Chaos erupted across the marketplace as several people collapsed on the spot. Panic spread like wildfire, and townsfolk, along with the town guards, gave chase to the man in the black tunic.
Daniel sprinted toward the training grounds, with Bernard keeping pace beside him.
"What the hell is going on? Why did he kill that man?" Bernard asked, his voice filled with confusion.
"Just keep running," Daniel replied without slowing down.
...
Inside the training grounds, they finally came to a stop beneath a mystic tree, both breathing heavily from the sprint.
"Mind explaining why you dragged me out of there?" Bernard demanded, his expression hard with frustration.
Daniel spread his hands and met Bernard’s gaze."The man you were talking to, isn’t the one I mentioned. He’s a different person."
Bernard narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean? It’s literally the same man."
*Sigh~*
"Listen to me," said Daniel.
...
"What? Klaus... twin brother?" Bernard’s eyes widened in disbelief. "What...?" He slowly turned back to Daniel.
"Yes." Daniel gave a small nod. "It’s the truth. Next time, be careful around him."
Saying that, Daniel turned to leave, but Bernard stopped him.
"Wait. How do you know it’s him?" Bernard asked.
Daniel paused but didn’t turn around. "Let’s just say I’ve met him before." Daniel said.
...
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the half moon rose into the sky, only to be veiled by dark clouds that smothered its light, leaving the night shrouded in darkness.
The campfire crackled at the center as the young shamans sat in a circle on wooden stools.
Some held skewers of pork and vegetables over the flames, roasting them into barbecue, while others brewed tea from dried leaves and passed the cups around.
"Guys, did you hear what happened in the marketplace?" Brad asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
"Oh, yes. I almost forgot about that. Someone got murdered," Tridon said.
"I heard there were multiple victims. By the time Zushio and I got there, everything was already over," Jerald added.
Zenim leaned forward, his fingers steepled. "There were five bodies lying on the ground by the time I arrived."
"Same here," Molex replied, while Pise, sitting beside him, gave a silent nod.
"Where were you, Bernard?" Pise asked as he narrowed his eyes.
Bernard stiffened for a moment before forcing himself to remain calm. "I... was somewhere around there."
Daniel kept his eyes on the campfire, waiting for someone to ask where he had been.
No one did.
That alone was enough to make him breathe a quiet sigh of relief.
...
*Thunder⚡️*
Daniel stared out the glass window from his bed beside it.
The room held six single beds, and the steady rhythm of rain tapping against the windows, mixed with the occasional rumble of thunder, filled the silence.
He watched the rain blur the view beyond the training grounds. The cool breeze, the soft patter of rain, and the cozy atmosphere gradually made his eyelids grow heavy.
Early, the next morning, the remaining three young shamans successfully shattered their wooden dummies under Marco’s guidance.
With that, Marco had achieved his goal. Every one of his students had mastered the Third Form to its current limit.
"Well done, Jerald... Tridon... Pise. You’ve all made your master proud." Marco said with a satisfied smile.
Off to the side, Elira quietly watched the young shamans train, while Cinderela roamed around the training grounds with several workers following behind her, overseeing the preparations.
Daniel noticed something different in their behavior.
Normally, Cinderela and Elira would be sitting together, chatting whenever they had the chance.
But now, an invisible distance seemed to have formed between them.
*BzzZap!*
Blue-white lightning crackled around Daniel’s palm before he thrust it forward.
*BOOM!*
The bolt slammed into the metal plate, piercing straight through it in a shower of sparks.
*RUMBLE...*
The ground lurched.
Daniel’s eyes narrowed. "Earthquake?"
The training grounds erupted into confusion.
The earth bucked beneath their feet, throwing everyone off balance. Some stumbled backward, others instinctively spread their legs to steady themselves, while loose stones danced across the ground.
"Master! What’s happening?" Molex shouted, panic creeping into his voice.
*CRAAACK!*
One by one, several mystic trees toppled, their roots ripping free from the earth as a widening crack split the ground beneath them.
The crack raced straight toward the center.
Then—
*BOOOOM!*
The ground exploded upward.
A huge stone structure burst from beneath the earth, hurling dirt, shattered rock, and clouds of dust high into the sky.
It stood several stories tall, its solid stone walls casting an enormous shadow over the stunned shamans.
At its center, a crimson glow poured from a dark entrance.
Silence.
The trembling ceased as abruptly as it had begun, leaving only drifting dust and the echo of falling debris.
"A Group Dungeon?" Marco muttered, his eyes widening in disbelief.
The young shamans exchanged bewildered glances, but before anyone could speak—
"Everyone, get back!" Marco roared.
Daniel stood closest to the entrance.
A low, eerie hum drifted from within, followed by the frantic screeching of bats as they burst out into the open.
The surrounding trees swayed, their branches creaking and snapping beneath an unseen force.
Hearing their master’s command, the young shamans hurried toward him without hesitation.
Elira quickly moved to Marco’s side, while Cinderela rushed out from the building with several workers close behind her, all staring at the towering structure in stunned silence.
"How can this happen? Wasn’t the barrier restored?" Elira asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
"That’s what I’m wondering as well," Marco murmured, his expression grim.
Cinderela sprinted toward them. "Is everything alright?"
Marco turned to her and gave a slow nod, though his eyes never left the towering structure.
"Far," Daniel whispered.
————
Name: Dungeon
Type: Raid
Tier: F
Description: A multi-floor dungeon designed for group exploration, containing various monsters spread across several floors and offers a high chance of obtaining rare rewards upon completion.
————
"This is bad," Marco muttered, his gaze darting toward the Mystic Forest. "Cinderela, come with me. And Elira, do me a favour and send a letter to the Royal Academy immediately."
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