Chapter 426: Apocalypse Bloodline The heavy iron gates of the tower glided open silently as Rose and Zara approached. Behind them, Melida and Mr. Harrow followed with hesitant steps. They had all felt the golden shockwave that had recently rocked the world. They took the lift to the 20th floor. When the doors opened, they did not find a cold laboratory or a dark forge. Instead, they stepped into a spacious, elegant hall. Soft light glowed from the walls, and in the center stood a long table laden with exotic fruits, steaming dishes, and crystal decanters filled with shimmering juices. Ethan, or rather, the Omega Clone, stood by the window. His silhouette was framed by the starlit sky of the Dragon World. He turned, a warm, infectious smile on his face. Unlike the main body, this Ethan felt approachable, almost radiant with life. "Please, join me," Ethan gestured toward the plush chairs. "Thank you, sir," Zara said softly, her eyes wide as she took a seat. Once everyone was settled and the initial tension had eased over a few bites of food, Ethan leaned back. His expression shifted from casual host to a serious mentor. "Now, let’s get to the point directly," he began, his gaze fixing on Zara. "Lady Zara, I have spent a great deal of time analyzing your genetic makeup." "You possess the Apocalypse Bloodline." "It is important for you to understand that this does not belong to the known 2,900 bloodlines." "Your bloodline belongs to the last 100 mysterious Origin Races,’" Ethan continued. "We don’t know what they look like or where they live." "We aren’t even sure if they are strictly ’stronger’ than the common races, but they are different." "They are fundamentally different." "My inspection shows that your bloodline, even in its dormant state, is at least ten times more potent than the Ice Dragon or the Genesis Vampire bloodlines." Zara gripped the edge of the table, her breath hitching. "I have prepared a special serum for you," Ethan said, producing a small vial filled with a thick, pulsating crimson liquid. "It will purify your bloodline to exactly 95%." "However, I have a strict warning." "After you take this, you must never use a bloodline refining method." "We do not know the consequences if this specific lineage reaches 100%." "A full awakening might bring something into this world that cannot be sent back." The room grew quiet. The weight of his words felt like a physical pressure. "Thank you... big brother," Zara muttered instinctively. Melida, Mr. Harrow, and even Rose looked at Zara with sheer horror. To call a being who could forge Source Authority weapon "big brother" was an act of madness or extreme bravery. They expected Ethan to turn cold, perhaps even vanish her for such a lack of respect. But Ethan chuckled. The sound was light and genuine. "I am s..." Zara started to stammer an apology, her face turning red. Ethan held up a hand to stop her. "It’s alright." "You can call me big brother." "I think it suits our current arrangement." "In fact, Lady Erina back at the palace can call me that as well." He then turned his gaze toward Rose, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "But Lady Rose... you certainly cannot." Rose felt her heart give a sudden, violent thump. Her cheeks burned, and she quickly looked down at her plate, trying to hide the swirl of complicated emotions rising in her chest. Ethan did not tease her further. He pushed the vial across the table toward Zara. "Please take this." "I suggest you absorb it here, in front of me." "If your power fluctuates too wildly, I can stabilize the environment." "Alright, big brother. I’ll do it." Zara did not hesitate. She grabbed the vial and swallowed the contents in one gulp. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a low hum began to vibrate through the floor. Boom! A wave of dark, majestic energy exploded from Zara’s body. Her hair drifted upward as if she were underwater. Her skin began to glow with a faint, violet light. Tremors shook the tower. Ethan instantly cast his ultimate domain, a shimmering barrier meant to contain the leaks of energy. But it was too late. Far away, in a plane that existed between the positive and negative planes, a place of gray mists and eternal silence, a being opened his eyes. These were not eyes of flesh. They were abyssal voids that contained the death itself. "Someone from my bloodline has awakened?" the being whispered. His voice did not travel through air. It vibrated through the fabric of existence. "The purity is only 95%." "A partial awakening in the lower plane." "But significant enough." He closed his eyes again. But his mind reached out across the void to a subordinate. "Enter the positive plane," the Progenitor commanded. "Find our bloodline holder and retrieve them." "If the ’One Above All’ or any other guardian of that plane dares to resist..." "You have my permission to erase that entire plane from the map." "As you wish, Progenitor," a voice answered. It sounded like the tolling of an apocalypse bell, heavy with the promise of ending. "The positive plane, huh?" the subordinate mused to himself as he began his journey. "I visited that half-baked plane eons ago." "It might be fun to see if it burns any brighter today." He vanished. He moved at a speed that ignored distance. Had Ethan been able to sense this being’s aura, he would have felt a chill deeper than anything he had ever known. This creature was an Absolute Continuum being. But one far more ancient and stable than "The Presence" that had attacked Ethan before. They were creatures of the neutral zone. They were the beings who were made of positive and negative matters. They were the unknown superior beings, Ethan was still evolving into. Back inside the tower, Ethan was watching Zara with a focused intensity. Her transformation was staggering. Even though her cultivation level was technically still in the Primordial realm, her raw combat prowess was skyrocketing. With 95% purity, she was stepping into the territory of an Origin Paragon. She was becoming a walking disaster for anyone who dared cross her. Suddenly, Ethan felt a sharp, icy prickle at the back of his neck. It was the Law of Fate. The invisible threads of the future were twisting. A dark, suffocating miasma was creeping toward his life path. It was an omen of an approaching shadow so vast it threatened to swallow everything he had built. What is going on? Ethan wondered, his jaw tightening. Do the Absolute Continuum beings already know I’m here? Or is this something tied to Zara’s blood? He pushed the worry aside for the moment. He could not show weakness in front of his guests. He turned his attention to Melida, who was watching the sleeping Zara with a mix of awe and fear. Ethan waved his hand. A brilliant white whip appeared on the table. It was supple and elegant. It was braided with metallic fibers that seemed to capture the light of the room. "Ms. Melida," Ethan said calmly. "As promised, I have created your weapon." "Please, take it." Melida stared at the whip. She could feel the Eternal Grade power radiating from it. An icy, fast-acting energy that felt like an extension of her own soul. Her mouth actually hung open. A bit of saliva pooled at the corner of her lips before she caught herself. "Thank you, sir! Thank you so much!" she squeaked. She clutched the whip to her chest like a precious child. Beside her, Mr. Harrow was practically vibrating with jealousy. He stared at the whip. Then at Ethan. Then at the floor. He desperately regretted not having the foresight to take Rose or Zara as his own apprentice earlier in their lives. He felt like a beggar watching a king hand out gold bars to his neighbor. Ethan noticed the old man’s internal struggle. He turned his gaze toward him. "Mr. Harrow," Ethan said. "You have a task ahead of you." "Teach lady Rose’s family well." "Ensure their foundation is solid and their techniques are sharp." "If you do your job perfectly, I will craft a custom-made weapon specifically for you as well." Harrow’s head snapped up. His eyes practically turned into searchlights. The jealousy vanished. It was replaced by a frantic, burning loyalty. "Thank you, sir!" "I will teach every single one of them personally!" "I will stay awake for a hundred years if I have to!" "That is my promise!" Ethan nodded.