Grand Ancestral Bloodlines

Lightning rained from the skies like the judgment of the Gods.

Even so high up, Ryu was like his own lightning rod, but rather for the attacks of his enemies below rather than the forces of nature themselves.

Large swaths of God Qi rushed into him from all sides, still fueling his breakthrough as though he couldn't be satiated.

Attacks stormed toward him from all sides, but they quickly found that even though Ryu looked like a single target, he was practically one with the skies.

His body seemed to move even faster than when he was teleporting. He was lightning and lightning was him, he could easily appear anywhere in the range of his Storm Talent...

And then he began his assault again.

His body vanished into a bolt of lightning that struck down with a mighty air of judgment. The ground exploded and his target was minced to pieces as his real body appeared.

The carnage was even faster than last time, Ryu's Birthed Phenomena looming in the skies like an overlord.

It rode upon a Lightning Qilin, its majesty unmatched as the world seemed to be in his palms.

The slaughter was endless and the Fading Star army was crushed. Their attempts to fight back all fell flat and they were chased out, most of their Sky Gods beneath the Perfect Sky God Realm unceremoniously slaughtered.

They ran for their lives, tucking their tails tightly between their legs.

Ryu stopped chasing after them, his gaze a frightening cold. After a moment, he waved a hand and hundreds of Godhoods rose into the skies, rushing toward him.

There was most definitely a taboo around gathering them like this, it was just that Ryu couldn't be bothered to give a damn. Were the police of morality going to upgrade his Realm Heart for him?

The battlefield fell into silence for a moment before the cheers erupted. It was deafening and it seemed to roar across the Seventh Heaven.

The Faith Well of the Radiant Star Sect seemed to overflow, large pools of Faith gathering as the conviction of its disciples deepened.

Ryu couldn't seem to enjoy the ambiance, the hint of annoyance in his heart very much still there.

He landed on the ground and found Eska had appeared by his side without a word. She didn't do much, but she did fix his collar and wipe sweat from his brow. When she was satisfied she silently stood at his side.

The hints of annoyance in Ryu's heart slowly faded as he exhaled a breath.

'Even if it's you, the difference between us is still time and nothing else,' Ryu said in his heart.

A resplendent glow shone from Ryu's heart, however most didn't notice it as large clouds of qi still poured into him.

He took Eska's hand, feeling the last of his bad mood vanishing into smoke.

"Where are they?" Ryu asked.

Eska frowned.

"The situation is bad?" Ryu followed up.

Eska's lips parted slightly, but she eventually nodded, then shook her head, then nodded again.

"It's complicated," she finally said. "I have no way of knowing for certain, but there are some bad things in the works."

Eska's experience was deeper than anyone here, even far beyond Old Wan and Aika. Those two likely didn't know that his woman was actually an old monster who had experienced trillions of years. She had watched empires rise and fall, her wisdom was unmatched. Whether she experienced those years in a world like Sacrum or not wasn't hardly relevant.

Ryu realized that he didn't often lean on this wisdom of Eska's. But that was also because he hadn't spent much time by her side in the first place.

"What are you thinking?" He asked.

Eska looked at him, seemingly surprised by the question. Ryu didn't seem like the type to rely on the analysis of others. If he asked her for information, she wouldn't be surprised at all. But he clearly wasn't just asking for information, he wanted to know her perspective.

"... The Convergence..." she said slowly.

The two had only talked about it for a short time. Ryu had wanted her to try and take some advantage of it as well if she had the opportunity. That was part of the reason why Eska was traveling around with Selheira and Jojo, aside from just protecting them, of course.

"... There's been a striking lack of opportunities on the Seventh Heaven, at least not anything that could be considered out of the norm, and that's not characteristic of this Convergence you described.

"There should be an avalanche of lucky chances that could be found anywhere, especially with youths with as much Faith swirling around them as Selheira and Jojo.

"But the journey we took could be considered to be almost eerily normal. We did find some things, but nothing that would be enough to turn heads.

"Then there was the odd actions of Lord Crown Fire, he seemed to almost too easily give in as though he was deferring to the Fading Star Sect. And yet, when the Fading Star Sect launched this attack, there was no sign of the other Sects.

"In addition to that, it could be said that the youths that stepped out from the Complete Heaven Path were also startlingly average. Part of that is because Lord Husband outshines them by a large degree, but there's another part of it as well.

"Selheira didn't seem to have gained much at all. Her path is a bit unique, so it somewhat makes sense. But Jojo hadn't either. The one who benefited the most would be Lord Husband and Starlight, but the latter has practically gone into hiding.

"There's..."

A hint of worry sparked in Eska's eyes.

"I have experienced a lot, and I've come to feel that the Heavens are an incredibly fair Judge. The Convergence is meant to be a chance for all, but too many of its chances have concentrated on Lord Husband, it's throwing the balance off.

"The Heavens will not like that."