The sharp scent of ozone and blood still hung in the air when Althea opened her eyes. The dark wizard lay motionless before her, but the knowledge she had stolen from his mind remained painfully clear.

She wiped the blood beneath her nose and forced herself to stand.

Gabriel immediately noticed her condition. “You pushed yourself too far.”

“I had to know what they were planning.”

Her voice was weak, but her eyes were steady.

She told him everything.

The dark wizard had been only one piece of a much larger network. The Cult of the Abyss had spies scattered across the continent, hiding among merchants, soldiers, nobles, and ordinary citizens. Their goal was not simply to create chaos. They wanted to find Hades’ heir.

Once they found the heir, they intended to use that power to tear open the Gates of the Abyss.

Gabriel’s expression hardened.

“How close are they?”

“I don’t know,” Althea admitted. “But they have already begun moving.”

Gabriel looked at her pale face and trembling hands.

“That is enough. You are done for tonight.”

“I can still help.”

“No.”

His voice left no room for argument.

“You will rest.”

Before Althea could answer, the door burst open.

Simon hurried inside.

“Your Majesty! There is a problem at the southern breach.”

Gabriel turned immediately.

“The guard who was injured earlier has gotten worse. His condition changed suddenly.”

“How?”

Simon swallowed.

“He became violent. He attacked the healers.”

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. “Take me there.”

Althea followed despite Gabriel’s order to remain behind.

The infirmary was already filled with frightened voices.

A soldier was chained to a heavy wooden bed. His body twisted violently beneath the restraints. Black veins crawled across his neck and disappeared beneath his skin. His eyes had become unnaturally dark.

Then he opened his mouth and screamed.

The sound was no longer human.

Althea froze.

She knew that corruption.

“Black magic,” she whispered.

Gabriel looked at her. “You recognize it?”

“My mother warned me about it.”

Althea stepped closer, though the healers tried to stop her.

“It is a cannibalistic curse. It doesn't simply injure the body. It corrupts the mind and changes the victim from within.”

The infected soldier suddenly tore through one of his restraints.

Everyone stepped back.

Althea continued, “Once the victim consumes human flesh, the curse takes complete control. After that, it spreads through bites and blood.”

Gabriel’s jaw tightened.

“Can it be cured?”

“Yes. But only if the purification spell is powerful enough and used before the corruption reaches the core.”

A scream came from the bed.

The soldier lunged at the nearest healer.

Gabriel drew his sword and struck him down before he could reach anyone.

Silence filled the infirmary.

Gustav rushed forward.

“I can suppress the curse temporarily,” he said, examining the body. “But I don't know if I can remove it completely.”

“Then find a way,” Gabriel ordered.

He turned toward Rudy.

“Take Althea to a secure inn.”

Althea immediately protested.

“I am not leaving.”

“You are.”

“Gabriel—”

“You nearly collapsed after reading that wizard’s mind.”

His expression softened for only a moment.

“I need you alive.”

Rudy gently stepped beside her.

“My Lady, please.”

Althea reluctantly followed him.

At the inn, Melva hurried to meet her. Trudis was already there, pacing impatiently.

When Althea explained what had happened, Trudis shook her head.

“These battlefield rumors always become exaggerated. People lose their minds during a crisis.”

“This isn't madness,” Althea replied.

“You saw one injured soldier.”

“I saw black magic.”

Trudis crossed her arms.

“And you think one soldier means the whole town is cursed?”

Althea looked toward the window.

Outside, the streets had become strangely quiet.

“No,” she whispered.

Her stomach tightened.

“One soldier means it has already started.”

Melva's face paled.

“What do you mean?”

Althea stared into the darkness.

“The curse doesn't spread slowly. Every infected person creates another.”

A distant scream suddenly tore through the night.

Then another.

Althea stepped toward the window.

More screams echoed from somewhere below the inn.

Her blood ran cold.

“This is only the beginning,” she said.

The darkness had arrived.

And the curse had already begun to spread.

Gabriel remained in the infirmary for several minutes after the soldier stopped moving.

He studied the dark veins spreading beneath the corpse's skin.

“This was not caused by an ordinary spell,” Gustav said quietly.

“I know.”

Gabriel looked at the healers.

“Burn anything that came into contact with him. Clothes, bedding, restraints. Everything.”

One healer hesitated.

“Your Majesty, that is a lot of supplies.”

“Then replace them.”

The healer bowed and hurried away.

Gabriel turned to Simon.

“Send messengers to every watch post. If anyone reports unusual behavior, black veins, violent hunger, or sudden attacks, I want to know immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And tell the guards not to gather in large groups. If the curse spreads through bites, one mistake could destroy an entire unit.”

Simon nodded and left.

Gustav looked toward the doorway.

“You should tell Lady Althea to stay away from this place.”

Gabriel's expression tightened.

“She already knows too much.”

“That is exactly why she will try to help.”

Gabriel gave a humorless smile.

“You know her well.”

At the inn, Althea could not sleep.

She sat beside the window, staring at the empty street.

Melva brought her water.

“You should rest.”

“I tried.”

“You need your strength.”

Althea wrapped both hands around the cup.

“I keep hearing that scream.”

Melva sat beside her.

“You saved people tonight.”

“Not enough.”

“You cannot save everyone alone.”

Althea looked toward the dark rooftops.

“That is what scares me.”

Trudis entered the room.

“Gabriel sent word. The gates are still secure.”

“For now,” Althea said.

Trudis frowned.

“You really believe the curse will spread?”

Althea nodded.

“I know it will.”

“How?”

“Because the dark wizard was afraid.”

That answer silenced the room.

Althea continued, “People who serve darkness rarely fear ordinary soldiers. He knew something worse was coming.”

Melva looked toward the door.

“What should we do?”

Althea stood.

“Wait.”

Trudis stared at her.

“Wait?”

“Until Gabriel sends word.”

She looked toward the distant darkness.

“Then we prepare for whatever comes next.”

Outside, another scream echoed through the night.

This time, it was followed by the sound of something crashing through a wooden door.

Althea's fingers tightened around the cup.

The curse was no longer hidden.

It was hunting.

And somewhere beyond the walls, something hungry was learning how to spread it.