Bloodline Evolution: I Can Choose Opposing Paths-Chapter 84: Lancaster’s Golden Chariot

The fire user moved now, his fire scorpion behind him snapped its claws as waves of fire emitted from it. At the same time, the wind user’s hawk beat its wings, conjuring a sharp gust that blasted forward.

Together, the fire and wind created a miniature flame tornado that was rapidly approaching them in the narrow space.

Aren backed off, placing both swords in an X-guard as he prepared for the attack. But Daniel moved quickly.

The senior plunged his lance down to the floor. Instantly, several plates of heavy metal materialized in front of them, locking together like a forming wall.

The swirling firestorm crashed against the barrier, flames scattering harmlessly along the reinforced plates before dissipating into smoke.

"You’re...more competent than I thought," Aren said, lowering his blades slightly.

"You look down on me too much," Daniel cried through obvious crocodile tears.

The metal plates dissolved back into ether as quickly as they had appeared. The moment the barrier disappeared, the guards moved again, realizing too late that their combined attack had done absolutely nothing.

Daniel didn’t give them the chance to recover. Ether condensed outward before attaching itself to his body.

Aren felt the pressure immediately. It rolled outward like an invisible wave, overwhelming in a way that only a higher-ranked Mystic could produce. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Even the guards seemed to sense it, their movements slowing as they instinctively stepped back.

Golden plates of armor began forming one after another, locking themselves into ornate layers of armor that wrapped across his chest and shoulders, and eventually the rest of his body.

Within seconds, Daniel stood encased in radiant golden armor. The lance in his hand hummed faintly as the same golden ether flowed along its blade.

But it was the form that the armor had taken that told Aren of the senior’s true identity.

Golden Chariot.

A Spirit-type Bloodline classified among the highest ranks of Spirit Bloodlines. Only one family possessed it—the Knights who had long held influence across the Western Dominion.

The Lancaster Family.

"You’re...a Lancaster," Aren muttered.

"We’ll sort out the details later," Daniel replied through the helm. "Let’s deal with these guys first."

The moment he replied, Daniel had already moved. In just a step, he had appeared right next to the wind-user, faster than he had any right to be in a full suit of armor.

The hawk-shaped ether behind him beat its wings violently once more, trying to blast compressed air toward Daniel.

But the Senior didn’t dodge, as he just stood there and tanked the blast, with it not even denting his armor.

The guard’s eyes widened as Daniel’s lance came down a moment later. The heavy blade struck the man’s shoulder and instantly drove him crashing to the ground.

Daniel spun the lance once in his grip before muttering.

"One."

The fire user hesitated, but it was enough of an opportunity for Aren to close the gap. Lightning surged through his legs as he dashed forward.

The frost user barely reacted, slamming his foot down to create a barrier of ice. But the ice had formed too late, as Aren was already inside his strike distance.

His blade of water flashed first, carving across the man’s chest as the cut filled instantly with swirling water. Aren pivoted smoothly, his body twisting as the second blade followed through.

Lightning crackled violently as it tore across the same wound.

The guard’s body convulsed as electricity surged through him before he collapsed onto the damp stone floor.

For a brief moment, the chamber went quiet again before Aren saw the last guard slam into the far wall before crumbling to the ground

Daniel dusted off his hands as his armor faded into light. Aren dispelled his own weapons before jogging over.

"Relax," Daniel said casually as a bead of sweat slid down his forehead. "I didn’t kill any of them."

"...Hopefully."

Aren stared at him before replying.

"So we’re gonna talk about your last name? Or—"

His sentence stopped halfway before the static in his ears crackled and Emily’s voice came through.

"Aren? Are you there?"

He tapped the side of the device as he straightened.

"Yeah. Go."

There was a brief pause, followed by the rapid clicking of keys on the other end.

"...Okay, I’ve got them," Emily said. "Your guess was right. The sewer exits connect to the Market District cameras."

Aren immediately glanced toward the tunnel where the other guards had escaped.

"Where are they?"

"They surfaced about a minute ago," Emily replied quickly. "Looks like they came out through an old maintenance hatch behind the market warehouses."

Daniel stepped beside him, stretching his arms and looking like he was ready to move again.

"And?" he asked.

"They loaded the woman onto a truck," Emily said as she typed away. "A black cargo transport, no plates. Probably company-owned."

Aren frowned.

"Direction?"

"Heading east."

"East?" Daniel repeated. "Isn’t that where—"

"...Yeah. They’re moving toward the east exit highway," Emily’s voice came through, a bit more like static than usual.

"They’re trying to get out of the city," Aren’s eyes widened. "But why..."

"So?" Daniel asked. "What’s the plan?"

Aren didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked up toward the ceiling of the tunnel.

Even through the thick layers of concrete and earth, he could already feel the faint sounds of speakers.

The venue’s in the complete opposite direction...

If they went after the truck, it would take time to catch up. Even if they managed to stop it quickly, the chase alone could delay them long enough that the concert would already be in full swing.

But if they didn’t—

That woman was the only lead they had.

Aren clenched his jaw before raising a hand to his earbuds.

"Emily-senior."

"Yeah?"

"If anything strange happens at the venue," he said quietly, "I want you watching it."

"We’re chasing the truck."

"If we let them leave the city," Aren turned toward Daniel, announcing the plan. "We lose our only lead."

Daniel smirked faintly.

"Finally," he said. "I was worried you were going to overthink it."

"We’re not done with our talk by the way," Aren said as he side-eyed Daniel. The senior flinched before sighing.

"Of course you wouldn’t forget so easily..."

Both of them dashed toward the exit, following just behind the footsteps of the guards before.

This was a heavy risk, and Aren hoped he made the right decision.