Return of the Mythic Bloodline-Chapter 365: Thunderbanes vs Rockbanes

"Which sect do you select for the next round?" Javier asked.

The Thunderbanes, who had been trembling in fear over what Lucifer would do to them once they returned to the Sect, snapped out of their daze at Javier’s question.

"Shit! Since we are going to die, let’s give it our all," Cedric announced, clenching his fist.

"H-he has already given up on life?" Rowan shuddered inwardly but did not voice his thoughts, as he was feeling the same dread because of the devil sitting below.

Turning to Javier, Cedric declared, "We wish to face the Flowerbanes next."

"Oh, they called for us," one of the Flowerbanes standing beside Ume and Lucifer said.

Turning to Ume, she asked with a sly smile, "Sister Kitsune, whom will you support between the Thunderbanes and the Flowerbanes?"

"I... I will support L-Lucifer," Ume replied with a faint blush that only made Lucifer smile.

"T-that is treason against the Flowerbane Sect," the disciple gasped.

"Do not tease Sister Kitsune anymore. She is just supporting her man," the other beside her chuckled before they all stepped onto the stage.

Once they left, Ume moved closer to Lucifer and whispered in his ear, "I can sense Nymeria’s father’s attention fixed on us. He must have realized that I am not human." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"I can feel his gaze as well," Lucifer replied. "Could it be possible that he has discovered my identity?"

"No, he can only sense something strange about your Soulforce, but he cannot detect your identity," Ume informed him.

While Ume and Lucifer were conversing, the arena once again filled with cheers as the Thunderbanes began clashing with the beautiful yet deadly disciples of the Flowerbanes.

After an hour of battle, the Flowerbane Sect was eliminated as well. However, the Thunderbanes did not remain unscathed either.

They had lost four more disciples, reducing their number to ten.

The Snowbanes were the next sect they decided to challenge.

Unlike before, when they had claimed victory with minor injuries, the battle against the Snowbanes left several of them severely wounded or utterly exhausted.

It was also the most intense clash so far, with neither side willing to yield.

Yet through sheer willpower, shocking everyone present, the Thunderbanes claimed victory by a narrow margin, extending their winning streak to four.

However, only two disciples of the Thunderbanes, Cedric and Rowan, remained on the stage, and they too seemed ready to faint at any moment.

---

"Master Robert, what kind of training did you give them?" Barbatos pried with his usual sly smile. "They even managed to defeat the Snowbanes, who are on par with the Rockbanes and Flamebanes."

Not just him, the rest of the Sect Masters were also curious about the drastic transformation of the Thunderbanes.

It felt as though the Sect was beginning to rise toward its former glory.

"So beating really helps in molding warriors," Robert murmured inwardly. "I shall make this training method official and inform the other Hall Masters as well."

---

"Ugh... I suddenly felt a chill down my spine," Cedric muttered. "Something ominous is surely bound to happen."

"Since you have won four rounds, you can invite three eliminated participants from your team as well as a Core Disciple for the next match. Remember, the Core Disciple can only assist you for one round," Javier announced from the sky.

Cedric invited back the three subordinates who had stayed with him the most and were also the most skillful among the Inner Court disciples.

As for the Core Disciple, shockingly, they did not invite any.

"Do you truly not wish to request the assistance of a Core Disciple?" Javier asked. Although he remained neutral as the host of the competition, he did not wish for the Thunderbanes to lose in the second-to-last round because of their stubbornness after the effort they had put in to reach this stage. "The remaining two sects contain the strongest Inner Court disciples. You cannot possibly win against them with just five members."

"I challenge the Rockbane Sect for the next round," Cedric announced, completely ignoring Javier’s advice.

Javier frowned at Cedric’s blatant disregard for his suggestion. However, he quickly concealed his discontent and ordered the Rockbanes to take the stage.

Unlike the other sects, each of which had more than twenty Inner Court disciples, the Rockbane Sect had only ten.

The reason was their low population and the extremely difficult test required to become an Inner Court disciple. Therefore, their strength could not be underestimated in the slightest.

---

"Master Robert, your disciples have performed well up to this round," Titan said, his arms folded. "However, they are being too arrogant if they believe that five exhausted disciples can defeat the ten Inner Court disciples of the Rockbane Sect."

"It is their decision, Lord Titan," Robert replied, his aged voice carrying suppressed anger whenever he spoke to Titan. "I will not become a hindrance to their growth."

Robert’s words drew the attention of every leader seated in the high tower, as they clearly understood the intent behind them. If these five disciples somehow managed to defeat the Rockbanes and invite a Core Disciple in the final round, they might actually stand a chance of winning the tournament. It would be a historic victory and the official comeback of the Thunderbanes as the potential strongest sect among the seven sects.

---

As soon as the Rockbanes’ name was called, another small platform rose from the ground beside the main stage, reaching its level. All ten Rockbanes stood upon it, each over six feet tall and built with muscular physiques.

"The fifth round begins!"

This time, instead of remaining passive, the Thunderbanes were the ones who charged at their opponents. From the very beginning, they adopted an aggressive approach, each unleashing lethal lightning attacks.

However, the Rockbanes responded instantly, raising thick dirt walls from the stage below.

As soon as Cedric and his subordinates’ attacks were blocked, the Rockbanes punched and kicked through the earthen walls, sending the Thunderbanes tumbling across the platform.

One of them could not stop himself and fell from the stage, getting eliminated in the very first exchange.

Yet Cedric, Rowan, and the remaining two did not back down. They immediately rose to their feet and charged at their opponents even more aggressively than before.

The arena echoed with thunderous bursts of lightning as they fought like berserkers, taking attacks head-on while unleashing even more violent strikes of their own.

"Why do you push yourself so hard?" Draven of the Rockbanes asked Cedric, curiosity laced in his voice as his hand, clad in thick iron gloves, clashed against Cedric’s lightning whip. "What is driving you to continue fighting when half your bones are already broken? It cannot be for a mere tournament."

"You are wrong. I just want to win the tournament," Cedric replied between heavy breaths as he continued lashing the whip at Draven.

At first, Cedric’s driving force had indeed been to win the tournament. However, as he pushed himself further and further, somewhere along the way, his motivation shifted to something else.

After every victory, he would glance at Lucifer to observe his reaction. Each time, Lucifer maintained an unreadable expression, as if their victories did not affect him in the slightest. This infuriated Cedric. His blood boiled at how unbothered Lucifer appeared by their triumphs.

Yet beneath that intense rage lay another feeling, one of sadness at Lucifer’s indifference to their performance.

During the intense month of training, Lucifer had unknowingly become an idol to Cedric. His respect for Lucifer, an outsider, had grown even greater than the respect he held for his own brother.

He hated to admit it, but he knew it was true.

He wanted to be acknowledged by Lucifer.

Not just him, but every Thunderbane felt the same. This had become their sole driving force in the tournament.

"So you do not wish to tell me," Draven sighed, stepping back several paces.

In a slow, precise motion, Draven raised his hands upward and muttered,

"Hundred Spear Ascension!"

In an instant, a hundred sharp spears materialized from the ground around Cedric and shot upward.

Clenching his teeth, Cedric swung the whip in a desperate attempt to block the earthen spears. However, there were too many.

A few pierced through his arms and legs, splattering his blood across the floor.

"You might have won if you were not exhausted, Cedric," Draven sighed. "The Thunderbanes cannot win this tournament."

Barely conscious, his entire body screaming for rest, Cedric glanced at Lucifer below. Still the same unreadable expression.

Veins bulged across his forehead as his grip tightened around the lightning whip and he roared, "This pathetic attack is nothing compared to the beatings of Senior Brother Lucifer. This is not enough to defeat me!"

A sudden surge of crimson lightning erupted from his body, making the whip larger and far more violent.

"Lightning Whip: Hundred Slash!"

The whip swung unpredictably toward Draven. He immediately formed walls around himself, yet the violent strikes shattered them before lashing onto him.

It was not only Draven who suffered from the unpredictable lightning strikes. The entire stage was engulfed in the attack, striking Thunderbanes and Rockbanes alike.

One after another, both Rockbanes and Thunderbanes were hurled off the stage, leaving only Draven and Cedric standing.

Both were at the edge of the platform, severely wounded and utterly exhausted.

"T-the attack was amazing, Cedric," Draven muttered as he threw a punch. "However, you could not control it properly."

"I... I will... m-make him... acknowledge me!" Cedric muttered, striking back with even greater intensity.

However, Draven, being physically stronger, easily endured the blow.

Realizing Draven’s advantage when the next punch landed squarely on his face, nearly sending him off the edge, Cedric clenched his teeth. With every last ounce of strength his battered body could muster, he surged forward, locked Draven in a tight grip, and hurled himself off the platform with him.

"Y-you reckless Thunderbane!" Draven shouted mid-air as Cedric pushed himself on his feet against Draven’s falling body.

Just as the duo was about to hit the ground, a water bubble materialized beneath them, cushioning the impact of their fall.

---

A/N: Hello, readers!!

February has ended with 104 Golden Tickets and 500+ privilege Chapter unlocks, the highest milestone the novel has ever reached. I am truly happy that all of you are enjoying the story and showering it with so much love.

Now for March, I have a few challenges for you. Achieve them and earn extra Chapters!

1. Normal days: 1 or 2 Chapters released.

2. Every 25 Golden Tickets: 3 Chapters release instead of 2.

3. Reach Top 100 in Golden Ranking by the end of the month: 5-Chapter mass release.

4. Luxury Car: 3-Chapter mass release.

5. Dragon: 5-Chapter mass release.

6. Magic Castle: 8-Chapter mass release within 24 hours.

7. Spaceship (I suggest not sending such an expensive gift): 12-Chapter mass release within 36 hours.

8. Golden Gachapon (Again, it is too expensive to spend so much on a novel): 20-Chapter mass release within 48 hours.