Vale doesn't have a decent counter-spell against the undead minions of the Necromancers.
Most of his Dark Spells were better used against living beings. As a matter of fact, he also had three Necromancer Spells with him, and they were all useless against these zombies and skeletons...
In the end, Vale chose to end this quickly by using one of his Celestial Arts.
Vale briefly focused as he activated one of his Spell Lights. As soon as he felt the deduction of his Divinity Points, the sky above them suddenly changed…
"Don't follow me!" Vale shouted as he unleashed the Divine Lightning.
Boom!
In an instant, a bolt of lightning streaked through the sky, illuminating the dark battlefield.
The crackling energy struck with precision, obliterating all the summoned undead creatures at the same time.
The zombies disintegrated into dust, the skeleton knights shattered into bone fragments, and the Flying Bone Eagle was consumed by the electrifying power of the Spell.
"An Elementalist?!"
The squad captains stared in disbelief as their summoned forces were decimated by Clovis' Lightning Spell. The power he wielded was beyond their expectations, and it sent shockwaves through their ranks. They realized that capturing Clovis would be no easy feat.
"Summon the Soul Eaters!" One of them commanded, but before they could cast their spells, Vale seized the opportunity to disappear from their sight.
This time, he made sure that no one would catch him.
Utilizing his Lightspeed Spell and Agility to the limit, he moved with such swiftness that he became a blur, vanishing into the depths of the shadows. Furthermore, he used his wide-range Spell Dispersion Spell to ensure that no Tracking Spell or any Spying Spell would lock on him.
"He's gone, Captain Wayman."
"He's so quick… He just disappeared from my Magic Zone… That's 45 meters!" One of them said in frustration.
Left standing amidst the remnants of their decimated summons, the four people exchanged wary glances.
They knew that Clovis possessed a power that surpassed their own, and they would need to report this to the higher-ups. They had to find this person!
Even if he doesn't pose any threat to them right now, there was no way an Arcanist that has a power surpassing a Squad Captain of the Order, would be left unknown.
After some time, the Captain Wayman looked at the man Clovis hinted to be an Elementalist.
"Did you use any Elemental Spells? How did he recognize you as an Elementalist?" He asked.
"Indeed. Perhaps the two of you had met before… He seems like an Elementalist. I don't think normal Artifact can release that kind of Lightning." Another Necromancer added.
However, the Elementalist simply shook his head.
"I'm using an Artifact to hasten my speed. I wasn't using any Elemental Spell a while ago. Furthermore, I have two other items stopping my Elemental Energy from leaking." The Elementalist answered as he also shook his head in confusion.
He couldn't remember any actions he made that had hinted to Clovis that he was an Elementalist.
"Then how was he able to find you?" One of the Necromancers asked.
Captain Wayman was deep in his thoughts as he recalled something…
His eyes lit up in disbelief…
Everyone else realized that their Captain had discovered something.
"Captain? Did you recognize him?"
Captain Wayman shook his head and explained with a serious voice. "That man was probably part of the Untainted Sentinels, holding a very high position."
After hearing this, the other three already had an idea of what he had discovered.
"I'm guessing that he used the Divine Sense, a Holy Spell only Bishops can learn." Captain Wayman said as he realized that this matter wasn't simple.
***
Meanwhile, Vale safely returned to the Academy, his heart pounding with a mixture of exhilaration and caution. The encounter had solidified his belief in the potency of his Celestial Art, but it had also made him acutely aware of the dangers that awaited him outside the Academy's walls.
Although he was able to get away from them, he may not be as lucky as he is today.
Nevertheless, Vale made sure not to act suspiciously and acted the same way the next day.
***
Several weeks had passed since Vale's encounter with the Order of the Evanescent Vessels, and the start of the fourth year in the Academy had finally arrived.
Excitement and anticipation buzzed through the air as students gathered in the courtyard, eager to embark on a new chapter of their Arcane Studies.
With the beginning of a new Academy Year came a new Curriculum or Branch of Dark Arts...
Vale, along with his fellow classmates, eagerly awaited the unveiling of their new courses and the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills.
As the students gathered, they were informed of a significant change—a shift in their classroom location.
No longer confined to the familiar lecture halls, the students of the Rituals Branch were to commence their studies in the second Ceremony Hall of the Academy.
This Hall was renowned for its potent concentration of Dark Energy, making it an ideal environment for delving into the depths of the Dark Arts…
Vale glanced at his classmates and counted that there were only 14 of them… They were too few, considering that there were about 120 third-year students! It means that only a little over 10 percent had chosen the Rituals Branch!
'What did they choose? Dark Magic? Necromancy?' Vale was stunned as he thought that there would be a lot more students choosing this Branch.
Nevertheless, he didn't show his surprise.
Vale and his classmates entered the second Ceremony Hall and marveled at the sight of the mysterious Hall... The atmosphere was palpable, charged with an intensity that sent shivers down their spines.
The air was filled with dark energy that was pressuring them to some extent.
"Mhmm… Beautiful." Maya, standing behind Vale, muttered at the sight of the Hall.
The second Ceremony Hall itself was indeed a sight to behold.
Intricate tapestries adorned the walls, depicting ancient spells in ancient languages and figures of legendary Arcanists.
The vast expanse of the Hall provided ample space for experimentation and practical spellcasting or rituals, ensuring that the students could fully immerse themselves in their studies.
Then, Vale took his seat among his new classmates… However, as he was about to feel excited about the new class, he realized that Maya and Leonore were seated beside him.
