Beyond the Bloodline-Chapter 303: Narrow Escape

The moment Wanete activated her teleportation spell, the ground beneath her began to glow.

Not just beneath her—the entire warehouse floor lit up with the brilliance of a Tier 6 magic circle.

Wanete’s Tier 4 Teleportation Magic Circle was overpowered by the Superior Tier 6 Greater Teleportation Magic Circle. It dominated the surrounding space, shattering hers and causing a spell backlash.

Her body was temporarily frozen, blood trickling from her nose as her magic power surged backwards.

When she finally regained control, the Tier 6 Magic circle had already activated, and a new presence appeared in the warehouse.

The moment Wanete felt the new arrival’s presence, her heart stopped for a second. Her breath hitched as an overwhelming aura filled the space around her.

’Deity!’

This new arrival was most definitely a Deity Realm Existence.

The realization sent every survival instinct she had into overdrive. The pressure emanating from this arrival gave her the same terrifying feeling she got from Higher Existences.

’Damn it! I need to get out of here!’

She was just about to activate one of her trump cards when her last shred of rational thought broke through her fear-consumed mind, stopping her in her tracks.

That was when she noticed something strange about this Deity.

They’d been around for over five seconds, and yet, they still hadn’t noticed her.

Secondly, while the presence carried the oppressive weight of a Higher Existence, its aura felt... off.

’Wait... it’s just like Grandfather’s!’

Wanete recalled her last meeting with her grandfather, Waldron Vespera III, and the way the man had contacted her. He had used magic power to create a projection of himself from the moon to Estea.

While a tangible manifestation, it lacked even a tenth of his full power.

This unknown deity felt the same.

’No... as far as I know, a projection wouldn’t need to teleport, but this one just did. That means it must be an Avatar.’

Coming to this conclusion, Wanete took a deep breath to calm herself, then considered her options.

’Alright, Wanete Vespera, think.

You can either use your trump card and escape—risking discovery in the process—or you can stay hidden and wait until they leave.’

It didn’t take long to make her decision.

’I’ll wait out the storm.’

Keeping herself pressed against the boxes, she peeked through the narrow gap, careful not to directly stare at the deity.

A sweeping glance was enough for her to take in their appearance, and she noticed the twenty others kneeling before him, while the officer quickly joined them in fear.

The deity—Orikar—was a tall and lean man, draped in a long, hooded cloak. The skin visible beneath his long sleeves was sickly pale.

Wanete couldn’t see his face under his hood, nor did she attempt to, knowing that if she were able to do so, it meant she had been detected.

’Don’t move an inch. Don’t use a single hint of magic power.’

She repeated the mantra in her head, knowing full well that if Orikar so much as turned in her general direction, he would sense her immediately.

Just then, the warehouse door swung open and a new figure stepped inside, their face masked and hood drawn.

They pulled back the hood after shutting the door behind them, glancing at Orikar before chuckling.

"Well, well. And here I was wondering who it might be. To think it was one of the Council of Summoners’ best!"

They ran a hand through their messy, dirty-blonde hair, laughing.

"So, why’d you call me here right after the free-for-all? I do need to rest and prepare for the Round of 32, you know?"

For the first time since his arrival, Orikar finally spoke.

"I’ll keep this short."

Without wasting a second, Orikar went straight to the point.

"I’m sure you know about the Hero Sylvastion’s role in sealing the Dimensional Gate used by the Xelvan invaders centuries years ago."

The blonde man’s expression remained neutral behind his mask, but the mention of Sylvastion caught his attention.

"It’s not something that many know about, but the location of the gate the public believes in is a fake. The real sealed gate lies beneath the arena that you just fought in."

The blonde man blinked in surprise at Orikar’s words.

"Under the arena?"

"Yes. Every year, during the tournament, the Stellar Keystone is used to reinforce the seal.

The cover story is that it’s a reward for the tournament, but that’s just a reason to justify moving such a powerful artifact. The real purpose in taking it out from the Royal Family’s vault every year is to maintain the seal beneath the arena, a seal that keeps the gate from opening."

The blonde man’s expression shifted into a mix of disbelief and intrigue.

"You’re telling me that the Keystone is being used to keep a gate sealed? And it’s been in plain sight the whole time?"

"Yes."

Orikar responded without a shift in his tone and the blonde man’s brows furrowed.

"Where did you get this information?"

Orikar’s voice was calm, almost detached, as he replied, "You would only learn the source of that information if you agree to help us."

Brows still furrowed, the blonde man asked, "Help you? Help you with what?"

Orikar’s expression remained unreadable as he began to explain his intentions.

"The war that sealed the gate also caused the loss of many powerful summoning techniques. The knowledge to control such powers was lost, along with the techniques themselves.

I intend to change that."

"Change that?" the blonde man scoffed. "Are you telling me you want to reopen the Dimensional Gate?"

"Exactly. My goal is to reopen the gate using the Stellar Keystone’s power."

The blonde man’s eyes widened in disbelief, and he shouted in response.

"You’re insane! Reopening it will invite invaders all over again! You’re playing with fire!"

Orikar remained unfazed by the outburst. Instead, he calmly tossed a stack of aged papers in the man’s direction. The sheets fluttered in the air before landing in a scattered mess at his feet.

"Look, those are records from the war era. The Hero Sylvastion used the Stellar Keystone to open gates to other worlds—worlds from which he called forth his famed summons.

The records state that the Keystone has the power to control who can enter and leave through the otherworld portals he created.

It can limit what comes through the gate."

The blonde man crouched down and began flipping through the papers, a deep furrow creasing his forehead.

"So you’re saying we can control who comes through... even stop the invaders? And get what we need without them being able to do anything about it?"

"Yes. We can go inside, get what we want, and leave before they even realize the gate was ever reopened.

But for the gate to be reopened in the first place, a certain amount of magic power is needed."

Hearing Orikar’s response, the blonde man glanced around the warehouse, his eyes narrowing as realization dawned on him.

"So that’s what all these boxes are for... Magic stones?"

"Yes and no."

Orikar responded, his lips curling into a small smile.

"Since we view you as a future ally, I’ll share some of the truth with you.

This is the magic power extracted from all the summons who were eliminated in the Tournament yesterday. Of course, if you join us, even if you are eliminated, your summon’s magic won’t be stolen."

The blonde man frowned when he heard this. Even though his face was masked, it was obvious he was annoyed by the insinuation that he might lose in the tournament.

Ignoring his reaction, Orikar continued speaking.

"Your summons possess unique abilities that will be essential for exploring the other side of the gate—and ensuring our return. That’s why we need your aid."

Still frowning behind his mask, the blonde man dropped the papers in his hands and replied.

"I feel like there’s more you’re not telling me."

"Of course. There are things I can’t disclose until you’ve joined us."

A heavy silence followed Orikar’s response, and after a moment, the man turned away.

"I’ll take a rain check on this."

Upon hearing his response, Orikar’s lackeys frowned, their bodies tensing as if ready to chase after him, but Orikar lifted a hand to stop them.

"Let him go."

Reluctantly, the lackeys backed down, though their expressions showed their dissatisfaction. As the door swung shut behind the departing figure, Orikar’s gaze turned towards them.

"Don’t lose sight of the true goal here."

His words hinted at a deeper, hidden agenda. Clearly, what he’d told the blonde man wasn’t all there was to it.

Then, shifting his focus, Orikar turned to one of his subordinates and ordered.

"Contact our supporter within the Royal Family."

The Royal Family he referred to was naturally that of the entire planet Kaelithis—the family of the Planet Lord.

The subordinate quickly set up a video projection call, and soon, a hologram of a humanoid figure appeared, their body obscured by a mosaic.

The other party was about to speak, but Orikar beat them to it.

"Despite the nuisance that newcomer is causing, the plan doesn’t change. When I win the tournament today, I’ll use the Stellar Keystone to achieve our goal."

The distorted figure gave no immediate response, waiting instead for Orikar to continue.

"Don’t forget our deal. You’ll control the Xelvan Army as you wish to usurp the throne, while I’ll take their knowledge and the lost summoning techniques."

The figure nodded slowly, and their voice, masked by a mechanical filter, finally responded.

[And what of the intruder? The one disrupting the tournament? He is not ordinary.]

Orikar’s brows furrowed. He had been thinking the same thing, but he refused to let his irritation show.

"He is troublesome, but not invincible," Orikar said dismissively. "If need be, I’ll call special summons that are more than capable of tearing him apart."

There was a brief pause before the figure spoke again.

|Underestimating a variable is how plans fail, Orikar. You should prepare contingencies. Our goal is too close to risk failure now.|

"I have contingencies," Orikar reassured in response.

"The tournament is just one means to an end. If things go wrong, I can still forcefully extract the Keystone’s power through a controlled ritual. It won’t be as stable, but it will serve its purpose."

The figure remained quiet for a moment, then spoke in a lower, measured tone.

|Good. I will ensure the Palace does not interfere for now, but you must handle the tournament. Succeed, and the throne will be within my grasp.|

Orikar smirked. "Then we both get what we want."

|Indeed. Keep me informed. If the situation worsens, I may have to adjust my own actions.|

The transmission abruptly cut out, and the hologram flickered away.

Orikar sighed, then expanded his magic power in preparation to teleport out of the warehouse.

But the moment he did, his expression twisted beneath his hood.

"What? A rat?!"

Hearing this, Wanete’s blood turned cold and she immediately poured her magic power into her grimoire.

’Absolute Escape—Return: Davina Evangelista!’

A magic circle materialized above the grimoire’s open pages, but before the spell could take effect, the boxes she’d been hiding behind suddenly exploded into splinters.

A massive surge of magic power gripped her body and slammed her against the warehouse wall.

It felt like an invisible hand was choking her, and as gasped, struggling to free herself, she heard Orikar’s questioning voice.

"What? A Vampire?"

Wanete’s mouth had fallen open in her desperate attempt to breathe, revealing her fangs—enough for Orikar to instantly recognize her race.

His gaze shifted downward, landing on her grimoire on the floor, where a magic circle hovered above it.

The moment his attention shifted from her, Wanete forced two words out of her mouth.

"Grimoire... Sacrifice!"

Instantly, a third of the grimoire’s pages ignited in flames. Powerful spatial energy enveloped her body, and before Orikar could crush her neck with his telekinetic grip, Wanete vanished.