They had heard many things about Vale from Teresa and Claire, and this was unmistakably his work.

"He's coming…" Irene muttered as the Artifact activated.

As expected, Vale's Avatar arrived and glanced at them. In just a few moments, he seemed to have realized what had happened around here.

"You two… You resisted possession and helped your classmates. Good. Keep your classmates safe. I'll handle the rest."

Relief washed over them. Seeing an immortal handling the problems for them was certainly an incredible feeling.

Irene lowered her staff while her armband started dimming. "Finally… we can breathe."

Galatea exhaled as her necklace's light also faded. "We did what we could. Now it's in his hands."

Together, they stood among their classmates, exhausted, but their spirits were up. They watched as Vale's Avatar and Chad fought side by side to purge the Academy.

The battle continued for a while longer, but soon the tide shifted.

The Evil Spirits were being eliminated continuously as Vale's Radiant Wave and Chad's draconic energy tore through their ranks.

It continued for another half an hour as the number of Evil Spirits continued to increase for some time. It seemed that many of them had decided to hide but were forced out by Vale's Celestial Arts.

"That should be enough…" Vale muttered as he watched the Moonlight Specters cut down the remnants, and the chains of shadow bound the last of the stronger spirits.

At last, silence fell over the Academy. The oppressive aura around the academy was finally lifted, and the students collapsed one after another, freed from possession.

Medics rushed in immediately, and they carried healing kits and holy relics. They moved swiftly, checking each student, stabilizing those who had fainted, and soothing the strain on their souls. Professors assisted, guiding the injured to the Holy Grounds where recovery circles had already been prepared.

Thankfully, no one had died. The Artifacts, Formation Arrays, the professors' barriers, Chad's intervention, and Vale's Avatar had all ensured survival. But the scars of the attack were clear… There were cracked walls, scorched halls, and shaken hearts of the students.

Soon, whispers spread among the professors and senior students.

"This was too sudden…"

"How did the defenses fail?"

"If Evil Spirits can invade here, is the Academy truly safe?"

The doubt was inevitable. The Marshall Academy was supposed to be the most secure place in the Shadow Domain, a fortress of learning and protection. Yet tonight, its walls had been breached.

Numerous factions and organizations across the continent would soon demand answers. Was the Academy truly safe? Could their prodigies continue to study here without fear?

Of course, Vale's Academy had the strength and reputation to handle such questions.

But for now, their focus was on the students, healing them, reassuring them, and redoubling the protections of the Academy.

Soon, more of Vale's Avatars arrived. They do not look like Vale and ensured that there was only one who looked like Vale…

This was to ensure that the enemies would have no idea that he had plenty of Avatars ready to move.

Each one carried a different aura too… One radiated holy light, another shimmered with shadow, and a third pulsed with elemental force. They spread across the grounds, inspecting wards, reinforcing formations, and sealing every trace of corruption left behind.

Meanwhile, Chad stood in the courtyard, his scales soon faded back into skin, his body trembling from exhaustion. He looked at the Avatars and gave a weary smile.

"Good… Vale is taking this seriously. With his Avatars here, the Academy will recover."

The students, though shaken, began to feel reassured.

Vale's presence, even through his Avatar, was enough to restore confidence.

But deep down, everyone knew this was only the beginning. The attack had revealed a vulnerability, and the world outside would not ignore it.

***

Far from the Shadow Domain, in two separate strongholds, the heads of two large academies within Solstice Kingdom sat in their chambers, reading the latest reports.

The parchment trembled in their hands, not from fear, but from excitement.

Highmaster Dorian of the Azure Sky Academy relaxed in his chair while a cruel smile spread across his face.

"So… Vale's precious Marshall Academy was breached. Evil Spirits had run rampant, the students were possessed, and many professors were overwhelmed. Hah! Finally, cracks in his fortress."

On the other side of the kingdom, Grand Arcanist Nelia Draavos of the Crimson Moon Academy laughed as she tossed the report onto her desk. "How poetic. The great Vale, the Immortal who stole our prodigies, now struggles to protect his own. Now… the factions will question his Academy's safety. If we just add a bit more fire, parents will hesitate and students will doubt. This is the beginning of his downfall."

Neither academies really hated Vale before… However, his Marshall Academy had drawn away their most promising talents, lured by his reputation, his methods, and his Immortal prestige. In just a few months, their halls grew emptier since their brightest minds started defecting to Vale's domain.

To be honest, they were the best Academies since they were basically the only academies that were able to produce fifty or so Grand Arcanists for the past fifty years.

Even the twelve Academies of the Millton Kingdom could not be compared if they were only talking about the achievements of their students.

Unfortunately, it was also a fact that they had never produced a Half-Immortal or even an Immortal.

So as soon as the Marshall Academy announced their desire to accept all paths of Arcane Studies, many students wished to go there instead for obvious reasons… They wanted to glance at the existence of Divinity… Something they could never show to their students.

Now, for the first time, they saw an opportunity. The two headmasters were even using a Special Mirror to communicate with each other.

Dorian's eyes gleamed. "We lost dozens of prodigies to him. But if his Academy is seen as unsafe, they'll return to us. The balance will shift."

Nelia smirked. "And not just return. The factions will demand answers. Vale will be forced to defend his reputation. While he struggles, we will rise."

As they reveled in their imagined victory, a shadow fell across their chambers.

A deep voice suddenly echoed in their minds. "You rejoice at his weakness… but do you wish to see him fall completely?"

Both headmasters froze. The aura was unmistakable.

It was the Void Immortal who had given them the chance to send out the Evil Spirit in the Academy without being noticed.

Dorian bowed his head instinctively…

"You… you honor us with your presence."

Nelia's lips curled into a smile. "I knew this wasn't enough for you… Since we have the same objective, please use our strength, Sir Immortal."

The voice continued. "That's what I like to hear. Let's help each other... His Academy will not crumble unless you play your part… Continue to spread doubt and fear... Make the factions believe his protection is failing."

Dorian's eyes lit up. "With your aid, we can finally erase his shadow from our academies."

Nelia laughed softly. "Vale stole our students. Now, we will steal his future."

The two rival headmasters, once bitter competitors themselves, now found common cause. Elated at the thought of Vale's downfall, they pledged themselves to the instructions of the mysterious Void Immortal…

For them, this was not just revenge. It was the start of a new war.

They knew that they were being used, but they also didn't want their academies to completely fail under their watch. They needed such talented students at all costs!

***

As the Void Immortal disappeared, the two heaved a sigh of relief…

The Special Mirror glowed faintly as Dorian and Nelia leaned closer…

Dorian's smile widened. "All we need to do is fan the flames. Let's just make the people know how someone breached their walls, and how the students were injured… We'll ensure those details are exaggerated."

Nelia's eyes gleamed. "Yes… We'll send our agents to the guilds, the noble houses, and the merchant unions. Rumors will grow… that Vale's Academy is no longer impregnable, that his defenses failed, that his students are vulnerable."

Dorian tapped the desk with his finger.

"Hmmm… But parents will not panic yet. Let's plant a few people who will coordinate with others and demand answers. And when Vale hesitates, we'll offer them alternatives. Our academies will be seen as safer, more stable. We'll reclaim the prodigies we lost."

Nelia laughed softly. "And we'll do more than that. We'll plant stories that the attack was only possible because Vale meddled with forbidden powers... That his obsession with Divinity draws danger to his students. If the factions believe his Academy attracts calamity, they'll turn against him."

Soon, Dorian had another idea…

"We'll use our scholars to publish 'analyses' of the incident. We'll claim the Academy's formations are flawed, that Vale's reliance on the flawed Formation proves he cannot protect his students personally."

Just like that, the two Academies from another country concluded their plan...

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