Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy
chapter-454

At that moment, time seemed to stand still as Vale grappled with the eerie sensation coursing through him.

Thoughts raced through his mind, wondering who or what could be observing him from such a vantage point.

He couldn't help but recall the Dark Soul Tower of the Vermont Academy. That place was also hiding a powerful entity, and he even made contact with it.

'Seriously… Is this Tower also dangerous?' Vale couldn't help but wonder.

No one had ever reached the 10th floor of this Ascension Tower since only 20 years old and below could enter it.

The strongest Arcanist that had entered this Tower could only reach the 8th floor. In short, no one could tell him what to expect on the 9th and 10th floors aside from the possible rewards he'd receive.

Vale immediately shifted his attention elsewhere as there was no point in looking at the peak of the Tower.

Luckily, as soon as he shifted his attention, the piercing gaze had also disappeared.

The enigmatic nature of the Tower only deepened the mystery, leaving him with more questions than answers.

"Wait… Perhaps becoming a Half Celestial can cause some problems inside." Vale muttered to himself.

He had never considered this before, but his 'race' might actually affect his entry to the Tower, which was restricting the age of people who could access it.

As Vale sat in his resting area, a mix of trepidation and intrigue washed over him. He couldn't help but wonder what awaited him beyond the Tower's imposing facade.

The presence that lingered at the peak, though unsettling, ignited a curious fire within him.

However, there was no point overthinking this matter as he shook his head to erase his random thoughts.

With a deep breath, Vale glanced at the light showing on the third floor of the Ascension Tower.

Anya didn't take that long to reach the third floor. She was certainly faster than Susan from the Elemental Arts Academy.

After some time, she also reached the fifth floor, which seemed to be the greatest hurdle for all the participants.

As Vale was thinking that Anya might clear the fifth floor, something happened.

Whom~

Suddenly, the lights on the fifth floor vanished, and a figure outside the Tower appeared.

Anya had also failed to pass through the fifth floor. She remained calm even with her failure and only shook her head to show her frustration.

The audience, including the professors and other students from the Mystic Arts Academy, couldn't help but express their disappointment.

"I thought she could reach the sixth floor with her previous performance."

"I wonder if the two remaining students could surpass Lexie."

"Right… The two remaining students were from Holy Arts and Dark Arts Academy…"

"It's the third princess, so she might reach the seventh floor as well."

"That student from the Dark Arts Academy could not be underestimated as well. He had a decent record in the competitions he had participated..."

Soon, Princess Ceres was called to enter the Tower.

She didn't rush to enter like the others, and she even had the time to wave at the people who had come to support her.

As soon as she entered, everyone went silent as they were anticipating what floor the princess could reach.

At this point, their attention was also drawn to Odessa, the Royal Mage who was rumored to have defeated the huge Evil Entity that had appeared in the city without any help from the soldiers and other Arcanists.

This level of strength undoubtedly deserved the title of the Royal Mage.

Then, a few of the experienced Arcanists noticed something off with her expression.

Though her countenance bore the strength of a seasoned mage, there was a flicker of concern etched upon her features.

As Vale's gaze shifted toward her, he also noticed the furrowed lines on her forehead and the slight tension in her shoulders. It was evident that her attention was fixed upon the highest floor of the Tower, just as he had been moments ago.

"Did she also draw the Tower's attention?" Vale thought for a moment.

The worry in Odessa's eyes mirrored Vale's previous unease. It means that he wasn't hallucinating a while ago.

'I wonder what entity lives there…' Vale sighed as he would be the one to enter next. He already got the signal from the officials to get ready.

***

In the meantime, Ceres swiftly ascended to the fifth floor of the Tower.

As she entered the hall, her eyes fell upon a daunting sight—a demonic being, its visage adorned with a goat's head and wielding a massive, ominous black sword.

"I see…"

Despite the intimidating presence before her, Ceres remained composed, her determination unwavering.

A smirk played upon her lips as she muttered.

"No wonder the others have fallen. You certainly look like a formidable opponent."

With a swift motion, she reached into the depths of her pocket, retrieving a small, intricately crafted amulet. It was one of the five Mystical Items she had been permitted to bring into the Tower.

As a wealthy princess, she had chosen only the most potent and coveted artifacts to aid her in this perilous challenge. This particular amulet had been gifted to her by her older brother, the First Prince.

The goat-headed demonic being, sensing the latent power emanating from the amulet, appeared wary and hesitated for a moment. Unlike its previous encounters, it refrained from launching an immediate attack, a testament to the amulet's threat…

With a commanding voice, Ceres called forth the amulet's protective enchantment, her voice ringing out with authority.

"Come forth and protect me from this vile creature!"

As the amulet cracked and shattered into a thousand shimmering fragments, a magnificent sight unfolded before her eyes.

In the place of the amulet, a radiant white-armored knight astride a majestic white horse materialized, ready to fulfill its purpose.

Without the need for further instruction, the armored knight charged forward with unwavering determination. The clash between the knight and the goat-headed demon erupted into a flurry of steel and malevolent energy.