"We need to help her!" Ronan growled, stepping forward.
Orin grabbed his arm, his grip firm but calm. "Ronan, think! If we rush in recklessly, we'll only drag Mr. Alden and the others down with us. Those men…" he gestured to the hooded figures, "they're at the Master Tier. We're still just Adept Tier. We are not strong enough to fight them."
But Ronan wasn't listening. His eyes locked onto the girl, her pained cries shredding what little restraint he had left. Then, a small, glowing orb emerged from her chest, its radiance trembling like a fragile candle in the wind. Ronan's eyes widened in recognition. He had read about this in the academy library.
It was a Magical Core. The source of all magical power that resided within every individual.
The process of removing or destroying a magical core was described as the most excruciating, soul-shattering experience a person could endure. And she was still alive. She was feeling every second of it.
Ronan's world turned black.
Without thinking, he unsheathed his fire-elemental sword, Eclipse Edge. Flames ignited along its blade as he surged forward, shaking free of Orin's grasp. "Ronan, wait!" Orin called out, but Ronan was already gone.
In the blink of an eye, Ronan appeared behind the man, extracting the core. His muscles tensed, mana flooding into his weapon. "Blazing Strike!" he roared, sending a roaring arc of fire straight toward the hooded figure.
Just as the attack was about to land, an invisible force stopped it. A translucent shield flickered to life around the man and the girl, absorbing the fiery slash. Ronan snarled in frustration and struck again, and again, and again.
Each hit rebounded off the impenetrable barrier. Ronan's mana drained at an alarming rate, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop. His mind screamed one thought over and over:
Break! Break! Break!
His hands trembled from exhaustion, his breathing ragged, his vision blurring. But he lifted Eclipse Edge one last time, pouring every last drop of mana he had into a final, desperate strike.
The barrier shattered.
But it was too late.
The magical core, now fully absorbed by the man, cracked. A deafening shockwave blasted through the chamber as the core disintegrated into nothingness. Ronan was thrown back, slamming against the cavern wall with a bone-rattling impact. A sharp cry tore from his throat as pain shot through his body.
The girl's body slumped on the stone platform.
A heavy silence followed, punctuated only by Ronan's ragged gasps. His fingers dug into the stone beneath him, his body trembling, not just from pain, but from raw, seething rage and helplessness.
Meanwhile, Mr. Alden and his men swiftly took down the other hooded figures.
"Everyone, take the boys and girls and get out of here!" Mr. Alden commanded, his voice urgent.
His men scrambled to gather the captives, eight children in total, including the girl whose core was removed. Orin ran to Ronan, gripping his arm and hauling him to his feet. "We need to go!"
Ronan's fingers curled into a fist. His nails dug into his palm until he felt the sharp sting of his own blood. His vision was still hazy, his heart still hammering. As they moved, his gaze landed on a small, faintly glowing crystal on the ground. He reached out, fingers brushing against its cool surface, and clenched it in his hand.
The cave walls echoed with retreating footsteps, but in Ronan's chest, a storm raged, more volatile than ever before.
And deep inside, a vow took root—a vow for vengeance.
The clash of steel echoed through the rocky cavern as Mr. Alden and the black-hooded man fought with relentless ferocity. Sparks erupted from their blades, their movements a deadly dance of skill and precision. Their battle was evenly matched, neither gaining the upper hand for long.
The moment they emerged from the cave, the hooded man smirked, tugging at his lips. "Is that all you've got? So it is true that you are seriously injured," he taunted, his voice laced with amusement. "I expected more from the Renowned Swordsman Alden. Alden, you're weaker than I thought. Pathetic." He sneered, licking his lips. "Your magical core will be far more delicious than that girl."
Behind them, Ronan's blood boiled with an uncontrollable surge of rage and hatred. He gently placed the unconscious boy he had carried from the cave against a tree, his movements slow and deliberate.. His usual charm and warmth had vanished, replaced by an eerie, bone-chilling coldness. His expression darkened, his gaze like a predator sizing up its prey.
Orin, sensing the shift in Ronan's presence, reached out, his fingers barely brushing Ronan's shoulder. "Ronan! Your mana is almost depleted—don't—"
Ronan turned his head ever so slightly, his eyes meeting Orin's with a terrifying emptiness. A single look sent a shiver down Orin's spine, his breath catching in his throat. Instinct took over, and he jumped several steps back without thinking. Only after creating distance did he realise his hands were trembling. His chest heaved as he gasped for air, his mind racing. Did I just jump back out of pure instinct? He swallowed hard. What… what kind of killing intent was that?
Even Mr. Alden, locked in combat, felt the suffocating weight of Ronan's bloodlust. Is this killing intent… coming from Ronan? It was terrifying.
Then, in one swift motion, Ronan retrieved a small crystal from his pocket—the mana crystal he had taken from the cave. Orin's eyes widened. A mana crystal…? His breath hitched. Is he planning to absorb it? His heart pounded against his ribs. That's reckless! Mana overload could damage his core permanently! He opened his mouth to stop Ronan but found himself frozen in place, unable to summon the courage to speak.
Without hesitation, Ronan crushed the crystal in his palm. A surge of raw energy burst forth, flowing into him in an instant. His entire body trembled as intense heat radiated from his skin, steam hissing in the cold night air.
Then, with a deep exhale, Ronan activated Void Overdrive. His muscles tensed, his frame brimming with newfound power. His physical strength, endurance, and agility surged beyond normal limits. But it wouldn't last long—four minutes, at most.
With explosive speed, he lunged forward, fists blazing with fire mana. The black-hooded man barely had time to react before Ronan unleashed a relentless flurry of strikes. Each punch crackled with searing heat, forcing the man onto the defensive. Though Ronan's power had skyrocketed, his lack of battle experience became apparent. The enemy, though wounded, dodged and countered with ease, his movements refined by years of combat.
But Ronan refused to falter.
His sword ignited in a crimson blaze, and he roared, slashing downward. "Sky Splitter!"
The fiery arc sliced through the air, its sheer heat distorting the surroundings. The hooded man braced himself, crossing his arms as he summoned a barrier to absorb the impact.
But he wasn't ready for what came next.