Reborn as the bastard son of a Duke

The whole atmosphere of the forest had made a drastic shift.

The ordinary woodland was now no more, now it was like a living labyrinth with twisting paths, an unnaturally thick fog also formed.

There was a heavy stillness present in Adam's lungs, there was a trail of feeling cultists that ran away deeper into the darkness.

The trail was marked by their footsteps, there was also a trail that was lingering with flecks of the corrupted residue they left behind during their frantic escape.

Adam decided to move, he was silent, each step was controlled. His face was full of confidence.

He was growing arrogant each time his power advanced, that was normal for a dragon like him and he was a primordial one with a lot of benefits.

His peers could no longer catch up to him his strength was now the same as the elites of a guild, the normal guards of a royal.

Although he advanced to A-rank his real power far eclipsed that, it was at S+rank closing in towards the peak.

His mana? That wasn't even a question it far eclipsed this world's rankings nearing to the extent of being a demi-god.

This wasn't out of arrogance, he knew his power was great and now he didn't want to hide it anymore.

Although some parts of his power will be hidden, but his full power was far greater than what anyone could imagine.

And he wanted to remain silent, until his realm reached S-rank which will be sooner than expected.

"I lived as a normal human in my past life, but now I'm in so many troublesome situations due to my lineage."

Adam pondered to himself, he was deep in thought while chaos was happening all around him.

"Well it is what it is, I just need to finish this mission quickly."

Meanwhile...

Up head, a bit fat from Adam's location.

They were survivors from the earlier battle, they managed to escape when Adam was busy dealing with their comrades.

Only four cultists remained:

Kaelor Vint, he was a shadow Initiate of the cult, and elite and the leader of his group a peak A rank.

Miraad Tollven, a Bloodscribe Acolyte within the cult a vice reader and an A rank would just entered the realm.

Serenna Vale, Ranked as an ritual adept in the cult, A peak B ranked awakened.

Torhn Bellik, a lowe ranked Acolyte, a lower ranked B ranked awakened, he just recently advanced and got promoted.

All their robes were torn and filled with holes and faint wisps of frost.

The symbols on their uniform was cracked, and their were filled with an immense amount of fear.

Kaelor was cruising under his breath. "The target is still chasing us, I can fell his presence behind us, he is walking slowly, treating as as entertainment."

"His power wasn't even human... as expected from the heir of the primordial dragon.' Serinna said, she was clutching trembly on her charm. "He must've grown even stronger when he stopped the previous ritual, we shouldn't take him lightly."

"That doesn't matter, as long we reach the stone refuge... we might be safe there..." Miraad insisted, he was wiping blood from his forehead. 'well once we get inside, the high priest—"

"I won't give you that chance."

They all froze in place.

Adam stepped into the scene, he went between two gnarled tree trunks.

The mist was parting all around him, like it was acknowledging his very presence.

His eyes were glowing faintly, a yellow golden glow, it was sharp like a predator busy stalking its prey.

The ground beneath him didn't even crunch or crack, it just simply accepted his movements.

All of the surviving cultists started to panic.

Torhn mostly couldn't wait to escape from the area, he raised his shaking hand and channeled corrupt mana through it, only for the attack to fizzle out before it even formed.

Adam's gaze fell upon him and he felt a shiver within his soul, the mana around him started to crumble, as if it was smothered by an unseen force.

Adam then spoke, his voice was low filled with mockery.

"You all thought you were hot stuff, above everyone and the whole world. You didn't bet an eye when sacrificing people saying it's for the 'greater good', you thought it was salvation for the week."

He stepped forward as he said this, all the cultists flinched back when he approached, fear was evident in their eyes and face.

"Now look at you, a bunch of scared chickens. I'll make sure to carve this meaning into your bones and soul, I'll make you suffer before killing all of you slowly... and painfully."

Torhn tried to run away, he didn't want to fight or even scream. All he wanted to do was to escape and run away from this monster he was facing.

Adam moved quickly, In one silent blur.

By the time Torhn was able to reach the next tree, Adam was already upon him.

With just one clean, precise strike it landed on the base of Torhn's neck.

He collapsed without even making a sound, his body dropped limp into the leaves.

Adam looked at him with eyes filled with disgust, and then his gaze fell in the others making them back away while trembling.

"Tch, your lucky I have orders not to kill you."

Serenna Vale, an adept rank cultist tried to gather her strength in a desperate attempt to survive.

Symbols were crawling along her arms like crimson chains. She slammed both her palms into the ground, this activated a forbidden spell:

Rootbind of the Fallen scale, this was a curse meant to immobilize even the advanced of awakeners.

The roots surged forward towards Adam, but when they reached him the crumbled away.

[Status Immunity Activated]

His aura flared dispelling the curse like it never existed, the roosts turned to ash when they touched his body.

Adam looked at her with a devilish grin.

Serenna starred at him horrified.

"No...no, this is impossible. This can't be! Even creatures with ancient blood can't—"

But Adam wasn't here to hear her rambling, he moved In front of her, she couldn't even see him.

That's when her body fell on the ground a second later, she was already unconscious, Adam just used his aura to subdue her.

Kaelor Vint and Miraad Tollven looked at each other, their exchanged expressions that was of pure desperation.

They then attempted the unthinkable, they attempted a technique:

A dual channel blood ignition technique, it was a forbidden move even in their cult.

They both cut their palms, this mixed corrupted essence, forcing it into one single explosive spell.

The air was crackling with unstable energy.

"Even if we die, we'll be taking you along with us!" Kaelor shouted, he shouted every ounce of mana and energy into the attack.

The orb moved forward, trying to detonate in front of Adam.

But the orb simply vanished the moment it reached his area.

It wasn't deflected, not even neutralized.

It simply ceased to exist, devoured by Adams power, he opened a space rift that transported the attack somewhere else.

To a certain someone or place.

---

Elsewhere within' the Dragonis Duchy.

Sam was still fuming over Adam's rise to power and his humiliating defeat.

His mother was also with him, still planning ways to put Adam in his place.

"Don't worry my son, I'll make sure the bastard—!"

BOOM!!

But before she could even say anything a loud boom occurred, in was a bloody explosion that occured right near their room.

The glasses shattered and the walls crumbled, due to the reinforced protective runes places they were able to survive.

But the damage was already done, both of them got flung towards the wall filled with minor injuries.

"Guards!!"

---

"I hope they got my present."

The cultists had their eyes widened with terror.

"What... what are you!?" Miraad screamed.

Adam looked at them, and smirked.

"Your grandfather."

Kaelor didn't even try to stay and broke into a sprint, he plunged himself deeper into the forest.

Miraad followed after him clos behind, they both gasped for air.

The branches were whipping their faces, the roos snagged at their robes, the fog was disorienting with every twist and turn but they didn't slow down.

Behind them, they only heard footsteps following them.

The weren't rushed or strained, they were steady, patient, and it was only a matter of time till they reached them.

"Vorath warned us about this, warned us about dealing with the 'heir'..."

"Shut the fuck up and just run!"

But they knew they couldn't outrun him, it was only a matter of time till he reached them.

With just a single leap, Adam landed before them and blocked their path.

They both froze and looked at each other only thinking on thing:

'We're fucked.'

Adam didn't unsheathe his sword, he didn't make any grand moves.

He just stepped forward towards them, the fogged swallowed their screams.

Only the forest knew what happened to them.

After the whole ordeal ended, Adam was standing alone in a clearing.

He decided to kill them all afterall, no information was with listening to about their plans, killing them was the better option.

A dragon never lets its prey walking away freely, no matter the situation.

There weren't even signs of reinforcements, not that it mattered.

The wasn't any hidden interferences, not from Cedric or an enemy guild.

There was only silence, and from that silence, his blood was pulsing again, it was a thrum of something ancient that was stirring in his veins.

"Time to move."