Chapter 70: The Anomaly

The ground trembled beneath Isolde’s boots and just as she instructed for everyone to run, the group of students who were front of her—those who had tried to rob Mira and her friends—stumbled, their arrogant expressions wiped clean by confusion and fear.

“What the hell is going on?” one of them muttered.

The vibration grew stronger. It wasn’t just a shake. The earth was breathing—groaning. The trees around them rustled violently even without wind, and the distant chirps of forest life ceased all at once.

Something was coming. Then, without warning, the ground split.

With a deafening roar, a massive figure rose from beneath the earth. Dust and debris exploded in every direction. The examinees screamed and ran. But instead of running away and finding a safe place to hide Isolde didn’t move. She stood her ground, shielding her face with one arm, sword still in hand. She knew that whatever is coming, she has the duty to stop it whatever it takes because she is the only onne capable to do so.

However, when whatever made the ground shake appear before her, she din't expect it to be a creature of enormous size—at least five times taller than a man. Its body was encased in rock-like armor, jagged and uneven. Sharp ridges lined its back like mountain spines, and long claws gouged at the air. A dragon-shaped head with tusk-like horns twisted side to side as it roared again, louder than before.

But it wasn’t a true dragon.

Isolde narrowed her eyes. Her tutors when she was still being home-schooled had lectured about this once. Earth dragons weren’t actual dragons—they just earned the title because of their size and power. They were ancient earth beasts, extremely rare and almost extinct. And if they did appear, it wasn’t supposed to be during a mock examination.

And definitely not with glowing red eyes.

"Something’s wrong." she thought.

The red glow pulsed unnaturally. It wasn’t just light reflecting—it moved. Like something was alive inside its gaze. Isolde instinctively raised a barrier around herself just as the beast lunged forward.

Its claws was about crashed against her but just onn time she was able to raise a sturdy barrier but it sent a shockwave into the earth that threw debris into the air. She staggered back a step but held her stance.

The monster let out a sound—half growl, half scream—and lunged again.

She jumped away, landing hard, sword gripped tightly in her hand. She wanted to fight it because if she didn't a lot of students will get caught up with a beast that is corrupted.

And there is one thing that she is curious about. And that is how is a monster like an earth dragon present in the dungeon used by students as a part of their entrance examination? And how is an earth dragon in the dungeon being managed by the academy become corrupted by dark magic?

\-

Meanwhile, in the hall where faculty members, knights, and family representatves of the students are gathered to witness the final assessment, a sudden alert blared through the crystals embedded in the walls and the huge screens where they can see what is going on in the dungeon, real-time.

“Warning,” an automated voice echoed. “Anomaly detected within the Forest Dungeon. Spatial stability compromised. Emergency protocols engaged.”

The dean of the academy, Grandmaster Helric, stood from his seat at the observation platform, his expression grim. Beside him were Professors Telren, Virelle, Diego, and several others.

“What’s going on?” Professor Virelle asked, stepping closer to the orb that showed a flickering image of the forest.

One of the assistant mages stumbled forward. “We’ve lost synchronization with the dungeon’s internal spell matrix. The failsafe is broken. We… we will not be able to retrieve the students injured students. We also cannot ensure their life due to this, our magic is being blocked.”

“What do you mean ‘can’t retrieve’?” Professor Diego barked. “They could really die in there!”

Helric turned, face unreadable. “Calm yourselves. Assess the situation first.”

The orb pulsed again—and this time, in the screens flashed in the air showed a glimpse of the massive creature. Gasps filled the hall.

“That’s not possible,” another professor whispered. “That’s an earth dragon!”

“No,” Helric said darkly. “It’s not just an earth dragon. Look at its eyes. It’s corrupted.”

Virelle’s breath hitched. “Dark magic?”

“Likely.” Helric looked at the faculty, then the knights standing nearby. “Is there any way we can reach the students? We can't afford to have a lot of casualities in this assessment.” He added, worried about the backlash the academy will face not only with the noble families present but also with the Imperial Family.

Just then as when the professors are about to discuss with one another what they could do, Sedin and Ravi appeared right before them jumping from their seats, expressions serious.

“We heard and sawwhat happened,” Sedin said. “Isolde is inside that dungeon, isn’t she?”

Professor Diego nodded. “So are dozens of students.”

“We’ll help,” Ravi said immediately.

“There are rules we can’t break, as a current student and alumni, you cannot just interefere with the examination. Just leave it to us” said one examiner.

“But you just said that you cannot pull them out due to your magic being blocked." Ravi said in a serious and deadly tone.

"Watch whatever you say, professor. We don't give a damn if you are a professor. Our sister is there and just like you said even dozens of students as well, isn't it natural for us to step up when you cannot do your fucking job properly?" Sedin snapped and he even grab a hold of his sword, ready to behead the professor who just acted indifferently, still prioritizing rules over anything else.

The Headmaster, Helric replied. “Let them do whatever they must, the lives of the students are much more important than the rules that we uphold.”

\-

Back in the Dungeon. Isolde just kept on dodging, the dragon’s claws narrowly missing her. She didn’t attack—not yet because she didn't have a full grasp of the situation just yet.

She watched. Every movement. Every pulse in its corrupted mana. And just as when she is about to let out a simple spell to distract the creature a soft chime echoed in her ear. She knew that the sound wasn’t from the beast.

A small light appeared above her shoulder.

“Huh?” she whispered.

A glow hovered just near her face. A small, fluttering creature the size of a hand, with tiny wings and a shimmering green dress—like a leaf wrapped around a glowing ember.

A fairy.

“You are Isolde, correct?” the spirit spoke softly.

She blinked. “Who…?”

“I am Estia. Contracted spirit of Professor Virelle. I was sent in a hurry due the current sitution in this area. I am the only thing that they can send right now due to my affinity with the dungeon. And I brought a message that this dungeon—it was tampered with.”

“Tampered… how?”

“The formation at the core was altered. Someone infused it with dark mana. The dragon was sleeping underground—sealed. But the corrupted energy woke it.”

That explains the red eyes, Isolde thought.

“Is it targeting anyone?”

“No. It’s mindless. But it will destroy everything around it if not stopped.”

“And why didn’t anyone stop it before it got loose?”

“The academy didn’t expect the seal to break.” Estia’s voice shook slightly. “We’ve never had a breach like this before.”

Isolde glanced at the monster. It let out another roar, throwing its body to the side and smashing a pillar of rock that had formed nearby.

“What do I do?”

“You need to hold it back. Don’t destroy it—it’s not truly evil and it is fighting on its own.”

That answer only made it more complicated for her because it's much more easier to kill it thant make sure that it is alive. But she understood where they are coming from - it is aan ancient beast.

“I’ll try.”

She moved.

With a flash of movement, Isolde charged forward. She drew her sword and raised her left hand. Wind swirled around her palm.

“Wind Bind!”

Magical threads shot toward the beast, wrapping around its legs. The dragon roared, stumbled, and slammed into the ground.

Isolde landed a heavy slash against one of its legs, but it barely scratched its rocky hide. The creature turned, and its tail whipped toward her.

She ducked, rolled forward, and unleashed a water-based spell.

“Water Blade!”

The shimmering arc of water struck its flank, leaving a thin, clean line.

She dodged again as the creature countered with a stomping strike.

All she could do was delay it. She already said it, it was hard to keep it alive especially when every blow it threw could break her bones if she got hit even once.

She summoned earth beneath her boots, jumping high and landing on the creature’s back.

“Fall asleep already,” she muttered.

She slammed her palm against the creature’s hide. “Wind Surge!”

A powerful gust erupted from her hand, sending dust flying—but it wasn’t enough to knock it unconscious. She gritted her teeth.

The fairy hovered beside her. “My master said that if you can reach the core—the red light in its forehead—you may be able to calm it.”

“Great. Just gotta get to its head. No big deal.”

She jumped again, leaping toward the dragon’s face. As she did, the beast reared back, screaming. Its roar sent shockwaves through the air. Isolde shielded her ears, but her flight path faltered. She crashed to the ground, coughing.

The dragon raised a claw and it was about to hit her and in that moment she knew that she need to step up her game - she doesn't need to limit herself in mediocre class magic.

\-

Back in the academy, Professor Virelle’s eyes widened. “The fairy just relayed a message. Isolde is holding it off… but not for long.”

Helric gave a sharp nod. “How is opening the portal going on? We need to have Sedin and Ravi be delpoyed immediately."

"We are still working on it, headmaster. The magic seems to not only block off retrival of students but also entering the dungeon" Professor Diego said, which Sedin and Ravi heard loud and clear. The headmaster can't help but to let ouf a worried sigh, even his expression is grim.

"Should we call father?" Ravi asked and Sedin immediately shook his head as he draw his sword and he begun embedding it with mana, creating an aura blade.

"I can manage this, so stay back for a while" he said as he step forward towars the portal to the dungeon where Isolde is.