Ancestral Lineage

Chapter 177 A King's First Order & An Unavoidable Duel

As the murmurs of the nobles died down, Ethan leaned forward, resting his chin on his fist.@@@@

'Now that we've settled that,' he said, his voice carrying weight, 'it's time to establish order.'

His golden gaze swept across the great families. 'You will each report to me with detailed accounts of your territories—military forces, economic strength, and ongoing conflicts. This is no longer a divided continent. If you rule under me, you will do so efficiently. Fail, and you will be replaced.'

His words sent a ripple through the room. Some clenched their fists in silent defiance, but no one dared to speak out.

Then—

BOOM!

A deafening explosion shook the palace, sending a tremor through the ground. The walls groaned, dust and debris trickling from the ceiling. Nobles stumbled in shock, panic flashing in their eyes. The thick wooden doors at the far end of the hall suddenly creaked open.

A bloodied guard staggered in, his armor scorched and torn. He barely managed a step before collapsing, his body motionless.

Silence fell.

Then, a figure strode into the hall.

Draped in obsidian black robes, a man with piercing red eyes and a long, curved blade at his side walked forward with measured steps. His presence alone shifted the air, making even seasoned warriors tense instinctively.

Madeleine's gaze sharpened. "A Royal Executioner."

The man's eyes landed on Ethan, and he smirked. "Ethan Smith Junior. So the rumors were true."

Ethan sighed, standing from his throne-like seat. 'You couldn't even wait until the meeting was over? What a pain.'

The Executioner unsheathed his blade, its surface humming with dark energy. "Your existence is a threat to the Blade Clan's plans. Surrender, and your death will be painless."

Ethan chuckled darkly. 'Oh? And if I refuse?'

The Executioner reached into his robes, pulling out a small, jagged crystal—a Nullstone Relic.

"Then I'll simply level the playing field."

He crushed the relic in his palm. A pulse of dark energy spread outward, like an invisible shockwave. Instantly, the room felt... different.

Gasps rang out. Nobles and warriors alike staggered, clutching at their chests. Clara, Andriel, even Madeleine—all felt their powers forcibly sealed away. The very essence of mana and aura in the hall had been suppressed.

Ethan, however, remained completely unaffected.

The Executioner's grin widened. "This relic nullifies all energy manipulation within a hundred-meter radius... except for the two of us." His eyes gleamed with bloodlust. "Now, let's see how strong you truly are, 'King.'"

Ethan exhaled slowly, stepping forward. 'You're a fool.'

In an instant—

He vanished.

The Executioner's instincts screamed at him. He swung his blade in a reflexive arc, expecting a counterattack. But his blade met nothing but air.

Then—

CRACK!

A fist buried itself into his ribs. The Executioner's eyes bulged as he was sent skidding back, his body crashing into the floor with a sickening thud. Blood dribbled from his lips.

He barely had time to process what happened before Ethan appeared in front of him again.

A single, lazy kick caved in his knee.

"AAAAAARGH!"

A massive shape loomed outside, visible through the great windows of the hall. A being larger than two football fields, its sheer size dwarfed the building.

A Heavenly Tortoise.

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The nobles gawked. Even the media personnel who had been quietly recording everything gasped. The camera drones zoomed in, capturing the impossible sight.

Ethan's voice was absolute. 'Angitia. Galeno. You will lead the rescue operation in Veryan City. Reginald and Jerry will accompany you. Prioritize the civilians. Destroy any enemy in your path.'

Angitia's black eyes gleamed as she coiled around herself, her deep voice a whisper in the minds of all present. 'As you command, master.'

Galeno, slow and eternal, let out a deep, rumbling exhale. 'We shall protect them.'

Jerry grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Finally, some action."

Reginald simply nodded. "It will be done."

Ethan turned to the nobles. 'This will be a message to our enemies. That we are not passive. That we will strike back.'

Unknown to Ethan, the entire conversation was being broadcast live.

The media personnel had been present under the guise of covering the meeting of the leaders of Anbord, but the moment the Executioner arrived, their lenses had captured everything—his effortless victory, the planning of war, the introduction of giant mythical beasts.

Screens across the world flashed with the images. The once-mythical Smith Clan was no longer a secret. The world now knew of Ethan Smith Junior, of his terrifying power, and of the looming war.

News stations ran the footage non-stop.

"BREAKING NEWS: THE SMITH CLAN RETURNS—A NEW WARLORD EMERGES."

"WHO IS ETHAN SMITH? THE MYSTERIOUS RULER DECLARES WAR!"

"MYTHICAL BEASTS IN REALITY? NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN CREATURES CONFIRMED!"

The world watched.

Governments scrambled. Leaders held emergency meetings. The revelation of the Smith Clan's power had shaken the balance of the world.

And Ethan?

He merely smirked, watching the news feed on a hovering screen.

'Good,' he murmured. 'Let them know what's coming.'

As the war council continued, Ethan outlined the next steps.

'Fortify key cities, set up surveillance, and prepare for counter-attacks.

Reach out to neutral factions—some would choose to join, others needed convincing.

Send spies into enemy territories to uncover their next moves.'

Each order was received with determination. The nobles and commanders, once hesitant, now saw the path forward.

As the meeting drew to a close, Ethan's voice rang through the chamber.

'This war is inevitable. But we will not fight defensively. We will crush them before they even have the chance to breathe.'

A silent agreement passed through the room.

And so, as the world reeled from the revelation of the Smith Clan, Ethan and his forces prepared to make their next move.

The war had truly begun.