Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1319: The Next City

Lisa’s eyes squinted as she turned her attention toward it.

For a brief moment, she sensed a faint disturbance, like the last flicker of a dying flame. Then the connection vanished entirely.

Rene’s Blood Essence had disappeared.

Lisa remained motionless, trying to determine whether the sudden loss was the result of an unusual interference or something far more serious. Rene was not an ordinary thrall. He was one of her Vampire Knights, a subordinate she had personally strengthened and trusted enough to permit the creation of two additional Vampires.

If his Blood Essence had vanished, then something had happened to him that his regenerative abilities could not overcome.

Before Lisa could investigate further, another connection flickered and disappeared.

This one was much weaker, but she recognized it immediately. It belonged to the newly transformed Vampire Rene had created.

Deric’s Blood Essence had vanished as well.

Lisa’s expression finally changed.

Two Vampires had been eliminated almost simultaneously, and one of them was a Vampire Knight who should have been strong enough to survive most ordinary threats in the Valor Realm.

After all, this realm lacked true Arcanists. The strongest warriors relied primarily on Will, a mysterious power that allowed Knights to surpass the limits of ordinary humans.

There were Sorcerers as well, but most had only begun to tap into the potential of mana. Their methods of manipulating mystical energy were crude compared to the techniques Lisa was familiar with.

They were nothing like the Arcanists of her Origin Realm, who possessed proper Spells, Fusion Spells, established Arcane Paths, Formation Arrays, Mystical Artifacts, and even Arcana.

In Lisa’s eyes, the difference was enormous. The people of the Valor Realm had power, but they lacked the knowledge and techniques needed to use it to its fullest potential.

Her gaze drifted toward the distant city as she considered the sudden loss of her subordinates.

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

Her voice was quiet, but the amusement that usually accompanied such a discovery was absent.

Someone had killed Rene.

And whoever that person was, they possessed the means to destroy Vampires so thoroughly that even the Blood Essence connecting them to her had disappeared.

"Alright... I guess it’s about time..."

Lisa muttered as she had already stabilized the Dark Arts Tower and the Shadow Sentinels had already adjusted...

For now, she decided not to bother Ruth and the Dawnblades...

"Finding the spies might take some time. Might as well target the next city."

With that decision made, Lisa turned her attention back to the reports scattered across her desk. If someone had begun hunting her Vampires, she would eventually find out who they were. Until then, there was no reason to delay her plans.

***

Lisa set the reports aside and reached for a map of the continent. Several cities had already caught her attention, but one name stood out among the rest.

Lumen.

It was a prosperous city located northeast of Atrium City, known for its busy trade routes and well-established Adventurers Guild. Merchants from neighboring territories regularly passed through its gates, bringing valuable goods, information, and rumors from distant lands. Unlike Atrium City, which had recently attracted attention because of the Dark Arts Tower, Lumen had remained relatively peaceful.

That made it an excellent place to begin her next operation.

"Let’s see how long it takes to bring another city under my control."

Lisa traced a finger across the map, stopping over Lumen. She had no intention of repeating the same process in every city. Atrium City had required considerable effort because she wanted to establish a reliable network before expanding further. Now that she had a functioning base of operations, she could use what she had learned to make the next takeover much easier.

However, she would not simply send ordinary Vampires to accomplish the task.

"Call the Vampire Knights."

Her voice was quiet, but the Dark Arts Tower immediately responded to its master’s command.

The shadows near the chamber’s entrance began to stir. One after another, armored figures emerged from the darkness.

These were the Shadow Sentinels, the tower’s silent guardians. They formed two orderly rows before kneeling in unison.

Lisa barely glanced at them. Her attention was directed toward the shadows behind the throne-like chair at the center of the chamber.

A moment later, several figures emerged from the darkness.

Unlike the Shadow Sentinels, these individuals possessed living bodies and distinct appearances. Some wore ordinary traveling clothes, while others were dressed in dark armor or long coats that concealed their weapons. Their expressions varied, but each carried the same unmistakable aura of Blood Energy.

They were her Vampire Knights.

Each had been strengthened beyond the level of an ordinary Vampire, and their abilities made them suitable for tasks that required more than brute force. Some specialized in combat, others in infiltration, and a few were particularly skilled at gathering information without drawing attention to themselves.

Lisa had no intention of wasting such subordinates on meaningless battles.

"Two of my Vampires were killed in Atrium City," she said.

The Vampire Knights exchanged brief glances. None dared interrupt.

"Someone in this realm has acquired the means to destroy us completely. I don’t know whether that person belongs to the Order of the Sky Sword, the Dwarves, or another organization. Until we have a clearer picture, I want everyone to remain cautious."

Her gaze swept across the assembled Knights.

"That doesn’t mean we should stop expanding. If anything, we need more information and a wider network."

She tapped the map, drawing their attention to Lumen.

"This is your next destination."

A tall Vampire Knight with black hair tied behind his head stepped forward. His name was Palez, and among Lisa’s subordinates, he was one of the most reliable when it came to coordinating covert operations.

"Your Majesty, how many of us will be deployed?"

"Three Vampire Knights. Take a small number of ordinary Vampires with you, but don’t turn anyone else unless you have a good reason. I don’t want Lumen filled with creatures who might expose our presence."

Kael bowed his head. "Understood."

"You will establish a network first. Find out who controls the city, which officials can be influenced, and whether any powerful individuals or organizations might interfere with our plans. Merchants, guards, administrators, and members of the Adventurers Guild are all potential sources of information."

Lisa paused briefly before continuing.

"If someone is corrupt, make use of them. If someone is useful but difficult to control, observe them until you find a suitable opportunity. And if someone poses a serious threat, report it to me before taking action."

Her instructions were simple, but the Vampire Knights understood the meaning behind them. Their objective was not to slaughter the city’s inhabitants or replace every official overnight. They were to infiltrate its existing systems and gradually bring those systems under Lisa’s influence.

A city could be conquered through force, but doing so often left behind ruins, resistance, and countless enemies.

Lisa preferred to take control of a city while allowing its inhabitants to believe that nothing had changed.

After all, Vale didn’t want a barren land. This realm would become their source of wealth as Immortals and Arcanists wishing to become stronger.

"Palez, you will lead the operation. The other two will work independently, each establishing a separate network. I want information from different sources, not three people repeating the same reports."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"And one more thing." Lisa’s expression became slightly colder. "Investigate the Dwarves... If you encounter evidence of their involvement, report it immediately. Don’t approach their hidden territory or attempt to test their defenses."

"We will proceed carefully." Palez replied.

"Good. You may leave."

The three Vampire Knights bowed before withdrawing into the shadows. Within minutes, their figures had disappeared from the chamber, leaving Lisa alone with the map...