Reaching seventy points meant a team had passed the exam, but any points earned beyond that contributed to individual rankings, so many teams continued pushing forward in search of more dungeons, including Elira Frostborne's team.Aria Driftwood continued supporting the team from the rear, but the atmosphere inside the dungeon had grown tense. Balthazar Adelram and several students from the other classes had stopped making any effort to cooperate with the group.Elira clicked her tongue in annoyance but pressed onward, incinerating the monsters in silence.Alex finally snapped."What's wrong with you people?" he demanded. "We've been busting our asses out here, and not one of you has lifted a finger to help!"Balthazar glanced at him with an amused smile while the other students remained silent. "Well, that's what peasants are for. So hurry up and finish the dungeon."He let out a quiet laugh. Beside him, one of the Class A students lowered his head, unable to meet Elira's eyes.The st

The dungeon trembled as violent mana collided, filling the cavern with deafening explosions. Flames engulfed the walls while razor-sharp gusts of wind carved through the air like invisible blades, and the stone floor cracked beneath the relentless barrage of magic, sending shattered rock flying in every direction.At the center of it all stood Elira Frostbourne. Her Cold Flame spread across the battlefield, jagged frost racing along the stone floor while searing heat distorted the air above it, turning every breath into mist even as sweat ran down her companions' necks. She stood unyielding before them, silently positioning herself as their shield, her icy presence alone enough to make even her allies instinctively stay behind her.Frost crept along the cavern walls while heat warped the air into shimmering waves. Ice crystals bloomed beside drifting embers, an impossible contradiction that made even the allies behind her shiver as pain crawled across their skin.Aria Driftwood winced

Long ago, legends spoke of demons that once descended upon the world. Among those tales was a forbidden doctrine known as The Veil of Seven Calamities.At the Academy, it is taught as a minor subject, though few students believe it is anything more than an old myth. The last recorded Demonic Descent occurred over a thousand years ago, and since then, the stories have slowly faded into legend.Even so, the Academy continues to teach it, not because anyone truly believes the demons will return, but because no one can say for certain that they never existed.The Seven Calamities were never about punishing sin. They fed upon the darkest emotions hidden within the human heart until those emotions consumed the mind itself.After centuries of silence, the impossible was finally happening. One of the Seven Calamities had begun its descent.Everyone in this world experienced these emotions at some point. Ordinary humans and even powerful magic users were no exception. However, the Seven Calami

Balthazar Adelram's furious roar echoed throughout the dungeon as flames erupted uncontrollably around his trembling hands. His rage burned hotter than ever after realizing Zinnia Elrod had completely betrayed him."Trapping me here during a demonic descent... have you completely lost your mind?!" Balthazar roared before his bloodshot eyes finally shifted toward me, acknowledging my presence for the first time since we appeared."So that's your lord, huh?" Balthazar sneered, glaring at me with undisguised hatred. "Hiding behind a mask... pathetic." Flames erupted around him as his mana surged out of control, and with a furious roar, he shouted, "I'll burn both of you alive!"I remained where I was, my mask hiding my expression as I watched Balthazar, while Zinnia calmly stepped forward and drew her weapon. Her face remained composed, but the cold killing intent radiating from her revealed how much his insult had angered her."Zinnia, finish this quickly, but don't kill him. He still h

Elira dreamed of a distant past, of a time when she was still a child, and the world had seemed simple.Her parents adored her. They spoiled her endlessly, giving her almost everything she asked for. Her mother had beautiful white hair and gentle pink eyes, while her father possessed brown hair and striking blue eyes, the same eyes she had inherited.It was her ninth birthday.The Frostborne estate was filled with distinguished guests. Among them was a middle-aged blond-haired man, roughly the same age as her father, who greeted the young Elira with a warm smile before gently patting her head."You're adorable, Elira."Young Elira simply blinked at him before looking toward her father, who was busy entertaining the guest.A moment later, her mother entered the room with a bright smile and called Elira over as everyone, including her father and the blond-haired guest, applauded before showering her with birthday presents, among which was the one she had wished for most, a witch's hat.