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

Having heard various accounts from Teresa and Claire regarding Vale, they immediately recognized this as his handiwork.

"He’s arriving…" Irene whispered the moment the Artifact flared to life.

Just as she predicted, an Avatar of Vale appeared. His gaze swept over the surroundings, and within seconds, he seemed to grasp the full extent of the chaos that had unfolded.

"The two of you… You successfully fought off possession and protected your classmates. Well done. Continue to keep them safe while I handle the remaining threats."

A wave of profound relief washed over the girls. There was an incredible sense of security in seeing an immortal figure take charge of the crisis.

Irene lowered her staff as the glow of her armband began to fade. "At last… we can finally catch our breath."

Galatea let out a deep exhale, the light from her necklace dimming in tandem. "We’ve done all we could. It’s in his hands now."

Exhausted but with bolstered spirits, they stood among their fellow students. They watched intently as Vale’s Avatar and Chad fought side by side to cleanse the Academy of its intruders.

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

Evil Spirits were being systematically purged as they were caught between Vale’s Radiant Wave and the draconic energy unleashed by Chad.

For another half an hour, the battle raged on as the tide of Evil Spirits surged one last time. Many had attempted to remain hidden, but Vale’s Celestial Arts forced them out into the open.

"That should conclude this…" Vale murmured. He watched as the Moonlight Specters finished off the stragglers and shadow chains bound the last of the more powerful entities.

Finally, a heavy silence settled over the Academy grounds. The suffocating aura that had gripped the school was lifted, and students who had been freed from possession began to collapse from the strain.

Medical teams arrived on the scene instantly, equipped with holy relics and healing kits. They worked with rapid efficiency, stabilizing unconscious students and mending the damage done to their souls. Professors assisted the effort, directing the wounded toward the Holy Grounds where recovery circles had been activated.

Miraculously, there were no fatalities. The combination of Artifacts, Formation Arrays, protective barriers from the professors, Chad’s timely arrival, and Vale’s Avatar had ensured everyone’s survival. Nevertheless, the physical and emotional scars of the siege were evident in the scorched hallways, cracked masonry, and the traumatized expressions of the youth.

Muttered conversations soon broke out among the senior students and faculty members.

"It happened so suddenly…"

"How could our defenses be bypassed like this?"

"If Evil Spirits can just walk in, is this Academy actually safe?"

Such skepticism was unavoidable. Marshall Academy was touted as the most impenetrable fortress in the Shadow Domain, yet its perimeter had been breached. Various organizations and factions across the continent would undoubtedly demand an explanation. They would question if their young prodigies could remain there without being in constant peril.

Vale’s Academy possessed the reputation and power to address these concerns, but for the moment, the priority remained on healing the students and reinforcing the school's spiritual wards.

Shortly after, additional Avatars of Vale arrived. These manifestations did not share his physical likeness, ensuring only one looked like the original Vale. This was a tactical choice to keep enemies in the dark regarding the true number of Avatars he had at his disposal.

Each manifestation carried a distinct signature; one emitted a holy radiance, another was draped in shimmering shadows, and a third vibrated with elemental power. They fanned out across the campus to inspect the wards, strengthen the formations, and scrub away any lingering corruption.

In the courtyard, Chad stood trembling from sheer fatigue as his scales receded back into human skin. He offered a tired grin while watching the Avatars work.

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

The students began to feel a sense of renewed confidence. Even if it was only through an Avatar, Vale’s presence was enough to calm their fears. However, a lingering realization remained: this was merely the opening act. The world had seen a vulnerability, and it would not be forgotten.

***

In two distant fortresses far from the Shadow Domain, the leaders of two prominent academies within the Solstice Kingdom sat reading the latest intelligence reports. The paper shook in their hands—not out of terror, but from sheer exhilaration.

Highmaster Dorian of the Azure Sky Academy leaned back in his chair, a malicious grin crossing his face.

"So… Vale’s precious Marshall Academy has been compromised. Evil Spirits ran amok, students were possessed, and the faculty was overwhelmed. Ha! At last, the fortress shows its cracks."

Elsewhere in the kingdom, Grand Arcanist Nelia Draavos of the Crimson Moon Academy laughed as she dropped the report onto her desk. "How fitting. The great Vale, the Immortal who poached our best talents, can’t even protect his own house. Now the factions will doubt his Academy. With a little more pressure, parents will pull their children out. 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 Immortal status and his unique Cultivation methods. In just months, their own halls had emptied as their brightest minds defected to his domain.

These two schools were considered the elite, having produced roughly fifty Grand Arcanists over the last half-century. Even the combined achievements of the twelve academies in the Millton Kingdom paled in comparison to their track record.

Yet, they had never successfully produced a Half-Immortal, let alone a true Immortal. Consequently, when Marshall Academy opened its doors to all paths of Arcane Studies, students flocked there in hopes of catching a glimpse of Divinity—a heights these headmasters could never offer.

Now, they saw their chance. The two leaders were currently using a Special Mirror to coordinate their efforts.

Dorian’s eyes sparkled with greed. "We lost dozens of geniuses to him. If his school is branded as unsafe, they will crawl back to us. The power balance will shift once more."

Nelia smirked in agreement. "It’s not just about their return. The factions will demand accountability. While Vale is busy defending his reputation, we will ascend."

As they celebrated their anticipated triumph, a sudden shadow swept across 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 his total destruction?"

Both headmasters froze in place. They recognized that aura instantly. It belonged to the Void Immortal—the one who had enabled them to bypass the Academy’s detection and unleash the Evil Spirits.

Dorian instinctively bowed his head. "You… we are honored by your presence."

Nelia’s lips curled. "I suspected this wasn't the end of your plans. Since our goals align, please make use of our resources, Sir Immortal."

The voice vibrated through the air. "That is the response I expected. We shall assist one another. His Academy will only fall if you play your roles perfectly. Continue to sow seeds of terror and uncertainty. Convince the factions that his protection is an illusion."

Dorian’s expression brightened. "With your support, we can finally erase his influence from our territories."

Nelia let out a soft laugh. "Vale stole our students. Now, we shall steal his future."

The two rivals, formerly bitter enemies, had found a common enemy. Driven by the prospect of Vale’s ruin, they swore themselves to the Void Immortal’s commands. To them, this was more than mere vengeance; it was the beginning of a new war. They knew they were being manipulated, but they were desperate to reclaim their prestige and secure talented students at any cost.

***

Once the Void Immortal’s presence vanished, the two leaders exhaled in relief. The Special Mirror glowed as Dorian and Nelia leaned in to finalize their schemes.

Dorian’s grin widened. "We simply need to stoke the flames. We will ensure the world knows exactly how their walls were breached and how the students suffered. We will see to it that every detail is blown out of proportion."

Nelia’s eyes shone with malice. "Exactly. Our agents will be dispatched to the guilds, noble estates, and merchant houses. The rumors will spread like wildfire—that Vale’s Academy is no longer a sanctuary, that his defenses are a failure, and his students are sitting ducks."

Dorian tapped his fingers rhythmically on his desk. "Hmm… parents might not panic immediately. We need to plant agitators to demand public answers. When Vale falters, we will present ourselves as the stable alternative. We will take back every prodigy we lost."

Nelia laughed. "And we can go further. We will spread stories that this attack happened because Vale is tampering with forbidden arts… that his pursuit of Divinity is what attracts such peril. If the world believes his Academy is a magnet for disaster, they will turn on him."

Dorian added another layer to the plot. "We’ll have our scholars publish 'expert analyses' of the event. We’ll claim his defensive formations are fundamentally broken and that his reliance on them proves he cannot actually protect anyone."

With those final words, the two headmasters from the neighboring nation solidified their conspiracy.