Chapter 157 – The Seventh Path

Chapter 157: Chapter 157 – The Seventh Path

The following morning, Azrael and Seraphina returned to the lake with Orion and three academy researchers.

After what they had discovered the previous day, Orion had decided that leaving the area completely unattended was no longer practical. The academy had already confirmed that the eastern network stretched much farther than originally believed, and the strange seventh pathway was the first sign that something might exist outside the six known routes.

They stopped near the large tree overlooking the lake.

Orion unfolded a map and compared it with the notes they had collected.

"This location isn’t marked on any of the academy’s old records," he said. "That means either the records were incomplete or this area wasn’t considered important."

Seraphina looked across the lake.

"Then let’s see if it reacts again."

Azrael stepped forward and activated Resonance Sight.

The world immediately changed.

Energy appeared throughout the landscape.

The lake contained a faint concentration of natural energy, while the surrounding forest carried countless thin strands of life force. Beneath the ground, several deeper currents traveled toward the eastern network.

Azrael’s eyes narrowed.

"There are pathways beneath us."

Orion immediately looked up.

"How many?"

"More than seven."

The researchers exchanged surprised looks.

Azrael continued examining the area.

"The seven pathways are the largest ones, but there are hundreds of smaller channels connected to them."

Seraphina activated Life Resonance.

Golden light spread from her body and flowed gently into the ground.

She immediately felt the surrounding life.

"There’s something beneath the tree."

Orion approached.

"Can you identify it?"

"Not yet."

Seraphina placed her hand against the trunk.

The tree suddenly responded.

Its leaves began glowing faintly.

A wave of golden energy traveled through its roots and spread toward the lake.

The water rippled.

Then the seven circles appeared again.

Everyone stepped closer.

The circles formed across the surface of the lake, six connected by faint lines while the seventh remained separated.

But this time, something was different.

The seventh line moved.

It slowly traveled beneath the surface, passing through the lake before reaching the opposite shore.

Azrael followed it with Resonance Sight.

"It isn’t heading toward another structure."

"Where is it going?" Orion asked.

Azrael turned toward the forest.

"Underground."

The researchers immediately began preparing equipment.

Orion looked at the twins.

"We’re following it."

They moved into the forest.

Azrael remained at the front, using Resonance Sight to track the energy beneath the ground while Seraphina followed beside him and monitored the surrounding life force.

The seventh pathway continued for nearly two kilometers before suddenly disappearing beneath a rocky hill.

Orion frowned.

"Lost it?"

Azrael shook his head.

"No."

He drew Astraeus.

The researchers immediately stepped back.

Azrael swung the sword once.

A precise black arc struck the ground.

The stone split apart.

Instead of destroying the entire hill, the attack cut through a narrow section of rock and revealed a passage beneath it.

Seraphina stared at the opening.

"You could have just told us there was a tunnel."

Azrael sheathed Astraeus.

"I didn’t know there was a tunnel until I cut through the rock."

Marcus would have probably complained about the answer.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t there.

Orion stepped into the passage.

"Stay alert."

They descended.

The tunnel was ancient, but unlike the previous ruins they had discovered, there were no carvings or statues. The walls were covered with glowing roots that had grown through the stone over countless years.

After several minutes, they reached a large underground chamber.

At its center stood a massive crystal formation.

Seven energy channels extended from its base.

Six were active.

The seventh was completely dark.

Orion’s expression became serious.

"This isn’t another throne."

Azrael walked closer.

"No."

He could already feel the difference.

The crystal wasn’t controlling the pathways.

It was storing energy.

Seraphina approached from the opposite side.

"There’s life energy inside."

Azrael looked at her.

"How much?"

She closed her eyes.

"A lot."

The crystal suddenly cracked.

Everyone stepped back.

A burst of energy exploded through the chamber.

Azrael immediately released Oblivion.

The black energy collided with the unstable wave and cut through the corrupted portion before it could reach the researchers.

Seraphina raised her staff.

"Genesis Bloom!"

Golden vines erupted from the floor and wrapped around the crystal formation, stabilizing the surrounding energy.

The chamber shook violently.

Orion shouted, "Can you control it?"

Seraphina gritted her teeth.

"I’m trying!"

Azrael stepped beside her.

"The seventh channel is drawing energy from the others."

"Then stop it!"

Azrael raised Astraeus.

His Oblivion energy concentrated around the blade.

He struck the seventh channel.

The black slash severed the connection.

The entire chamber immediately became quiet.

The crystal stopped shaking.

The golden vines slowly disappeared.

Seraphina released a breath.

"That was close."

Azrael looked at the crystal.

"It wasn’t attacking us."

Orion nodded.

"It was overloaded."

One of the researchers approached carefully.

"Then why did the seventh channel activate?"

Nobody answered immediately.

Azrael looked toward the dark channel.

"Something changed outside."

Orion understood.

"The network is reacting to something."

Before anyone could investigate further, the crystal released a small pulse.

This time, it wasn’t dangerous.

A projection appeared above it.

Seven paths formed in the air.

Six extended outward.

The seventh moved in the opposite direction before stopping at a single point.

A name appeared beneath it.

Eastern Boundary.

The projection vanished.

Orion stared at the empty air.

"So the seventh pathway isn’t part of the main network."

Azrael nodded.

"It leads beyond it."

Seraphina smiled slightly.

"Sounds like we have somewhere to go."

Orion gave her a tired look.

"We’re not rushing into an unknown region."

She laughed.

"I knew you’d say that."

The researchers began documenting the chamber while Orion ordered the academy guards to establish a temporary observation post near the entrance.

Azrael and Seraphina remained near the crystal.

The twins exchanged a glance.

They had expected another ruined structure.

Instead, they had found something that was still functioning.

And more importantly, they had discovered that the eastern network extended farther than anyone at the academy had realized.

That meant their next expedition would not simply be another trip through old ruins.

There was an unexplored region beyond the eastern boundary.

And sooner or later, they were going to see what was there.

For now, however, the academy had enough information to begin preparing.

Azrael rested his hand on Astraeus.

Seraphina tightened her grip on her staff.

Whatever waited beyond the eastern boundary, they would be ready for it.