Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy

Vale decided not to kill this Dimensional Creature immediately. Instead, he chose to take his chance and extract this being!

[ Living Monster has been discovered. Would you like to start the extraction? ]

"Monster?" Vale muttered in surprise before finally agreeing to the extraction.

"Yes…"

[ Extraction Successful. Energy +500, Vitality +0.5, Divinity +5, Aetherial Essence +100, Complete Evolved Spell Light ]

[ Extraction Successful. Energy +500, Vitality +0.5, Divinity +5, Aetherial Essence +100, Complete Cosmic Sight Spell Model, Rift Blade ]

[ Extraction Successful. Energy +500, Vitality +0.5, Divinity +5, Aetherial Essence +100, Complete Evolved Spell Light ]

[ Extraction Successful. Energy +500, Vitality +0.5, Divinity +5, Aetherial Essence +100, Complete Astral Chains Spell Model, Complete Void Claw Spell Model ]

[ Extraction Successful. Energy +500, Vitality +0.5, Divinity +5, Aetherial Essence +100, Complete Evolved Spell Light ]

[ Extraction Failed. ]

[ Extraction Failed. ]

As soon as Vale saw several failed extractions, he knew that he already reached the limit and had to stop.

'Spell Models, new Essence, and even an item… Interesting…' Vale mused as he realized that he had obtained such valuable things in this extraction.

Of course, he still couldn't help but feel curious how he managed to extract this Dimensional Creature but failed to do it with the first one.

He could only guess that it was related to his arrival in the Realm. Perhaps, his Divine Extraction System wasn't adjusted yet, or the Dimensional Creature was just unique.

Nonetheless, as Vale finished his extraction, the Creature finally collapsed, its body dissolving into the aether, leaving behind only the echo of its final cry.

Vale stood victorious, yet the toll of the battle was evident. Just now, he already used a quarter of his energy. If he encountered several Dimensional Creatures at the same time, he might really be in trouble.

He then turned to Steins, nodding solemnly.

"We must hurry to the altar..."

With renewed urgency, the group pressed on. After encountering these Dimensional Creatures, they knew very well that they had to finish their mission as quickly as possible. They must find the Golden Key.

Vale, ever vigilant, sensed the latent perils that might lurk on their path.

"Wait… Let's not rush. I need to prepare something." Vale said as he decided to employ his Slave Mark Spell on the young Dimensional Creature they had captured earlier, hoping to turn a potential threat into an ally.

After all, if there are many Dimensional Creatures later, he might fail to protect Steins and the others.

The others could only accept Vale's proposal as they waited to see what he was about to do.

Vale then looked at the Containment Crystal made by the Bureau's Research Team.

The Creature, small compared to its fallen kin, was like a living black fire contained within the crystal. Its scales were shimmering dark hues even through the containment.

Tiny spikes adorned its back, and its eyes, wide and curious, glowed with a faint otherworldly light.

'It looks quite cute right now, but it'll definitely be scary once it grows up.' Shane commented in his mind.

After appreciating the Creature for a while, Vale carefully unsealed the Containment Crystal, the air around them humming with released energy.

Whoosh~

The Creature blinked up at him, its instincts urging it to flee, yet it remained still, transfixed by the power Vale exuded.

It definitely sensed their difference in terms of Divinity.

'Good…'

With a silent activation of his Spell Model, Vale cast the Slave Mark Spell. A sigil of light emerged from his hand, floating down to rest upon the Creature's forehead. The mark pulsed once, twice, then settled, before disappearing completely. It was a sign of the bond now forged.

'That's a lot easier than I thought…' Vale mused as he initially thought that he would have to pummel the Creature to the ground.

The Creature let out a soft, resonant sound, not of submission, but of recognition. It seemed to understand its new role in the grand scheme of Vale's quest.

"Sir Immortal… What happened?" Steins asked.

"It's not fleeing… Did you somehow tame it?!"

"Ahhh… That's possible?!"

The Mystic Arts Practitioners couldn't help but exclaim. After all, their Bureau tried everything they could to deal with the Dimensional Creatures. It means that they used the 12 Arcane Paths to find its weakness already.

However, none of it worked against the Creature, so they concluded that only the Immortals with Divinity could deal with them!

"Yes… I've tamed the creature. It will no longer harm us." Vale replied as he looked at their reaction.

"Alright! Let's go and continue." He said as he gestured to Steins to continue escorting him.

Half an hour passed as they navigated the crumbling realm, and finally, the altar came into view.

But it was not as they expected. Two cloaked figures stood before it, their hands raised in a complex weave of spells, their fingers tracing intricate patterns in the air.

The Golden Key, resplendent and ancient, hovered above the altar, encased in a matrix of glowing runes.

The cloaked figures chanted in unison, their voices a discordant melody that clashed with the realm's own song.

The runes around the key flickered and twisted, contorting as if in pain, struggling against the intruders' magic. The key itself seemed to pulse with a desperate energy, as if crying out for rescue.

"W-what's going on?! Who are those people?!" Steins cried out as he saw what was happening.

Those cloaked individuals were definitely not people from the Bureau!

"Master Steins! We should stop them!"

"They're trying to take the Golden Key!"

"Wait… It should be guarded by the Remnant Spirits of the Celestials!"

"R-right… There were two Dimensional Creatures and over a dozen of Celestial Spirits were lurking around this area before. If they managed to defeat all of those beings, then they're definitely powerful. We might have to retreat, Sir Immortal…" Steins immediately said as he realized that there were no ordinary people who would enter this place.

"Since they're not part of the Bureau. Then we can kill them, right?" Vale muttered as he used his Divine Sense and failed.

He then used his Dragon's True Sight and other Spells that would help him identify these people but he actually failed from doing so.

'I guess they deserve to be here…' Vale mused.

Nonetheless, he still didn't feel intimidated as he made his move.

Vale stepped forward and released his Aura. He made sure to announce his presence.

"Halt! Your actions desecrate the sanctity of this place…" He declared, his voice echoing with authority. It was as if he wasn't planning to do the same.

Then, without waiting for their reply, he also showed his Shadow Divinity and covered the entire place with darkness.

The cloaked figures paused, turning to face the newcomers, their eyes hidden but their intent clear. They had not expected interference, and now, a new confrontation loomed on the horizon.

However, despite Vale's Aura and Darkness covering the entire field, the two individuals weren't scared.

"Who are you?" Vale demanded, his hand resting on the hilt of his Stormbringer Sword, ready for any attacks.

The two people didn't answer immediately as if they were trying to assess Vale's power. After a few moments, they seemed to have gained more confidence and answered with a hint of ridicule.

"We are beyond your understanding, young Immortal." One of the figures spoke, their voice echoing as if from a distant chasm.

The other smiled and decided to reveal their identity. He was hoping that the group who had disturbed them would be scared enough and just leave this place.

"Alright… You probably heard of us. If we're not busy we will be taking your Divinity, but you're allowed to leave this time… If you still don't get it, I'm telling you now that we are Time Manipulators, masters of the temporal weave."

As soon as Vale heard this, he was shocked… This was the first time he had seen Time Manipulators, one of the beings that could deal with Celestials!

'Not good.' Vale thought.

"Are you sure we're letting him leave?" One of the figures asked his companion.

"Yes… We're busy with this Golden Key. Should we deal with them first?"

"Mhmm… I think we should kill them now. The Golden Key might weaken us or something. It's better to remove any potential threat."

"That's true…" As soon as the two Time Manipulators made up their mind, Steins, Vale, and the rest of the group realized that they were in danger.

Without warning, the air turned heavy as if it was filled with chaotic energy, and soon, Vale felt a crushing force envelop him.

Time itself seemed to slow, his movements becoming sluggish, his thoughts clouded.

"W-what?" Vale was shocked as this was the first time he had felt something like this.

"You can be proud of yourself. You will die from a Time Manipulator's hand…" The other figure taunted, a cruel smile in their voice. "We control the very fabric of time. You are but a pawn in our eyes, young Immortal."