Making a group of Liches, who fear not death and court it so fervently, feel hunger was indeed a most amusing affair. Of course, this research endeavor was anything but easy; currently, there are many difficulties that need to be overcome.

How Nia managed to transmit hunger, what anomaly occurred in the making of subject 357, and why is there only such a unique case? How to control this variable.

Moreover, the shaping of the flesh sensory system, the digestive system, and of course, most importantly, the lips and tongue. If Liches were to eat just for the sake of eating, they would at most consider this desire a burden. They need taste buds, they need to experience the joy of tasting food, that is what would drive them to continue consuming. Liches always fancy something novel.

Lyle, lost in thought, ignored the noises around him until Nia’s tendrils nudged his shoulder.

"Nia is hungry."

Lyle carelessly took out some of his stored jerky; Nia was no longer satisfied with just plain cheese, she craved more. Nia lay atop Lyle’s head, her shark-like gapped teeth tearing the meaty texture to shreds.

Lyle brushed off the debris from his beak mask and shared his inner thoughts with Nia.

"If subject 357 is craving flesh, then why doesn’t she turn to hunt me? I am made of... flesh as well."

Nia extended her tendrils to lick the crumbs off Lyle’s shoulder, "Because Lyle is Nia, we are her kind, her master."

"I see."

Shiny and others had also realized something from the previous conversations, but the inherent limitations of the Liches had not shifted their thoughts to food. They congratulated Lyle on his new research findings until he had clarified the severity of the situation.

They were so excited they could hardly wait to drop all their work and immediately join Lyle’s research.

Shiny propped up the dejected Light Bat Toxic Umbrella in his hand, "Boss, what should we do about this guy? He seems to have been beaten to the point where he can’t communicate at all."

The larger the hope, the deeper the despair, when one’s imagined lover turns out to only be interested in eating oneself.

"There’s no need for Mr. Toxic Umbrella’s compensation; in fact, if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have discovered this subtle and invisible appetite."

And so, Andrei had one more heartbroken bat.

The research hit a snag almost from the beginning, as their existing knowledge was entirely inadequate, which naturally was a significant blow to these excited newcomers. But no matter, if we can’t do it, we can ask for help. What is Andrei not short of? Knowledge and corpses.

Thus, Lyle found himself in Mr. Scholar’s laboratory, accompanied by Nia and Spine Wheel subject 357, waiting for Mr. Giant Dragon to arrive. Shiny and the others didn’t follow because Nia’s identity and abilities touched upon Lyle’s bottom line.

Nia’s awakening was facilitated by Mr. Scholar’s tacit consent. As a Dragon Priest who once sealed the Evil God, he naturally comprehended the changes in Nia. This was also the reason why Mr. Giant Dragon had been deliberately kept away for a while.

Nia detached completely from Lyle’s body and floated in the air under magical control. Although she detested this unsupported state, Lyle’s reassurance and her own awe of Mr. Scholar allowed her to quietly complete the examination.

While Mr. Scholar and Lyle were conversing, Nia began to play with the Silver Chain shed by the scholar.

"She’s growing. You were right, Plague Doctor, Nia is advancing to another stage."

Evil God of Life Studies? "What stage?" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Mr. Scholar’s words were as bland as if discussing a new paper he had written.

"From juvenility towards maturity, the stage where the Evil God begins to corrupt reality."

"What... what? Corrupt reality?" Lyle was shocked; he still hadn’t learned the Liches’ composure.

"Corrupting Evil Gods are always beyond the norm, my student. You will experience even more bizarre and absurd events. Anything you want, Nia can make it happen. You need to cultivate your mentality," said the scholar, placing the scroll back on the shelf, "Just like now, you’re planning to make Liches feel hunger, as if... as if they were still alive."

"Lyle, I must say, your imagination is indeed monstrous. I look forward to seeing the wonders that unconventional thinking and extraordinary power will create. How much change will you bring to us, to this academy, to this era, and to this world?"

The scholar’s words made Lyle’s blood boil with excitement, and Nia, perched on Lyle’s back, danced with joy.

"Scholar teacher, is that feeling of hunger controllable?"

"Of course, Lyle, that is what you and Nia are going to research next. I have confirmed it exists. You need to understand each other, and even though you are symbiotic, you also need to understand yourselves."

The scholar promised to teach Lyle the forbidden knowledge of controlling and transferring hunger.

Mr. Giant Dragon also made progress on creating fleshly disguises with taste buds.

"Crimson, Plague Doctor. The Blood Curse Great Tree of Mr. Crimson." Mr. Giant Dragon’s bones trembled, for as a Lich and a master of Spirit Summoning Studies, he knew what it meant.

Liches were to be closely linked with Spirit Summoning Studies. Spirit Summoning Studies created the Liches and would now give them new life. This discipline would surpass its past and become an important part of the Liches.

"Mr. Crimson’s taboo creation harbors all the knowledge needed to construct flesh. It is the library of flesh, the laboratory of flesh, and the womb of flesh. Plague Doctor, you already have the rights to use the Blood Curse Great Tree’s hive rooms, and you know how convenient that is. With that knowledge, you will surely perfect the crafting of bodies."

Lyle looked at the excited Mr. Giant Dragon, "But teacher, would Mr. Crimson really be willing to hand over such crucial knowledge to me?"

"No... he will organize everything for you personally and then teach you himself. Plague Doctor, your research results may well amplify Spirit Summoning Studies, something every mentor is happy to see. Plus, it serves Mr. Crimson’s interests too. As the Blood Curse Great Tree assists you in creating flesh, it would naturally learn the complete and mature techniques."

Apart from knowledge transfer, the Blood Curse Great Tree also served as an armory, used for creating cannon fodder. After this experiment, it might well take on new functions.

Creating flesh bodies for the Liches of Andrei Academy to travel and taste food, as completing all the work by Lyle alone was practically unrealistic given the immense workload.

Having finalized the details of the significant research that required the assistance of several professors, Lyle felt a bright future ahead.

"Mr. Giant Dragon, I will go and communicate with Mr. Crimson right away..."

"There’s no rush in talking with Crimson, I can handle that for you. But before all that, you, the initiator, need to meet someone else."

"Who?"

"Mr. Dean. The dean of Andrei Academy."

"Mr. Dean?" Lyle didn’t understand why they had to consult the dean for research that seemingly had nothing to do with him.

The scholar at his side laughed, "Although I suspected this would happen sooner or later, I didn’t expect the Plague Doctor to need the dean’s approval even before reaching the third lock. The smallest record was when Apocalypse applied with four locks, right?"

Mr. Giant Dragon also laughed, slapping the scholar’s shoulder with such a force that it nearly shattered the scholar’s shoulder blade, but thankfully he withstood it.

"Doesn’t this mean our student is extraordinarily talented?"

Mr. Giant Dragon clarified for the puzzled Lyle.

"Andrei Academy’s rule is, when facing applications for major research projects, one must consult Mr. Dean and receive supervision from the Salvation Association."

"Plague Doctor," Mr. Giant Dragon said with a smile as he brought out the Black Dragon Badge, "if this research succeeds, you’ll likely become a member of the Salvation Association too."

The Salvation Association, the gathering place for the most dangerous elements of Andrei.

Am I joining so soon?