My Descendants Are My Power

[Blackwood Year 210]

Five years had passed since that fateful day. Five years of silence, of unanswered questions, of a grief so profound it threatened to consume the world. Blackwood's allies had come to Glory City, seeking answers, seeking solace, but found only hollow echoes and a city frozen in time.

King Bryce, inheriting the mantle of leadership, continued the fight against the Druids, his heart heavy with the knowledge that the true enemy, the one who had shattered their world, still lurked in the shadows.

Within the Blackwood ancestral shrine, Ethan remained trapped in a prison of his own making, his spirit as withered and lifeless as the Primordial Blood Tree that stood guard outside.

He had failed his family, failed his clan. The memories haunted him, each fallen comrade a searing indictment of his inability to protect them.

But hope, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, can emerge from the most unexpected of places.

Benjamin, a mere ten years old when the world ended, had journeyed for five long years, guided by a father's dying wish and the faint hope of finding his kin.

He had walked through darkness, his spirit sustained by the belief that the Blackwood clan, like their namesake tree, could weather any storm.

His arrival at Green Manor, his desperate plea for guidance, sparked a flicker of life in Ethan's weary heart. The boy's unwavering faith, his refusal to give up hope, was a beacon in the darkness, a testament to the enduring spirit of the Blackwood clan.

"Go home…" Ethan whispered, his voice hoarse with disuse. Was there even a home to return to?

He had fought with everything he had, but it hadn't been enough. Heavenly Path was too strong, his power too absolute.

Even Phil, the ancient master of Crystal Crest, had warned them of Heavenly Path's potential, his ability to transcend the very limits of their world.

Despair threatened to consume him once more.

"Can I truly lead them home?" he wondered, his gaze fixed on Benjamin's hopeful face.

And then, he smiled. A genuine smile, the first in five long years.

The Forebearer Talisman pulsed with renewed energy.

[Yes, Benjamin,] Ethan's voice echoed through the talisman, filled with a newfound determination. [Let's find our family.]

"Yes, Forebearer!" Benjamin cried, tears streaming down his face as he clutched the talisman, his heart soaring with hope. He turned and ran, his steps lighter than they had been in years, his path illuminated by the belief that he was no longer alone.

Across the world, from hidden corners and forgotten places, the Blackwood descendants felt a surge of warmth, a flicker of hope. The Forebearer Talisman, dormant for so long, had awakened.

…

[Imperial Capital - Radiant Sky Grotto]

Nestled within a mountain cave, accessible only through a hidden network of tunnels and shimmering portals, lay Radiant Sky Grotto, Owen's sanctuary, his refuge from the chaos that had engulfed the world.

It was a place of learning, of innovation, where talented individuals gathered to hone their skills in the arcane arts.

But for Julian, it was a prison of a different kind.

He had arrived five years earlier, a broken shell of his former self, his spirit crushed by the weight of Larry's sacrifice. He had witnessed her final moments, felt the searing heat of the Nine-Nine Thunder Tribulation, the agonizing pain of her death echoing through their shared bond.

Owen had welcomed him with open arms, offering him a place among Radiant Sky Grotto's elite disciples.

But Julian had refused, choosing instead to bury himself in menial tasks, his days spent cleaning stables, tending to the psychic beasts, his nights haunted by nightmares he couldn't escape.

Owen watched him, his heart aching for the young man's pain. He had seen glimpses of the fiery, passionate psychic Julian had once been, but that spark was gone, replaced by a dull ache of resignation.

Late one night, as Julian knelt before the Forebearer Talisman in his sparsely furnished room, his voice a broken whisper, a flicker of hope ignited within him.

"Forebearer," he murmured, his gaze fixed on the talisman, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and longing. "I'm not reckless anymore. I'm careful… always watching, always waiting."

He clutched the Storage Ring Owen had given him, the same ring that had once held him captive, a constant reminder of Larry's sacrifice.

"I know they're here, Forebearer. Lance's people… they're watching me, studying me, trying to unlock the secrets of my puppetry. But I won't let them break me. As long as I'm useful… as long as I pretend to be… broken… they'll leave me be."

And then, the Forebearer Talisman began to glow.

Julian's eyes, dull and lifeless for so long, widened in disbelief. "Forebearer… you're back!"

"Julian…"

Ethan reached out, his hand trembling as he fought back a wave of emotion. He had watched Julian, his heart breaking at the sight of his grandson reduced to a shadow of his former self. But the Blackwoods were survivors. They adapted. They endured.

The talisman pulsed with warmth, bathing Julian's face in a golden light.

"Don't worry, Forebearer," Julian said, a shaky smile spreading across his lips. "I'm safe. For now. This place… Radiant Sky Grotto… they have skilled artisans, formation masters, even AI Bionic Robot engineers."

"I might be a mere servant, but I learn. I watch. I wait. And when the time is right… I'll be ready. I can reach Competent Force, Forebearer. I can become a Sixth Grade Puppet Master.

I just… I need time."

[Your descendant, Julian, has awakened from his despair. He has chosen to bide his time, honing his skills, mastering his enemies' techniques, awaiting the day he can reclaim his birthright. Trait gained: Patient Hunter.]

[Cultivation speed increased by 20%, comprehension increased by 20%.]

"He hasn't given up," Ethan whispered, his own spirit lifting. "None of them have."

He left a simple message for Julian: "We are safe." Read latest stories on empire

And then, he was gone, his spirit soaring through the nexus, drawn towards the other flickering lights that represented the scattered remnants of the Blackwood clan.

"I won't let you down, Forebearer," Julian vowed, his gaze hardening with resolve. He looked down at the Storage Ring, his fingers closing around it tightly.

"If only I had been stronger, more cautious… maybe Larry would be here with us now."

"I'll avenge you, Larry," he whispered, his voice filled with a chilling intensity. "I'll make Heavenly Path pay for what he's done. I swear it."