“W-what?”

Vale’s eyes widened in disbelief as the Captain of the Fourth Squad suggested isolating him due to the possibility of being possessed by the Mysterious Existence.

‘Are you serious? Don’t you have any spell to confirm I’m not possessed?’ Vale thought as he felt a bit disappointed in the Captain.

On the other hand, the Professors seemed to dislike the Captain’s idea as well, especially Professor Gale Evans, who appeared to be ready to smack his head.

The weight of the suggestion hung heavily in the air, and Vale could sense the tension building among the professors and the Captain.

Feeling confused and frustrated, Vale took a step forward, his voice steady but filled with determination.

“Captain, I understand your concern, but I assure you that I am not possessed. The encounter with the Mysterious Existence was unsettling, yes, but I am still in control of myself and my actions…”

While saying this, he was also thinking of a way to prove that he wasn’t possessed.

Professor Zara, her voice calm yet firm, interjected. “Captain, we must exercise caution and not jump to conclusions. I don’t see any changes in Vale’s condition. Isolation may not be necessary at this point.”

“Indeed, Captain… In the first place, the Dark Soul Tower was known for its strong purifying power. Anything that wasn’t given as a reward could never be taken out of the Tower… or they’d be purged. This includes the Evil Shadows, Vengeful Spirits, and other Spiritual Beings that could possess our Students. Isolation may do more harm than good.” Professor Stella added.

‘Ohh…’ Vale didn’t expect that the professors would strongly side with him.

He could see the conflict within the Captain’s eyes, torn between the responsibility to protect and the need for understanding.

The Captain hesitated for a moment before finally relenting, realizing the validity of the professors’ arguments.

“Very well,” the Captain conceded, “but we must remain vigilant and closely monitor Vale’s well-being. Any signs of unusual behavior or influence must be reported immediately.”

Vale nodded, acknowledging the Captain’s concern while appreciating the professors’ unwavering support. “I understand, Captain. I will also communicate any changes or concerns that arise.”

Professor Gale Evans finally found an opportunity as she spoke with a hint of excitement.

“Now that it’s settled, can you tell us about the two items you’re holding? I don’t think the first, second, or third floor gives that kind of reward.”

The other Professors were also curious about this as they looked at Vale simultaneously.

Vale hesitated for a moment before he answered cautiously.

“You’re right, Professor. I didn’t get these items on those floors.”

As the professors and the Captain were about to inquire further about the damaged staff and the Ancient Book that Vale held, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway.

Headmaster Jean, returning earlier than expected, appeared with a smile hanging on his face.

“Ah, Vale, there you are…” Headmaster Jean said, his voice carrying a mix of relief and curiosity.

The Captain of the Fourth Squad then reported what had happened as Headmaster Jean nodded in understanding.

“I need you for a moment, Vale…” He then shifted his attention to others and continued. “Professors, Captain, I will take care of him. Please ensure that the Tower is safe before letting the Necromancy Students enter again.” Jean said as he grabbed Vale’s shoulder.

Without waiting for their replies, Jean and Vale were shrouded by darkness before disappearing.

***

Just like that, Vale arrived inside the Headmaster’s office. This wasn’t the first time he encountered this technique, so he wasn’t too surprised.

‘This Shadow Step again… It seemed really cool. Should I record this instead?’ Vale mused as he was already considering recording the Dark Spells he found in the Dark Tower…

He already has Lightspeed, and with his incredibly high Agility, he believes he could beat even the Headmaster if they run in a marathon. However, the convenience of the Shadow Step seemed too obvious.

“Vale, only those who reached the fifth and sixth floor of the Tower would normally get Mystical Items. However, I believe that you barely have the capacity to reach the Fourth Floor… What happened?” Headmaster Jean asked as he returned to his seat.

Vale wryly smiled at this. In any case, he already expected to be questioned,? so he simply decided to tell the truth.

This includes the mysterious floor he entered.

“Hmm?” This shocked the Headmaster since no one had ever reached that floor before. 𝒊𝒃𝒆𝓪.𝒄𝒎

As Vale continued, the Headmaster’s eyes widened as he realized that Vale successfully negotiated with that entity.

This time, Vale mentioned what he heard from the entity before he left the Tower.

“Our fate is intertwined. The day will come when our paths converge once more… That sounds like a threat.” Headmaster Jean repeated.

“That’s right, Headmaster. I’m sure that the mysterious entity will try to do something again. I don’t think I’ll clear the Dark Soul Tower again. This might be the last time I enter it…” Vale said as he returned the metal key to the Headmaster.

“I understand. It’s better if you don’t enter again. Just keep those things with you. I can already tell they’re not being tracked and do not possess any sentience. It should be safe to use them.”

Headmaster Jean instructed as he shifted his attention to the Ancient Book. “As for the language in that book… It’s called Ievada. I’m not an expert on it, but I know that this language was used by the first empire built on the southern continent. No one speaks this language now, so you might have trouble deciphering it. Even our Language Professors have limited knowledge about it.”

“I understand, Headmaster.” Vale replied.

He stayed inside the office for a few more minutes as Headmaster Jean asked about his experience on the first three floors.

Finally, after Vale returned to his room, he checked his Attribute Panel to see how many energy points he had accumulated.

Name: Kyle Marshall

Attributes: Strength 79.85, Agility 75.95, Intelligence 100, Vitality 75.10

Dark Arts: Spell Dispersion Lv7, Ghost Hand Lv7, Incorruptible Body Lv9, Darkness Manipulation Lv7, Spirit Vision Lv4, Light Absorption Lv6, Create Shadow Soldier Lv7, Cursed Breath Lv4, Moonlight Curse Lv7, Darkness Coil Lv4, Spectral Hands Lv4, Corrupted Chains Lv4, Dead Heart Lv4, Active Curse Break Lv4, Dusk Imprisonment Lv4

Holy Arts: Divine Sense Lv7, Blessed Healing Lv4

Celestial Arts: Call of the Divine Lightning Lv4, Shadow Mutilation Lv6

Summoning Art: Grimoire Attraction Lv6

Transformation Art: Human Shapeshift Lv7, Beast Shapeshift Lv4, Voice Manipulation Lv4

Martial Art: Meridian Access Lv7

Mystic Arts: Arcane Armor Lv6, Soul Bind Lv2

Neutral Ability: Extrasensory Perception Spell Lv7, Traceless Shift Lv7, Lightspeed Lv7

Available Energy: 8,990

Available Divinity: 2798.30

“Ahhh… It reached level 9?”

Vale was stunned as he saw the improvement of his Incorruptible Body.

New novel chapters are published on 𝒊𝒆𝓪.𝙘𝙢