Chapter 146 Black Bone Forest Academy
Hearing Gu Shan-Laifu's address, Grace-Eva and Mary-Margaret, who were standing behind Anthony-Black Sparrow, didn't show any abnormality. Instead, they replied respectfully:
"Long time no see, Venerable One."
As Gu Shan-Laifu, who was much older than Anthony-Black Sparrow, the Necromancer, when Grace-Eva and Mary-Margaret were still just Little Apprentices, he was already a renowned senior Wizard.
Moreover, despite Gu Shan-Laifu's seemingly close and easygoing demeanor, the reputation of his cruelty, bloodthirst, and extreme vindictiveness was widely known to Grace-Eva and Mary-Margaret, these two later-stage Wizards.
Even though all three were already First-Level Wizards, Gu Shan-Laifu's mental power and magic level had long since crossed the threshold of a Second-level Wizard. What he lacked was just the subsequent comprehension of the 【Main Law】.
"Since everyone is here, don't wait any longer————come in."
Rustle—
————Following Gu Shan-Laifu's command, large patches of bone forest quickly grew from under the feet of everyone from White Coral. Caught off guard, the apprentices who had never seen such a display before became chaotic once again.
"Don't move."
Besides the transmitted voice from Anthony-Black Sparrow in her ear, Jia Na found that her legs seemed to have been subjected to a petrification spell, firmly rooted on the bone tree trunk.
Not just her, the previously swaying bodies of the other apprentices also steadied at this moment, no longer staggering unsteadily.
"What a grand display of power."
Vivian, who had finally stabilized her body, noticed that she was standing on a massive bone tree branch,
while quickly moving towards Black Bone Forest Academy, she didn't forget to quickly grab Jia Na's hand and couldn't help but whisper complaints using magic transmission.
"These are all normal procedures. A few years ago, when the 'Three-School Joint Examination' venue was set at White Coral Academy, our Principal's methods were much worse than the Bone Venerable One's———"
According to Richard-Eva's description, Principal Anthony's way of welcoming the apprentices from other academies back then was to have the tree spirits directly control vines to tie their legs and drag them back into the academy.
It can be said that it accumulated quite a bit of hatred. "Crack—"
The mist dissipated, and buildings appeared. After the bone trees transported the White Coral apprentices to Black Bone Forest Academy, the bone tree branches under their feet instantly turned into powder, preparing to drop everyone.
Seeing this, Grace-Eva, who had already anticipated this situation, lightly waved her wand. Large swarms of black bats quickly gathered from under the apprentices' feet, safely placing everyone on flat ground.
"That's quite a welcome gift."
After everyone landed, a white bone coral grew again from the ground. Looking at Gu Shan-
Laifu, who walked out from it again, Anthony-Black Sparrow wasn't angry. He just calmly "praised" him.
"Just returning the favor."
Unlike the "back and forth" between the two Formal Wizards, Jia Na, who was visiting Black Bone Forest Academy for the first time, looked around with curiosity at the surrounding black buildings full of European Gothic style.
Unlike White Coral Academy's uniform white buildings, Black Bone Forest Academy's color scheme was entirely dominated by black.
Grotesquely shaped black dwarf trees that didn't grow a single leaf, brown butterflies resembling withered yellow leaves flitting between the various buildings, and the Black Wizard Apprentices between the buildings with hairstyles and clothing that could only be described as bizarre.
Judging solely from the first impression, the overall style of Black Bone Forest Academy was similar to the scenes in the "haunted castle horror movies" Jia Na had watched in her previous life.
"Let's go. Losia is still waiting for you at the entrance to the secret realm."
As a sign of respect, after entering Black Bone Forest Academy, several Formal Wizards, including Anthony-Black Sparrow, proceeded on foot under the guidance of Gu Shan-Laifu.
"The smell will be quite unpleasant in a moment. Remember to remind the delicate little ones behind you to cover their noses—
Don't vomit in there."
Gu Shan-Laifu's voice wasn't quiet. Although he seemed to be talking to Anthony-Black Sparrow, all the apprentices walking behind could hear him clearly.
And Jia Na, adhering to the principle of "listen to advice, eat your fill," quickly sealed her sense of smell with magic after pulling Vivian's sleeve. Seeing this, Vivian didn't dare to be careless and also sealed her sense of smell with magic.
"Rustle——"
As Gu Shan-Laifu led everyone to a pond surrounded by buildings, hundreds of withered leaf butterflies suddenly flew over their heads. As the pond water boiled, the xenon and argon water vapor, like clouds, gradually enveloped everyone.
Seeing this, Gu Shan-Laifu, who had been leading the way, also slowly turned around. His pale face was full of gentle and friendly smiles.
"Welcome to, Black Bone Forest——"
Gurgle—
Intense boiling sounds rang out from the pond water again. As the water mist grew thicker and thicker, Jia Na's vision eventually turned entirely into an endless white, until after a moment, her obstructed vision became clear again.
"Whoosh"
The wind blew and the mist dispersed. What came into everyone's view was a world of mercury stretching endlessly. And in the center of the mercury, was a hollow and twisted gray-white vortex, constantly rotating.
Besides that, from the center of the vortex, a foul smell, like rotting corpses, continuously emanated.
Even though Jia Na had sealed her sense of smell, this smell, which seemed to pierce the top of her head, still gave her the urge to feel nauseous and vomit.
"Ugh—"
Even with their sense of smell sealed, it was like this. Several apprentices who didn't listen to the advice vomited on the spot in this mercury world.
"The stability of this secret realm space is much better than the last time we came."
His eyes narrowed slightly. Looking at the constantly churning mercury tides around him, no extra emotion could be seen on Anthony-Black Sparrow's face.
"Then we still have to thank White Coral Academy for contributing the trial slots a few years ago."
Mercury condensed, and figures appeared.
Losia-Haige, wearing a dark blue wizard robe, appeared from the other direction of the mercury vortex, leading nearly a hundred Second-level Wizard Apprentices.
"If not for your generosity, Black Bone Forest might not have received the resources granted by the White Tower."
"Mutual help is only right—-Don't forget to fulfill the trial slots Black Bone Forest owed us last time when the time comes."
Anthony-Black Sparrow also retorted mercilessly to Losia-Haige's sarcasm.
But this time, Losia-Haige seemed to be in a particularly good mood. Not only did she not retaliate, but she also replied with a smile:
"Naturally. After all, we are also old allies who have cooperated for many years———"