[Alert: Massive amounts of Corrupted Energy detected. Target’s core is scheduled to spontaneously shatter in exactly 3 minutes. Evacuating the entire island is highly recommended. You know, unless total annihilation is on your to-do list today.]

’What the... Marcus is going to blow up?!’ Lucian gritted his teeth.

’System! Tell me another option right now! Evacuating the whole island in three minutes is impossible!’

[The energy cannot be redirected. The only options are to let it detonate, or for you to absorb it. However, this is deemed impossible. Your current Mana Core cannot withstand Corrupted Energy.]

’Fuck the warnings, just tell me what to do, fast!’

[The solution is absolute. You must intentionally shatter your own core and rebuild it, transforming it into a ’Dark Core’.]

’How the hell do I do that?’

[Release every single drop of your mana. Let it flow entirely into Marcus’s body. Once it is fully absorbed by the corruption, you must forcefully rip it all back into yourself.]

[Special Warning: You must remain conscious and absolutely focused during this process. A single lapse in concentration will result in your brain exploding from mana overload.]

I DON’T CARE JUST DO IT.

From the instant command, Lucian’s aura erupted, becoming blindingly visible as the surrounding air crackled and warped under the sheer pressure.

Seeing this, Cassian stumbled back, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"Hey, fucker! Have you lost your goddamn mind?!" he yelled over the roaring wind. "Why the hell are you releasing your mana? Can’t you see that’s exactly what that monster wants?!"

Lucian ignored him completely, his eyes locked dead onto the massive, grotesque giant.

"Fuck this..." Cassian cursed under his breath. Gripping his sword tightly, he lunged forward, aiming straight to slice off the massive arm that was crushing Iris.

Though without even turning his head, Lucian raised his other hand and shot a brutal, blinding blast of lightning straight at Cassian.

CRACK!

"Agghhh!" Cassian’s entire body went stiff as the high-voltage attack struck him point-blank. Blood and snot dripped from his nose as he fell to his knees, glaring daggers at Lucian.

"Motherfucker... what the hell are you thinking?!" he spat violently, struggling against the numbness in his limbs.

"You’re not killing him, and you’re not letting me kill him either! Iris is going to die at this rate! I swear to God, I will never understand these sick fucking games of yours!"

As Lucian’s lightning cut off, Cassian didn’t dare push forward again. He stayed glued to his spot, paralyzed by the sheer absurdity and frustration of the situation.

’Just shove your fucking heroism aside for a minute and stay put, or we’re all going to die,’ Lucian thought inwardly, his jaw clenched tight as his mana continued to drain rapidly into Marcus.

"Ayee! Have you completely lost it, Lucian?!" Cassian screamed again, wiping the blood from his face. "Say something!"

"Just shut the fuck up for once! If you want to save every student on this island, then let me do what I’m doing and stay the hell out of my way!"

Marcus was still laughing maniacally, He suddenly began to feel his monstrous body overheating from the sheer volume of mana absorption.

His crushing grip faltered, and Iris slipped from his massive hand, plummeting toward the ground. In a flash, Cassian leaped forward, catching her mid-air and quickly vaulting backward to put distance between them and the giant.

[You have drained 87% of your mana.]

Lucian’s vision began to black out. His eyelids felt like they were made of lead.

"Snap out of it... Shit... System, the second my eyes start to close, hit me with a micro lightning shock."

[Acknowledged.] 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

[95% Mana Drained...]

[96%...]

[97%...]

[98%...]

[99%...]

[100% Mana Drained.]

[Warning: Your Mana Core is beginning to shatter! Before it completely collapses, you must absorb the Corrupted Mana to rebuild it!]

Overloaded by the colossal influx of raw energy, Marcus’s grotesque body began to break down. He screamed in pure, agonizing pain, his mind completely unraveling under the pressure. Thick saliva hung from his gaping mouth like a rabid beast.

Lucian’s eyes finally rolled back, and his body gave way, collapsing forward.

CRACK!

A sharp, violent shock of lightning jolted his nervous system. He snapped his eyes open, stumbling but barely catching his balance before he hit the dirt.

"Fuck..." he hissed through gritted teeth then thrust both of his hands forward toward the writhing monster.

"Absorb it all!"

"DO IT NOW!"

Instantly, a massive vortex of pitch-black, corrupted mana violently ripped itself out of Marcus’s body. The dark energy surged through the air, pulling aggressively and feeding straight into Lucian’s chest. Stripped of the energy, Marcus collapsed into the dirt, thrashing wildly and smashing his massive fists into the ground in blind agony.

"N-no... no... NO! You motherfucker! How dare you steal my power!"

Marcus had completely lost whatever was left of his mind. He lunged directly at Lucian like a rabid beast. But before he could close the distance, two heavy iron chains shot out from the shadows, violently wrapping around his massive torso and arresting his momentum in mid-air.

Having safely laid the half-unconscious Iris on the ground, Cassian looked up in surprise. Behind them, a hooded girl was desperately holding the monster back. It was Zeri—who had apparently been sitting silently on a high tree branch this entire time, watching the chaos unfold.

Zeri was throwing her entire body weight backward, pulling the chains with all her might to keep the giant at bay. Seeing her struggle, Cassian immediately dashed to her side.

"Give me the chain! Now!"

With trembling hands, Zeri tossed a section of the heavy links over to Cassian. Together, they planted their feet into the dirt and pulled backward with everything they had. Marcus roared like a wild animal, thrashing furiously as he desperately tried to grab the chains digging into his monstrous flesh.

Meanwhile, just ahead of them, Lucian’s aura was undergoing a terrifying metamorphosis. The chaotic purple energy surrounding him began to deepen, twisting into an oppressive, suffocating Violet-Black.

[Absorption Status: 85%...]

[90%...]

[95%...]

Gradually, Marcus’s monstrous body began to fail him in his frantic struggle against the restraints. He stumbled onto his knees, letting out a weak, pathetic groan before collapsing entirely. The towering, grotesque dark mass around him dissolved into the air like black smoke, leaving his original, naked, and unconscious human body lying motionless in the dirt.

Standing tall before him, Lucian had completely drained the beast by absorbing every last drop of the corrupted mana.

His legs finally gave out. With a heavy thud, he collapsed to the ground.

Through his fading vision, two blurry figures rushed toward him.

Iris and Cassian.

"Lucian... my love..."

His eyes slid shut, and the world went black.

[You have absorbed 100% of the Corrupted Mana.]

[Congratulations: Your core has successfully redeveloped into a ’Dark Core’.]