Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

……

You attended a terribly boring welcome ceremony, and afterwards were knocked down by a guy named Raymond using holy light. You weren't embarrassed at all, because there were dozens of other newcomers around you who had the same experience.

Feeling a slight discomfort from the holy light descending upon you, you walked up the steps to the third floor leading to the recruitment meeting.

"Magic belongs to humankind, and therefore naturally to us; it is a right we are born with, even in death."

Inside a crystal palace sculpted from ice crystals and dazzling elements, a burly man was passionately proclaiming his ideas, his oratory skills far surpassing those of the dean. More importantly, the man in the enormous leather hood had created such a magnificent and awe-inspiring presence in an instant.

You feel the power of miracles you've never witnessed before, and gradually become drawn to them.

……

Andrei's corridors are interconnected and indistinguishable from one another. Because of your earlier hesitation, you missed the guidance of your seniors, and now you can only wander aimlessly through the castle with a completed club application in hand.

"This should be the place..."

It was a pitch-black door, with stars twinkling against a black background, and a celestial body that echoed each other, rotating rhythmically.

“Where…are we…” A deep voice came from the black door, and the pattern on it was magnified to nine spheres surrounding a blazing fireball.

Is this a test? Guided by a vague feeling in your mind, you chose the moderately sized, azure sphere with the only satellite.

The image of that planet suddenly magnified, and in the blue light, you heard a calm yet comforting voice.

"You have passed the test. You will learn about the most advanced and magnificent magic in the world."

……

When you awoke, you found yourself in a desolate wasteland. In the distance, the crimson moon was shining brightly, while nearby, a huge ball of electricity crackling with blue-purple arcs was emitting intense light, illuminating the night.

The dense, viscous energy was lifted up by an invisible force from a person sitting in a chair.

It's less of a chair and more of an instrument. Every arc and every curved spiral of the chair back has been carefully calibrated. On a smooth, mirror-like surface, chains gleam with intense light and connect to a giant electric sphere overhead.

He wore a menacing knight's armor, and his posture combined the reserve of a scholar with the arrogance of a monarch.

His gauntlets supported his head, and in the shadow of his helmet, two flames of soul energy were scrutinizing you.

You hold your membership application form in your hand, but don't know how to hand it to the person in front of you. Just then, a bolt of lightning, which occasionally escapes its restraints, strikes the ground, leaving a dent with a strange smell. You can be sure that this thin piece of white paper won't fare much better.

"You're a newcomer who has passed the simple test; the wise deserve respect. You and those who come seeking fame will be treated differently; you'll have the opportunity to choose," the armored man said, looking at you and beginning to introduce some familiar options, "Electromagnetism, gravity, stasis, the Death Star, memes, annihilation. Which subject are you more interested in?"

Hearing unfamiliar terms, you realize things are a bit beyond your expectations, so to be on the safe side, you choose one you can understand.

"electromagnetic?"

The armored man nodded. "Very well, then I'll make you an intern in electromagnetism. Welcome to the Advanced Magic Research Institute, newbie. I'm your club president, Apocalypse. If you ever have any trouble in Andrei, feel free to ask the club members for help..."

Mr. Apocalypse waved his hand, and you instantly moved out of his sight. You didn't hear what he said next.

"If those guys haven't killed you yet."

You find yourself at the intersection of several plots of land.

To your left, there is nothing but emptiness, not even land, only circular depressions, each nearly a hundred square meters in diameter.

To your right are numerous and complex pipelines, some of which you may have seen before or not, in various sizes and models, extending to the black tower that is slanted into the ground at the center.

Behind you is a sandstorm. To put it simply, a sandstorm isn't quite the right word; you imagine a dozen or so sand tornadoes playing bumper cars.

At that moment, a spirited-looking member of its kind crawled out of the pit.

He had a pair of jet-black hands, and below his sternum, the spine connecting to his pelvis had disappeared, replaced by a black sphere.

You don't know what it is, and you're not interested.

But this person seems very interested in you.

"You're a newcomer, right? Did Boss Apocalypse send you?"

You shook the membership application form in your hand. "Yes, Mr. Apocalypse arranged for me to become an intern in electromagnetism."

The man slapped his thigh bone hard with his palm while cursing.

"Damn! Even the Apocalypse boss is starting to brush people off. Newbie, you've been fooled. Electromagnetism is actually the worst among us veterans. Didn't our boss tell you that electromagnetism is easy to understand and quick to learn? Let me tell you, with his level, he's completely misleading people, and he hasn't been treating interns well lately! He already has a new apprentice and won't spend time training you."

You sensed something was wrong, and asked, "What should I do?"

"Ha, simple. Become my new apprentice! I, Death Star II, am one of the most outstanding researchers in advanced magic studies. Don't follow electromagnetism; it's a dead end. Follow me, and I'll show you what true art is!"

You were quite swayed by Death Star II's words, and just as you were about to agree, a person wearing a rubber bodysuit ran over.

"Death Star! What are you doing in my research area again?!"

"Nothing! I'm just showing my new apprentice the sights and getting him familiar with the surroundings."

Electromagnetic looked at him suspiciously. "That shouldn't be the case. You just destroyed Death Star III. Logically speaking, the leader of Apocalypse shouldn't be sending out new people so quickly."

"???" You suddenly have a bad feeling.

"Mr. Electromagnetic, what did you say about Mr. Death Star?"

"The Death Star School is a single-lineage school. Masters and disciples are irreconcilable enemies; an experiment will result in either the death of the master or the death of the disciple. The Death Star II is so incredibly resilient; he's already caused the deaths of one master and over a dozen disciples. What, you want to challenge the limits of survival too? The Death Star School only has two members per month each year. You want to go head-to-head with the Lone Star?"

“Mr. Electromagnetism, actually I am the apprentice that Mr. Apocalypse arranged for you. Let’s start our research quickly, and I will learn some experience from you.”

"Alright! Death Star, I'll take your apprentice with me. Go play with blasting dirt by yourself."

"Damn it! Electromagnetic, a lich can't be this shameless! How could you steal my people away!"

Mr. Death Star, have you no shame?

Ignoring Death Star's outburst, you followed Electromagnetic into his experimental area.

"Actually, you've come at just the right time. I'm currently working on a big project and I need a brave, decisive, intelligent, quick-witted, handsome, and dashing volunteer."

Yes, that must be you. But you're still being cautious.

What is this project called?

"The Ascended Project. We will provide you with immense energy, which will elevate you to a height that ordinary people cannot reach. From here, you will look down upon all living beings! This is the Ascended Project."

Good heavens, are you about to soar to the heavens?!

"Mr. Electromagnetism, I am absolutely the most suitable person!"

"Advanced magic research needs warriors like you!"

You followed the electromagnetic field to the pure black leaning tower. At the foot of the tower, another person was fiddling with those thick pipes.

"Laser, hold on, come meet our lab... intern."

Mr. Laser looked over and clasped his hands in a fist salute to you. "Junior, are you here to participate in the Ascendant Program?"

"Yes, Laser Senior."

"Ah, I'm really putting you in a difficult position, junior. This process will be very tough, and even if you succeed, you will suffer the loneliness of a loner."

"For the sake of the club, for the sake of everyone, please let me be superior."

"Junior, you're so kind!"

"I think so too, senior."

You had only been talking for a short while when Mr. Electromagnetic came over with a few people.

"These are all top researchers in advanced magic research, and they are my good friends."

A tall figure, surrounded by several simulated celestial bodies that constantly revolve around him.

"This is Mr. Gravity."

"Anle, newbie. Electromagnetism, why did you drag me here? I'm very busy right now. The apprentice I brought from the Fate Research Society has made a complete mess of my gravity wind tunnel, and he even has the audacity to say, 'It's all a choice of fate.'"

"Because I want to start the Ascended Project tonight, I need your assistance."

A gentleman with no particular distinguishing features.

"This is Mr. Stasis. His job is to ensure your safety. He is quite reliable."

Mr. Stillness's voice was very calm. "I would say I'm the only one in the Advanced Magic Research Institute who's still somewhat normal, even if my normalcy is defined as abnormal by you bunch of abnormal bastards."

A gentleman carrying a tin suitcase, wearing a travel hat, was the most lively of them all, and looked to be about your age.

"The third one is Mr. Fear. He studies memes."

You decide to say hello to this seemingly approachable research mentor.

"Peace and happiness, Mr. Fear."

He tipped his hat. “Anle, sir, I am an apprentice of Master Fear, and I am Bold. Master Fear is in this box; he is a man who does not like to go out much.”

Looking at that one-meter-wide box, it's hard to imagine what the person inside looks like.

"Can I see Mr. Fear?"

"Of course, seeing your mentor isn't dangerous, probably. By the way, for your own good, please don't believe anything he says."

Mr. Bold opened the iron box, and there you see, neatly arranged human bone fragments. The skull, burning with the flames of its soul, began to scream.

"Don't open the box! Don't open the box! Don't open the box! They'll find me! They're coming to get me!"

Mr. Bold closed the box, and Mr. Fear's screams stopped.

You feel he should have been thrown into a mental hospital rather than become a mentor.

"He is in charge of your communications. After you become an Ascended, all ordinary methods of communication have become ineffective, but the trickery meme can do it."

"The last one, you've met him, our boss, Mr. Apocalypse. He's in charge of adjusting the macroscopic variables in the experiment."

Mr. Weather looked at you and nodded.

"Then the experiment shall officially begin!"

……

Mr. Boldness stands beside you.

"Okay, next, Teacher Fear will say something to you. You must completely trust him. You cannot mishear a single word. If there is anything in the sentence that you cannot understand, tell me immediately, and I will remove the memes you have been contaminated with to prevent any dangerous situations from occurring. Do you understand?"

"I understand."

Boldly, you opened the box again and brought your head close to the skull.

Mr. Fear spoke in a dry voice, “As long as you say the next five words, your thoughts will be synchronized with the brains of the advanced magic research club members, and you will be able to communicate with them. The five words are… Happy Mid-Autumn Festival. You will be immortal.”

You boldly closed the box. Even if Mr. Fear said a little more, you felt it wouldn't matter. Wasn't that a blessing?