The next day,

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The alert blared before dawn, sharp and urgent, cutting through the academy’s quiet like a knife. Three separate S-rank breach sigils had flared to life within miles of each other along the Blackwood’s northern border - ancient vaults long sealed, their barriers weakened by the shifting tides of magic, spilling wraiths, corrupted beasts, and wild mana straight into the valleys where farmers grazed their herds and woodcutters gathered their timber.

Aria was on her feet before the second tone faded, buckling her sword belt over her leathers. “Zodiac - full deployment. Standard formation adjusted for three simultaneous sites. We split into three teams, strike fast, seal...