women considered their options. Carmen, leaning lazily against the wall, flicked her tail idly before speaking. "So, what I'm hearing is that we should strike fast, but with strategy. Not just brute force, but precision."

Harley smiled slightly. "Exactly. And I have just the plan."

She stepped forward and pointed at three different locations on the map. "These are the three key points we need to secure: the eastern barricades, the trading post, and the central supply warehouse. The eastern barricades are where Blade Clan forces will try to push back. The trading post is essential for their movement, and the warehouse holds the resources keeping their warriors supplied."

"And how do you propose we split up?" Lisa asked, already assessing the battlefield in her mind.

Harley's gaze swept across the room. "We divide into three teams. Carmen, Pisces, and Barki take the eastern barricades. You three have the best offensive capabilities, and we need to crush their push before it even begins."

Pisces stretched her arms. "Sounds good to me."

Harley continued. "Lisa, Christel, and I will take the trade post. Christel, you know the most about supply chains, and Lisa, your combat skills are perfect for holding the ground."

Lisa simply nodded in agreement, while Christel hesitated before responding. "Alright, I'll do my best."

Harley turned to the last group. "That leaves Andriel and Elaine to secure the warehouse. Andriel, your Lunar magic will be crucial for sealing off escape routes, and Elaine, your ability to influence nature will help if they try to set fire to their supplies."

Elaine shifted uncomfortably. "Are you sure? I'm not in the best shape right now. And how did you know I have the Plant affinity?"

"We don't need you to fight, just to assist," Harley reassured her. "Leave the fighting to Andriel. And I'm the Ancestor of Life for a reason, honey."

Elaine sighed but nodded.

"And what about you two?" Carmen asked.

Harley smirked. "I and Clara will be moving between the groups. Someone has to oversee everything and reinforce where needed. They will also need a very powerful healer. Vampires do not have unlimited regeneration like Trevor and Darling. Plus, the Youkais fight best when their Queen is around."

Barki crossed her arms, her deep orange eyes narrowing slightly. "Seems like a solid plan. But if things go south, we're going to need an emergency fallback point." Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire

"The central hall will serve as our stronghold," Lisa said. "If things go wrong, we regroup here."

"Then it's settled," Andriel said, tightening the straps on her gauntlets. "We move out in one hour."

"Should we inform the others of this?" Clara asked, her white hair catching the dim light of the hall.

"I think that will be for the best. But how do we do that?" Christel questioned, glancing at the others.

"Don't worry. Clara has that under control." Lisa said with a proud grin, her golden eyes gleaming.

Christel turned to Clara, who smirked slightly. "I'll use my Telepathy affinity. If I push my spiritual sense through it, I can send a message across the city. It won't be long, but it'll be enough to inform Trevor and the rest."

"That's useful," Pisces mused. "But we'll have to move quickly. The longer we delay, the more time the Blade Clan has to reinforce their positions."

Before they could continue, Barki spoke up, arms crossed as she leaned slightly against the table. "Oh, and before you forget, you have to fully take control of your ancestry."

That statement made the room go quiet.

"Yeah, that…" Harley muttered, rubbing the back of her head. "How do we even do that?"

Barki let out a low chuckle, shaking her head. "I'll give you all the best methods after we finish this mission, but Harley, yours will have to be delayed a bit."

Harley frowned. "Why mine specifically?"

Barki's deep orange eyes gleamed with something between amusement and warning. "Let's just say, we share a bit of bloodline, and the origin of your actual race is a sucker for nonsensical trials."

Harley's eyes narrowed slightly. "Trials?"

Barki smirked. "Oh, you'll see soon enough. For now, focus on what's in front of you. The rest will come later."

The atmosphere in the room shifted slightly, a mix of anticipation and unease settling over them. Whatever Barki knew, she wasn't saying everything. But they all knew one thing—once this mission was over, there were even greater challenges ahead.

A sense of resolve filled the room. Each woman knew the risks, but they also knew what was at stake. Ethan had entrusted them with this fight, and they would not fail him.

With a final nod, they began their preparations. The battle for Veryan City had only just begun.

...

Trevor hovered in the sky, his massive white bat-like wings adorned with intricate red designs flapping steadily behind him. His arms remained crossed over his chest, his face an unreadable mask of cold calculation. His eyes were shut, but his senses stretched far beyond sight, probing the battlefield like a predator stalking its prey.

Behind him, Emily and Sixtie floated, their gazes locked onto him, filled with both concern and anticipation. Emily's brown hair billowed behind her, her large green-red wings keeping her effortlessly aloft. Sixtie's form shimmered, her flowing energy-like green hair casting faint ripples in the air around her.

The crimson tribal markings across Trevor's body pulsed in rhythm, glowing with an eerie heartbeat-like resonance.

BADUM! BADUM! BADUM!

Then, his eyes snapped open, a deep crimson glow piercing through the sky like burning embers. A wicked smirk stretched across his lips.

"Found you," he murmured, his voice laced with something both dark and exhilarated.

"Honey?" Emily called, tilting her head slightly, a flicker of worry in her vibrant gaze.

Trevor's smirk only widened. "I found it. What they've been preparing all this time."

"Another beast, I presume?" Sixtie asked, her luminous green energy-hair shifting fluidly as she spoke.

"More than a beast," Trevor answered, his voice carrying a quiet edge of danger. "No wonder I couldn't find the Harpy, and Mother couldn't find her brother."

Emily and Sixtie exchanged glances, their expressions hardening.

"You mean..." Emily started.

Trevor's smirk deepened, his fangs flashing slightly. "Yes. They were nothing more than clones—decoys to throw us off. The real Blood Beasts… they're nearly on the level of Mom and Gramps."

A tense silence filled the air as the weight of his words settled over them.

Sixtie narrowed her eyes. "Then we don't have much time. If they're that strong, the battlefield is about to change drastically."

Trevor let out a low chuckle, his wings stretching slightly as his crimson aura thickened. "That's fine. Let them come. It's about time we tested just how much I've surpassed my limits."