The Bloodline Shrine

Chapter 23 — The Bloodline Shrine

The forest remained silent after the distant roar.

Aether stood at the entrance of the cave, watching the darkness beyond the trees.

The Crimson Fang Wolf was still staring in the same direction.

Her body trembled slightly.

Not from fear.

Recognition.

Aether noticed it immediately.

"You know what is calling you."

The wolf turned toward him.

Her crimson eyes met his.

She didn't attack.

Instead, she lowered her head.

Aether understood.

Whatever was waiting deeper in the forest was connected to her bloodline.

Lyra stepped closer.

"Should we follow it?"

Aether glanced at her.

"Not blindly."

He activated Origin Analysis.

The result appeared immediately.

[Origin Signature Detected.]

[Distance: Approximately 1.8 kilometers.]

[Classification: Unknown.]

[Threat Level: Unable to Determine.]

[Additional Information: Bloodline Resonance Detected.]

Aether frowned.

"Bloodline resonance."

Nyx suddenly growled.

Aether looked down.

Her golden eyes were fixed on the forest.

The silver mark on her forehead had begun glowing faintly.

Aether's expression changed.

"You're reacting to it too?"

Nyx gave a quiet growl.

That made the situation more complicated.

Two completely different beasts were responding to the same presence.

Aether looked toward the Crimson Fang Wolf.

Then toward Nyx.

"This isn't just a place where beasts gather."

He looked deeper into the forest.

"It's some kind of bloodline territory."

The Crimson Fang Wolf suddenly stood.

Her injured leg shook.

She took one step forward.

Then another.

Aether didn't stop her.

"Let her lead."

Lyra nodded.

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They followed.

The deeper they went, the stranger the forest became.

The crimson leaves gradually disappeared.

The trees became enormous.

Their trunks were covered with ancient patterns that looked almost like veins.

Origin Energy flowed through them.

Aether touched one of the trees.

A faint pulse traveled through his palm.

His system reacted.

[Origin Energy circulation detected.]

[Environmental energy is being directed toward a central location.]

Aether withdrew his hand.

"This entire forest is connected."

Lyra looked around.

"Like a giant formation?"

"Something similar."

They continued.

The Crimson Fang Wolf suddenly stopped.

Ahead stood a massive stone archway.

It was half buried beneath roots.

At the center of the arch was a carving.

A wolf.

Its fangs were exposed.

Behind it was a strange circular symbol.

Aether's eyes narrowed.

He had seen that symbol before.

Not exactly.

But something about it reminded him of the markings inside the first Origin Zone.

The same ancient feeling.

The same connection to Origin.

He approached the stone.

Origin Analysis activated.

[Analysis Progress: 23%]

[Unknown Ancient Structure.]

[Function: Bloodline Resonance.]

[Condition: Dormant.]

Aether's expression became serious.

"Bloodline Resonance."

The Crimson Fang Wolf stepped forward.

The moment her paw touched the ground beneath the arch—

the entire structure lit up.

Crimson light spread across the stone.

The wolf's body shook.

Her bloodline erupted with energy.

[Warning.]

[Bloodline instability detected.]

Lyra immediately moved forward.

"Is she going to be okay?"

Aether raised his hand.

"Don't touch her."

The wolf wasn't being attacked.

Something was awakening inside her.

Aether watched carefully.

The crimson markings across her body became brighter.

Her injured leg began glowing.

Then the wounds started closing.

Lyra stared.

"She's healing."

Aether nodded.

"But that's not all."

The wolf's aura was changing.

It wasn't becoming stronger in a simple way.

It was becoming purer.

The system displayed another notification.

[Crimson Fang Wolf Bloodline Evolution Trial Initiated.]

[Current Bloodline: Crimson Fang.]

[Possible Evolution Paths: 3]

[Path One: Crimson War Wolf.]

[Path Two: Bloodmoon Wolf.]

[Path Three: Unknown.]

Aether's eyes widened slightly.

"Three paths."

Lyra looked at him.

"Which one is strongest?"

Aether shook his head.

"The system hasn't revealed enough information."

He looked at the third option.

Unknown.

That was the interesting one.

The Crimson Fang Wolf suddenly looked toward Aether.

Her eyes were filled with uncertainty.

Aether understood what she wanted.

"You don't need my permission."

The wolf remained still.

Aether continued.

"This is your bloodline."

"If you evolve, choose your own path."

The wolf slowly turned toward the shrine.

She stepped forward.

The crimson light became stronger.

Suddenly—

a deep voice echoed through the forest.

"Interesting."

Aether immediately turned.

Lyra summoned lightning.

Nyx lowered her body.

The Crimson Fang Wolf stood protectively in front of her pups.

Something moved between the trees.

A massive silhouette emerged.

It was a wolf.

But unlike the Crimson Fang Wolf, this beast was enormous.

Nearly four meters tall at the shoulder.

Its fur was black.

Crimson markings covered its body.

Two enormous horns curved backward from its skull.

Its eyes were a deep golden-red.

Aether activated Origin Analysis.

The system flickered.

Then failed.

[Analysis Failed.]

[Target exceeds current analysis authority.]

Aether's expression became serious.

The beast stopped in front of the shrine.

It looked at the Crimson Fang Wolf.

Then at the three pups.

Finally, its gaze moved toward Aether.

"So..."

Its voice was deep and ancient.

"Another human has entered the shrine."

Lyra's expression changed.

"It can speak."

Aether didn't answer.

He studied the beast.

It wasn't attacking.

That didn't mean it was harmless.

"Who are you?"

The massive wolf stared at him.

"That depends on whether you are here as a thief..."

Its crimson eyes narrowed.

"...or as a witness."

Aether remained calm.

"We followed the bloodline resonance."

The beast looked at the Crimson Fang Wolf.

"She is the one who awakened it."

Aether nodded.

"Yes."

The beast's gaze returned to him.

"And you protected her."

Aether said nothing.

The beast suddenly smiled.

At least, that was what its expression resembled.

"Then perhaps the bloodline chose correctly."

Aether's eyes narrowed.

"Chose what?"

The beast didn't answer.

Instead, it turned toward the shrine.

"Three paths await her."

Aether glanced at the system.

The third path still remained unknown.

"Why are you here?"

The ancient wolf's expression became colder.

"Because this shrine has been sleeping for thousands of years."

It looked toward the sky.

"And tonight..."

The ground trembled.

"...someone awakened it."

Aether felt a powerful pulse beneath his feet.

The entire forest seemed to respond.

Trees began glowing.

The shrine began shaking.

Then the system appeared.

[Major Origin Event Detected.]

[Ancient Bloodline Shrine has awakened.]

[Multiple dormant bloodlines detected.]

[Estimated awakening time: 00:59:59.]

Aether stared at the countdown.

"An hour."

The ancient wolf looked toward the darkness beyond the shrine.

"No."

Its voice became grim.

"An hour until they arrive."

Aether's expression changed.

"Who?"

The ancient wolf looked directly at him.

"The ones who have been hunting bloodlines across this world."

Far away—

a crimson light appeared between the trees.

Then another.

Then another.

Aether slowly raised his weapon.

Lyra's lightning intensified.

Nyx's golden eyes burned brighter.

The Crimson Fang Wolf stepped in front of her pups.

The ancient wolf lowered its head.

"Now..."

Its claws dug into the ground.

"...we see whether this generation can survive."