Chapter 15 – The Shadow of Dark Energy

The atmosphere in the academy felt heavier that day. Master Ardian summoned all the students to the main hall, his expression more serious than usual.

“This time, your mission will be different,” he said, his voice carrying across the room. “This is not just another routine investigation. We have detected a magical anomaly in the eastern forest. There is a possibility that the monsters there are not merely wild creatures, but are being created from an unknown source of energy.”

Whispers filled the hall. The phrase unknown energy made many of the students uneasy.

Ardian continued, “You will be sent out in groups, with only limited supervision. Remember—this mission could be dangerous. If the situation becomes uncontrollable, activate the emergency crystal immediately to return to the academy.”

His sharp gaze swept across the hall. “This is not a simulation. Think of this as an early warning of something far more dangerous to come.”

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Into the Eastern Forest

Zareen’s team was once again made up of Dyra, Brant, and Arven. This time, however, they all seemed far more willing to work together. Brant even handed Zareen a small pouch containing recovery potions.

“Here. If your shield breaks, drink this—it should restore some of your energy.”

Zareen accepted it with a small, grateful smile. “Thank you. I’ll protect all of you as best I can.”

Meanwhile, Gino marched alongside his own team. Though he still wore his usual confident grin, his eyes were sharp and alert. Every so often, his gaze would meet Zareen’s, and without a single word exchanged, both understood: this mission was no laughing matter.

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An Ominous Presence

The moment they entered the eastern forest, an unnatural chill seeped into the air. The trees looked withered, though it wasn’t autumn, and a pale fog hung over the trail.

Dyra frowned. “Something’s wrong. My wind feels… suppressed, like there’s another force pushing against it.”

Arven stomped the ground, sensing the vibrations. His expression darkened. “The earth here feels hollow, unstable. Almost… empty.”

Brant conjured a small spark of lightning, but the glow dimmed almost immediately, swallowed by the mist. “You’ve got to be kidding me. This fog is draining our magic?”

Zareen scanned their surroundings, feeling a cold pressure creep into his chest. This energy… it’s whispering. Dark, suffocating… like it’s clawing at my mind.

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The Monster Appears

A deafening roar shook the forest. From within the mist emerged a hulking humanoid figure, its body grotesquely twisted. Its eyes glowed crimson, and its cracked, stone-like skin seemed to hold a fiery light within.

“That’s… not a normal monster,” Dyra whispered. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

The creature roared again and charged. Brant and Arven immediately unleashed their magic, while Dyra spun her staff, summoning slicing winds.

Zareen stepped forward instinctively, conjuring a violet shield that stretched across the group. The creature’s claw struck with bone-rattling force, shaking the ground.

“This thing is too strong!” Brant shouted.

“And it’s absorbing our spells!” Arven added grimly. “This isn’t natural!”

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Crushing Pressure

The battle dragged on, and the monster showed no signs of tiring. Every time a piece of its body was destroyed, the cracks in its skin glowed darker, regenerating its limbs with pulses of shadowy energy.

Dyra’s breath came in ragged gasps. “It’s… like it’s being sustained by some kind of negative energy that just keeps pulling itself back together.”

Zareen’s shield trembled under the relentless blows. This energy… it’s the same as what Gifa once warned me about. The darkness left behind by a fallen hero whose seal has begun to weaken.

Another strike shook the ground, nearly knocking Zareen off his feet. He gritted his teeth, forcing his legs to hold. “I can’t fall here… not now!”

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An Unexpected Rescue

Suddenly, an explosion of scarlet fire engulfed the creature’s side, forcing it to stagger backward. Through the mist, Gino and his team emerged, flames swirling around him.

“Heh! You’d be done for without me,” Gino called out with a challenging grin.

Zareen exhaled in relief, though he rolled his eyes. “You took your time.”

Karel, the leader of Gino’s team, shouted, “Stop talking and focus! We have to destroy the energy core. Look for the part that glows the brightest—that’s where it’s channeling power!”

Immediately, everyone coordinated their efforts. Dyra summoned a strong gust to blow away the fog, Brant and Arven launched their spells at the exposed creature, and Gino unleashed an even stronger torrent of fire to weaken its regeneration.

Zareen kept the defenses up, his eyes scanning the creature’s body. Then he saw it—a pulsing red light deep within its chest.

“There! Its core is in its chest! Hit it now!” Zareen shouted.

Gino nodded, leaping forward, his entire body glowing red from the surge of fire magic. “Leave it to me!”

With a roar of his own, he struck the monster’s chest. A massive explosion followed, scattering crimson light across the forest. The mist dissolved, and the creature collapsed into black ash that sank into the ground.

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Aftermath

Silence fell over the forest. The students were exhausted, their faces pale and drenched in sweat.

Dyra gave Zareen a small, tired smile. “If it weren’t for your shield, we’d have been crushed.”

Brant added seriously, “And without you calling out the core’s location, we wouldn’t have won at all.”

Arven didn’t say much, but for once, his nod was filled with respect.

Nearby, Gino stood tall despite his labored breathing. He glanced at Zareen, a faint grin tugging at his lips. “You always manage to push me to fight harder. Don’t think for a second I’ll stop trying to surpass you.”

Zareen returned the look, smiling faintly. “Then we’ll both have to keep moving forward. Good rivals don’t stop here.”

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Return to the Academy

When they returned to the academy, the instructors were stunned by their report. Master Ardian’s expression grew grim as he listened.

“A monster formed from concentrated negative energy… That means the old seals are starting to weaken.”

The hall erupted with anxious murmurs.

Zareen stood silent, the words stirring old memories of Gifa’s story—of the fallen hero who became the Black Ice Dragon, and how its remnants of hatred still seeped into the world.

He gripped the black card in his pocket tightly. If this is true, then this mission was just the beginning.