Black Dragon X [LitRPG • Dark Fantasy]-Chapter 58 - 57 : The Glowing Branches

In the courtyard of the Wizard School,

The luminous cracks were still tearing through the air.Massive black roots twisted over the broken tiles like enormous stone serpents.

But in that moment, The ground shook violently. The shaking was not just a tremor...It was as if something enormous beneath the school had begun to move.

Dooooooooooooooom!

The stones rose slightly from the ground before falling again.The cracks in the courtyard widened even further. Then, The ground began to sink.

The stone walls of the school trembled.The old towers let out a deep groan as they tilted slightly.Pieces of the ceiling collapsed.Dust rose into the air like a storm.

One of the soldiers shouted:

—"The ground.....!!!!!!!!!"

But his voice was cut off when The cracks exploded. The roots rose from the depths with even greater force.But this time, they did not stop at the courtyard alone.

Instead, they surged beneath the buildings.Beneath the towers.Beneath the old walls. As if a massive network of roots had begun to spread beneath the entire school.

The school began to sink. The ground dropped suddenly.The stone towers descended slowly into the cracks.The corridors collapsed.The old walls shattered and fell into the darkness.

As if the entire place were being dragged into the depths of the earth. The soldiers stood stunned.Some of them retreated while shouting:

—"It’s collapsing!"

But Oboro shouted loudly:

—"Hold your ground!"

He raised his sword toward the roots spreading around them.

—"Do not lose your positions!"

But even his voice nearly vanished amid the deep roar of the earth.

At that moment, The symbols on the roots glowed. But the light changed. Each root began to split.Thick branches sprouted from it like giant arms. But each branch Carried a different color.

One branch ignited with a dark red light.Another glowed with a pale golden color. Another root split into two branches:One dark purple...And the other deep blue.

The branches began to move. Crawling over the ground. As if searching for something.Or... someone.

Villiam stood in the midst of the chaos.His eyes watched the approaching branches. The ground beneath his feet shook violently.

Then, One of the branches rushed toward him. It stopped directly in front of him.The glowing symbol on it ignited in red.

Villiam’s eyes narrowed slightly.

And on the other side, Another branch approached Lilithia. A different light.A different color. The symbol above it glowed slowly.

Lilithia raised her head. Her eyes met Villiam’s through the rising dust. Then she called out:

"Villiam!"

But the ground between them. Exploded once again.

Craaaaaaaaaaaaack!

A massive fissure opened between the two.Stones were flung into the air.The dust swallowed the distance between them.

Villiam tried to step forward. But the ground beneath him suddenly collapsed. He stopped.

And on the other side, Lilithia stepped back as another root rose near her. The entire ground began to rise and fall like waves of stone.

One of the soldiers shouted as he fell to his knees:

—"The ground is moving!"

As for Kurozen, he stared at the glowing branches. Then he said in a low voice:

—"...It is choosing us."

Ragen clenched his weapon tightly.He turned around cautiously. As for Shira, he raised her gaze toward the roots that nearly covered the sky.

Dust swirled around her.The entire ground had become a massive network of intertwined roots. And he said softly:

—"...The place itself is changing."

And in the midst of the chaos, Draven stood. His coat moved with the wind and dust.But he did not appear worried. Instead, he raised his gaze toward the branches moving toward the fighters. Then he let out a short laugh.

—"Hah..."

He lowered his head slightly.And the smile widened on his lips. Then he said calmly:

—"...The game has finally begun."

And at that moment, The branches surged toward the fighters.

_

Deep within the Wizard School, Far from the clamor of the outer courtyard...

The long stone corridor was immersed in heavy silence. The torches mounted on the walls cast a faint light over the cold floor.And the shadows stretched between the old columns like a black curtain.

At the end of the corridor, Mirei stood in front of a massive stone door. On its surface, ancient words were deeply engraved: No Entry But Mirei did not seem hesitant. She stood silently for a moment...Then a faint smile appeared on her lips.

As for Kaguchi. He stood a few steps behind her. A cold smile rested on his face.He stopped a few steps behind her. Then he spoke in a calm voice, with a faint tone of mockery:

—"Mirei..."

He paused for a moment. Then he added, smiling:

—"Where is... the Black Dragon?"

Mirei did not answer immediately. She slowly lowered her hand. Her eyes were calm.But there was a clear coldness in them.

Kaguchi’s smile widened.

But before Mirei could reply. The ground suddenly shook.

Dooooooom!

The entire corridor trembled.The torches on the walls shook violently.Some of them went out. Kaguchi’s gaze froze for a moment. Then his eyes narrowed slightly. The sound of cracking rose from the depths.

Craaaaaaaack!

Black fissures appeared in the corridor floor.They spread quickly among the old stones. Dust began to fall from the ceiling. A small piece of stone fell near Mirei’s foot.

Outside, The roar of the ground grew stronger.Kaguchi raised his head slightly.The smile was still on his lips. Then he said in a low voice:

—"...Ah."

He looked at the ground that had begun to crack beneath his feet.

—"...So the ritual has begun."

But the fissures did not stop.They widened even further. The stone floor suddenly collapsed. A massive chasm opened beneath their feet.The stones fell into the darkness. And the void swallowed the entire corridor.

The bodies of Mirei and Kaguchi began to fall. The air rushed violently around them.Dust and stones fell with them into the depths.

But Kaguchi did not scream.He did not seem afraid. Instead, he laughed. A calm laugh. He raised his hand slightly as he fell.Then he looked upward.

Above them, The giant roots began to pierce the walls. They surged from the cracks like massive stone serpents.They broke the floors.And tore apart the old corridors.

And at that moment, Deep within the school—Was the Black Mirror Hall. A circular stone chamber. At its center. Stood the Black Mirror.

Its dark surface resembled a lake of shadows. But the walls around it began to crack.The ground trembled.

A massive root pierced the floor. Huge.Larger than the other roots. Its surface was covered with ancient engravings. It surged violently into the hall.

Then, It wrapped around the Black Mirror. As if the root were embracing it. The engravings on it glowed with a faint light. Then the root began to close around the mirror.

A layer of black stone-wood covered its surface.Layer after layer. Until its shine disappeared completely.

And in a moment, The entire hall vanished. As if the root had swallowed it into the depths of the earth. And in the collapsed corridor, Kaguchi was still falling into the darkness.

The wind whipped around him. But his smile widened slightly. Then he said calmly:

—"...Interesting."

And above him, The entire school was transforming. Into something... far older. And the scene stopped there.