Level 1 to Infinity: My Bloodline Is the Ultimate Cheat - Chapter 667

Chapter 667: The Tide Between Worlds

“Huh?” Ethan froze.

He looked down at Princess Star, barely over a foot tall, her delicate face like that of a porcelain doll. He had once joked to himself about keeping her in a fish tank. Now, he was actually supposed to take her with him. He hadn’t seen that coming.

Princess Star seemed to read his thoughts again. She didn’t know what a fish tank was, but she could sense it wasn’t anything good. For a creature of the sea, the idea itself felt humiliating. Her small face hardened, and she glared sharply at Ethan before gliding past him.

“Do you even know where the Megalodon Clan’s territory is? Or where the Dry Cavern Prison lies?” she demanded, her voice clear and cold.

Without waiting for an answer, she turned and floated toward the massive gates of the City of the Whale Fall.

Ethan rubbed his nose awkwardly and glanced at the Merfolk King. The King’s lips curved into a knowing smile as he waved. Ethan blinked, unsure what that expression meant, but decided not to dwell on it. He followed after Princess Star with the others.

They had arrived as four, and they left as four. But Starfall had been replaced by Princess Star, a Merfolk princess.

“Let’s go,” she said. “I’ll take you to the Megalodon Clan’s territory.”

Outside the gates, a massive sea turtle waited. Princess Star stood gracefully on its back, her silvery hair drifting with the water. Ethan gave a short nod and climbed up beside her. Dragon Child and Regis followed silently.

“Father,” Princess Star said softly, bowing deeply toward the city. “Your daughter is leaving.”

The barrier of shimmering water that guarded the city rippled faintly but did not part. She held her bow for nearly half a minute, her expression solemn and unreadable.

Ethan watched, a little confused. Was this… a farewell? It felt strangely final, as if she were saying goodbye forever.

Behind the water barrier, the Merfolk King stood watching. His eyes grew red, and tears—pearls—fell one after another. If Ethan had seen that, he might have suspected something. But he didn’t. He only thought Princess Star was reluctant to leave her home. Part of him wanted to tell her that once they reached the Megalodon Clan’s territory, she could always return. He could even leave the personal combat mech behind as a communication base. Current Earth technology couldn’t transmit signals this deep underwater, but Shatterstar’s system could.

The sea turtle moved with surprising speed, cutting through the water effortlessly. In less than ten minutes, it began to slow down. Ethan looked around and noticed the shapes of massive Megalodon creatures circling nearby. They were unawakened beasts, mindless and instinct-driven. When they spotted Ethan and the others riding the giant turtle, they scattered like startled fish. Such creatures always fled from the strong and preyed on the weak.

Soon, they reached an area where the seabed rose into a maze of jagged rock formations.

“We’re here,” Princess Star said quietly. It was the first thing she had spoken since they’d left the city.

—

Far above, on the U.S. coastline, two Flying Dragon ships were docking.

The shoreline was packed, the entire perimeter sealed off. Members of the Ninth Division and the Neutral Faction had gathered in force, along with representatives from the Noble Eight Lineages.

At the forefront stood Matriarch Whitmore and Donovan Silverwood. The Matriarch had regained her usual composure, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. Nearly everyone of importance in the American supernatural world was there. After all, this incident had drawn in thousands of ordinary people—it couldn’t be ignored.

Among them was Rowan Kane, among the leaders of the Ninth Division, the father of his former college roommate. Celeste had reached out to him, and he’d taken charge of rallying the faction of those who had withdrawn from supernatural affairs and tried to live among humans.

Only a fraction had actually come. Most wanted no part of the chaos anymore. They had families, jobs, children—lives they weren’t willing to risk again.

If Matriarch Whitmore hadn’t stepped forward to contact the Noble Eight Lineages for help, returning all those people—once controlled by Kiara Quinn and left wandering like lost souls—to their homes might have taken days, maybe weeks.

Once the two groups completed the handover, Victor and his team finally let out a collective breath of relief. Blackie flopped down on the rocky shore, panting like an overworked beast, his tongue hanging out as if he’d just run a marathon.

“Rainie is awake!” Aunt Melinda’s voice suddenly broke through the commotion.

Everyone turned in surprise. Rainie sat on a stone, dazed, holding a cup of water she hadn’t touched. Her brows were furrowed, her gaze distant, as if she were trying to recall something just out of reach.

[Beep… Communication enabled!]

Just as the last of the evacuees were escorted away by the Noble Eight Lineages and the Ninth Division’s Neutral Faction, a voice echoed above them.

Victor and the others looked up. The massive Shatterstar mech hovered invisibly in the sky, cloaked from ordinary sight.

“Where are you?” came Ethan’s voice, calm and familiar.

A projection flickered into existence in the air before them, revealing Ethan’s image.

“We’ve completed the handover!” Victor called up.

“That fast?” Ethan asked, a faint note of surprise in his voice. Then he smiled. “Good. Get ready to board the mech. We’re heading to Ascension Isle.”

“Boss, you finished on your end? Did you find Lyla and Astrid?” Victor asked quickly.

“All done,” Ethan replied, and another face appeared beside him in the projection.

It was Lyla. She looked a little tired, her hair slightly disheveled, but her eyes were bright and alive. Seeing her safe sent a wave of relief through everyone watching.

A low hum filled the air as the Shatterstar began its descent, its colossal frame breaking through the clouds. The chest hatch opened with a deep metallic hiss, and a ramp of blue light extended downward like a bridge.

Victor and the others exchanged looks of awe and exhaustion before stepping onto the light ramp one by one, disappearing into the mech’s open heart.

—

Far below the ocean’s surface, Ethan, Dragon Child, Regis, Lyla, Astrid, and Princess Star raced across the deep on the back of the ancient sea turtle.

Their course was set—the same coordinates Ethan had locked in during his last communication with Amber Zane.

“Ethan… I lost my necklace!”

Lyla’s voice trembled slightly. She had been curiously watching the shimmering projection in front of her before shutting it off. Her hand went to her chest, her expression pale with regret.

Ethan turned to look at her, and for a brief moment, his gaze slipped. Lyla’s tight, low-cut outfit didn’t help his self-control.

“Ethie!” she scolded, quickly covering herself. Her tone was half playful, half embarrassed.

If she hadn’t called him that, Ethan might have held himself back. But that single word—soft and intimate—made him lose composure. He slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her close with a grin.

“If it’s gone, it’s gone,” he said lightly. “It was a spiritual artifact. Maybe it found its true owner.”

In truth, he knew exactly where the Nether Jade had gone—his mother had taken it.

“Is that so?” Lyla murmured, her voice distant. She frowned, pressing her fingers to her temple. “I remember giving it to someone… and I think I saw Amber… and someone else. Someone named Chen…”

Ethan’s eyes widened. “Rainie Chen?” he asked before he could stop himself.

“Hmm?” Lyla blinked, trying to recall. “Yes… I think so.” Her expression brightened, as if the name had triggered something.