CHAPTER 153: TERRIFYING SHIFT

In the village of the Abyssal Corrupted Wolves, everyone was gathered, preparing for the final attack. It had already been a few days since they destroyed the four limbs of the Academy’s inscription. Now, it had been fifteen days since Darian returned to this universe.

The main reason for waiting was to make sure everything was perfectly ready. Once it began, not a single traitor inside the Academy could be allowed to survive. Only the Summoners and their partners would be left — and, right now, dealing with them was out of Darian’s reach.

Cleansing the Academy was a critical move, since the surviving Elders would take the top positions. And those guys, for sure, would never support betrayal. They’d do everything in their power to stop it from ever happening again.

Without traitors at the top of the Academy, the ones hiding among the Summoners wouldn’t be able to mess with the universe as easily as before. Sure, with time, they’d start planting rotten seeds again — but all Darian needed was time and a little peace to grow stronger.

That day, everyone gathered after Endi finally called them in.

"Sir, everything’s ready. I guarantee, as long as the Academy’s central inscription doesn’t interfere, no one’s getting off the planet," Endi said, focused entirely on Darian, speaking with excitement. "All the fire and lightning element in this Stellar Ore is way above average. If anyone tries to escape, they’ll be killed instantly by my inscription."

Darian nodded, satisfied. He had given him that Stellar Ore he got from the array. Endi was an inscription expert and knew one that could control Yang elements in a destructive way.

The energy inside that Stellar Ore — and its level — were more than enough. With it, Endi could set up an inscription big enough to cover the whole planet and stop anyone from getting away easily. Even if someone had the means to break it, it wouldn’t be fast or simple — giving Darian and Niara enough time to react and take them down.

Darian turned to the beast leader. "Let’s not waste any more time. Stay sharp — not everything might go as planned. I might need to come back fast and get everyone out."

The Demonic Beast clenched its fists. Finally, the prophecy of its ancestor was coming true. The missionary of Heaven’s Will had arrived — and now he was taking the first step toward defeating their enemies. His race would do whatever it took to support him.

After speaking, Darian turned to Niara and pulled out several spatial artifacts. The clan’s treasure he had brought had all kinds of things, but in small quantities. After using them during several trips, there was just enough left for a round trip to this planet.

"Let’s go."

Nine people stepped forward with serious expressions. They had been ready for a long time, just waiting for the signal.

A green aura flowed from Niara and wrapped around them — then, in an instant, they vanished in a burst of intense spatial distortion.

***

The group appeared on a moon near the Academy’s planet.

Right away, Endi waved and pulled out several scrolls from his spatial ring. He set them on the ground in a wide circle, then placed others inside it, forming a kind of pentagram.

In the center, he placed the fire-and-lightning Stellar Ore Darian had given him.

He turned to Darian and Niara.

The slug took a deep breath and turned toward the planet ahead.

He activated the black ring, then connected to the power he had left inside the Academy’s central inscription — and from there, to the four Academy members still tied to it.

The black power moved in silence.

...

The Academy Leader felt it and opened his eyes.

**CRACK!**

A deafening sound of shattering glass echoed across the planet. The barrier had been completely broken. But the Leader didn’t panic — he just smiled.

Eyes wide open, with a disturbingly calm expression, he stood up. The black emblem detached from his robes. "Finally. Good. Let’s finish this."

In the skies, a green-tailed meteor ripped through the atmosphere — a blazing projectile heading straight down.

*Wooosh!*

**BANG!**

At the heart of the Academy, the ground shook with a heavy impact. A cloud of dust spread in every direction.

Niara scoffed. Beside her, eight figures were breathing deeply, their eyes tense. Endi had stayed back on the moon to keep the inscription active.

At the same time, countless purple and crimson lights started rising on the horizon, covering the entire planet. They were multiplying and spreading in the blink of an eye.

"He’s already started," Darian confirmed. "GO!"

The two caterpillars nodded, their spiritual roots pulsing at full strength. All their power flared.

A blinding flash burst from the Celestia Academy — a devastating light that lit up everything and didn’t fade. But then...

"Hahahaha..."

A laugh echoed.

Everyone felt something erupt. A chill ran down their spines.

A dark cloud — pitch black — surrounded them.

Lucy and Lucius jumped, shock written all over their faces. Suddenly, their glow was swallowed by a sinister darkness.

No... it wasn’t darkness. It was Miasma. Its density was crushing, stealing away every last trace of light. In seconds, they were blind — only able to see a meter around themselves.

*Gwaaaaaar!*

Gut-wrenching growls came from all directions — a horrifying cacophony.

The group had barely arrived, and everything had already flipped on its head. Sure, they expected traps and danger — the Leader had full control of the central inscription. But this...

"What the... hell...?"

The three Elders trembled, their voices filled with disbelief. They could feel it, hear it—but their minds refused to accept it. It was impossible. This was the heart of the galaxy, the last stronghold of resistance in the universe. How could this...?

"White Dragon Armor!"

Niara roared, her wings snapping open with a thunderous sound. White scales burst forth, her body surged with power as her martial art activated.

*Whoosh!*

A wave of white energy swept out, purging the miasma with overwhelming fury. In seconds, the darkness receded, vanishing completely.

That’s when everyone saw it.

"N-no!"

"Heavens!"

Lanalia and Yeon spoke in desperation.

All around them, as far as the eye could see, were countless figures. Twisted purple bodies, deformed faces, glowing red eyes... they were slowly crawling toward the group.

"Elder Warry!"

Ruoku shouted, recognizing a figure among the Risen. Despite the grotesque transformation, the features were unmistakable. That Elder—a man of integrity and respect—who had helped them escape. Now he was just another twisted creature...

"That bastard," Niara spat, furious.

Darian took a deep breath, analyzing the horde. "They’re all standard Risen... no, freshly turned. Their minds are a mess, their power unstable."

"How is this possible?!" Yeon burst out, his voice filled with panic. "Even if the Academy Leader used the corrupted stuff stored on the planet, there’s no way he could make this many... and they’re completely uncontrollable!"

"This is the power of a Risen Lord, not some corrupted junk," Darian corrected sharply, his senses on edge, probing the surroundings. "I can feel lots of living people still trapped in the Academy dungeons and across the planet. He didn’t have the time or the strength to make this many. And besides, not everyone becomes a Risen—most just die."

Niara snorted. "Let’s wipe them all out."

"HAHAHAHA!"

Again, laughter rang out from above. Everyone turned toward the largest building in the Academy, to the north.

There, they saw a huge black cloud stretching several meters. As they stared at it, it felt like a pair of eyes were staring back. In the middle of that cloud stood the small figure of the Academy Leader, his laughter completely unhinged.

He waved his hand. Suddenly, a figure floated toward him.

He grabbed her by the neck. She was a Mannaz woman with a draconic bloodline. She thrashed wildly—but she was already a Risen, just like the others.

The black power surrounding the Leader surged and penetrated fully into her within seconds.

"!"

She stopped moving.

In an instant, her purple skin started to crack.

From the cracks, black veins pulsed with sinister energy. Her eyes changed from wild red to glowing, eerie beacons. The air around her shifted—small black sparks coiling around her.

The world fell silent.

*RYAAARGH!*

A visceral roar tore from her. She rose, head tilted slightly, then froze. A chilling rationality had returned to her eyes.

The Academy Leader let her go, then said flatly, "Kill them."

She didn’t respond. She just turned her face toward the center, where the group stood.

Thousands of Risen were coming from all directions, now less than thirty meters away. And now...

’She’s a Chief Risen?’ Darian thought tensely, feeling the terrifying shift that had just happened before his eyes. And also... the immense power radiating from her.