Ancestral Lineage

Chapter 144 It Begins.

Lamair sat perched atop a sturdy tree branch, his feet swinging idly beneath him. His sharp blue eyes gazed into the distance, their intensity betraying the depths of his thoughts. Resting comfortably atop his head was a peculiar spider-like creature. Its humanoid upper body and spider's lower half were covered in dark blue and purple fur streaked with deep pink. Its numerous glowing red eyes shimmered softly, a striking contrast to the icy blue of its master's gaze.

It had been two weeks since the expedition began, and Lamair had yet to reunite with his closest friends, Ethan, and the others. Communication had been sporadic, but Ethan, ever resourceful, had managed to find a way to relay updates on his progress. They had even attempted to plan a rendezvous, but the sheer expanse of the zone made it nearly impossible. Time was of the essence, and their respective objectives couldn't be delayed for long searches.

For now, Lamair had joined forces with Lu Qi and the Casas siblings, Cassandra and Pierre. Though not his usual companions, they proved capable allies, and together they focused on securing as many kills as possible to strengthen their positions.

He wore a dark tracksuit, its sleek material blending into the shadows of the night. Beneath the tree, students patrolled in pairs or small groups, their weapons gleaming faintly in the moonlight. Some wielded glowing orbs of power, while others clutched blades or staves, their eyes darting around warily. This nightly patrol routine developed over the past week, had proven highly effective in keeping their camp secure.

Lamair let out a quiet sigh, brushing a hand through his purple hair. The spider on his head chirped—a strange, melodic sound that only he seemed to understand. It was a subtle reminder of the bond they shared, a source of comfort in the chaos.

"We'll find them," Lamair murmured, more to himself than anyone else. The spider tilted its head, its red eyes blinking in response as if to reassure him.

Then it happened.

Lamair's body jolted upright, his relaxed posture replaced with one of rigid fear. His sharp blue eyes widened, but the terror that flickered within them was swiftly replaced with steely resolve. He moved without hesitation, leaping from the tree branch in a single fluid motion. His spider spirit beast clung tightly to his head, its glowing red eyes scanning the surroundings with eerie precision.

"Code Red! I repeat, Code Red! Everybody RUN!"

The warning blared through the camp, not from Lamair's lips but from a black humanoid puppet standing at the camp's edge. Its speaker-like head amplified the puppeteer's frantic commands, echoing over the patrolling students. However, the alarm came too late.

ROAR!

The sound was unlike anything they had ever heard. It ripped through the night air, a guttural, bone-chilling roar that carried the weight of impending doom. The sheer power of the noise reverberated through their bodies, freezing them in place.@@@@

Some students dropped their weapons, their hands trembling uncontrollably. Others stumbled back in shock; their minds unable to process the overwhelming sense of dread. A few, overwhelmed by the primal terror, pissed themselves or collapsed unconscious on the spot, sparing themselves the nightmare about to unfold.

Lamair gritted his teeth, his body trembling not from fear but from the residual force of the roar. "Damn it," he hissed, his mind racing. He could feel the oppressive aura of the creature approaching—a Diamond-rank beast, at the very least. Its presence suffocated the air, turning every breath into a struggle.

His spider spirit beast emitted a sharp, urgent chirp, its fur bristling as it prepared for what was to come. Lamair's voice cut through the haze of fear like a whip. "Move! Regroup at Point Alpha! Protect each other, and don't look back!"

His command snapped some of the students out of their stupor, but the chaos had already begun. The ground trembled as the creature's massive footsteps drew closer, each thud hammering into their souls. Shadows stretched and shifted, revealing the monstrous silhouette of their attacker.

Lamair clenched his fists, his gaze locked on the encroaching darkness. "Lu Qi, Cassandra, Pierre—get them out of here," he growled under his breath. "I'll buy time."

The spider atop his head chirped again, its glow intensifying. Whatever was coming, Lamair knew one thing: he wasn't going down without a fight.

"That is probably a Diamond-rank beast! You could get yourself killed, even if you are the strongest third year!" Cassandra shouted, her usual carefree demeanor replaced by a rare mixture of fear and worry.

Lamair didn't flinch, his sharp blue eyes still fixed on the distant silhouette of the beast. He pulled a small purple crystal from his pocket and pressed it into Cassandra's trembling hand. "I know the risks, Cass," he said, his voice steady but tinged with urgency. "But I'm the only one here who can buy you guys time. Take this. If I'm not back in thirty minutes, crush it."

Ethan lay fast asleep between Harley and Clara, his typically jovial yet sharp features now softened in peaceful slumber. The gentle rise and fall of his chest accompanied light snores, a rare moment of calm in the chaos of their lives.

Suddenly, he jolted upright, his heart pounding as a sense of dread washed over him. His crimson eyes darted around the dimly lit cave, but it wasn't the environment that had startled him.

Hovering before him, the system's usually calming silvery-blue screen had turned an ominous dark red, almost black, pulsating faintly like a heartbeat. Such a drastic shift was unprecedented, and a chill ran down Ethan's spine.

A shrill tone echoed in his ears as the screen blinked violently.

...

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

URGENT QUEST INITIATED!

...

The letters glowed a menacing crimson, each word searing itself into his mind.

...

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SAVE YOUR SUBORDINATE, LAMAIR, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

TIME LIMIT: 30 MINUTES

REWARD: UNKNOWN

PENALTY: UNKNOWN

...

Ethan's fists clenched, his knuckles turning white as the weight of the notification settled in. "Lamair..." he whispered, his voice tinged with panic and determination.

Clara stirred beside him, her silvery blonde hair shimmering in the faint glow of the red screen. Harley, always alert, opened one eye and frowned. "Ethan, what's going on?"

Ethan ignored the question, his mind racing. He shot to his feet, the urgency pounding through his veins. "Something's happened to Lamair," he said, his voice sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade. "I need to find him. Now."

The system's countdown had already begun. 30 minutes. The clock was ticking.