The underground chamber remained active long after the discussion surrounding the Demon Crucible Trials settled into quieter territory. Dimensional maps continued rotating above the central formation platform while faint red coordinate lines drifted across fractured world projections suspended between Noctis and Valdred. The old Academy mechanisms embedded behind the walls maintained their constant low vibration beneath the stone floor, and every few moments one of the relic barriers along the outer alcoves adjusted itself with a soft pulse of light as pressure circulation within the chamber recalibrated automatically around the sealed artifacts stored there.
Noctis remained seated near the edge of the table while one arm rested loosely against the chair. The remnants of abyssal bloodwine shifted inside the crystal glass whenever he turned it lightly between his fingers, dark crimson liquid catching blue flame-light from the wall basins before settling again. The discussion regarding trial worlds and relic synchronization had changed his interest in the Academy considerably. Classes still sounded pointless to him, but the institution itself clearly possessed access to things far beyond ordinary sovereign territory.
Valdred adjusted one of the floating dimensional projections with two fingers while several unstable coordinates expanded outward above the table. The projection showed a fractured region suspended somewhere beyond the Demon Realm, its outer borders distorted by spatial collapse while multiple warning sigils rotated slowly around the perimeter.
"The next Demon Crucible opening will not occur until next month," Valdred explained while the projection continued turning between them. "The gateway cycles require preparation and stabilization before the trial routes can safely open again. Some worlds remain unstable for years before synchronization becomes possible."
Noctis leaned slightly farther back into the chair while the edge of his coat shifted against the dark wood beneath him. "So I wait an entire month?"
"For the Crucible itself, yes." Valdred lowered one hand afterward and the dimensional projection contracted into a smaller rotating map above the table. "However, the Academy maintains numerous expeditionary operations in the meantime. Participation grants contribution points, battlefield authority, and access to restricted resources."
The mention of resources held Noctis's attention more effectively than the earlier explanation regarding lectures ever had. He shifted his posture slightly afterward, resting his left elbow against the chair arm while his hand supported the side of his face. The glass remained balanced loosely in his opposite hand while blue flame-light moved across its surface.
"What kind of expeditions?"
Valdred reached toward another projection layer and activated it through several rotating symbols. The map dissolved into a far larger battlefield image stretching partially across the chamber itself. Fortress markers, broken territory lines, and dimensional rift symbols spread across the projection while thousands of tiny moving signatures pulsed throughout the region.
"The Academy supports ongoing warfronts against the Holy Church."
The battlefield image continued shifting slowly while faint pressure spread from the projection. Noctis studied the moving markers carefully, noticing the sheer scale of the conflict immediately.
"This many?"
"The war never truly stops." Valdred rested one armored hand against the table afterward while the projection cast moving light across the dark blue metal along his forearm. "Certain fronts remain quiet for decades. Others erupt constantly depending on territorial movement, relic discoveries, dimensional instability, or political pressure between the higher authorities."
Noctis lifted the glass and took another drink while continuing to observe the battlefield markers. The abyssal bloodwine carried the same heavy heat through his chest as before, though now the sensation mixed faintly with anticipation settling deeper in his thoughts.
"And contribution points come from killing Church members?"
"Partially." Valdred nodded once. "The Academy evaluates battlefield merit through several systems. Soul collection is one of the primary measurements because it is difficult to falsify. Missions, target eliminations, relic recovery, military objectives, dimensional stabilization work, and battlefield survival also contribute."
The battlefield projection shifted again while several highlighted zones expanded outward near the edge of the map. Noctis noticed multiple regions marked with sovereign-level threat warnings.
"Students participate in this regularly?"
"Upper Academy students and sovereign factions do." Valdred's voice remained calm while one nearby relic barrier emitted a low pulse behind him. "The Academy does not exist separately from the Demon Realm. It exists to strengthen it."
Noctis rested the side of his head more fully against his left palm afterward while the glass rotated slowly between the fingers of his opposite hand. Wind from the hidden ventilation channels moved lightly through the chamber and stirred the edge of several floating records near the rear shelves.
"What exactly can contribution points buy?"
Valdred's expression shifted faintly, almost amused that the question arrived so quickly once practical benefits entered the discussion.
"Almost everything."
The Vice Principal adjusted the projection again, causing multiple category symbols to appear across the battlefield image.
"Weapons. Relics. Bloodline materials. Restricted archives. Private training chambers. Abyssal resources. Dimensional access permits. Sovereign inheritance records. Rare spell frameworks. Some students even purchase temporary authority rights for specific Academy sectors."
Noctis remained quiet while listening.
Valdred continued.
"There are also forbidden trials."
That finally caused Noctis's eyes to narrow slightly with genuine interest.
The floating battlefield image reflected faintly across the crystal glass while he took another slow drink.
"Forbidden trials."
Valdred nodded.
"Certain trial zones are considered too dangerous for ordinary Academy circulation. Access requires enormous contribution totals, direct authority approval, or exceptional merit."
Noctis lowered the glass slightly afterward while one finger tapped lightly once against its side.
"Now that sounds useful."
The Vice Principal watched him several moments before speaking again.
"The mortality rate inside those trials is also extremely high."
"That usually means the rewards are worth it."
Valdred did not disagree.
The battlefield projection continued rotating between them while distant formation vibrations echoed faintly through the underground structure. Somewhere deeper within the Academy, massive transit arrays were likely still operating beneath layers of sealed stone and dimensional anchors. The institution truly resembled an entire sovereign civilization hidden beneath the appearance of a school.
Noctis eventually tilted his head slightly while observing the battlefield markers again.
"How many points would I gain from killing Holy Church members?"
"That depends on rank." Valdred adjusted several symbols near the projection and different contribution values appeared beside highlighted targets. "Ordinary soldiers provide almost nothing. Priests, knights, inquisitors, bishops, and higher authorities increase substantially depending on confirmed threat classification."
Noctis's posture remained relaxed while he studied the values.
Then a faint smirk crossed his face.
"What about the Pope?"
Valdred stopped moving.
The battlefield projection continued rotating slowly between them while blue flame-light shifted across the chamber walls. One of the crystal glasses gave a soft click when the Vice Principal unconsciously tightened his grip slightly.
"…The Pope?"
Noctis rested his head more fully against his palm while watching Valdred's reaction.
"How many contribution points would I get if I killed him?"
Valdred genuinely did not answer immediately.
Not because he lacked authority.
Because the question itself was absurd enough that his mind required several moments to process whether Noctis was joking, testing him, or casually discussing regicide against one of humanity's highest authorities.
The chamber remained filled with the steady hum of dimensional projections and old formation systems while Valdred stared across the table.
Noctis eventually chuckled quietly and lifted the glass again.
"I'm joking."
The Vice Principal still looked unconvinced.
Noctis took another drink before lowering the glass afterward.
"But if the Academy ever needs the Pope dead, let me know."
Valdred leaned slightly back into the chair while armor shifted softly against the movement.
"How exactly would you kill the Pope?"
The battlefield projection continued rotating above the table while Noctis turned his head slightly toward one side of the chamber. His left hand remained supporting part of his face for several moments longer before he finally lowered it. Then, without rushing the motion, he raised that same hand slightly into the air between them.
"The Holy Church likes holy power, right?"
Valdred's brows tightened faintly.
Noctis closed his fingers slowly.
Pressure gathered instantly.
Not blood pressure.
Not abyssal force.
Golden light condensed above Noctis's palm while holy energy converged inward from the surrounding air itself. The chamber formations reacted immediately. Several nearby relic barriers brightened while dimensional projections flickered under the sudden interference of pure sacred power appearing inside one of the deepest abyssal sectors of the Academy.
Valdred stood abruptly.
The chair shifted sharply backward against the stone floor while sections of his armor moved with the sudden motion.
"That is holy power."
The golden sphere continued condensing above Noctis's hand while light reflected across the chamber walls. Pure sacred energy circulated densely enough that even the abyssal flames lining the room dimmed slightly beneath its presence.
Noctis looked toward Valdred calmly.
"Yeah."
The Vice Principal stared directly at the holy energy while disbelief spread visibly across his expression.
Noctis casually extended the glowing sphere toward one side of the chamber afterward. He turned his head slightly at the same time and took another sip of bloodwine while opening his fingers.
The holy energy detonated outward.
A massive golden blast crossed the chamber instantly and struck the far wall beneath one of the dimensional projection arrays. The impact shook the entire underground sector violently. Ancient formations flared across the walls while several relic barriers expanded automatically under emergency stabilization protocols. The dimensional maps rotating above the table distorted wildly before correcting themselves again as pressure rippled through the chamber.
Stone cracked across the impact point while residual holy energy spread outward through the wall formations.
Valdred stared toward the damage in complete shock.
"Was that Holy Smite?"
The Vice Principal turned back toward Noctis while portions of the chamber still vibrated faintly from the impact.
"That was a bishop-level Holy Church spell."
Noctis lowered the glass afterward while traces of holy energy still dispersed slowly from his fingertips.
"No. It only looks similar." He glanced briefly toward the damaged wall before continuing. "I just gathered holy power and released it directly. Holy Smite has actual spell structure behind it."
Valdred remained standing while the old chamber mechanisms continued stabilizing around them. Several hidden formations deep within the walls emitted low pulses as they repaired stress fractures from the blast.
"You can use holy power…"
His voice carried genuine disbelief now.
"…while possessing vampiric blood abilities?"
Noctis rested the glass back against the table edge while the remaining holy traces faded from his hand.
"Not just holy power."
The same hand lifted again afterward.
This time darkness gathered.
Dense abyssal energy condensed into his palm almost instantly, swirling black-purple force twisting through the air with pressure entirely opposite to the holy energy displayed moments earlier. The chamber temperature dropped noticeably while nearby projections distorted again beneath the conflicting forces now existing within the same space.
Valdred nearly lost composure completely.
"Abyssal power too?"
The Vice Principal actually took half a step backward while staring toward the condensed darkness rotating above Noctis's palm.
Holy and abyssal affinities fundamentally opposed one another.
Yet Noctis manipulated both casually.
The abyssal sphere rotated slowly while Noctis lifted the glass again with his opposite hand and took another drink as though discussing ordinary Academy enrollment matters instead of demonstrating impossible affinity control.
Then laughter echoed lightly through the chamber.
Not physically.
Telepathically.
The hidden Principal's voice entered both their minds while traces of amusement lingered beneath the ancient presence.
"This is incredible."
The chamber's blue flames shifted softly while the unseen pressure of the Principal spread faintly through the underground structure.
Valdred immediately straightened slightly at the voice despite his attention remaining locked onto the abyssal energy in Noctis's hand.
The Principal continued.
"Holy affinity. Abyssal affinity. Blood Demon compatibility. Sovereign-level pressure. Ancient relic synchronization." Faint amusement remained present beneath the voice. "Young one, your existence grows more absurd each time you reveal something new."
Noctis smirked faintly afterward while allowing the abyssal energy to disperse gradually from his hand.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"It is." The Principal's voice carried quiet laughter again. "Though I suspect several old sovereigns would collapse from confusion if they witnessed this conversation."
Valdred finally exhaled slowly while lowering himself back into the chair. The damaged wall behind him still glowed faintly from residual holy power while hidden repair formations worked beneath the stone surface.
"You should not casually reveal this to others," Valdred said after several moments while rubbing one hand briefly across his brow. "The Holy Church alone would start wars trying to understand how a vampire can wield pure holy energy."
Noctis leaned back again while the empty glass remained loose in his fingers.
"They already want me dead anyway."
"That is not the point."
The Vice Principal looked toward the damaged wall once more before continuing.
"You are displaying mutually contradictory affinities simultaneously. Most beings cannot survive exposure to both, much less control them."
The Principal's voice entered again, calmer now though interest still lingered beneath it.
"The Academy records contain no known precedent for this level of compatibility. Even ancient sovereign mutations rarely overcame affinity rejection to such an extent."
Noctis shrugged slightly afterward.
"Maybe I'm built differently."
Valdred almost laughed from sheer disbelief despite himself.
"That may be the greatest understatement I have heard in centuries."
The chamber slowly stabilized around them afterward. Dimensional projections resumed steady rotation while the damaged wall formations repaired fractured stone beneath layers of glowing runic patterns. The relic barriers surrounding several nearby artifacts gradually dimmed back toward normal containment levels once the holy and abyssal energies fully dispersed.
Noctis eventually rested the empty glass against the table and looked back toward the battlefield projection still rotating nearby.
"So when do these expeditions start?"
Valdred studied him several moments longer before answering, likely still trying to reconcile the impossible mixture of powers revealed during the discussion.
"There is a battlefield deployment scheduled within several days."
"Good."
Noctis's expression relaxed faintly afterward while the battlefield markers reflected across his eyes.
The Demon Crucible could wait.
For now, contribution points, forbidden trials, battlefield expeditions, and Holy Church warzones sounded more than sufficient to keep his interest occupied.