Gaius walked through the dense forest, his gaze shifting warily between his surroundings and the malfunctioning Aetheris on his wrist. The device flickered with static, occasionally sparking with erratic blips of light. He muttered under his breath, frustrated at the loss of communication with other groups. The forest had become a death trap, with the dark mist seeping into every corner, cutting him off from his allies.
The thickening shadows and creeping dark mana mist added an oppressive weight to the air, twisting his perception and blurring the boundaries between reality and nightmare. He tried recalibrating his Aetheris, but the interference was overwhelming. His only solace was his sharpened instincts, honed by years of training.
"Damn it," Gaius cursed, clenching his fists. "If only I could connect to the others…"
The sense of isolation clawed at him, making him hyper-aware of every rustle in the undergrowth. As he moved forward, his gaze hardened, determination etched into his expression. Despite the grim surroundings, he steeled himself for what lay ahead. The forest was alive with danger, and Gaius intended to survive it.
.
Ash swung his sword in a graceful arc, slicing through a mid-tier magic beast with ease. The forest was swarming with them, each creature more aggressive and frenzied than the last. Sweat dripped down his brow as he leapt from one beast to another, dispatching them with swift, calculated strikes. He'd encountered several other student groups along the way, each struggling to fend off the onslaught.
"Keep pushing back!" Ash shouted to a nearby group, his voice carrying a reassuring tone that seemed to boost their morale. They nodded, inspired by his presence, and renewed their efforts.
Ash's mind raced as he moved, noticing the erratic behavior of the beasts. It wasn't just aggression; it was like something was driving them, pushing them to attack anything that crossed their path. His sword glowed faintly with mana as he delivered precise, powerful strikes, cutting down beasts left and right.
But even as he fought, Ash couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. The forest itself felt alive, pulsing with a dark energy that sent chills down his spine. He spared a glance at his Aetheris, but it was as useless as the rest—static and interference blanketing the screen.
"Where are the professors? Why hasn't anyone stepped in?" he murmured, frustration evident in his voice. The absence of academy staff was unusual, but he didn't have time to dwell on it as another beast lunged at him. With a determined gleam in his eye, he slashed it down, rallying the students around him and moving forward into the darkness.
.
To the west of the forest, Seraphina moved swiftly through the forest, her mana-constructed bow in hand, each step deliberate and precise. Her crystal-clear eyes flickered with a golden hue as she assessed her surroundings. Several magic beasts blocked her path, snarling and clawing at the ground with wild intensity.
With a fluid motion, Seraphina pulled back her bowstring, conjuring an arrow of pure, condensed mana. She released it, and the projectile soared through the air, hitting its target with lethal precision. The beast crumpled to the ground, and she immediately turned her focus to the others.
Her movements were like a dance, each arrow fired with purpose, hitting vital points on her foes. A beast lunged at her, jaws wide open, but she sidestepped gracefully and unleashed a barrage of arrows, each one finding its mark.
Despite her calm exterior, Seraphina couldn't ignore the dark, pulsating aura she felt deeper within the forest. It was suffocating, a gross amalgamation of magic and aura that didn't belong anywhere. Her face twisted in disgust, but she pushed forward, unwavering in her resolve.
Between breaths, she whispered to herself, "What is this foul presence?" But there was no answer—only the silent, oppressive weight of the forest pressing down on her as she moved closer to her goal.
.
Elena stumbled through the forest, her gaze sharp but wary. She had been searching for Lucius, but every attempt to locate him had failed. The haunting images of the decaying students she found mere moments prior lingered in her mind.
Her Aetheris provided no clues; it was just as unreliable as the rest, blank with interference.
In her wandering, she stumbled upon a group of students—injured, but alive. They sat against the trees, their faces etched with exhaustion and pain. She quickly approached, her hands glowing with the soft, warm light of healing magic.
"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice gentle as she began to tend to their wounds.
One of the students, a young boy with a deep gash on his arm, winced as her magic worked its way through his injury. "Thank you…we were ambushed…magic beasts everywhere…"
Elena nodded, her expression determined as she healed each of them. "You'll be alright. Rest here and try not to move too much."
The students thanked her, relief evident in their eyes. As she finished her healing, Elena glanced around, still hoping for a sign of Lucius. But there was nothing—just the silent forest and the ominous mist creeping closer.
.
Elsewhere, Kallus trudged through the dense fog, his expression grim as he kept his grip on his one-handed axe. The forest around him was littered with the bodies of magic beasts he'd slain, each one more grotesque than the last. He scowled as he felt the oppressive weight of the dark mana mist pressing down on him, making his skin crawl.
Ahead, a figure emerged from the shadows—a monster with a disfigured, grotesque form. Its body was twisted and malformed, with limbs bending at unnatural angles and eyes that glowed with a sickly green hue. Patches of decaying flesh covered its form, and it emitted a stench that made Kallus gag.
The creature's twisted mouth split into a grin, revealing rows of jagged teeth. It seemed to leer at him, taunting him with its very presence.
Kallus snarled, hurling his own insults in return. "You think you're scary? I've seen uglier things in the academy cafeteria."
With a battle cry, he lunged forward, his axe swinging in a wide arc. The monster dodged with disturbing agility, and the two began a brutal, lengthy exchange of attacks. Each time Kallus struck, the creature evaded or countered, its movements unnatural and erratic. The dark mist seemed to fuel it, granting it an almost limitless reserve of strength.
Despite his bravado, Kallus realized he was facing something beyond his expectations. The creature's skin was thick, resistant to his strikes, and each wound he inflicted seemed to close as fast as it was made. The beast laughed, a haunting, hollow sound that echoed through the forest, making Kallus's blood boil.
But he refused to back down, his pride and determination driving him forward. He pushed harder, his swings becoming faster and more furious, hurling taunts at the monster between breaths. The two clashed in a battle of raw strength and skill, but the longer it went on, the more Kallus felt his energy draining, as if the mist was sapping his very life.
...
In the silence of the green lake, Elandrialith stepped delicately into the water, her fingers gently brushing over the surface. Her gaze lingered on one of the white flower lilies that floated nearby, her touch careful, almost reverent.
A soft voice broke the tranquility, chilling in its calmness. "Are you truly certain this is the only way to save my forest and lake?"
Elandrialith said, her hand hovering over the lily. She didn't need to turn to know Lucius was behind her, his handgun aimed at the back of her head. A trace of bitterness crossed her lips as she stared at Lucius.
Lucius's voice was dismissive yet confident, carrying an unyielding conviction. "Find out for yourself."
He knelt on one knee, his hand outstretched, waiting for her to hand over the lily. For a long moment, she simply stared at him, her eyes flickering with distrust, curiosity, and a hint of reluctant respect. Her fingers tightened around the lily, torn between her duty to protect her realm and the cryptic promise Lucius offered.
In the heavy silence, only the faint sound of the lake's gentle ripples echoed, as both waited for the next move.