Chapter 31: Revelations (Part-3)

"What? I didn't even know I was not an Earthling. How am I to blame for coming here?"

He took a long sigh and continued, "For that, you need to know the past of the Prominda Galaxy. In one sentence, everything that happened has to do with the activity that has been going on for the last 80 years. A bloody war!"

"War? Is it a civil war?" Shreya exclaimed. 

"No. It's not a civil war but rather, there is a small galaxy cluster, called the Lecromov cluster. Initially, the Lecromov cluster was inhabited by many lower level species but then an abnormal species started appearing in those galaxies and they multiplied rapidly, encroaching multiple planets every year. In just 36,000 years, they took over the entire cluster and slaughtered every other species. They never communicate with others, so we just call them the Shadowers."

Zen raised one of his eyebrows, "Hmm… so I guess they are connected to darkness in some way?"

"Not just that, but there are two fundamental problems when dealing with Shadowers. First, they attack in large groups, and second, although they are not even near us in strength, they have the unique ability to teleport once to a place they have been before. They get severely injured after doing so but because of their large numbers, they attack and escape continuously."

"So, they're the interstellar hit-and-run gang. Why don't you just attack them yourselves?"

"We tried, but they'd vanish and pop up elsewhere, only to attack us later. We even begged the intergalactic alliance for backup, but they turned a deaf ear to our requests."

"Alright, I get the cosmic chaos. How does this connect to me?"

Everyone stared at Zen as if he'd just recited poetry to a pack of penguins. Even Shreya shot him a look that said, "Are you for real?"

"Stupid disciple, what would happen if your affinities were leaked to the other species?"

"... Oh!" Zen's mouth turned into a circle, "So, we ran away because we were afraid of the Shadowers?"

Elizabeth took a deep breath now, "That's not the only reason." She was really hesitating before sharing this, "Remember that weird power surge you had during the fight?"

"Yes, it felt like my speed and attack power increased exponentially."

"That's because you already have a bloodline. And it is a thunder bloodline." As for complementing the mood, a thunder was heard, shining on Elizabeth's face.

…

"What? Why are you looking at me like this? Isn't it surprising?"

"I mean, Mrs. Ash...mo–mother, we all kinda figured Zen had some bloodline, given his powers." Evelyn blushed but managed to complete the sentence.

"""Mother?""" Zen, Anna and Shreya, exclaimed at once. "Why are you calling her mother, Evelyn?"

Evelyn turned around, "She asked me." She whispered while remembering what happened in the room.

Sigh. Zen didn't ask anything else. It wasn't like he was sad with this development.

"So, mom, what bloodline is in me?"

She closed her eyes, "Blue crown phoenix."

"WHAT?" Shreya stood up, yelling, "That's impossible."

"Why is it impossible, master?"

"From what I know, Blue Crown Phoenix are an ultra protected species. They are very intelligent and powerful, but they don't like getting involved with the others, so they never leave their planets. I also found that killing these species lives forever, and killing a Blue Crown Phoenix is one of the biggest offenses."

"You're spot on." Bennett nodded, "Their planets are directly guarded by the Intergalactic alliance and none of the phoenix has died for millions of years. And that's the biggest reason for hiding Zen and Elizabeth."

"And so you killed one for its blood?" Anna asked.

"But that sounds unlikely. First, nobody gets a bloodline right after birth. You have to wait at least 12 years for a transfusion, or your body won't make it. Second, no matter how advanced the Prominda galaxy is, I doubt they'd risk upsetting the Intergalactic alliance. Third, do you really think blue crown phoenixes are weak? They're one of the toughest species out there." Shreya chimed in while pinching her chin.

"Yes, we didn't get it from anywhere. Truth be told, Zen was inept when he was born. He didn't have an affinity with any element. We planned on raising him as an engineer like his father, and we weren't worried since Anna had good affinities. However, just a month after he was born, a group of Blue Crown Phoenixes appeared over the palace. Honestly, we thought we were all going to die. The biggest one separated from the rest and entered the palace, going straight into Zen's room. We were terrified, ran as fast as possible, only to find Zen playing on his bed with no sign of the bird. But then we noticed something was different with Zen," Elizabeth said solemnly, approaching Zen and promptly putting a pill in his mouth.

"Wha... Urghh," Zen groaned, feeling a burning sensation in his back and intense pain in his head. He fell off the chair, kneeling on the ground.

Evelyn moved to help him, but Bennett stopped her. "Don't! Don't disturb him," he warned. Evelyn gritted her teeth. She hated seeing Zen in pain. She had already seen him like this twice but still couldn't tolerate it.

Gradually, the pain subsided. Zen felt a new kind of energy coursing through his body, but somehow, he held on. After a few minutes, he climbed up, opening his eyes finally.

"What... Just what the hell was that, Mom? And why are you all looking at me like I'm a freak?" Zen was bewildered with everything. He looked at Evelyn, who was staring at him with wide eyes like everyone. Evelyn didn't say anything but took out her phone, opened the front camera, and handed it to Zen. He looked at himself.

"What!" He immediately ran towards the bathroom to look in the mirror.

With wide eyes, he examined himself. He had more muscles, his eyes were now light blue with a golden hue, and his hair was silver. The most significant change, however, was the dark blue tattoos on his back that ran down to his upper arms.

"Woah! I became way more handsome."

After checking himself out. He returned back and said,

"So you sealed my bloodline and now it is liberated, huh?" 

"Yes. And didn't you feel it? You are already in the 3rd outer ring." 

Zen nodded. He was surprised but as soon as his bloodline was liberated, he directly jumped to the 3rd outer ring. 

"I will have to practice the techniques. I think I already have some knowledge." Zen squinted his eyes but didn't dwell on it. He will understand everything about his newfound power when he will train after the talk.

"Mom, what about me? What are my affinities?" Anna asked with excitement. She was feeling bad for not getting the attention.

"My granddaughter, you have a double affinity with earth and light elements. Although you have not transfused yet, I already prepared a high 5th level earth bloodline for you." Bennett said to Anna with pride.

"Thank you… g-grandfather." Anna replied shyly. It was still awkward for her to call Bennett grandfather. "What grade bloodline does my brother have?"

"Hmm… blue crown phoenixes are low grade eighth level species, so he probably has the best bloodline out of all the humans in this universe."

"WHAT THE HELL! My disciple has 8th grade bloodline and his sister will get a 5th grade bloodline and here I am with a lowest grade 4th level bloodline." Shreya snapped. Why does she feel like a side character in the anime? 

'Am I like Ro*k Le* from Nar*to?'

"Haha", Bennett chuckled, "Little girl, don't worry much. You and this other little girl have supported Zen and Anna so of course we will not leave you like this." 

"Huh? No! I am just complaining to myself, Sir. Although I don't have a strong bloodline, I will not take advantage of Zen's family. I am just happy that I will witness interesting things because of Zen" She smiled sweetly. Evelyn also added, "I am already happy that Zen has people to back him. I don't need anything else."

They both were genuine. Although they were feeling a bit envious, they never once desired anything from Zen's family, even after hearing about his background. Zen was Shreya's disciple and Evelyn's lover and they will never take advantage of him.

"Master, Evelyn, just accept whatever he gives you. He has to make up a lot for not appearing for 17 years." He was actually very happy to hear Shreya's and Evelyn's words.

"Cough!" Bennett shamelessly ignored the verbal attack.

"Anyways, why did you hide everything? You are right that we had to run but why keep it a secret?" Anna asked.

"That's what I was coming to kids." Elizabeth readied herself. "From here on, you have to make a choice for your future."