Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1359: Fake Dark Guild (Part 1)

Raze had overheard Londo’s question to the supposed Dark Mage, and he instantly understood why he’d asked it.

It confirmed what Raze had suspected from the very beginning, these people weren’t from the Dark Guild.

Their actions didn’t match the Dark Guild’s code. Say what you will about the Dark Guild’s brutal reputation, but there was always method to their madness. They never did anything without reason. This? This was just chaos. A blatant act of violence with no logic behind it.

Why would the Dark Guild attack the academy? The academy itself, maybe, but entering a closed-off dimension like this, trapping students and teachers? That wasn’t their style.

Even more suspicious was the fact they hadn’t killed anyone.

If the Dark Guild was really behind this, why keep the students alive? It was almost theatrical, as if they wanted to appear dangerous, to make sure there were survivors left to spread a terrifying tale. It didn’t add up.

‘Is that what this is?’ Raze thought. ‘They’re trying to pin everything on the Dark Guild. Or maybe there was a change in their plan. Did they think the beasts would take some of us out and they could use that chaos to frame the Guild?’

It was messy. Disjointed. But Raze was piecing it together.

And he had a solid guess about the true culprits.

There was one group with access to these portals. One group whose behavior had been strange ever since their arrival. One group that had provided the dark-enchanted items the attackers were using.

The Underfang Guild.

It was likely why they were all wearing those enchanted robes, to hide their identities. And it made Raze wonder…

‘Could Bronto be among them? Maybe even leading them in disguise?’

If he had to bet, Raze would put his money on the one currently acting as the leader, his behavior matched Bronto’s too well. Calm, commanding, deceptive.

Meanwhile, the students were still being held hostage. No demands had been made. No ultimatums. Just silence and tension… until another cloaked mage approached the so-called leader.

Raze narrowed his eyes. Then, drawing in a soft breath, he subtly channeled his wind magic and pushed Qi into his ears.

The sound sharpened. He could hear the hushed conversation.

“Sir,” the mage said, “it appears the group has dealt with the beasts here. Around thirty of them.”

“What?” the leader’s voice cracked with disbelief. “That’s not possible. We struggled against them. We know how strong they are. And we just bested their teachers. There’s no way they took on that many and walked out fine.”

The leader gave a quick order. Within moments, a few members returned, this time with a pile of power stones. All high-level.

“What’s this?” one of the cloaked figures hissed. “Where did you get these? Don’t lie. Don’t you dare say you killed those beasts yourselves, we know that’s impossible.”

His sharp tone was aimed at Luka, who was sitting against the wall, hand clutching his chest. He looked pale and exhausted, still bearing the weight of his injuries.

“What’s wrong? Can’t speak now?” the man barked. He raised a hand, and a sudden crack of lightning magic struck the ground just inches from Luka’s feet.

“Please!” Luka gasped, his voice strained. “Let me… get some healing first. Then I’ll answer anything.”

The mage looked over at the group of teachers, scanning their faces, then pointed at one of them.

“You. Heal him. Now.”

The finger had landed on Diana.

She stood without hesitation and rushed over. As she knelt beside Luka, her hands began to glow with a soft light as she channeled her healing magic.

In that moment, many students felt something strange. They couldn’t quite place it, but it was off.

And those who weren’t frozen in fear did notice something: how did these so-called Dark Mages know that Diana was a healer?

They’d selected her on the first try.

‘They shouldn’t know that,’ Raze realized, the final piece slotting into place. ‘Unless… they’re not from the Dark Guild after all. This confirms it.’

Diana’s hands worked swiftly. A sense of calm fell over Luka as the worst of his internal injuries faded. She frowned slightly.

‘His injuries are worse than I thought…’ she mused. ‘He must’ve taken a bad hit during the mist. If only Safa could help, but…’

Her eyes flickered toward the crowd. She kept her voice low, her thoughts guarded.

‘If they know Safa can heal, she’ll be their first target. And if they really are from the Dark Guild, they all use dark magic. Light magic is their direct counter. They’d take her out without hesitation. If they come for me next… then I’ll do what needs to be done.’

Luka winced as he sat up.

“Alright,” one of the cloaked men said coldly. “We gave you a chance to catch your breath. Now speak. How did you manage to take down all those beasts?”

The teachers shared a look.

They couldn’t tell the truth. That it was the transfer students, not them, who had saved the day. Not against these mages. These enemies were at least Four-Star and above, and that kind of information could turn the tide against the very students who’d risked their lives.

They owed them.

“The beasts…” Luka began, his voice still weak, “were already dead when we arrived. We were investigating the shrine, looking for artifacts, when we saw the aftermath.”

He paused, holding his chest as he coughed.

“There was only one left alive… and even that one nearly overwhelmed us. All of us, teachers, had to work together just to bring it down. Our attacks barely made a difference.”

The cloaked figures said nothing. Their faces were unreadable beneath the enchanted hoods. Their silence stretched, long and uncomfortable.

Finally, one of them tilted his head.

“Well then,” the man said, voice cold and sharp. “I suppose we should confirm your story. Let’s pick one of the students… and see if they tell the same tale.”

****

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