Ancestral Lineage

Chapter 136 Reaching The Team. Hidden Item.

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.

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."