Ancestral Lineage-Chapter 118: Solidifying Power. Sixtie’s Stance.

Ethan hovered slightly above the ground in the spacious yard of Carmen’s office, a modest yet elegant standalone house surrounded by dense foliage that seemed to embrace the night. The air was thick with the hum of power as he focused inward, drawing upon the chaotic wellspring of energy coursing through his veins. The stars above seemed dim in comparison to the faint, ethereal glow emanating from his form. This was no ordinary cultivation session—this was a necessary consolidation, a taming of the storm raging within him.

Stripped to his bare chest, Ethan revealed the intricate red tattoos etched across his alabaster skin. These markings weren’t just aesthetic—they pulsed rhythmically, channeling the surging energies within him. His long, crimson hair, untamed and wild, floated as though it had a life of its own, swaying gently in a breeze only he could feel. The contrast of his vivid red hair against the darkness of the night was striking, making him look like a figure carved from the heart of a raging inferno.

Most captivating was the third eye that rested on his forehead—a Psyche-Eye inherited from his beast affinity. Unlike his natural eyes, this one was reptilian, with a luminous blue sclera and a slit pupil that glowed faintly, giving off an aura of unparalleled insight and primal strength. Though it was a boon in battle, he knew its power was too immense for his current level. For now, he used it solely as a conduit to refine his cultivation, ensuring it remained closed in combat to conserve his strength.

Nearby, Carmen sat cross-legged on the polished stone floor of the yard, her aura a stark contrast to Ethan’s fiery presence. She was enveloped in an impenetrable black mist that seemed to absorb all light around her, rendering her almost invisible. The dense energy surrounding her erased any trace of her presence, a testament to her mastery over her affinity. Ethan could sense her only because of the Soul Mark they shared—a tether between their beings that transcended the physical. Her cultivation was as silent as the night itself, yet it carried a weight that demanded respect.

Ethan couldn’t help but admire her focus, but he quickly turned his attention inward. Tonight wasn’t about distraction; it was about control.

Around Ethan, a symphony of lights had begun to manifest. Silvery-blue, gold, and red wisps of energy danced around him like fireflies, weaving intricate patterns in the air. Each color represented a facet of his power:

Silvery-blue: His connection to his Psyche-Eye, the essence of perception and mental fortitude and Angitia.

Gold: The primal vitality and strength of the Earth, inherited from his beast, Galeno.

Red: The fiery core of his vampiric heritage, a raw, untamed force of destruction and regeneration.

The energies swirled and intertwined, occasionally clashing in sparks that fizzled out before dissipating into the cool night air. Each collision sent a ripple through Ethan’s body, testing his resolve as he worked to bring harmony to the chaos.

Ethan’s breathing was slow and steady, each inhale drawing in the ambient mana around him, and each exhale expelling impurities. The energy within him resisted his control, surging violently like a tempest determined to break free. His body trembled slightly, the strain evident as he pushed against the limits of his cultivation. Stay tuned for updates on novelbuddy

He visualized his mana core, a brilliant orb nestled deep within his being. It was fractured—tiny cracks marred its surface from the overwhelming power it contained. Using his Psyche-Eye as a guide, he focused on repairing these fractures, fusing the pieces together with threads of silvery-blue energy. Slowly but surely, the core began to stabilize, its radiance intensifying with each passing moment.

The pulsing tattoos on his skin reacted to his efforts, glowing brighter and syncing with the rhythm of his heartbeat. Each pulse sent waves of energy through his body, strengthening his mana circuits and reinforcing his connection to his affinities.

...

As the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, Ethan reached the final stages of his consolidation. The chaotic energies that had once threatened to consume him now flowed smoothly, like a river finding its course. The lights around him coalesced into a singular, radiant glow, enveloping him in a cocoon of power.

The third eye on his forehead opened briefly, its piercing gaze scanning the horizon before closing once more. Ethan felt a surge of clarity, as though he could see the threads of fate themselves. His core was whole again, its brilliance rivaling the sun rising in the distance.

...

Ethan slowly descended, his feet touching the ground with barely a sound. The glow around him faded, leaving only his natural radiance. His crimson hair settled against his back, and the tattoos on his skin dimmed to a faint shimmer.

Carmen opened her eyes, the black mist around her dissipating as she stood gracefully. "You did it," she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of pride.

Ethan smiled faintly. "It’s only the beginning," he replied, his voice steady but laced with determination.

Ethan nodded, feeling a sense of calm he hadn’t experienced in weeks. As he walked back into the house with Carmen, the first rays of sunlight bathed the yard, illuminating the place where he had just conquered the storm within.

...

Ding!

...

Congratulations!

Host’s Power Has Been Finally Consolidated.

Re-Calculating Power And Adjusting Involved Statuses!

Successful!

Please Check Your Status For Further Information.

...

’It seems I was really successful. Status Page.’

Status Window

______________________________________________

Name: Ethan Smith Junior (###)

Age: 18

Race: Blood Primogenitor (Sealed: Crimson Vampire)

Rank: Advanced (Mid)

Strength: 129.25

Speed: 129.15

Stamina: 127.25

Perception: 123.75

Charm: 40

Willpower: Almost Unlimited (∝)

Mana: 5500

Path: 7%

Level: 30 [00/300]

Stat Points: 00

Current Form: [Crimson Vampire]

...

*Skills↴

•Martial Arts: Davorhin(High)

•Weapon Skills: Hammer Arts (High), Spear Arts (Low), Chain Arts (Low)

*Affinities↴

•Psychic (Advanced)

•Earth (Advanced)

*Spirit Beasts↴

•Angitia (Psyche-Eye Serpent): Psychic

•Galeno (Heavenly Tortoise): Earth

*Abilities↴

•Blood Magic (???)

•Master of Auras (Very High)

•Weapons’ Constitution (???)

•Sync (30%)

*Subordinates↴

•Trevor Barnes (Blood Primogenitor)

•Clara Verna (???)

•Harley Avluv (Human)

•Lamair Griswold (Mixed Human)

•Emily Daniels (Vampire Progenitor)

•Tia (Chain of Wills)

•Lisa Tennyson (High Human)

•Andriel Guilde (Moon Elf)

•Carmen Steil (Black Cat-Feline)

•Reginald Ignifax (???)

•Lusamine Seikiro (Dark Elf)

•Jerry Friel (Vampire Progenitor-Mutated)

*Other↴

•System Storage

•Shop (7000 sp)

______________________________________________

’Huh? I don’t understand. Why did my level decrease but my mana increased?’

Ding!

Answering Host!

Mana Points per Level:

Novice (Level 1): 50–500 MP

Advanced (Level 2): 500–5,000 MP

Warrior (Level 3): 5,000–30,000 MP

Expert (Level 4): 30,000–100,000 MP

Master (Level 5): 100,000–300,000 MP

Grandmaster (Level 6): 300,000–800,000 MP

??? (Level 7): 800,000–2,000,000 MP

??? (Level 8): 2,000,000–10,000,000 MP

??? (Level 9): 10,000,000+ MP

This is a brief summary of the levels with their corresponding mana points for easy understanding. Host is essentially at the Advanced level but mages with double affinities have double the mana of their peers at the same level. This essentially makes them more powerful than their peers. If you were using only one affinity, your points would’ve been 2,750. Following this, you will always have double the amount of mana points at each level but that doesn’t mean that you could take on someone above your level with that. It is possible but there are all kinds of beings in the world and experience matters when it comes to battles of higher levels.

...

’Hmm... interesting.’

...

Ethan stood in front of the second years, his presence commanding attention as he addressed them. The participants and the audience the other all had nervous faces as Ethan took out a sheet of paper. He hadn’t posted the subordinates, so they were very tense. Plus, Ethan’s cold expression wasn’t helping the slightest. Ethan looked at the sheets and the faces of his classmates and smiled.

"Yo! Come on guys. It’s not like someone is going to die." He exclaimed with a smirk.

"You are looking like an undertaker. What do you expect?" Someone one shouted from the back causing all of them to let out chuckles.

"Really?"

"Yeah. You are really scaring us." Another person chimed in.

"Come on. Let’s get this over with. So, per the battles, these are the selected subordinates from lowest to highest. You can check the video for clarification and if you have any issue, you let me know before the close of the week.

So here are the selected subordinates.

Godfred Tell, Zara King, Tatiana Reloc, Andrew Peters, Derrick Griswold, Reginald Ignifax, Lisa Tennyson, Emily Daniels, Clara Verna, Andriel Guilde, Sixtie Zaladrac, Trevor Barnes.

If you have anything to say about this selection, feel free to say it." Ethan mentioned the selected subordinates.

"I have something to say." A pale hand shot up. Sixtie stood up, her green hair swaying slightly, her expression–unreadable.

"Okay."

"What is your true purpose? What do you hope to achieve with this?" Sixtie asked, her expression unwavering, her voice resounding in the room, causing a resounding silence all around.

Ethan stared at her in the eyes, his crimson ones meeting her greens in a fierce, silent battle of comprehension and understanding.

"I don’t hope to achieve anything and my purpose, let’s say... I want change." Ethan said as he turned to face everyone once again, his expression, calm and gentle.

"The upper years all follow a stagnant system where the nobles and Tyrants are the strong and the rest are just, there. I won’t change that but as the only Tyrant of the second years, I will not allow that. I want us all to be strong. I’m not saying that we should be on the same level, no. But I want a situation where if they mention our class, it would be followed by whispers of respect and reverence not for my strength or the strength of the nobles here, but everyone. That is what I want. I’m not selfish enough to take everything for myself." Ethan said earning nods of approval from everyone. His message was also a hidden message to Sixtie’s question which he understood perfectly.

"Anymore?" Ethan asked.

""""NO!""""

"Good."

...

"Can I please talk to you for a moment?" Sixtie held Trevor’s uniform as he made to leave the room. Because of Trevor’s height, Sixtie looked like a kid asking for candy from an uncle. Quite comical. He looked at Emily who was starting to release an aura he knew all too well–JEALOUSY!

"I won’t do anything. I promise." Trevor said to Emily, ignoring Sixtie who still held his clothes. He gave her a kiss, earning surprised gazes from those around and an expression of disgust from his brother Ethan who was walking among three girls, Clara, Lisa and Andriel.

’He ignored me. Who does she think she is! I marked him first!’ Sixtie’s mind was a mess as she turned into a third wheel in less than a second. Whatever she was fuming about, only she knew.

"I believe you, baby." Emily said, giving him a peck on the cheeks and running off to join Ethan and the others. Reginald and the new vampire, Jerry had also joined them halfway as they headed to the cafeteria. Later, they would meet Carmen to bond Jerry with a new beast.

"Sigh! Girls... what did you want to talk to me about, Sixtie?" Trevor turned to Sixtie with a surprised gaze. She was still holding his uniform.

"Can we go somewhere private?"

"Uh... okay? But can you stop holding my uniform?"

"I don’t see anything wrong with it."

"Huh?"

...

Under the sprawling branches of the tree behind the second-year building, Sixtie sat beside Trevor on a wooden bench. The midday sun filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground. Trevor leaned back casually, one arm draped over the backrest, while Sixtie sat upright, her hands clenched on her lap.

"So," Trevor began, his voice light but tinged with curiosity, "what is this about? I assume it’s not to admire the scenery."

Sixtie hesitated, her emerald-green eyes flickering with uncertainty. "Do you ever wonder if the river knows where it flows?"

Trevor raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Parables, huh? All right, I’ll bite. The river flows where the earth guides it. Are you saying you’re being... guided?"

She nodded slowly. "Perhaps. But what if the river doesn’t trust the earth? What if it fears the path ahead, even though it’s inevitable?"

Trevor tilted his head, studying her. "Rivers don’t get a choice, Sixtie. They move because they must. Are you saying you feel like you don’t have a choice? Is this about Ethan’s invitation?"

Her shoulders stiffened, and she looked away, focusing on a squirrel darting across the grass. "The sun speaks boldly to the moon, yet it is the stars that understand its silence. Sometimes, the loudest voices are not the ones worth listening to."

Trevor chuckled softly. "That does sound like Ethan. But his invitation is not just a voice; it’s a call—a direction."

"A call to what?" she asked, her voice soft but probing. "To follow blindly? To be swept away by the current?"

Trevor shifted, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "Not blindly. Ethan’s no fool, and he doesn’t expect anyone else to be. His call is a choice, Sixtie, not a command. You follow because you see the path he’s carving. Or you don’t. It’s that simple."

She frowned. "And if the path he carves leads to ruin?"

Trevor turned to her, his amber eyes glinting with something unspoken. "The path isn’t without risk, but neither is standing still. Sometimes, the journey itself defines what we become, not the destination."

Sixtie sat in silence, processing his words. The breeze rustled the leaves above them, carrying with it the scent of earth and greenery.

"The vine trusts the tree it climbs," she said finally, her voice almost a whisper. "But what happens if the tree falls?"

Trevor smiled faintly. "Then the vine learns to root itself. Trust isn’t about guarantees, Sixtie. It’s about hope and faith."

She turned to him, her gaze steady now. "And what of love, Trevor? Is it the vine or the tree?"

For the first time, Trevor seemed genuinely caught off guard. He chuckled after a moment, shaking his head. "Love? It’s neither. Love’s the soil—the foundation beneath both. Without it, nothing grows."

Sixtie blinked, taken aback by the depth of his answer. For a moment, they sat in silence, their eyes meeting as if searching for something unspoken.

"You always speak in riddles," she said finally, a small smile playing on her lips.

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"Only when I don’t know the answer," Trevor replied, leaning back again. "And right now, the answer is yours to find. Just remember—whether you climb or grow, Ethan’s not the only one watching."

Sixtie looked down at her hands, her expression unreadable. "Thank you, Trevor."

"Don’t thank me yet," he said with a grin. "Emily’s going to kill me for this."

As they sat under the tree, the silence between them was no longer heavy but reflective, each lost in their own thoughts as the world continued to move around them.