Chapter 7: The Catacombs Beneath

The Arcane Academy's library at midnight was a place of whispered secrets and flickering candlelight. Shadows danced across the towering shelves, their spines lined with ancient tomes and forbidden grimoires. Aizen sat at a table, his fingers drumming an impatient rhythm as Seraphina and Rikka argued in hushed tones.

"This is insane," Rikka said, her golden eyes blazing. "You want to break into the Academy's core? Based on what? A hunch?"

"Not a hunch," Seraphina snapped, her fan tapping against her palm. "Aizen's findings confirm it. The conduits are failing. The System is unstable. If we don't act, the entire campus could collapse."

"And your brilliant plan is to… what? Wander into the catacombs and hope we don't get eaten by another aberration?"

"Better than sitting here and waiting for the end," Aizen interjected.

Both women turned to glare at him.

"Stay out of this," they said in unison.

Aizen raised his hands. "Just saying. If we're going to die, I'd rather it be on my feet."

Rikka groaned, slumping into a chair. "You're both impossible."

Seraphina's fan snapped open. "And you're wasting time. The catacombs are our only lead. Unless you have a better idea?"

Rikka hesitated, her gaze flicking to Aizen. "Fine. But if we're doing this, we're doing it my way."

"Which is?"

"Loudly."

Aizen sighed. This is going to be a disaster.

The entrance to the catacombs was hidden beneath the Academy's oldest wing, behind a tapestry depicting a wizard battling a hydra. Aizen pulled it aside, revealing a stone door etched with runes that glowed faintly in the dark.

"Charming," Rikka said, her sword already drawn. "Who wants to bet there's a skeleton behind this?"

"It's not a skeleton," Seraphina said, examining the runes. "It's a ward. A powerful one."

Aizen's [Mana Sense] flared, the runes pulsing with malevolent energy. "Can you disable it?"

"Of course." Seraphina traced a finger along the runes, her own magic flaring crimson. The runes flickered, then faded. The door creaked open, revealing a staircase descending into darkness.

"After you," Rikka said, gesturing grandly.

Aizen rolled his eyes and stepped inside.

The catacombs were a labyrinth of twisting tunnels and crumbling arches, the air thick with the scent of damp stone and decay. Torches lined the walls, their flames burning an unnatural green.

"Cheery," Rikka muttered.

"Stay focused," Seraphina said, her fan glowing faintly. "The core should be at the center. But the wards will grow stronger the closer we get."

As if on cue, the ground trembled. A low growl echoed through the tunnels, followed by the sound of claws scraping against stone.

"Aberration?" Aizen asked.

"Worse," Seraphina said, her voice tight. "Guardian."

The creature that emerged was a nightmare given form—a hulking mass of stone and shadow, its eyes glowing with the same sickly green as the torches. Its roar shook the walls, sending dust raining from the ceiling.

[Alert: Catacomb Guardian Detected]

[Level: 60. Weakness: ???]

"Oh, come on," Aizen groaned.

Rikka grinned, her sword igniting with pale fire. "Finally, some action."

The guardian charged, its massive fists slamming into the ground where Aizen had stood moments before. He rolled to his feet, his heart pounding as he scrambled for cover.

"Any bright ideas?!" he shouted.

"Stab it!" Rikka yelled, leaping onto the creature's back. Her blade bit into its stone flesh, sending shards flying.

"Helpful!"

Seraphina's fan glowed brighter, her voice rising in an incantation. Chains of crimson light erupted from the ground, wrapping around the guardian's legs. It roared, thrashing against the bindings.

"Aizen!" Seraphina snapped. "The runes on its chest! Disrupt them!"

Aizen's eyes locked onto the glowing symbols etched into the creature's torso. He grabbed a shard of broken stone, channeling his meager [Mana Channeling] into it. The shard flared with blue light as he hurled it at the runes.

The guardian screamed as the runes shattered, its form crumbling into rubble.

[Skill Level Up: Mana Channeling (Level 2)]

[New Skill Acquired: Runic Disruption (Basic)]

Rikka landed beside him, breathing heavily. "Not bad for a butler."

"Thanks," Aizen said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Remind me to add 'monster slayer' to my resume."

Seraphina approached, her expression unreadable. "The core is close. But the wards will be stronger. Stay alert."

They pressed on, the tunnels growing narrower and the air heavier. The torches' green flames flickered wildly, casting grotesque shadows on the walls.

Finally, they reached a massive door, its surface covered in intricate runes that pulsed with dark energy.

"This is it," Seraphina said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The System's core."

Aizen's [Mana Sense] flared, the runes' malevolence pressing against him like a physical force. "How do we get in?"

"We don't," a voice said behind them.

They turned. Elara stood in the shadows, her void-eyes gleaming. "Not without me."