After Hazel's announcement, everyone began training with fierce dedication, leveling up by eliminating every monster within their current area.
They moved with stealth, ensuring the other dominators remained unaware of their growing strength, thus preventing a premature war.
[Your subordinate Oscar has killed an orc] × 5
[Your subordinate Blossom has killed blood wolves] × 6
[Your subordinate Shadow Walker has killed a blade viper] × 1
[You have gained a total of 1000 exp]
[You have leveled up]
[You are now at level 30]
[You have become an Elite Reaper]
[Your subordinate Blossom has leveled up to level 27]
[Your subordinate Oscar has leveled up to level 25]
[Your subordinate Shadow Walker has leveled up to level 25]
[You have acquired a new skill "Illusion Casting"]
[Illusion Casting is a skill that, when activated, allows the user to manipulate the target's perception, potentially leading to their mental breakdown. Flaw: Individuals with strong mental fortitude can easily see through the illusion.]
[Skill Dead Summon has upgraded to Necromancy]
"Wow, I don't even have to lift a finger and I'm still getting stronger as long as I have my subordinates," Hazel murmured, surprised by his rapid growth through their efforts.
[Warning, Warning]
[Your subordinate Blossom's life force is drastically low]
[Warning]
"Wait, what? Where are they? Where is she?" Panic seized Hazel as questions flooded his mind. He shot to his feet and leaped through the window of the five-story building.
"Shadow!" Hazel roared, his voice laced with raw worry. A suffocating anxiety gripped him as he sprinted at full speed.
Shadow erupted from Hazel's own shadow, keeping pace with his frantic run.
"Where is she?" Hazel demanded, leaping onto Shadow Walker's back as they moved.
"Take me to her!" The thought of losing Blossom sent jolts of agonizing fear through him, making his heart pound relentlessly.
Shadow, with his ability to traverse shadows, reached their destination swiftly. He detached from Blossom's shadow, and Hazel jumped off. The scene that unfolded before him was horrifying. Blossom lay severely injured, surrounded by other battered students, all under attack by a large group of unknown assailants.
A wave of uncontrolled power erupted from Hazel, his aura flaring with grief and rage.
"Who are you? Why?" Hazel's voice was a tormented blend of pain and fury, dominated by an overwhelming murderous intent.
"Shadow, we kill them all, but leave one alive," Hazel commanded, his voice dangerously low.
Instantly, Shadow vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind one of the attackers, his fangs sinking into their neck. The fight exploded into brutal chaos.
Hazel summoned his scythe, the weapon splitting into his preferred dual scythes. These were shorter and more agile than his standard form, allowing for quicker strikes.
With lethal precision, Hazel hurled one of his scythes, decapitating multiple attackers in a blur of motion. He surged forward, a whirlwind of death, his dual scythes carving through the enemy ranks. Shadow moved with equal ferocity, a silent predator reaping lives.
By the time the initial frenzy subsided, Hazel had eliminated eighty-seven attackers.
[Player has obtained a total of 96 soul points]
Suddenly, an invisible force pressed down on Hazel, rendering him immobile. The gravity around him intensified, threatening to crush him to the ground. But Hazel, fueled by sheer willpower, stood his ground, refusing to yield.
A chilling premonition washed over him as he sensed five powerful presences rapidly approaching, their auras radiating immense strength.
[Warning, 5 Elite warriors are approaching]
"Shadow, take Blossom and the students back to the quarter," Hazel ordered swiftly.
Shadow obeyed, moving to Blossom. Though she protested, unwilling to leave Hazel's side, Shadow gently but firmly carried her away. He returned swiftly to gather the remaining injured students, ensuring their safety before reappearing before Hazel.
As Shadow materialized, the same crushing force that held Hazel immobile slammed into him. He struggled, unable to move.
"Shadow, don't worry. I will be fine," Hazel reassured him, though his own situation was precarious.
Understanding Hazel's intent, Shadow melted back into the shadows, his unique nature allowing him to bypass the gravitational anomaly.
"How dare you!" a voice boomed, belonging to the figure radiating the strongest aura among the newcomers.
"You dare to slaughter my people?" he snarled.
"Why did your people attack mine for no reason?" Hazel retorted, his anger still simmering beneath a layer of grim determination.
"They trespassed. No trespassing is allowed," the leader stated coldly.
"You have trespassed now, and the punishment for trespassing is death," he declared, his gaze fixed on Hazel.
Hazel bit his lip, a wave of self-loathing washing over him. Why am I still so weak?
The leader advanced, drawing a gleaming sword. "Farewell. And if you find yourself in the afterlife, remember my warning: trespass again, and you will die there too."
As the sword swung down, about to cleave Hazel's head, Shadow erupted from the ground beneath Hazel, pulling him down into the darkness just as the blade struck empty air.
In the blink of an eye, Shadow transported Hazel back to their quarter. Hazel stumbled inside, his face a mask of shock and pain, without uttering a single word to anyone.
Blossom, though still weak, tried to follow him, wanting to offer comfort, but Hazel locked himself inside his apartment.
Oscar, returning from his hunt and hearing the devastating news, was consumed by guilt for not being there to protect Blossom and Hazel. He felt a sharp pang of helplessness knowing Blossom was injured and Hazel was suffering.
He tried to speak with Hazel, to offer solace, but Hazel remained unresponsive, the locked door a silent barrier.
Driven by worry, Blossom sought out Shadow and asked him to take her into Hazel's room. But when they entered, a chilling discovery awaited them: Hazel was gone.
Blossom frantically searched the entire apartment, her fear growing with each empty room. She expanded her search to the entire school, her hope dwindling with every passing moment. Finally, she found Oscar and shared her terrifying discovery. Together, they tried to leave the school to find Hazel, but an invisible barrier prevented them from reaching the exit. Even Shadow, normally able to slip through any shadow, found himself trapped within the school grounds.