The Forsaken Heir's Ascension
Chapter 67: The Eagle God’s Trial: Spearbearer of the Hidden Bloodline

Chapter 67: The Eagle God’s Trial: Spearbearer of the Hidden Bloodline

Five hunters moved in perfect sync, like extensions of a single mind, surrounding Alex in an instant. Their movements were mechanical but swift. All of them drew their weapons—three unsheathing swords, and two nocking arrows to their bows.

The archers stayed at the rear while one of the swordsmen advanced on Alex.

Alex spun his spear.

Cling!

He levelled it forward, eyes narrowing.

Can I face this many? I’ve never fought this many at onc—

SLASH!

A flash of steel silenced his thoughts.

Alex ducked low, narrowly dodging the lightning-fast strike. Another thrust came, this time aiming straight for his face. He jerked his head back, the blade missing him by a breath, grazing his skin.

He leapt backward.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two arrows embedded in the stone where he’d just been standing.

He wiped his brow, steadied his breathing, and straightened his spear.

I’m outnumbered—and they’re fighting in perfect coordination.

Just then, Hati, sensing the danger, lunged at a nearby swordsman. The hunter barely dodged, escaping Hati’s snapping jaws by a hair’s breadth.

Landing with a thud, Hati growled, locking eyes with the hunter who had evaded him.

The pressure on Alex lessened slightly as one opponent became distracted.

From a distance, Lyra watched with tense eyes.

They’re too experienced. Alex and Hati aren’t enough. Should I jump in? But if I do... they’ll be unprotected.

She clenched her daggers, mind racing for an opening, a chance.

Alex ducked another slash—it sliced a few strands of his hair. He tried to focus on one enemy, but they covered each other’s blind spots flawlessly. If one missed, an arrow flew in its place, forcing Alex to jump or parry.

They didn’t tire. Their weapons glowed with a yellow light—arrows and swords that could shatter stone.

With a flash of thought, Alex activated Serpent Fang.

He vanished.

A heartbeat later, his spear pierced clean through the skull of one swordsman.

THUD.

The body dropped.

A slash came for his neck—he jumped back.

An arrow struck where he had stood a moment before, but another found its mark, piercing his thigh.

Alex groaned, biting down a scream. He clenched his jaw and immediately sealed the wound with the wood element, halting the bleeding.

He rushed the second swordsman.

Using all the power from his core—legs, torso, arms—he drove his spear forward in a brutal thrust.

The swordsman mirrored the attack, aiming for Alex’s chest.

SWOOSH!

Blood sprayed. Alex’s emerald spear pierced through the man’s throat. The swordsman’s blade, once aimed at Alex’s heart, fell short—half-completed.

Alex yanked his spear out and jumped back.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two arrows hit the ground where he had stood.

"Now it’s your turn, you fucking annoyance."

He turned toward one of the bowmen, lunging fast.

The bowman tried to deflect the spear with his bow, but the force sent him stumbling back. He tried to nock another arrow—but it was too late.

The emerald spear struck like a viper, piercing his skull through his closed eyes and exiting out the back.

Alex didn’t pause—he dodged another incoming arrow and turned to the last archer.

He rushed forward.

Before the bowman could react, the spear struck again—straight through the chest.

THUD.

The man collapsed, a twisted smile frozen on his face.

Alex turned toward Hati to help—but paused.

Hati stood, jaws clenched around the throat of the last swordsman, now motionless.

With laboured breath, Alex muttered, "Well done... you... shouldn’t eat humans... brother."

Hati dropped the body and walked over, panting. He sat beside Alex.

Alex slumped down too, wrapping an arm around his companion.

"You did good, Hati," he whispered.

Across the field, Lyra finally let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. As the tension drained from her body, she collapsed onto the ground, exhaustion washing over her like a wave.

Far from Alex and the others, inside a triangular chamber, a massive eagle statue stood tall at the centre like a god. Its yellow eyes glowed fiercely, casting an eerie light across the stone walls. One by one, the remaining hunters who had been prostrating themselves rose to their feet. In perfect unison, they circled the statue and drew their weapons—swords gleaming, bows strung tight—moving like they shared a single will.

Back in the circular chamber, Alex knelt beside Hati. He placed his hand gently on the wolf’s side and closed his eyes. Green light glowed faintly as he channelled his wood element, mending Hati’s wounds. When he was done, he let out a quiet groan and gritted his teeth, reaching for the arrow embedded in his thigh. With a swift pull, he yanked it free, hissing in pain, and quickly sealed the bleeding with a pulse of healing energy.

Wiping sweat from his brow, he stood and walked over to Lyra. "You okay?" he asked.

Lyra gave a slow nod, her voice calm but weary. "Yes... just exhausted from all the tension."

Alex nodded in understanding, then looked around at the others resting nearby. "Let’s wake them up and get out of here. I don’t think this place is safe."

Lyra’s expression tightened. "Why do you say that?"

Alex’s eyes settled on the bloodied bodies sprawled across the chamber floor. "They weren’t acting on their own. I think they were being controlled—and whoever was controlling them sent them here to kill us."

Hati let out a sharp bark and growled, his eyes fixed on the headless statue in the center of the room.

Alex followed his gaze and patted the wolf’s head. "Yeah, Hati. I think you’re right. That statue is involved."

Lyra looked between them, clearly unsettled. "What are you two talking about?"

Alex turned to her, his tone low and serious. "There’s another statue—similar to this one. But I think it’s more powerful. That one may be controlling everything."

Lyra shivered and wiped the sweat from her brow. Her hands trembled as she sank to the ground.

"That statue... I’ve seen it before."

Voice came from behind Lyra, calm, but the dread in it echoed through the chamber.

Meika stirred and slowly stood, her eyes scanning the room. She took in the carnage, the fallen hunters, then met Alex’s gaze. "I know that statue."

Alex’s face grew solemn. "Tell us."

Meika’s voice shook, her fear unmistakable. "That statue... it’s a mythical creature. A god. The Eagle God of Thunder."

As her words echoed, the chamber seemed to darken. The air grew heavy. Yellow light began to seep through the cracks in the walls, dim but oppressive—like the pressure of something ancient and watching.

Then it happened.

Alex’s body tensed as his eyes turned crimson, his pupils narrowing into slits. A shadow unfurled behind him—massive and grim. A dragon’s face with feathered wings spread wide, its presence filling the entire chamber. The air buzzed with unseen energy. The shadow opened its jaws in a silent roar, and the yellow light faltered.

Then it recoiled—as if retreating from its true master.

Lyra and Meika collapsed to the ground, breathing hard, overcome by the invisible pressure. Hati whimpered and backed away, ears low, tail tucked.

The yellow glow receded entirely. The shadow vanished.

Alex’s eyes returned to their usual purple hue. He dropped to the floor, breathing heavily, sweat rolling down his face. His thoughts raced.

Why is this happening again? Why can’t my secrets stay hidden?

He gripped his hair in frustration.

If they see this... if they tell anyone... I’ll become a lab rat. Just another specimen to dissect.

Alex stood still for a moment, thoughts swirling in his mind. If we make it out of this alive... I’ll figure out how to convince them not to tell anyone what they saw. He clenched his fist, pushing down the fear and uncertainty. Then, turning toward his dread-stricken companions, he said in a steady, calm voice, "Wake the others. We need to get out of here."

Meika and Lyra blinked as if shaken from a trance, then exchanged a hesitant glance and nodded. Without a word, they moved to the nearby sleeping figures.

Alex walked over to Hati, crouched beside him, and smiled gently. "You okay, buddy?"

Hati hesitated for a second, then stepped forward. After sniffing Alex’s face, he began licking it with a happy bark, all fear forgotten.

Alex chuckled, ruffling the fur on his head. "Good boy."

Nearby, Rina and Kaelan stirred awake. As they sat up, their eyes widened at the sight of blood and bodies scattered around them. Kaelan recoiled in shock, stumbling back a few steps.

"WHAT HAPPENED?!" Rina’s voice rang through the chamber like a thunderclap, shrill and jarring.

Everyone instinctively clutched their ears.

Lyra spun toward her, glaring. "Quiet down! You’ll wake the dead!"

Realizing her outburst, Rina slapped both hands over her mouth and nodded sheepishly.

Alex let out a light laugh. "Looks like you’re back to normal."

With that, he turned and walked toward the corridor where the hunters had emerged earlier. As he stepped over the fallen bodies, he paused at the entrance, casting a glance back at his companions—who were still standing frozen, staring at him.

He sighed, his tone dry. "What are you looking at? Let’s move."

The group snapped out of their daze and hurried after him. Lyra, quicker than the rest, caught up first and fell into step beside Alex, walking next to Hati.

Without another word, Alex led the way through the winding corridor, his companions close behind.