Chapter 93 – The Breaking Point

  76’s Experiment Continues

  The moon hung crimson and swollen above the Wildlands, its light spilling through the storm like blood through shattered glass.

  On a ridge high above the chaos, 76 stood motionless, cloak whipping in the blizzard’s howl. In his hand, the final vial pulsed—a swirling core of molten red that caught the moonlight like a living ember.

  Below, the forest burned in shades of silver and scarlet. Shapes moved in the mist—massive beasts, two blurs of light clashing among them, a human and a rabbit, blades and bullets carving rhythm from chaos.

  “Fascinating,” 76 murmured. His breath came out as frost. “The longer the exposure, the thinner the line between predator and prey.”

  He twisted the cap of the vial loose. A faint hiss escaped—alive, hissing with mana.

  Overhead, the storm parted. A shriek rolled through the clouds—a flying Wild Magical Beast, its scaled hide streaked with crimson veins. It circled, struggling midair as the mist reached it.

  “Perfect.” 76’s voice was calm, detached, even as thunder rolled around him. “Thirty seconds… forty-five…”

  He tipped the vial. Red vapor bled upward, caught by the updraft. One by one, the creatures above faltered, their flight turning erratic, their eyes flaring red.

  The first dove into the forest canopy, wings scything through branches like razors.

  76 smiled faintly, tucking the empty glass into his belt. “And so, the test continues.”

  He turned and stepped into the storm, his figure dissolving into the mist as the forest below screamed.

  The clearing below burned with moonlight.

  Snow spiraled in crimson arcs as red mist coiled through the trees, clinging to every root and stone.

  Seven’s rifle barked again and again, the air shuddering with each blast. His movements were mechanical—precision born of instinct and training.

  He ducked under the swipe of a Frostbeast, rolled through the snow, and fired point-blank. Blue fire tore through its chest. The beast staggered but didn’t fall. Its blood hissed as it melted through the frost.

  Across the clearing, Fluffy moved like lightning—wild, fluid, unstoppable. Her twin swords drew silver trails through the fog, carving beasts apart before they could even cry out.

  “Fluffy!” Seven shouted. “Snap out of it!”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  She didn’t hear him—or refused to. Her eyes glowed red now, pupils narrow and sharp. Her breathing came ragged through clenched teeth. Every movement was too fast, too vicious. The mist had corrupted her mana, twisting grace into frenzy.

  Seven swore, slamming a fresh mana cell into his rifle. “Fine—if you won’t listen…”

  He pivoted and shot a lunging beast through the knee, toppling it. But before he could react, Fluffy vaulted over its body—straight at him.

  Their weapons collided in a burst of sparks. Her sword hammered against his rifle, the impact shivering through his bionic arm.

  “Damn it, Fluffy!” he grunted, blocking another strike. “You’re not yourself!”

  Fluffy’s grin was feral, her voice raw and trembling. “Maybe this is myself!” she hissed. “Maybe the trial’s just showing what we really are!”

  Her next strike slammed into his guard hard enough to numb his shoulder. She was stronger than before—driven by something older than training.

  Erika Enters the Fray.

  A crunch of snow echoed behind them.

  Another silhouette stumbled through the storm—armor glinting, shield raised.

  “Erika?” Seven called.

  The initiate’s pale face flickered in the moonlight, eyes unfocused. “What the hell is happening out here?” she shouted. “The mist—it’s in the air, it’s everywhere!”

  Her voice broke into a gasp as a Frost Wolf lunged from the trees. Reflex took over. She pivoted and slammed her shield into its skull, the impact cracking bone. The beast crumpled into the snow.

  But Erika didn’t stop. Her shield trembled, her breathing quickened, and her pupils shrank to crimson pinpoints.

  “Not you too…” Seven muttered.

  Erika’s body trembled as mana rippled violently through her armor. “Everything’s… too loud,” she hissed, clutching her head. “Too bright. My mana—it’s boiling—”

  Her gaze locked on Fluffy.

  The two Bunny Folk froze, ears twitching, teeth bared. The air between them thickened until it buzzed, hot and electric.

  “Stop!” Seven shouted—but his voice drowned under the roar of the beasts overhead.

  A shriek cut through the storm.

  Seven dove aside as a massive shadow crashed down—a flying W.M.B., corrupted by the red haze. Its talons tore through trees, sending splinters raining down.

  “Focus!” he barked, swinging his rifle up. One shot. Mana flared blue. The bullet ripped through the creature’s wing joint, snapping bone and tendon.

  It spiraled downward, hitting the ground in an explosion of ice and fire.

  Snow filled the air—thick, blinding. For a heartbeat, all was silence.

  Then the screams returned.

  Fluffy and Erika collided in a blur of steel and light, their blades ringing like a thousand chimes. The crimson glow of their eyes painted the air with streaks of fire.

  Seven braced himself between them, firing into beasts that lunged from the mist while blocking their stray blows with his rifle stock.

  Every muscle burned. His lungs ached. His mana reserves pulsed dangerously low.

  And in that moment, it hit him—the truth that froze him colder than the wind:

  This wasn’t a trial. This wasn’t random chaos.

  It was a controlled experiment.

  76’s voice echoed in his mind: “The others weren’t as fortunate.”

  The mist. The frenzy. The beasts.

  All part of one test.

  And now, Seven stood at its center—watching a human’s cruelty infect the world like wildfire.

  He looked toward the sky, at the red moon pulsing above the forest.

  “This isn’t instinct,” he whispered.

  “It’s murder wearing science as a mask.”

  He chambered another round and took aim—

  —for survival, not victory.

  Overwatch Panic

  Inside the War Rabbit Guild’s control room, alarms blared.

  The screens flickered with static as red filters washed across every active feed.

  “Those readings—mana contamination!” Luro shouted. “The sensors can’t distinguish life signatures anymore!”

  Miss Hopps leaned over the main display, her face pale but steady. “Can we get eyes on the trial field?”

  Raven shook her head. “Negative. The drones are falling from the sky. That mist… It’s corrupting Aether itself.”

  Lord Deogon’s hands clenched into fists. “How far has it spread?”

  “Too far,” Raven answered quietly. “If it keeps drifting west, it’ll reach Novastra’s perimeter by morning.”

  The room fell silent except for the hum of failing equipment.

  Miss Hopps’ eyes flicked to one monitor—flickering, unstable. A faint image of a human silhouette amid crimson haze.

  “That’s not one of ours,” she said slowly. “Who the hell is that?”

  The feed cut out.

  Back in the clearing, the mist burned.

  Seven’s breath came in ragged bursts, steam rising from his shoulders. His armor was dented, the rifle’s mana cell nearly drained.

  Fluffy stumbled, gripping her head, torn between rage and recognition. Erika’s blade trembled in her hand as she tried to hold back the red haze clouding her thoughts.

  Seven raised his voice over the chaos.

  “Fluffy! Erika! Listen to me! This isn’t you!”

  No response—only the snarl of beasts closing in again.

  He gritted his teeth, flicking a fresh mana cell into his rifle. The number on his neck blazed, white-hot.

  “Fine,” he growled. “If you won’t stop—then I’ll make you.”

  The rifle flared with energy, sigils spiraling up his arm as his body surged with mana.

  Enchanted Combat: Surge Mode.

  The blast tore through the clearing, illuminating the forest in a burst of silver light.

  For a moment, even the red mist faltered