The ground trembled violently, sending students running in all directions. Confusion and panicked cries filled the air as everyone scrambled to escape the chaos. The massive oak tree that had once stood tall was swallowed whole by the earth, vanishing into the gaping void.

    "What is happening?!" Zayn shouted, clutching the nearest tree for support.@@@@

    "I don''t know!" Claire screamed, trying to steady Natasha, who had nearly fallen. Maya stood her ground, her sharp eyes scanning the scene for answers, though even she looked nervous.

    Amidst the quake, the blinding light from the treasure chest only grew stronger, pulsating in rhythmic waves. Students shielded their eyes, squinting at the source of the extreme light.

    "What the hell is that light?" someone shouted, their voice barely audible over the chaos.

    Before anyone could answer, the light dimmed slightly, and the earth stilled. For a brief, eerie moment, silence came over the field.

    Then it happened.

    The ground where the oak tree had stood began to crack and crumble. A faint glow emerged from the fissures, growing brighter with each passing second. From the depths, a figure slowly came up, as though rising from another world.

    My breath hitched as I took in the sight before me.

    She had long, flowing blue hair that shimmered like an endless ocean, falling down her back in waves. Her eyes were an icy, piercing blue, devoid of any emotion, yet they seemed to hold the weight of eternity. Her skin glowed faintly, flawless and ethereal. She wore a thin, seductive dress that clung to her curves, revealing her cleavage and exposing her smooth, bare thighs. Despite her beauty, there was something terrifyingly otherworldly about her—a predator surveying its prey.

    "Who... who is that?" Natasha whispered, her voice trembling.

    I froze, my mind flashing back to the vision I''d had yesterday when I touched the stone. It was her. I''d seen her face.

    It can''t be... I thought, my eyes widening in recognition.

    The mysterious woman stood still, surveying the chaos she had caused. She didn''t speak, but her eyes began to glow. A pulse of energy radiated outward, striking the ground with a force so immense it sent destroyed the surface of ground, toppling several students and trees in its wake.

    "Run!" Maya yelled, dragging Natasha and Zayn with her.

    Bells tolled loudly, their warning echoing across campus, and a red siren blared. The knights stationed nearby stormed onto the field, swords and shields at the ready.

    "Stop." I commanded, my voice low but heavy with authority.

    Nebula''s hair paused, quivering in midair, before snapping toward Maya.

    *Step* *Step*

    Time seemed to slow as I stepped forward, my black boots crunching against the earth. The shadows clung to me like an old friend as I emerged from the darkness, a thin black sword in my hand and a hood obscuring most of my face.

    Nebula''s hair halted mere inches from Maya''s neck. Her glowing blue eyes shifted toward me, narrowing slightly.

    Everyone on the field turned to look, their expressions a mixture of confusion and awe.

    "Who... is that?" Claire whispered, her voice barely audible.

    I stepped closer, my black-and-purple robe billowing slightly in the breeze. The air around me seemed to grow colder, darker, as though the shadows themselves were alive and responding to my presence.

    Nebula tilted her head, her hair retracting slowly as she regarded me with curiosity.

    "Who are you?" she asked.

    I smirked, letting my sword rest lightly at my side. The dark aura surrounding me intensified, swirling like a storm.

    "My name is Zero," I said, my voice steady and confident. "The leader of the Shadow Mystics. The one who lurks in the dark and protects the world from its own darkness."

    The crowd murmured in disbelief, the name "Zero" rippling through them like a wave.

    Nebula''s eyes widened slightly—her first real expression of emotion. She stared at me, her lips parting as if she knows who I am.

    "Zero..." she repeated, her voice soft but filled with something I couldn''t quite place.

    For the first time, the Goddess of Witches seemed unsure.