Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 4 Arrival

"I'll take care of this for you…" Kyle whispered under his breath as he reached out to claim the necklace.

The accessory appeared humble, consisting merely of a coarse black cord that might have been simple nylon strands, yet the pendant caught his eye. It was a creamy pearl, irregularly shaped and clumsily fastened to the dark thread.

Despite its crude appearance, it emitted a faint luminescence in the shadows, providing him with much-needed light.

He scrutinized the object for a moment, unable to discern the source of its glow. Ultimately, he decided to put it on.

A wave of refreshment washed over him... it felt as though his vision had sharpened within the gloom. It was a truly mystical sensation…

'The system didn't activate… Is it because this isn't a corpse, or does it lack sufficient mystical properties?' Kyle pondered silently.

Finding no further answers through observation, he pulled up his attribute panel to verify his physical enhancements.

[ Name: Kyle Marshall ]

[ Attributes: Strength 0.68, Agility 0.94, Intelligence 0.89 (+1), Vitality 0.52 ]

[ Available Energy: 110 ]

"The gains weren't massive… but what is this plus one?" Kyle murmured, noticing the bonus attached to his Intelligence stat.

Out of the twenty-two corpses he had processed, fourteen had contributed to his Intelligence. Three had boosted his Agility, while the remaining five enhanced his Strength.

Most provided a mere 0.01 increment, save for the final one which granted a 0.05 increase.

Kyle thought for a second before tugging the necklace off and setting it on the ground.

Just as he suspected, the revitalizing feeling vanished instantly, along with the +1 bonus to his Intelligence.

Through this test, he confirmed that the necklace was indeed a mystical tool.

'Even that person couldn't survive the potion? What kind of concoction is it? Why is it so lethal?' Kyle scowled, remembering the agonizing ordeal.

It was a pity that, aside from the raw attributes, he couldn't detect any other internal changes in his body.

Gurg… Gurg…

His stomach suddenly protested his lack of sustenance… The last proper meal he had enjoyed was a boiled sweet potato from the market. It had been delicious while hot, and he felt his mouth water at the memory.

Since then, while fleeing from the bandits, he had been reduced to eating leaves and moss. He had spotted several mushrooms during his flight, but with zero knowledge of fungi, he didn't dare risk his life by consuming them. He had been fortunate that the rain allowed him to stay hydrated, at the very least.

Kyle clenched his teeth and began searching the belongings of the surrounding corpses.

"Forgive me…"

After several minutes of searching, he realized that every single applicant's token was missing; he surmised that Lesley must have confiscated them all.

He did, however, discover some zen notes and coins. Though he didn't stop to count them, it appeared to be over a thousand zen.

More vital than the currency was the food he uncovered… In the pocket of one deceased individual, he found a couple of hard, partially eaten granola bars.

They were difficult to chew, but they provided some much-needed bulk to his stomach. He wasn't in a position to be picky… After finishing a few bites, he regulated his breathing and wrapped himself in several discarded jackets.

This chamber, which he assumed was a mortuary, was freezing. Even his newfound Strength offered no protection against the chill.

He focused on conserving his energy as much as possible, knowing that once they landed, the doors would be opened and he would be found. He was uncertain of his fate, but he knew he would need his strength for whatever came next.

He glanced at the sealed iron hatch before surveying the room by the dim light of the pearl.

He confirmed that, aside from the small ceiling vents, there was no way to observe the world outside.

He remained huddled for hours until sleep finally claimed him… When he eventually woke, he had lost all track of time.

With nothing else to do, he drifted off again, only to wake up feeling a strange warmth.

'It’s warm... What’s going on?'

He couldn't open his eyes immediately because of the piercing brightness… He figured that while he slept, the airship had reached its destination and he was currently being moved.

Shifting into a more comfortable stance, he slowly blinked his eyes open. It was morning, and he found himself being transported on a cart, piled atop a heap of dead bodies.

There were seven or eight corpses loaded onto each of the three carts.

'Did they seriously not notice I was wearing extra coats and breathing when they picked me up? What the—?'

Kyle’s eyes widened as he saw the figure pulling the cart behind him. It looked like a zombie. No, it resembled a human that had been crudely stitched together. Seams ran across its body, and the skin tones changed from one patch to the next.

Suddenly, their gazes locked.

Kyle froze, holding his breath and remaining silent. He was paralyzed with fear, unsure how to react to such an abomination.

'Please don't eat me…' Kyle thought frantically, though he soon noticed the creature's mouth was sewn shut.

It seemed unlikely that he would be bitten.

After a few heart-pounding seconds, Kyle realized the creature had looked away.

The monstrosity continued its labor as if it hadn't seen Kyle move at all.

Kyle exhaled a breath of relief, stealing another glance at the being.

'I knew this world contained mystical elements… but I didn't expect anything like this. It’s revolting. It’s no wonder the Dark Arts are shunned by society.'