Chapter 86: Unleashed Darkness

Brook, a renowned 7-star mage, held the position of a teacher at Miston City Magic High School. Being one of the few high-tier mages in Miston City, he was entrusted with leading the students for their graduation test. Over the years, he had taken numerous groups of students on expeditions, developing extensive experience and earning the trust of the school. Naturally, he was chosen as the lead teacher for this year's graduation test.

Accompanied by the army, Brook led the students into the Thousand Trees Forest, ensuring that everything proceeded according to plan. Despite occasional dangers and requests for assistance from the students, Brook remained composed, having encountered countless scenarios throughout his years of guiding graduates. Little did he know that this year's graduation test would deviate from the norm.

On the third day of the test, Brook received a tip about a group of students violating the test rules and venturing beyond the designated outer area. Just as he prepared to confront the students, a member of the army approached him, advising him not to intervene. They claimed that the students in question were individuals he should not challenge, and the army would take full responsibility for them.

Though angered by the situation, Brook had no choice but to let it go. He understood that with the army's attention focused on the situation, the students would not be in grave danger. However, the thought of potential consequences weighed heavily on him. If anything were to happen to those students, he would have to bear the responsibility.

Days passed, and no significant incidents occurred involving the group of students who had strayed from the designated area. That is until the final day of the test—a day etched into Brook's memory, as it marked the culmination of a bizarre turn of events.

As he gathered all the students to assess their performance and determine success or failure, Brook noticed the absence of the particular group he had been keeping a close eye on. William Mavis, Sarah White, Anna Scarlet, and Thomas Wilburgh—they were missing. For the first time in his career as a lead teacher, panic gripped Brook.

With great determination, he spent the entire day searching the middle area of the Thousand Trees Forest. When he approached the army for any leads, they could only offer their ignorance, indicating that even their Captain was missing alongside the students.

With no other leads to follow, Brook resorted to blindly combing through the forest. The weight of responsibility bore down on him, leaving no alternative. Failure to find the students would result in dire consequences for him. Thus, he pressed forward.

As Brook ventured deeper into the forest, his attention was drawn to something unusual. A group of beasts emerged, running frantically toward the outer area. Initially, he considered it a stampede, but upon closer inspection, he realized the beasts were fleeing from something. Perplexed, Brook recognized the significance and felt compelled to investigate the source from which the beasts were fleeing.

Utilizing his strength as a 7-star magician, Brook swiftly traversed the forest until he arrived at the origin of the chaos. To his astonishment, a cave oozed with continuous streams of dark energy, terrifying the surrounding creatures. Even though wild beasts and monsters were inherently untamed, they instinctively cowered before such malevolent energy.

However, Brook couldn't afford to be distracted by the fleeing creatures. Instead, he focused on the greater issue—the overwhelming surge of dark energy. It was the first time he had encountered such an immense concentration of darkness in his entire life. Although he had witnessed traces of dark energy in the past, its magnitude paled in comparison to the present situation. It flowed like an endless fountain of shadows, emanating from the ground.

Despite being a first-time witness to such an anomaly, Brook's seasoned expertise quickly led him to a decision. He needed to inform the army. The situation exceeded his capabilities, and delegating it to those better qualified seemed the wisest course of action.

However, just as he prepared to leave and report to the army, something caught Brook's attention, leaving him utterly stunned. Emerging from the cave teeming with dark energy was a figure—a man. The mere presence of this individual sent shivers down Brook's spine, instilling an inexplicable fear within him.

"A dangerous man," Brook silently acknowledged, his thoughts racing.

While curiosity regarding the man's identity piqued Brook's interest, he knew better than to provoke someone of that caliber. Sensing the man's association with the dark energy, Brook debated whether to depart and notify the army or remain in his current position. Fearful that leaving might draw the man's attention and seal his own demise, he opted to stay put. Perhaps, if he waited long enough, he could survive this harrowing ordeal.

And so, Brook stood motionless, fixated on the unfolding scene, his face displaying an expression of disbelief once again. The depths of the forest seemed to hold secrets darker than he had ever imagined.