Ancestral Lineage-Chapter 164: Waking Up. Changes and Chaos.

Back in the cave,

The faint light of dawn crept through the jagged cracks in the stone walls, casting long, uneven shadows that danced across the ground. The golden glow of the cocoons surrounding the group pulsated rhythmically, each pulse echoing like a drumbeat in the silence. The strands of golden light that linked every cocoon to Ethan’s radiated a quiet power, their delicate, web-like structure shimmering as if woven from the threads of creation itself. The air vibrated with an almost musical resonance, a low hum that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. It was as if the cave itself was alive, holding its breath in reverence for the transformation unfolding within.

Inside his cocoon, Ethan stirred. The golden light surrounding him surged, its intensity swelling with each passing second. The pulsing became a rapid crescendo, the rhythm now beating like the heart of a giant awakening. The cocoon quivered, its surface rippling as waves of raw energy coursed through it, casting shifting patterns of light onto the cave walls.

The cocoon began to dissolve, its luminous energy flowing like liquid sunlight. Streams of gold wove into Ethan’s body, seeping into his skin and veins, transforming him from within. His fiery crimson hair flared brilliantly, streaks of molten gold intertwining with the strands as though they were being reforged in the fires of a divine forge. The glow of his hair was no longer just light; it carried a palpable warmth, like the embers of a dying sun reigniting. Continue your journey with novelbuddy

Then, his eyes opened.

They were not merely eyes anymore. They were celestial orbs, pools of deep, infinite blue infused with swirling currents of radiant gold. It was as if the cosmos itself had been poured into his gaze. Stars shimmered in their depths, and an unearthly brilliance radiated outward, piercing the darkness with a light that seemed to reach beyond the physical world. For a moment, it felt as if those eyes could see the threads of existence itself, unraveling the secrets of creation with a single glance.

The golden threads connecting Ethan to the others thrummed one final time, resonating with a powerful, harmonious note. Slowly, they began to retract, the strands dissolving into him, their energy converging at his core. A faint ripple spread outward from him, distorting the air like a mirage as the last remnants of the web disappeared.

And then Ethan rose.

The light surrounding him flared, and his form was fully revealed. His body seemed to glow faintly as if lit from within by the energy of stars. His posture was different—taller, stronger, exuding a quiet, unshakable authority. His transformation was not just physical; it was as if the very essence of who he was had ascended to a higher plane.

His wings unfurled.

They emerged with a sound like the crack of lightning, an electrifying burst that reverberated through the cave. They were not wings of flesh or feathers but of pure, elemental energy, a luminous symphony of dark blue, gold, crimson, and silver. The colors intertwined like streams of molten light, constantly shifting and rippling, as though alive. The wings stretched outward, impossibly vast, filling the cavern with their radiant glow. Each movement left behind a faint, shimmering trail, like the afterimage of a comet streaking through the sky.

As he stood there, his wings casting an ethereal glow across the cave, Ethan took a deep, steady breath. The energy of Kael and Dri coursed through him, a harmonious fusion of their strength, wisdom, and will. He could feel them—not just as memories, but as living presences within him, their power now a part of his own.

At that moment, Ethan was no longer simply a man. He was something far greater, a being reborn in the fires of destiny. The cave seemed to bow to his presence, the air itself humming in awe as the dawn light caught the shimmering edges of his wings, casting a kaleidoscope of colors onto the walls.

He had become a force to be reckoned with—a harbinger of something both terrifying and beautiful, a symbol of the balance between destruction and creation.

The clothes Ethan had worn earlier had been utterly destroyed, leaving his body bare to the faint light of the cave. His skin now glowed with an otherworldly radiance, a luminous white that resembled polished ivory under moonlight. His once-human physique had transcended into something extraordinary—his muscles perfectly sculpted, their contours forming intricate, almost runic patterns that seemed to pulse faintly with energy.

He had grown taller, his frame stretching to a staggering 7.3 feet, his head nearly brushing the jagged ceiling of the cave. His crystalline horns, larger and sharper than before, curved upward elegantly, their translucent tips piercing effortlessly into the rock above like it was soft clay. Blue alchemic runes with shimmering golden hues lazily moved across his chest and arms, their glow fluctuating as if alive.

The serpent tattoo that had once coiled around his left hand was gone. In its place was a choker-like mark around his neck, faintly grey and nearly invisible unless one stared intently. Its presence radiated an ominous significance, as though it held a secret power that even Ethan had yet to uncover.

Suspended in the air around him were the beautiful golden cocoons, each floating gently and exuding a unique aura. Ethan’s eyes, now radiant pools of molten gold with streaks of glowing blue, scanned them with intensity. His gaze lingered on each cocoon, taking in the distinct energy radiating from them.

His attention shifted as a sudden chill filled the air. His eyes lifted toward the ceiling, narrowing as he sensed a cold, detached presence watching him from above.

"Hmm… it seems everyone is changing… Lamair," Ethan muttered. But his voice, now resonating with a raw, untamed power, boomed like rolling thunder. The sound shook the very foundation of the cave, causing fine dust and loose debris to rain down. The golden cocoons trembled briefly under the weight of his words.

His attention was drawn to a cocoon on his far right, shimmering with dark purple light. The aura of death emanating from it was suffocating, and cracks had already begun to spiderweb across its surface, releasing bursts of suppressed energy into the cave. The cocoon pulsed violently as if its occupant was struggling to emerge.

Simultaneously, the other cocoons began to fracture. On his left, a cocoon glowing deep crimson began to crack, releasing a dreadful and oppressive aura of vengeance and bloodlust. On his right, another cocoon split open slightly, spilling streams of silver light streaked with gold, exuding an aura of serenity and unwavering calmness.

Beside the dark purple cocoon was another, a vibrant red hue glowing brightly as its surface fractured. This one radiated a commanding aura, one of order, authority, and a gentle but firm control that felt intimately familiar to Ethan.

"What is happening?" Ethan muttered again, though this time his voice was laced with confusion. The resonance of his words reverberated once more, shaking the cavern violently and causing the golden strings that tethered the cocoons to pulse erratically.

Ethan instinctively clenched his fists, forcing himself to stabilize the chaotic energy around him. ’System? Zark?’ he called out in his mind.

A familiar voice answered, laced with rare seriousness. ’I would advise you to refrain from speaking aloud before you learn to control your power. Whatever transformation you’ve undergone, you are no longer just an advanced-level kid anymore.’

Ethan exhaled sharply, nodding slightly. ’I understand.’ His eyes swept the cave once more, noting the intensity of the auras radiating from the cocoons.

Then, he felt it—a shift, subtle but undeniable. The golden light from the cocoons began to wane, signaling the end of their transformation. His eyes narrowed, glimmers of both awe and determination in their luminous depths.

"It’s over," he whispered, this time so softly that his voice didn’t disturb the fragile balance of the cave. But deep in his chest, he knew this was only the beginning.

Then chaos erupted.

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The once-steady pulsing of the cocoons stopped abruptly, plunging the cavern into an unnerving stillness. Ethan’s glowing eyes darted between them, his body tense, ready for whatever might come next. The golden light dimmed as if drawing a collective breath, and for a fleeting moment, it seemed as though all the chaos had been a false alarm.

But then the cracks widened.

A deafening crack reverberated through the cave as the cocoon radiating dark purple light shattered first. Shards of golden and violet energy burst outward, releasing an oppressive wave of deathly aura that sent a chilling wind spiraling around the chamber. The swirling energy formed a dense vortex, pulling in loose dust and debris from the cave. The once-contained aura surged out violently, slamming into the other cocoons like a battering ram.

The crimson cocoon followed, erupting in a shower of red and black light. Its dreadful aura of vengeance and bloodlust mingled with the deathly energy from the first cocoon, creating an overwhelming pressure that bore down on Ethan like a physical weight.

But it wasn’t enough to move him.

On his right, the silver and gold cocoon shattered into a dazzling cascade of light. Its calming and serene energy surged into the chaos, briefly pushing back the violent forces before being overwhelmed. The mixture of energies swirled together in an unpredictable dance, their conflicting natures creating sparks of raw power that lit up the cave, like lightning.

The red cocoon near the dark one also broke. Its eruption was quieter but no less impactful. Its aura of order and authority rippled outward like a commanding tide, momentarily stabilizing the chaos. But the competing forces were too unstable, and the harmony it tried to impose quickly fractured.

Ethan watched in silent horror as the swirling storm of auras grew more volatile, the energies clashing and tearing through the air. The cave walls groaned under the strain, cracks spreading across the stone as if the space itself could no longer contain the sheer power radiating from the shattered cocoons.

The chaos was getting out of hand, and he had to do something to stop it, fast.