Chapter 264: The Descent Of Darkness

Inside the royal hall, chaos had completely consumed what was once a grand wedding ceremony.

At the center of it all stood the dark energy dome, its black-pink barrier pulsing ominously as if alive. Within it, Ron and Lia remained trapped, staring in horror at the horrifying transformation unfolding before them.

Dex and Maya had both fallen to their knees.

Their bodies trembled violently.

Purple veins bulged grotesquely beneath their skin, spreading rapidly like corruption made flesh. Their breathing had become ragged, almost animalistic, as though something ancient and vile was forcing itself into their bodies.

Lia’s eyes filled with tears.

“Sister…!”

“What’s happening?!”

Instinctively, she tried to move toward Maya—

But Ron immediately grabbed her arm, pulling her back.

Even now, despite his own pain, he understood.

Something was deeply wrong.

And yet—

His own eyes remained locked on Dex.

His older brother.

The person he had once admired most.

Maya’s distorted voice echoed first.

“Lia…”

“You were always…”

“…an eyesore.”

Lia froze.

Those words pierced deeper than any blade.

Tears spilled down her cheeks.

Then Dex spoke.

His voice was twisted with hatred.

“I hate you, Ron…”

“You took my mother from me…”

“It was your fault.”

Ron’s body stiffened.

That old wound—

The guilt he had carried his entire life—

Was torn open all over again.

Outside the dome, Maera, Selene, and Drevin continued battling the three powerful Vassel knights blocking their path.

Each second wasted felt unbearable.

They could see their friends suffering.

They could see something monstrous being born.

But they couldn’t break through fast enough.

On the other side of the hall, Valeriana was locked in fierce combat against Hans.

His daggers moved like venomous serpents, forcing her into constant defense and evasion.

My knights should be here any moment…

But then—

She felt it.

A sudden wave of dread washed over her.

Cold sweat covered her skin.

Her instincts screamed.

Her eyes snapped toward the dome—

Toward the darkness swallowing Dex and Maya.

Without hesitation, she charged, pouring mana into her sword for a full-power strike.

But Hans immediately intercepted her.

Weapon clashed.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Hans said with his usual foxy smile.

Inside the dome—

A dust cloud formed.

Then—

Boom.

An overwhelming wave of mana exploded outward.

But this…

This was not corrupted mana.

It was something far worse.

Something older.

It was grotesque ,rotten and abyssal.

Its presence alone felt unnatural, like reality itself was rejecting it.

It’s the dark mana.

The dark mana spread like a plague, pressing down on everyone in the hall.

Unlike corrupted mana, which merely tainted form of normal mana—

Dark mana dominated.

It suppressed normal mana to an absurd degree.

Even corrupted mana users felt pressure beneath it.

Only Zane and Zayne truly understood what it was.

Because this was the true source of corruption.

It’s the origin.

The power from which corrupted mana was born.

Inside the dome, Ron and Lia immediately felt their mana tremble violently.

Their bodies felt heavier.

Breathing became harder.

And then—

The dust settled.

What stood before them…

Were no longer simply Dex and Maya.

Their skin had turned pale light-blue, laced with glowing purple veins.

Each now possessed four eyes, all with pitch-black sclera.

Long curvy horns extended from Maya’s forehead.

Jagged horns extended from Dex forehead.

Their ears had sharpened into long, pointed forms.

Their hair had turned white, streaked with strands of black corruption.

Their clothes were torn from the grotesque transformation.

And perhaps most terrifying of all—

The presence they emitted no longer felt human.

—

Far above the floating royal palace, where only violent winds and endless sky surrounded them, Zayne held Priest Paul tightly by the throat while both he and Zane watched the events unfolding inside the castle.

Then—

A horrifying wave of dark mana burst outward from within Glimmeris Palace.

The pressure was immediate and unnatural.

Even Priest Paul’s trembling eyes widened with fanatic joy the moment he felt it.

“They descended…” he whispered, his voice almost reverent despite Zayne’s crushing grip. “The Abyssals have finally descended into human vessels… our experiment… was successful…”

Zayne’s expression sharpened immediately. He looked toward the palace with clear killing intent.

“Brother,” he said quickly, “I’ll go down there now and kill them.”

Priest Paul’s eyes widened in alarm.

“You fool, you can’t—”

But before he could finish, Zane calmly interrupted.

“No.”

Zayne immediately turned toward him, clearly surprised.

“…Why?”

For once, his voice wasn’t playful or casual.

It was genuine confusion.

“Your students are inside. Val is inside too. They’re in danger.”

Zane simply kept his gaze fixed on the palace, his eyes calmly observing the battle below.

Then he sighed lightly.

“You’re too worried.”

Zayne frowned.

“What?”

Zane finally looked at him.

“You’re so focused on Valeriana’s safety that you’re forgetting to think clearly.”

“They’re only around five-star in direct power.”

Zayne’s brows furrowed.

“I know that.”

“But you know what dark mana does.”

“Those Abyssals may only be around five-star in direct strength,” he said seriously, “but dark mana naturally suppresses normal mana to an absurd degree. A five-star Abyssal using dark mana can suppress even seven-star warriors or mages who rely on ordinary mana. That means nearly everyone inside is automatically weakened.”

Zane nodded.

“I know.”

That answer only frustrated and confused Zayne more.

“Then why are you still standing here?”

For a moment, Zane remained silent.

Then—

A smirk appeared.

“Because it would be boring if I handled everything myself.”

Zayne stared at him.

Zane continued calmly, as though explaining something obvious.

“Ron and Lia’s siblings are the vessels.”

“This isn’t just a fight.”

“It’s their burden.”

“Their responsibility.”

“Their trauma.”

“Their past.”

“Their destiny.”

“They need to overcome it themselves.”

He folded his arms.

“If I go down there and solve everything immediately, then what exactly are they learning?”

“Will they evolve or grow..?”

“Will they feel satisfied if I intervene…?”

A pause.

“Besides…”

A faint grin formed.

“It’ll be entertaining.”

Zayne fell silent.

That answer was… exactly like Zane.

And zayne understand and agrees that it will be fun to watch.

Still, his concern remained.

“But they’re still weaker.”

Zane shrugged slightly.

“I already took precautions.”

That answer carried enough certainty that even Zayne didn’t immediately question it.

But after a moment, he still asked—

“And what if…they lose?”

For the first time, Zane actually paused.

His expression became unreadable.

Then he answered.

“They won’t.”

With absolute certainty.

But then—

“But maybe if they do…”

“…then perhaps they were never worthy of being my students.”

Priest Paul suddenly began laughing.

At first softly.

Then louder.

“Ahahaha…”

“So this is the true Zane Creed…”

“The so-called savior of the world…”

His eyes trembled with madness.

“You send your students to risk death.”

“You stand here and watch.”

“You don’t even care if they fail.”

His twisted smile widened.

“You’re just like us.”

“Why not join Vassel then?”

“We could serve true lord of world under them world will quite entertaini—”

Before he could continue—

Zayne’s grip tightened violently.

Priest Paul immediately choked, his arm twitching uselessly.

Zayne’s voice turned ice-cold.

“You’re breathing right now…”

“…only because he wants you alive long enough to witness your pathetic plan fail.”

Priest Paul struggled desperately, barely conscious.

Meanwhile, both Zane and Zayne turned their gazes back toward the palace.

Even through walls, distance, and magical interference, they could clearly observe the unfolding battle.

Ron.

Lia.

Maera.

Selene.

Drevin.

Valeriana.

The newly descended Abyssals in Dex and Maya.

Everything.

Zayne glanced sideways at Zane.

For perhaps the first time in a while, he noticed something unusual in his boss’ eyes.

Expectation.

Interest and excitement.

Not the excitement of destruction.

But of watching growth of his students.

Watching his students stand at the edge of evolution like some test subject.

And seeing that expression—

Zayne quietly asked,

“…Brother.”

“Do you really care about your students?”

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