Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy
chapter-358

Finally, Vale unrolled the third and final scroll. The air around him seemed to grow colder as he read the words etched onto its surface.

This scroll contained the incantations and rituals required to invoke the "Curse of Eternal Torment."

It wasn't a Spell this time.

It was simply a Curse Ritual that the first Dark Magicians were keen to use over a hundred years ago.

As Vale absorbed the knowledge within, he realized that this Spell had the power to inflict unending suffering upon its target, binding their soul to a perpetual state of anguish. The scroll warned of the irreversible nature of this curse, for once cast, its effects could never be undone.

'This is too cruel…' Vale thought as he grappled with the moral implications of wielding such a Curse Ritual, aware of the irreversible consequences it would bring.

Vale sighed as he rolled the scroll. The weight of the dark arts he had uncovered was putting pressure on him.

He knew that these spells held immense power, capable of reshaping the world around him. However, he also understood the inherent danger and ethical dilemmas associated with harnessing such dark arts. He pondered the responsibility that came with the knowledge he now possessed.

'Let's save these for now… They might not be useful for me right now, but it can change in the future.' Vale thought as he stared at the door leading towards the fourth floor, the Jail Corruption.

Headmaster Jean had warned him not to enter this floor since a physique that was unique to Necromancers was needed to survive. It was called the Enduring Body, which could protect them from the power of Corruption on the fourth floor.

After some hesitation, Vale decided to move forward. He still had a week of exploration, and it would be a pity to stop now.

Perhaps if the Evil Shadows or Zombies kept respawning, he wouldn't mind staying on the lower floors. However, that obviously wasn't the case, so he could only ascend.

As Vale ascended to the next floor of the Dark Soul Tower, a sudden surge of energy crackled through the air, causing the very foundations of the Tower to tremble.

Vale was only halfway through the stairs, so he was shocked by the sudden reaction of the Tower and released his Arcane Armor, afraid the Tower would collapse!

***

Outside the Dark Soul Tower.

The Professors and Headmaster Jean felt unease as they noticed that the Dark Soul Tower was acting strange.

This had never happened for the past ten years or so!

There was no way they would miss the sudden disturbance within the Tower. This immediately raised concerns and prompted them to investigate the source of the disorder.

Among the many professors, there were three of them who had been paying special attention to this Tower.

Professor Zara, a seasoned expert in Dark Illusions and Ancient Dark Arts, furrowed her brow as she sensed the powerful energy emanating from the Tower.

"This is highly unusual..." She murmured, her eyes narrowing with a mixture of curiosity and caution. "We must ascertain the cause of this disturbance immediately."

She muttered in a low voice, informing her Summons to follow her.

Professor Cyrus, known for his expertise in Dark Curses and Hexes, glanced at his disciples. "Something strange happened in the Dark Soul Tower. Stay here and continue your study. I need to let the Headmaster know about it."

His students nodded in understanding as they also couldn't help but look in the direction of the Dark Soul Tower.

Professor Mark, a specialist in Shadow Arts, was the first one to arrive beside the Headmaster.

"Headmaster Jean, we must intervene. The Tower is only accessible to a select few, and if Vale Chambers is the one using it, we need to ensure his safety and the integrity of the Academy."

"I know…"

Headmaster Jean said as he felt a knot of worry tighten in his chest. He knew that Vale Chambers was the sole occupant of the Tower at that moment, and the sudden disturbance raised concerns about his well-being.

"Alert the Fourth Squad…" He instructed, his voice commanding yet laden with concern.

"We cannot afford to waste any time. We must ensure the student's safety and find out the reason behind this Tower's disturbance."

As the professors and Headmaster Jean hurriedly made their way toward the Dark Soul Tower, Professor Stella, an expert in Dark Magic, appeared beside them and voiced her worry.

"This disturbance might be a sign… The Tower's Seal might be loosening already." Stella said in a low voice. It was only a guess since she wasn't an expert on this, but she had a bad feeling about it.

Headmaster Jean nodded as they continued on their way.

As soon as they arrived, they realized that there was already a female Professor who was watching the Tower intently.

"You guys took your time, huh…" She muttered as the group of people arrived.

It was Professor Gale Evans.

"Did you discover something?" Headmaster Jean asked.

"Well… The Dark Soul Tower is no ordinary structure, so it's difficult to investigate." She said as she turned to face them.

A teasing smile played upon Professor Gale's lips as she watched her colleagues express their worries and urgency. "Ah, the Dark Soul Tower…" she mused, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.

"Always keeping us on our toes, isn't it?" She added.

Headmaster Jean knew this woman's attitude well, so he knew he needed to calm down when speaking with her.

Professor Zara raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Do you suspect that the loosening of the ancient seal is responsible for this commotion, Professor Gale?" she asked, her voice laced with intrigue.

'It seems that Professor Stella's intuition was right…'

Professor Gale nodded, her eyes glinting with a combination of knowledge and amusement. "Indeed," she replied.

"The Dark Soul Tower's Seal has been holding back a playful Mysterious Existence, according to the First Patriarchs of the Five Families. Its gradual weakening could be the very reason behind the tremors we're witnessing."