Bloodline Evolution: I Can Choose Opposing Paths-Chapter 121: Beneath the Surface

"Entangle!"

Roots burst from beneath the sand in front of her, twisting upward into a thick barrier. But the moment the pressurized currents struck...

They shattered instantly.

The impact exploded through the vines, tearing them apart as the remaining force slammed into Emily, sending her flying across the sand.

"—ghk!"

"Seismic Grip!"

A hand made entirely of condensed sand emerged from right underneath her, barely managing to catch Emily before she was about to slam into the nearby stone formation.

"Th—thanks!"

"No problem," Marcus nodded.

"Iris!" he continued. "I get its attention, you go for damage, yeah?"

Iris wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand, before nodding at the command.

"Got it."

Marcus stepped forward, sand hardening as he planted his feet, gaze locking onto the creature.

"Over here, you fat fish."

He activated his Bloodline, as a projection of an Armodillo appeared behind him. Almost immediately, its shell warped and distorted until it formed a gigantic tower shield.

"So he can use Morphing too..." Luna muttered.

The Alpha Lagoon Shark clearly got the provocation and spectacle, immediately turning its head toward Marcus. Instantly. it dashed through the air, closing the distance as it thrust straight into the senior’s shield.

But Marcus didn’t budge, a small smile formed on his face as he caught the shark’s weapon.

"...Got you."

Right behind it, in the air—Iris was already aiming down sights on her rifle, inhaling before...

BANG! BANG! BANG!

A barrage of compressed wind bullets flew through the air and right at the shark. Its eyes widened as it tried to twist its body—

"Oh no, you don’t," Luna muttered.

"Entomb!"

Ice ran forward through the sand before climbing up the creature’s legs, racing upward until its entire lower body was completely frozen.

THUD—THUD—THUD—

Each and every shot managed to find its mark. The creature staggered as its upper body jerked violently.

"...That’s it!" she yelled. "Marcus, end it!"

He didn’t hesitate, not even one bit.

"Seismic Grip!"

The ground beneath the creature surged again, the massive sand hand reforming and clamping tightly around its torso

Luna held her hand out, fingers trembling slightly as she maintained the Entomb. The cold was no longer confined to the Art, as it seeped back into her arm, spreading deeper with every second she held it.

"...Stay...still..." she whispered under her breath.

The creature stopped struggling, and for a second, it went completely still.

Luna’s eyes widened as she slowly lost connection to her Art.

"...Marcus, it’s gonna—!"

BOOM!

Both ice and sand exploded outward as pure, pressurized water had forced its way out from within the creature itself.

"...Tch," Marcus clicked his tongue as the creature stepped forward, visibly more tired than before.

"...It’s slowing," Iris said quietly from behind.

Luna exhaled a breath of fog as she drew in a breath, forcing the cold to gather despite the ache in her body.

"Then it’s our chance to end it."

Her hand rose, cold condensing into it as her Arts channeled. Then, she shot the projectile into the sky.

"Hailstorm."

The projectile split into dozens, even hundreds of ice spears, gleaming in the sky as they hovered...before all falling at the same time.

The barrage of frozen spears rained down in a wide radius, forcing the creature to react. It tore its trident free from Marcus’ guard and stepped back, twisting its body as the spears crashed into the sand around it in rapid succession.

The ground erupted with each impact, ice embedding itself deep into the beach as the creature dodged through the storm.

"Keep it moving!" Iris called.

Her body blurred as wind enveloped it before splitting. One became two, two became four...

Mirage-like afterimages flickered into existence around the creature, each one moving in sync yet slightly off, surrounding it from all sides.

"Mirage Split."

The copies moved in, almost herding the creature into a single space. Each step forced the creature to adjust, to turn, to reposition as it tried to track the real one while also dodging the ice storm.

"Now, Emily!" Luna called.

"I’m on it!"

Emily slammed her hand down.

"Entangle!"

Thick roots burst from beneath the sand, weaving upward before wrapping around the creature’s legs, then its torso, before completely immobilizing it from the neck down.

The creature thrashed and struggled, but no amount of power managed to break through the roots.

And that was when a huge shadow covered its entire body. From the air, Marcus was coming down towards it like a meteor, shield raised and aimed straight for the beast.

"Survive this."

BOOM!

The impact tore across the island as the force drove straight through the creature and into the ground beneath it. The roots snapped, the sand shattered, and the entire beach rumbled.

At first, it was subtle—a sinking sensation beneath Luna’s feet, the ground dipping just slightly as if it had suddenly lost its weight.

But then...the sand collapsed all at once.

Luna’s breath caught as the ground disappeared beneath her, her body dropping before her mind could even process what was happening. The world tilted violently as sand rushed into the now hole left behind by the impact.

Iris struggled, reaching and trying to grab at anything she could, but as luck would have it...nothing was around, and she was quickly swallowed into the sands.

"Iris! No!" Marcus called, trying to do the same thing. But as soon as he saw what happened, he immediately let go, diving right after her.

Luna also grasped and reached, but this time, managing to grab onto something—Emily’s hand.

"Come—on!" Emily struggled as she tried to pull up with all her strength from on top of her dragonfly.

But the sand was dragging everything inward like a current, swallowing whatever got too close. Her body was already sinking, grains rushing past her legs, her waist, threatening to take her completely.

Emily tightened her grip.

"I’ve got you—just—hold on!"

Luna felt the tremor run through Emily’s arm.

She’s...reaching her limit.

Her body sank deeper, up to her chest now. The sand pressed in from all sides, suffocating as it dragged her downward inch by inch.

"...It’s okay," Luna said softly.

"What—? No, it’s not! Just—hold on!"

Emily’s finger slipped as the sands consumed her. The senior lunged forward, trying to grab Luna again...but her fingers closed around nothing but air.

"LUNA!" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

The last thing Luna saw was Emily’s outstretched hand—

While the sand swallowed her whole, and darkness crept in.