Chapter 251: Surrounded

After regaining the Aria bloodline and being able to solve Woolie’s problem, neither Raiden nor Stormwind siblings were in any rush.

All of them took their time to reach the outer boundary, taking two days of rest and relaxation before finally reaching the portal that led to the outside.

In these two days, Aria had adapted very well to her old powers, being able to control the wind around her as well as sense everything in the surroundings. She also shared some teachings that the Ancestor gave her with Theodore, using them to enhance his powers, and now he was able to use his bloodline ability much more proficiently.

On Raiden’s side, Neva and Rose had recovered as well, their bodies brimming with more power than before. Undergoing a fight against a possessed Woolie and a diamond-tier Terra Beast undoubtedly helps them refine their control over their powers, making them even stronger.

If there was one thing that still made Raiden worried, it was Woolie, who still hadn’t woken up from sleep. The little sheep had been asleep for almost a week now, and even though his body had been exuding more and more power, showing an upward positive trend, he showed no signs of waking up.

This made him worry endlessly, but he couldn’t do anything but have faith in the seal that was created by Aria’s Ancestor.

"Sister, are you ready to go out now??" Theodore threw a worried side glance towards Aria.

Looking at the portal, Aria hesitated for a second before taking a deep breath as she adopted a look of determination on her face.

"Yes, I am ready. We need to face this sooner rather than later. Little Theo, let’s go." Without giving anybody else a chance to speak, she took a big step forward, stepping through the portal first.

"I guess she has gotten a lot of confidence. Let’s go as well." Theodore laughed with an amused smile on his face before he stepped out as well.

Seeing those two go out, Raiden just shook his head with a smile before he followed them outside.

As soon as he entered through the portal, he once again felt he was hit with a feeling of vertigo for a moment, as it came and went just as swiftly.

As soon as he stepped outside, he looked at both siblings, who stood there frozen for some reason.

"Hmm?? What happened? Why are you guys stopping? Let’s go get out of here." Raiden spoke in a nonchalant tone.

"R-R-Raiden, please take a look around first. I d-don’t think we can l-leave." Theodore’s trembling voice rang out in his ears, causing Raiden to snap his head up and take a look around.

Instantly, his eyes widened with disbelief as they found themselves surrounded by thousands of people who were all staring at them silently.

Just as Raiden was about to say something, the crowd parted in the middle as Aria’s father walked out of there.

"Do you think this is your family’s backyard, so you can come and go as you please?? It doesn’t matter if you have taken the Bloodline back again or not. I have taken it from you once. I can do the same thing all over again, and nobody can stop me." His arrogant voice echoed throughout the chamber, causing Aria’s blood to turn freezing cold.

Seeing the reaction of despair on Aria further amplified his deep, dark desires as he burst into joyful laughter. "Hahahaha, Yes!! That’s it!!! Despair, cry, beg. You can do anything you want, but nobody will be able to save you from me!!!"

"No-no!! It can’t be!!! Why are you doing this?!! Aren’t you my father?!! Do you really have to go this far?!! What did I ever do wrong?!!!! Is living your life on your own terms A SIN?!!!"

Aria’s heart-wrenching cries echo throughout the crowd, causing a lot of them to turn their heads down as their eyes go very red with shame, but not her father, who stands there arrogantly with a cold and manic expression on his face.

"You can shout or do whatever you want. Nobody is coming to save you guys. I am the ruler here!! I command everybody present!! Apprehend these two unfilial disciples of the clan for me. As for the outsider, dispose of him as you wish." Clan Leader’s voices rang out with a hidden glee underneath it.

Several Battle Masters in the front ranks hesitated, glancing at each other uncertainly.

But before anyone could move, a voice cut through the chamber like a blade.

"Who says she doesn’t have anybody?"

The crowd rippled as an old man stepped forward from the shadows.

He was tall despite his age, his white hair flowing down his back like a waterfall of silver. His eyes were sharp and bright, burning with an intensity that made even Aria’s father take an involuntary step back.

"Grandfather??" Aria’s voice was filled with shock.

The old man smiled at her gently before turning his gaze towards his son.

"I may have stepped down from my position, but I am still the Grand Leader of this clan. And I will not stand by while you torment your own daughter."

Tobias’s face twisted with rage.

"You have no right of jurisdiction over here. It is my domain. This is my hall, my people, my clan!!"

"Your clan?" The old man’s voice was cold. "You speak as if you own them. As if they are tools to be used and discarded at your whim."

"I am the Clan Leader!!" The Clan Leader roared. "Who dares to follow him instead of me??"

The crowd went silent. Some looked at Tobias.

Some looked at the new leader.

And some looked at the ground, unwilling to choose a side.

"Fine." Aria’s father’s smile was ugly. "If you want to protect her so badly, then you can die with her."

He raised his hand. Golden light erupted from his palm. The air in the chamber grew heavy, so heavy that several people in the front ranks dropped to their knees, gasping for breath.

The old man’s expression didn’t change. He simply raised his own hand.

White-gold light poured from his body, colliding with Tobias’s golden aura in a violent explosion of energy that sent shockwaves rippling through the entire chamber.

"Not good!! Everyone, stay back!!" someone shouted.

The crowd scattered like ants, rushing toward the exits as the two auras continued to clash, tearing at the stone floor and cracking the pillars around them.

The Clan Leader laughed, a sound that was half-madness and half-triumph.

"Let’s see how long you can protect her, old man!!"

He threw his hand forward.

"Come forth, my partner!! Golden Dragon of the Stormwind!!"

The ground beneath him exploded.

A massive creature erupted from the stone, its body coiled and muscular, covered in scales that shimmered like molten gold. Its wings spanned the entire width of the chamber, and its eyes burned with intelligent, predatory light.

Five hundred metres of pure draconic power unfurled in the centre of the hall, its presence so overwhelming that the torches on the walls flickered and died.

The old man’s expression remained calm.

"Garuda," he said simply. "Show them what true power looks like."

The air above him tore open.

A second massive creature descended from the rift, its body covered in feathers that gleamed like polished steel. Its talons were as long as spears, its beak curved and sharp enough to cut through diamond. Its wings created windstorms with every flap, and its eyes burned with ancient fury.

Another five hundred metres of Mythical-Tier pressure slammed into the Golden Dragon, and the entire chamber shook like it was about to collapse.

The two Terra Beasts roared at each other, their auras clashing so violently that the stone floor beneath them started to melt.

Seeing this level of destruction, people in the crowd didn’t need to be told twice as they turned their tails and ran.

Thousands of Battle Masters, elders, and servants poured toward the exits, trampling over each other in their desperation to escape the crossfire of two Mythical-Tier monsters.

But even as they fled, Tobias’s voice rang out above the chaos.

"Elders of the clan!! The Cowards who escaped from the domain!! This is your last chance! Capture those three for me!! Leave this old man to me!! Today I will settle all the old scores and new!!!"

Without waiting for a reply, he led his dragon to clash with the Garuda in the air, causing a massive shockwave to erupt from the point of contact, destroying everything in the vicinity.

From the shadows of the chamber, figures emerged.

Eleven men and women in dark robes, each one radiating Platinum-Tier pressure.

And behind them, a single figure in white, whose presence made even the air feel like it was freezing.

Diamond-Tier.

They moved as one, surrounding Raiden, Aria, and Theodore from all sides.

Raiden looked at the encircling enemies, then at Woolie still sleeping in his arms, then at Rose and Neva who had already taken up defensive positions.

He sighed.

"Really?" he said to no one in particular. "Can’t a guy catch a break?"

Rose hissed, her body coiling tighter around him.

"Hiss..." So much food, Rai Rai.~

Neva’s eight eyes glowed with golden light.

"Sha Sha..." But we can still beat them.

Theodore stood in front of Aria protectively, his face pale but determined.

"I’ll take care of the defence!!"

Aria’s hands glowed with golden-white energy, the wind swirling around her like a living thing.

"I am not as weak as I was before!! I’ll support you!!"

Raiden looked at his partners on his shoulders, who were itching for a battle one more time.

Then he smiled.

"Fine. Let’s dance."