The air in the forest trembles as a dark, noxious mist seeps out from the western part of the woods, bringing a disturbing chill with it. This dark mana mist flows like a creeping fog, touching the plants, which wither almost instantly upon contact. Dark tendrils snake around trees, withering leaves and rotting branches within moments.
Various groups of students across the forest notice the mist encroaching on them. Some instinctively try to shield themselves by creating mana barriers around their bodies, but not everyone is successful. The unlucky few who accidentally inhale the mist feel it clawing through their insides, bringing on nausea, weakness, and hallucinations.
Others are quick to flee, stumbling through the dense underbrush in hopes of finding higher ground or less affected areas. Panic ripples through the tournament participants, as they realize that this mist is unlike anything they were prepared to face.
"What kind of magic is this?" one student exclaims, their face twisted in horror as they watch the mist kill everything it touches.
…..
Ash moves swiftly through the forest, his body augmented by mana to give him an extra burst of speed. He feels the dark mana all around him, the weight of it pressing against his senses. Unlike some of the other students, Ash seems less affected by the corruption, his body adapted from years of training in harsh conditions.
As he moves deeper, he encounters several magic beasts. Their eyes are wild, and their behavior erratic—clearly agitated by the corruption. Without hesitating, Ash assesses the situation, noting each beast's frenzied movements. With swift arcs of his black-hued sword, he dispatches them one by one, each strike precise and calculated, cutting through their flesh as if they were nothing more than fabric.
The beasts fall, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. Ash doesn't linger, knowing that the disturbances in the forest are more than just wild beasts. "Where are the professors?" he wonders aloud, frustration seeping into his voice. "They should have noticed this by now."
He tries to contact his teammates through his Aetheris, but only static fills the screen. Realization dawns, and his expression hardens. "Something must be jamming our devices… but why?" With a determined look, he pushes forward, setting his sights on the west, where the dark mana seems strongest.
…..
Seraphina stands amidst a battlefield of fallen beasts, her mana bow shimmering in her hands. She's just finished protecting a group of injured students, who lie huddled and wide-eyed at her feet. Her bright blue eyes glint with a hint of golden mana as she summons arrows, each one imbued with her energy.
With precise shots, she takes down the remaining beasts, each arrow finding a vital point with deadly accuracy. Her expression is cold as she asks the uninjured students about what they've seen, gathering information on the strange occurrences in the forest.
As the students describe the scenes they've encountered—the withered plants, the strange mist, the corrupted mana—Seraphina's expression shifts from calm to cautious concern. Checking her Aetheris, she frowns at the static screen. Even a device made to guide students through dire situations has failed.
Then, a sudden tremor shakes the ground, causing several students to stumble. Seraphina remains steady, her eyes narrowing as she peers toward the west. A thick cloud of dust and smoke rises from that direction, mingling with flickering sparks within the haze. It's as if something powerful is raging within.
With a determined look, she addresses the students. "Stay here and wait for a professor or staff member. Tell them everything." Without another word, she leaps into the trees, augmenting her body with mana to travel swiftly towards the disturbance.
....
Lucius's gaze remains fixed on the dark elf woman, who stares back at him with a mixture of confusion and suspicion. Her eyes flash with agitation as she demands again, "Why would you say my forest is dying, human?"
Lucius's expression remains neutral, though inwardly, he's battling a surge of panic. He didn't expect to encounter one of the major bosses of the second phase so soon—especially not alone. Ash was supposed to face her in the original storyline, yet here he is, stumbling into this encounter with no backup.
Keeping his voice steady, Lucius responds cryptically, "Can't you feel it? The dark mana suffocating your forest?"
The dark elf's eyes narrow, clearly still suspicious of him. "What exactly should I be feeling?" she counters, her tone dripping with skepticism.
Instead of responding directly, Lucius shifts his gaze over her shoulder, subtly urging her to look behind. The dark elf hesitates, but her curiosity gets the better of her. Without fully turning her back on Lucius, she stretches her senses outward, allowing her mana to flow through the forest.
Almost immediately, she recoils, her body shuddering involuntarily as a wave of nausea grips her. The foul, corrupted energy seeps into her awareness, filling her with revulsion.
"Do you feel it now?" Lucius asks, his tone calm yet piercing. Her eyes snap back to him, fury and confusion flashing within them.
"What is this… revolting energy?" she demands, her voice trembling slightly with a mixture of anger and fear.
Lucius doesn't answer her question directly. Instead, his gaze drifts toward the green lake, its surface calm yet ominous with the glowing white lilies. "Give me two of those lilies," he states firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
The dark elf woman scoffs, an angry spark in her eyes as she immediately refuses. "These are sacred! You cannot simply demand—"
But Lucius cuts her off, his expression turning icy. "I don't have time to argue. If you care for this forest at all, you'll do as I say." He raises his handgun slightly, a silent but clear threat hanging in the air.
Her body tenses, mana markings glowing across her skin as she raises her guard. Yet, she hesitates, curiosity and fear mingling in her gaze. "Why do you want them? Explain yourself!"
Lucius lets out a sigh, impatience flaring in his eyes. "Because they might be the only thing that can stop the corruption. The longer you argue, the closer your forest comes to ruin." His voice holds a biting edge, conveying both urgency and frustration.
The dark elf woman's face contorts with indecision. She glances at the lake, then back at Lucius, clearly struggling to comprehend his motives.
….
In the depths of the forest, a dark cavern pulses with sinister energy. Dark mist flows from its entrance, thickening as it spreads further into the forest. Nearby, a small group of students stumble upon the cave, their expressions a mix of fascination and dread.
"What… is this place?" one of them whispers, a chill running down their spine as they step closer to the ominous entrance.
But before they can take another step, an unseen force surges forward, the dark energy wrapping around them. Their screams echo through the forest, quickly silenced as the corruption consumes them, leaving nothing but shadows in its wake.