Ancestral Lineage-Chapter 130: Teleportation Gone Wrong?
The labyrinth grove lay bathed in a tranquil golden light, the kind that felt eternal, untouched by the passage of time. Towering trees with silver trunks and emerald leaves formed a natural cathedral, their canopies intertwined to create a mosaic of dappled sunlight. Crystal-clear streams meandered lazily through the verdant undergrowth, their soft murmurs harmonizing with the distant calls of unseen creatures. The air was cool and fragrant, rich with the earthy scent of moss and blooming wildflowers, and the occasional flutter of iridescent wings added a dreamlike quality to the scene.
It was a realm that exuded peace, as if no harm could ever touch it. Even the predators that lurked among the shadows moved with an almost reverent grace, their instincts dulled by the pervasive calm of the grove. Time seemed to stretch thin, holding its breath in the stillness.
But then, a strange hum disturbed the air, growing louder and sharper. It was an unnatural sound, piercing the serene ambiance like a blade.
In the center of a moss-laden clearing, the ground began to pulse with a faint green light. The hum intensified, drawing the attention of nearby creatures who paused in their motions, their luminous eyes fixed on the source of the disturbance. Leaves rustled as small animals darted away, sensing an oncoming shift in the grove’s delicate balance.
Without warning, the light erupted upward, spiraling into a vortex of energy that tore through the tranquility like a storm. The swirling green portal shimmered with unearthly brilliance, casting eerie shadows against the silver trunks and bathing the clearing in an otherworldly glow. Its edges crackled with energy, sending shockwaves through the air that caused the trees to groan and the streams to ripple violently.
The grove’s peace shattered as the portal widened, a gaping maw against the serene backdrop, and from its depths came the first echoes of movement.
Ethan stepped out of the portal with his hands in his pockets and a carefree expression on his face only for it to be replaced with confusion.
"Did the teleportation go wrong?" He asked aloud but only the silver trunks of the trees stared back at him like he was a fool. Even the small birds had stopped singing and staring at him with mocking expressions.
"Hey! What the hell is going on?!" He shouted, ignoring the silence of the place.
*It seems something or someone had messed up with your teleportation. * The system’s robotic voice chimed in.
"I can actually see that, thank you." Ethan responded sarcastically.
*I’m just doing my job. *
"Really?"
*Try and contact any of your subordinates for confirmation. *
"Now you are helping... wait, why didn’t I think of this before?"
*Idiot! *
"Fuck you!"
Ethan tapped on the small button that was stuck to his uniform like a sticker only for a red holographic screen with a huge, blinking "ERROR!" on it.
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*It seems they messed with more than just your teleportation. *
"I can see that!... Wait, telepathy. Let’s see if I can contact them. System, can you calculate our distance based on the telepathic communication?"
*Yes. *
"Good." Ethan’s eyes glowed a pale silver color as tried contacting one of the girls.
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The second years had teleported safely into the Grove. They stood amidst the dense, ethereal forest, its towering trees glimmering faintly under the soft light of bioluminescent flora. The air was crisp, filled with the mingling scents of damp earth and magic. For a moment, the students marveled at the serene beauty of their surroundings, their earlier tension dissolving into awe.
But amidst the sprawling grove’s beauty lay whispers of something darker. Their arrival had been unmarked by incident, but rumors of hidden dangers in the labyrinth had cast long shadows over their anticipation. Whispers of an ancient, forbidden domain known as the Obsidian Caves stirred among the group like a ghostly breeze. Few knew its exact location, but its name alone carried a weight that silenced even the most boastful among them.
As the students dispersed into their respective teams, one group wandered toward a peculiar sight—a jagged fissure in the earth, partially obscured by the dense underbrush. The opening was narrow and unassuming, but a faint, rhythmic pulse emanated from within, resonating with the very air around it. It was a sensation that prickled at the edges of their awareness, neither threatening nor inviting, but undeniably alive.
"What is that?" one of the students whispered, their voice hushed as if afraid to disturb the strange stillness around them.
Derrick Griswold, stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he inspected the fissure. "It looks like... an entrance," he said, though his tone betrayed a flicker of unease.
The group approached cautiously; their footsteps muffled by the soft moss underfoot. As they drew closer, the faint glow from within the fissure became more pronounced. It wasn’t the warm, golden light of the Grove’s natural magic, but a cold, silvery radiance that seemed to reject the warmth of the world above.
One of the students reached out a hand, brushing aside the vines that partially concealed the opening. The moment they touched the obsidian surface of the rock, a shock of energy surged through the air, making them recoil in alarm. The pulse grew stronger, resonating in their bones like the toll of a distant bell.
"Let’s not linger here," Derrick said, his voice steady but firm. He gestured for the group to retreat, but as they turned to leave, a low rumble echoed from deep within the fissure. It was faint, barely more than a murmur, but it carried an unmistakable weight, like the stirring of something ancient and immense.
...
Harley was worried as she looked around for any sign of Ethan which was really uncalled for, considering how tall the guy was, but she was very worried. Harley wasn’t the only one though, Jerry and Kira King, a cute dark-skinned girl with long wavy dark brown hair whom Ethan had taken a liking to were all looking for any signs of him with clear worry on their faces. Even the other students were showing confused faces. Ethan was supposed to lead this team. Did the overseers make a mistake or what?
As Harley climbed a large rock, a silver rune appeared on her forehead, and she heard Ethan’s voice.
’Harley? Do you hear me?’
’Babe? Where are you? I’m very worried now.’
’Honey, listen. I somehow ended up somewhere different from you and the device isn’t working so I don’t know where I am currently. I also don’t have much time because the distance seems very far. I want you to take charge of the team and secure a safe place before nightfall. I can track the telepathic seal I placed on you and will try to reach you as soon as I can. If possible, inform the others about this. I will try to reach you soon.’
’But I’m just a caretaker. They wouldn’t possibly listen to me.’
’You are right. Tell Jerry to take over. Tell him to use force, if necessary, he’s strong enough for that.’
’Mm. I will inform him. Be careful, please.’
’I will. I still have to get to you, my love.’
’Stop flirting and hurry up. I love you.’
’I love you more.’
The telepathic conversation with Ethan ended just like that, leaving Harley with more questions than answers. How and why was this happening and to Ethan of all people?
She decided to keep them to herself and called Jerry over. She had to look strong for her one and only.
"Ethan just contacted. He said you should take over and find camp. Use force if necessary and don’t hold back." Harley said to Jerry with a straight face.
"Yes, my queen." Jerry answered while bowing, his now braided grey hair swaying slightly.
"Huh?" Harley was confused at his gesture.
"I can sense the unique aura of my Lord around you. He still protects even though he is far away."
"I don’t get you."
"The lovers of my Lord and King are essentially my queens. It is right I call you that."
"Okay..." Harley was really speechless. The quiet and calm boy she had noticed since she joined them was something else altogether. She made up her mind to question Ethan the next time he contacted her.
"My Lord doesn’t want death otherwise I would’ve killed all those looking at you with their lecherous eyes." Jerry suddenly said in a chilly tone which resounded in the vicinity like the voice of the death reaper. The air suddenly became chilly and suffocating, causing everyone to instinctively shiver with the exception of Harley and the vampires among them, who only felt awe and the new presence of a king albeit weaker than Ethan.
"Jerry, relax. They can’t do anything to me. Let them have imaginations." Harley said to Jerry, whose eyes were glowing a dangerous red and a chilly silver.
"I hear you my queen but if any of them tries anything, I will cripple them." Jerry said loud for everyone to hear. Although Jerry had changed a lot after his transformation, the old Jerry was still underneath. The ruthless and dangerous Jerry was just hiding behind this facade of a gentle and transformed Jerry and if any horny pig much as tried to talk to Harley, the person would cry tears of blood.
"Alright listen up! My Lord, Ethan has kept me in charge. You can follow me if you want, I won’t force anyone. But I won’t be as benevolent as my Lord and allow you trample on his orders. If you try anything stupid, I won’t hesitate to put you back in your place and I mean it." Jerry said in a cold, emotionless tone with his eyes glowing. Although most couldn’t understand the Lord part, they understood that the guy wasn’t joking, and no one wanted to try it out.
