Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy

Chapter 1243: Alchemy Students

The coliseum’s atmosphere changed as the announcers declared the next duel. This time, it was not Jericho or Gelo stepping forward, but the strongest knight of Hervont Academy. His name was Kite, and his reputation preceded him.

Kite was tall for a fifteen-year-old, and he even had an aura of a warrior who had already tasted victory many times. He was considered a prodigy in Hervont Academy. Against similar age, they could imagine him losing.

He was recognized even by the emperor, so his armor was layered with imperial engravings, and it was emitting Arcane Energy, suggesting they were at least a high-grade Royal Class Artifact.

His weapon of choice was a halberd, longer and heavier than the swords most knights wielded, but perfectly suited to his immense strength.

Opposite him stood a student from Kildare Knights Academy, the pride of Milton Kingdom.

Kildare was considered the best Knight Academy on the continent, as it produced many Grand Knights, so the crowd expected a clash of titans...

The announcer’s voice rang out: "Begin!"

The clash started with the Kildare knight trainee advancing swiftly, he invoked Sword Oath, the binding spell that sharpened his strikes and enhanced his speed.

It was one of their Foundational Spells... Then, his movements became lighter and faster, since at the same time, he used the Academy’s second foundational spell, Iron Will.

This spell shielded him from distraction and fear!

But Kite was built differently, so he was unbothered...

With a single swing of his halberd, Kite shattered the Kildare knight’s guard.

Bang! Bang!

Steel met steel, and the impact reverberated across the arena. The Kildare knight trainee staggered, forced back by the sheer force of Kite’s strike.

The crowd gasped.

There was simply a huge difference between their Power Strands!

Kite must have 30 or more Power Strands, and it was definitely too high for someone of his age.

"Incredible!"

"Kite! Destroy him!"

"Don’t let him get a chance to recover!"

"End it quickly!!"

"Kite! Kite! Kite!"

His friends cheered!

Just like that, Kite pressed forward, not giving a chance for his opponent to recover...

His halberd swept in wide arcs, each strike infused with Arcane Energy. Then, his Imperial Rally was activated!

This spell boosted his stamina and strength, allowing him to maintain his assault without pause.

The Kildare knight tried to counter, but Kite’s halberd was faster, heavier, and more punishing!

"Boring..." Kite muttered as he taunted the student...

Every attempt to strike was met with a crushing blow that forced him back.

At one point, the Kildare knight invoked Guardian’s Shield, manifesting a glowing shield wall of Arcane Energy to absorb Kite’s assault. For a moment, the crowd thought he might turn the tide. But Kite’s halberd crashed against the barrier again and again, each strike heavier than the last, until the shield shattered under the relentless force.

Vale watched closely and nodded.

’Kite... this one is different. He’s not just disciplined. He’s overwhelming in terms of strength, his aura, his technique... Jericho will face a true obstacle here.’

In any case, the duel continued, but it was clear who held the advantage.

The Kildare knight’s defenses crumbled under Kite’s attacks...

His armor became dented, his blade had been chipped, and his stamina was slowly being drained.

Finally, with a thunderous strike, Kite’s halberd smashed against the Kildare knight’s chestplate. The shield of Guardian Spell was gone, his Iron Will was gone and he fell unconscious for pushing too hard.

The announcer’s voice rang out... "Victory! Kite of Hervont Knights Academy!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, astonished by Kite’s dominance.

Vale exhaled slowly. He had expected Hervont’s knights to be strong, but Kite’s performance was beyond ordinary. This was not a student who could be dismissed.

’Jericho will face him. And when that happens, it will not be easy for Jericho, but this should be doable.’

Vale’s confidence did not waver.

In the individual division, Jericho would struggle against Kite.

But once the three‑on‑three team battles commenced, Vale was certain his students would triumph. The blessings of Zerel, the strength of Marshall Academy’s foundational spells, and the unity of his trainees would carry them through.

With that thought, Vale disappeared from the coliseum, his shadow slipping away unnoticed.

***

He reappeared in the grand hall where the Alchemist Competition was being held.

Unlike the coliseum, this hall was quiet, filled with rows of tables and cauldrons. The air smelled faintly of herbs and minerals, completely different from others.

Here, it was not about combat. It was about creation.

Each academy had sent three students to compete. Their task was simple in description but complex in execution...

It was to create a Spirit Restoration Pill, a universal pill that all Arcanists could use to restore their Spirit Energy.

At the center of the hall lay piles of ingredients, carefully arranged by the organizers. But not all were genuine.

The organizers had deliberately added confusing ingredients, plants and minerals that looked similar but were vastly different in effect.

There was Ghost Grass, nearly identical in appearance to Spirit Grass, but poisonous if refined incorrectly.

There was Ashroot, which resembled Vitalroot, but carried no restorative properties.

There was False Lotus, its petals nearly indistinguishable from True Lotus, but bitter and useless in alchemy.

There was Mimic Moss, which looked like Soul Moss, but dissolved into ash when exposed to flame.

There was Ironleaf, which resembled Silverleaf, but carried metallic impurities that could ruin a pill.

The students had to not only identify the correct ingredients but also select the best quality among them. A single mistake could ruin the entire batch!

"Ohh... This might be more interesting to watch..." Vale muttered to himself as he saw what was going on.

After all, the alchemy challenge did not end there.

Apparently, there was no fire provided.

Each student was given coal, but the flame itself had to come from within. Every alchemist carried a unique flame infused into their body since it was a manifestation of their affinity and training.

Of course, Vale had selected the top three of the Alchemy Division’s students.

Among Marshall Academy’s participants were three promising alchemists, each wielding a different flame.

Gus carried the Eternal Whiteflame. This fire was calm, balanced, and perfect for precise alchemy.

Nolan wielded the Azure Frostfire. A rare flame that burned with clarity, unmatched in purity. Difficult to master, but ideal for potion refinement and subtle transformation. Those who wielded it were often healers and scholars.

Lastly, there was Layla with the Crimson Pyre. According to Zeno, it was fierce, destructive, and suited for forging weapons and combat alchemy.

Because of their differences, each had a specialty.

Other academies had their own flames, of course. Some wielded Emerald Verdantfire, suited for herbal refinement. Others carried Golden Sunfire, strong but unstable. A few had Shadowflame, rare and dangerous, capable of burning through impurities but difficult to control.

The announcer’s voice echoed through the hall... "Begin!"