Chapter 19: The Truth
Ethan's POV
I looked around cautiously, but despite my sharp senses and instincts honed through countless life-or-death battles in my previous life, I failed to detect anyone in the cave.
"Where are you looking? I'm inside your body," the shrill voice cackled, echoing unnervingly.
I glanced down at my body instinctively, but there was nothing unusual that I could see or feel. Despite the unsettling revelation, I didn't panic. The entity clearly wanted something from me, if it had intended to kill me, it would have already done so.
"Hehe, close your eyes and then open them again," it sneered.
I hesitated for a moment but complied. When I reopened my eyes, the oppressive darkness of the cave seemed to lift. My vision had sharpened unnaturally, and now I could clearly see every crevice and detail of the cave. I scanned my surroundings, still wary. Leaning against a jagged dark wall, I inspected my body more closely. My breath hitched when I noticed it: a grotesque demon face imprinted on my wrist, its four blood-red eyes glinting menacingly in the low light.
The face grinned, its split mouth revealing rows of sharp, glistening teeth. A cold shiver ran down my spine, but I forced myself to remain calm.
"You're quite composed for your age," it remarked mockingly. "Here I thought you'd start crying for your mommy."
I ignored the taunt, staring at it without a word.
It seemed amused by my silence. "Heh. Smart boy. You must have a lot of questions, don't you?"
The demon face's eyes gleamed, its lips twisting into a sinister smirk. "Well, let me get to it. I suppose I owe you some answers, seeing as I'm part of you now."
The creature's voice grew even more chilling as it began recounting the events following my blackout. The revelations were staggering.
"You mean to say I was teleported here… after you fought my grandfather?" I finally asked, my voice betraying the shock I had been suppressing.
"Yes," it replied nonchalantly. "And you don't have to worry, boy. I only did what my mission required of me."
Its tone turned prideful, almost arrogant, as it continued. "You, my little host, carry the most potent bloodline of the Lucent Void Clan in this world. And no, I'm not talking about the diluted trash lineage of this insignificant little world. I mean the noble Lucent Void Clan of the Hell Spire Great World.
"You see, a minor descendant of the noble Lucent Void Clan once escaped to this world thousands of years ago. I, bound by the master-slave curse, followed him here. Unfortunately, he perished from grievous injuries after fathering a few offspring. Before his demise, he bound me here to await a descendant worthy of our lineage—a vessel with a bloodline strong enough to inherit his true arts and treasures," the face explained, its deep, echoing voice carrying a sinister edge. I caught the troubling word host in its reply, which immediately raised alarm bells in my mind.
"What do you mean by 'host'?" I demanded in a stern tone, my unease growing by the second. There was no way such a word could bode well, especially coming from a disembodied face with such an ominous presence.
The face curled into a malevolent grin, though its voice maintained a deceptive softness as it replied, "You don't have to worry, young friend. I am bound by the master-slave curse to the bloodline of my master. Upon your father's passing, I was naturally transferred to the bearer of the most potent bloodline—you. I mean no harm; quite the contrary, I am here to assist you. With my guidance, you will master the Nightmare Dream Arts of the Lucent Void Clan and unlock the secrets of your lineage. When you grow strong enough, you can leave this inferior world and accompany me to the Hell Spire Great World, where the true Lucent Void Clan awaits."
Its words were calculated, laced with honeyed promises and assurances that I instinctively knew could not be trusted. Half of me wanted to dismiss it outright, but I held my tongue. I had read enough and experienced enough to know that nothing came without a price, especially not offers from entities bound by curses or tied to ancient bloodlines.
"Okay," I said carefully, choosing my words with precision. "First, tell me where I am. And then tell me how I can return to my home in Dark North City."
The face's grin widened, its aura growing more menacing. "Hehe, my young friend, returning to your home is no longer an option. You have awakened the dark element and carry the bloodline of a demon family. The human continent will never accept you now, not without severe consequences. But fret not! I have already teleported us to the Blood Veil Continent, a land abundant in dark elemental energy. This place is the perfect environment for someone like you to grow stronger and realize your true potential. Though due to lack of energy we seem to have been randomly teleported."
"So, the Blood Veil Continent," I mused aloud, forcing a calm I didn't entirely feel. The face's smug expression suggested it believed it had me cornered, but little did it know that I was already plotting.
As much as I loathed the idea of trusting this entity, I had no choice but to feign cooperation for now. I didn't know enough about this land, this curse, or even my own bloodline to act rashly. What I did know was that this being likely underestimated me. It probably thought I was just a slightly precocious child, easy to manipulate with promises of power and glory.
For now, I had to play along. I would learn everything I could about my new circumstances, gather strength, and bide my time. Because one thing was certain, I would not allow myself to become anyone's pawn, not even that of a supposed ancient spirit tied to my bloodline. If it thought I would blindly follow its guidance without question, it was gravely mistaken.
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