'Gate to the Otherworld' quest walkthrough in Crimson Desert

The Scholastone Institute puzzle in Crimson Desert is part of the “Gate to the Otherworld” quest, and it’s all about pushing the right buttons. You will come across it during “Forbidden Knowledge” in Chapter 4, when you visit the Scholastone Institute in southwest Hernand.

Here’s how to solve the Scholastone Institute puzzle in Crimson Desert.

How to solve the Scholastone puzzle in Crimson Desert

Once you’ve made your way to the Scholastone Institute and have spoken with the Dean, you’re asked to “help with Octavius’ experiment,” which requires you to solve the Scholastone puzzle.

Graphic: Marloes Valentina Stella/Polygon | Source image: Pearl Abyss via Polygon

First, you must find the lock device switch, which is somewhere “underground.” Walk south and drop down to the lower ledge, then walk upstairs into the large chamber. Around the corner, you will see a square set of buttons.

The path to the Crimson Desert Scholastone puzzle.

Press the buttons in this order to solve the puzzle:

The solution to the Crimson Desert Scholastone puzzle.

When that’s done, pull the lever behind the puzzle and return to Octavius outside. To activate the device, you must insert the batteries (the floating electric cubes) into the square sockets. Luckily, each battery is already floating next to a pillar.

Use Axiom Force to move the batteries into the correct position, then use Force Palm to push them in.

Kliff places the batteries in the generator to complete the Scholastone puzzle in Crimson Desert.

Finally, when Octavius activates the unstable core, use Axiom Force on the core and keep pulling until it explodes. This will complete the Crimson Desert Scholastone Institute puzzle. Beware that the Tenebrum boss battle will start immediately after. Defeat Tenebrum, and the “Gate to the Otherworld” quest shall be complete, after which you can enter the Spire of the Stars.

Just starting out in Crimson Desert? We have guides to help you learn the basics and refresh your memory on how some of its systems work. The world of Pywel is huge, so you might have a hard time deciding where to go first, but you can make your journey a little easier with the help of our interactive map. Along the way, make sure to learn a few life skills like fishing, logging, cooking, and mining, all of which can help you make money.

We also have walkthroughs for puzzles in the Abyss like the Root’s End and Precipice of Truth, as well as ancient ruins like the Dragon’s Stone Chamber.