Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 739 - 682

This forest was immersed in a macabre terror, as flesh entwined with skeletons emerged from the soil. The impurity, which the gods could not accept, spread on a grotesquely mutating hotbed. Within the writhing chunks of corpse, bizarre plague doctors were weaving twisted life.

Huge, foul-smelling flesh tumors burst forth from the land, and the newly born Blood Nest Great Trees stood tall among the former carcasses. The surface’s hexagonal honeycomb windows resembled cold, indifferent eyeballs. As the Blood Nest Great Tree began to bleed, Mr. Crimson emerged from the pool of blood. The dazzling crown atop the other’s head merited him an extra glance, but his thoughts were more focused on the multiple chunks of flesh shaped by the wearer.

"A work in progress?" Knowledge from years of teaching allowed Mr. Crimson to quickly realize those creations could not move independently. They were dripping with fresh blood, their features indistinct and blurry.

"Modular structure." Lyle inserted his blood-stained gloves into the nearest wriggling chunk of flesh, where the fat layer inside was frigid. When he withdrew his hand, the gloves were as clean as new, coated with a protective layer of mucus, "When needed, I will stitch these parts together to form the Dream-making Flower. The flesh’s excellent reshaping properties will ensure a seamless final product."

Mr. Crimson looked at the smooth and even lines of the transformed parts. This excellent student always managed to be meticulous with the details during the Spirit Summon alterations. This was good. The creations of the plague doctor possessed a bizarre beauty that could be used as bait to attract eccentrics, freaks, and the like.

"Is there a need for a modular design?"

"The complete form is too large to pass through the Skeleton Gate. After this academic gathering, I want the Dream-making Flower to reach every corner of the world, not just the Liches. I aim to help every race in need of assistance!"

"... Creating nightmares? Or spreading mental illness?" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"It’s for curing insomnia and regulating moods!"

"... My dear student, have you forgotten your own experimental records? Selective memory?"

"I’ve already said that it’s still in the development stage, it’s going to get better! Once I handle the academic gathering and collect a bit more experimental data, I will make the Dream-making Flower the best-selling product of Spirit Summoning."

Mr. Crimson stood still, like a statue.

"I look forward to your improvements, plague doctor. Is there anything else I can help with?"

Lyle pondered for a moment and nodded.

"Mr. Crimson, I would like to consult with you about the technique of adding resistance to flesh."

Resistance addition to flesh. This unique trait of Spirit Summoning Studies represented the division between living and dead. Flesh can adapt to its environment and has extremely high plasticity. Adept Spirit Summoners have the ability to change muscle density and the adaptability of flesh. Various elemental associations and magical resistances can be added, differentiating specialized outer layers: scales, feathers, keratin layers, chitin layers.

"Adding resistance... I haven’t scheduled related teachings in my course plans yet. Come to think of it, as a Spirit Summoner still in the learning phase, you are a pioneer of the Salvation Society. Understood, leave the work of adding flesh resistance to me during the preparation stage of the academic gathering. Whatever resistance you need, I can make it happen for you!"

Mr. Crimson’s confidence provided much reassurance to Lyle.

"Then I’ll trouble you, Mr. Crimson. Please add Holy Light Resistance to my Dream-making Flower." Lyle’s radiant smile was the only display of sunshine in this terrifying dense forest.

"... I’ve been thinking, and as a professor, I should prioritize my student’s education. Teaching you to fish is better than giving you a fish. Plague doctor, I will teach you the method of adding resistance right now, and you can experiment on your own. Pay attention; this is entirely new knowledge!"

After the two-hour lecture concluded, Lyle nodded with an air of enlightenment.

"So, to add resistance to flesh most efficiently, the quickest way is to expose the flesh creation to the target element for an extended period, allowing the flesh to mutate and evolve an adaptive resistance."

Crimson was very pleased that Lyle had understood all this.

"We artificially accelerated the process of natural selection, which produces a large amount of energy and matter consumption during the contact phase, so you need to pay close attention to the contactees and the changes in flesh."

"I see. So, if I want to add Holy Light Resistance, I’ll need to have the flesh come into contact with the Holy Light..."

Lyle understood and, looking at Crimson’s somewhat guilty expression he suddenly realized.

"I need to make contact with Mr. Raymond."

"Um... and the more efficient the contact process, the more erosion effects it will produce. If you want good results, you need to go strong. But, well, it’s no shame to say that I’m hesitant to attack that Lich trespasser, not all Spirit Summoning Studies professors are famously tough."

Lyle snorted with laughter and eventually said farewell to Mr. Crimson. He was right, this was something he had to do himself. Mr. Raymond was an easy person for him to deal with, and he was indeed the most suitable target. Moreover, wanting to give the Dream-making Flower Holy Light Resistance was actually for Raymond’s sake. Lyle found that a layer of undying Holy Flame clung to Mr. Raymond’s body, usually hidden under the armor and not conspicuous, but the Holy Flame’s destructive power against dark forces could not be ignored. Even though these small flames were as natural as breathing to Raymond, he’d never used flesh for disguise; Andrey’s prized skin sacs that all Liches treasured would burn up the moment they touched Raymond’s bones.

If Lyle wanted to make Raymond the protagonist of his dreamscape, he had to overcome the challenge of the Holy Flame.

Leaving the White Bone Forest, without the cover of magical barriers, sunlight bathed the side walls of Andrey’s ancient fortress, filling the old stronghold with vitality. Andrey’s days were indeed lively; Liches in disguise picked up their old habits, holding tea and basking in the sun on the grass, and often troubled the Executive Committee with their abundant energy. Occasionally, they would have a sudden flash of insight during their breaks and hurry back to their laboratories. Apart from social enthusiasts like gentlemen, daytime Liches in Andrey immersed themselves in their pastimes, casting peaceful and languid glances at the surrounding world.

But today seemed a little different.

Lyle didn’t know what had happened, but he seemed to have become the focal point of his colleagues’ attention again, their subtle and explicit stares making him uncomfortable. Furthermore, their gazes were not the usual ones filled with admiration and goodwill, but rather those containing a hint of malicious amusement.

"Ah, Plague Doctor Sir, in such a hurry to go somewhere?"

"I’m headed to the Church of Holy Light, there are some research matters that need coordination."

"Ah... Did I interrupt you, hahaha, hahaha." With a strange laugh, the greeting Lich backed away from Lyle’s view, and Lyle saw his twisted and ugly smiling face on the flesh disguise, including those eyes that shot out intense light.

Had today’s Lich colleagues’ brains started to decay?

"Ah, Plague Doctor Sir... are you going to meet Mr. Raymond? Oh my! I happen to have a bit of business, I must excuse myself!"

"Understood, understood, research matters, how could we not understand your intent. Best of luck, Plague Doctor Sir! We in Andrey don’t have so many formalities!"

"Ah, why do I have my hands behind my back? I’m doing stretching exercises! The weights I’m holding are for training! No, not light at all, even though they look like newspapers, they’re actually compact dumbbells. Hahaha."

All the Liches Lyle encountered along the way behaved this way. He felt as if a thick barrier had arisen in Andrey, separating him from the other Liches. They observed him from outside the barrier, as if watching a monkey.

What the hell, a new form of bullying, or had a twisted trend stirred up from the City of Wandering again?

Lyle saw the glowing door in the distance, casting aside trivial thoughts; the experiment was more important.