Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 220 - 207: The Punishment for a Fickle Will

Chapter 220: Chapter 207: The Punishment for a Fickle Will

Lyle had just realized that the ground of the White Bone Forest would produce white fog, especially in a crowded space where the fog became even more apparent. It slowly rose, turning into a dense fog, but within the blur, there were numerous flickering lights; those were the walls of the Skeleton Labyrinth. On those walls, the Soul Fires flickered within each skull.

The skeletons embedded within the walls were in various positions, some crouching, some standing. Their finger bones stretched out from the walls, reaching towards the center where the students stood, as though they wanted to drag them into the wall. The sinister flames flickered inconsistently, but the empty eye sockets were all firmly fixed on the students.

The unsettling scene before him made Lyle take a small step back. Humans have a herd instinct, and when frightened, they try to blend into the group for support.

Although the group Lyle was in at that time was anything but reliable.

The once somewhat noisy students now maintained their composure as if someone had forcefully sent them all back into their coffins. They stood with downcast heads, like pine plants frozen in place.

Restlessness began to emerge, and Lyle watched the people beside him. Their bodies started to tremble slightly, and the first person other than Lyle began to show changes in this atmosphere.

It was a student with whom Lyle was not familiar. His body crouched down, his knees bent like in a horse-riding stance, arms held high in the air. With such a ludicrous posture, he swung his arms, stretched straight like data antennas, moving back and forth like a monkey throwing a tantrum.

The ridiculous movements sparked laughter, making the originally gloomy atmosphere somewhat comical.

Lyle was about to laugh, but then he realized that the laughter was coming from the wall behind him.

He turned around to look. The skeletons embedded in the wall were opening their jaws and producing a clacking sound, as if mocking the silly student.

Lyle frowned, gazing at the wall of skeletons with a probing voice,

"Former mentor?"

The skulls on the wall stopped their laughter, all the skulls rotating their spines to focus on Lyle.

"It’s me, Plague Doctor. The fact that you could break free from control so quickly doesn’t surprise me at all; you’re my proudest student," came the reply.

Without a doubt, this labyrinth of skeletons was the same Sea of Skeletons he had seen in Mr. Dragon’s, the Cup of Luxury room—these bones were actually extensions of the former mentor.

"What’s wrong with that guy?"

"Nothing much, his willpower was too weak, and I took control. His body is being manipulated by me and is now performing some interesting actions as I command."

"The Bag Monkey is a rare species of monkey that, like the sloth, prefers to live in trees, except for one time, the mating season. During their rut, Bag Monkeys descend the trees and come to the ground, waving their arms like cheerleaders, walking like crabs."

"Because of their long-term tree life, their body balance and walking abilities are quite weak, so they often fall over while courting. The most interesting part is that they usually perform excretion up in the trees, and their feces fall to the ground, everywhere. This leads their courting ground to be muddied, and since they are so prone to falling, it ends up like this."

The controlled student suddenly stiffened, then with a dramatic ’spread-eagle’ fall, he crashed face down, making intimate contact with the ground.

Should I lament that he isn’t a real Bag Monkey?

"Indeed, some species in this world are genuinely endangered due to their capabilities alone."

"After some species have gone extinct, all I can do is pay tribute to them through these memories of their movements."

"Want to see more animals, Plague Doctor?"

"This is the Basin Bird, it always has to dip its beak into the water to make a sound. It survives by startling fish..."

"Atesh Twirling-tailed Macaws, they have a rather interesting activity. Two brightly colored redhead males will bite each other’s beaks. It’s not a display of affection, because they will then tumble to death in the air, holding onto each other until one of them crashes into the surrounding tree trunks due to centrifugal force. There’s a story behind their name, too."

"Once, two well-known ornithologists discovered this medium-sized bird in a tropical forest, and it excitedly incited both of them to want to name the new species after themselves. An argument ensued between them until one of the Twirling-tailed Macaws, because of a bright scarf one of the researchers was wearing at the time, mistook him for one of its own kind... He was thrown so hard he became paralyzed from the waist down, and no one else contested the naming rights to the bird. That unlucky fellow was named Atesh."

Lyle listened to the dragon figure’s explanation, watching one of his classmates stand high on the maze walls, gracefully leap down, spinning in the air like a top, and then plunge headfirst into the ground, causing onlookers to wince in sympathy.

Mr. Dragon became more and more animated as he spoke, and Lyle’s classmates began their own attempts at mimicry, which was fortunate given they were Liches, allowing them to endure such rough treatment unscathed.

The entire White Bone department looked like a grand exhibition of extinct creatures.

Watching his classmates twisted in various awkward positions on the ground, Lyle’s mouth twitched, want to laugh, feeling it too inhumane to do so right now.

"Mr. Dragon, there’s no need to be so rough with them," although I know how much you adore animals.

"I’m helping them find themselves."

"By tracing their ancestors along the evolutionary chain?" Lyle found Mr. Dragon’s excuse amusing.

"Their Lich instincts make them subconsciously reject these bizarre behaviors. Their bodies will realize they are being controlled and fight to break free. I’m helping them, Plague Doctor. The more discomfort they feel, the better their chances of escaping control. Although, their imitation show is indeed quite entertaining."

"Plague Doctor, since you’ve already fully freed yourself from control, why not go and rest outside the maze? My main body must have been waiting out there for a while, and he will most definitely be delighted to see you the first to complete the test."

"Alright." Although I feel like you just want to get rid of me so you can have an easier time with the rest of them.

Lyle began walking through the maze, finding his way out was not difficult. The maze was designed to test the sanity of students still struggling with controlling skeletons; for Lyle, completely lucid, it was only a matter of time.

Especially when the dragon figure’s enthusiastic clone embedded in the maze walls pointed out the way so eagerly, Lyle quickly found the exit.

As he walked, Lyle pondered that perhaps his quick escape was because he was human, blessed with flesh, blood, and life, giving him a stronger control over his body.

Lyle saw Mr. Dragon fussing over a wooden display stand.

When he spotted Lyle, he laughed. "You know, Plague Doctor, I’m not the least bit surprised to see you come out of the maze first, because you are my proudest student."

Yes, I know, Mr. Dragon.

"How are the other students?"

"They’re playing the animal imitation game with your clone."

"Outrageous! My clone is getting too carried away. Are they plotting regicide? They are shamelessly toy with my beloved students!"

"Without even including me!!!!"