Ancestral Lineage-Chapter 80: Training Starts (1).

Ethan sat at his desk, reviewing the notes he had taken during the meeting. His mind wandered back to the principal’s message. A reshuffle of rankings... a battle royale... hidden objectives during the outing. The stakes were higher than ever, and he knew he couldn’t afford to underestimate any of his fellow Tyrants.

A sudden knock at his door interrupted his thoughts. Ethan opened it to find Clara standing there, looking a bit flustered.

"Hey," she said, her voice softer than usual. "I heard about what happened in the meeting. Are you okay?"

Ethan gave her a reassuring smile. "I’m fine, Clara. Just some power plays and challenges. Nothing I don’t think can’t handle."

Clara stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "Still, you should be careful. Leon isn’t the only one who sees you as a threat. Some of the third and fourth years are already gunning for you. They see your rapid rise as... unfair."

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I can’t control what they think. All I can do is prove myself when the time comes."

Clara nodded; her blue eyes filled with concern. "Just promise me you won’t take unnecessary risks. I... we need you in one piece."

Ethan chuckled softly, reaching out to squeeze her hand. "I promise. Now, let’s focus on getting ready for the outing. We have a lot of training to do."

Clara smiled, the tension easing from her shoulders. "Alright, let’s do this. Together."

As they began discussing their strategy for the upcoming outing, Ethan couldn’t shake the feeling that the next few months were going to be a turning point—not just for him, but for everyone in the academy.

...

Ethan stared up in space with Harley and Clara sleeping on his left and right respectively in extremely tempting night wears. His face was filled with a bit of concern.

*What’s bothering you? *

’You can’t read my mind?’

*Not anymore. *

’Now that’s some good news.’

*Tch! So, will you tell me? *

’Actually, I’m just a bit concerned about my beasts. I can’t summon them, and they don’t respond to me.’

*It’s pretty simple though. Angitia is going through the final stages of her evolution and Galeno is going through a metamorphosis. *

’I can understand Angitia’s but Galeno? Why? How?’

*Do you remember how Galeno became your spirit beast? *

’Yes. I remember everything perfectly.’

*And what about how he became your companion? *

’Yes. How has that got anything to do with his metamorphosis?’

*All of it. Galeno is going through a metamorphosis because he came into the picture when you evolved. What he’s going through would shape him into becoming a full-blown spirit beast of a Blood Primogenitor. Angitia didn’t experience that because, well your bond with her is very strong, so any evolution you go through would automatically change her but that’s not the case for Galeno. You will see they wake up. *

’Mm. By the way, why haven’t I been going to the Beast Plane lately?’

*Figured you would ask. That is because you’ve been temporarly banned from there. *

’Why?’

*You spent more time than you were supposed to. *

’If I recall correctly, you were the cause of my overstay.’

*Good bye! Sweet dreams. *

’Hey wait!’

*...*

...

The academy’s training grounds were bustling with the eager chatter of students, their excitement palpable as they assembled under the scorching midday sun. The field stretched wide, surrounded by tall oak trees that whispered in the breeze, offering the only semblance of relief from the sweltering heat. The sky was clear, with the sun casting down harsh rays, and the air was thick with anticipation.

Ethan stood at the center of the field, his short red hair glinting like fire under the sun. His green eyes, sharp and intense, scanned the faces of the assembled second-year students. Today was their training day, and he had a point to prove. Dressed in the academy’s standard training uniform, he wore only the white tank top, revealing the black serpent tattoo that coiled menacingly around his muscular left arm. The serpent’s eyes seemed to shimmer, almost as if it were alive, drawing the attention of more than a few onlookers.

With a deep breath, Ethan stepped forward. His voice was calm but carried a weight of authority that commanded silence.

"Alright, listen up!" he began, his tone brokering no room for disobedience. "This is your training time. But I know not all of you believe in my leadership. I see the doubt in your eyes. I hear the whispers behind my back." His gaze swept over the crowd, making several students shift uncomfortably.

"If any of you question my ability, my strength—step forward now," he declared, his eyes flashing a dangerous shade of blue for just a moment. "We can settle it here and now. A mock duel. No holds barred."

A tense silence followed, the challenge hanging in the air like a storm cloud. For a moment, it seemed like no one would take him up on his offer. Then, a figure pushed his way through the crowd.

Jerry. He was thin, almost wiry, with bushy brown hair that stuck out in wild tufts. His black eyes gleamed with a mixture of defiance and excitement. He wore the full academy tracksuit, zipped up to his neck, the wind around him subtly swirling as if responding to his presence.

"I’ll take you on, Ethan," Jerry said, his voice sharp with challenge. "I’ve heard enough of your boasting. Let’s see if you can actually back it up."

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Ethan’s lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile. "Very well, Jerry," he replied. "Let’s see what you’ve got."

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The students quickly formed a wide circle, giving the two duelists ample space. The tension was electric, every eye fixed on the two figures in the center.

...

Jerry wasted no time. He immediately tapped into his Wind affinity, the air around him swirling faster until it became a visible vortex. With a swift motion, he thrust his hand forward, sending a powerful gust of wind blasting toward Ethan. The force was enough to knock a lesser opponent off their feet.

But Ethan stood his ground, his muscles tensing as he braced himself. He didn’t use any Psychic powers yet; instead, he relied purely on his physical prowess. With a quick sidestep, he evaded the wind blast, the air whistling past him as it missed by inches.

"Is that all you’ve got?" Ethan taunted, his voice carrying over the howling wind.

Jerry’s eyes narrowed. "Not even close." With a quick spin, he summoned a barrage of wind blades, sharp enough to cut through flesh. The blades shot toward Ethan like a swarm of angry hornets.

Ethan smirked and dropped into a low stance. His movements were fluid, almost graceful, as he dodged each wind blade with a combination of swift footwork and martial arts prowess. The students watching could barely keep up with his speed.

But Ethan wasn’t done. As the last blade whizzed past him, he lunged forward, closing the distance between him and Jerry in an instant. His fist shot out in a powerful punch aimed at Jerry’s midsection.

Jerry barely had time to react. He managed to summon a gust of wind to cushion the blow, but the force still sent him skidding back several feet, his sneakers leaving trails in the dirt.

...

Ethan decided it was time to show Jerry the true extent of his abilities. His eyes flashed blue, and for a brief moment, everything seemed to go silent. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he used Telekinesis. Jerry was lifted off the ground, suspended in mid-air as if held by invisible hands.

"What the—?!" Jerry struggled, but it was no use. The Psychic hold was too strong. Ethan smirked, enjoying the look of surprise on his opponent’s face.

"What’s wrong, Jerry?" Ethan taunted. "You wanted a fight. Here it is."

With a casual flick, Ethan sent Jerry hurtling through the air, crashing into the ground with a bone-jarring thud. But Jerry was not out yet. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself up, blood trickling from a cut on his forehead.

"You’ll regret that," Jerry growled. He called upon his Wind affinity, summoning a tornado around himself. The vortex grew larger, the wind howling like a feral beast, lifting debris from the ground. The crowd gasped, some students stepping back as the sheer force of the wind threatened to pull them in.

But Ethan stood his ground, completely unfazed. He reached out with his mind, his eyes glowing an even brighter shade of blue. With a wave of his hand, he used Telepathy, sending a powerful mental shockwave toward Jerry, disrupting his concentration.

The tornado wavered, then collapsed, leaving Jerry exposed. Ethan didn’t waste the opportunity. He flashed behind Jerry in a blink, his fist already swinging. The punch connected with Jerry’s jaw, sending him sprawling.

Jerry was battered, bruised, but not broken. He staggered to his feet, wiping blood from his mouth. "I’m not done yet!" he roared, summoning a massive wind dragon that surged forward, jaws wide open.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed. This was a good move, but it was still no match for his Psychic powers. With a calm, focused gaze, he extended both hands, using Telekinesis to grab hold of the wind dragon. It thrashed and twisted, but Ethan held firm, bending it to his will.

With a grunt of effort, Ethan crushed the wind dragon into nothingness, the air dispersing in a violent burst. Jerry’s eyes widened in shock, realizing he was out of tricks.

Ethan moved like lightning, closing the distance between them. This time, he didn’t hold back. He unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, each one landing with brutal precision. Jerry tried to counter, but Ethan was too fast, too strong.

With a final, devastating uppercut, Ethan sent Jerry flying back, his body skidding across the ground. Jerry lay there, gasping for breath, unable to move.

Ethan stood over him, his eyes still glowing faintly. "Do you yield?" he asked, his voice cold.

Jerry, panting heavily, nodded weakly. "I... yield..."

A cheer erupted from the crowd, the students clapping and shouting in awe. Ethan turned away, the blue in his eyes fading back to green as he released his Psychic hold.

"Let this be a lesson," Ethan called out to the crowd. "Strength comes not just from power, but from knowing how to use it. If any of you still doubt me, remember this duel."

The students were silent, their respect for Ethan solidified. He had proven his strength, his leadership beyond question. And as they dispersed, the whispers of doubt were replaced with murmurs of admiration.

Ethan took a deep breath, his body relaxing as he felt the adrenaline begin to fade. He had made his point. But in the back of his mind, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The academy was a place of learning, of growth, but also of hidden challenges. And he was ready for whatever came next.

With one final look at the fallen Jerry, Ethan turned and walked towards the center of the training grounds with eight other students following behind him, papers in their hands with a look of nervousness, fear and respect.