Chapter 99 Consuming presence.

Chapter 99: Chapter 99 Consuming presence.

In a path illuminated by the light glowing from Lysander’s palm, Noah followed closely behind. He had been weak earlier, barely able to keep himself upright, but after Lysander touched his shoulder, the strange dragging sensation in his chest and body disappeared completely.

It was as if the exhaustion had never existed.

His ass was still throbbing painfully, but Noah pushed that aside. He had more important things to worry about, especially finding Lamia. If something had happened to Rose, as he suspected, then there was a possibility that she had been possessed by Maria. He still didn’t understand how any of it had happened, but he couldn’t afford to waste time trying to figure it out while his friends were in danger.

He suddenly stopped.

Lysander noticed immediately and turned around.

"What’s the problem, Noah?" he asked. "Don’t you want to rescue your friend quickly? We’re wasting time, and there are things living inside this forest that you really don’t want to encounter."

Of course Noah knew that.

What he didn’t understand was why the school had hidden something this dangerous right under their noses. They had allowed innocent students to attend classes while creatures capable of tearing them apart apparently lived somewhere inside the academy grounds.

It was completely unreasonable.

"I need clarification from you," Noah said. "And I don’t really know if you’re the right person to ask, but I have this feeling that you were there at the cafeteria."

Lysander raised an eyebrow but nodded, more than willing to hear him out.

"Go on. Say what’s on your mind. But remember, the clock is ticking."

That reminder made Noah hesitate.

Was this really the right time?

He was supposed to be searching for Lamia, yet he couldn’t move forward without understanding what was happening around him. The alphas had been keeping him in the dark, probably because they thought they were protecting him, but Noah knew something was wrong.

Something very bad.

"At the cafeteria..." Noah began slowly. "It seemed like I exploded or turned into something else. I unleashed some kind of power that was beyond understanding."

He swallowed.

"So tell me the truth. Did I kill anyone? Especially Maria, the girl who was with Sylvia?"

He crossed his fingers, hoping desperately for a different answer.

He wasn’t a killer.

He didn’t know if he could stomach the thought of actually killing someone, no matter the circumstances.

Lysander stared at him for several seconds before walking closer.

Noah instinctively stepped backward.

Lysander stopped.

"You’re still afraid of me, but not of them." A faint smile tugged at his lips. "What an irony."

Noah said nothing.

"But you should know that I’m here for your best interest. Isn’t that enough evidence that I wouldn’t harm you?"

That question was coming from a demon.

No thanks.

Noah wasn’t taking that risk, especially knowing that Lysander was connected to Lucifer. He didn’t have the strength to face a supreme being like Lucifer, and willingly walking into the arms of his son already felt like a terrible decision.

"I asked you a question," Noah said firmly. "Can you answer it?"

Lysander’s expression changed.

Something flickered through his eyes before he swallowed and finally gave Noah the answer he wanted.

"Yes."

Noah’s heart dropped.

"You did what had to be done," Lysander continued. "You killed her. Melted her flesh from the very beginning."

The description was so graphic that Noah immediately tried to stop himself from imagining it.

It didn’t work.

Damn it.

Why did Lysander have to describe it like that?

Although, Noah supposed it wasn’t entirely his fault. He had demanded the truth, and now he had it.

"Are you satisfied with the information now?" Lysander asked.

Noah sighed.

If he had killed Maria, then how was she inside Rose’s body?

That shouldn’t have been possible.

Lysander noticed the confusion on his face and grinned.

"That’s the perk of what she is. The ancestors of this place are helping her."

Noah’s eyes narrowed.

"What?"

"From what I’m hearing, they want everyone here dead." Lysander’s voice became more serious. "And you’re the one preventing it from happening."

Noah felt his stomach twist.

"Me?"

"With the arrival of the Emperor, it’s going to happen."

The words struck Noah so hard that he staggered backward.

His legs nearly gave out.

Before he could hit the ground, Lysander caught him and pulled him against his chest, one arm circling around his back until Noah managed to regain his balance.

"We don’t want you falling, sweet," Lysander said with a wink.

Noah immediately pushed himself away from him.

Lysander only chuckled before stepping back.

"Let’s go. I can sense something already, and we’re getting close."

Unfortunately, his words proved true.

They continued deeper into the Forbidden Forest, reaching farther than Noah had ever gone since arriving at the academy. From what he remembered of Ashton’s memories, even he had never ventured this far.

That thought bothered Noah.

Ashton’s memories never felt complete.

They were there, but at the same time, they felt strangely empty. Like something important had been removed from them.

Something Noah couldn’t identify.

The light in Lysander’s palm grew brighter as they approached a cave.

Noah slowed down, carefully looking around as he pushed through the tall grass.

Nothing looked familiar.

Not the trees.

Not the rocks.

Not even the strange atmosphere surrounding the area.

He truly didn’t know what this place was.

"How can a place this hidden exist inside the academy?" Noah muttered. "It’s not right."

He stood by what he had said.

Whoever had created this school had to be insane. There were too many secrets hidden within its walls, too many dangerous creatures roaming around, and too many things the students knew nothing about.

Finally, they reached the entrance of the cave.

Lysander stopped.

"Step in."

Noah stared at him.

Was he serious?

He wanted Noah to walk into a dark cave where God knew what was waiting inside?

How did he know what was hidden there? How could he simply enter as though the place belonged to him?

"Is this the protection you’re offering me?" Noah asked. "Because if that’s the case, you’re really shitty at protecting people."

Lysander sighed.

"I promise you, Noah. One day—just one day—you’ll learn to trust me."

It was a promise that would never happen.

At least, not as far as Noah was concerned.

He didn’t plan on staying with Lysander. To him, the demon was evil, regardless of how many times he claimed to be protecting him.

If Noah ever got the chance to kill him, he probably would.

"What are you thinking about?"

Lysander walked into the cave.

"See? I’m already inside. Now enter."

Noah remained at the entrance.

What if Lysander was immortal?

That had to be why he was so fearless.

"Noah, damn it. Come in. You’re wasting too much time."

That finally snapped Noah out of his thoughts.

Lamia.

Right.

He had come here to find Lamia.

Noah took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The moment he entered, the light from Lysander’s palm became the only thing illuminating their path. The deeper they went, the colder the cave became.

Then they heard it.

A scream.

Noah froze.

It was followed by another muffled cry.

His blood ran cold.

Lysander immediately snapped his fingers, and a red flame erupted around his open palm.

The light revealed the inside of the cave.

Noah’s jaw dropped.

Students.

There were students scattered across the ground.

Their uniforms were torn apart, their bodies covered in blood, and deep wounds covered their skin. Some of them looked barely recognizable.

Noah stared in horror.

Students had gone missing.

How long had they been here?

He looked around.

More shredded uniforms were scattered across the cave, some stained with dried blood. Whatever had attacked these people wasn’t human.

The footprints imprinted into the ground were enormous.

Whatever creature had made them was far larger than Damian’s transformed body.

And judging by the marks, it wasn’t finished growing.

"Shit..."

Noah’s breathing became uneven.

"What is this?"

Then he heard it.

A soft cry.

"Muffled..."

"Lamia!"

Noah rushed deeper into the cave.

Lysander immediately followed.

"Noah!"

He ignored him.

"Lamia!"

"Calm down!" Lysander shouted. "You’re not going to find him if you’re running around like this. He’s here, and he’s fine. I assure you."

"I’m not going to calm down!"

Noah’s voice cracked.

"I can’t lose him!"

Another scream echoed through the cave.

Noah dashed forward.

This time, Lysander didn’t stop him.

They entered a larger chamber.

Noah froze.

A horde of creatures stood before them.

They were monstrous.

Their bodies were covered in impossible numbers of limbs, some twisted at unnatural angles, others moving independently as though they had minds of their own. Their skin looked wet and raw, and several of them appeared to be changing before Noah’s eyes.

Evolving.

Growing.

Becoming stronger.

And in the center of them all stood a massive stone pillar.

Lamia was chained to it.

Dark runic chains wrapped tightly around his body, glowing faintly against his skin. His head hung forward, and his hands were restrained so completely that he couldn’t even summon his magic.

Noah’s eyes widened.

"Lamia!"

The creatures suddenly turned.

For one brief moment, everything became silent.

Then Noah’s eyes began to glow.

Pure gold.

The air around him shifted.

Something inside him awakened.

"Leave him alone."

His voice was quiet.

Too quiet.

The creatures began moving toward him.

Noah stretched out both hands.

A crushing force exploded from his palms.

Wind tore through the chamber.

The first creature was ripped from the ground and slammed against the cave wall. Another was crushed beneath an invisible pressure before its body burst apart. Limbs were torn away, bones snapped, and bodies were thrown across the chamber as the violent wind ripped through everything in its path.

Lysander immediately shifted to the side.

He watched Noah with an unreadable expression.

Noah didn’t care.

He kept his hands raised.

The golden light in his eyes intensified.

"You are not touching my friend."

The remaining creatures charged.

Noah’s power surged.

A devastating wave of wind swept across the chamber, tearing through them one after another.

Then—

BOOM!

The creatures exploded almost simultaneously.

Fire licked across their scattered flesh and bones, filling the cave with smoke and the metallic scent of blood.

Noah stood in the middle of it all, breathing heavily.

His golden eyes remained fixed on the pillar.

On Lamia.

Nothing else mattered.

He had found his friend.

And now he was going to get him out of there.