In the Lab of Despair

The monster's intimidating presence filled the lab as Aqua considered their dire predicament. Despite the beast's overwhelming power, Aqua's mind worked swiftly, seeking any opportunity to gain control of the situation. He turned his gaze toward Morbid, standing smugly amid the chaos, and decided. Striking swiftly and without sound, Aqua incapacitated Morbid, leaving him unconscious on the cold, stone floor.

But as the group watched, nothing happened. The other monsters within the lab remained undisturbed, and the horrifying creature attacking them continued its relentless assault. It became evident that rendering Morbid unconscious wouldn't cause the creatures to go berserk, yet the command to kill the intruders persisted.

"It seems knocking Morbid out doesn't resolve the situation," Aqua said sharply. "The command on this monster remains intact."

The others nodded, their expressions tense. Morbid lay motionless on the ground, his sinister smile wiped away as unconsciousness took hold. The group tightened their stances, their weapons raised against the monster that refused to relent.

Claire turned to Aqua, her voice filled with concern as the group avoided another brutal swing of the monster's claws using Blink magic. "How do we get out of here? Our attacks aren't even scratching it!"

Sweat trickled down Aqua's brow as he glanced around the room. The lab's twisted atmosphere only heightened the pressure, and their mana reserves were dwindling fast. He took a deep breath before replying. "Claire, use Blink to teleport everyone out through the passage Morbid came from. There has to be an exit there. I'll hold the monster."

Claire's eyes widened. "How will you manage that? The monster's strength—it's beyond anything we can handle!"

The monster roared again, its claws crashing down and shattering the stone floor, forcing the group to retreat once more. Their coordinated attacks—a combination of Claire's fire magic enhanced by Sylphia's summoned winds, sword strikes from Aqua and Ron, and ranged wind magic from Emilia—landed blow after blow. Yet, none of it appeared effective. The creature's hide remained untouched, and its speed continued to challenge even their best efforts.

Mana drained rapidly from Claire and Aqua as they repeatedly cast Blink magic to avoid the monster's attacks. The strain was evident, their movements slowing as fatigue began to weigh on them.

Aqua made a decision, his voice firm despite the exhaustion in his tone. "I'll unseal Darkness to the 6th grade."

Claire's eyes widened in disbelief. "You can do that?"

"No," Aqua admitted, his gaze steady. "But Ron might be able to."

Ron turned to Aqua, gripping his sword tightly. "Can I do that? Will it work?"

Aqua nodded. "I'll transfer the contract of Darkness to you. Your strength should be enough to unseal it."

Without hesitation, Aqua initiated the process. The artifact, bound to him since its creation, began to hum softly as its connection shifted to Ron. The transfer completed smoothly, and Ron felt the weight of Darkness settle into his grip. Yet, to Aqua's dismay, the artifact showed no signs of loosening its seal.

Meanwhile, the monster's relentless aggression left them with no room for pause. Aqua, Casial, Adam, Ron, and the guards continued their attacks, pushing the beast back even as their blows proved ineffective. Claire, despite her fatigue, kept teleporting them out of harm's reach, while Emilia worked tirelessly to support them with ranged wind magic.

Sylphia's presence added strength to their attacks, yet even her divine power couldn't overcome the creature's monstrous resilience. The lab echoed with the clash of steel, the roar of fire, and the guttural cries of the beast, creating an atmosphere of chaos and desperation.

The shattered remains of glass containers littered the floor, reflecting the dim light and creating a fractured, surreal environment. Chemicals spilled across the ground, mixing with dust and debris. Every corner of the room seemed to mirror the struggle unfolding within it—a battle against something truly insurmountable.

Even after transferring the artifact's contract to Ron, the group realized their efforts had failed to unseal Darkness. Aqua's jaw tightened, his mind racing to find another way as the monster closed in once more.