Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 745 - 688: Killing Spree
Several days later, invitation letters bearing Andrey’s emblem appeared in the hands of various club managers; some busy liches halted their research, beginning to anticipate the upcoming academic gathering.
Organizer: Necromancer Figure Club, Plague Doctor.
This name had become quite familiar to Andrey, no less because he had also been the topic of conversation these past few days. Liches wore smiles that suggested the Plague Doctor had become synonymous with change and fun—their fleshly guises outlined the visage of their living days.
"Mr. Plague Doctor is truly diligent, and rightfully caught the eye of the Child of the Holy Light..."
"A disaster of liches again? I hope the junior takes it easy..."
"Here, a new invitation, another one from the Plague Doctor, you continue to represent us..."
Light Bats began to swarm, arranging points of light in the vacant park, while the Executive Committee set up the venue, taking over the scene. Taking advantage of this rare opportunity, liches who had been cooped up in laboratories began their limited social activities. The introduction of fleshly disguises enriched the entertainment of the liches. The academic gathering seemed to be transforming into a large-scale celebration, something the headmaster openly welcomed, although disputes and disturbances were also on the rise.
Twelve chimes from the top of the Soul High Tower that spread to Andrey’s castle awoke the midnight. Under the blood-red moonlight, the academic gathering officially began.
Members of the Executive Committee guarded the boundaries, sighing with relief that their maintenance work was much lighter this time. Surprised, the Andrey enforcers found that those familiar faces, previously punished, were missing; the Literature Club, those representatives who relished in others’ misfortune, had unexpectedly missed this act of disorder.
The melodious flute playing was like the breath of the evening breeze. Perched on pillars, the Light Bats pulsed on and off with the lyrical and graceful melody. In this dreamlike trance, a squad of handsome men who seemed to have stepped out of myth strode in with a brisk rhythm, keeping pace with the flute. They greeted the stationary liches with smiles, their every word and laugh holding the hearts of young girls. Without masks on their faces, petals falling from the night sky nested in their wavy hair, like birds returning to a warm nest. Their tall figures moved with an ease and grace that could shame the most traditional nobility.
A scholarly aura, or a languid or despondent, or sweet or lively demeanor, combined with the handsome youth’s looks, became an enchanting sight of the Immortal Realm. Their collars bore a single soft white feather—the sole commonality in the midst of vibrant colors. The flute player dressed in floral garments, adorned with withered roses, led them to the seats prepared for them in the center of the venue.
Mr. Law, with an iron mask, tried to block these mysterious human characters; yet, in the next moment, his figure stiffened as his gaze fixed on one of them. The luminance paled before his features; gleaming blonde hair like the sun, no smile, and his beautiful porcelain face, evoking a sense of pity even with its shadowed expression.
Mr. Law stood immobile among the crowd, like a rock, watching as the man moved past him, disappearing among the attractive throng of flowers.
"Peace be with you, brother."
No liche questioned why these humans were seated while they stood, why they could occupy the center of the academic gathering. It all seemed entirely natural, with the innate nobility and aesthetic so compelling that even the emotionless liches couldn’t bear to disturb them.
Amidst the flowers, a youth in a black robe emerged; his features somewhat more ordinary compared to his companions, but the shining crown atop his head marked his extraordinary status. His smile bore a hint of arrogance, aloofness, and an illusion-like thirst for blood beneath the crown.
He stepped up to the lectern of the academic gathering, facing Andrey, beaming.
"Welcome to my academic gathering, my brethren. Tonight, I shall take you through the Immortal Realm."
"First, please allow me to introduce my friends, these noble volunteers, the entire Andrey Literature Club."
As Lyle finished speaking, the handsome group accepted Lyle’s praises and applauded in return, clapping for themselves.
The Literature Club was quite satisfied with their get-up for the evening. Tonight they weren’t making an entrance as Troublemakers or the Andrey’s scourge, but as participants in the most authoritative event in Andrey, the academic gathering. Unmasking to display their former appearances, shocking their old companions into silence, the members of the Literature Club relished in comfort and glory, praising Mr. Plague Doctor’s suggestion as really not bad. The Light of Fallen and our Literature Club are indeed one family; in the future, we must give this honorary member greater support.
The focus of all the clubs, yet held back by the rule that [the academic gathering takes precedence over everything], some were even still stunned by their own magnificent beauty and didn’t come to their senses.
Tonight, was another victory for the Literature Club! 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
Lyle snapped his fingers, and the fleshly creations prepared in advance interconnected behind him, forming into a vast Demon Flower that blotted out the sky.
Dream Crafter, team version. To pull the entire Literature Club into the dream, the main stem of the flower was especially thick, and the divided buds were enough to form a garden hanging perpendicular to the ground. The shadow of the Demon Flower was exceptionally large, with the blood moon casting its crimson glow behind it, projecting a shadow over all members of the Literature Club like a mountain wall that could collapse at any moment.
One by one, the flowers with thorns inside blossomed, oozing mucus from the petal edges, creating a sense of crisis in the hearts of the Literature Club members, as if they were being targeted.
Was something not quite right? Were the creatures made by Mr. Plague Doctor a bit too scary?
The monsters that were created started to become active; the buds slowly drooped, sharp teeth and fangs revealed, the patterns inside the flowers becoming clearer in the eyes of the Literature Club, heightening the alarm in their hearts. The handsome men’s faces lost their color as their vanity, disguised in flesh, became arrogant emotions. At that moment, their fear was also tremendously magnified.
"Mr... Plague Doctor! About this... shall we discuss it again... Something just came up at home!"
The shameless artists, who had forgotten their once bold proclamations, now only thought about turning and running. However, their bodies betrayed them, as their beautiful skins became prisons binding their free souls. Under the pouring shadow of the Demon Flower, a resplendent crown shimmered, with Lyle Butler’s smile bright but increasingly distorted.
"No can do, my friends. You have been so kind to me, and I haven’t repaid you yet."
Lyle bowed, his bent figure blending perfectly with the shadows.
"Goodnight, Literature Club."
The Liches, disguised in flesh, twitched their eyes as they looked upon the spectacle. The Dream-making Flower looked up again, stretching its trunk towards the moonlight. Each bud carried an inverted twitching body, like lighting more than a hundred sinister and terrifying candles. All members of the Literature Club, except for Mr. Dark, were on display. Their spirits were stripped away, their skeletons sealed by flesh, their souls thrown into the script written by Lyle.
Looking at Lyle standing on the podium, the Liches fell silent again.
Law gazed at the literary sky and muttered to himself, "The gates of the Executive Committee... are not this magnificent either, have we... been negligent?"
"We need to reassess the danger level of Mr. Plague Doctor..."
Before the words fell, Lyle invited another person onto the podium. In the sunlight-like holy light, Andrey once again became silent.
"Now, please allow me to introduce another participant of the dream experiment, Mr. Raymond, who will tour the dreamscape with the volunteers from the Literature Club. Together they will weave a sweet dream."
The base of the Dream-making Flower cracked open, revealing a man-height cavity; each branch of the Demon Flower would connect to this main vein, including the stripped spirits of the Literature Club.
Raymond nodded to Lyle, and even through the helmet, Lyle could feel the touch of emotion in his gaze.
Indeed, the Child of the Holy Light loved him, picking the easiest targets for him.
Lyle smiled, "Please, Mr. Raymond, have a good dream. I’ve obtained Revealing Stones from the professors of Spirit Summoning Studies, so the fantasy scenes from the dreamscape will be live-streamed. Lord Raymond, I greatly look forward to your brave stance as you dispense justice and illuminate all."
Raymond didn’t speak and walked into the cavity of the Demon Flower, with golden flesh and tendrils extending from his back to link with the Demon Flower.
Before the cavity closed, Lyle saw a golden thumb up.
The bond of the pure is unbreakable.
Carnage ensued.
