Ancestral Lineage

Leon and his team stood before the yawning mouth of a cave, their armor glinting faintly against the eerie crimson glow of the distorted sky. Despite the ominous roars echoing through the land and the tremors rippling beneath their feet, they dismissed it as just another strange occurrence in the Labyrinth Grove. How wrong they were.

The tension in the air was palpable, yet they focused solely on their task. Leon, at the head of the group, moved with purpose, his steps echoing in the uneasy silence that hung around the cave. The frigid gust of air from the cavern's depths seemed almost alive, curling around him like a warning. He didn't falter.

His blue eyes gleamed, reflecting not just determination but a suppressed malice and an undercurrent of madness that seemed ready to boil over.

Reaching the threshold of darkness, Leon stopped and retrieved a small vial from within his pocket. The liquid inside shimmered a vibrant green, unnaturally vivid, as though alive. Without hesitation, he conjured a small shard of ice in his hand, its surface reflecting the dim light of the crimson sky. Carefully, he poured a drop of the green liquid onto the ice, the substance hissing faintly as it touched the frozen surface.

Satisfied, Leon tossed the remaining contents of the vial into the cave with a calculated flick of his wrist. The glass shattered against the rocky ground, the viscous green fluid splattering and seeping into the cave floor, its glow fading into the darkness.

From another pouch, he pulled out a small, insect-like device shaped like a mechanical ladybug. Its metallic frame hummed faintly as he strapped the ice shard to its back. Leon's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smirk as he pressed the activation button.

The drone came to life instantly, its orange glow illuminating the shadows as it hovered for a moment before zipping deeper into the cave. Its faint mechanical buzz was swallowed by the oppressive silence of the cavern as it disappeared.

Behind him, his cronies exchanged uneasy glances. The cave's cold seemed to seep into their bones, the air growing heavier with each passing moment.

"Are you sure about this, Leon?" one of them asked, his voice low, almost hesitant.

Leon turned to face the group, his expression unreadable save for the glint of malice in his eyes. "This is not the time for doubt," he said coldly. "Stay vigilant. If this works, the avalanche will be unstoppable."

The words hung in the air like a curse, and the team fell silent. The drone's glow had vanished entirely, consumed by the cave's unfathomable depths, but Leon didn't look away. He stood there, watching, waiting, as though he could see the chaos he was about to unleash before it even began.

...

A small, ladybug-shaped drone buzzed through the stygian darkness of the cave, its orange glow flickering faintly against the jagged walls. The oppressive silence of the cave was broken only by the mechanical hum of its movement and the faint, distant echoes of growls that seemed to awaken as it ventured deeper.

With every meter, the growls grew louder, resonating like a low symphony of dread. Glowing eyes began to pierce the darkness ahead—red, green, yellow—all unblinking, all fixated on the intruding drone. The creatures attached to those eyes began to emerge from the shadows, their grotesque forms revealed in the fleeting light.

Abominations.

Twisted amalgamations of flesh and bone, towering figures with gnarled claws, drooling maws lined with jagged teeth, and appendages that seemed to defy logic. Their snarls and growls filled the cavern, a cacophony of hunger and aggression. The creatures lumbered after the drone, drawn to it like moths to a flame, their movements growing more frantic with each step.

The drone glided effortlessly, unfazed by the nightmarish procession trailing behind it. Its orange glow reflected in their predatory eyes as it descended further into the labyrinthine depths of the cave. Then, the cavern opened up into a massive chamber, and there, amidst the eerie stillness, lay a sleeping behemoth—a Diamond-ranked drake.

The drake's form was massive, its scales shimmering faintly with a silvery-blue hue that seemed to pulse with life. Around it, the air shimmered as though vibrating, a clear sign of its mastery over the Sound element. Its serpentine body curled around itself, and its head rested on folded claws, exhaling slow, rhythmic breaths that carried a latent power capable of shattering eardrums.

The drone's orange light danced over the slumbering drake, and the green shard strapped to its back emitted a faint, tantalizing scent. The drake's nostrils flared, its massive eyes snapping open. They glowed with an unnatural brilliance, sharp slits contracting as they focused on the tiny intruder.

A low growl rumbled through the chamber, shaking the walls and sending loose rocks tumbling from above. The beasts trailing the drone paused briefly, their attention split between the drake and the glowing device that had captivated them. But the scent emanating from the shard proved irresistible.

The drake uncoiled, its massive frame moving with a fluid grace that belied its size. It stalked after the drone, its claws clicking ominously against the stone floor. The other beasts followed, their collective hunger and frenzy amplifying as the drone ventured further into the depths.

The drone's journey finally ended at the very back of the cave, where the walls were jagged and uneven. It hovered in place for a moment before its glow abruptly dimmed and it deactivated, falling to the ground with a soft clink.

But the shard's scent lingered.

The beasts, now completely overtaken by their primal instincts, surged toward the spot where the drone had fallen. Their growls turned into deafening roars, and their movements became frantic, jostling and clawing at each other in their desperation to find the source of the intoxicating scent.

The drake roared a thunderous sound that silenced the other creatures momentarily. The vibrations from its roar rippled through the cavern, fracturing the very walls around them. Then, chaos erupted.

The creatures attacked the walls, their claws and bodies smashing through stone and earth. The drake joined in, its immense strength and sound-based powers amplifying the destruction. Sonic waves tore through the back wall, shattering it into rubble as the beasts pushed forward with relentless fervor.

With the back of the cave reduced to rubble, the beasts spilled out into the open, their frenzy unabated. The faint trace of the shard's scent still hung in the air, carried by the wind. Driven by insatiable hunger and madness, they surged forward, an unstoppable horde descending upon the land outside the cave.

The ground trembled beneath their stampede, and their roars echoed into the distance, a harbinger of the calamity that Leon had unleashed. The horde of abominations, led by the Diamond-ranked drake, charged toward the horizon, their single-minded pursuit threatening to engulf everything in their path.

...

Trevor dashed through the crimson-streaked skies, his piercing crimson eyes blazing with intensity. His long white hair whipped furiously in the wind as his ethereal, smoky white wings propelled him forward at breakneck speed. Behind him, two mighty beasts—one a majestic green drake, the other a shimmering silver wyvern—soared in formation, their wings slicing through the thick, oppressive air.

Perched atop the drake and wyvern, Clara, Lisa, Harley, Emily, Sixtie, Jerry, and Reginald clung to the beasts with determination etched across their faces. Worry lingered in their expressions, but so did resolve. Besides Trevor, Andriel flew gracefully, her silver light shimmering like a guardian star in the blood-red sky. Her braided silver hair trailed behind her, and her violet eyes remained sharp and vigilant.

In front of them floated a translucent screen, displaying a detailed map overlaid with glowing routes. A chibi representation of Ethan, marked by a pulsing red beacon, indicated their destination. The path stretched endlessly across the map, marked by obstacles and danger zones. It was a journey that would typically take 8 to 9 hours under normal conditions, but this was no ordinary situation.

Each member of the group bore a faintly glowing golden symbol on the back of their hands, marking their bond to Ethan. Only Sixtie's hand was bare, her curious yet uneasy gaze flickering to the others' marks as if they held answers to her questions.

Trevor surged ahead of the group, his aura fully unleashed. It poured out of him like a tangible force, reeking of blood and dread. The oppressive energy sent nearby beasts scattering in terror. Even the boldest predators dared not approach the shadow of his presence. Clara, riding atop the green drake, had her eyes shut tightly. Her face was pale and strained, contorted in a battle of focus and endurance. Above her head, radiant white runes danced in a halo-like formation, pulsating faintly with each breath she took.

"What's wrong with her?" Lisa asked, her voice tinged with worry as she glanced at Clara.

"She's channeling her spirit beast's power to amplify Ethan's Soul Mark," Harley explained grimly. "It's the only way we're tracking him through this chaos, but it's taking a toll on her."

Trevor's wings flared briefly, his pace faltering as his crimson eyes narrowed. A wave of unease rolled over him, sharp and foreboding, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end.
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"Something's wrong," Trevor muttered, his voice low but firm.

"What is it?" Andriel asked, her tone steady though her grip tightened on her weapon.

Trevor didn't answer immediately. Instead, his gaze darted to the map on the floating screen. Suddenly, a flashing red warning appeared across its surface, and the system's cold, mechanical voice echoed in their minds.

"Alert: Hostile entities detected. Multiple Silver and Gold-ranked beasts, with one confirmed Diamond-ranked beast, converging on the current trajectory. Estimated interception: 12 minutes. Probability of conflict: 98%."

The map shifted, highlighting a glowing red zone directly in their path. Dozens of markers moved within it, each representing a powerful beast. At the center of the cluster, a single crimson marker pulsed ominously, dwarfing the others with its sheer size and intensity.

"Diamond-ranked?" Jerry whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "Are we seriously about to face something like that?"

"Can we detour?" Andriel asked sharply, her violet eyes darting between Trevor and the screen.

The system answered in its cold, unfeeling tone. "Rerouting is not advised. Estimated delay for alternative routes: 3.7 hours. The current path remains optimal for reaching the target."

Trevor clenched his jaw, his fists curling tightly. "We don't have 3.7 hours. If Ethan is unstable, every second we lose puts everyone at risk."

Clara grimaced, her voice strained as she spoke through gritted teeth. "I can… try masking our presence. But with beasts of this caliber, it might not last long."

"No," Trevor said firmly. "Save your strength. If we're intercepted, we'll need you at full power."

Emily, who had remained silent until now, crossed her arms with a calm that seemed almost unnerving. "If we can't avoid them, then we fight. Simple as that."

"Easy for you to say," Reginald grumbled, though his hand rested on the hilt of his weapon, betraying his readiness for battle.

Trevor slowed slightly, allowing the group to tighten their formation. His aura grew even darker, a protective wall of dread and bloodlust that seemed to thrum in response to the looming threat.

"Stay close," Trevor commanded, his voice sharp and unwavering. "When we hit the red zone, no one splits off unless I give the order. Understood?"

A chorus of affirmations followed, their collective resolve evident despite the tension hanging in the air. Andriel's silver light intensified as she readied herself, her weapon gleaming faintly in her hand.

Ahead, the sky seemed to darken further, the faint roars of beasts growing louder as they approached the red zone. The air grew heavier with every passing second, a foreboding weight that signaled the chaos waiting just beyond the horizon.