Further back, Lusian advanced with his group. At his side rode Isabella, maintaining a composure that felt almost too perfect to be genuine.

  "I know you were assigned here," Lusian said, "but why didn't you go with Caleb?"

  "Because I feel safer beside your magical beast," she replied with a faint smile. "Besides… it's a relief not having someone harassing me all the time."

  Lusian was about to respond when Adela approached, her expression tight with tension.

  "My lord, Aureus is restless. Something is approaching. We should move away. Mount Umber—I will escort you."

  Lusian nodded, though his gaze remained fixed ahead.

  "I felt it too. But we can't run and leave the others behind. This… this never happened in the game. Something is wrong."

  A distant burst of energy thundered across the land. The clash of magic made the students freeze instinctively. When they looked toward the mountain, they saw a tide of grotesque figures descending, while more undead crawled out from the houses below.

  One of them lunged at Lusian with unnatural speed. He reacted instantly, intercepting the strike with his blade and shattering the creature's mana core. But as he did, an alarming sensation coursed through his body.

  His magic was weakening too.

  "An area-wide spell…" he muttered.

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  Then he heard Emily scream.

  "Lusian!"

  He didn't hesitate. Mounted on Umber, he shot toward her like an arrow loosed from a bow. Isabella ran after him, panic written across her face.

  "Wait! Don't leave me alone! Let me go with you," she pleaded, her eyes filled with fear.

  When he reached her, Emily looked at him in distress.

  "What's happening? That mana… it's horrible. Can't you feel it?"

  "I can't sense it," Lusian replied calmly. "But tell me where you feel it most. That spell weakens anyone within its range… and strengthens those who bear its mark."

  Emily nodded, trembling. Adela made a swift decision.

  "Adel, get on Aureus with me." Then she looked at Lusian firmly. "I'll take my brother. You take Emily and Isabella. We'll find the seal."

  "Understood." Lusian tightened his grip on the reins. "If it's nearby, it must be guarded. We'll need the instructors."

  Emily squeezed her eyes shut, breathing unevenly.

  "It's very close… that repulsive mana…" she whispered."It's growing stronger… with every step."

  Lusian moved through the ruined buildings with Umber at his side, searching for the teachers. The roar of battle echoed like a war drum. Then he saw her.

  Kara.

  She was surrounded, fighting like a cornered beast against more than a dozen undead. Dark mana saturated the air, and the students with her were retreating in panic.

  That single moment was enough.

  Lusian didn't think. He acted.

  "Umber!"

  The beast launched forward like a living projectile, crushing with savage force the enemy about to tear into Kara's back.

  "Idiot!" Lusian roared as he intercepted another strike. "Fall back! Fighting alone is suicide!"

  "Shut up!" she spat, breathless, refusing to yield even a step. "What are you doing here?"

  "Get back to the group!" he ordered, cold authority cutting through the chaos.

  Kara glared at him, her eyes blazing with pride… but she couldn't deny it: she was at her limit.

  As Lusian pulled away, she shouted after him:

  "Where are you going?!"

  "Where you can't," he replied without looking back. "Go!"

  Adela arrived at that very moment. She stopped beside Kara, carrying that strange composure she maintained even amid chaos.

  "If you stay here, you'll die." She extended her hand from atop Aureus. "Get on. I'll take you."

  Kara hesitated… then accepted.