A serene village nestled amidst rolling hills and surrounded by dense forests, Willowbrook was a place of peace and simplicity. The West family had been the heart of the village for generations, their name synonymous with strength and honor. However, all of that came to a brutal end one fateful night.
Fifteen-year-old Ethan West stood amidst the chaos, his blueish-silver eyes wide with horror. Flames devoured the wooden houses, the acrid stench of smoke and blood thick in the air. Screams echoed through the night as shadowy figures swept through the village, cutting down anyone who dared to resist.
"Ethan, run!" Gerard West, his grandfather, shouted, his voice hoarse but commanding. The old man, once a formidable peak cultivator, wielded his sword with precision, cutting down an enemy as he motioned for Ethan to flee. Though age had diminished his strength, Gerard still moved with the skill of a Master-level cultivator, his blade a blur of deadly efficiency.
Ethan hesitated, his fists clenched. He was only at the Adept stage, barely strong enough to hold his own against seasoned warriors. Yet, the urge to fight, to protect, burned within him.
"I won't leave you!" Ethan yelled, his voice breaking with emotion.
"You're the last hope of our family," Gerard said firmly. "Take your sister and go. Now!"
Ethan's gaze shifted to ten-year-old Amelia, who clung to him, her small frame trembling. Tears streaked her face, but her green eyes mirrored the same determination as her brother's.
"Come on, Amelia," Ethan said, grabbing her hand. He cast one last glance at his grandfather, who had already turned to face another wave of attackers. "Stay alive, Grandfather."
The siblings darted into the forest, the sounds of battle fading behind them. Ethan's mind raced. Who were these attackers? Why had they targeted Willowbrook and the West family? Questions swirled, but there were no answers, only the instinct to survive.
Hours later, the forest opened to a hidden cove Ethan had discovered years ago while exploring. A shimmering pool of water lay at its center, its surface glowing faintly under the moonlight. The air around the pool felt charged, as if it held an ancient, untapped power.
"We'll rest here," Ethan said, guiding Amelia to a patch of soft moss. She nodded silently, exhaustion evident in her every movement.
Ethan approached the pool, cupping his hands to drink. The moment his skin touched the water, a surge of energy shot through him. His vision blurred, and he stumbled back, clutching his chest as an intense heat spread through his body.
"Ethan!" Amelia's voice was faint, laced with fear. She reached out to steady him, her small hand brushing against his arm. As she did, a faint warmth spread through her, though she didn't yet understand its significance.
Ethan collapsed to his knees, the world spinning around him. Images flashed in his mind—a great beast roaring, its eyes blazing with power; ancient symbols etched into stone; and a voice, deep and resonant, whispering words he couldn't understand.
When he regained consciousness, he found Gerard standing over him, his expression a mixture of relief and worry.
"Thank the heavens," Gerard muttered. "I thought I'd lost you."
"Grandfather?" Ethan's voice was weak. He struggled to sit up, his body feeling different—stronger, yet unstable.
"We don't have much time," Gerard said, helping him to his feet. "They'll be searching for us. We need to keep moving."
Amelia ran to Ethan, throwing her arms around him. He hugged her back, his mind still reeling from what had happened.
"What… what was that pool?" Ethan asked as they began their journey deeper into the forest.
"A mystery," Gerard replied. "But whatever it was, it's awakened something in you. I can feel it. Your bloodline… it's no longer dormant."
Ethan looked at his hands, the faint glow fading from his veins. The images from his vision lingered, and with them, a sense of purpose he couldn't yet explain.
"They destroyed everything," he said, his voice cold and steady. "Our family, our home. I won't let them get away with it."
Gerard placed a hand on his shoulder. "Vengeance will come, Ethan. But first, we survive. And then, we rebuild."
As they disappeared into the night, Ethan vowed to honor his grandfather's words. The West family might have been brought to its knees, but they would rise again—stronger, united, and unyielding.