Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1252: True Enemies

Skye paused, attempting to glean more understanding of the unfolding situation...

Before long, she detected it once more—that subtle tremor of Dark Energy permeating the atmosphere.

"Tsk... Why must this occur now?" she whispered to herself.

Most Arcanists would have required the activation of detection spells to perceive such a disturbance, yet she did not. As a Homunculus, her senses were intrinsically different. Every fluctuation in energy, every vestige of corruption, was readily apparent to her without exertion.

As a meticulously crafted product of the Church of the Fortune Goddess, she was designed to never overlook anything of this nature.

It transcended mere detection.

Her very being reacted instinctively to environmental shifts. The tremor of the earth, the distortion in the air, even the faint wave of malice carried on the summoning—all of it registered within her as if by instinct.

Where others depended on spells, she relied on her inherent nature...

This was her purpose... It was the reason she immediately recognized the source as Dark Arcanists. Their energy was tainted, erratic, and bore a signature she could never misidentify... the chilling scent of death.

The Evil Entities being summoned were no different. Even before their full manifestation, she could perceive their presence pressing against the periphery of her consciousness. The sensation was oppressive, unpleasant, and utterly impossible to disregard.

Skye wasted no time, immediately contacting the academy’s coordinators.

Marshall Academy had dispatched thirty-six students to the competition, with three representing each Arcane Art... Unsurprisingly, they were accompanied by over two dozen officers. Among them was Professor Zeno, a senior instructor tasked with overseeing their contingent.

She moved with haste to locate him, relaying her findings. "Professor, Evil Entities are being summoned in the vicinity," she stated with conviction.

Zeno regarded her, then offered a faint smile and a nod. "Do not be concerned... remain within your quarters. The city guards will handle them shortly."

He proceeded to explain that he had already received word from a Dark Spirit affiliated with Vale. The professor's composed demeanor was reassuring.

Then, his gaze lingered on Skye for a moment...

He couldn't suppress his curiosity. How had she detected the disturbance so early, before most detection spells could even register it?

However, Zeno refrained from asking.

He simply added, "I shall alert the others as well. Stay indoors and do not venture out. The guards will manage this situation."

Skye inclined her head slightly. "Understood, Professor."

Although she harbored a desire to assist or learn more about the Evil Entities, she had no recourse but to comply with instructions for the time being.

Regardless, with such a significant number of Arcanists present from various regions, they should be safe from this point onward.

Her role was simply to act as any other student would, waiting quietly in her room while the officers and city guards addressed the external threat.

Yet, the persistent feeling that the summoning was alarmingly close could not be ignored. Her instincts conveyed more than the professor's reassurances.

She took a seat by the window, feigning rest, but her senses remained keenly attuned...

***

Far removed from the competition grounds, a clandestine assembly of cloaked individuals convened in the vast sewer system beneath the city.

At the heart of this gathering stood Kristol, a figure whose notoriety within underground circles inspired considerable dread.

Surrounding him, several Dark Arcanists formed a circle, each clutching fragments of Divine Crystals. These crystals pulsed with a faint luminescence before releasing the corrupted energy being siphoned from them.

For mortals to possess such artifacts was virtually inconceivable. Divine Crystals were exceptionally rare, revered, and typically handled only by beings of Divinity, or essentially, Immortals and those favored by them.

The mere fact that Kristol's group had acquired them suggested only two potential scenarios... They had likely pilfered them through illicit means, or perhaps, an entity of far greater power, such as an Immortal, was lending their support. In either case, the presence of these crystals rendered the ritual considerably more perilous than anything the city guards might have anticipated.

The incantations intensified, and soon, a rupture began to materialize in the center of the circle!

Kristol raised a hand. "Now... emerge."

From the nascent void, a colossal form emerged. A serpent adorned with crimson scales materialized!

The creature wasted no time. The moment it broke free from the void, it ascended rapidly, rupturing the chamber's ceiling and bursting forth onto the city streets above.

Civilians erupted in screams as the serpent's immense maw snapped shut, engulfing them.

Meanwhile, less powerful Arcanists attempted to mount a resistance, but their spells barely managed to scratch its formidable scales.

"Someone has summoned a Serpent!"

"Locate the Summoner!"

"This creature... Wait! I shall attempt to capture it! Those scales alone could command a substantial price."

However, these young Arcanists were gravely overestimating their capabilities!

One by one, they were consumed before the guards could even react.

Widespread chaos ensued throughout the city. The Red Serpent's colossal body coiled around structures, reducing stone and wood to rubble as if they were mere paper.

Yet, Kristol and his followers were far from done. The arcane circle still illuminated the area, and the Divine Crystals relentlessly funneled more power into the rift.

"Don't cease," Kristol ordered. "Summon more!"

Consequently, the incantations recommenced, growing in volume and tempo.

Before long, the void expanded, and subsequently, various forms of vile beings began to emerge.

And then, they poured into the city streets!

Some bore a resemblance to wolves with eyes ablaze, while others manifested as winged creatures,...

In mere minutes, scores of these abominations joined the colossal serpent, wreaking havoc in their wake!

It was only at this juncture that the city's protectors finally made their appearance...

Even Zeno himself arrived amidst the chaos!

He observed that the guards were, in fact, being pushed back!

The Crimson Serpent alone was sufficient to keep them engaged. The lesser fiends darted about, assaulting the populace and disrupting the defenders' formations.

Throughout this entire ordeal, Kristol observed from the concealment of the darkness.

"Excellent. Tonight, the city shall learn the meaning of terror..."

The other Dark Arcanists gathered nearby chuckled with a mixture of exhilaration and unease. They were emboldened by the triumph of their ritual but also apprehensive about the potential repercussions!

After all, they had accomplished a feat few would contemplate... They successfully breached a void and conjured numerous malevolent entities with the assistance of Divine Crystals.

Nevertheless, this also signified that he was incurring the wrath of numerous nations!