At the same time, in fairy dwellings all across Britain, pitch-black curses surged up from underground like a tide.
The fairies who had just been looting amid the chaos and celebrating Chaldea's desperate battle now fell into an even deeper nightmare.
"Wh-what are these things?!" A fairy of wind staggered back in terror, the treasures in his hands scattering across the ground.
The monsters formed from curses came in all shapes. Some looked like twisted tree roots, others like rotting beasts. They let out teeth-grating roars and lunged mercilessly at every fairy present.
Several fairies from the Clan of Earth tried to fight back, swinging heavy weapons at the monsters.
But their attacks vanished like stones sinking into the sea, and in the blink of an eye, they were drowned beneath the swarm of monsters.
Shrill screams rang through the night sky, and blood dyed red the places where the fairies had once reveled.
And inside the elegant halls of the Clan of Wind, the situation was even more dire.
"Percival! Protect me!" Aurora hid in terror behind the silver-armored knight, her usual elegant composure completely gone.
Only the most primal fear remained in her beautiful eyes.
Percival swung his spear, the light of Rhongomyniad flashing amid the horde of monsters.
He had already lost count of how many times he had driven back the curse creatures that came pouncing at him, but their numbers seemed endless.
"Please stay close to me, Lady Aurora." Percival gasped for breath, his forehead covered in sweat. "We must carve out a path."
Just as they were about to break through the encirclement, a monster shaped like a giant wolf pounced from the side.
Aurora shrieked in fright. Almost by instinct, she shoved Percival in front of her toward the monster, then seized the