Darien's biggest damage number rose as his fused spears bombarded the Forsaken Magus in a blinding eruption of frostfire.

Simultaneously, the three lightning bolts struck him.

Darien was flung backward, hurt, but not gone.

Breathing hard, he recovered quickly in the haze to see the Shrine Monster writhing in its throes, twisting in pain.

Its shabby cloak was consumed, revealing a scurvy body blitzed by scars, its staff gone, too.

The damage of Darien's fused spell had nearly emptied its HP.

The Forsaken Magus had a health worth nothing more!

Darien, weakened but undefeated, gripped his sword, gravely knowing this was the moment to end it once and for all.

"Gyak! Shriek! Hyak! Arrggh!! Shriek!"

But instead, the monster convulsed and screamed, the air split by its voice.

It had gone berserk!

This was Darien's first time in the Primordial World. He had never witnessed a monster enter a berserk state before.

However, it was common knowledge among all students that it was possible, even though the academy had assured them that no Rank 1 dungeon BOSS would.

It was the most dangerous phase, as the monster's attack power, speed, and spellcasting rate all became drastically heightened, leaving little room for defense and recovery.

One small mistake could mean instant death even for a well-coordinated party.

Now, the Forsaken Magus twitched and quavered violently, its form convulsing unstably.

It had already struck its enemy with lightning, but now it fitfully cast a compromising spell that would precede the final blow.

Darien was ready for anything. But he got distracted when someone appeared behind his back.

"Darien, are you okay?" came Vynsera's voice.

She had defeated all the Soul Skeletons and rushed in to help her partner, as she had promised.

But instead of helping, her sudden presence broke Darien's concentration. The distraction cost him.

<Bestow Curse>, the Forsaken Magus's spell, latched onto him. Immediately, dark sigils began racing across his arm.

However, before the terminating lightning bolts could reach him, Vynsera leapt, slicing an Air Light blade that intercepted all three bolts in a loud clash.

With his molten sword blazing, Darien sprinted toward the Forsaken Magus, intent on ending the fight once and for all.

But his first steps felt like venom seeping through his veins.

By his fifth, his body began to stiffen as glyphs raced across his arms and legs toward his soul, rooting him to the desecrated floor.

"?????"

(You have been affected by a Petrification Spell for 15 sec. Movement Speed -60%. Casting Speed -100%.)

It was a curse spell, and Darien was the snared target!

If this had happened earlier in the trial, it would have been insignificant.

But now, with his strength spent and his defenses weakened, Darien was staring at mortal death!

The Forsaken Magus was brimming with haphazard lightning sparks. It had recognized two enemies now, maddening it beyond reason.

Darien sought to rely on his armor to absorb the damage and restore his HP like before, but something strange happened instead.

Some shadows of the darkness crawled out in wisps, wrapping around the Forsaken Magus and binding it in place, much like his own arrest.

Stunned, Darien turned, wondering how that had happened.

Then he saw Vynsera, but the girl standing wasn't the duke's daughter he knew.

Her hair had turned pitch-dark from the golden it used to be, her face paler than a vampire's, and black voids for eyes.

Even though this was the first time seeing her like this, she looked familiar, but Darien couldn't tell how.

What was a Light Mage doing bathed in darkness anyway?

Vynsera Velgrane had been an enduring mystery to him, just like he was to her. It was clear this was one of the many question marks about this young lady.

Cold trepidation drowned Darien. He hoped this didn't mean what he feared.

But he wasted no time taking advantage, as the curse had been lifted off him, freeing him to strike again.

Darien unleashed a <Mythic Pyrolash>, the fiery chain spiraling across the air with a hiss before coiling tightly around the berserk, petrified monster's neck.

With a fierce pull from the warrior, the shrieking Forsaken Magus was dragged toward him.

His eyes were glowing white as he had subconsciously triggered <Sword Will> because of his determination.

Hellheart cleaved through the air with finality, shearing the shrine monster in two.

-1249!

The damage number flashed in the midst of the monster's dying sparks. A series of notifications followed, too.

[You survived a Cursed area!]

[Congratulations! You have successfully cleared Forsaken Magus' Lair.]

[You slayed a Rank 3 Monster!]

[You get 8670 XP!]

[Knight Rank: Expert 150420/250000]

[You slayed a Rank 3 Monster! You get 80000 Skill Points!]

Even after the slaying of nearly two hundred monsters in this single trial, Darien was yet to make it to Ascendant level.

This made him immensely grateful for his 100x XP multiplier.

Without it, he would have been a greybeard by the time he made it to the next rank.

With 80,000 newly acquired Skill Points, the strength that had once felt spent now revitalized. The thrill immediately made Darien feel like fighting again!

This time, he intended to spend a couple of days by himself, making skills that would let him clear any cursed area within seconds of entry.

Fortunately, the academy had promised a free week for any student who successfully cleared their Novice Depths as a recovery reward.

During this same week, activities like guild enlistments would also take place, allowing rising warriors to secure their next path.

Darien would have enough time beyond the academy gates.

Back to the present, Darien turned to see his partner, Vynsera.

She looked just as exhausted as he was, but most importantly, she looked normal again.

Vynsera plangently turned her gaze when her partner gave her a knowing look.

There was much to explain after what she had done, yet the sad truth was that Vynsera herself couldn't put it into words.

That eerie visage, those shadows—they had been virgin manifestations.

However, she didn't need to speak. Darien could see her status, and it told him everything.

(Vynsera Velgrane)

(Talent: Dual-Arcanist (Light & Darkness))

(Mage Rank 1: Ascendant)

(Knight Rank 1: Adept)

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