Bloodline Evolution: I Can Choose Opposing Paths-Chapter 94: The Principal’s Influence

The metal band snapped shut around Miu’s wrist.

For half a second, nothing happened—

Then the whole area flooded with light. Aren’s eyes widened as the dampener activated. The moment it latched onto her wrist, the torrent of ether raging through Miu’s channels slammed violently against the limiter.

WHOOOOOM!

The air shuddered as the Siren shrieked overhead.

At the same time—

Aren felt something inside his body snap open: The Fertile Core. The moment the dampener transferred to Miu, the restraint on his own body vanished.

Ether surged through his channels like a floodgate breaking open. It wasn’t a slow return at all...it was instantaneous.

Pure ether erupted outward from Aren’s body. Up above the amphitheater rim, the Mystic Law officers finished their countdown.

"Neutralize!"

Dozens of Mystic Arts fired simultaneously. The torrent of attacks slammed into him and immediately stopped.

The moment they reached the stage, the ether around Aren warped, moving so densely around his body that the attacks simply vanished due to the structure of the Art no longer being there.

The officers along the amphitheater rim froze in disbelief. Behind him, the Siren let out one final shriek.

The massive creature convulsed as the dampener suppressed the overflowing ether inside Miu’s body. Its body began to blur as the enormous serpent form slowly dissolved into strands of light.

Within seconds, the monstrous Bloodline faded entirely.

Only Miu remained. Her body lay motionless on the stage floor.

Her breathing slowly stabilized. Silence spread across the ruined amphitheater.

Daniel was the first to move. He sprinted across the shattered stage.

"Aren!"

He stopped a few steps away before his eyes widened.

"...Wait."

Only now did he notice it. The metal band was gone from Aren’s wrist and now on Miu’s.

Daniel slowly looked back at Aren, before he literally gagged.

"—Gh!"

He staggered a half step back, one hand grabbing his throat as his vision swam. It was akin to what divers called "the Bends". The ether density around him had changed so violently that his body couldn’t keep up.

"...What the hell..."

"Junior..." Daniel said slowly, trying to steady his breathing. "Why does it feel like you’ve got an entire power plant inside your body?"

"...It’s a long story," Aren said quickly before grabbing the dampener again and placing it back on his arm.

CLICK.

Instantly, the overwhelming pressure vanished.

The field of ether surrounding Aren collapsed inward as if something had slammed a lid over a boiling pot. Daniel could feel the same as he slowly eased up.

They couldn’t ease up for long as the dozens of Mystic Law officers landed one after another, surrounding the stage with weapons and Arts prepared in their hands.

Aren didn’t move as Daniel raised both hands slowly.

"Easy there," he said, stepping in front to try and cover Aren off. "The situation’s already handled."

The black coated officer stepped up immediately, his face already spelling trouble.

Handled?" he repeated almost mockingly. "What the hell was that?"

"You’re clearly abnormal and hiding something!" he continued, "Commander Justus, we should apprehend them now!"

This time, Aren realized that the commander might not be so lenient as he was before. Daniel opened his mouth to respond before another voice cut through the stadium.

"Now now... must you interrogate my students the moment the dust settles?"

The officers turned instantly.

Footsteps echoed across the ruined stage as a tall man in a dark academic coat walked calmly down the aisle between the seats.

Principal Ardent Virel.

The old man’s eyes took in all the devastation around them, and yet...he looked almost amused at the sight.

The commander’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"...Ardent."

"Justus, my old friend!" the principal replied smoothly. "So good to see you still keeping the city safe."

The two men stared at each other for a moment before the commander gestured toward the stage.

"You want to explain why two academy students are standing at the center of a disaster involving a manifested Bloodline?"

Ardent clasped his hands behind his back.

"Well? What else is there to explain?" the principal said as he glanced briefly at Aren and Daniel.

"They stopped it."

The commander frowned.

"That doesn’t explain the explosion, the ether spike, or why half my unit just watched this boy casually disperse our attack."

The principal smiled faintly.

"Well," he said lightly. "Students from my academy tend to be rather talented."

Before the commander could press further—

Two more figures hurried across the stage. Professor Voss arrived first, slightly out of breath and still in her usual white lab coat. Behind her came Professor Sterling, her eyes immediately scanning Aren from head to toe for injuries.

Emily rushed up only a moment later, nearly skidding to a stop when she saw Aren still standing.

"Oh, thank god," she breathed. "We made it in time!"

The commander looked between the growing group and let out a slow sigh.

"...I see." his gaze returned to the principal. "So this is how it’s going to be."

Ardent Virel smiled pleasantly. "I have no idea what you mean."

The commander stared at him for a long moment before waving his hand. Instantly, the various squads of Mystics left the scene. The one in the black coat glared at Aren once more before taking flight.

"We’ll still need a full report."

The principal nodded.

"Naturally, see you later, Justus."

The commander nodded once and turned to leave. The Principal immediately turned as well and snapped his finger.

Instantly, the ground beside the stage trembled as a thin green sprout pushed through the broken concrete.

Within seconds, the tiny sprout had twisted upward into a massive tree trunk, branches and leaves spreading out like a living structure.

The tree continued growing until its trunk split open down the middle, revealing a hollow interior glowing with faint green ether.

"Shall we?" Principal Virel said easily, as he picked Miu’s unconscious body up and stepped through with her.

Everyone followed after him. Aren was the last one left on the ruined stage.

He took a deep breath, glanced once more at the shattered amphitheater behind him...

...and stepped into the tree.