Chapter 70 — A Difficult Rescue
Azrael stared at the black seed in the center of the chamber.
Its surface pulsed with a dull light.
Thump.
One of the roots tightened around a trapped disciple.
The young man groaned.
Seraphina’s expression hardened.
"We need to get them out now."
Azrael nodded.
"Agreed."
Caelan stepped forward.
"I’ll handle the roots on the left."
"Seraphina, take the right."
Azrael pointed toward the center.
"I’ll deal with the seed."
Neither questioned the plan.
They moved at once.
Caelan reached the first group of roots and swung his spear.
CLANG!
The roots bent but didn’t break.
He frowned.
"These are tougher than the ones outside."
"Then don’t cut them."
Azrael’s voice carried across the chamber.
"Find where they’re connected."
Caelan looked carefully.
The roots weren’t random.
Several smaller roots joined into one thicker strand before disappearing into the wall.
He smiled.
"Got it."
His spear thrust forward.
Instead of attacking the largest root, he struck the connecting point.
CRACK!
Several roots immediately loosened.
The trapped disciple dropped to the ground.
Caelan caught him before he hit the floor.
"One."
On the opposite side, Seraphina had already reached two more disciples.
Her golden energy surrounded her sword.
She didn’t try to overpower the roots.
Instead, she followed their movement and cut only when they stretched.
One strike.
Two.
Three.
Each cut freed another section.
"This is working!"
She pulled one of the disciples away.
But another root suddenly shot toward her back.
"Seraphina!"
Caelan shouted.
She turned too late.
Azrael appeared between them.
CLANG!
Astraeus blocked the root.
The impact forced him back several steps.
Seraphina immediately struck the exposed section.
SLASH!
The root fell.
"Thanks."
Azrael nodded.
"Watch your surroundings."
"I know."
She smiled.
"You’re starting to sound like Solis."
"That’s not a compliment."
She laughed and returned to the rescue.
Azrael turned toward the black seed.
The eye inside it was watching him.
He could feel its energy.
It wasn’t pure mana.
It wasn’t spiritual energy either.
There was something deeper mixed into it.
Something that reminded him of the strange resonance he had felt beneath the white tree.
He didn’t attack immediately.
Instead, he listened.
The seed pulsed.
Thump.
The roots responded.
Thump.
The entire chamber responded.
Azrael’s eyes narrowed.
"So you’re controlling everything through resonance."
The eye shifted toward him.
The roots suddenly attacked.
Azrael moved.
One passed over his head.
Another struck the ground beside him.
A third came from behind.
He twisted around it and struck the root with Astraeus.
CLANG!
The root recoiled.
Azrael didn’t pursue it.
He waited.
Another pulse.
The roots moved.
Another pulse.
They attacked.
He finally understood.
"They move according to your rhythm."
Azrael lowered his sword.
"Then I don’t need to destroy you."
He closed his eyes.
Stone Resonance activated.
His breathing slowed.
The chamber became quieter.
He could hear everything.
The roots.
The seed.
The trapped disciples.
Seraphina’s heartbeat.
Caelan’s footsteps.
Even his own heartbeat.
He adjusted his rhythm.
Then he struck.
Not the seed.
The ground.
DING.
A wave of resonance spread through the chamber.
The roots froze.
The black seed pulsed once.
Azrael struck again.
DING.
The roots loosened.
Seraphina immediately understood.
"Now!"
She cut through the weakened roots.
Caelan did the same.
One by one, the remaining disciples were freed.
The final root released its grip.
The seven disciples collapsed together.
Seraphina rushed over.
"Everyone stay still."
She began treating their injuries.
Caelan stood guard.
Azrael remained facing the seed.
Its eye was still open.
But it wasn’t attacking anymore.
Instead, the cracks along its surface were slowly closing.
Azrael lowered Astraeus.
"Good."
He turned toward the others.
"Can everyone walk?"
One of the rescued disciples slowly raised his hand.
"Some of us."
Caelan looked at him.
"Then we’ll carry the others."
Azrael nodded.
"Let’s get out."
They started toward the tunnel.
After a few steps, one of the rescued disciples stopped.
"Wait."
Everyone turned.
He pointed toward the seed.
"What about that?"
Azrael looked back.
"We leave it alone."
"Won’t it attack someone else?"
"Probably."
The disciple looked worried.
"Then why aren’t we destroying it?"
Azrael glanced at the black seed.
"Because we don’t know what we’re destroying."
Seraphina nodded.
"He’s right."
She looked at the injured disciples.
"Our mission was to rescue you."
"Let’s complete that first."
No one argued.
They began climbing the stairs.
Azrael stayed at the back.
For some reason, he looked at the seed one final time.
The eye had closed.
The chamber was quiet.
He turned away and followed the others.
By the time they reached the surface, the forest had changed.
The mist was thinner.
The roots had stopped attacking.
Even the trees seemed calmer.
Caelan looked around.
"Do you think it knows we’re leaving?"
Azrael shrugged.
"Maybe."
Seraphina smiled.
"At least it isn’t trying to kill us anymore."
They continued toward the transportation gate.
The rescued disciples were exhausted, but they were alive.
One of them walked beside Azrael.
"Thank you."
Azrael looked at him.
"You don’t have to thank me."
"You came after us."
"That’s what teammates are supposed to do."
The disciple smiled.
"I hope I get stronger."
"You will."
Azrael gave him a small smile.
"But next time..."
He glanced toward the forest.
"...don’t wander into places you’re not prepared for."
The disciple laughed awkwardly.
"I learned my lesson."
Seraphina walked beside them.
"I think all of us did."
Caelan looked at the three of them.
"Especially you."
Azrael frowned.
"Why me?"
"You were the one who wanted to investigate the forest."
Azrael thought about it.
"Fair."
Seraphina laughed.
The group finally reached the transportation gate.
The golden light appeared.
Everyone stepped through.
Back in the Golden Sanctuary, Elder Solis was waiting.
His eyes immediately moved toward the seven rescued disciples.
He nodded.
"Good work."
Seraphina bowed.
"Seven recovered."
"Any casualties?"
"No."
Solis looked relieved.
"Then the mission was successful."
Azrael stepped forward.
"There was something else."
Solis looked at him.
Azrael briefly explained what they had discovered beneath the forest.
The old instructor remained silent throughout the explanation.
When Azrael finished, Solis asked one question.
"Did you destroy it?"
"No."
"Good."
Azrael looked surprised.
"You know what it is?"
Solis shook his head.
"No."
"Then why is leaving it alive good?"
"Because some things should be studied before they’re destroyed."
Solis looked toward the rescued disciples.
"You made the correct choice."
He turned back toward the three.
"Get some rest."
Caelan smiled.
"That’s an order I can follow."
Seraphina nodded.
Azrael simply stretched his arms.
"Finally."
Solis chuckled.
"You’ll have one day."
Azrael froze.
"One day?"
"Your next lesson begins the day after tomorrow."
Azrael sighed.
"I knew there was a catch."
Seraphina laughed as they walked away.
For the first time since entering the Academy, the three of them returned from a mission without losing anyone.
It wasn’t a perfect victory.
But it was enough.