Genetic Ascension

Chapter 2288: Arrivals (2)

It wasnʼt long before the second arrival landed. However, this second arrival came from a group of four, not two. And if Sylas had been there, he would recognize them all too well.

One of them was his master, Gralith. As for the other three, they were none other than his older disciple brothers and sister. However, what was odd was that Gwenu and Khan didnʼt look as corporeal as Ekear and Gralith looked. It was almost like they were just ghosts.

”Do you feel it?” Ekear asked Khan and Gwenu.

”The Demi-God Plane…” they both said absent mindedly.

”I consider the two of you my little brother and sister. I consider master my father. But there are things that Master knows that you two do not and I believe that it is about time I let you know so that you can make the decision for yourselves.

”My full name is Ekear Nethum. This name likely doesnʼt mean much to you, and it is no surprise. The Nethum Clan is a Clan of nomads, but we are nomadic in a way that is unique even compared to other similar clans.

”Rather than moving in groups, we are sent out on our own, often without any information of where we originate from, who our parents are, or if we have any family at all, for that matter.

”Those that can make it on their own can make their way back to the Clan and become part of its power. Those that fail are forever stripped of the right and will never gain access to their bloodlines again.”

There was confusion in Gwenu and Khanʼs eyes, but they still listened intently. Did this mean their eldest disciple brother came from the Demi-God Plane?

”The reason my Clan does this is because of an extreme form of evolution-chasing. Powerful Clans grow stagnant, they forget what it means to grow and pursue greater heights, they stifle themselves because they would rather hoard what they have instead of chase after something greater.

”My Nethum Clan purges large amounts of its younger generation in order to succeed in doing this.”

Gwenu blinked. ”But then… why is it that you seem to remember so much?”

Ekear smiled and rubbed Gwenuʼs head. Despite the fact she was little more than a ghost, he seemed to do so without any problem at all.

”I have a special constitution. My Clan is very strict with how they do things, so they do not thoroughly check youths before they are sent out. In fact, mothers never meet their children either. Even if my mother saw my face now, she would likely only be able to recognize me by my Will alone.

”We have special methods of pulling babies out of our mothersʼ wombs right before they are ripe for birth.

”The only reason I know as much as I do is because I was conscious from the moment I was conceived. My Will matured much faster than others and was considered Forged before I was even more than a single cell.

”By the time I was pulled from my motherʼs Will, I already had Marked Will, only a step away from Infinity. Because of this, the usual methods of erasure the Nethum Clan used were effective on my body, but not on my mind.

”I learned a great deal about the Clan before I was shipped away to the Skai Heavenʼs Mortal Plane. My problem is that because the Nethum Clanʼs methods were only half effective on me, it could lead to punishment.

”I am not the first to have found a method to circumvent the erasure, so I know that as long as I remain within the bounds of the rules, I will be able to return unhindered. When the time comes, I will have an advantage against all the others.”

Khan finally frowned as everything sank in.

”Then what decision are you asking us to make?”

He remembered that Ekear had made it pretty clear that there was one for them to make. But he didnʼt really understand. What about this was worth making a decision over?

”Me telling you this is already putting you in danger,” Ekear explained. ”But more important than any of that is the fact that should you choose to continue forward with me, while there will be a lot of good that comes your way, there will be a lot of trouble as well.

”When the call for return is signaled by the Nethum, we will have a period of time to gather our own people. For a Clan that purges as much as we do, allies and strong romantic partners are of the utmost importance. It is the only way for us to make up the difference.

”So, we will be expected to have built up a network of our own that will be of use to the family.

”This network will be tested. Managing to return to the Clan is the first test, but afterward, the network weʼve chosen will have to fight on our behalf.”

Gwenu and Khan finally understood. If the Nethum Clan was truly so powerful, then whomever they brought back would likewise also be extremely powerful.

”Is it really smart of you… to trust us?” Khan asked hesitantly.

They were having a hard enough time catching up on the Mortal Plane. Though Sylas had helped them a lot, it would still take time before they were even decent compared to the best of the Mortal Plane.

How were they going to keep up with the geniuses of a Demi-God Clan?

Ekear smiled warmly. ”With my methods, the only thing I care about is having people I can trust by my side. That I can promise you. I will make you more than powerful enough. I just donʼt want to push you into something you donʼt want to do.”

Gwenu took a deep breath. ”Then what about Sylas?”

Ekearʼs smile faltered a bit, and then he shook his head.

”I have spoken to master a great deal about this. He does not agree, but…” Ekear took a breath and exhaled. ”I cannot give Sylas this opportunity. I cannot trust him. You tell me, Gwenu, Khan… do you think Sylas would follow me faithfully? Because that is what it would require.”

Gwenu and Khan looked toward one another and smiled bitterly.

”There is one more thing I have not told you.” Ekear said slowly. ”The Nethum Clan is not of the Skai Heaven. It is from the Poise Heaven.

”It is also not of the Demi-God Plane. It is of the God Plane.”