Tap!… tap!… tap!… footsteps echoed through the silent hallway.
From the lower angle, only black shoes could be seen, their polished surface reflecting the hallway lights. His shadow stretched long on the floor, moving slowly with steady, deliberate steps.
The camera seemed to follow those steps until it shifted, revealing the figure of Jamir. He had originally been heading toward the control room… but eventually stopped in front of the restroom door.
Inside, the sound of running water broke the silence. Jamir splashed his face, cold water dripping from his chin and dampening his uniform. He stared at the mirror, seeing a face that looked weary—a face burdened with pressure. There was fear in his expression, the look of someone haunted by the past.
His gaze sharpened, his fingers slowly curling into a fist. Then—Bugh!—his punch struck the glass, cracks spreading like a spiderweb.
Jamir's breathing was heavy as he stared again at his trembling reflection between the shards.
The reflection in the mirror seemed to change—the eyes now glared at him with anger, blaming him… even despising him.
Jamir growled, his voice breaking,
"I couldn't keep my promise. I'm still the same as before… I'm a failure."
His head hung low, his shoulders trembling, hiding pain too deep to put into words.
Suddenly, he slammed his fist into the mirror again. The cracks deepened, and smears of blood began to stain the glass.
"I couldn't protect the young mages… I've made the same mistake again!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
Bugh! Bugh! Bugh!—Jamir kept hammering the mirror. Again and again.
Not just once, but over and over, each blow accompanied by an uncontrollable surge of emotion.
The mirror was now shattered, pieces scattered across the sink and floor. His reflection was gone—only dim fragments remained, split apart by shards. Blood dripped from his torn knuckles, falling among the glass.
The restroom door suddenly swung open—
Reddit caught Jamir's hand before he could strike again.
With a firm grip, Reddit said,"Enough!" he barked sharply."They're already in the control room. We still have a chance to make this right."
Jamir lowered his hand, standing silently without a word.
———
Back to Aruma. His hiding place with Roselia didn't last long… they were eventually discovered while talking.
The curly-haired participant who noticed them gestured with his hand, signaling for Aruma and Roselia to join them.
Aruma eyed him with suspicion, his doubt clear.Roselia, however, stepped forward without a shred of fear, accepting the invitation with a sincere, cheerful smile.
The curly-haired participant looked pleased, then without thinking grabbed Roselia's hand.His movement stopped instantly when Aruma grabbed his wrist.
With a sharp look, Aruma spoke firmly,
"I don't know what you're planning. So don't try anything… especially touching her."
The sense of threat was clear on the participant's face. He quickly let go of Roselia, stammering,
"Sorry… sorry, I didn't know you two were a couple."
The curly-haired participant then invited Aruma and Roselia to join his group.
After exchanging glances, the two decided to follow.
The curly-haired participant handed them a leather pouch filled with fresh water.
They sat on a fallen tree trunk, letting their legs rest. Aruma drank without saying much, while Roselia looked cheerful again—as if the exhaustion from earlier had vanished with each sip.
After a short rest, the group invited them to continue searching for a safer place.
Roselia and Aruma agreed, though Aruma remained wary.
They followed the group's steps, with Aruma deliberately staying in the back. Suspicion still lingered—he intended to learn more about them.
Now, the six of them continued their journey, Aruma at the very rear, his eyes never leaving Roselia.
Meanwhile, Roselia walked in the middle, chatting with the curly-haired participant,
"Isn't a group supposed to have five people?" she asked curiously.
"Why are there only four of you?"
The participant seemed flustered before replying,
"He… got lost. Been on his own since earlier."
Roselia just nodded, accepting the answer without suspicion.
At the front, three participants began whispering to each other.
"She's pretty, huh? What if we… take her?" one of them muttered.
The one beside him asked quietly,
"And… what about that guy?"
Suddenly—
The curly-haired participant slung an arm around them, leaning in close.
"Let's just take him out… or kill him altogether," he whispered with a sly smile.
Roselia, seeing them huddled together, asked curiously,
"What are you talking about?"
The curly-haired participant smiled, flashing his teeth.
"It's nothing," he replied.
The others nodded as if to confirm.
Thirty minutes passed. The sky was darkening, sunlight stretching between the trees.
One participant stopped.
"Let's rest here. The sun's almost down," he said, glancing at Aruma and Roselia.
They all stopped. The four other participants acted friendly, then left Aruma and Roselia at the side of the trail.
One of them grinned,
"You two stay here. Watching the sunset must feel romantic."
Without waiting for a reply, they left. But behind their departing steps were whispers of foul intent.
Roselia sat beside Aruma, her eyes on the sky. Orange light wrapped the forest, while Aruma stared straight ahead—listening to her.
Roselia turned to him, her eyes reflecting the orange glow.
"Did you know? I've always dreamed of sitting like this… watching the sunset," she said with a faint smile.
Aruma remained silent, gazing into the distance.
Roselia continued, her tone now serious,
"How can I control my magic?"
Aruma took a slow breath before answering,
"You have to fight yourself. Let go of everything weighing on your heart and mind." He pointed at her chest.
Roselia covered herself, her face flushing, thinking Aruma was staring at her chest.
Aruma sighed and said,
"Not what you're thinking… I'm serious," he said firmly.
Roselia apologized, her face even redder with embarrassment.
Aruma went on, speaking more seriously.
"Mana flows through your body like a network… connected to every part of you—eyes, ears, muscles, even your fingertips. It all centers on your soul's core. If any part of that network is bound by fear, doubt, or overwhelming emotion… your magic will go wild and be hard to control. You might not even be able to use it at all."
He looked at Roselia sharply.
"Get rid of all fear… and you'll master your mana. But… it's still a process, mana's concept is more complex than what I'm telling you."
Roselia fell silent again, her mind turning—wanting to free herself from the fear that had always shadowed her.
From a distance, their silhouettes looked like lovers watching the sunset together—the sinking sun casting reddish-gold, giving a deceptively warm scene.
But behind that beauty, Aruma never lowered his guard. He had heard their vile whispers. As the last sunlight faded, Aruma stood slowly.
"Wait here. I'll be back soon," he said calmly, but his eyes glinted with cold resolve.
Roselia sat still, watching his back disappear into the trees. She waited, as told—though she feared being alone in the dark.
Aruma moved silently, each step leaving no trace. But… the air grew heavy—he felt two threats closing in.
The first—five orcs that had been chasing him were now close enough for him to hear their rough breaths in the foliage.
The second—and more dangerous—came from the very participants he had just been with.
Aruma stopped behind a large tree, holding his breath. From there, he caught low voices—an exchange dripping with malice.
The conversation became clear. It wasn't just their vile plans for Roselia… but also a confession that enraged Aruma.
One of them—a female participant who had once been with them—had been killed in an inhuman way. Not only murdered, but defiled before and even after death.
The four laughed, treating human life like a game. And now… they planned to do the same to Roselia.
Aruma stepped out from the darkness. His face bore merciless rage, his intimidating aura pressing on the air. His cold voice cut the night.
"You all deserve to die."
Mana surged through his arm, condensing in his clenched fist.
The four reacted instantly.
The curly-haired one conjured an E-rank fireball, orange light flaring in his palm. Another shaped E-rank earth magic, the ground gripping Aruma's legs tightly.
The last two focused mana—one forming an E-rank water vortex, the other a crackling E-rank lightning bolt, ready to strike at the same time.
But before they could attack, Aruma vanished. In an instant, his shadow appeared between them—his blows landing in rapid succession, knocking them all down.
He felt the earth vibrate—sign of the orcs drawing near.
He looked at the four collapsed participants, their bodies weak and helpless. Quickly, he tore their clothes to bind their hands and feet, making sure they couldn't move.
Coldly, without a word, he left them humiliated in their naked state.
The heavy footsteps of the orcs grew closer. He left fate to finish the rest, hurrying back to Roselia.
He found her still waiting. As he approached, before Roselia could speak—
Suddenly, screams of agony rang from the forest, accompanied by wails that made Roselia tremble.
Without explanation, Aruma grabbed her and lifted her into his arms.
His pace quickened, leaping from tree to tree to move faster, his breathing growing heavy.
Roselia was about to ask, but stopped—getting her answer when she looked back and saw massive shadows in the darkness, the silhouettes of charging orcs closing in.
Four orcs ran wildly, swinging crude weapons. In Aruma's arms, Roselia looked at him in panic and said,
"Aruma… we need to hide!"
The terrain grew harsher. Aruma landed back on the ground and sprinted as fast as he could. Without realizing it, they had entered a far more dangerous area.
Knowing they couldn't just keep running, Aruma formed a plan. He focused nearly half his mana into his legs to put more distance between Roselia and the danger. Finally, he set her down, stepping toward the oncoming orcs.He knew—these orcs were ten times stronger than the one he had slain before. The difference was like a baby versus a war soldier.
As one orc charged, raising its massive weapon, Aruma moved first.
Mana quickly spread into the magical networks in both his legs and arms. His body burst with extraordinary speed.
They struck at the same time—Aruma's fist and the orc's brutal swing meeting in midair.
But Aruma's blow landed first, breaking through its defense. The orc's body was thrown back, slamming into the ground with a heavy thud.
Without giving it a chance to rise, Aruma rushed in. One hand gripped the monster's head, lifting it.
Mana pooled in his right palm—then his hand slashed like a blade, severing its neck in one strike.
Aruma's balance faltered, his breath ragged—his mana nearly depleted. Before he could recover, heavy footsteps thundered behind him. Three orcs charged at once, roaring with bared fangs.
The mana gathered in his legs flared in a rough, wild blue spiral. When the orcs were only a step away—
"DOKKKK!"
His kick exploded like a giant hammer, smashing into their chests and launching them into the air. The ground shook as their massive bodies crashed down, but they rose again, roaring.
Aruma rushed one of them, raining brutal punches, then grabbed its leg and hurled it into another, the collision sounding like breaking wood.
With a fierce shout, Aruma seized a massive axe from one fallen orc.
Muscles tensed, he leapt high—propelled like a bullet.
The axe blade swung down, decapitating two orcs in a single brutal slash. Warm blood sprayed, soaking Aruma's clothes.
Without pause, he spun and hurled the axe at the last orc trying to stand. The heavy steel sank into its chest, dropping it to its knees.
Aruma charged, focusing the rest of his mana into one final punch. The blow crushed its chest completely.
The orc's body finally stilled, silence slowly returning.
Roselia then slowly approached Aruma, who was already staggering. Even in the darkness, she shouted loudly,
"Wait… I'll help you," she cried, seeing him battered.
But before she could reach him—"BRAKKKKK!!!"
A giant worm burst from the exploding ground.
Its massive body slammed into Aruma like a meteor. His body was hurled, smashing through tree after tree, splintering trunks in a line.
The last impact slammed his back into a massive boulder. The stone cracked and caved inward, forming a crater shaped to his body. The sound of shattering rock echoed, fragments flying.
Blood spurted from his mouth as he collapsed, unmoving.
Roselia screamed hysterically, her voice piercing the tense forest air.
The worm turned, its dark eyes locking on her. With impossible speed for its size, it lunged.
Aruma felt Roselia's danger—but his body wouldn't respond. His breathing was labored, his bones felt shattered, every muscle screaming in pain.
He knew… Roselia was in danger.With what strength remained, he tried to force himself up—but his knees buckled."KYAAAAAAAA!" Roselia's scream tore through his ears.
Aruma could only watch from afar, unable to see clearly what was happening. Rage and despair mixed within him, before his eyelids slowly closed.
When Roselia was about to be struck, suddenly—
Thick green roots erupted from the ground, cracks spreading as they tore upward. The sound of the earth shaking filled the air, as if the forest itself was furious.
The roots shot toward the charging worm—wrapping its body with unstoppable force.
The worm roared, shaking the ground, but every movement only tightened the bindings.
Roselia stood tall, her face streaked with tears, but her deep green eyes glowed sharply. Wind swirled around her, lifting her hair with the force of overwhelming magic.
Her hand was outstretched, palm open, fingers curling as if grasping something invisible. Her grip locked directly on the worm's body.
Her green eyes darkened further, their glare piercing.
The wind howled harder, leaves spiraling around her like a tornado.
Each time her fingers tightened, the roots squeezed the worm tighter, drawing more screams. Thorns began to sprout from the roots, piercing its flesh.
In that moment, the entire forest seemed to bow to her fury… and Roselia's unleashed power.
To be continued…