With the archbishop's departure from the ceremonial grounds, the air suddenly grew heavy. An invisible pressure formed in the center of the hall, and within seconds, a cracking energy spread outward. In a way no one could comprehend, thin purple lines began to appear in the air and rapidly expanded.
The students tried to retreat, but it was too late. This crack, which looked as if the fabric of space itself was bending and tearing, transformed into a massive vortex. In an instant, all the students were sucked into it at a speed that left them unable to even question their existence.
When Nyxar opened his eyes, he found himself in a completely different place. The air of the forest was dense, humid, and strangely eerie. The trees reached high into the sky; their leaves were so thick and large that they almost completely blocked the sunlight. Small creatures could be seen moving among the shadows on the ground. Some seemed harmless, while others, with sharp teeth and glowing eyes, radiated a threatening aura.
The tree trunks were covered in a tough, durable substance etched with strange markings. Enormous, snake-like creatures slithered between the branches, occasionally breaking the night's silence with sharp hisses. The ground was damp and treacherous, with both poisonous and medicinal plants growing side by side. The smallest mistake could cause a student to brush against a poisonous thorn and writhe in pain.
Nyxar tried to steady his breathing and looked around. The other students had scattered to different points. At that moment, a high-pitched scream echoed from the sky. A massive creature spread its wings and began to descend. Another rumbling sound rose from deep within the forest. Danger was approaching.
The fight for survival was about to begin.
The S-Class students quickly regrouped. They were trying to determine whether this situation was a test or a real threat. However, each of them knew they had to act wisely to survive. Most of the students formed small groups around stronger individuals. Magic users and physical fighters tried to move in balanced formations, while some students preferred to move alone.
As Nyxar scanned his surroundings, he noticed that Percilla was with Aurelia in a group. Students from the royal family had gathered among themselves, casting threatening glares at ordinary students to exclude them. The weaker ones were panicking, trying to find a strong leader to follow.
Nyxar silently watched as everyone formed groups. He had no intention of forming any alliances. Straightening his back, he began moving into the forest. He knew it was risky to move alone, but solitude was nothing new to him.
After hours of walking, Nyxar ventured into a darker and denser area of the forest. His senses were on high alert. Suddenly, he heard sharp whispers and eerie laughter surrounding him. As he scanned the area, he spotted small but extremely dangerous silhouettes emerging from the shadows.
They were goblins. Goblins were low-level monsters known for traveling in groups and their green skin, but these goblins were different. They wore metal armor and were equipped with primitive yet functional weapons. The most frightening thing about them was the magical energy they were holding in their hands. One of them had sparks rising from his palms, while another's fingertips glowed with green light.
Nyxar felt a cold smile form on his lips. His body was brimming with adrenaline, and his wild side was awakening. Clenching his fists, he took a deep breath. If these goblins wanted to test him, he was ready to teach them a lesson.
Taking a deep breath, Nyxar blended into the darkness, moving silently with every step, merging with the shadows like a ghost. In the shadows, he noticed the first goblin had separated from the group. Its body was still crackling with magic energy, but this momentary lapse of attention presented an opportunity for Nyxar.
He approached the goblin, his movements calculated, almost predator-like. With one more step, he leaped onto the goblin's back, swiftly grabbing its head in his hands. Gently, he maneuvered toward its weakest point, the heart, and with a quick motion, ripped it out. The goblin's scream echoed through the forest before fading away.
Nyxar dropped the goblin's body to the ground and quickly focused on his next target. His eyes locked onto the goblin he wanted to annihilate with his magic, and with a swift motion, he slashed his hands downward, channeling the icy energy in the air.
The ground suddenly froze and was covered in ice. The goblin began to slip, losing its balance as it tried to stay upright. In that instant, Nyxar's eyes gleamed, and he moved quickly. Sliding across the ice, he crushed the goblin's head with a hard strike as it fell.
The surrounding shadows seemed to grow even denser, but Nyxar wasn't going to let anything stop him. The bodies of the two goblins lay motionless on the ground, as though they had been slain by a seasoned hunter. Stepping over the corpses, Nyxar rushed toward the goblin group that had noticed his assassination. He had enough time to encircle the remaining 20 goblins. His body grew more excited with every step, filled with the intent to kill, as a devilish grin spread across his face—he had become a part of death.
When he made his first move, he swung his sword quickly. The blade spun around his body, cleanly severing the head of one goblin. As its head flew through the air, its neck arteries burst, spraying blood across the ground. The other goblins around him were struck with fear at the sight of their leader's death. But that fear would lead to their downfall.
Nyxar took a step forward and advanced toward the second goblin. Gripping his sword, he swung it swiftly. The blade cut through the goblin's shoulder and down to its abdomen. Blood soon splattered around as the goblin's intestines and liver fell to the ground, its body convulsing before collapsing.
Nyxar quickly turned, seeking another target with lightning speed.
Another goblin, panicking, swung a spear toward Nyxar. But with a quick motion, Nyxar disarmed it, driving the spear into the goblin's chest in one smooth strike. Seeing the blood on the spear's tip, he stepped back and swung his sword again, decapitating the goblin and sending its thrashing body to the ground. The loss of the head shattered the morale of the others.
Now, Nyxar focused all his attention on the goblins surrounding him. Taking a step forward, he drove his sword into the throat of one goblin. The severed arteries sprayed blood everywhere. The blow was so powerful that the goblin's head nearly detached from its body. The other goblins retreated in fear, but Nyxar did not stop his massacre.
Another goblin lunged at him, but Nyxar caught its movement and swiftly swung his sword downward at waist level. The goblin's leg was severed, and after a few more steps, the other leg was ripped off, sending it tumbling to the ground in agony, its broken ankle letting out a painful scream.
The smell of blood and flesh filled the air as Nyxar, without slowing down, dealt with each goblin one by one. The sword plunged into another goblin's stomach, causing its intestines to burst out, staining the ground. In the background, another goblin, its belly torn open, fell to the ground while screaming bloody cries.
Finally, after a series of sword strikes, Nyxar eradicated all the monsters in the depths of the forest. Blood sprayed from their bodies like a river, staining the forest floor. The corpses of each goblin, with their trembling limbs and torn organs, lay sprawled out.
Nyxar, with one final strike, swung his sword over his head and left nothing but corpses and a dark forest behind. From where he stood, he could see the lifeless bodies of each goblin. With the savagery inside him, he took a last look around, grinning and taking a deep breath.
His eyes shone with hatred as they glimmered in the stillness of the moment. The smell of blood hung in the air around the severed heads and bodies.
Nyxar's gaze shifted toward the deeper parts of the forest. He felt as though something was hidden, but this was just the beginning.
For a while, Nyxar continued deeper into the forest. With each step, the coldness of death became more apparent. The smell of blood still lingered in the air, the trees had darkened, and the shadows were drawing closer. The urge for death inside him seemed to burn through his body like fire.
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As the group neared the edge of the forest, there was a suspicious atmosphere. The surroundings had darkened, with only moonlight trickling through the trees in spots. Everyone in the group moved forward with tense caution. Percilla led, while Aurelia was a little further behind. Instead of Prince Leander from the royal family, Duke Alexander and Princess Seraphina walked in the back, scanning everything with their eyes.
"Something's wrong," Percilla whispered, instinctively sliding her hands toward her sword.
"What do you mean?" Duke Alexander asked, his voice low but sharp. Along with the cold breeze coming from the depths of the forest, there was a sense of fear that prickled everyone. But he was one of the most affected by this feeling. There was danger here. Everyone was on high alert at every moment.
Finally, the group reached a clearing. A deep breath was taken. As the entire group stepped into this blood-soaked area, they froze.
Their eyes widened. A deep silence filled the air as each person searched for their companions' eyes before looking around. The lifeless bodies of goblins were scattered around. Some were headless, others had their bodies completely torn apart, their organs spilling out. Intertwined wounds and blood... This was more than just a massacre.
"No... mercy," Percilla's voice trembled, but there was a coldness settling in her chest like a heavy stone.
Princess Seraphina from the royal group stepped back, bringing her hands to her mouth. Her eyes held a mixture of shock, fear, and deep curiosity. "Who could have done this?" she asked, her voice chilling, but mixed with a sense of excitement. "Who could be so cold-blooded to kill like this? What... what kind of creature is this?"
Without opening her eyes, Aurelia knelt on her knees, suddenly feeling nauseous. She then staggered back and vomited. "This... this couldn't have been done by a human," she said, her voice trembling, filled with helplessness. "This... belongs to a monster."
Duke Alexander stepped forward, scanning the area. "Such savagery looks more like the work of a human than a monster. This cold-bloodedness, this cruelty... This doesn't resemble a creature's work. But who... who could be so vicious?" he muttered. His face froze in the grip of an unclear thought. But an underlying fear was beginning to consume him.
As Seraphina opened her eyes, she took a closer look at the bodies around them. Her eyes briefly faltered before she took a deep breath. "Whoever did this, they were focused on a target, and to achieve their goal, they killed every feeling within them. It wasn't just slaughtering... they shattered each of their souls as well…" Her eyes darkened, and in a chilling silence, she continued, "This determination... I wonder which student did this?"
"A... a student?" Percilla asked, her voice shaky with suspicion. "I don't know any student who could do this. And this savagery..."
Seraphina paused for a moment, her eyes drifting far away. For a time, she seemed disconnected from the real world. Then she raised her head, her curiosity now more evident. "Savage?" she murmured, her voice laced with deep fear. "This savagery... it's more than just terrifying. Do you notice? Each dead body... it's not just their limbs. It's like their souls were devoured one by one. This power... A being could kill with such coldness and calculation. But who?"
"Who?" Percilla fell silent. Seraphina's excitement was mixed with fear—fear of an unknown presence... and within that, excitement. Seraphina wondered if it was a student, or something else entirely.
Duke Alexander sharpened his gaze and scanned the area. "Whoever did this... If it was a student, we'll need to watch out for them in the future. A person being so cold-blooded towards killing is no good sign..."
Seraphina's gaze shifted towards the dark corners of the forest, her curiosity tinged with fear. "Who did this?" she repeated, this time not just with her voice, but with the hidden fear on her face. "Such a brutal death... it could come from either a student or a creature."
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As Nyxar advanced deeper into the forest, the world around him grew darker and more bizarre. The trees had grown to immense sizes, intertwining with one another, their trunks nearly touching the clouds. The light was too weak to penetrate this dark region. Only a strange, ominous glow emanated from the depths, as if the forest itself had once shone but was now slowly dimming like a star fading into darkness.
The air's humidity had increased, and the creatures beneath the earth seemed to have grown stronger and more ruthless. With each step Nyxar took, he could feel the creatures shifting beneath his feet.
A strange rustling sound came from the forest's depths. A hissing, long and unmistakable. Nyxar quickly dropped to the ground, his eyes spotting a massive creature. A giant serpent, its blue-green glowing scales stretching across the forest floor. Its head, almost independent from its body, stared at Nyxar with a monstrous jaw. Its enormous armored back reflected a strange gleam with every movement, as if watching him. The serpent's neck was so long that, as it neared Nyxar's position, its head had become nearly invisible among the trees. Its eyes glowed large and sharp, as though signaling death itself.
Nyxar quickly pulled back, but the serpent took another step, surrounding him. Just then, another creature appeared. A massive black wolf, its body as long as it was and sharp teeth hunting prey. Its ears were pointed, eyes glowing like rings of fire. Slowly creeping up from behind, its teeth rushed towards his body, intensifying the weight of the forest's atmosphere with every step. Nyxar tightly closed his eyes and managed to avoid its fangs, but with each movement, another creature from the depths of the forest made its presence known.
As he took another step forward, the echo of a giant bird's scream resonated from the dark depths of the forest, as if from a time long past. Its wings were immense, and its body was almost as large as a mountain. With every beat of its wings, the trees around it swayed under the force of the wind. Its emerald green wings gleamed with light, and with each flap, the leaves on the trees seemed to transform into a true monster rather than mere foliage. With each beat, the giant creature dragged Nyxar further away but also glanced back at him. Its eyes were like a deep void, piercing the forest's heart, spreading fear with every step.
Then, a different scream echoed through the forest. This one was unlike the others. Suddenly, a massive horned creature appeared before him. Its skin was gray and cracked, with horns that twisted terrifyingly. With every step, a gloomy rustling sound followed, and it was damaging the surrounding vegetation.
Nyxar had been cornered deep within the forest. The serpent's enormous neck, covered in black scales, was creating a deathly circle with its trembling jaw. Each breath tightened around his life, like a stone trapped at the river's edge. His chest rose and fell rapidly, and he had no chance left for a final move. The serpent raised its head, its vast mouth opening, revealing sharp teeth that promised a deadly dance.
As the serpent's terrible jaw closed rapidly, Nyxar stretched back one final time. His body trembled with the rage in his eyes, his muscles tensing. A power was awakening inside him, but this time it was something different. The coldness of ice rose from the depths of his soul like a dark whisper. The serpent's giant jaw moved one step closer, its teeth intent on crushing his body when Nyxar made a final leap.
For a moment, he closed his eyes. In his mind, the echoes of long-forgotten pacts made of ice resounded. He remembered a secret belonging to his clan. The power of ice was not just a physical element; it was magic. Forbidden magic, so powerful it could invade the soul...
"Icy Nova," he whispered, the words from his lips echoing in the dark.
The ice energy within his body exploded suddenly. In that moment, the coldness that enveloped him turned into a deep, deadly void. Right beneath the serpent's jaw, there was a brief moment of stillness. Then, a massive ice explosion occurred. The ice transformed into a dark storm that covered everything. The serpent's massive mouth froze before its jaws could close, nearly freezing everything in its path.
Nyxar's body trembled with the power of the forbidden magic. The weight of the ice strained his muscles, but this was not a suicide; it was a fight for survival. The ice energy in his mind was so intense that the air around him had completely frozen. The leaves of the trees in the forest had frozen mid-air, surrounded by a cold mist.
The serpent, frozen from the cold, could not move, but it was impossible to know how much damage it had done. Its frozen body had become still under the partial effect of the ice. Nyxar finally opened his eyes and surveyed the frozen scene around him. Icy Nova had kept him alive, but his body was now closer to death, carrying the burden of the forbidden magic's power.
Even the air around him felt as though it had frozen from the effects of the icy destruction surrounding Nyxar. Everything had gone dark… Only the sharp, cold gleam of the ice remained.
Nyxar, despite his body shaking and the destructive effects of the ice, made one last effort to stand up. The cold burned every muscle in his body, making each step more difficult. Finally, he managed to stand. Everything was silent. The serpent, its frozen jaw still trying to move forward, remained immobile.
As Nyxar took deep breaths, the silence around him grew more intense. The ground, covered in ice, resembled a battlefield. A few frozen leaves and branches trembled as they shifted. But finally, something stopped him. Something had changed in the serpent's body.
A cracking sound…
From the ice came a terrible noise, like the breaking of steel. The sound gradually increased, building pressure to break the frozen structure surrounding it. The ice wrapped around the serpent was somehow beginning to dissolve. Each crack reverberated, shaking the terrifying silence of the forest...
Thank you for reading <3