Bloodline Evolution: I Can Choose Opposing Paths-Chapter 92: Permission Granted

"It’s almost like they’re sleepwalking..." Daniel yelled out, though it was hard to even hear what he was saying past the song.

More of them were starting to move now. Aren’s jaw tightened.

"...We can’t let them get any closer."

"Emily!" he yelled out loudly. "Play loud white noise into both our earpieces!"

"And call the authorities!"

"On it!" Emily replied quickly from the other side.

White noise started playing from his ears, just barely loud enough not to have the song affect them too much.

But it was clear that something was still wrong. Aren blinked hard as he tried to focus on the stage. The Siren’s body seemed just slightly off from where it actually was. His movements felt delayed, like his reactions were lagging behind the world around him.

Shit. Without my proper hearing, my balance and depth perception are all thrown off.

Daniel was clearly feeling the same as well, just barely able to catch himself from falling over by bracing on a nearby seat.

But they couldn’t dwell on it any longer as the Siren lunged forward, claws sharp and aimed right at them.

Aren reacted instinctively, lightning powering his legs as he dashed sideways. The claws missed him by inches, but the sheer wind pressure alone still sent him flying.

"—!"

He skidded across the floor as the Siren turned, its snake-like body moving through the air with unnatural grace. Daniel thrust his lance forward, intercepting the creature as it twisted toward the crowd.

"Hey! Over here, you ugly fish!"

The lance struck its scales—

But the Siren barely reacted. Daniel’s eyes widened as he barely managed to raise his lance to block a tail whip from the monster.

THWACK!

Daniel went flying straight into the lower-tier seating once more, leaving a gigantic crater where he landed as he coughed up blood.

Damn, even Daniel is struggling with this monster?

The senior pushed himself up from the crater with a groan, chunks of broken concrete sliding off his shoulders as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"This thing hits like a truck..." he muttered.

Aren kept a hand pressed over his ears, his breathing heavy as he adjusted his footing.

The creature was way too fast for either of them to keep up. And fighting like this, with his balance slightly off, made every movement feel a fraction of a second slower.

Daniel vaulted over the broken railing of the seating tier and landed beside him. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

For a moment, the two of them stood shoulder to shoulder, watching the monster circle above the stage.

"...This is bad."

Aren didn’t disagree.

Below them, several spectators had already reached the edge of the stage, their blank expressions clear as they continued to shuffle forward like puppets on invisible strings.

Daniel followed Aren’s gaze before grimacing.

"Shit...I can’t use Morphing here."

Aren glanced sideways at him. The senior jerked his chin toward the charmed spectators.

"Too many civilians," he said. "All my Arts are area-based, I can’t hit the monster without hurting them."

He nudged Aren’s shoulder with the butt of his lance.

"You have to be the one to do damage."

Aren frowned slightly.

"And you?"

Daniel turned, already moving toward the edge of the stage where another group of spectators was beginning to climb up.

"I’ll make sure no one walks into the fish’s mouth."

Aren held Daniel’s gaze for a moment before giving a short nod.

If Daniel was going to handle the civilians, then there was no reason to keep holding back.

[Morphing]

Blue light flickered across his body as familiar scales began spreading over his skin, forming the draconic scales on his arms, legs, and chest he had used before. His fingers sharpened into clawed tips as the transformation happened in seconds.

Across the stage, the Siren screeched again, its massive tail coming straight at him.

Lightning burst beneath his feet as he stepped forward instead, his body moving just enough for the enormous tail to whip past him by inches. This time, he could finally see the attack and keep up.

The Siren charged at him, claws out and ready to turn him into shreds. Aren slid sideways, ducking beneath the strike as the claws tore right into the wood where he was just at.

But Aren didn’t attack immediately. He stayed patient, trying to tire the monster out.

Dodge, step...dodge, step...dodge, step...

Each of the creature’s attacks had missed, from sharp claws to massive tail swipes, Aren had dodged them all.

He slipped past another swipe, sliding across the cracked floor before suddenly lunging forward. The Siren reacted instantly, twisting its upper body to block the incoming strike.

But Aren’s blades never descended.

Instead, he shifted his footing mid-motion, his body pivoting sharply as he ducked under the creature’s guard and came up on its rear.

SSHHHHHNG!

A clean cut had appeared right across the creature’s flank as he followed through with a surge of lightning ether.

The Siren screeched violently, its massive body dodging away from him. Aren landed several meters back, already resetting his stance and raring to keep going.

But that’s when something caught in the corner of his eye.

Miu’s unconscious body twitched, a thin line of blood slowly appeared along her side...right where he’d cut the Siren.

What—?! How’s that possible?!

The realization barely had time to settle before his brief lapse cost him. In the very next second, the Siren’s tail had landed straight into his chest at full speed.

"JUNIOR!" Daniel’s voice burst out from the side.

The impact launched Aren into the air like a ragdoll. His back crashed straight into one of the massive lighting rigs hanging above the stage.

Metal twisted as the entire structure collapsed. Aren tangled in the cables before the rig tore free and came crashing down with him.

BOOOM!

"Ggghhh—!"

He coughed up blood as the entire thing landed right on his back, leaving him crumpled on the floor next to all the equipment. Aren was sure his entire ribcage was broken along with multiple other fractures.

But his mind wasn’t on the pain. It was on the center of the stage—on Miu.

No...Is her Bloodline using her vitality somehow?

The wound continued to pour out as it spread slowly across her side.

It’s using her body...to manifest itself into the physical world!

Aren clenched his fist weakly against the concrete.

"...You’ve got to be kidding me."

The creature slowly slithered forward, claws scraping across the shattered stage as it prepared to finish him off.

Aren forced water ether to circulate through his body, healing his wounds as quickly as possible.

But before the Siren could strike, a thunderous boom echoed across the stadium as something slammed into the Siren’s side like a meteor.

The creature shrieked as its massive body was blasted several meters across the stage.

Aren’s head snapped upward. Several figures stood along the upper rim of the amphitheater. Understanding flashed across his face immediately.

Mystic Law Enforcement!

More officers poured in along the rim, their Bloodlines already summoned as they prepared Arts.

One of them raised his arm.

"Target confirmed!" he shouted. "Magical beast spotted inside a civilian zone."

"Permission to neutralize?"

Aren’s eyes widened.

Neutralize...?

His gaze flicked back to the stage. The Siren was already recoiling from the attack, its body slowly getting up from the impact it just received.

If they killed the Siren—

His stomach dropped instantly the moment realization hit.

Neutralize...?—NO!

Aren forced himself upright, ignoring the broken ribs screaming through his chest.

"WAIT!" he shouted toward the officers above.

But no one was listening, as the man in front lowered his hand.

"Permission granted."

Ether gathered along the rim of the amphitheater.

And dozens of Mystic Arts lit up the night sky.