Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1188: Dragon's Disciple

"Just who is this courageous Arcanist?" with a deep scowl, the woman possessed by Lust whispered.

A solitary person was traversing the city, systematically purifying her underlings. It was preposterous. Yet, whenever her Apostles arrived to intercept, the figure vanished, leaving behind nothing but the faint scent of an unrecognizable energy.

She did not recognize this power… She suspected the individual either wielded a unique Arcana or was under the protection of a being whose strength rivaled her own.

Her thoughts drifted back to the three enigmatic figures who had entered the city days prior… Their power was significant, and she was certain her apostles were no match for them.

Consequently, she had made it a point to hide whenever she sensed their presence… If her intuition was correct, they were likely Half-Immortals possessing traces of Divinity, or perhaps something even more formidable.

She couldn't help but link those three powerful entities to this new, mysterious meddler…

'The atmosphere here is becoming quite oppressive…' Lust thought, her brow furrowing.

She had invested immense effort into crafting this paradise of corrupted souls. However, it appeared she needed to reevaluate her strategy.

Lust closed her eyes, sensing the vast power she had accumulated over time… A smile touched her lips as she realized she had reclaimed most of the strength she held before crossing into this realm.

'I believe I have recovered enough… It is time to take a more aggressive approach.'

Rising from her seat, she stepped onto the balcony and looked down at the streets. Below, the common folk laughed and drank, completely oblivious that their very cravings were being woven into her dark web.

"This city belonged to me," she breathed. "And now… someone has the audacity to try and take it."

A dark grin spread across her face. "I will not permit it…"

Having regained over eighty percent of her original power, she felt rejuvenated. That was a substantial amount of strength.

In a short while, Harake City would no longer be necessary. she could relocate to a different empire and begin spreading her corruption once more.

But before departing, she had to eliminate the nuisance interfering with her plans.

***

As evening fell, she summoned her apostles to the manor’s grand hall. Scores of men and women knelt in her presence, their gazes vacant and their frames quivering with fanaticism.

"My children," Lust began, her voice laced with seductive charm. "A thief walks among us. A pretender who dares to strip away your souls. He seeks to steal your desires and your freedom. He must be destroyed."

The assembly trembled, answering with a singular voice. "Yes, Mistress!"

Lust lifted her hand, and a crimson glow radiated from her palm… "Track him down. Hunt him. Bring him before me. I shall teach him the true meaning of desire."

Given the strength the figure had shown, she was convinced that corrupting such a person would yield a massive windfall of energy…

Once her apostles vanished into the night, Lust leaned back into her throne, relaxing.

"This mysterious purifier… no matter who you are… your end is near. You might save a few souls, but you cannot halt my progress. I am Lust. I am eternal... and you shall belong to me."

Lust whispered to herself, licking her lips in anticipation.

Her mind was made up. After crushing this unknown enemy, she would abandon Harake City. A new city was waiting, filled with people ready to be ensnared by her grasp.

But first, she intended to savor the hunt.

***

Like drifting shadows, the Apostles of Lust moved through the streets of Harake City.

Their eyes emitted a faint red glow, no longer bothering to conceal the corruption within them…

Their very gait had ceased to be human… Their limbs twitched as if struggling to contain the surging energy within. No longer mere mortals, they were now puppets fueled by obsession and bound to the will of Lust.

That night, Desmund traversed the paths as he usually did, masked as a simple commoner.

The vibration of corruption in the air was palpable, stronger than it had ever been. His chest tightened; he knew the moment of truth had arrived…

His 'masters' had alerted him to this possibility, so he remained calm… He was not fighting this battle alone.

His task was simply to force the Evil Entity to reveal itself…

Once she appeared, the three enigmatic masters would intervene directly, and his mission would be complete.

"Alright, let’s get this over with…" he murmured.

The subtle movements of tainted souls reached his ears. Thanks to his unique gift, he could sense their locations, and tonight, the city was teeming with them.

The first Apostle emerged in the marketplace.

It was a merchant Desmund had known once… but now, the man looked horribly distorted… His skin was sickly pale, and his eyes were wide with insanity…

"The blasphemer…" the merchant snarled upon spotting Desmund... "The Mistress demands your presence."

Desmund raised his hand, gathering his power… He understood that attempting to reason with the man was a waste of time.

He had tried to talk down other victims many times before to no avail.

"You are lost. I will grant you peace."

Without a weapon, the Apostle lunged at him.

However, Desmund noticed that their physical forms had been enhanced! He had to avoid being caught at all costs.

'You only understand raw strength… but I have mastered the techniques taught by my masters…'

Desmund thought as he accelerated, slamming his palm into the man’s sternum and discharging a burst of purifying energy.

The merchant shrieked, his frame jerking violently as the corruption was incinerated.

For a fleeting second, clarity returned to his eyes… then his body fell to the cobblestones, lifeless.

Desmund tightened his grip. "Another life gone… but at least he is free."

Suddenly, more Apostles appeared.

They emerged from dark alleys, taverns, and the district of the nobility… dozens of them, all focused on his scent.

Desmund took off, knowing he couldn't face such numbers all at once… He maneuvered through the streets he knew by heart, leading the pursuers away from innocent bystanders...

Eventually, he ducked into a courtyard, spotting an opening…

"They won't stop coming… I have to end this now." Desmund whispered, realizing he was being hemmed in.

The Apostles had surrounded him, and their leader appeared to be enjoying the thrill of the chase…

"You’ve managed well so far… But the Mistress has spoken… You will be her prize!"

Hearing this, Desmund let out a smirk…

"Not tonight."