Chapter 87:

What happened in front of Brook at that moment was indeed a bizarre and inexplicable occurrence. Even now, he couldn't fathom the true nature of what was happening before his eyes.

Brook had considered two possibilities regarding the dangerous man's actions. He anticipated that the man might either walk away from the overflowing dark energy source, indicating a hidden purpose behind his presence, or stay to observe the phenomenon, suggesting the potential appearance of a powerful treasure. Either way, Brook knew better than to interfere or draw attention to himself. He remained still, trying to make himself inconspicuous, silently hoping for the man to depart quickly.

But as Brook waited in silence, he couldn't help but steal glances at the man. Though he knew he shouldn't indulge his curiosity, he found himself unable to resist. And to his utmost shock, the man defied all expectations by doing something unimaginable—he took his own life. In front of Brook's very eyes, the man committed suicide.

Disbelief flooded Brook's mind as he witnessed the unthinkable act. Even though it occurred right before him, he struggled to come to terms with the reality of the situation. Throughout his life, Brook had encountered numerous figures at the pinnacle of high-tier mages, all emanating the same level of pressure as this man. And as individuals of great power, they possessed a pride that normal people couldn't even fathom. Brook believed that someone with such pride would never resort to something as unthinkable as suicide. Though his knowledge of this particular group of experts was limited, Brook was confident he couldn't be mistaken about something like this.

Yet, it happened right in front of him.

After a brief moment of disbelief, Brook snapped back to reality and approached the man's lifeless body. He needed to confirm that the man had indeed taken his own life. Closing the short distance, Brook reached the spot where the man had died. True enough, he saw the man's body submerged in the dark energy, gradually being pulled deeper into its ominous depths. That was all the confirmation Brook needed.

Now that he had verified the suicide, Brook began contemplating the incident. Someone had just committed suicide right in front of him, and as bizarre as the occurrence was, he knew it couldn't be a simple matter. People might take their own lives, but there were usually reasons behind such actions, and for someone of great power, those reasons were often more profound than normal.

As Brook pondered the situation, he realized he had to retreat. In addition to the strange overflowing dark energy, something was undeniably amiss, and he wanted no part in it.

Brook's decision to retreat was the correct one, but unfortunately, it was already too late.

Unbeknownst to him, as he approached the deceased man's body, thin threads of dark energy rose from the overflowing darkness and latched onto Brook's leg. These threads were so subtle that Brook failed to notice their presence until he attempted to retreat. By then, it was too late.

Although the threads of dark energy were small, they possessed unimaginable strength, immobilizing Brook's leg and preventing him from escaping their grip. Just as Brook struggled to break free, something else transpired before his eyes.

The dark energy in front of him began to converge into a single point. Brook could sense the energy gathering and growing with an astonishing force. If that were the only concern, he might not have been as alarmed, but the energy displayed signs of instability, akin to a volcano on the verge of eruption. When it finally happened, there was no doubt that a massive explosion, capable of annihilating the entire forest, would occur.

The mere thought of it sent shivers down Brook's spine, causing goosebumps to ripple across his body. He realized the gravity of the situation he found himself in—a perilous encounter with an unknown force that threatened not only his life but also the surrounding wilderness.

Fear and urgency surged through Brook's veins as he desperately struggled to break free from the grip of the dark energy threads. His mind raced, searching for any possible means of escape or solution to the impending catastrophe that loomed before him. Time seemed to slow down, each passing moment amplifying the impending danger and the weight of his responsibilities as a teacher.

In that critical instant, Brook's survival instinct kicked in, fueling his determination to overcome the unimaginable obstacles that stood in his path. With all his strength and magic, he focused on breaking free from the entangling grip, determined to save himself and, if possible, warn others of the impending disaster that awaited them all.

The forest's silence was shattered by Brook's shouts of exertion and the crackling sound of dark energy as it continued to gather and pulsate with an ominous intensity.

No matter how hard Brook tried, it seemed like the dark energy entangling him was like a claw of a demon, wishing to drag him into the darkness.

It was then that Brook realized it would be impossible for him to escape. But just as he was about to surrender his fate, a change happened to the escaping dark energy. As the light fell down, Brook could feel the dark energy being suppressed.

At the same time, cracks appeared in the surrounding space, and subsequently, a portal appeared. The portal radiated a faint glow, contrasting against the darkness that had consumed the forest. It offered a glimmer of hope amidst the impending catastrophe.

Looking at the portal, Brook can see a silhouette of a person, and to his surprise, it was someone he know!

"Teacher?" It was his student, Sarah White!