BAB3 -Chapter 37

# Chapter 37: Bond Resonance

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Lexi slipped into the darkness beneath her just before Anton could land atop her. She reappeared on the other side of the room and nocked her bow.

Anton was several levels above her, armed with a psychotic Sphere Skill and a matching Bloodline, but she couldn’t back down.

He had to die here.

If she failed, there was no telling how many more would suffer.

Lexi steadied herself—then froze.

A wave of overwhelming sadness surged through her bond with Xay. Something was wrong. Terribly, terribly wrong.

She darted through more *Dark Passages* of her own making, just barely staying ahead of Anton’s screaming grasp.

Lexi tried to send telepathic messages along their bond, but she couldn’t seem to get through.

Then, in the next moment, she felt something far different.

**Bloodline Resonance Attempted via Bond.**

A cool sensation flooded her body and coursed through her mana channels. She didn’t know exactly how, but Xay had triggered something in her.

**Bloodline Manifestation: 50%.**

**Bloodline Synchronization: 50%.**

**Bond Assistance Detected.**

**Bloodline Resonance Successful (Partial).**

For a moment, Lexi lost control of her body.

An eruption of black frost and solidified darkness—stronger even than her *Frost Geyser*—burst from her in every direction.

Anton was flung back, slamming into a metal wall stud with enough force to fracture it.

Thick layers of ice rapidly spread across the floor, walls, and ceiling while shadows hung heavily in the air.

Behind Lexi, the upper body of a stunning feminine demon took shape.

Her skin was a deep, dark blue, and her curled, translucent black horns arched elegantly above her head.

Six black, frozen wings folded neatly behind her back. In one hand, she held a large, dark tome, while in the other, she clutched a frozen mirror.

The endless black voids that made up her wide eyes locked onto Anton as he pulled himself up.

“What the hell is this?” he shouted.

“Your end,” Lexi said, her voice layered atop another.

She floated into the air, hovering on her own icy winds.

Anton charged at her, throwing a punch with all his weight behind it.

She stopped his fist with a single hand, and flash-froze it on contact. With a twist of her fingers, his hand shattered into shards of bloody ice.

“You bitch!” Anton howled, leaping back and clutching his arm. “I’m going to rip your head off for that!”

One of his *Berserker* techniques activated, and his hand began to rapidly heal—but Lexi ignored it.

She reached deep within herself for a technique she instinctively knew would only come to her in this form: *Chthonic Tribute*.

***Chthonic Tribute** - Offer the condemned to the great abyss. For the essence of the wicked shall be dragged into the depths of the Underworld.*

Lexi activated the technique, and the entire room dimmed as a massive gate rose from the darkness behind Anton.

It was made of a thick, pure blackness, twisting and coiling over itself like it was alive, while exuding a necrotic smoke that poured onto the floor in heavy tendrils.

The gate opened with the sound of tortured, tormented screams, and Anton was slowly pulled toward it.

Shouting, he slammed his fist into the ground, clawing to pull himself free.

“You can’t do this to me!”

But a dark, shadowy arm reached out from within the gate and grabbed him—followed by dozens more.

They were the souls of those Anton had recently killed.

The final hand to emerge belonged to his very own father.

Antonio Morwen’s soul gripped Anton’s neck, and yanked him into the gate, with Anton kicking and screaming the whole way.

It slammed shut behind them, silencing the room.

The gate vanished in a rush of shadows, and Lexi’s Bloodline Resonance faded.

“Holy shit, that was scary,” Lexi panted, staring at the empty space where Anton had just been.

He could’ve gotten free, if the souls of his victims hadn’t dragged him down.

But as it was, Anton was now gone without a trace.

***

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Kimi had been driven to her knees.

Dozens of poisonous knife wounds had already been healed across her body, multiple times, slower and slower as she ran out of steam.

She had tapped into vital energy breathing, but she still wouldn’t last much longer.

Worst of all, she hadn’t been able to land a single clean hit on him.

Alan, or Abraham, or whatever his name was, wasn’t trying to immediately kill her.

He was toying with her, probing the limits of her *Eternal Ember* like she was some kind of experiment.

His power set seemed to be in the Prowler Sphere. He moved like a trained assassin, but there was also some kind of mental influence laced beneath his words.

Kimi quickly understood what’d happened to Bethany. She had been magically charmed—essentially bewitched.

Fortunately, Kimi’s Acuity had been rebuffing its effects so far.

The man was very confident in himself, though. He did not doubt that he could kill her at any moment.

Still, she hadn’t given up. She only needed an edge—a new angle of attack.

“You have more mana than you should for your level,” he said casually, his voice echoed by his clones. “Even more than expected after the crystallization elixir. Is this another benefit of that little bond of yours?”

Kimi’s eyes widened. “What do you know of our bond?”

He tilted his head, with an eerie smile tugging at his lips. “I know all about you and your precious Xavyer. But don’t worry, you won’t be around to concern yourself with what we do to him.”

His tone dropped to something far colder. “We’re very curious to see if he can forge another bond.. after one or two dies, that is.”

Kimi moved to charge forward—only to be hit with a wave of deep, aching sorrow radiating through her bond with Xay.

She faltered for half a second, then dissolved into tiny, sparkling lights.

“You’ve tried this trick before,” the man said, thoroughly unimpressed. “It’s getting boring.”

Kimi circled the room, letting knives pass harmlessly through her cloud of lights.

Then, something shifted.

**Bloodline Resonance Attempted via Bond.**

Gasping, Kimi’s body reformed in the far corner of the room.

“Giving up?” he asked, raising a brow before shrugging. “Fine. I have other business to attend to anyway.”

**Bloodline Manifestation: 50%.**

**Bloodline Synchronization: 50%.**

**Bond Assistance Detected.**

**Bloodline Resonance Successful (Partial).**

A wave of harsh light and white flame burst from Kimi, blasting the man and his clones backward as their skin sizzled and burned.

They each caught themselves mid-fall, leaping over the rising flames and swatting at the fire licking their clothes.

“Unexpected,” he grunted, now hanging from the ceiling, “but manageable.”

The soft, sculpted upper body of a female angel rose behind Kimi.

Six wings of incandescent flames fanned out from the angel’s back, each beat casting radiant waves across the room.

A white halo hovered above her head, while one hand gripped a blazing sword, and the other held a radiant scroll etched in light.

“What’s this now?” the man asked, concern tightening his tone.

Kimi didn’t hesitate. She reached for the new technique pulsing inside her: *Divine Testament*.

***Divine Testament** – Let shine the Judgment of the Heavens. For the record of all transgressions shall be etched into the essence of those who have sinned.*

A bright golden light edged in white swept over the man and all his remaining clones. They darted to dodge, to flee, but the light stayed with them.

It flickered once, turned white, then shifted to a harsh, demanding red.

He and every one of his clones dropped to their knees, screaming, as a sprawling, looping script ignited across their bodies in lines of burning Divine Flame.

The indecipherable script crawled over every inch of his flesh, branding him with his own wicked deeds.

Even as his skin filled with glowing etchings, the writing continued, looping over itself again and again, searing even deeper into his very being.

His shrieks grew hoarse. The clones burst into smoke. His body burned away—skin, viscera, bone, and core all consumed by the weight of his actions made manifest.

When the light finally subsided, all that remained was ash and utter silence.

Kimi took a deep breath as the last of her Bloodline Resonance flickered out, and her flames dimmed.

“That,” she exhaled, “was a very evil man.”

***

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The Primal Titan had spent the last of its strength in a devastating final blow that both wounded and forced the Thorin Behemoth back, giving the defenders a chance to rally.

As the clash ended, the Titan unraveled, its elemental parts dissolving into the air and returning to the world from which they came.

Only a moment later, a brilliant light flared at the far edge of the quadrant.

Xay ignited like a star, radiating both power and grief.

On the other end of the quadrant, Tyra had taken to the air with Willow, enduring the crushing wave of sadness radiating from Xay.

Willow had to catch her mid-flight, holding them both aloft with the wind.

~Get a hold of yourself,~ Willow snapped. ~Something has occurred that needs our assistance.~

Tyra was far more attuned to emotions than the others, and she struggled to bear the weight of Xay’s sorrow.

Before they could fly any closer, the Thorin Behemoth stomped into her path, battling against the Vermilion forces on the ground.

And then, Tyra felt the change.

**Bloodline Resonance Attempted via Bond.**

**Bloodline Manifestation: 50%.**

**Bloodline Synchronization: 75%.**

**Bond Assistance Detected.**

**Bloodline Resonance Successful (Partial).**

Tyra gasped, and a wave of pure natural energy burst from her, flowing harmlessly through Willow.

Behind her, the upper half of a wide-eyed, sharp-eared fae woman appeared, her head adorned by a crown of flowers and thorns.

Her incredibly long, flowing green hair trailed like a waterfall, and two broad, translucent wings spread from her back.

Without thinking, Tyra reached for the new technique thrumming in her core, all but demanding release: *Feral Genesis*.

***Feral Genesis** - Let wild abundance take root in bloodied soil. From the essence of the enemy shall nature bloom, reclaim, and restore.*

The ground beneath the Level 60 boss monster buckled and warped.

A massive tree with shimmering teal bark erupted upward, spearing through the creature and locking it in place.

Thorny vines, roots, and brambles spread out from the base, piercing every monster they touched. Each one was drained completely dry, their essence fed back into the growing tree.

A glistening canopy of multicolored leaves unfolded across the sky, covering nearly half the quadrant as the trunk stretched higher and higher.

With each fallen monster, the tree pulsed with greater vitality, radiating an aura that rejuvenated the Awakened beneath its branches, and rapidly restored their stamina and mana.

Bolstered by renewed energy and facing an injured, immobilized foe, the Awakened defenders surged.

The Taowu Thorin Behemoth wouldn’t last long.

But Tyra’s attention was focused on Xay.

She couldn’t see him at all. An ethereal sphere of swirling light and darkness had taken his place.

It was blurry, hard to focus on—and every instinct in her screamed to stay away.

Whatever was happening, Tyra had to trust that Xay would find his way back to her.

***

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The all-consuming pain suddenly vanished, and Xay found himself in a very familiar place.

Like many of his Bloodline dreams before, Xay floated in a sea of darkness, surrounded by tiny, multicolored lights.

The familiar, ancient presence enveloped him, only this time, Dragon was also by his side.

The lights began to swirl, drawn to the two of them. They touched his and Dragon’s bodies, flowing inward before erupting into powerful surges of energy.

From within that light, a world unfolded.

A brilliant blue sky stretched endlessly above, dotted with slow-moving, fluffy clouds.

Crystal-clear oceans surged up from the depths, expanding past the horizon. Their gentle waves kissed the white sands of rapidly forming beaches along massive landmasses.

Towering trees with emerald leaves reached skyward, their canopies blooming with life.

The air rapidly filled with the sweet perfume of newly blossomed flowers.

In the distance, mountains pierced the skyline, their mist-veiled peaks feeding waterfalls that spilled like ribbons of sapphire and amethyst.

**“Creation.”**

A powerful, feminine voice reverberated through the space, shaking the world with every syllable.

Xay spun around to find a massive True Qilin towering behind him.

Even seated on her haunches, she was still twenty-five feet tall.

Her crystalline, draconic scales were obsidian black with a prismatic sheen.

Her swirling horn pulsed through every color of the spectrum, while her lion-like mane flowed a pure white.

**“A memory of the Creation of the Original World.”**

“Original World?” Xay asked—then his heart clenched. “Wait! Rox?!”

**“Worry not, young one. Time does not truly move in this space.”**

That was a relief, but Xay’s anxiety didn’t ease. Far too much was happening far too fast.

The full weight of speaking to the True Qilin was nearly too much to bear.

~Mommy?~

Dragon didn’t seem nearly as overwhelmed, however. She flew up to the True Qilin’s face, hovering there with open curiosity.

The Primordial God let out a short, amused breath.

**“The form my essence has taken within you is quite interesting.”**

Dragon rested contentedly on her shoulder, lying atop her glowing white mane.

“Wait, so it’s all real?” Xay interrupted, rapidly firing off questions. “All of it? You’re a Primordial God? My Bloodline really comes from you? My family carries your Bloodline? Do you know who my family is?”

The Primordial looked at him with a quiet sorrow.

**“I’m afraid not, young one. You are all that remains of me. What appears before you is but an echo. My essence does not pass through blood in the traditional sense. It was drawn to the spark within your spirit, and manifested as what you call Bloodline Abilities.”**

Xay couldn’t help but feel disappointed at that. Not even a Primordial God could tell him who his birth mother was.

But he supposed if there had been a family of Awakend with the True Qilin Bloodline, they’d be very famous.

The world around them quaked, and the sky suddenly dimmed.

**“I’m afraid our time here is soon coming to an end, and I must warn you of what’s to come.”**

Xay shook off his gloom. A warning from a Primordial God was probably important.

**“The world you know is the third iteration of the Original. The first two were destroyed by the Primeval Gods.”**

“What?!” Xay asked, confused. “I thought the Primordial Gods defeated them.”

The True Qilin let out a long, weary breath.

**“We did not. We merely bound them. But they broke free. Before all was lost, I used the bulk of my power to create a parallel world, bringing over all the mortal survivors, and leaving the Primeval Gods trapped in the first realm.**

A dark shadow of deep sorrow, anger, and regret flashed across the face of the True Qilin.

**In the end, my efforts were for naught. The Primeval Gods broke into the parallel world, and continued their relentless destruction. The other Primordial Gods were forced to bind them once more. They created a third iteration of the world, but with slight modifications.”**

Below them, the seas began to churn and boil, turning a dark, sickly green.

**“The True Chaos grows more powerful with every world it consumes. The Awakened System was created to help mortals grow strong enough to face its legions. It opens portals to pocket worlds touched by varying levels of Chaos.”**

“The System controls the rifts?!” Xay asked, stunned. “Then what about the Blood Moon?”

**“No. Blood Moon Events are signs that the Primeval Gods stir in their cages. They channel their twisted power through the moon, feeding on negative emotion. Soon, they’ll be able to break free once more.”**

“Taowu..” Xay said with dawning realization. “It’s a Primeval God.”

**“Taowu of avarice and cruelty. Qiongqi of violence and ferocity. Taotie of unyielding gluttony. Hundun of disorder and destruction. The four embodiments of True Chaos.”**

In the distance, entire mountain ranges crumbled into dust.

“What about the essence of the other Primordial Gods? Can they help?” Xay asked, grasping for hope.

**“I’m afraid not. In order to create your world and the Awakened System without my power, they were forced to sacrifice themselves and their essence. Only Lesser Beasts carrying fragments of their visage remain.”**

Xay felt a chill run down his spine. “So what are you asking me to do here? Save the world from four Primeval Gods while everyone else fights off their legions? When even the four Primordial Gods couldn’t stop them?”

The True Qilin leveled a somber gaze down at Xay.

**“The task you’ve inherited is by no means a fair one, and for that, I am truly sorry. There is still time yet for you to grow, and by the very nature of my essence, you are never truly alone.”**

“My bonds,” Xay said, placing a hand over his core. “We’re strongest together.”

The Primordial nodded as the world around them began to unravel.

**“Our time together draws to an end, young one. I have appeared before you in both warning and aid. The time manipulation ability you’ve channeled is too much for you to handle in your current state. I will stave off as many of the negative effects as I can, but I will not be able to do so again.”**

The vision began to dim, and the image of the True Qilin grew hazy.

“Wait!” Xay shouted before she disappeared entirely. “What’s your name?”

The Primordial God smiled softly.

**“No one has asked me that in a very long time. I once had a name, many eons ago, given to me by someone I’ve always held quite dear.”**

**”My name is Aoife.”**

The vision shattered around Xay.