Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 123 - 118 Top Student

Andrey finished his lesson with the scholar with pleasure.

When saying goodbye, Lyle still chickened out a bit.

"Mr. Dragon asked me to remind you to attend the Spirit Summoning Studies class later, it’s tonight, the usual place."

Was it a case of the old flame showing up just as he had found a new love?

It wasn’t until Andrey descended to the basement level that his unease finally subsided.

Gently pushing open the old classroom door, he saw silhouettes upon silhouettes standing on the seats. As Lyle moved, his gaze followed; by now, he wasn’t that frightened anymore. Shuishui even extended a tentacle to greet them, and incidentally straightened the hat of the classmate standing by the door.

The classmate didn’t say anything, simply took off the hat and scraped off the slime clinging to its surface with his bone magic wand.

Upon reaching his seat, a deskmate sitting next to him unexpectedly extended his hand, which bore a thick layer of scales—artificially attached, another one with a fetish for exotic attire. He had adorned his disguise with various colorful reptilian scales. Lyle wasn’t sure if it was a protective mechanism, but the chaotic colors were indeed dizzying.

"My name is Shiny, Mr. Plague Doctor."

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Shiny," truly shiny enough, "Your scales are beautiful."

"Yes, they are beautiful, but they could be more so," Shiny raised his head, revealing a face also covered with scales that formed a smiling face due to the different colors. "Ever since I became Mr. Dragon’s student, I haven’t been able to remove scales from those living lizards. I can only collect the ones they shed naturally, which are usually dull or damaged."

"That’s unfortunate."

"No, the unfortunate one tonight might be you."

Lyle looked at Shiny, not understanding what he meant.

Mr. Dragon clapped his hands, interrupting the students’ interactions. "All right, since everyone has gotten acquainted, let’s begin our lesson. Today, we’ll be studying a major category of Spirit Summoning Studies—Curse Spells. After I complete the theory part, there will be a practical lesson. Yes, the classmates you’ve just met will be your targets for casting spells. You will curse each other until one of you falls. Everyone who remains standing will receive an excellent grade from me. The reason I had you share your names, is so you’d know who you’ll be dealing with in the future. Yes, I believe most of you are magnanimous, but it’s our right to be in good spirits. If you feel bullied in the Curse class, Andrey welcomes you to resolve your disputes privately. For the capable students, the Black Abyss Arena is willing to be open for you."

Lyle looked at Shiny, who seemed to sense Lyle’s gaze and erect his scales all over his body like an animal, threatening Lyle.

Lyle planned to show weakness to the enemy, valuing peace above all. Shuishui, however, chose hard mode, and a large blob of snot-like slime was sprayed onto Shiny. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Mr. Plague Doctor, your pet is really cool."

Lyle had no intention of responding further; since his side had chosen to fight, it was undoubtedly more dignified to enhance his strength than to beg for mercy. The knowledge from the class now was his capital for staying upright later.

"Aging Curse..."

"Painful Curse..."

Lyle studied the pronunciation of each curse desperately, muttering them at an even faster pace under his breath. Under the pressure, the scholar’s gem was emitting a dim light.

"Students, I believe the theory class has already tired you out, so now, remember these curses with your bodies."

"Casting the curses begins."

As Mr. Dragon announced, classmates started pulling out their wands, aiming at each other and the room instantly turned into a chaotic marketplace.

As a transmigrant with a meticulous mind, Lyle chose to make a run for it. His Holy Spirit Wand was already in hand, and with a simple gesture, he cast his fastest spells.

"Painful Curse, Silence Curse, Oppression Curse."

The Painful Curse disturbed the mind, Silence Curse sealed the ability to speak, Oppression Curse hindered movement.

If successful, Shiny would become nothing but a punching bag that could only take hits.

But there are no ifs in this world, and Shiny stood stubbornly, seemingly affected only lightly by the Oppression Curse.

"Fragile Curse, Slow Curse,"

Lyle felt as though an invisible armor had shattered upon him, his body suddenly sluggish, his thoughts and breathing likewise.

Shiny was still boasting.

"Your casting speed is very fast, Mr. Plague Doctor. It seems the top student in the eyes of Mr. Dragon truly lives up to his reputation. But, have you been a bit too arrogant, using some curses that are completely ineffective against our race, even if you’re skilled in casting curses, shouldn’t you be more meticulous? Are you treating me like an idiot?"

"I hope this lesson serves as a warning to you, Mr. Plague Doctor, accept your defeat."

"Exhaustion Curse needs some preparation time, but I’ve already used the Fragile Curse to lower your resistance, and the Slow Curse might be simple, but it’s effective. By the time my incantation is finished, you’ve already lost."

What he didn’t know was that Lyle was outnumbered.

"Gurgle gurgle."

Shuishui’s tentacles pointed like spikes directly at Shiny’s head.

Fragile Curse, Slow Curse.

Now there were two moving at a snail’s pace.

Not only that, Shuishui’s body turned a ghastly green.

The Plague Messenger was activated.

Shiny’s scales dulled, a black shadow crept upon him like a venomous snake.

Absolute side effect triggered, symptoms, petrification.

Shiny found his body immobilized, as if fixed in place: he could not lift the wand in his hand and could only watch the purple magical imprint accumulate at the tip of the Slime’s pet, Exhaustion Curse.

Lyle’s curses dissipated as he hunched over panting heavily. The Slow Curse had made it difficult for him to absorb oxygen, but thankfully his metabolism had also slowed down, preventing him from dying on the spot.

A new voice sounded in his mind.

Plague Messenger, mutation, curse contagion.

Before Lyle could regain his senses, Shuishui autonomously gave the command.

Contagion.

One spreads to ten, ten spreads to a hundred.

Fragile Curse, Slow Curse, Exhaustion Curse—a triplet of curses was launched.

Finally, Lyle understood how Mr. Ramon felt.

The feeling of Andrey slashing through the wheat.

Mr. Dragon looked on in shock as students fell one after the other.

"What’s happening?"

Lyle raised his hand apologetically.

"Mr. Dragon, I accidentally spread the plague, sorry, as you can see, it was all my doing."

The Plague Doctor, Andrey, the only top student from the fifth session of the Spirit Summoning Studies Curse Series course.