Darcel and Aniela had their eyes closed as they experienced the strange but smooth sensation of the world shifting around them.
After undergoing this transition numerous times previously, the duo could safely say it felt….strangely relaxing.
And after a couple of seconds of this strange yet relaxing sensation, the duo blinked open their eyes. Before they knew it, their whole scenery changed, and they were no longer outside.
Their eyes had instead opened up to a beautiful bright blue-purple mix room.
Various exotic scrolls filled uniquely designed shelves. Several big crystal purple orbs mysteriously floated in the air, and strange markings were covering the walls.
However, none of this intriguing design is what truly caught the attention of Darcel and Aniela.
Their eyes had instantly snapped to their magnificently beautiful Heavenly King Principal, who was patiently waiting behind her desk, staring into a purple crystal orb.
As Darcel and Aniela's eyes glazed over in slight awe of just how enchanting their Principal was. They had then also felt gentle power infused into their bodies.
Darcel and Aniela's previous headache, soreness, and slight fatigue were all washed away by this mysteriously warm energy.
Their eyes lit up in appreciation, guessing it was the Principal who so quickly healed their injuries.
"So? What's the situation looking like now? Did you see anything change?"
While Darcel and Aniela stared at the Principal, Vice Principal Zelle took a moment to ask a question.
And Vice Principal Zelle's expression only slightly darkened while gazing at Principal Zakira's reaction. Her face was unreadable as she stared into the purple crystal orb.
It was a look that you simply can't predict what is going on in her head.
This complicated expression only further enhanced the brewing foreboding feeling stirring in Vice Principal Zelle's gut.
After a few tense seconds, Principal Zakria still didn't answer Vice-Principal Zelle's question. Instead, her eyes lifted from the purple crystal orb, and she stared directly at Darcel and Aniela.
Being gaze under her unreadable expression caused some slight worry for Darcel and Aniela.
Her alluring bright purple eyes seemed almost hypnotic, akin to gazing into a rising purple sun brilliance.
"Everything….everything is far too chaotic to tell anything now. Darcel, Aniela. You two really manage to violently shift everything."
Principal Zakira's sweet, captivating voice slithered into the duo's ears like warm water.
Although despite her sweet voice being mesmerizing to listen to, Darcel and Aniela haven't had the faintest idea of what she meant.
"Uhm….what do you mean we shifted everything? Ah! More importantly, you should stop anyone from going to the Woods now!" Aniela urgently reminded the Principal's mid-sentence.
"Unfortunately, things had already rapidly progressed ever since you four hours of disappearance. Unprecedented for even the Principal and I, Jamas slinked right under our senses. He rounded several Innate Core Elders and spread that rumor of riches to go and kill that creature. The most puzzling part though was the fact neither I nor the Principal sensed his presence at all in the Academy when he was here."
Vice Principal Zelle was shaking her head while explaining to the duo.
And her explanation caused Darcel and Aniela's eyes to burst into realizing rays of lights.
Their minds vividly recalled how those human-like creatures can't be sense. And then there was this mysteriously powerful man that was left with Jamas.
"Is it true? Are the Ravenous Void Clan truly connected to those ghosts?"
Principal Zakira asked the duo, watching their brightening expression. It was a subject that swam in her mind for quite some time now.
"Indeed, that Clan not only works with ghosts, they also can apparently make ghosts possess humans." Darcel began explaining, and already Vice-Principal Zelle and Principal Zakira's eyes slightly widened.
"Ghosts possessing humans? But how? Not even weak Qi Foundation cultivators could be possessed by Spirit ghosts." It was the common sense Vice-Principal Zelle learned on her path of cultivation.
Though in the back of her mind. Vice Principal Zelle could already tell common sense is about to get broken again by the duo.
"Ah! We were told exactly that by Gerey and Lyse. But you see….that Clan is holding variants of that red human-like creature we fought in the Black Labyrinth Dungeon! These variants are exactly as terrifying as the original red one, and we think those creatures are majorly helping with this ghost situation."
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Aniela picked up to explain, causing further shock in the Principals.
"How can you be so sure it was a variant or exactly like that creature?" Vice Principal Zelle asked, having a hard time believing her words.
Since after all this time, it'll just be too odd for the duo to suddenly encounter something precisely like that creature. And nobody else being able to pick up on its slightest of trace for weeks.
Towards Vice-Principal Zelle's question, Darcel simply ignited his spatial ring. And before either adult women could question what he was doing, Darcel fished out that rancid severed arm of the putrid green creature.
"Seriously?! There really are more of these creatures?!"
Vice Principal Zelle proclaimed her shock. She instantly recognized that severed arm to be nearly identical in appearance to the red creature!
Principal Zakira curiously gazed at the vile creature's arm. A particular detail that stood out to her was the fact that it appeared like the severed arm was still flowing with putrid green blood.
"Aniela and I encountered two of these variants of creatures, and we fought with both of them. The Ravenous Void Clan….they won't just stop at possessing True Soul Core youths. They're going to get their clutches on Innate Core cultivators and grow even stronger." Darcel finished explaining.
Both Vice-Principal Zelle and Principal Zakira creased their eyebrows.
The duo had no reason to lie, and they were inclined to believe them. But everything was still too shrouded in mystery to call for an accurate answer.
Principal Zakira knows she could immediately stop anyone from their Academy from going into the Woods. Despite what they lost already, it wouldn't affect them much if they went into lockdown.
However, Principal Zakira knows she could only do this with her Academy.
Other sects and organizations like the Quicksilver Roc sect and Yoderine institution are beyond her control.
Even if she were to inform them the exact same thing Darcel and Aniela told them, they all still didn't have any concrete evidence against that Clan and their connections to ghosts.
While Jamas was able to bring back concrete evidence against that red creature to rally the whole City up.
It was then Vice-Principal Zelle's expression became determined. She made a split decision in her mind and told Principal Zakira, "We need to act hard and fast now. Principal….I will contact Leweyn Andres."
Hearing that name-dropped caused Principal Zakira to go utterly silent.
Clearly, Darcel and Aniela were able to tell whoever this Lewyn person was. It is a big deal enough to make even their Principal go eerily silent.
Her eyes had promptly stared into her bright purple crystal orb for a brief second.
Despite Darcel and Aniela's mind already going to the negative about this person given her reaction, the Principal was actually using her soul to call upon the power of her unique Foresight abilities.
For all these years, she painstakingly cultivated this unique ability. She managed to reach a state where she could tell the general effects of what one person would have on the overall future a few weeks in.
It was how she managed to predict the Woods' huge event and how Darcel and Aniela would inevitably end up stumbling across it.
Though her prediction isn't exactly always accurate, especially if it involves Darcel and Aniela.
But more likely than not, Principal Zakira could see the vague right steps to take for any given situation. And for the man named Lewyn Andres, she could tell things will turn out worse without him.
Still, Principal Zakira regarded that man as a slight risk. A risk that they probably need to take. Nodding towards Vice-Principal Zelle, Principal Zakira had then told her,
"Since you're going to do so, I shall get readily prepare for him then."
"Wait….just who the hell is Lewyn Andres?" Darcel asked as both he and Aniela actually felt genuine curiosity in this man's rise.
After all, both Vice-Principal Zelle and Principal Zakira are already so powerful enough to not rely on ordinary help.
"He hails from the strongest sect out of our Bless Spirit Province. The Brass Spirit Sect. Though we are ranked quite literally the last out of the nine Provinces, that sect possesses a keenly unique ability. And they will be able to majorly help us with tracking these ghosts and creatures and put an end to whatever plans they have brewing."
It was when Vice Principal Zelle finished explaining that Darcel and Aniela came upon a slight realization.
Besides only the areas they have been to, the duo realized they neglected to know the full geography of this realm that they were abruptly teleported to.
Aniela made a mark in her head for a point she and Darcel will go over in the near future.
For now, though, she asked the Principals, "So what now? We can't go back into the Woods unless we want to walk into a certified death trap, and that's where nearly all of the action is taking place."
"You two did fight and kill at least one of those variant creatures, right?"
Principal Zakira suddenly spoke up, completely ignoring Aniela's last question.
For a brief second, Darcel and Aniela were a bit stunned hearing her so accurate guess. But nevertheless, Aniela brightly smiled and nodded at her.
"Not just one….but we manage to kill two of those creatures! The severed arm Darcy got will put into good use by us! Though, I'm not entirely sure how….but I think Darcy and I have resistance to that creature."
Very vividly, Darcel and Aniela could recall the exact sensation and power that their souls would continually spew while fighting those creatures.
They had obviously managed to link it up with their recent scimitars that their souls are reacting like this.
Although, the question still sitting inside both the duo's mind was merely what these scimitars did to their souls. And just why did these sensations felt so damn familiar, as if they encountered that kind of power before.
"Zelle, take them to the Corridor of Haven. They will be crucial in specifically stopping those creatures for good."
Vice Principal Zelle slightly widened her eyes in small shock. But she didn't have any disagreement with this sudden decision.
"Mnh, alright. But first, at the great distance of the Brass Spirit Sect, I know it'll take them at most three days for their arrival. What shall we do until then?"
Principal Zakira was already ready with an answer.
"I will call in some favors from those Quirky Mages and temporarily seal down the Academy. Darcel. Remember to keep that arm even when you finish using it."
Darcel and Aniela nearly falter once again, hearing Principal Zakira's surprisingly accurate predictions of what they're going to do.
Before they could question anything, though, Vice Principal Zelle softly grabbed their shoulders, making them look up at her.
She gave the duo a kind warm smile, telling them, "Now, first thing first for you two. You'll need to completely relax your mind and bodies before we head on to the main attraction."