"Ariel, the reason you can't walk isn't because of fear...

" Said Serena

Hearing this, a confused look was formed on Ariel's face as she looked at Serena

"It's because of the dark magic pressure coming out from that thing. You can feel it too, can't you?

" Serena asked

Ariel quietly nodded

"I'm able to move freely in it because of my Sacred Treasure, and It doesn't seem to be affecting John either, but you don't have anything which can counter it. It's not like the normal mana pressure the teacher used on us in school, this is different.

" Said Serena

Mana pressure a move which involved using one's magical power to put pressure on another individual. The teacher had used it against the students in the entrance exam and they were all knocked out. Mana pressure however was simple to counter, Just cover your body in a sturdy layer of mana to help handle the pressure.

But for this one, that method wouldn't work. This dark pressure was completely unlike the one they had seen. It was as if the darkness in the room alone was clenching on to their hearts. Chills just wouldn't stop being sent down their spines. If a normal person could probably have a heart attack.

Serena doubted that even she would have been able to stay conscious if not for her sacred treasure, yet there stood Ariel, moving even with all that pressure. Serena held nothing but respect for Ariel as she saw that.

"But for it to reach a level like this... Not even that monster of a teacher did this...

" Serena muttered as she looked over at the demon in front of them

It hadn't moved a single muscle and just kept it's head hung, as if waiting for something. Serena could tell that it was wary about her traps.

The confused look on Ariel's face slowly disappeared as she nodded once more, but despite that, she didn't give up.

"Sacred treasure, huh...?

" Ariel asked

The tone around her voice had changed and turned lighter and faint. John slowly turned his head to her to see why she had become so quiet and when he did, his eyes widened.

Hollow dark eyes just like the one from before. On top of that, there it was again, the same blank expression as before. Ariel had her dark rapier, on her hand.

"I... Have it too... I can help...

" Ariel muttered

John couldn't stop getting bad vibes from the rapier. He hadn't noticed it earlier, but now it felt alive, as if there was another presence within it.

"Oi... Ariel... What are you-

"

Suddenly, A sharp chill went down John's spine as his heart rate increased. He could feel his heart pounding as dark air began gathering around Ariel at unbelievable speeds.

It was quickly surrounding her as it began to form a sphere to engulf her. It was almost as if the dark air from the environment was being sucked to her, as if trying to reach a necessary amount to activate a switch.

As electricity coursed through his veins, John was about to quickly dash at her, after activating modero, to stop whatever it was that was going to happen from happening, when all of the sudden.

It stopped. Not because of nothing but because Ariel had lost consciousness. And the reason for this was simply...

"Master Sylvia...?

" John muttered

Ariel slowly fell backwards before being caught by Master Sylvia, and in that instant, nearly all of the darkness which was being gathered slowly dispersed into thin air.

"Huh...?

" Whispered Ariel before losing consciousness.

Not even a second after, Serena rushed straight towards Ariel to check on her.

"Ariel!

" She shouted in worry

After reaching her, glared at Master Sylvia who held on to her before placing her hands over her face.

John could feel light, gathering around Serena's hands as she did so. A warm feeling could be felt from where he was standing. It was a completely different feeling from the one he got from Ariel.

Following that light and feeling, a golden flame flowed out of Serena's hand, before enveloping Ariel's body. It was a nostalgic feeling for John.

Did she... Always have that ability? He wondered

As the light enveloped Ariel, the pained expression on her face slowly faded and the darkness which could be felt from the moment they had stepped into the room, grew dimmer in the area.

"What happened with Ariel?!

" Asked Lydia as she suddenly crouched down beside her.

John's eyes widened as he saw this.

"I'm not sure... But there's something strange about that sa-

"

Without finishing, a dumbfounded expression appeared on Serena's face as she too realised what was happening.

The air got tense as everyone stared straight at Lydia. And it didn't take long for Lydia to notice everyone's eyes on her.

"Um...? I-Is there something wrong?

" Lydia asked nervously

What...? Didn't Serena just say a while ago that a normal person would have gone unconscious or died by now...? I was so distracted by the fight that I had completely forgotten about Lydia, yet now that I see her... She's fine!?

"Lydia... How did you-

"

*Thump*

John was interrupted by the sudden pound in his heart along with the feeling of shivers being sent down his spine. He wasn't the only one, all three of them had felt it along with him.

John slowly turned his head towards the source of this feeling, before clenching his fists at the sight which he saw.

"God damn it... Why the hell does everything always end up like this...?

" He muttered

The demon which Serena had so badly injured seemed to have grown in size, if it was 7 foot before, it now looked around 9 foot tall. Not only that, but the torso and arm which had been obliterated seemed to have been healed.

Did we give it too much time to heal...? But how did it heal itself? Magic, like mine? John wondered

However, doubts quickly left his mind as he felt that chilling feeling again. It wasn't just coming from the demon, but what it stood upon

It was the cube.