Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

“Imagination. I must admit, this is the Plague Doctor’s weakness. Especially after I failed his creation modification course, I’m not sure if he can meet our expectations this time. If this were a forbidden modification of bones, I wouldn’t have made this somewhat risky decision. But he has an unparalleled talent for flesh and blood.” The dragon pointed to Nia behind Lyle, and Nia stretched out two tentacles, poking herself in the direction the dragon was pointing.

"Nia?"

“Arnoin saw her as an excellent flesh-and-blood mutant, which is also the best template for the Plague Doctor. She and the Plague Doctor are one, so why not just copy her in Nia’s image?”

The scholar immediately raised his objection, "This is too dangerous. Nia is not an ordinary creation; she is... there is danger lurking within her."

"But she and the doctor are one, aren't they? Even if it's dangerous, it's something they have to face sooner or later. Under our protection, the sooner they face it, the sooner they can get rid of the danger."

The scholars eventually accepted this, but Nia's danger was not as simple as you might think—the dragon.

"I accept it; it might be the only option."

The dragon nodded, looking at its student. "Plague Doctor, learning about forbidden modifications beforehand is extremely dangerous for you. Even if we prepare you thoroughly beforehand, you'll find these things inadequate when you actually implement it. Forbidden modifications mean the door to necromancy is completely open to you; your will and mind will be profoundly influenced by this spell. You are not only modifying creations, but also modifying yourself. Are you ready to step through this door of art?"

Lyle stretched out his palm, and Nia's tentacles wrapped around his fingers, intertwining tightly.

"Yes, sir, we are ready to pursue higher knowledge and save our friends."

The dragon smiled with satisfaction.

"Okay, I will ask you again when you study forbidden transformation in your distant future."

"But for now, let's learn advanced modification techniques to create a fake aberration."

"??? Isn't it a forbidden modified flesh-and-blood mutant???"

"Hmm, no. The three forbidden transformation elements I listed have an important premise. That is, it is for someone who is about to become a master of spirit summoning. Plague Doctor, the magic and skills you lack cannot be made up for in a short time."

"So what you really need to master is a slightly less advanced form of modification. This is the result of my recent research, a scaled-down version of forbidden modification, the final creation of which is the Forged Aberration. Don't worry, the Forged Aberration is enough to deceive Arnoin's senses, because it and the Flesh Aberration share the same origin, and it is a high-level... replica."

"Don't underestimate advanced modification. For a beginner like you, advanced modification is still an insurmountable gap, unless you have a teacher to give you extra help."

Mr. Dragon looked at Mr. Scholar and said, “Old friend, there are some things in your recently published paper that I’m interested in.”

The scholar nodded, took out a white cloth bag, and rummaged inside.

"Which one?" the scholar replied calmly.

"The one published in May," the dragon said casually.

"Which one?" the scholar replied calmly.

"The one published in the second week of May," the dragon said after a moment's thought.

"Which one?" the scholar replied calmly.

"The one you published on May 12th," Mr. Dragon said, tapping his head in thought.

"Which one?" the scholar replied calmly.

"Bring out all the papers from that day," the dragon practically roared.

The scholar took five scrolls out of his pocket.

"Stability tests of portal space folding, judgment of the damage to metal surfaces caused by ice and fire elements, the commonality between magic and soul, simplified construction of the magic network model, and the erosion of individuals by talent. This is all of my papers published on the 12th, excluding the one published at 00:06:02."

"Can you teach the Plague Doctor to simplify the magic network model in a short time?"

"It should be possible, but what does that have to do with advanced modification?"

"Let me show you my research findings. These are my recently published papers, though they can't compare to yours in terms of quantity." The dragon pulled out a series of books made of bone fragments from its leather pouch.

The scholar looked at the name.

"What factors influence the skeletal body due to soul differentiation?"

The dragon swapped the bone fragments back and took out a new set, saying, "I picked up the wrong one."

"A comparison of the destructive power of the bow-shaped hand and the malleus hand on the human body?"

"You took the wrong one."

"How to excavate buried prehistoric animal remains?"

"You took the wrong one."

"A feasibility study on resurrecting the dead using fossils?"

"You picked up the wrong one. It's the one about using a magic network structure to construct and modify a biological skeleton."

“We will teach these two pieces of knowledge to the epidemic doctor, and by combining them, he should be able to master advanced transformation.”

"Let's begin then."

……

With the careful guidance of the two senior researchers, Lyle and Nia successfully completed the extra course.

Lyle and Nia had to maintain perfect mental synchronization, one maintaining the simplified magic network model while the other constructed the basic skeleton of the creation based on the model. However, it was still different from a true skeleton. This was like drawing auxiliary lines before drafting a design, its purpose being to break down the originally lengthy and complex work into a series of smaller, individual tasks, greatly reducing the difficulty of the task.

Under the supervision of two teachers, the student underwent no fewer than five tests and received positive feedback.

Lyle and Nia reached out their hands toward the Flesh of Deception.

Chapter 140 The Second Lock, The Sculptor

"Meat, cut, mash, squeeze, flatten, pile up, bubble, suppurate, swell..."

Nia wiggled her tentacles like a child sitting on the sand, humming a strange nursery rhyme, building her sandcastle. Her tentacles hardened and sharpened, cutting flesh and tearing it to shreds. Nia approached it as if it were a game, but in reality, she and Lyle were undertaking a sophisticated transformation project in the field of necromancy.

Lyle's consciousness was not disturbed by the dark ballad emanating from Nia's mouth; his focus was entirely absorbed in the magic network model. In the world of magic, Nia, who was active beside him, was blurred. Lyle used the magic lines taught by the scholar to trace on Nia's body, then used the resulting image as a template, extending outwards from the origin of the tormented, deceitful flesh.

Nia gazed at the magical network model before her, and following the dragon's teachings on flesh and blood attachment, she used magic threads to create a framework, piecing together the flesh and blood piece by piece, like playing with a jigsaw puzzle. Nia truly possessed exceptional talent in flesh and blood creation; her techniques were exquisite. To onlookers, the flesh and blood resembled a swarm of fungi resembling a cape of black spiders, elongating and growing at an incredible speed. Black tentacles rapidly took shape, swaying slightly in the air, appearing almost alive—though this might be an inaccurate description, as the state of existence of this flesh and blood was never determined from the outset. Without certainty of life, there was no question of death.

The dragon nodded as it looked at Lyle's advanced transformation. "The Plague Doctor is indeed a genius in necromancy. Look at the veins he's woven, those muscle textures. Although my aesthetic sense of flesh and blood may not be as good as Arnoin's, I can certainly feel the beauty of flesh and blood transformation. He's close to success, I'm sure of it."

The scholar listened to the dragon's affirmation, but his eyes remained fixed on the morphing aberration. "Dragon, our request is to create a replica of Nia, isn't that right?"

"Why...that aberration..."

“Completely different from Nia.”

Black, equal-length tentacles grew from one side of the fleshy mass, forming a tuft of hair, while the other side began to harden, like a fruit taking shape. From within the tentacles, thin, wiry limbs sprouted, bearing swollen nodules like misgrown branches. A crack appeared on the bare, round side; the fruit, with its numerous tentacle roots, ruptured, its outer segments drooping like a blooming flower. At the center of the flower, where the deformed creature's head was located, a white, bony mask grew from the filthy, foul-smelling flesh, with two spiraling horns on either side. Black cavities occupied most of the bony mask. Coincidentally, these cavities were directly facing the scholar's chilling face.

"Did you see that? Old friend, the Plague Doctor is truly amazing! Don't worry too much, genius students all have their own ingenious ideas. Although the Plague Doctor temporarily altered the structure of the aberration, my dragon has exceeded my expectations. Did you see the aberration's head? It's actually bone! The Plague Doctor transformed flesh and blood into bone; blood-bone conversion is advanced knowledge. And those branch-like limbs, I'm sure they're something beyond flesh and blood or bone. Did he even transform animal carcasses into plants? I've truly taught a perfect student!"

The scholar's actions were much more decisive. Silver chains climbed up the table legs to the surface, and from four angles, magical spikes, their tips solidifying, were aimed at the deformed creature's face. His voice was hollow and sinister.

"Yes, the changes have indeed exceeded my expectations, but is such an excellent work really created by my student?"

The scholar remembered what the creation looked like; in fact, he was familiar with it. When Nia was individuated, Lyle and this creation lying on the experimental table were only different by a bone mask.

Faced with the approaching sharp spikes, the mutant tilted its head, and the two curved angles changed slightly.

Magic surged within Lyle. Like boiling water overflowing from a kettle, the scalding heat spread from Lyle's left arm, splashing magic into the surrounding air.

The scalding magic tore at the surrounding wind, raising the temperature inside the Spirit Tower considerably.

"What is this??" The dragon summoned a bone shield to help the juvenile mutant withstand the impact.

"The Plague Doctor has advanced." The scholar withdrew the chain attack. Four chains coiled around Lyle, enveloping the dissipating magic within their own range, like a mother dragon protecting her eggs. The pale blue, boiling magic gradually cooled under the scholar's pressure, condensing into a mist, a water sphere. Finally, the magic wrapped around Lyle's left arm, transforming into a chain.

Nia's body swelled slightly in that instant, suckers sprouting from her black tentacles, each concealing a small claw. The black slime on Nia's surface darkened, revealing a faint layer of red flesh beneath. Her tentacles grew longer, while her main feature, her eyeballs, shrank slightly, making her appear more like a hybrid of an octopus and a spider.

New knowledge was gained from the depths of my mind.

Ersuo, a sculptor.

Abilities, flesh and blood rampage.

The Plaguebringer's incubation period is shortened, and the decay characteristics of the outbreak can be specified. Simultaneously with the outbreak of the latent virus, the ability of Flesh Rampage can be used. The victim's surface skin will form pustules that can secrete dissolving enzymes to digest parts of the internal flesh, or, through modification knowledge, transform into fragile fleshy tentacles to hinder the host's movement or even kill it.

Derivative capabilities, corrosive camouflage.

Nia can separate her own flesh and blood to disguise herself as humanoid creature tissue, possessing normal physiological functions, but also an uncontrollable assimilation ability. Simply put, Nia can repair lost flesh and blood, impersonating an organ, a lung, a section of intestine, or even a heart, or saving a disfigured face. In return, Nia will unconsciously devour their normal flesh and blood. The longer the disguise lasts, the more flesh and blood is lost, until all the flesh and blood in the body becomes part of Nia's body. After Nia detaches, the person being disguised will either be left with only a skeleton, or forever merged with Nia.

Feeling himself grow even stronger, Lyle opened his eyes. His gaze passed through the scholar and landed on the familiar deformity he had created. The hollow bone mask faced him directly, expressionless, but Lyle could sense that it was smiling.

A mocking, sinister smile.

Chapter 141 The Ominous Sign of Breaking Free

"The Ominous Giant?" Lyle had the image of it that had once caused him pain and fear etched into his mind. Now, seeing the aberration in its likeness, he was astonished.

Absurdity, fear, and a sense of destiny settled in Lyle's mind, turning into an inescapable despair that made it hard for him to breathe.

“It’s alright, Plague Doctor. He’s just your creation, nothing more.” The scholar patted Lyle on the shoulder, using his body to shield the aberrant’s empty gaze. “I’ve already confirmed it. Advancedly modified aberrants don’t possess intelligence; they only have basic biological instincts. Its gaze is merely a normal reaction to external stimuli. It’s simply submitting to your creation.”

Lyle calmed himself and, encouraged by the scholar, looked again at the monstrous creature with its terrifying eyes. It was exactly the same as the Ominous Giant in his memory, except that it was only the size of a basketball, its hunched body resembling a skinny monkey, but that 'faceless smile' was perfectly preserved.

"Why is my mutant like this?"

The scholar gently patted the wrist of his other hand. "Then you'll have to find the reason yourself, Plague Doctor. What were you thinking when you released the advanced transformation?"

Lyle began to explore his memories. "Back then, when I was constructing Nia's magic network model, I seem to... have some other thoughts in my mind. I... want to create a truly terrifying creation?" His voice was uncertain, and his doubtful tone was uneasy. Lyle fell into self-doubt.

The scholar paused for a second.

"You've done a fantastic job, Plague Doctor. You've created a truly remarkable aberration. Using your own fears as inspiration is an excellent and thoughtful idea. I'm sure Arnoin will be captivated by your work, and we'll be able to rescue Vena soon."

"Oh, thank you, teacher. Wiener will be free soon."

The dragon approached, sharing its joy. "Plague Doctor, my student, your tutoring has also concluded. I am very pleased to inform you that your transformation creation grade has been upgraded to perfect. In fact, if there were a modifier beyond perfect in the world, I would certainly use it. Truly outstanding, a necromancer apprentice capable of advanced transformation. I eagerly await your exam results."

"Exam results?"

The dragon rubbed its hands together and nodded. "Your graduation exam as necromancer apprentices will also mark the beginning of your official career as necromancers. The exam will be held in a few days in the Bone Forest."

The summer vacation, which he hadn't studied at all, ended, and on the first day of school, the teacher announced that final exams were in a few days. Lyle experienced that absurd sense of fear. It was like the end of a university semester, when the teacher gave you a week to review, but you couldn't even remember the names of the courses.

“But teacher, I’ve only had four classes. I spend a lot of time on extracurricular activities (referring to my work as a sheriff in Cassandale). Shouldn’t you give me a few more tutoring sessions to catch up with the course?”

The dragon smiled gently.

"Although your attendance is the lowest among all students, your academic performance is outstanding. So-called tutoring is meaningless for top students. Even the other students who never miss class can't reach your level. Wouldn't it be very unfair if I gave you extra help?"

Does being a top student mean you can do whatever you want? Does being a top student mean you can skip classes? Mr. Dragon, your thinking is wrong. Every student should be treated equally, and everyone should… I don’t want to take exams.

Lyle ultimately failed to persuade the dragon, and instead earned the dragon's expectations.