Chapter 77: Into the Forbidden Zone
The moment had arrived.
At dawn, the Top 10 of the Fourth-Year Class stood at the academy's teleportation platform, fully geared and prepared. The sky was a dull gray, the air thick with tension. This was unlike any mission they had ever faced.
Today, they were entering the Forbidden Zone of Eldoria.
A land where mana beasts ran rampant, where ancient cities lay in ruin, and where even seasoned knights feared to tread.
And their objective?
To uncover the truth about the unnatural increase in mana beast activity.
Seraphine Eldoria, their instructor, stood before them, her midnight-black uniform pristine, her katana resting lightly against her hip. Despite her usual air of authority, there was a rare edge of caution in her voice.
"This is not a test. This is not training. This is a real mission," she said, her silver eyes scanning them all. "You will encounter things you are not prepared for. And if you hesitate, you will die."
She lifted her hand, revealing a set of enchanted stones, each glowing faintly with mana.
"These are Signaling Stones. If you are in danger and cannot escape, crush it, and the academy will retrieve you immediately. But be warned—using it means you have failed the mission."
Kael took his stone, weighing it in his palm.
He had no intention of using it.
And judging by the grim determination on his comrades' faces, neither did they.
Seraphine turned to the headmaster, who had arrived to oversee their departure. Varian Drakos Eldoria's golden eyes swept across them, unreadable as always.
Then, with a nod, he stepped back.
"Begin."
A pulse of arcane energy surged through the platform—
And the world twisted.
They landed in a ruined city.
Once, it must have been a grand metropolis. Now, it was nothing but a graveyard.
The air was thick with mana—but it was wrong.
Buildings lay crumbled and shattered, vines laced with mana crawling over the ruins. Statues of forgotten rulers stood cracked and weathered, their faces long erased by time.
And most disturbingly?
There were no signs of life.
No animals.
No wind.
Not even the usual hum of background mana.
It was silent.
Too silent.
Kael adjusted his grip on his blade, his Arcane Sigil System buzzing faintly.
Something was watching them.
Lucian stepped forward, golden eyes narrowing. "We should move. The more time we waste, the more vulnerable we are."
Selene activated her Eclipse Sight, scanning the area. "…I don't see anything yet. But that doesn't mean nothing is there."
Mira exhaled, gripping her sword tighter.
Darius rolled his shoulders. "This place gives me a bad feeling."
Cassian, ever the optimist, smirked. "Oh, come on, Darius. What's the worst that could happen?"
A moment later, the first attack came.
Lesser Mana Beasts surged from the shadows.
Twisted, emaciated wolf-like creatures with pale, glowing eyes and jagged teeth. Their forms flickered like mirages, as if struggling to remain in reality.
Kael moved instantly, activating his Crimson Sigil—his blade igniting with blood-red mana.
Lucian engaged beside him, draconic flames roaring to life.
Evelyne tore through them with brute force, her Titan's Resilience keeping her untouched.
Selene's spear found throats, precise and unrelenting.
Mira's blade cut through the air like lightning.
Cassian danced between strikes, his rapier finding gaps in their hides.
Darius unleashed a storm of lightning, frying several beasts at once.
Rael flashed in and out of reality, his Void Step leaving nothing but death in his wake.
And Leonel?
Leonel Faelwyn, who had once fled from battle, now stood his ground.
His summoned beasts roared, claws and fangs sinking into the enemy. His fear was there—but so was his resolve.
The fight was over in seconds.
Too easy.
They exchanged wary glances.
"That was… simple," Cassian murmured.
Kael didn't answer.
Because something was wrong.
And then—his System blared a warning.
[ WARNING: A Calamity-Class Mana Signature Detected. ]
[ Survival Rate: 10%. ]
Kael's blood ran cold.
The ground beneath them shook.
A deep, thunderous growl echoed through the ruins.
Mira's breath hitched. "Tell me that's not what I think it is."
Selene's Eclipse Sight flared—her silver eyes widening. "We need to move. Now."
Kael turned sharply—but it was too late.
A massive figure loomed above them, stepping out of the ruined cathedral.
A Mana Beast unlike any they had ever seen.
A monster that should not exist here.
And yet—
It was staring right at them.
The hunt had begun.