The silence didn’t last.
It never did.
A low rumble echoed from the earth, vibrating beneath my feet.
"Professor..." Julien’s voice was tight, his sword still raised.
"I feel it," I murmured, eyes locked on the creature’s crumpled form.
It wasn’t moving.
But that didn’t an it was dead.
Not by a long shot.
"Wallace," I murmured softly. "Status?"
"Seal’s holding," he rasped, barely staying upright. "But... it’s not stable."
Of course it wasn’t.
Because the pulse...
It was back.
Stronger.
Angrier.
"Get ready," I murmured, my voice low but firm.
Mira’s grip on her dagger tightened. "I don’t like this."
"Neither do I," Julien muttered.
Felix was still crouched beside Leo, his eyes darting between us and the unmoving creature.
"Felix."
"Y-Yeah?"
"Stay with Leo."
He swallowed hard, but he nodded. "Got it."
I took a step forward.
The runes around the creature were glowing—barely containing whatever was inside.
And then—
Crack.
The air shattered.
The rune circle exploded, sending shards of mana scattering like glass.
"Move!" I barked.
Julien dove to the side, Mira rolled back, and I barely managed to throw myself out of the way as a shockwave erupted from the creature’s body.
But it wasn’t just a blast.
It was... sothing else.
The shadows writhed, twisting unnaturally as they pooled around the creature’s remains.
And then—
It stood.
"Impossible..." Wallace murmured, his voice weak.
The creature’s form was shifting, warping as if it was shedding its broken shell.
What erged...
Was worse.
Much worse.
Its limbs were longer, its fra more jagged. The pale, cracked skin had been replaced by sothing darker—slick and pulsating, like raw muscle exposed to the air.
And its eyes...
They weren’t hollow anymore.
They burned.
Red.
Hungry.
"Professor..." Mira’s voice was tight, her stance low and ready.
"Yeah," I muttered.
We were in trouble.
Big trouble.
The thing moved.
No hesitation.
It lunged.
"Down!" I barked.
Julien barely had ti to react, throwing himself to the side as the creature’s clawed hand sliced through the space where he’d been standing.
Mira wasn’t as lucky.
The thing’s other arm lashed out, faster than before.
"Mira!"
She twisted, her dagger flashing as she blocked—
But it wasn’t enough.
The force sent her flying, crashing into a nearby tree with a sickening thud.
"Mira!" Julien shouted, eyes wide.
"Still breathing," she groaned, forcing herself to sit up. "But that hurt."
Damn it.
This thing was faster. Stronger.
And we weren’t ready for this.
"Wallace," I murmured softly.
"I..." Wallace’s voice was weak. "I’ve got nothing left, Professor..."
"Then stay down," I murmured.
Because this?
This was mine.
I gripped my cane tighter, mana already flooding through my veins.
If this thing wanted a fight—
It was going to get one.
"Julien," I murmured softly.
"Yeah?"
"Cover ."
"Got it."
I stepped forward, my cane tapping against the ground.
The creature’s head snapped toward , its burning eyes locking onto mine.
"Co on," I murmured softly, my voice barely above a whisper.
Co and get .
It did.
The thing lunged, claws outstretched.
But I was ready.
"Bind," I murmured.
Runes flared to life beneath its feet, but this ti—
I wasn’t trying to hold it.
I was redirecting it.
The creature’s montum shifted—just enough for to sidestep.
Barely.
"Julien!"
"On it!"
Julien was already moving, his sword flashing as he struck.
Clang.
The blade hit—
And bit.
The creature staggered, but it didn’t fall.
"Again!" I barked.
Julien didn’t hesitate.
His sword lashed out, striking with precision—aiming for the joints.
Weak points.
I could see it now.
The cracks.
The seams where the thing’s new form hadn’t fully solidified.
"Focus on the cracks!" I barked.
"Got it!" Mira was back on her feet, her dagger already glowing with dark mana.
She moved fast, her strikes aid with deadly precision.
Crack.
The creature shuddered, its movents slowing.
But not enough.
"Wallace!" I barked.
"I... I can’t—"
"Just give a spark," I hissed.
Wallace gritted his teeth, forcing what little mana he had left into the ground.
It wasn’t much—
But it was enough.
The runes I’d prepared flared.
"Bind."
Chains erupted from the earth, wrapping around the creature’s limbs.
It scread, the sound echoing through the clearing.
"Now!" I barked.
Julien’s sword ca down again—
And this ti—
It cut deep.
The creature staggered, but it wasn’t done.
Not yet.
Its body twisted, the shadows around it thickening—
"Move!"
But I was too late.
A tendril lashed out, slamming into and sending flying.
I hit the ground hard, my vision swimming.
"Professor!"
I forced myself to sit up, blood dripping down my lip.
"Still... here," I muttered.
The creature...
It was changing again.
"Damn it," I muttered.
"Wallace," I rasped.
"I... can’t..." His voice was barely a whisper.
"Rest," I murmured.
I pushed myself up, forcing mana through my veins.
One last shot.
"Julien. Mira."
They didn’t need to say anything.
They were already moving.
Julien struck high.
Mira struck low.
And ?
I went straight through.
My cane flared with mana, the runes etched along its length glowing bright.
"Break," I murmured.
I didn’t aim for the body.
I aid for the core.
The pulse.
The heart.
"Break!"
The cane struck.
The impact sent a shockwave through the creature—
And this ti—
It scread.
The shadows writhed, twisting violently as the creature’s form collapsed.
The pulse—
It shattered.
A wave of mana exploded outward, sending us all stumbling back.
And then—
Silence.
Real silence.
"Is it...?" Julien’s voice was cautious.
I didn’t answer imdiately.
Because I was still waiting.
But...
The pulse was gone.
Finally.
"Yeah," I murmured softly. "It’s done."
The tension in the air evaporated.
Julien sagged, letting out a breath. "Thank the gods..."
Mira was still standing, but I could see the exhaustion in her eyes.
"Wallace?"
"I’m..." He was barely conscious. "Alive..."
"Felix?"
"Leo’s breathing," Felix murmured softly. "But he’s not waking up."
My jaw clenched.
Not yet.
"Alright," I murmured softly. "We’re done here."
But as I looked around the ruined clearing...
I couldn’t shake the feeling.
That this?
This was just the beginning.
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