14 Abyssal Bone Forest Academy
The Abyssal Bone Forest Academy is a medium strength Magus academy that specializes in souls and shadow magic, located on the South Coast of the Continent and is affiliated with the Poolfield Kingdom.
Besides the incoming threats that would endanger the lives of its acolytes, the names of a few relevant characters and a list of opportunities to exploit, George didn't know much more about it.
"Welcome to your home of shadow and death - Abyssal Bone Forest!" Dorotte snickered, but no matter how George saw it, Dorotte seemed to be taking joy in their unfortunate plight.
Next to the skeleton Magus, stood a couple of Gargoyles, possessing terrifying stats.
[An unknown creature of high energy! Estimated Strength: 3-4, Agility: 4-5, Vitality: About 5. Assessment: Extremely dangerous!]
"A.I. Chip! What is the situation now?"
[Beep! Task Establishing! Acquiring sample of the environment, analysis in progress!]
[There is a significant increase in a type of energy particle here which faintly resonates with the Host's consciousness. They are conjectured to be Shadow energy particles! Estimated boost in meditation: 38%] The A.I. Chip's voice travelled over.
"No wonder! There is an increase in the energy particles here, which obviously benefits Shadow and Dark element acolytes. I am afraid that those who possess the shadow element affinity will progress much faster than others in this academy"
"Password!"
At this moment, Dorotte had already brought the group to the centermost area in the graveyard, where there was a huge grave. Black marble stones were piled up one by one, making it resemble a huge black castle.
Beside the marbled door, there were two stone statues.
On the left, there was a two-headed dog with spikes growing on its body.
On the right, there was an earthworm with a pair of wings and razor sharp fangs protruding out, exuding a cruel aura.
These two statues were lifelike. They had black jewels for eyes and looked as if they were alive.
When Dorotte walked in front of the statues, the earthworm on the left side spoke in a parched voice. With each opening and closing of the mouth, dust from the stone continuously fell down onto the floor.
"Enough! Jumal, don't you recognise me?"
Dorotte had a look of annoyance on his face.
Right after Dorotte spoke; the earthworm and huge dog both guffawed. Their voices brought about a huge wind, which flipped the robes of the acolytes behind.
"Dorotte! Although we are pretty familiar with each other, rules are rules!"
Both of the statues seemed to have come alive. The huge dog licked its paws, and let out a female voice.
"Or, would you like to play with us?" The earthworm lifted its claw and made a human-like gesture, beckoning with the claw, "Then come! I feel itchy all over my body!"
"Alright! Alright! Let me think!" Dorotte rolled his eyes.
"Oh! Damnit! I should really take the head of the pig who set up this defensive spell formation and shove it up their ass!"
Dorotte suddenly bellowed.
"Hurry and say it! What is the password?" The huge dog roared and there were sparks coming out from its mouth.
"The secret password is - I hate smelly bones!" Dorotte spoke softly.
A handful of acolytes supressed their laughters, causing Dorotte to glare at them. Surely enough, they would not be accepted as one of his disciples, even if they were to beg him for it.
George had already been offered this opportunity, but he refused. Helena had given him a letter of recommendation for Magus Crow, who was Magus Kroft's rival and an eminent Potioneering Magus.
Although it wouldn't be a bad option, George thought of following Magus Kroft instead, since he knew the man possessed potion recipes capable of raising spiritual force with ingredients that could be found in the Poolfield Kingdom. Better still, George knew in which region exactly he could find tremendous stocks of the main ingredient.
"Haha! The password is correct!" The earthworm and huge dog laughed loudly and let them pass.
"I bet the overseer keeping watch with the crystal ball is laughing to death right now!" The huge dog snickered, then returned to his original stone platform and changed into its former statue state.
After confirming the password, Dorotte used his bone staff to knock on the ground. Enormous stairs revealed themselves. After moving down under the illumination of glowing stones for a couple dozen minutes, a gigantic castle greeted them.
"Apart from the colour, it's similar to an ancient castle from the medieval times!" George exclaimed, "The area of this underground building is so much larger than the area of the graveyard on top, and it is not even by several times. It almost resembles an underground kingdom already. How huge!"
He calculated in silence.
"Our Abyssal Bone Forest Academy was constructed in the Gregorian Year 324, and it has been almost one thousand years since then...Amazing...Our academy founder, Merlin Falek Driwilc, was a rank 3 Magus who wanted to pass down his legacy. It's a pity that Rank 3 Magi disappeared from the Southern Continent. Now, even rank 2 Magi are considered powerhouses. I guess it has a lot to do with the declining magical resources and loss of ancient magus legacies..."
