Bryan arrived at the location deep inside the Forest of Eternal Light. He knew that he was in the right place as he saw people wearing armor patrolling around. And these people weren't ordinary at all as all of them had the aura of an A-rank and B-rank experts.
They were pretty deep inside the forest so monsters were common in this place. Corpses of second and first evolution monsters could be seen around.
The Bentley Family carefully picked this place. They knew that this place was between the territory of two third evolution monsters so they choose this place as the third evolution wouldn't wander out of their territory under normal circumstances.
The Forest of Eternal Light was the second largest forest in the Giza Continent. Countless powerful monsters inhabited this place and third evolution monsters could be considered normal. If they were unfortunate, they could bump into a fourth evolution monster or a fifth evolution monster.
The place that the guards were protecting was a gigantic alter. A fifteen-meter tall tower and above it was the altar. Stairs were situated in the four directions of the tower and the bottom of the tower was emitting a mysterious red light.
'This is harder than I thought...'
Bryan thought while observing the sight. He was only one and the number of the enemies reached hundreds. All of them were C-rank and above.
But he couldn't back down. He couldn't wait for the other people to come here to stop the ritual. Those people would die if he hesitated and he didn't want that to happen.
He wanted to form a plan but he wasn't Souta and Lumilia that could easily form a plan. All he could think was fight the enemies head-on.
"I will..."
He tightly clenched his fist as he looked ahead with a serious expression.
...
A tall handsome man wearing a red robe with golden trims was on the center of the altar. This man had short green hair and green eyes.
He was the head of the Bentley Family, Algard Bentley. A noble elf and a powerhouse at the shackled realm.
"Finally, I will be able to take back the bloodline of my ancestor. My dream will come true at last."
He said with an intoxicated face while looking at the moon in the sky. The moon was shining brightly as if responding to his words.
He turned around and said, "Bring out the sacrifice that will fulfill my dream."
His subordinates guide dozens of women of different ages. The women were different to each other but there was one thing they have in common. All of them were bound by chains and have bruises all over their bodies. Their eyes were lifeless as if they've given up on their lives.
They accepted their fate. The fate that they will die today and no one would save their pitiful lives.
"This is... The road to godhood will be opened in front of our eyes today."
Algard couldn't contain his excitement while watching the women walked towards the altar.
The Bentley Family was one of the oldest families in the Eternal Empire. Hundred years ago at their peak, their family produced dozens of shackled realm experts that broke at least seven shackles. They even have demigod powerhouses in their ranks but the era at that time was chaotic and full of war. So most of their experts died at that time and their family was reduced to its current state.
Now, he will bring back the bloodline of his ancestor. He will purify and take back the glorious noble bloodline of his forefathers.
"Let's start the ritual... The Blood Awakening Ritual..."
Algard looked like he was a madman. His expression was filled with excitement as he couldn't wait to bring back his family to its peak.
His subordinate went beside him and give him a wooden staff. This staff looked ordinary but it was a dark grade weapon called [Staff of the Wooden Priest]. It was a weapon that was passed down in his family.
Algard grabbed the staff and tapped the ground with it. A huge magic circle formed and light shone brightly as it shot towards the sky producing a large amount of mana.
Ohm!!
The next moment, the women fell down on their knees as intense pain assaulted their bodies at the same time. They writhed on the ground as their blood was circulating several times faster than normal.
"Everyone prepare yourself."
He warned his subordinates. He was at the crucial part of the ritual and he couldn't afford someone disturbing him.
With the amount of mana that the magic circle was releasing, he was sure that it would gather the attention of the monsters in the vicinity. The worst-case scenario was that the two third evolution would come to disturb his plan.
That's why he prepared the elites of his family. He brought one hundred twenty five C-rank, sixty-two B-rank, forty-seven A-rank, twenty-nine S-rank, and ten shackled realm experts.
This force could even overwhelm a fifth evolution monster. But it wasn't the true power of his family as some of his forces were left in the territory inside the Eternal Empire.
Just like what he expected, the monsters gathered around the vicinity. Well, he didn't need to worry about it as the elites of his family will handle it for him.
ROAR!!!
Roars of different monsters echoed in every direction and the elites quickly moved to eliminate the monsters that approached the ritual site.
Hundreds of monsters were attracted to the high flow of energy in this place. The first and second evolution charged at this place with the intention to destroy the flow of foreign mana that was disrupting the surrounding area.
"I will go..."
Bryan didn't let this chance passed by. He dashed forward and he opened his palm. He grabbed two B-rank experts before he smashed their heads into each other. Then, he raised his feet and kicked them away from him.
Bang!
With his current power, he could easily knock down B-rank experts. The barbarian blood flowing in his body was fully activated and it boosted his physical ability by several levels. He could even fight an A-rank expert with just his physical ability not relying on his mana, combat arts, and spells.
He was noticed by other elites when he knocked down the two B-rank experts.
"Who are you?!"
"Get him quickly!!"
"We will not let anyone approach the ritual!!"
Four A-rank and nine B-rank experts charged at him. The order of the head was to prevent anyone from approaching the ritual. It's not only for monsters as humans and demis were included in this order.
Bryan glanced at the ritual and felt that he should finish this as soon as possible. Cyndy and the rest of the women were waiting for him to rescue them. Who knows how many of them will die if he stayed here for a long time?
That's why...
Boom!
An enormous amount of mana exploded out of Bryan's body. It created a spherical wave that pushed everything around him. Then, lightning and flames burst out like a tsunami.
He didn't know why but his mana recovery has improved greatly.
'I need to stop the ritual...!'
Bryan's body was covered in lightning and flames. He flashed as he collided with the experts from the Bentley Family.
Boom!!
A loud explosion occurred that shook the ground heavily. Two of the four A-rank flew away and crashed on the trees. They didn't expect that Bryan possessed unbelievable strength.
While they were shocked at his strength, Bryan used this chance to dash forward and pulled back his fist. After gathering his mana, he threw it in the direction of the ritual.
[Blazing Strike]!!
A gigantic flame fist shot out from his fist and it flew towards the ritual. But then, a figure appeared in front of his attack and blocked it.
Boom!
The man who stopped his attack was an S-rank powerhouse who solidified his mana.
"You're getting ahead of yourself."
The man said as he zoomed the distance between him and Bryan.
'What?!'
Bryan opened his eyes widely as he saw the S-rank was throwing his fist at his stomach. He crossed his arm to block it but when the fist landed on his arm, he felt a powerful force pushing him.
It was so strong. The power of an S-rank expert was on a different level compared to an A-rank. An ordinary punch of an S-rank was ten times stronger than the attack of an A-rank that used combat arts.
Bang!
"Ugh!"
Bryan flew away and crashed on the ground creating a deep gully on it. When he came back to his senses, he saw the other two A-rank experts were already beside him.
'Not good.'
Boom!
A large explosion occurred and his figure flew away crashing on several trees.
"Argh!"
Bryan looked ahead and wiped the blood on the corner of his mouth. He squatted down and place his right palm on the ground while his other hand was on his back.
"I'll use the one that teacher Bargan taught me..."
[Dual Element Drive: Lightning and Flame Force]!!