Bloodline of Gods: The Genius at Olympus Academy!

Under normal circumstances, there would have been a chance to safely navigate their way back. But under the constant chase of a sea of snakes, there was no chance of doing such a thing.

The group looked at each other and frowned.

"This can't go on," said Aiden. "If nothing changes, we'll eventually exhaust ourselves to death."

Raelia heard Aiden's words, and her ears drooped in despair.

"Aiden, we all know this, but what can we do? No matter what we do, they keep chasing us. If we want a way to escape, we need to lose them and find a way out of these tunnels without fighting. But that's impossible—they can track us no matter where we go!"

"Well, I'm not so sure about that," said Oliver. "I think there really is a way for us to lose them."

"How?" asked Raelia and Aiden at the same time.

"Isn't it simple, really?" said Oliver. "Just abandon the Netherspring Lotus."

But as Oliver said this, both Aiden and Raelia froze.

The idea of abandoning the Netherspring Lotus was extremely obvious, but Raelia and Aiden hadn't mentioned it—not because they hadn't thought of it, but because they refused to consider it.

Although a leaf had been broken off, the Netherspring Lotus was still extremely valuable. As the most potent treasure they had found, even if it was split between them, it could effectively double their divinity and push them to the peak of Rank 1.

They had already put in so much effort and work to get this far, and now they were being asked to abandon it just like that. Anyone, especially a group of arrogant divine descendants, would struggle with such a choice.

Oliver saw the hesitation on his companions' faces and scolded them.

"What use is the Netherspring Lotus if we're dead? Although we've worked hard to get it, it's not to the point where we can't let it go. Don't get absorbed by the idea of sunk costs. No treasure is worth our lives."

Aiden, who had obviously put in the most effort so far, showed clear hesitation. But after struggling with himself for a few moments, he eventually relented.

Even so, his expression didn't soften, because there was still a hard problem to solve. Aiden voiced it aloud.

"Even if we abandon the Netherspring Lotus, there's no chance the Weeping Soul Serpent Emperor will abandon us."

Oliver sighed.

"I know, that's why... for us to truly escape, someone will have to serve as bait."

Hearing this, Aiden's expression turned stone-cold.

Oliver knew that such a suggestion would be hard to accept, so he quickly explained.

"Aiden, there's no need to worry. I'll—"

But before Oliver could finish his sentence, Aiden had already acted.

His figure flashed forward, as quick as lightning, instantly appearing behind Raelia and knocking the unsuspecting wolf girl out cold.

Oliver watched the entire process, stunned. His mouth opened, but no words came out.

"Aiden? Really? Aiden... betrayed us?"

Before that thought could even solidify, Aiden picked up Raelia and threw her toward Oliver.

It was only then that Oliver snapped out of his trance, quickly catching the poor girl before she fell face-first onto the floor.

"Aiden, you… why?"

Aiden saw Oliver's expression and sighed.

"It was the only way. You were about to say something like, 'I'll stay behind and lure the Weeping Soul Serpent Emperor away—it's my responsibility.' So, I acted before you could."

Aiden paused, looking at Oliver seriously.

"We both know how Raelia operates by now. She doesn't say much, but when she does, she's incredibly proud and stubborn. There's no way she'd let either of us be the bait. She'd insist on making the sacrifice to protect us, and we'd waste hours arguing about it. That's time we don't have."

Oliver thought about it and slowly accepted the truth of Aiden's words. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

Raelia was indeed arrogant and proud, but with that pride came a deep sense of responsibility.

She was their strongest frontline fighter, and for that reason, she always felt like it was her duty to make the sacrifice when needed.

Thinking more carefully, this really was the only way to convince her.

But Oliver's concerns weren't fully settled.

"I get why you knocked Raelia out, but why are you throwing her to me? It was my miscalculation that caused all this, so it's my responsibility. I should be the one to—"

Before Oliver could finish, Aiden scoffed coldly.

"Your responsibility to do what? What can you even do?"

Aiden's tone was brutal, and he didn't hold back.

"Are you as fast as me? Can you outrun the Weeping Soul Serpent Emperor? Are you stronger than me? Can you fight better than me?"

He glared at Oliver. "You wouldn't even be able to serve as proper bait—you'd just be throwing your life away!"

Under Aiden's relentless barrage of words, Oliver could only grit his teeth and endure, knowing that Aiden was right.

But even if Aiden was correct, Oliver couldn't just stand by and watch his best friend sacrifice himself.

"Aiden, let me do this! Someone as talented as you—your story shouldn't end here. Didn't you say when we first came here that you wanted to explore the world, to see the mystical realms of the gods?"

"They're still out there, waiting for you. Don't give up."

Aiden smiled as he listened to Oliver's words, and for a moment, Oliver thought he had convinced him. But just as that hope bloomed, Aiden's hand moved in a golden blur.

Oliver barely had time to exclaim before he felt a strong force slam into his chest, sending him flying down a tunnel that branched off from the one they were standing in.

Oliver flew backward with Raelia still in his arms, rolling to protect her from the impact.

Oliver quickly got up and rushed towards the tunnel but Aiden was faster.

A bow had already appeared in his hand with a an arrow loaded that glowed in a divine gold light

Boom!