CHAPTER 249: BLOODLINE AWAKENING (2)

In the endless darkness, where there was no light, no air, and no atmosphere, a dark vacuum stretched below the surface of the world, hidden deep within one of the Forbidden Zones.

For the first time, it had intruders.....Or perhaps not.

The darkness was slowly chased away by the faint but bright flame produced by Melissia, burning gently within the small domain Nyra had unfolded. Though the light was not strong enough to illuminate far, it was still enough to reveal the scenery in front of them.

The ground was scorched black just like the surface above, though here it was covered in thick dunes of black sand. Yet that was not what drew Nyra’s breath to a halt...

A-Are these all bones..?

Her thoughts trembled with cold dread as her eyes scanned the countless bones sprawled across the black dunes. There were human bones scattered everywhere, but among them lay enormous remains of abominations as well. She could make out the faint silhouette of a giant creature resembling an elephant, yet it was twisted with horns and skeletal wings that seemed far too unnatural.

Some bones were half-burned, their ends charred as if scorched by some ancient fire, while others were broken and piled into hills, forming grotesque mounds. The sheer number of human remains was uncountable, as if entire armies had marched into this abyss only to be swallowed forever. For Nyra, it felt less like she had stepped into a simple graveyard and more like she was standing in the heart of one massive grave itself.

...Are these all the humans who once dared to venture into the Forbidden Zones? It was always a mystery why so many who entered were either found dead on the surface or simply disappeared without a trace...

Those whose bodies remained above were at least known to have perished. But those who vanished without leaving behind even bones... perhaps they had all ended up here. Perhaps they too had once descended with hopes of finding treasures or secrets, only to meet their end like the ones beneath her feet.

Melissia also stood frozen for a moment, her gaze fixed upon the eerie sight that stretched endlessly before them. Yet unlike Nyra, there was no fear in her eyes.

Instead, there was a quiet spark, faint but burning, like a candle in a storm. A spark of anticipation, of something long sought after. To her, this place was not merely a graveyard but the last step toward her dream. She was closer than ever, just a few steps away from awakening her bloodline.

She did not know why, but after enduring the pain of rejection and despair that weighed on her heart, she now longed for nothing but distraction, for a way to shift her focus.

And so, she felt grateful for the dreams she had seen, dreams that came to her in her darkest moment and showed her a new path forward. They had helped her forget the bitterness, and they also promised the fulfillment of not only her own cherished wish but the long-cherished wish of the Ravencroft family.

She did not know why such a dream had come to her, or why it appeared at such a perfect time, just when she had been at her lowest. Yet she had accepted it as though it were a beacon sent into the void, a light meant to guide her out of despair.

.....But,

How would she react if she ever learned the truth? That the very person who had driven her into despair was also the one who unknowingly showed her the path out of it. Would she fall into despair once again? Or would it give rise to something else entirely? Or perhaps... she would never know at all. Only time would tell.

"Let us move."

Melissia’s voice broke the silence at last, carrying neither hesitation nor doubt. She had no fear of danger ahead, at least not if the dream she saw was to be believed. Everything she had experienced in it had proven true so far, and so she chose to trust in it, though deep inside her wariness still remained. That was why Nyra was here with her, after all.

Nyra followed closely behind, her domain shifting and expanding as they moved forward. At one point she summoned her spear into her hand, ready to protect Melissia at the first sign of threat.

Though her domain was already active, it would take her less than a heartbeat to transform it from a simple normal domain into her true domain. With that assurance, she felt at least somewhat less worried.

As they walked across the black sands, leaving behind a trail of faint footsteps, the number of bones only grew denser. Soon, Nyra caught sight of a dragon’s corpse lying half-buried in the dunes, its great skeletal wings spread wide as if it had fallen mid-flight. The sight sent a shudder down her spine, and her expression grew heavy with the weight of what it meant.

She turned her gaze toward Melissia, hoping to find even a trace of fear or unease reflected in her companion’s face. Yet instead of fear, she saw only a distant calm, as if Melissia’s mind was elsewhere and the horrors around them no longer mattered.

Is she truly relying on me, believing that I will protect her from anything...?

The thought warmed Nyra’s chest in an unexpected way, though at the same time it left her expression faintly sore. There was also the chance that Melissia’s composure came not from trust in her, but simply from blind faith in the dream she had seen.

....Contradicting feelings indeed.

After walking for some time, they eventually reached the end of the underground forbidden zone.

In front of them stood a black obsidian wall made entirely of rock, stretching upward without end and blocking their path forward. It was an imposing sight, cold and absolute, offering no way through.

"Miss, there is nothing here.."

Nyra spoke with a calm smile, her voice betraying a hint of relief, as if she had truly hoped that this would be the end of their strange exploration.

But Melissia shook her head softly and replied, "No, I just chose the wrong way. I must have been confused. We will just walk along the wall. This entire place is like a vast, hollow cave, almost like a vacuum. If we keep moving quickly, we should be able to circle the whole area in a single day."

Nyra tilted her head, listening closely as Melissia continued with steady conviction, "And when I say circle the whole place, I mean that you should carry me and run along the wall. My speed will only slow us down."

Her words were spoken slowly and with clarity, each syllable falling into Nyra’s ears like droplets of water echoing in the silence.

Nyra understood at once. To her, it was not just a practical choice but also a reassuring one. If she carried Melissia on her back, she could escape far more easily should something unexpected happen in this eerie place.

"Alright, Miss," she answered, her tone firm.

With that, Nyra began to run along the wall, carrying Melissia. She ran for what felt like an eternity, her body straining under the effort. The endless sprint drained her mana until exhaustion weighed on her more heavily than it had in a very long time.

The reason was simple. There was no ambient mana in this place to replenish her strength, and at the same time she had to maintain her domain without pause, creating an artificial atmosphere so Melissia could stay alive. It was a heavy burden to carry both physically and magically, yet even so she endured. Her reserves were vast, befitting someone of her rank, and despite her exhaustion she still held enough mana to fight or flee if danger arrived.

Her persistence was not in vain. After countless stretches of empty wall broken only by scattered bones of abominations, something unusual finally caught their eyes.

It looked at first like a hole in the wall.

....no, not a hole.

Nyra adjusted her path, moving diagonally away from the wall, and as the distance shifted their perspective, the truth revealed itself. What had seemed like a hollow break was not a hole at all, but a massive gate embedded within the wall itself.

The gate was colossal, towering so high it seemed to scrape against the unseen ceiling of the cavern. Its sheer size made them appear small, insignificant in comparison. The illusion of a hole had only been caused by the stone walls curving slightly outward around the gate, concealing its presence until they came close enough.

On its surface was carved the image of a phoenix, so lifelike and intricate that it seemed ready to burst from the stone at any moment. Its wings were spread wide in eternal majesty, its feathers detailed with such care that the illusion of movement lingered in the eye. The longer one looked, the stronger the feeling grew that in the next heartbeat the mighty phoenix would soar forth from the stone and devour them, a guardian of something sacred hidden beyond.

But once again, it was only an illusion.

Even so, as they approached, Melissia felt her heart begin to race. Her blood surged as though responding to a silent call, each beat quickening, echoing in her ears like a chant. Nyra too felt the strange influence. Though she had no bloodline, a wave of energy stirred her spirit, filling her with exhilaration. It was not her body that answered, but her heart.

For Nyra, this was proof. The dream Melissia had spoken of was not fantasy. It was real.

It was true, by the gods... it was really true.

Her chest tightened with joy and awe, and without meaning to she quickened her pace. Both of them arrived before the towering gate in what felt like a single breath.

Standing before it, they could not help but be struck silent. Even though there was no living creature here, the presence that radiated from the phoenix carving was overwhelming. It was as though they were truly standing before the Great Phoenix itself.

After a long moment, the awe began to settle, though traces of reverence still lingered in their eyes. To them, this was no ordinary sight. Neither of them had ever seen a true phoenix. The only knowledge they had came from stories, old records, and family tales passed down through generations of the Ravencroft. Now, even a carved likeness of one filled them with a deep and unshakable sense of wonder.

"Now what do we have to do, Miss..?" Nyra finally asked, her voice tinged with anticipation.

Melissia remained silent for a while, her teeth lightly pressing against her lower lip. At last she answered in a quiet voice, "Nothing. I will just open the door."

Nyra frowned, raising a brow in confusion.

"Do you have a key?" she asked.

To this, Melissia stepped forward with calm determination and replied, "I am the key."

****

Well, I meant... I could be the key...

Melissia thought inwardly, her eyes reflecting a quiet certainty. In the dream there had been two ways shown to her, revealed as if someone wanted her to clearly understand both paths.

The vision had felt intentional, almost as though the ancestors of their bloodline had decided to grace their children with guidance after watching how hopeless they had become. It was not simply chance, it was more like a final gift left behind for the lost descendants of the Phoenix.

The first path was to pass the trial, which meant confronting the guardian, the stone phoenix carved onto the massive gate. The other path was different, a way reserved only for the true bloodline of the King, the Phoenix itself.

I just have to spill my blood on the door....

She repeated the thought quietly in her heart, her steps carrying her closer. Without hesitation she lifted her hand and drew forth a drop of her own blood, letting it fall upon the red surface of the towering door.

The stone seemed to stir instantly, glowing faintly like fire brought to life. The droplet was absorbed at once, vanishing into the carved patterns as if the door had been waiting for it.

The moment her blood vanished into the stone, the entire gate shuddered...

***