Ancestral Lineage-Chapter 74: Unforseen Changes.

Ethan rose from his bed, slid on his slippers, and exited his room, noting as he walked that his system screen had taken on a sleek silver hue with new blue script overlaying it. He brushed it off as a system update, more intrigued than concerned. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, he was met by five familiar faces—some visibly confused but mostly relieved and happy.

"Hi, guys… oof!" Two of the girls flung themselves into him, catching him off-guard with their enthusiasm. His recently increased strength couldn’t quite counterbalance their momentum, and he stumbled backward, landing on the floor with the two of them on top.

"I’m alright, no need to worry," he said with a gentle smile, patting each of their heads to reassure them.

A few awkward coughs came from the group, and Ethan, cheeks slightly flushed, helped the red-faced girls to their feet. As they dusted themselves off, he suddenly noticed a strange shift in his vision. His gaze lingered on each of them individually, and he realized he could see not only their basic stats but also the stats of their spirit beasts and, curiously, their evolution paths—something that didn’t entirely make sense to him yet.

His attention then shifted to Trevor, and he noticed something unusual. The marking before each subordinate’s name was typically gold, yet Trevor’s now had a blend of silver and deep indigo, forming a cosmic-like aura that swirled with multiple tones. Furthermore, the usual four-pointed compass had changed to seven points on his mark, and somehow, Ethan intuitively understood its significance. The North point even had a faint red glow at its tip.

"Ancestors?" he murmured.

"Huh?" Trevor asked, confused.

"Nothing." Ethan shook his head, focusing back on the group.

Trevor stepped forward, breaking the silence. "Alright, but we’ve got questions for you, Ethan. Lately, there have been… strange changes. For one, I somehow gained enlightenment in my Smoke affinity and acquired five new inducements. My sync with Apole has also reached 10%, and I feel my ’value’ as a subordinate to you has risen. I seem to… understand myself better. Can you explain any of that?" He scratched his head, visibly perplexed.

"Let’s all sit down first," Ethan suggested, sighing as he motioned toward the sofas. He understood their confusion—he had only just grasped the changes himself. Opening his system’s subordinate page, he began scrolling through each of their profiles, noting an intriguing new feature: each of his subordinates now had a mini-version of his system, equipped with basic identification and status pages. The implications of this were staggering, and he took a moment to absorb it all.

The system update had not only given him insight into the effects of his abilities but also provided him with a clearer picture of his own path. His Path had evolved slightly, reaching 7% completion. More notably, his abilities now had specific names and details—he could see exactly how his influence was affecting his subordinates. This shift in clarity granted him a newfound understanding of his current ability, "Spiritbinding Covenant."

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Spiritbinding Covenant:

- Allows the user to create profound bonds with followers, aligning them with his Path and enhancing their latent abilities. Through this covenant, he can unlock hidden potential in his subordinates, making each an avatar of unique traits reflecting Mysticism and Order. He can fine-tune their Paths to suit individual strengths, allowing him to enhance their focus, discipline, or overall strength in line with his aura.

- The bond also enables him to call forth spirits connected to these followers, summoning avatars embodying aspects of his own Dark and Holy affinities. These spirits are drawn from the unique relationships he holds with each subordinate, capable of aiding in both combat and defense.

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A soft chime resounded in his mind:

Ding!

> Your Path has evolved from "Path of Mysticism" to "Path of Mysticism and Order."

The revelation left him momentarily speechless. This ability was powerful—perhaps overpowered—given that it was only at 7% completion. With each progression in his Path, his strength would elevate his subordinates even further. The sheer potential of the Spiritbinding Covenant was awe-inspiring, and he had only begun to scratch the surface.

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Once everyone was seated, Ethan took a moment to collect his thoughts, glancing at each of them before speaking.

"I know you all have questions, but I’d like each of you to describe the changes you’ve noticed in yourselves first. Trevor let’s start with you. Your sync with Apole has reached 10% because my sync with Angitia—the spirit beast I am bound to—has increased, albeit drastically compared to yours. The enlightenment in your Smoke affinity might be a direct result of your value as my subordinate increasing. Since I need strong allies, the system has likely given you an extra push in potential. We’ll discuss this more privately after."

Trevor nodded, though curiosity was still visible in his gaze. Lamair was next to speak, his brow furrowed. "I’m not sure what’s going on, but it feels like my path has somehow… changed, or mutated. My spirit beast seems to be undergoing a mutation as well."

Ethan considered this, nodding thoughtfully. "I think I understand. As my strongest subordinate, it seems that your abilities and beast have adapted to keep up with the bond between us. Since you’re already stronger than I am, it’s likely that your reward came in the form of mutation and evolutionary growth for your spirit beast."

The three girls shifted uneasily, each waiting for the other to speak. Finally, Clara spoke up, a mixture of worry and wonder in her voice. "Ethan, I noticed that my willpower has increased, and… my core—it’s suddenly expanded. Do you know why?"

Ethan looked at her carefully, taking a moment before answering. "The expansion of your core—I can’t say for sure. That’s beyond my understanding. But your willpower… that’s most likely because of an indirect enlightenment. It’s possible that the Covenant’s influence boosted your mental resilience, aligning with the spiritual bond we share."

Clara seemed relieved, though a trace of uncertainty lingered. Harley, the second girl, took her turn. "I’ve noticed my healing abilities feel… stronger. It’s like I can heal more effectively, with less effort than before."

Ethan nodded, recalling the spiritual nature of his Path. "That makes sense. The Spiritbinding Covenant is rooted in both Mysticism and Order, which likely harmonizes with healing energies as part of the spiritual balance. My Path may have strengthened your Healing affinity as a natural extension of that."

Emily, the last of the three, cleared her throat, a slight flush coloring her cheeks as she spoke. "My plant affinity feels stronger too. I feel… more connected to nature, like I can draw on the essence of plants themselves more than before."

"That aligns with my Path’s influence," Ethan replied. "Since your affinity is deeply tied to natural forces, the bond likely attuned you more closely to the mystical aspects of Order. In turn, this would amplify your plant affinity."

As he looked at each of them, he felt a deep satisfaction in knowing his Path wasn’t just enhancing his own strength but fostering the growth of those who followed him. The Spiritbinding Covenant wasn’t simply a tool for power; it was a means to nurture potential and elevate his allies into something greater.

"Now that you know a bit more," he said finally, "I’ll keep you updated on what I learn about this Path and its effects. For now, trust that whatever changes you’re experiencing are leading you toward your fullest potential. We’ll work through it together."

The group seemed to relax, each of them digesting his words as a renewed sense of purpose settled over them. Ethan leaned back, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he felt a growing certainty that they were ready to face them—together.