Beyond the Bloodline-Chapter 255: A Lesson in Recklessness

Jamie could end the battle in seconds, but this was their fight. The teens needed the experience, and he wasn’t going to rob them of it.

Still, when a wolf broke through the line and lunged at one of the adventurers, Jamie sighed and flicked his fingers, sending it flying back into the fray.

The battle raged on, the adventurers struggling to hold their ground. Eryan was visibly frustrated, his attacks wild and inefficient. Despite his strength, his lack of strategy was costing them.

"You fool, fall back!"

Davina shouted as she stabbed an elf to death, her blood lightning surging out to cover the gap in their defensive line, but Eryan only snapped at her.

"You-! I don’t need your help!"

He charged forward recklessly and the Ice elves noticed this and capitalized on it, surrounding him within seconds.

Seeing this, David, cursed under his breath.

"We’ve got to save him, don’t we?"

"Unfortunately."

Wanette responded as she placed her hands on the twins’ backs and buffed them. A second later, they shot forward, cutting through the elves with the explosive combination of fire and lightning.

They reached Eryan just as an elf raised its spear to attack him from behind. David’s spear intercepted the blow, the Wanette’s runes on it flaring as he pushed the elf back.

"You’re welcome."

He spoke as he swung her spear and sliced the elf’s head off, before glancing at the rest and speaking.

"Unique Skill: Infernal Bloodfire."

David stabbed his spear into the ground and the snow beneath the elves erupted with flaming geysers that consumed them all. At the same time, Davina snapped her fingers and lightning rained down from above, colliding with the flames and igniting into a bright explosion that burned dozens of elves to death.

When the last of the elves were defeated by David and Davina’s combo, the group regrouped around the monolith.

"Great plan, idiot."

Davina shot at Eryan, and though the man wanted to retort, the glares from David and Wanette made him take a step back.

Davina ignored the scowling man and turned to the rest of the Iron Fang Guild adventurers, placing her hand on her hip as she spoke.

"Is anyone else going to address the fact that we just barely survived because of some people’s recklessness?"

"Recklessness is putting it lightly. We’re lucky we didn’t lose anyone."

David followed up after she spoke and seeing this, Jamie teleported behind them and chimed in.

"Oh, don’t worry about it. Eryan was just giving us a learning experience. Right, Eryan?"

Eryan snapped his head back toward Jamie, his jaw tightening.

"If you’ve got a problem, say it to my face."

Davina’s brow twitched at his response, but Jamie’s smile didn’t waver one bit.

"Problem? Me? Nah. I think you’re doing great, champ."

Jamie’s reply melted away Davina’s annoyance a little bit as she stifled a laugh, but before she could refocus on the matter at hand, Wanette spoke up.

"Guys, the storm’s coming in here."

This clearing that was previously free from the ice storm’s influence was now beginning to be encroached. What’s more, it was clear that the storm behind them was intensifying, so unless they wanted to get caught up in that, they had no choice but to keep moving forward and outpace it.

But even though the storm behind was bad, the snow up ahead was no joke either. It made progress slow and exhausting, and the cold was getting to the level where some of the adventurers began to have frostbite.

The Vampire trio had zero problems, though. David warmed himself and his sister with his flames, while Wanette used a heat rune on herself.

She did the same for some of the other frostbitten adventurers, earning looks of gratitude from them.

Not sparing them a second glance, she focused on the storm around them, noticing that its winds were growing sharper, enough to begin nicking the armour of some of the adventurers.

"That’s not natural."

Davina spoke as she noticed what Wanette had noticed and the amethyst-eyed vampire nodded and spoke.

"Magic. The spells are layered. It’s like they’re trying to lead us somewhere."

Wanette used magic to gauge their position and then called for the group to stop for a bit.

"I think the ice elves are trying to lead us somewhere. So how about we change directions to avoid whatever they have planned."

Changing directions in this snowstorm was a risk, but it was better than walking into an Elven trap.

Some people didn’t seem to think that way though.

"We can’t change directions. We’ll just cut through whatever trap they’ve set."

Hearing Eryan’s words, Jamie, who was cleaning the ice off a stone he picked up on the floor, looked up with an arched brow.

"That’s one way to handle it. Not the smart way, but a way."

Before Eryan could retort, the first arrow flew past them, embedding itself in the snow. It shimmered with blue light, and a moment later, a wall of ice erupted in front of them, cutting off their path.

More arrows followed, each one forming barriers of ice until they were completely surrounded.

Clearly, Wanette’s suggestion of them changing paths had caught the elves’ attention and they acted to prevent them from doing so.

Despite the tiredness in their bones from the snow and previous battles, the adventurers scrambled to form a defensive circle, weapons drawn.

Once again, the Ice Elves emerged from the snow, their pale skin blending with their environment.

"This is getting old."

Davina muttered, unsheathing her sword and David nodded, his spear glowing as he summoned his blood flames.

"Stay close."

Just as he said that, Eryan did the opposite. He charged forward without waiting for a plan, his sword cutting through the nearest elf.

"Come on! Is this all you’ve got?"

Seeing him, Jamie laughed as he instantly predicted the man’s thoughts.

’He’s trying to redeem himself and regain his team members’ trust which dwindled after the stunt he pulled earlier...by pulling the same stunt again.’

He laughed again and the sound caused Davina to turn to him and ask.

"Are you going to help?"

She deflected an arrow with her blade right after she spoke, and Jamie sidestepped another arrow aimed at his head before responding.

"This is supposed to be your experience. But don’t worry, I’m here if it gets really bad."

Seeing no help was coming from Jamie, Davina turned back to the fight, moving along with her brother to attack.

"Cover me!"

David called out to her, leaping into the air and hurling a spear of blood flames at the elves. The fire burst on impact, scattering their ranks.

Davina responded to him by dashing forward and beheading the elves with her sword, a display that rallied the adventurers as they began to push back against the elves. Even Eryan managed to hold his own, though his attacks lacked the coordination of the siblings.

Wanette, who was focused on support in this battle, was the one with the most leeway to notice something strange.

The elves weren’t fighting to win— they were stalling.

She immediately turned behind them to see the approaching storm, and since it was now closer, she was able to stop a glowing orb of magic suspended in the sky.

It pulsed at regular intervals, and as it grew brighter, the storm intensified.

"So, what are you gonna do about it?"

Jamie’s voice came from beside her, and she turned to see the man watching her with an expectant gaze.

Without responding, she turned and headed towards Davina, informing her about it and turning the other vampire’s attention to the orb.

"You and David handle it, I’d deal with the elves."

Wanette drew her hand on Davina’s sword and dozens of magic nullifying and anti-ice runes appeared on the blade.

Nodding, Davina kicked off the ground and sprinted towards David. She then called out.

"David, boost me!"

"Where?!"

"The storm!"

David didn’t ask why she wanted to get tossed into the storm. He just knelt and cupped his hands, launching her into the air with a burst of flames. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

The Elves noticed this and launched arrows at her, but Wanette’s grimoire flashed and its pages flew out, forming shields that protected Davina from the arrows.

David picked up his spear and moved, attacking the elves with his flames and preventing them from firing more arrows.

Trusting the other two to cover her, Davina twisted mid-air, her lightning sword crackling with energy as she slashed at the orb.

The impact shattered the orb, and the storm immediately began to dissipate.