Chapter 73 — Into the Outer Territory
The following morning, the Academy was unusually quiet.
Thousands of disciples gathered before the enormous transportation gates surrounding the eastern platform.
Floating platforms hovered above the clouds, each one carrying a different group of participants. Massive teleportation formations covered the ground, their complicated runes glowing softly beneath the morning light.
Instructors moved between the teams, checking equipment, registration tokens, and team numbers.
The atmosphere was completely different from an ordinary Academy day.
Everyone knew that once they stepped through those formations, they would be responsible for their own decisions.
Azrael stood with his team near the front.
Astraeus rested securely at his waist.
Seraphina stood beside him, her staff secured across her back. Her golden hair moved gently in the morning breeze.
Caelan carried his silver spear across his shoulder.
Lyanna wore light armor designed for movement, while Orin stood beside her with his massive shield.
Lyanna looked around.
"Everyone ready?"
Orin nodded.
"Ready."
Caelan checked the equipment attached to his belt one final time.
"Everything is prepared."
Seraphina looked at Azrael.
"And you?"
Azrael smiled.
"I’ve been ready since yesterday."
"You spent half of yesterday eating."
"Exactly."
Seraphina shook her head.
"I give up."
Caelan laughed quietly.
"You really do have a strange definition of preparation."
Azrael shrugged.
"Food is important."
Lyanna smiled.
"I think we’ll survive."
A bell suddenly rang across the entire platform.
DONG!
Every conversation stopped.
An instructor stepped onto the central formation.
"Outer Territory Selection participants!"
His voice carried across the entire platform.
"Your seven-day expedition begins now."
The enormous teleportation formation beneath the disciples activated.
Golden light spread across the ground.
"Remember the rules."
"Return before the final bell."
"Protect your teammates."
"Record your discoveries."
"And do not enter restricted territory."
The instructor’s expression became serious.
"Your Academy tokens will record your progress."
"Your contribution rewards will be calculated after you return."
"Do not underestimate the territory."
"Good luck."
The formations brightened.
Azrael felt space twist around him.
The surroundings became blurry.
For a brief moment, he couldn’t feel the ground beneath his feet.
Seraphina’s hand briefly touched his arm.
"Stay close."
"I will."
Then—
The world disappeared.
A few seconds later...
Azrael’s feet touched solid ground.
He immediately opened his eyes.
Trees surrounded them.
Massive trees.
Their trunks were wider than buildings, and their enormous branches blocked most of the sky.
A faint mist covered the forest floor.
The air smelled different from the Academy.
It was heavier.
Wilder.
There was no sound of students talking.
No merchants.
No instructors.
Only the distant calls of unknown creatures.
Behind them, the teleportation formation flickered.
Its golden runes began fading.
Caelan looked at it.
"We’re officially inside."
Azrael nodded.
He looked around carefully.
"So this is the Outer Territory."
Lyanna immediately raised one hand.
"Nobody move."
Everyone stopped.
She closed her eyes.
Her ears twitched slightly as she focused on the surrounding sounds.
Several seconds passed.
Then she opened her eyes.
"Three creatures."
Caelan looked toward the trees.
"Where?"
"About two hundred meters ahead."
"Strength?"
"Peak Mortal Origin."
Orin raised his shield.
"Are they coming?"
Lyanna shook her head.
"No."
She pointed toward the right.
"They’re hunting something else."
Azrael activated Origin Perception.
The forest suddenly became clearer.
He could sense several faint energy signatures moving between the trees.
Lyanna was right.
Three creatures were moving through the undergrowth.
They weren’t approaching.
They were chasing another beast.
Azrael lowered his perception.
"Then we don’t interfere."
Orin lowered his shield.
"Agreed."
The group began moving.
They traveled carefully through the forest.
Unlike the Trial Tower, there was no System announcing every danger.
There were no walls forcing them toward an enemy.
The territory was enormous.
They could choose where to go.
And that freedom made every decision more important.
Lyanna walked near the front.
She constantly checked their surroundings.
Every few minutes, she stopped to listen.
She discovered several spiritual herbs growing near a tree.
Then a small crystal deposit hidden beneath a layer of moss.
Caelan carefully removed the crystals.
"These should be worth something."
Lyanna nodded.
"Definitely."
Seraphina looked at the herbs.
"Elder Iris would probably know what these are."
Azrael smiled.
"Take them."
Seraphina carefully collected them.
"We should leave some behind."
Azrael looked at her.
"Why?"
"So they can continue growing."
He paused.
Then nodded.
"Good point."
They left several plants untouched.
The further they traveled, the more comfortable the group became with their surroundings.
They weren’t simply five individuals anymore.
They were beginning to move like a team.
Lyanna noticed dangers first.
Orin protected the group.
Caelan handled situations requiring precision.
Seraphina supported everyone with her Genesis abilities.
And Azrael...
Azrael watched everything.
He studied the environment.
The creatures.
Their formation.
Their movements.
Even the way the others reacted.
He wasn’t simply trying to become stronger.
He was learning how the team functioned.
After nearly an hour, Lyanna suddenly stopped.
"Wait."
Everyone froze.
She crouched and touched the ground.
"Footprints."
Caelan looked down.
"Human?"
"Yes."
Azrael examined them.
"They’re fresh."
Orin looked around.
"Another team?"
Lyanna nodded.
"Probably."
"How many?"
"Five."
Azrael thought for a moment.
"Which direction?"
She pointed deeper into the forest.
"We could follow them."
Caelan looked at Azrael.
"Should we?"
Azrael shook his head.
"No."
Lyanna raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"We’re not here to hunt other teams."
He looked toward the direction the footprints had gone.
"If they haven’t attacked us, there’s no reason to interfere."
Seraphina nodded.
"Agreed."
The group continued.
After another thirty minutes, the trees suddenly became thinner.
A large stone structure appeared ahead.
Half buried beneath vines and moss.
Lyanna stopped.
"That wasn’t on the map."
Caelan immediately became interested.
"A ruin."
Orin raised his shield.
"Could be dangerous."
Azrael stared at the structure.
It was clearly ancient.
Parts of the walls had collapsed, but the entrance remained intact.
Seraphina stepped forward.
"Let’s inspect it first."
Azrael nodded.
"Carefully."
They approached.
The entrance was covered with strange symbols.
Caelan touched one of them.
"These aren’t Academy markings."
"Can you read them?"
"No."
Lyanna examined the ground.
"No recent footprints."
Azrael looked around.
"Then we’re probably the first team here."
Orin tightened his grip on his shield.
"That doesn’t mean we’re safe."
"I know."
Azrael stepped toward the entrance.
"Stay together."
They entered.
The interior was surprisingly intact.
A long stone corridor stretched into darkness.
Ancient murals covered the walls.
Seraphina slowed down.
"Look."
Everyone stopped.
The mural showed figures standing beneath enormous celestial beings.
Some carried swords.
Others held staffs.
Several appeared to have wings.
Azrael studied them carefully.
"Who are they?"
Caelan shook his head.
"I don’t know."
Lyanna moved closer.
"Could be the civilization that built this place."
Seraphina examined another section.
"There’s something written here."
Caelan leaned closer.
"Can you understand it?"
"No."
Azrael looked at the symbols.
For some reason, they felt strangely familiar.
Not enough for him to understand them.
But enough to make him pause.
He had felt something similar beneath the Thirteenth Gate.
A faint connection.
Then the feeling disappeared.
Azrael moved on.
The corridor eventually opened into a large chamber.
At its center stood a stone platform.
Several small crystals rested on top.
They emitted a faint blue glow.
Lyanna’s eyes widened.
"Energy crystals."
Orin stepped closer.
"How valuable?"
"Very."
Caelan looked around.
"Too easy."
Azrael nodded.
"Exactly."
He activated Origin Perception.
The chamber changed in his vision.
Thin lines of energy ran beneath the floor.
They connected to the crystals.
Then continued outward.
One line ran toward the walls.
Another traveled beneath their feet.
Azrael’s expression changed.
"Don’t touch them."
Everyone immediately stopped.
Orin looked at him.
"Trap?"
"Yes."
Lyanna crouched and examined the markings.
After a few moments, her expression became serious.
"He’s right."
She pointed toward the floor.
"These crystals are connected to the entire chamber."
Caelan frowned.
"What happens if someone takes one?"
Azrael looked toward the walls.
"Probably everything."
Orin slowly stepped backward.
"That’s not very reassuring."
Azrael smiled slightly.
"At least we found the trap before activating it."
A faint rumbling suddenly came from beneath them.
Everyone froze.
The sound grew louder.
BOOM.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Seraphina looked around.
"That wasn’t us."
Another rumble shook the chamber.
BOOM!
The crystals began glowing brighter.
Lyanna immediately backed away.
"Something is waking up."
Azrael drew Astraeus.
"Everyone, spread out."
The stone floor cracked.
A massive claw burst through.
BOOM!
The chamber shook violently.
Orin planted his shield into the ground.
"Get back!"
Another claw tore through the floor.
Then an enormous creature emerged from beneath the chamber.
It resembled a wolf, but its body was covered in dark stone plates.
Two crystal horns curved from its skull.
Blue light burned within its eyes.
Its roar shook the entire ruin.
ROOOAR!
Azrael’s System appeared.
[Monster Detected]
Name: Ruin Stonefang
Race: Ancient Beast
Level: 29
Rank: Rare
Status: Awakened
Azrael’s eyes narrowed.
"Level twenty-nine."
Caelan lowered his spear.
"That’s stronger than the creatures near the entrance."
Lyanna moved to the side.
"I’ll find its weakness."
Orin raised his shield.
"I’ll hold its attention."
Seraphina’s halo began glowing.
Golden light spread across the chamber.
Azrael tightened his grip on Astraeus.
The Stonefang lowered its body.
Its crystal horns began glowing.
Caelan’s expression changed.
"It’s preparing an attack."
Azrael looked at the beast.
Then at the crystals.
Then at the cracks spreading through the floor.
He immediately understood.
"Don’t destroy the crystals."
Everyone looked at him.
"Why?"
"If they’re connected to the chamber..."
Azrael’s gaze moved toward the ceiling.
"...breaking them could bring the entire ruin down on us."
Orin nodded.
"Then we fight carefully."
Azrael smiled.
"Exactly."
The Stonefang suddenly lunged.
Orin stepped forward.
"Behind me!"
BOOM!
The beast slammed into his shield.
The impact pushed Orin several meters backward.
His boots carved deep lines into the stone floor.
Caelan immediately attacked from the side.
His spear struck the beast’s armor.
CLANG!
The attack bounced off.
"Hard!"
Seraphina raised her staff.
"Genesis Bloom!"
Golden flowers appeared beneath Orin’s feet.
His injuries began healing.
Lyanna disappeared into the shadows.
Azrael watched the beast carefully.
Its movements were powerful.
But not random.
Every time it attacked, its right foreleg moved slightly slower than the left.
Azrael narrowed his eyes.
"Lyanna!"
She looked toward him.
"Found something?"
"Right foreleg."
She immediately understood.
"The joint?"
"Yes."
The Stonefang roared and charged again.
Orin braced himself.
Caelan moved to intercept.
Azrael vanished.
His wings spread for only an instant.
He appeared above the beast.
Astraeus descended.
CLANG!
The sword struck the crystal armor.
The Stonefang twisted.
Azrael landed and immediately moved away.
"Not enough."
Lyanna appeared behind the creature.
Her dagger flashed.
Slash!
The blade struck the exposed joint.
The beast roared.
Blue energy spilled from the wound.
"Found it!"
Azrael smiled.
"Good."
The five members immediately changed formation.
For the first time since entering the Outer Territory...
They fought as a true team.
And the Ruin Stonefang was about to discover that numbers weren’t always the greatest advantage.
Coordination was.