Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1208: The Mystic Arts Tower

This time around, Lisa had pushed herself to the limit, and her emotions finally burst free.

Her eyes filled with tears while she held onto him tightly.

"I did it, Vale! I'm no longer merely a Vampire Descendant. Now, I own the Dark Arts Tower!"

Odessa remained close by, completely taken aback. She had anticipated Lisa coming out transformed, maybe more powerful, yet not in this way, not overflowing with such intense feelings.

A smile crept onto her face upon witnessing this side of her. Lisa was truly still youthful, and Odessa wished Vale would embrace her emotions…

Truth be told, Lisa ignored her completely, yet Odessa paid it no mind. The only thing that counted was how Vale would react.

Next, Odessa observed the avatar staying motionless, his face nearly impossible to decipher, though his aura flickered subtly to her hug.

It wasn't affection or dismissal, just pure recognition.

Lisa picked up on it too and grinned amid her tears…

"Ahem… You won't demand payment from me now, will you? The Tower stays open for your use even under my ownership. I won't let it go to waste."

"That doesn't worry me… I know you wouldn't be harsh on the students relying on this tower. What intrigues me is what you discovered within." Vale replied.

"It's quite the tale…" Lisa replied, intending to invite Vale to the tower sometime soon. At the moment, though, she had no desire to head back.

She'd been trapped inside for quite some time and craved a breath of fresh air.

"Well, Tower Master Lisa, what's your next move? Will you allow the students access again?" Odessa inquired from the rear.

Lisa pulled away and beamed at her. "Haha… Absolutely! Bring back all the students here. I'll provide them even greater chances to grow stronger within!

A touch of envy stirred in Odessa toward Lisa.

'She really pulled it off and claimed mastery over the Tower. Curious what else she'll achieve with it.'

As if sensing her thoughts, Lisa spoke up promptly.

"Right… Dispatch more folks to the other Arcane Arts Towers. Urge them to climb as high as possible, and they could win the Tower Guardian's favor to inherit the Tower." Lisa pointed out.

Vale and Odessa both nodded, having already suspected as much.

With Lisa securing this Tower through her abilities and talent, others could potentially follow suit.

In short order, Vale employed his telepathy to notify several Immortals under his lead to head to the Arcane Towers. He shared Lisa's achievement with them too, and predictably, they all anticipated the challenge…

Should they fall short of conquest, it might still inspire the students to strive harder and seize one of the 16 Arcane Arts Towers!

"Hold on… Vale. What's happening? Why do so many Chaos Immortals and Void Immortals lurk near Clovis City? Is a truce in effect?" Lisa questioned, spotting various concealed immortals.

Vale admired her sharp awareness but denied it with a shake of his head.

"No formal truce exists, but I've struck their base and inflicted massive harm on them. Regarding the Void Immortal, I'm leaving him alone for potential leads. I continue hunting Lust, among the Seven Sins, saved by one of theirs."

"Ahhh? Lust still lives? You're losing your edge, Vale." Lisa exclaimed in surprise.

"Hey… I haven't been prioritizing that. The Evil Entity hides in the Palham Empire as well… That's beyond my reach for now." Vale explained, gesturing dismissively.

Moreover, Lust's safeguard by a Void Immortal only deepened the complexity.

***

Meanwhile, far westward, past the lush plains and thriving cities, an infinite desert sprawled out.

Silence ruled this barren expanse, interrupted solely by whistling winds and abrupt storms.

Deep in this wasteland stood Zarall, a Celestial Vale had roused from his tomb's eternal sleep.

He wasn't someone easily overlooked. His imposing stature was clad in enchanted silk robes impervious to ruin from his unique power.

Currently, his hair hung long and silver, whipping like bolts of electricity.

Of all Celestials Vale revived, Zarall excelled most in Elemental and Mystical Arts.

As Zarall lifted his arm, storm clouds amassed, thunder boomed, and lightning lanced from his fingers, fusing sand into glass.

He embodied the genuine Thunder Emperor, though only a handful knew.

The current mortal bearer of that name was simply his apprentice, notorious also as the Bandit King.

Zarall had mentored him ages past, guiding his journey without exposing his own presence broadly.

Typically, Zarall lingered in the western deserts, merging with tempests and refining his Celestial core.

A tempest incarnate, he preferred observing the world distantly. But upon Vale's awakening, Zarall submitted, honoring the Immortal's might and foresight. From then on, he served as Vale's devoted follower.

Today, with lightning playing idly in his grasp, Zarall sensed a telepathic wave. Vale's directive arrived sharp and clear…

"My followers, train inside the Towers. Seize them if possible. Each may select a master, granting victors control of its mysteries. If close to one, act swiftly."

Zarall narrowed his eyes at the words. A subtle grin formed.

'Vale wants us challenging the Towers. Fascinating.'

Then, Vale detailed Lisa's triumph over the Dark Arts Tower.

"She's a Tower Master already?" Zarall murmured approvingly upon learning this.

If she, formerly the frailest, ascended to mastery, he might claim one too. The idea captivated him.

Without delay, Zarall faced away from the dunes.

His form dissolved into lightning, hurtling across the sky swifter than sight.

Whoosh!

The sands quivered in his wake, thunder's rumble lingering.

His goal was clear: the Mystic Arts Tower, the closest Arcane Tower…

The Mystic Arts Tower loomed gigantic, its surfaces embedded with crystals and shadowed stone.

A handful of advanced Academy students likely trained there presently, but it held no significance.

Legends claimed the Tower assessed not just might, but insight, awareness, and unveiling the hidden.

Upon arrival, the base guards instantly identified him.

His presence was undeniable… Even the gales trailed him. They prostrated, unlocking the entrance unquestioned.

"Lord Zarall," one stammered in deference. "Do you intend to challenge the tower?"

Zarall inclined his head…

He entered, and the Tower stirred at once.

The moment he crossed the threshold, access to the first through fourth floors unlocked for him…

After all, such privileges came with Immortality.

Shortly, the stairs materialized ahead, shimmering with arcane formation scripts...

He climbed steadily, arriving at the fourth floor.

The room stretched wide, shrouded in fog and dancing glows.

Initially, it appeared vacant. But as Zarall advanced, the haze shaped into shapes—scores of duplicates, each like him, each commanding lightning.

'The fourth floor's initial trial...'

They struck abruptly, thunderclaps surging at him.

Zarall extended his hand, summoning the gale.

His bolts collided with theirs, erupting energy throughout the space. Yet he soon grasped the test demanded more than raw force. The phantoms echoed his methods, his own fury.

Vanquishing them required exceeding his own limits, beyond mere strength.

'How predictable...' Zarall reflected, as illusion trials often followed this trope. Something unique must lurk.

He shut his eyes, concentrating.

The inner storm honed, turning keener and cleaner. Eyes reopening, his lightning ceased erratic paths. It forged into exacting lances, shattering the phantoms sequentially.

In truth, he hadn't elevated his power. He merely refined control over it. Previously unnecessary, given his vast superiority over foes.

Soon, the subsequent route revealed itself...

Zarall grinned.

'Excellent. I demand no less.'

He rose to the fifth floor, where the challenge shifted.

Here, the room bore wall-etched enigmas, pulsing softly. Each posed a contradiction, a Mystic Arts puzzle.

Progress hinged on unraveling them, infusing his Celestial force into solutions.

Time slipped by as he pondered, sparks crackling as his thoughts raced. Gradually, the enigmas yielded one after another...

Yet, nearing the final solution, an unforeseen twist occurred...

His eyes snapped open outside the Mystic Arts Tower! He'd been ejected!

"What the heck?!"