CHAPTER 33: THE BLOODLINE GATE
The massive doors of the Bloodline Chamber slowly opened.
KRRRRR...
A deep rumbling sound echoed throughout the Academy.
Everyone stood at the entrance.
Vee looked up.
The gate was enormous.
Ancient symbols covered its surface, glowing faintly with different colors.
Professor Selene stood before the students.
"Once you enter, you will be transported to the Bloodline Realm."
"The creatures inside are not ordinary beasts."
"They are manifestations of ancient bloodlines."
Vee raised his hand.
"So we're basically going into a giant magical zoo?"
Professor Selene stared at him.
"...If that helps you understand it."
Leon chuckled.
Vee nodded.
"Good. I like zoos."
Professor Selene continued.
"Listen carefully."
"Once inside, you will encounter countless creatures."
"Do not attack them."
"Do not provoke them."
"And most importantly..."
"Do not try to force a creature to choose you."
The students became serious.
Professor Selene pointed toward the gate.
"Every creature carries the essence of a particular bloodline."
"If a creature chooses you..."
"The bloodline within it will resonate with yours."
"And that will determine the bloodline you awaken."
A student raised his hand.
"What happens if more than one creature chooses us?"
Professor Selene smiled.
"Then you will discover how fortunate you are."
Vee quietly muttered,
"Or how expensive your funeral will be."
Leon laughed.
One by one, the students stepped forward.
A magical circle appeared beneath their feet.
Aurelia stood beside Vee.
"Are you nervous?"
Vee shrugged.
"A little."
"Really?"
"Yes."
He looked at the enormous gate.
"I'm mostly nervous that something with three hundred teeth will decide I'm its soulmate."
Aurelia laughed.
"That would be unfortunate."
"Extremely."
Professor Selene raised her hand.
"Everyone..."
"Enter."
The students stepped forward.
Vee was among them.
The moment his foot crossed the threshold—
WHOOSH!
A powerful force swept through his body.
His vision became white.
For a moment...
He couldn't hear anything.
Then—
THUD!
Vee landed on soft grass.
He immediately looked around.
"...Where are we?"
The others appeared around him one after another.
The Bloodline Realm was enormous.
Mountains stretched into the distance.
A vast forest covered the land.
A river of glowing blue water flowed between enormous cliffs.
The sky was unlike anything Vee had ever seen.
It was filled with countless glowing stars despite it being daytime.
Then...
A roar echoed through the forest.
ROOOOOAR!
Everyone froze.
Another roar answered.
Then another.
Then dozens more.
Vee slowly turned his head.
"...Okay."
"...That's definitely not a zoo."
Aurelia stared into the forest.
"Something is coming."
The bushes moved.
Leaves shook.
Then...
A massive creature emerged.
It looked like a wolf.
But it was enormous.
Its body was covered in silver scales.
Two curved horns grew from its forehead.
Its eyes glowed crimson.
Several students stepped backward.
"Don't attack!" Professor Selene's voice echoed from the magical communication crystal attached to their uniforms.
"The creatures cannot harm you unless you provoke them."
The beast walked past the students.
It stopped in front of one boy.
The boy froze.
The beast sniffed him.
Then...
A brilliant red aura erupted from its body.
The boy's body began glowing.
Gasps filled the group.
Professor Selene's voice came through.
"The creature has chosen him."
The boy stared in amazement.
"What does that mean?"
"It means your bloodline has been determined."
The wolf's body slowly transformed into streams of red light.
The light entered the boy's body.
A symbol appeared on his forehead.
The students stared.
"He's awakened the Crimson Wolf Bloodline!"
The boy clenched his fists.
"I can feel it!"
Vee watched carefully.
"So that's how it works..."
The creatures weren't simply giving people random powers.
They were recognizing bloodlines that already existed within them.
More creatures began appearing.
A girl was chosen by a beautiful white fox.
Another student was chosen by a massive stone bear.
Someone else was chosen by a serpent covered in flames.
Each creature examined the students.
Some walked past.
Some stopped.
Some stared.
And some...
Chose.
Vee remained still.
Aurelia stood nearby.
Suddenly...
A magnificent creature appeared behind her.
Vee's eyes widened.
It was a massive golden-winged bird.
Its feathers looked like they had been made from sunlight.
Aurelia turned around.
Her eyes widened.
The creature lowered its head.
Golden light surrounded them both.
The students gasped.
Vee smiled.
"Looks like someone found her match."
Aurelia looked at him.
"Don't make jokes."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"Okay, maybe a little."
The golden bird touched its forehead against Aurelia's.
Golden light exploded outward.
Aurelia's body glowed.
Professor Selene's voice echoed.
"Aurelia has been chosen by a Solar Wind Phoenix."
The students stared in amazement.
Vee whistled.
"That's pretty impressive."
Aurelia smiled.
"Thank you."
Vee nodded.
"Just don't start flying away and forget us."
She laughed.
"I won't."
Then...
Silence.
Vee suddenly felt something.
A strange pressure inside his chest.
His eyes narrowed.
Thump.
His blood pulsed.
The creatures around him suddenly stopped moving.
One by one...
They turned toward him.
Vee blinked.
"...Why are they looking at me?"
Aurelia's smile disappeared.
"Vee..."
"What?"
"Look around."
Vee slowly turned.
Every creature in the area was staring directly at him.
The silver wolf.
The stone bear.
The flame serpent.
The golden phoenix.
All of them.
The forest became completely silent.
Even the creatures in the distance began turning toward him.
Vee swallowed.
"...This is probably fine."
Leon stared at him.
"Why do I feel like it's definitely not fine?"
Vee gave a nervous smile.
"Because you have excellent instincts."
Then—
A deep roar shook the entire Bloodline Realm.
Something enormous had awakened far beyond the forest.
And Vee could feel it.
Whatever was coming...
Wasn't interested in choosing an ordinary bloodline.
It was coming...
For him.