Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1194: The Plans of Desperate

Having heard various accounts from Teresa and Claire, they realized this was undeniably Vale's handiwork.

"He has arrived..." Irene whispered as the Artifact surged with power.

Just as she predicted, an Avatar of Vale appeared, scanning the area with a piercing gaze. It took only a few breaths for him to grasp the gravity of the situation.

"The two of you... You successfully fought off possession and protected your peers. Well done. Continue to keep the students safe while I take care of the rest."

A wave of profound relief washed over the pair. There was an incredible sense of security in watching an immortal entity take charge of their plight.

Irene lowered her staff, the glow of her enchanted armband beginning to fade. "Finally... we can catch our breath."

Galatea let out a long exhale as her necklace’s radiance dimmed as well. "We did everything in our power. It is in his hands now."

Standing amidst their fellow students, the two were physically drained but mentally emboldened. They watched intently as Vale’s Avatar and Chad fought in unison to cleanse the Academy grounds.

The conflict persisted for a short while longer, but the momentum had clearly shifted.

Evil Spirits were being systematically wiped out as the Radiant Wave from Vale and the draconic energy from Chad shredded their ranks.

For another half an hour, the battle raged as the influx of Evil Spirits peaked. Many had attempted to remain hidden, but they were dragged into the light by Vale’s Celestial Arts.

"This should conclude it..." Vale muttered. He observed as the Moonlight Specters eliminated the stragglers and shadow chains bound the last of the more formidable spirits.

At long last, a heavy silence descended upon the Academy. The suffocating aura that had plagued the grounds vanished, and students began to collapse, finally liberated from the spirits' possession.

Medical teams arrived on the scene instantly, equipped with holy relics and healing kits. They worked with practiced speed, assessing every student, stabilizing those who had lost consciousness, and mending the damage done to their souls. Professors assisted the effort, directing the wounded toward the Holy Grounds where recovery circles were already active.

Miraculously, there were no fatalities. The combined strength of the Formation Arrays, the Artifacts, the defensive barriers of the professors, Chad’s intervention, and Vale’s Avatar had ensured everyone's survival. Even so, the scars of the assault were visible in the scorched hallways, the fractured walls, and the traumatized hearts of the students.

Before long, hushed conversations began to circulate among the senior students and faculty.

"This happened so abruptly..."

"How could our defenses have been bypassed?"

"If Evil Spirits can infiltrate this place, can we truly call the Academy safe?"

Such skepticism was unavoidable. The Marshall Academy was regarded as the most fortified bastion in the Shadow Domain, a sanctuary of protection and Cultivation. Yet, on this night, its perimeter had been compromised.

Various organizations and factions across the land would undoubtedly demand explanations. Was the Academy still a secure environment? Could their young prodigies remain here without being in constant peril?

While Vale’s Academy possessed the prestige and power to address these inquiries, the current priority remained the students—healing their wounds, providing reassurance, and fortifying the Academy's wards.

Additional Avatars of Vale soon arrived on the scene. These versions did not share his physical appearance, ensuring that only one looked like the true Vale.

This was a calculated move to keep his enemies in the dark regarding exactly how many Avatars he had at his disposal.

Furthermore, each Avatar emitted a distinct aura. One glowed with holy light, another vibrated with elemental power, and a third shimmered with the essence of shadow. They moved throughout the campus, checking the integrity of the wards, strengthening the formations, and purging every lingering trace of corruption.

Meanwhile, Chad stood in the central courtyard. His draconic scales receded back into human skin, and his frame shook with exhaustion. He watched the Avatars with a tired but satisfied grin.

"Excellent... Vale is treating this with the seriousness it deserves. With his Avatars stationed here, the Academy will bounce back."

The students, though still rattled, began to feel a sense of peace return. Vale’s mere presence, even through his Avatars, was enough to restore their lost confidence.

However, deep down, a collective realization dawned: this was merely the beginning. The breach had exposed a weakness that the rest of the world would surely exploit.

***

Far beyond the borders of the Shadow Domain, within two separate fortresses, the leaders of two prominent academies in the Solstice Kingdom sat in their private chambers, reviewing the latest intelligence.

The reports in their hands trembled, not out of terror, but from sheer exhilaration.

Highmaster Dorian of the Azure Sky Academy leaned back in his seat, a malicious grin stretching across his face.

"So... Vale’s precious Marshall Academy has been breached. Evil Spirits ran wild, students were possessed, and the faculty was overwhelmed. Hah! Finally, the cracks are appearing in his fortress."

In another part of the kingdom, Grand Arcanist Nelia Draavos of the Crimson Moon Academy let out a laugh as she tossed her report onto the desk. "It’s quite poetic. The great Vale, the Immortal who poached our best talents, is now failing to protect his own. The factions will start questioning his Academy’s safety. With just a little more pressure, parents will hesitate and students will doubt. This marks the start of his decline."

Neither institution had harbored a deep hatred for Vale originally. However, the Marshall Academy had siphoned away their most gifted students, who were lured by Vale's reputation and his status as an Immortal. In just a few months, their own halls had emptied as their bright minds defected to his domain.

In truth, they were elite institutions, having produced nearly fifty Grand Arcanists over the last half-century.

Even the twelve famous academies of the Millton Kingdom paled in comparison when measuring student success.

Yet, it was an undeniable fact that they had never birthed a Half-Immortal, let alone a true Immortal.

Consequently, when Marshall Academy declared it would accept all paths of Arcane Studies, many students jumped at the chance to enroll. They sought a glimpse of Divinity—a level of power these headmasters could never provide.

Now, they finally saw a chance to strike back. Using a Special Mirror to communicate, the two headmasters plotted together.

Dorian’s eyes flashed with greed. "We lost dozens of geniuses to him. If his Academy is branded as dangerous, they will come crawling back to us. The power balance will shift once more."

Nelia smirked in agreement. "They won't just return. The factions will demand accountability. Vale will be preoccupied defending his name. While he falters, we shall ascend."

As they basked in their anticipated triumph, a sudden shadow swept over their rooms.

A resonant, deep voice echoed directly in their minds. "You find joy in his momentary weakness... but do you truly wish to see him destroyed?"

Both leaders froze in place. The aura was unmistakable.

It was the Void Immortal—the very being who had enabled them to unleash the Evil Spirits upon the Academy without detection.

Dorian instinctively bowed his head.

"You... you grace us with your presence, Great One."

Nelia’s lips curled into a sharp smile. "I suspected this wouldn't be enough for you. Since our goals align, please, Sir Immortal, make use of our resources."

The voice continued, "That is the answer I expected. Let us cooperate. His Academy will only fall if you fulfill your role. You must continue to sow seeds of fear and uncertainty. Make the factions believe his protection is a lie."

Dorian’s expression brightened. "With your support, we can finally wipe his shadow from our halls."

Nelia chuckled softly. "Vale took our students. Now, we shall take his future."

The two headmasters, once fierce rivals, had found a common enemy. Thrilled by the prospect of Vale’s ruin, they swore themselves to the Void Immortal’s commands.

For them, this was more than simple vengeance; it was the opening salvo of a new war.

They were aware they were being manipulated, but they refused to let their academies fail. They needed those talented students back at any price.

***

Once the presence of the Void Immortal vanished, the two leaders exhaled in relief.

The Special Mirror shimmered as Dorian and Nelia leaned in to finalize their scheme.

Dorian’s grin widened. "We only need to stoke the fires. We will make certain everyone knows how their walls were breached and how the students suffered. We will ensure the details are properly exaggerated."

Nelia’s eyes sparkled with malice. "Indeed. We’ll deploy agents to the merchant unions, noble houses, and guilds. The rumors will spread like wildfire—that the Marshall Academy is vulnerable, its defenses are broken, and its students are at risk."

Dorian tapped his fingers rhythmically on his desk.

"Hmm... simple rumors might not make parents panic immediately. We should plant agitators who will coordinate and publicly demand answers. When Vale hesitates to respond, we will present ourselves as the stable alternative. We will reclaim every prodigy we lost."

Nelia laughed. "And we can go further. We’ll spread stories suggesting the attack only happened because Vale meddled with forbidden arts... that his pursuit of Divinity invites catastrophe. If the factions believe he attracts danger, they will turn on him."

Dorian added another layer to the plan.

"We will have our scholars release 'expert analyses' of the event. We'll argue that the Academy’s formations are fundamentally broken and that Vale's dependence on such flawed systems proves he cannot personally guarantee anyone's safety."

With those final touches, the two headmasters from the neighboring academies concluded their conspiracy.