The forest was unnaturally silent.
Not a single bird cried.
Not a single insect stirred.
Only a flickering purple flame floated through the darkness, illuminating the twisted roots and ancient trees as it drifted forward—slow, deliberate, and disturbingly calm.
Bai-Xue followed it.
Her footsteps were light, almost soundless, yet her presence alone caused the surrounding air to tremble faintly.
"Master..." Dark Moon's voice echoed inside her consciousness, cautious and tense.
"What you're seeing... is it a human?"
Bai-Xue's eyes never left the purple light.
"No," she answered softly.
"There's no form. No soul shape. Just energy."
"A condensed purple flame... burning like a living heart."
The flame pulsed once, as if reacting to her words.
Dark Moon's tone sharpened.
"Master, please reconsider," she urged.
"This thing feels wrong. Extremely wrong. I advise you to stop chasing it."
Bai-Xue chuckled quietly.
"What strange things you're saying today, Darky."
She narrowed her eyes.
"I can tell with certainty—the attack on the academy is connected to this."
Dark Moon's aura trembled violently.
"Master, I'm sure of it now," she said.
"This is a trap."
Bai-Xue stopped for half a breath.
Then she smiled.
"I know."
Dark Moon froze.
"I know it's a trap," Bai-Xue repeated calmly.
"But that doesn't change anything."
She resumed walking.
"If I don't follow it, hundreds will die."
"And if I do... then I'll find the one behind all this."
Dark Moon fell silent for a moment before speaking again, her voice heavy.
"Master... you are walking straight into danger."
Bai-Xue's eyes glinted coldly.
"Danger?"
She laughed softly.
"You should know by now—danger avoids me."
The purple flame suddenly accelerated, rushing deeper into the forest.
Bai-Xue followed.
The academy had become a living nightmare.
Roars shook the heavens.
Blood stained the stone paths.
Beasts—large and small—flooded the grounds, their eyes glowing unnaturally as they attacked without fear or hesitation.
At the front lines—
CLANG!
The Crown Prince's sword cleaved through a beast's skull, its body collapsing instantly.
"Hold the line!" he roared.
"Do NOT let them reach the inner grounds!"
Nearby, Third Prince Min-Sheng unleashed a powerful technique, golden spiritual light erupting from his palms as several beasts were blasted apart.
"There are too many!" Min-Sheng shouted.
"They're not retreating at all!"
"This isn't normal," the Crown Prince growled.
"Beasts should fear death—these ones don't!"
Across the academy, disciples fought desperately.
Some protected wounded classmates.
Some carried unconscious juniors to safety.
Some screamed as they were dragged away.
Then—
A soldier sprinted toward the Crown Prince, his armor cracked, blood running down his face.
"Y-Your Highness!" he shouted in terror.
"The First Princess Cai-Hang and Princess Bai-Xue are still inside the academy!"
The Crown Prince froze.
"...What?"
His grip tightened on his sword.
"Cai-Hang is still here?!"
"I ordered her to return home!"
His anger flared instantly.
"That foolish girl—!"
Then the second name struck him harder.
"Princess Bai-Xue?"
"What is she doing here?"
Min-Sheng turned sharply, disbelief flashing across his face.
"Princess Bai-Xue is inside the academy?"
"She has no reason to be here... she shouldn't be involved in this chaos!"
He immediately looked at the Crown Prince.
"Your Highness, we must enter the academy at once," Min-Sheng said urgently.
"High-rank beasts have already breached the inner area."
"If anything happens to the two princesses—"
The Crown Prince didn't wait for him to finish.
"You're right," he said coldly.
"We go now."
He turned sharply.
"You take command here!" he ordered a headmaster.
"Protect the outer defenses at all costs!"
Without another word, the two princes charged inward.
After fighting through wave after wave of beasts—
After bleeding, panting, and pushing their limits—
They finally reached the deep safety chamber, hidden within the academy.
The Crown Prince slammed his hand against the seal.
BOOM!
The door opened.
"Cai-Hang!"
His heart dropped.
She lay unconscious on the cold floor.
He rushed forward, dropping to his knees beside her.
"Cai..."
"Wake up. Cai, look at me."
He shook her shoulders gently.
"Are you hurt? Can you hear me?"
Her fingers twitched.
Slowly... her eyes opened.
The moment she saw his face—
"Brother—!"
Tears burst from her eyes as she threw herself into his arms.
"Why did you take so long?!" she cried.
"Do you know how scared I was?!"
She clung to him desperately.
"I was attacked by a beast... a terrifying one..."
"I thought I was going to die!"
The Crown Prince hugged her tightly.
"I'm here now," he said firmly.
"You're safe."
Then his tone hardened.
"How many times have I told you to listen to me?"
"I told you to leave the academy!"
Cai-Hang sniffed.
"Hmph..."
"I didn't leave because I was worried!"
She suddenly stiffened.
"Wait—!"
Her face drained of color.
"Bai-Xue!"
She looked around wildly.
"Where is Bai-Xue?!"
The Crown Prince frowned.
"Wasn't she with you?"
"Yes!" Cai-Hang said quickly.
"I left her here! I told her to stay until I came back!"
She spun around.
"Bai-Xue? Please come out!"
"Don't scare us like this!"
Min-Sheng searched the room carefully.
Then his expression changed.
"...First Princess," he said slowly.
"I don't see Princess Bai-Xue anywhere."
Cai-Hang's heart skipped a beat.
"What... what do you mean?"
Her voice trembled.
"I told her not to move... I told her to stay here..."
A horrifying thought struck her.
"...Did a beast take her?"
Min-Sheng's eyes widened.
"What?!"
The room fell into deadly silence.
Far away—
In the depths of the forest—
The purple flame pulsed brightly.
And Bai-Xue stepped closer to the truth.