The silence that followed settled naturally, like the plan itself had weight.

One by one, they moved.

Noel straightened first, slipping the device back into his hand as the faint glow across its surface dimmed. He looked down at it for a moment, then spoke again, voice calm and direct.

"Theo," he said, "what's our next move? Do we head to the next island now?"

There was a brief pause before the device responded, the voice steady and unhurried.

"The closest island lies to the north of your current position," Theo replied. "You should be able to reach it without delay."

Noel nodded once. "I see. Thanks, Theo."

He turned back to the others, the decision already made.

"Alright," he said. "Then that's where we're going."

Elyra didn't question it. She shifted her stance slightly, already orienting herself, eyes moving instinctively to the northern edge of the island. Elena followed her gaze, nodding in agreement without a word.

"The priority stays the same," Noel continued. "We regroup everyone first. Nothing else matters until we're all together."

Elena answered immediately. "Agreed."

Elyra gave a short nod. "No arguments."

Laziel looked between them, unusually quiet. The joking tone he normally carried was gone, replaced by something more focused. He adjusted his grip on his staff and exhaled.

"Yeah," he said at last. "I agree too. That's the smartest move right now."

Noel glanced at him briefly, then back toward the open path ahead.

"Good."

Noir moved first, padding ahead with her nose low and ears alert, already scanning the terrain. The rest followed, spreading out naturally as they crossed the ruined ground, moving through broken streets and collapsed structures in a loose formation that didn't need to be stated.

The island was far from empty.

The wind carried faint sounds in the distance. Shifting stone. Metal scraping against itself. The signs of movement were subtle, but present.

Noel walked at the front, Revenant Fang resting comfortably at his side. He didn't rush. He didn't slow down either. Every step was measured, purposeful, aligned toward the same direction.

North.

Behind him, the others fell into place without needing further instruction.

The plan had been spoken.

Now, it was time to act.

Noir halted first.

Her body lowered instinctively, ears flattening as a faint metallic sound carried through the ruined street ahead. Chains dragged across stone. Slow. Heavy. Wrong.

From between the collapsed buildings, figures emerged.

Chainbound beasts.

Their forms were warped by restraints embedded directly into flesh and armor, thick metal links pulsing faintly with corrupted mana. Their movements were stiff, delayed, as if every step required permission from something unseen.

Noel stepped forward.

The shadows beneath his feet deepened.

"Shadow Step."

He vanished.

A heartbeat later, he reappeared behind the first creature. Revenant Fang moved once, a clean horizontal arc. The head separated instantly, rolling across the ground before the body collapsed.

The system responded immediately.

[You have slain Chainbound Beast (Ascendant – Rare). You have received 0.02% Core Progress.]

Noel was already gone.

"Shadow Step."

He emerged to the left, blade plunging upward this time. Metal split. The chain snapped mid-motion, falling uselessly as the beast crumpled.

[You have slain Chainbound Beast (Ascendant – Rare). You have received 0.02% Core Progress.]

The remaining creatures reacted at last, dragging their weapons forward, chains rattling louder now.

Too slow.

Noel appeared above them, shadows spilling outward like a tide.

"Eclipse Rend."

Darkness erased the street.

The sweeping arc of void passed through two beasts at once. Their bodies didn't fall apart. They simply collapsed inward, hollowed, armor clanging empty against stone.

[You have slain Chainbound Beast (Ascendant – Rare). You have received 0.02% Core Progress.] x 2

The shadows withdrew.

Silence returned.

The system updated again, the number quietly ticking upward.

[Current Core Progress: 1.28% — Mana Core: Archmage]

Noel straightened, Revenant Fang humming softly as he turned back toward the path north. His breathing hadn't changed.

Behind him, Elena exhaled slowly, eyes sharp but steady. Elyra remained composed, already scanning for the next threat, her expression unreadable.

Laziel hadn't moved at all.

He stood frozen, staff still half-raised, staring at the remains scattered across the street. His mouth opened slightly, then closed again.

"…He just—" Laziel swallowed. "He didn't even slow down."

From deeper within the island, the sound of chains rose again—heavier this time, layered, approaching from multiple directions. Shapes poured into the ruined streets, bound creatures moving in staggered formations, some dragging weapons, others forming crude lines as if remnants of discipline still lingered within them.

Noel didn't stop walking.

"Shadow Step."

He vanished into the shadow cast by a collapsed tower and reappeared mid-air above the first wave. Revenant Fang flared as "Ignition Surge" wrapped the blade in roaring fire. He came down in a vertical arc, cleaving straight through the lead beast and the one behind it in a single motion.

[You have slain Chainbound Beast (Ascendant – Rare). You have received 0.02% Core Progress.] x 2

Noir surged forward beside him, a black blur tearing into the flank. Her jaws closed around a chained torso, ripping metal and flesh apart in one violent motion before she leapt for the next target without slowing.

Elena moved the moment Noel reappeared.

"Vine Fang."

Roots burst from the ground, forming a lance that skewered a beast through the chest and pinned it in place. She followed immediately, spinning forward.

"Leaf Dancer."

Her movement became a cutting spiral of leaves and wind, slicing through two more creatures as she passed, never breaking stride.

[You have slain Chainbound Beast (Ascendant – Rare). You have received 0.02% Core Progress.] x 2

Elyra stepped in.

An "Anchor Sigil" flared beneath a group of enemy casters just as they attempted to channel mana, locking the area down. A heartbeat later, a "Mana Grid" unfolded, stabilizing the battlefield and sharpening the execution of allied spells.

Noel felt the difference instantly.

"Stormpiercer."

Lightning wrapped around his body, and he was gone in a blinding crack of light, tearing through the street in a straight line. Electricity detonated outward as three beasts were pierced in succession, their bodies thrown aside like broken dolls.

[You have slain Chainbound Beast (Ascendant – Rare). You have received 0.02% Core Progress.] x 3

Shadows gathered again.

Noel stepped into them.

"Shadow Step."

He reappeared at the center of the remaining cluster, Revenant Fang already moving.

"Eclipse Rend."

Darkness swept forward in a wide arc, not cutting but erasing. The beasts caught within it collapsed inward, armor clanging empty against stone as the void passed through them.

[You have slain Chainbound Beast (Ascendant – Rare). You have received 0.02% Core Progress.] x 2

The ground shook.

Something larger forced its way through the remains—thicker chains, reinforced plating, a core pulsing with distorted authority.

An overseer.

Elyra reacted instantly.

"Seal of Silence."

The air around the creature warped, its spell collapsing before it could fully form.

Noel didn't slow.

One "Shadow Step." One precise thrust.

Revenant Fang pierced straight through the creature's core.

[You have slain Chainbound Overseer (Ascendant – Elite).You have received 0.03% Core Progress.]

The battlefield fell silent.

The system updated quietly.

[Current Core Progress: 1.55% — Mana Core: Archmage]

Noel stood amidst the aftermath, blade cooling, shadows settling naturally around his feet.

Laziel hadn't moved.

Not once.

He stared at the shattered chains, the empty street, at Noel walking forward as if nothing about that fight had required effort.

"What the fuck dude, what are you!?," Laziel muttered weakly,

Noel glanced back over his shoulder.

A small, almost amused smile tugged at his lips.

"Your friend," he said lightly.

Laziel let out a shaky breath, half a laugh escaping him. "Yeah. Yeah, thank the gods you're my friend." He ran a hand through his hair, still staring. "This is insane. How did you even get this strong?"

Noel shrugged, casual to the point of being unfair. "Guess I'm an Archmage now."

Silence.

Then—

"WHAT!?" Laziel shouted.

Noel winced instantly. "Don't shout, damn it. You're going to attract more monsters."

Laziel clamped a hand over his mouth, eyes wide. "Since when?" he hissed.

"Since we got separated," Noel replied. "A few hours ago."

Laziel stared at him like he was looking at something that shouldn't exist. "An Archmage… at eighteen, no before right?," he muttered. "You're surreal, Noel. Completely surreal."

He turned north again and raised a hand slightly. "Alright. Let's move."

Noir, who had been pacing ahead, suddenly stopped.

Her ears flattened. Her body stiffened.

Noel noticed instantly.

"Noir?" he asked.

She turned back toward him, eyes sharp.

'We can't leave yet,' her voice echoed in his mind.

Noel frowned. "Why?"

'Something's here,' she replied. 'I felt it just now.'

Before she could say more, the air shifted.

The system reacted.

[You have found a clue. Following it may grant you something to your advantage.]

Noel froze.

'That's new,' he thought. This had never happened before.

Was it because the enemies here were stronger? Or because the system was adapting?

Either way, the answer was clear.

He lowered his hand.

"Wait," Noel said.

The others stopped immediately.

"Noir noticed something," he continued. "Before we leave… we're checking it out."

The direction changed.

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