Grand Ancestral Bloodlines

It was impossible that no one would notice. Although the region was already lit up by blood crystals and chaos, hiding the existence of another two was too difficult.

But that was precisely why Ryu had summoned so many beasts. Even if they noticed, would the beasts allow them to get through so easily?

Ryu watched as the first pair of eyes landed on him, then another, then another.

He didn't flinch, watching them realize what was happening one after another.

In his opinion, it didn't matter how many noticed. What was important was how many that could actually do anything about it had noticed.

The sixth layer had the highest concentration of people, but just to make it to this level, they had to have a certain degree of talent.

Even so, that didn't mean that there weren't large divisions between them, regardless.

It suddenly made sense why Wunikai was gathering up so many geniuses to support her. She definitely knew far more about this Rotten Sea than Ryu did, so she already expected such a thing to happen. Unless you had a great deal of supporters, making it through the sixth layer was nigh impossible.

Ryu, obviously, hadn't known this. But he managed to find a path, nonetheless. And since he was here, he might as well take some time to deal with those on his kill list.

His gaze shifted and his eyes landed on a Dream Wraith. He was among the first to notice, and it wasn't surprising. Among the Demon Kings, the sensory sensitivity of Dream Wraiths was certainly near the pinnacle.

Ryu's lip curled, his indifference shining through as he met the gaze of the Dream Wraith.

This Dream Wraith was the one that had spoken to him earlier, but he had placed him on the kill list, nonetheless.

Of those who jeered... The Dream Wraiths were the ones he needed to put in their place the most.

Ryu raised a hand and beckoned him forth.

...

Vense was surprised to see Ryu in the sixth layer at all. They hadn't had the time to jeer at Ryu for overestimating himself because he entered the Rotten Sea immediately, but most had been looking forward to dealing with him once they stepped out.

Seeing Ryu here, and seemingly supporting two others to break into the seventh layer, how could he not be shocked?

He looked at the chaos in his surroundings. Was this a coincidence?

No, it had to be. How could a human cause all of this?

Even so, seeing Ryu taking advantage of the situation, he was livid. The smile on Ryu's face just took him over to another level.

"Support me!" He roared. "I'm breaking through!"

The three Dream Wraiths around Vense were confused until they saw the same scene he had.

Their expressions changed, and they immediately understood. In fact, they felt the same rage.

A formation took shape around them, protecting Vense in the center, and they rushed toward the avalanche of beasts.

...

From the distance, Ryu observed the battle style of the Dream Wraiths.

This was a good opportunity for more reasons than just the fact he wanted to kill Vense. He didn't know much about the Dream Wraiths at all, and even his understanding of the Dream Asuras was rudimentary at best.

Well, he understood Mae's battle style. But that was a version of Mae that had yet to undergo all of her current changes. It was hard to say that she'd be the same.

As expected, the Dream Wraiths were completely different.

Mae's body was still powerful, but the Dream Wraiths avoided hand-to-hand combat like it was the plague. They were clearly Mental Realm experts, and they relied entirely on Soul Techniques.

The first time Ryu had seen Soul Techniques was in the First Heaven. He was surprised that the True Martial World didn't have a concept of Visualizations, but Soul Techniques could be just as lethal, and far more flexible.

A Mental Realm expert of Sacrum could usually only slowly master one Visualization. The good news was that they never had to switch and the Visualization would grow in power as they grew.

But there was no such thing as a Visualization that could do all things. The closest to this was his master's Elemental War God, but that required a whole other level of investment entirely. It wasn't so easy to study the blood vessels of legendary beasts.

'The casting is near instant. They're flexible, easily slipping between different elements as though they have strong affinities for them all. Their coordination is even better, likely because of their communication rather than any special effects of their Soul Techniques.'

Chains, shields, weapons of all kinds, plumes of fire, and waves of water.

They were the most flexible combatants Ryu had ever seen.

That said, none of their attacks were particularly potent, and if he was correct, that was because their main strengths weren't effective against these beasts.

Dream Wraiths, from what Ryu understood, should be more like the conventional Mental Realm Masters once banned in Sacrum. However, these mutated beasts likely didn't even have souls to attack.

But he did.

Vense suddenly burst through a rain of illusory flames. He charged through the water, his gaze blazing with a fierce intent.

Ryu looked back toward Selheira and Empana. Selheira was almost through. At most half a minute would be enough. But Empana needed longer, at least three minutes.

These times were short to mortals, but to Sky Gods, it might as well have been counted in hours instead.

Ryu rolled his shoulders and looked forward once again.

Seemed it was time for him to test out how much he had progressed.

He took a step forward, his blood churning.

At that moment, Vense took control of a spiralling array of rotten waters. Miniature cyclones took shape and formed into drills, attacking Ryu from all sides.

Ryu took another step forward.

'This isn't quite Bloodline Resonance, it's only similar in appearance, but in substance...'

Ryu sent out a ripple of Bloodline Resonance and the cyclones dissipated.

This caught Vense off guard. This was one of his strongest methods and it took up a lot of Soul Quintessence. But he wanted a swift and decisive victory because he could feel that Selheira was close.

Taking control of the Rotten Sea was exceptionally difficult, but it was also the best weapon in this place.

As he was shocked, Ryu's third step landed and his momentum seemed to have grown to a peak.

BANG!

Ryu sent out a fist.

He had realized that controlling a resonance didn't have to be all in one go. He could take his time, allowing one set of rotten blood to harmonize with what was around them, using them as a catalyst instead.

Against an enemy who used close combat methods, he wouldn't have the time to do this. But since Vense insisted on keeping his distance...

He would have to pay for it.

A lance of spiralling rotten water shot through the water.

Vense panicked, feeling that the strength was beyond anything he could have imagined.

Quickly, he began to put up barriers in the water. Vense panicked, feeling that the strength was beyond anything he could have imagined.

Quickly, he began to put up barriers in the water.

Worried that he would have a repeat of what happened last time, this time he didn't take control of the waters, using a brute force method instead.

The waters were forced apart beneath his shields. In contrast, more and more water spiralled into Ryu's attack, forcing the battlefield into two halves.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The shields exploded one after another and Vense quickly formed hand seals. He moved like lightning, his gaze suddenly glowing a violet light as his Soul Quintessence surged.

BOOM!

Another sound echoed in Vense's ears, this one even fiercer than the first. Before his attack could even land, his heart lurched into his throat.

The cyclone of rotten waters, spiralling toward him and radiating a red, suddenly doubled in size. It was instantaneous and immediate, the shockwave of its growth nearly shattering the remainder of Vense's barriers all on its own.

Violet flames erupted across Vense's body, an armor of radiant amethyst coating him from head to toe. He hadn't expected to have to use his accumulated Soul Quintessence for this, but he had no choice.

The cyclone of water was already over 20 meters wide. It was an insignificant distance, but Vense truly felt like he could escape no matter where he went.

Then it came.

BOOM!

The spiralling lance doubled in size once again and suddenly accelerated. Its sharp point slammed against Vense's chest before he could react.

CRACK.

A crack instantly appeared and an instant later, the entire armor shattered.

A reverberating impact echoed out in all directions, causing Ryu's eyes to narrow.

That wasn't the sound of death. The armor had exploded outward in that last moment, pushing away what remained of the attack.

Vense appeared out from the turbid waters after several long seconds. When he was clear in Ryu's vision once again, he was nothing more than a husk. He looked like he might collapse any moment now, his body beaten and bloodied, while his bone stuck out in several locations.

At that moment, behind Ryu, Selheira flashed and vanished. The barrier cracked and the blood crystal was left behind.