"Run!" Gregor shouted, his voice shattering the frozen moment.No one needed to be told twice. The team scattered in different directions, bolting down narrow paths between the towering maize stalks. The giant rabbit's ears swiveled, tracking their movements as they fled.For one heartbeat, it seemed undecided. Then its massive head turned, red eyes locking onto Anna and Liam as they sprinted down the central path. With shocking speed for something so large, the rabbit bounded after them.The ground shook with each powerful leap, golden tassels swaying violently overhead as the creature pursued its chosen prey."It's following us!" Liam shouted unnecessarily, his wind element instinctively gathering around him to boost his speed."Split up!" Anna called, already veering toward a side path.Too late. The rabbit anticipated her move, its enormous body blocking her escape route. Anna skidded to a halt, nearly colliding with the creature's front paw. She scrambled backward, rejoining Liam

The tapping followed them through the forest, a persistent rhythm that seemed to come from everywhere at once. Though they could no longer see the giant rabbits, the sound of their massive feet striking the earth carried through the strange Abyssal woods.Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap."They're still following us," Lyra whispered, glancing fearfully over her shoulder."Keep moving," Gregor ordered, his voice tight with exhaustion. "We need more distance."The team pushed onward, each step a struggle after their desperate flight from the maize field. Miko leaned heavily on Akiya, the mini-Lantern having drained what little strength he'd recovered. The ash lines on his skin had spread further, now covering most of his arms and creeping up his neck."You need to rest," Anna told him, healer's instincts overriding her own fatigue."We all do," Elena agreed, looking around at their battered group. "But not here. Not yet."The Abyssal forest grew thicker as they moved deeper, trees twisting into unnat

Miko stared at the tunnel that had opened for him. With no other choice, he stepped forward."Hello?" he called, his voice echoing strangely. "Anyone there?"No answer came back. Just the soft, steady pulse of the tree's inner workings.The path sloped downward, curving in a gentle spiral. Miko lost track of time as he descended, the monotony broken only by occasional chambers where the tunnel widened. In each chamber, strange glowing symbols covered the walls—similar to the ash patterns on his skin but more complex, more ancient."What are you trying to show me?" Miko asked the tree, touching one of the symbols.A vision flashed through his mind, AAU headquarters as it had been centuries ago, newly founded after the Rupture. He saw mages experimenting with the boundaries between worlds, pushing into the Abyss with reckless curiosity. Then came the first wraiths, drawn to elemental energy like moths to flame.The vision faded, leaving Miko disoriented but with new understanding. He co

Behind them, the battle had reached a stalemate. Kael couldn't get past the combined defense of seven mages, but neither could they defeat an Awakened Wraith with their depleted reserves."We have to go," Gregor called, sweat pouring down his face from the effort of maintaining his fire barrier. "Now!""Listen to me," Miko’s father said urgently, more strength returning to his voice. "You can't remove me from this. Not yet. The consequences—""The wraith told us," Miko cut in. "About the balance. The regulation of corruption flow.""Then you understand why—""I understand they're using you," Miko insisted. "That you've been trapped here for twenty years while I grew up without a father."Pain flashed across his father’s face. "I'm sorry. I never wanted to leave you. But the alternative was worse. Much worse."Before Miko could respond, a massive blast of corruption energy knocked everyone off their feet. Kael stood at the center of the destruction, his playful demeanor completely gone

“Elemental exhaustion," he heard someone say as they checked his vitals. "Severe depletion. And these markings..."The world blurred around him as his body finally acknowledged what his will had been denying—he was at his limit. The last thing he saw before unconsciousness claimed him was the portal's surface, shimmering with the promise of home.Miko woke to white walls and the antiseptic smell of the Academy's medical wing. For a moment, he thought the entire Abyss expedition had been a dream. Then he tried to move and felt the deep ache of elemental depletion in every muscle."Easy," a familiar voice cautioned. Akiya sat beside his bed, looking cleaner but no less tired than when he'd last seen her. "The healers say you need rest.""How long?" Miko asked, his voice rough."A day and a half," she replied. "We came through the portal yesterday morning. The Peregrine brought us straight back to Central Academy.""The others?""All alive. Mostly recovered." She smiled slightly. "You go