Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1197: Secrets of the Towers

Lisa attempted to fight back, but her limbs grew heavy and a strange numbness spread through her body. In a matter of seconds, she was immobilized as shadows coiled around her like silken threads, binding her securely.

She tried to gasp, but her voice was trapped. It felt as though she were being encased in some sort of cocoon…

Suddenly, her life force began to drain, yet it simultaneously condensed into a vibrant crimson shell. This aura solidified rapidly, and just as she had sensed, she was soon sealed within a chrysalis of blood and shadow…

"This…"

Before she could fully grasp what was happening, her consciousness faded into darkness.

Though Lisa remained unaware, the Tower had initiated a process of metamorphosis within her…

Her very essence was being rewritten, and her bloodline underwent a profound refinement. The Dark Arts Tower was nourishing her with its own power, forging her into a more formidable existence.

Deep within the cocoon, her heart rate slowed until its rhythm beat in perfect synchronization with the Tower itself.

Lisa the Vampire Immortal was being reborn, emerging as something new, crafted from the very core of the Tower.

***

Meanwhile, a crowd of expelled students gathered outside in a state of utter confusion.

"This isn't just a simple shutdown… we were forcibly ejected by the Tower!" one senior student cried out, his hand trembling as he gripped his staff.

"I’ve trained here for years. The Tower never pushes anyone out unless they fail their trial. But we didn’t fail!" another argued loudly.

A younger apprentice looked on with a face full of dread. "Does this mean… someone inside triggered a change? Could the Tower be sentient?"

"That’s impossible… but if someone did trigger it… they might have broken the mechanism," a First-Class Dark Mage whispered.

"Even so, this shouldn't be happening. I’ve heard rumors that even Immortals lack the power to destroy this tower..."

The restless crowd grew louder, their voices clashing in the air.

Beneath the agitation, a current of fear began to flow.

"Wait… what if something has gone wrong inside?"

"Is the structure collapsing?"

"No… look at the exterior. The aura has vanished. It’s as if the Tower itself has fallen into a deep slumber."

As the noise level rose, panic began to ripple through the assembly.

"Summon the professors!" someone yelled.

"Yes, call for the Student Council! They have to know what’s happening."

"If the Tower is compromised, we’re all in trouble. It is the very foundation of our Dark Arts training!"

Before long, professors arrived, their robes fluttering as they hurried toward the sealed entrance. They inspected the Tower and attempted to use their granted authority to force the doors open, but every effort failed.

"This… this is completely unprecedented," muttered Professor Dalton, who was the first to reach the scene.

"The Tower has never expelled the entire student body at once," Professor Zeno added, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Something within has shifted. Wait… what about Lady Lisa? She entered this tower several days ago, and I haven't heard any reports of her exit."

The question came from Professor Lenora of the Elementary Spirit Law class.

As expected, silence met her inquiry.

It suggested that Lisa was either still trapped within the Tower or had departed without being seen by anyone…

Regardless, the students surged forward, shouting questions at the faculty.

"Professor, what is the situation?"

"Why are we barred from entry?"

"Is there a danger?"

"What about the Academic Points we spent to get in?"

"Exactly! We still have time remaining on our clocks!"

The professors traded worried looks.

"We are still determining the cause…" Professor Zeno confessed. "However, whatever occurred… it wasn't a random glitch. The Tower chose this specific moment…"

The students fell quiet at his words.

"Regarding your used points, a full refund will be issued. Do not let that worry you. For now, you must vacate the immediate area in case of an emergency. The Shadow Pillars will be stationed here to guard the site," Professor Dalton announced.

The Shadow Pillars were a group of elite Dark Arts Practitioners. They were an organization within the Shadow Domain established by Vale himself to safeguard his lands… They typically operated from the shadows, away from public view, and rarely made their presence known.

Even now, Professor Dalton and his colleagues could sense their hidden presence as they monitored the Dark Arts Tower.

Furthermore, rumors persisted regarding the Shadow Sentinels—beings hailing from the Shadow Realm itself who had been confined within the Dark Arts Tower. They likely would have been released by now, watching the unfolding events from afar.

If a true crisis existed, they would have already alerted Vale. After all, the Academy was the only location outside their direct jurisdiction.

The crowd eventually obeyed the instructions…

They could do nothing but stare back at the Dark Arts Tower and its unyielding, sealed doors…

Locked inside, Lisa remained within her cocoon, completely oblivious to the turmoil she had caused outside.

***

A few minutes later, after the students had been cleared and only a handful of professors remained, one of Vale’s Avatars finally arrived. His arrival brought an immediate silence to the gathered faculty.

The Avatar’s eyes swept over the sealed monument, his gaze seemingly trying to pierce through the stone walls...

He had sensed the disturbance from a distance and moved quickly, yet even he was puzzled by the events.

"The Tower… has locked itself down. How intriguing…"

The professors bowed their heads slightly, showing respect to his authority.

Professor Dalton stepped forward to speak. "Lord Vale… every student was expelled without any warning. The Tower is now sealed, and none of our techniques can reopen the path."

The Avatar gave a slow nod. He possessed knowledge that few others held. While this Dark Arts Tower was presented as a mere training facility, it was far more complex. It was one of the sixteen Towers Vale had retrieved from the Prison Realm, each harboring ancient secrets that even Vale had not fully mastered.

The Avatar’s eyes lingered on the glowing runes covering the Tower’s exterior. "Perhaps… this is the moment one of them has decided to reveal its true form."

Vale spoke those words softly, yet the Professors heard him clearly.

They began to whisper among themselves, filled with nervous energy.

"Reveal its nature?"

"Does that imply the structure is alive?"

"Or… is it selecting a candidate?"

Since the Tower was designed for trials, they naturally assumed that someone might have successfully cleared a hidden test.

The Avatar offered no confirmation, as he was merely speculating. However, it was a very likely possibility.

Perhaps the Tower had finally recognized the worth of one of the challengers inside…

"Wait… Lisa should have been inside this tower for several days now…"