In the afternoon, at the University of the Philippines, where sorcery education was secretly integrated into the curriculum for knight magus, Renji and Charles discussed their preparations and the history of the undead acolytes.
Renji leaned forward, his expression serious.
"The undead acolytes are fearsome creatures indeed. They possess incredible speed and are fueled by an enormous amount of cursed energy."
Charles furrowed his brow.
"This will be my first encounter with undead acolytes. I've heard rumors that these creatures feed on human hearts. But it's strange, isn't it? Undead creatures like these were thought to be extinct after the Supreme Knights Magus cast the Law of Spellzone against the king of acolytes, wiping out him and his bloodline from existence."
Oliver's curiosity was piqued.
"What exactly is the Law of Spellzone? It sounds incredibly powerful."
Renji leaned forward, his expression solemn.
"Indeed, it's a tremendously potent spell. When it was last cast, three Supreme Grand Knights Magus united their strength to chant it. It was employed to obliterate the very creator of the acolytes, wiping out the entire bloodline."
Oliver, still processing the information, questioned further.
"If this spell can wipe out an entire race of undead, why wasn't it used long ago to prevent these creatures from resurfacing?"
Charles chimed in, clarifying the situation.
"It's not as simple as it may seem. Annihilating an entire undead army is an immense challenge. Acolytes are just a fraction of the larger undead forces, which are a vast and shadowy battalion."
Risstle added her insight.
"Even if the acolytes vanished centuries ago, the question remains: who could possibly summon them back into our world?"
Renji's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"Someone with connections to Aneteron. Noel mentioned glimpsing Aneteron's past, where he was collecting souls to resurrect his daughter and wife. It's possible that this individual harnessed that power to revive the acolytes."
Charles nodded in agreement. "Your deduction makes sense. And considering that both Aneteron and the acolytes are undead, it's not entirely surprising that these events have unfolded."
Renji's keen observance picked up on Oliver's somber demeanor. With genuine concern, he inquired,
"Oliver, it appears you're lost in thought, perhaps reminiscing about something or someone. If you'd like, we're here to listen."
Oliver, his gaze distant, hesitated for a moment before responding,
"It's nothing of importance, Master Renji. Just memories from the past."
Turning their attention to the impending mission, Risttle posed a question to Charles.
"Charles, has a Karizia barrier been cast along the boundaries of Pasay City?"
Curiosity getting the better of him, Oliver inquired further,
"What exactly is a Karizia barrier?"
Charles offered a succinct explanation.
"A Karizia barrier is a cursed spell designed to prevent any sorcerer possessing anima mundi from entering. It requires the use of dark arts for its casting."
With preparations complete, the group awaited transportation to Pasay City. Minutes later, a black van pulled up, and a vivacious and exuberant man in a sharp suit emerged. Extending a friendly hand, he introduced himself,
"Good afternoon, gentlemen! Charles, Renji, you can call me Ferdinand, or Ferds for short. I'll be your driver to Pasay City for the mission. I'm excited to spend time with you all!"
His energetic gestures and enthusiasm left Risstle, Oliver, and Renji slightly embarrassed.
Renji, ever polite, returned Ferdinand's enthusiasm. "Hello, Ferdinand. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm looking forward to working together."
As the sun began its descent, the group embarked on their two-hour journey to Pasay City. With each passing mile, their conversation delved deeper into the topic of the acolytes' emergence.
Oliver's curiosity remained insatiable as he asked,
"Could you describe what these acolytes actually look like?"
Charles, always informative, responded,
"Acolytes bear a resemblance to grotesque versions of gargoyles. They possess a sinister appearance, with bat-like wings that enhance their flight speed. Their claws are tipped with a deadly poison, and their strikes are potent enough to pierce through a human chest. However, the real challenge lies in their numbers and their coordinated attacks. Acolytes don't assault their targets individually; they attack as a pack, so be prepared to face multiple foes if you encounter them."
Renji turned his attention to Oliver and said,
"It's clear that you have a lot of room for growth, considering your limited knowledge about both knight magus and the undead."
Oliver chuckled and replied,
"Well, I only just entered the academy three days ago, master. There's only so much I can learn in such a short period of time, hahaha."
Renji nodded understandingly and agreed,
"You're absolutely right. It takes time to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills."
Ferdinand chimed in, mentioning that the Grand Masters had equipped them with trackers on their bracelets. In case of any threats or dangers, these trackers would activate an emergency frequency wave to alert the nearby or nearest Grand Masters.
Renji then shared an important piece of information with the group.
"Remember, this is a training mission. But even though it's a chance to practice, we mustn't forget that there's still a potential for real danger. We should stay vigilant and cautious."
As the group continued their journey, they eventually arrived at the boundaries of Pasay City.
Risstle also appeared confused, noticing that there was no visible karizia barrier in sight.
Renji explained,
"The barrier is invisible. Even though we can't perceive it with our normal sight, if we attempt to cross its boundaries without concealing our AM energies, it will trigger an alarm that will alert every acolyte in the city."
Oliver was curious again, asking,
"How do we hide our AM energies?"
Charles responded,
"Through rune magic, specifically the 'Sealing Glyphs Spell.' It allows us to seal our AM energies until we decide to unseal it."
Charles began drawing intricate runes on each member's forearms and then activated the 'Sealing Glyphs Spell,' causing the rune drawings to light up.
Ferdinand nodded in approval.
"Perfect. I can't sense your AM energies now. Good luck on your mission."
With their AM energies effectively concealed, the group entered the city. The runes were doing their job well, as they managed to move through the city without triggering any alarms among the acolytes.
However, their progress took an unexpected turn when a seductive and beautiful blonde woman in a mini skirt suddenly grabbed Charles and flirtatiously said,
"Hey there, handsome. Let's hit the club. I'll buy you a drink and we can have some fun together."
She playfully winked at Charles, who found himself blushing at her advances, much to the shock of the other three members.
"Alright, let's follow Charles into the club,"
Renji said. As they entered the club, they were met with a scene of people dancing, some intoxicated, others clearly seeking to have a good time. Risstle couldn't help but ask,
"How are we supposed to locate Charles in this chaos?"
Oliver chimed in,
"What if we split up? It might increase our chances."
Renji shook his head in disagreement.
"No, that won't work. We can't distinguish between humans and acolytes; they can easily blend in and disguise themselves. We need to stay together until we find Charles."
Both Risstle and Oliver agreed, and they followed Renji's lead. As they made their way through the crowd, a sudden burst of sparkling light caught their attention from the top left corner of the dance floor. Without hesitation, they hurried toward the source of the light, and there they saw Charles.