Chapter 25: The Battle for Control

"Restrain it until the blood from each blood arrow disappears into the cocoon itself," the male hunter instructed, his voice cold and precise. "If it tries to break free, put the Malboorne Rock into the cocoon and press it against it."

Aiden nodded, his gaze fixed on the cocoon at the center of the formation. He had witnessed the entire ritual unfold, yet its purpose remained shrouded in mystery. The intricate pattern of blood arrows in the formation seemed unsettling, almost sinister.

Even the requirement for the ritual was disturbingly cruel, demanding the blood of the subject's descendants. Each arrow, pulsating with a dark crimson glow, formed from the very life force of its descendants.

Aiden looked at the Malboorne Rock, a strange, unassuming stone, then back at the cocoon. As he approached the cocoon, a potent aura washed over him, a tangible presence that spoke of raw power on the cusp of unleashing itself upon the world. The air around it crackled with latent energy, a constant reminder of the being's immense potential. If this creature emerged in its full glory, it could very well overpower even these both hunters.

Aiden sneered at the cocoon, his disdain palpable.

'What is the worth of attaining supreme strength if, upon opening your eyes, you find yourself alone?' Aiden murmured.

The being inside the cocoon remains inside the cocoon, when its descendants and kins were slaughtered by the hunter, It chose to complete its evolution and become stronger compared to trying to save its descendants.

Aiden didn't care how powerful he might become in the future. Without his sister by his side, any strength would be meaningless. He had already experienced the bitter taste of losing his parents and wouldn't let it happen again.

That's why, at the beginning of the trial, Aiden was not satisfied with obtaining the Primordial bloodline.

He could feel its limitless potential, that is given, if he would be careful. He can surely become one of the powerful beings in the King Program. But the Primordial Bloodline need time.

Time was a luxury Aiden couldn't afford. He needed to become powerful, but he needed to do it quickly.

He needed to be become powerful when his sister summons to this cruel world. So that he could protect her.

But for now, he needed to escape from their clutches first. Their hold on him was too tight.

The colossal tree, a titan of the forest, loomed over them, casting long shadows. Aiden stood before the cocoon, aware of the hunters' watchful eyes. They regarded him with a mixture of caution and expectation, their gazes like hungry vultures assessing him from head to toe, searching for any signs of defiance..

Jiange, the male hunter, had explained his task: to prevent the creature from emerging until the ritual was complete. He had handed Aiden the Malboorne Rock, a strange stone meant to subdue the creature if it broke free. Jiange had mentioned its power to suppress any being casually, but Aiden sensed there was more to it.

Despite Jiange's nonchalance, Aiden guessed that the Malboorne Rock was a potent weapon, not something just anyone could possess.

"Human kid, don't let it escape," Jiange's cold voice echoed in Aiden's ear, a chilling reminder of the consequences of failure.

"Jiange, he's our teammate now. He'll do his part," the female hunter interjected, her voice softer, but her eyes held the same steely resolve.

Aiden returned a wary smile, masking his inner turmoil.

The male hunter, seemingly satisfied, turned to Jiange. "Activate the suppression domain," he commanded.

The female hunter nodded, her hands weaving intricate patterns in the air. With each movement, a faint luminescence emanated from her palms, coalescing into a swirling, ethereal circle. As the circle completed, a beam of light shot forth, connecting with the cocoon. A series of unknown symbols materialized around the cocoon, forming a glowing cage of energy.

Aiden suddenly felt a surge of power from the cocoon, a desperate struggle against the newly erected barrier. The hunters exchanged glances, their eyes filled with a mix of anticipation and apprehension.

Jiange, the male hunter, quickly began his part. He bit his finger hard, and blood began to flow out. But rather than dripping to the ground, the blood floated, defying gravity, forming a thin, crimson string that connected to his finger. Jiange's face remained stoic as he directed the blood string towards the cocoon. The blood moved with a life of its own, as if guided by some unseen force, and sharply descended onto the cocoon, piercing its surface.

Suddenly, Aiden felt a palpable shift in the atmosphere. The air grew heavy with power, and the intricate patterns of blood arrows surrounding the cocoon seemed to pulse with a life of their own. The scene was beyond anything he had ever anticipated.

He guessed that the female hunter was suppressing the being inside the cocoon through some ability, an ability that needed to be continuously channeled.

The male hunter's blood string was something, he didn't understand a bit.

"Is that their complete innate ability that they awakened?" Aiden murmured, his voice barely audible over the humming energy surrounding them.

Time passed slowly, each second feeling like an eternity as the cocoon continued to strain against the suppression field. Despite its vigorous attempts to break free, the being inside seemed more focused on its evolution, as if this transformation was more crucial than its very survival.

Aiden didn't fully understand the significance of this evolution for the creature in this mysterious world. Yet, judging by its relentless drive to complete the process, even at the cost of its life, he knew it must be an integral part of its existence.

His eyes drifted to the pale red blood arrows surrounding the cocoon. They could barely be called arrows anymore; their luster was almost entirely gone. With each passing moment, the blood within it were steadily flowing into the cocoon, merging with it.

Aiden then glanced at the two hunters, his mind racing with plans for escape. The female hunter's hands continued their dance, maintaining the suppression field. The beam of light from her palms kept the cocoon encased in its glowing prison, the symbols around it glowing brighter with each passing second. She was visibly strained, her face taut with concentration, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

Jiange, the male hunter, meanwhile, was channeling his own power through the blood string. His eyes never left the cocoon as he exerted his will, ensuring that the blood pierced deeply enough to hold the creature at bay. The crimson thread seemed to throb with energy, pulsing with his own life force.

As Aiden observed the scene, he knew he had to make his move soon. The hunters were likely to finish what they intended without any obstruction.

Despite their power, they were preoccupied and strained. If he timed it right, he might just find a way to slip through their grasp and escape from their clutches.

××××××××××