Chapter 223: The Witch Academy Against the World
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 223: The Witch Academy Against the World
"So this is the Blood Pool Castle at the heart of the Land of Eternal Darkness? It’s incredibly lavish."
After rounding the last obstacle, I stared at the magnificent, sprawling fortress in the distance. Though its location was a bit gloomy, it certainly looked the part of a luxury estate.
Thinking back to where we had slept last night and comparing it to this, the realization that the vampires were living in such comfort immediately sparked a sense of indignation.
The moment I saw it, I subconsciously decided: this was where we were staying tonight.
Regardless of where we were supposed to go after the ritual, I was determined to sleep here.
As for the vampires currently occupying it?
Sorry, but luxurious castles are reserved for the strong.jpg.
Since Tan Han and the others had already set up the ritual, it meant the vampires here had either been cleared out or the remaining threats were no longer significant.
"It really is fancy. The contrast is just too much!" Su Ningmu added from beside me.
However, as we stepped inside, we found the castle strangely empty. Beams of light pierced through the floorboards, plunging deep into the earth. It seemed the so-called Blood Pool—the core of the vampire stronghold—was located underground.
It took us a bit of time to find the passage leading down. The further we descended, the more I could smell the cloying, metallic scent of pure blood.
"Xiao Han, you're here?"
As I reached the bottom, my arrival drew the attention of several people.
"Yeah... What’s going on? Who’s seriously hurt?" I hurried over, only to find that the person Tan Han was treating was Su Xingyue.
I had a bit of an impression of her. She was the one who had chatted with me privately after the dinner Tan Han invited me to. She had made it to the Blood Pool Castle too?
Doesn't that mean eight of us from the Witch Academy are gathered here now?
But Su Xingyue’s condition was grim.
Even though Tan Han was using healing spells on her, she remained unconscious. A large hole had been torn through the fabric over her chest, and blood had soaked through her skirt.
"Su Xingyue... she’s unconscious, but not dead. However..."
"Sister Xiao Han, if you don't understand, just look at the Blood Pool over there."
"The Blood Pool?"
I turned my head curiously. I had been so focused on the group that I’d missed the most spectacular—and gruesome—sight in the room.
The Blood Pool was the centerpiece of this underground space. True to its name, it was a massive basin, but it was filled to the brim with deep, crimson blood.
The ghastly symmetrical design and bat motifs fit the vampire aesthetic perfectly, but the sharp, protruding spikes were what stood out most.
There were four spikes. Three of them had "corpses" impaled upon them. Stone thorns had pierced through their spines and out through their chests, with blood trickling down from the wounds.
Looking closely, the shallow veins in their limbs had also been severed; they were clearly being drained rapidly.
Through my Spirit Vision, I could see a terrifying spell solidified over the pool: "Life-Sustaining." It meant that despite their horrific injuries, they were still alive!
Even falling unconscious was no escape. This was the Exchange Competition, which meant these victims didn't even have the ability to trigger a self-resurrection!
Four stone spikes. Three occupied, one empty. It was obvious that the empty spot had belonged to Su Xingyue...
"The vampires actually dared to do this?" I suppressed my emotions. After what had happened to Lan Baihui, I already knew that the "exchanges" in this competition were no joke.
"Of course they dared. Technically, it doesn't violate the rules," Tan Han said, her voice low and grim.
"It’s okay, Sister Xiao Han. Su Xingyue is out of danger now. And we’ve already made the vampires pay the price."
"Pay the price? You should have made them taste their own medicine on those spikes." I walked to the edge of the pool and looked at the three victims.
I didn't recognize any of them. Whether by coincidence or some sick preference, all four "sacrifices"—including Su Xingyue—were girls.
An Elf... a Holy Angel... and a Succubus?
Good grief. They even managed to snag a student from the Holy Angel Academy? The vampires really are playing a dangerous game.
However, since no one here had asked what to do with these three, the consensus was likely to leave them be. They weren't from the Witch Academy, and saving them would be a hassle.
Besides, they all belonged to academies that held grudges against us. There was even less reason to help.
Tan Han and I were already targeting the Holy Angel Academy; I had killed their members, and Tan Han’s entire strategy revolved around crushing them.
As for the Elves, there was the forest fire, the burning of the World Tree, and the snapping of the World Tree branches.
And the Succubus Academy... I had just flooded their home base in the Fallen Land.
We were truly enemies of the world.
I could already envision the late-game scenario: the vampires without their Blood Pool, the Elves without their World Tree, the Wizards without their Wizard Towers, and the Angels without their Floating Islands... all of them banding together to lay siege to our Witch Academy.
Right now, the wretches from the Lesser Demon and Necromancy academies had already lost the Fallen Land. Once our ritual was finished, the vampires' Blood Pool would be gone too. At that point, the vampire race would exist in name only.
"Xiao Han, teleport Minian over. Time is of the essence," Tan Han said.
"Got it." I nodded and began the summoning.
After sensing for a moment, I found that Minian’s mark was still intact. It seemed she had done a good job protecting it.
As the summoning ritual manifested, a figure shot out from the light. Accompanied by a sharp yelp, she made intimate contact with the rough stone floor.
"Waaaah! Ouch... ow, ow... I... Huh? I’m here? Awesome! I made it!" After the initial shock of the pain, Minian realized where she was and looked ready to dance with joy.
"Alright, Minian, quiet down. What happened to you?"
"Uh... sorry! Sister Xiao Han, I didn't listen to your warning about the forest. I really wanted to see you burn down the World Tree..."
"Huh? Fine... Where’s the invitation?" I slapped my forehead. This girl really knew how to find trouble.
"The... the invitation? Here! I brought it! Does this count as completing the mission? I didn't mess things up, did I?" Minian asked cautiously.
"As long as you brought the invitation. But don't do that again. Also... let me ask, were you being hunted by the Elves?" I took the invitation and asked.
"Yes... those Elves are terrifying. They’re like lunatics! They just focus-fire anything they see flying in the sky without even asking questions!"
"Focus-fire, huh?"
I raised an eyebrow. I hadn't expected the Elves' attitude toward Witches to turn so hostile. I thought I had scared them enough that they wouldn't dare lift a finger against a Witch.
Was it the confidence they gained after successfully completing their ritual?
It was all speculation.
Regardless, everything was proceeding according to plan. As long as things were under control, there was no need for extra worry.
I took the invitation to the ritual tea table. Everything had been set up: tea, sweets...
Though the cake looked a bit strange. The cream on the sponge base was applied in a... unique style. It was probably the portion from the second tea party where I let them frost their own cakes to take away.
Honestly, whoever frosted this one was a "genius."
Once everything was ready and the invitation was in place, the ritual was fully activated.
The phenomenon triggered by the activation immediately drew everyone's attention.
The time it took for the ritual in the Land of Eternal Darkness to go from start to finish was incredibly short!
This was a terrifying piece of information. it meant one academy had mastered a method for rapid ritual preparation. Whether it was through pre-planning or some other trick, everyone had to take notice.
If such a game-breaking existence was allowed to continue, there would be serious trouble!
Consequently, many academies ignored their exhaustion from fighting all night and grabbed their gear to investigate. Even if they couldn't stop it, they needed to know which academy possessed such means. If left unchecked, they would become a second Witch Academy.
And if it was the Witch Academy, that was even worse news.
While many students didn't care much, the academy teachers were frantic!
Academy rankings were never just for show!
They were the primary means of distributing the Luck gathered by this Exchange Competition!
They couldn't win the individual leaderboards anymore, and if the academy rankings also tanked, then what was the point of all the effort and resources they’d poured into this event?
It wasn't even halfway through the second day. The competition was predicted to last three or four days, but at this rate, it felt like it would be over in three.
In just three days, their plans would be utterly ruined.
The only silver lining was that the Abyssal Demon faction hadn't caused much of a stir; they had even been crushed by a little brat who wasn't even a Child of Destiny.
Preventing the Abyssal Demon race from invading the Main World was a matter of principle. On that basis, they wanted to use these methods to grab some benefits for themselves. At this stage, however, the benefits were becoming secondary to survival.
"This has to be the fastest we've ever held a ritual, right? If we keep this up, can't we just spam the Designated Resource Drop qualification?" Minian asked with a grin after sitting down.
"Technically, yes. But the other academies won't give us that chance," Tan Han replied.
"Besides, the speed of our ritual is far from normal. Any academy paying attention will realize something is wrong. Even if they don't launch a full-scale attack, someone will definitely come to see who we are. You understand what I mean, right?"
"Of course. If any other academy was moving this fast, I’d be wary too. I’d have to go check them out."
The Witch Tea Party had officially begun. Everyone was seated. Su Xingyue, who had been unconscious, still hadn't woken up, but her body was stable. She had been helped into a chair and was currently slumped over the tea table.
The ground down here was filthy, after all. We couldn't just leave her on the floor while we had our tea party.
Meanwhile, I was off to the side making desserts. I wondered if sweets made in an environment so thick with the scent of blood would end up tasting like it.
But there weren't enough desserts for the party anyway, especially with certain people treating the tea party like an all-you-can-eat buffet. This little bit wouldn't be enough.
Besides, we had to plan for the future. We couldn't just slack off just because we were in first place.
"Um, Sister Xiao Han, can I learn some baking skills from you? Nothing too complicated, just simple cakes... or cookies," Hettie approached and asked timidly.
"You want to learn baking?" I looked her over. "Actually, if you're really interested, you could just get a part-time job at any bakery after the competition. You'd learn a lot there."
"Uh... spending so much time at the academy just to learn baking... wouldn't that be too extravagant?"
"Extravagant... I guess so..."
"How is that extravagant! Do you two not have any free time?" Minian hopped over to chime in. "Oh, wait, you're both overachievers, aren't you? No time for hobbies. Wait, Sister Xiao Han, your skills..."
"Learned them before school started."
"Ah... as expected, Sister Xiao Han is a grinder too..."
"How am I a grinder? I just study normally. I even have course exemptions, so I have more free time than you guys."
"When you put it that way... wait, if you can manage your own time, you must be grinding even harder than us!"
"Let's not talk about that. It doesn't matter. Do you want me to make some bread rolls for you to try? You want some?"
"Eh? Yes! Definitely!"
"Then go back to your seat and wait." I laughed.
"Sigh~ Sister Xiao Han looks so domestic in her apron making food... I wonder which lucky guy will end up with her in the future!" Minian grumbled as she returned to her seat, her mouth still running.
"Then you might be guessing wrong. I don't like guys. In fact, there's a good chance I won't like anyone... ever." Saying this, I inexplicably thought of Sister Bai. Not that I had any improper thoughts about her, but I was worried she might have some about me...
This world is truly strange... To think there would come a day when I’d worry about someone liking me.
"Eh? Sister Xiao Han doesn't like guys? Then aren't all of us here in danger! I saw rumors saying Xiao Han used to be a... Mmph! S-sorry... did I... say something wrong?"
"I'm sorry, Sister Xiao Han, I didn't mean..." Minian’s playful mood vanished instantly.
She began to regret her big mouth.
"Say something wrong? What were you going to say?" My movements had stiffened for a split second, but after a moment of thought, I resumed.
Why couldn't I face it head-on? I should... convince myself.
"Were you going to say the rumors about me being a boy? Does that really matter? Once you step into the Witch Academy, that kind of thing stops being important, doesn't it?"
I spoke with a smile. Everyone fell silent, sensing the weight of the topic.
"What kind of motives do people have when they obsess over the past? If they're looking for some sense of superiority or some other comfort, I can only say their lives are failures. Not only was their past a failure, but they've carried that failure into the present. Entering the Witch Academy is a fresh start for everyone; if they can't even seize such a perfect chance to say goodbye to the past, what can they do?"
"Actually, this topic isn't that serious. I'm just speaking up for the boys who enter the Witch Academy. I've met many such freshmen, mostly before the term started. Most of them were lured in by senior sisters. I even played the part of a volunteer helping new students register."
"R-really? Sister Xiao Han, you were a guide? How come I didn't see you!"
"Maybe we just weren't destined to meet then."
I responded with a laugh. The atmosphere wasn't as heavy as when I was speaking alone. I had to admit, having someone who knew how to liven things up was a blessing.
That kind of talent was something you couldn't help but envy.
As for what kind of heated discussion my words would eventually spark back at the Witch Academy, I’d deal with that when I returned.
As for why I didn't just come out and say it... well, everyone has the right to keep secrets. I’d leave the rest to their guesses and arguments. Isn't that what they love to do on the internet?
I should have seen through it long ago, but I just kept avoiding it. Those people who use cruel words to hurt others—how miserable must their lives be to act that way online?
If they really wanted to feel superior, then facing someone like that, I should give them a taste of their own medicine.
Even if I gave them all my spellbooks and kept only a single Fireball Spell for myself, I could still beat them until they cried. So, could the "superiority" they found at my expense really soothe their egos?
Since they chose such a disgusting way to amuse themselves, I’d let them know they picked the wrong person. Disgusting people should stay in their filthy, dark corners and entertain themselves.
Once you understand their logic, you can let it go.
It’s like seeing someone in a mud pit throwing mud at you. You shouldn't jump into the pit to fight them. That’s their home turf. Doing so will only get you dirty, and in the end, you’ll still lose. Even if you win, it’s not a clean victory.
The correct way is to walk away and clean off the mud. The moment you get angry with them, you've already lost. In the end, your own state of mind is what matters most.
Just as our Witch Tea Party was reaching its peak, a sudden noise and a terrifying vibration shattered the pleasant atmosphere.
"What’s happening? An earthquake? No way."
"Someone is launching a frontal assault." Through my Spirit Vision, I saw the information from outside the building. I could do this easily now.
"Huh? Which academy has the guts to mess with the Witch Academy?"
Tan Han and I immediately raised our protection shields to prevent falling debris from ruining the tea party.
"Hmm... the Comprehensive Dwarf Academy?"
No sooner had I spoken than the building above ground was torn open by a terrifying attack.
Then, the ceiling of this underground floor was ripped away along with it.
"Wow, Sister Xiao Han, you guessed right!"