Ancestral Lineage

Chapter 156 Dri, The Creator (2)

"So, how do I get back? Do I have to pass another test of time or what?" Ethan asked after a moment of silence, his tone laced with both frustration and resignation.

Kael leaned back slightly, his crimson eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "I don't know," he replied with a shrug.

Ethan blinked, taken aback. "Huh?"

Kael smirked faintly, his expression almost teasing. "It's not me you're going to face this time. You'll face a Creator, the other guy I mentioned last time."

"A Creator? As in a god?" Ethan asked, his brow furrowing.

Kael shook his head. "No, not quite. It's not anything that grandiose. I mean someone on the same level as me—a Primogenitor-level being. He's the 'you' from another reality, the origin of all dwarves. He's the one you're going to f—"

"That's enough, you white-skinned leech."

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A soft voice suddenly cut through Kael's speech, silencing him mid-sentence. The voice was so gentle and melodic that Ethan almost mistook it for a woman's, yet it carried an undeniable weight of authority. It felt divine, pure, and primal, resonating deeply within the air itself.

The world around them shifted instantly.

The bloody expanse transformed into a serene landscape of tall, majestic mountains, their brown peaks dusted with snow. Towering trees stood proudly against the backdrop, their leaves whispering in the breeze. A cascading waterfall sparkled under a golden sun, feeding into a crystal-clear stream that wound through a lush grassland. Fine meadows stretched far and wide, dotted with colorful flowers and peaceful, domesticated creatures grazing lazily. Birds chirped and sang harmoniously, their songs weaving a natural symphony that filled the air with life.

The only area that remained untouched by this transformation was the space where Kael and Ethan sat, though even that seemed to shimmer faintly as if resisting the overwhelming tranquility around it.

Kael's expression darkened with annoyance. He sighed, rubbing his temple as though warding off a headache. "Of course, you had to show up," he muttered, his tone dripping with irritation.

Ethan turned his head toward the source of the voice, scanning the serene landscape for its owner. "Who—?"

Before he could finish, a figure emerged from the treeline, stepping gracefully into view. Their form was cloaked in radiant light, making it impossible to discern their features clearly, but the aura they exuded was unmistakable—one of authority and calm power.

Kael clicked his tongue, his earlier composure cracking slightly. "Great. Just what we needed. The Creator has arrived."

"The one I'm going to meet this time?" Ethan asked, still bewildered by everything happening around him.@@@@

"Yeah. That dark-skinned goat," Kael replied nonchalantly, waving his hand as if it were no big deal.

"You shouldn't tell lies to the kid, you know," the soft voice interjected again, closer this time. Ethan instinctively turned to his left, but there was no one there.

"Yeah, yeah. Like you're any better than me," Kael retorted, rolling his eyes. "By the way, will you fucking quit this hide-and-seek game? The kid has to go back, you idiot!"

"Oi! You shouldn't insult people in front of kids," the voice responded, now coming from directly in front of them.

...

Carmen lay sprawled on the leather sofa in her dimly lit office, her usual stoic demeanor shattered. A faint glow from the golden system screen hovered in front of her, casting warm light across her tear-streaked face. The screen's display was unchanged, still bearing the ominous text: "SAVE ETHAN." Despite the shift to a golden hue, which she hoped signified progress, the stagnant message weighed heavily on her heart.

The symbol on the back of her hand pulsed faintly, mirroring the golden glow of the screen. It offered no answers, only the faintest whisper of reassurance that something—anything—was stabilizing.

"I hope everything is fine," Carmen whispered, her voice trembling as tears began to spill. Her usual cold expression had crumbled, breaking apart like glass under pressure.

"I feel so useless..." she muttered, her hands gripping the edge of the sofa tightly as if anchoring herself. The tears came freely now, silent but relentless, carrying with them the frustration and helplessness she'd fought so hard to suppress.

In the solitude of her office, Carmen wept quietly, oblivious to the tides of fate that were already shifting. As always, fate played its games, but it had its favorites—and Carmen had yet to realize just how deeply entwined she was in its plans.

...

In a sleek, dimly lit chamber filled with holographic displays and panels softly pulsing with vibrant blue and gold hues, a figure sat at the head of a long, metallic table. The rhythmic hum of advanced machinery resonated through the room, accompanied by the occasional flicker of data streams that danced across translucent screens. Her presence dominated the space, her sharp features illuminated sporadically by the flickering glow, casting fleeting shadows that amplified her commanding aura.

Her calm expression betrayed a subtle amusement, though her eyes glinted with something far colder, far more calculating. When she spoke, her voice was smooth yet resonant, cutting through the technological hum like a blade.

"So, they are the cause, eh? A war they seek, I suppose?"

"Yes, mistress," replied a figure standing a respectful distance away, his posture rigid as though weighed down by the gravity of her words. The faint glow of the displays reflected off his uneasy expression.

She tilted her head slightly, humming thoughtfully as her fingers tapped a measured rhythm against the edge of the metallic table. "Hmm... Continue to watch them closely. Let them revel in their illusion of control—for now."

"Do you have a plan, mistress?" the subordinate asked carefully, his voice cautious as his eyes flickered to her face.

Her lips curved into a faint, almost predatory smile. "A plan? No, David. Not this time. I'm not scheming—I'm waiting. Waiting for my children to return."

David's brows furrowed briefly, confusion evident in his expression. "The young masters? But—"

"You still don't see, do you?" she interrupted her tone soft but laced with undeniable authority. Rising gracefully, her figure towered in the dim light, her silhouette commanding as the light from the holo displays danced along the contours of her sleek attire. "They are the reason for this war, the key to everything. Every move our enemies have made has been to erase them, to rewrite the narrative without them in it. And now, those fools think they've succeeded. They celebrate their fleeting, hollow victory."

She chuckled softly, the sound low and menacing, spreading like a dark current through the chamber. Each note carried a chilling promise of retribution, vibrating with an almost tangible energy.

"Fools," she muttered, her smile twisting into something sharper, something dangerous. "They believe the game is over. But the truth? The real game hasn't even begun."

Her laughter deepened, a haunting melody that echoed endlessly, reverberating off the metallic walls.

"I wonder..." she mused, her voice dripping with scorn as her gaze seemed to pierce through the very fabric of reality. "What will they feel when my children step through that portal? Fear? Regret? Despair? Hah!" She laughed again, this time louder, as though savoring the thought. "Their faces... their pathetic, crumbling pride. It will be a masterpiece—one I'll savor for a lifetime."

Her laughter ebbed, leaving the room in a silence that felt heavier than before. Her sharp smile lingered as she turned her gaze to the flickering holo displays, her voice dropping to a near-whisper that carried an unshakable finality.

"Let them think they've won. It will make their fall all the more satisfying."