Bloodline Evolution: I Can Choose Opposing Paths-Chapter 108: Flight from the Tyrant

Up close, the wreck looked even worse than it had from the lakeshore. The nose of the aircraft had been completely crushed into the swamp, while the rear half leaned awkwardly against a cluster of mangrove roots, just barely able to keep itself afloat.

Behind them, the distant roars of the two rulers echoed across the swamp. They managed to land on the top side of the plane before sliding down slowly to the same emergency hatch Marcus ripped out earlier.

"Quick," Sterling said quietly. "Grab whatever you can."

Daniel climbed through the torn opening first before the rest of the group came through.

The inside of the plane was dim...and no one else had survived. The aisles were filled with bodies, all collapsed now that the Curse was over.

Loose luggage had been thrown everywhere during the crash. Some seats had been ripped clean from the floor, while others hung sideways from twisted metal supports.

Iris offered a silent prayer before they all got to work. She moved quickly through the aisle of bodies, pulling open overhead compartments while Emily searched through the scattered bags on the floor.

"Found ours," Marcus muttered as he picked up their duffel bags on the floor.

Daniel came back from the rear storage section, carrying a crate. Inside were what looked to be emergency supplies—canned food, water pouches, and thermal blankets along with sleeping bags.

"Take it all," Sterling said.

Aren had already begun gathering some other belongings.

"Nice," he muttered, managing to pick up a still functioning power bank that could solve any energy issues later on.

That was when he noticed Luna still standing near the aisle, both hands clasped on each other. Her gaze had lowered toward one of the nearby seats.

A suitcase rested there with the tag still hanging from its handle. She reached out for it but hesitated and pulled her hand back slightly.

"...Is it really okay for us to take these?" she asked quietly.

Aren stepped beside her. He followed her gaze toward the empty seats around them.

Then he shook his head slightly.

"The people who owned these..." he said softly, "...they’re not coming back for them."

Luna’s grip tightened as she gritted her teeth visibly.

Aren continued. "If we leave it here, it’ll just sink into the swamp eventually."

He lifted one of the emergency ration boxes.

"They can’t use it anymore," his voice softened. "But we can."

Luna remained silent for a moment longer. Then she nodded slowly.

"...You’re right."

She reached her hand out once more and picked up the suitcase, finger tightening around it before finally picking it up.

Around them, the others continued gathering supplies as quickly as they could.

Outside the shattered plane, the swamp trembled again as the Mangrove Tyrant roared in fury...before everything went silent.

Sterling glanced toward the opening of the plane.

"Their fight ended..." Sterling muttered.

"We need to leave... NOW!"

Emily didn’t wait for another word.

Her hands sparked as several dragonflies materialized in a flash of light, their wings beating rapidly as they hovered beside the tilted wreck.

"Everyone on!"

The group rushed forward immediately, climbing onto the backs of the oversized insects as they lifted from the sinking plane and shot out across the lake.

Aren risked a glance downward.

The clearing below looked like a battlefield. Mangrove trees had been flattened in every direction, the swamp floor left with gigantic indentations in the mud where the rulers had grappled each other.

And at the center of it...what remained of the Emerald Constrictor lay scattered across the clearing.

Its massive body had been ripped apart and thrown across the swamp like torn-out cables. One enormous section of its body still twitched weakly in the muddy water, dark blood spreading slowly across the lake’s surface.

The Mangrove Tyrant stood above the carnage. Its massive armored body was drenched in blood, and one of its golden eyes was completely hollowed out.

A deep gouge ran across the left side of its skull where the Constrictor had nearly crushed it.

But the Tyrant still stood...and it was looking directly at them.

Aren’s stomach dropped. "...Emily!"

"I see it!" she shouted.

From below, the Tyrant’s massive tail slammed into the swamp water with explosive force. A towering wall of mud erupted into the air and came crashing down on them.

"Hold on!" Emily yelled.

The dragonflies scattered instantly. The wave smashed through the air where they had been moments earlier, muddy water exploding as the group swerved wildly just above the lake.

The Tyrant lunged forward, its enormous body twisting as it hurled several smaller blasts of water up like a shotgun.

Aren ducked instinctively as one spray barely missed over his head. Emily was controlling each dragonfly individually now.

Daniel’s swerved right just before he was about to get hit on the side. Marcus’ ducked down low as one passed right overhead, while Iris’ literally did a barrel roll to avoid one going straight at her.

"We need to get higher!" Professor Sterling shouted.

"I’m trying!" Emily yelled back, forcing the dragonflies to climb as fast as they could.

"GRARGHHHHHHHHHHHH!" the Mangrove Tyrant screeched from behind them.

But thankfully...they finally cleared the mangrove canopy. Emily pushed the insects forward until the lake and its monstrous ruler shrank into the distant swamp below.

Only when the Tyrant was nothing more than a dark shape in the water did anyone finally breathe again.

Shit...that was close. We barely managed to escape.

Aren adjusted his seat as Luna was probably holding on behind him for dear life. He could barely breathe with how hard she was squeezing him.

"...You can loosen up a little," he muttered. "I still need oxygen."

Luna didn’t respond. If anything, her grip tightened.

Aren sighed quietly but didn’t push the issue. After what they had just escaped from, he couldn’t exactly blame her.

The dragonflies continued gliding through the humid air above the mangrove canopy.

Professor Sterling reached into one of the bags she got, presumably her own, and pulled out a small brass compass.

The needle spun for a moment before slowly settling into place. Sterling studied it carefully, her gaze drifting toward the horizon ahead.

"...Good," she murmured.

Daniel glanced over.

"What is it?"

Sterling closed the compass and slipped it back into her coat. "We’re leaving the Mangroves."

She pointed toward the shimmering expanse of water visible in the distance.

The swamp trees began thinning out ahead of them, giving way to a wide network of shallow blue waterways.

"If we keep flying, we’ll reach the next biome..." Sterling started.

All four of the seniors’ eyes lit up instantly as they realized where they were heading towards.

They all said in unison: 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"The Lagoons..."