The Villain Saint is my secondary account

However, this news also indicates that the hellish rift that appeared in the Northern Abyss was indeed just an experiment, and the company's real arrangements related to it were actually placed in the Molten Mountains.

As Ye Xiao walked up the stairs, he pondered. Fortunately, he was able to cross the magic net barrier and report the situation of Morningwind Keep to Serendra, so that they wouldn't be intercepted by the merman army that suddenly appeared from the south halfway.

Of course, this might arouse some suspicion from Serendra, since their warhawks clearly couldn't fly out, yet Morningwind Keep was able to send messages to them on two separate occasions.

But Ye Xiao couldn't care less about that right now; he just wanted to repay the favor that Celinedra had done for introducing him to the academy.

Chapter 56 Shotgun Mage

While Ye Xiao was pondering, he and Lyra, who was following closely behind, had already arrived at the corridor on the third floor of the castle.

As soon as I stepped out of the stairwell, I saw armored monsters everywhere in the shadows.

They were originally soldiers guarding the castle, but now they were like mindless zombies, frantically pounding on the tightly closed doors with their weapons.

The slight sound of their footsteps caught the attention of the nearest demonized soldiers, who turned around to reveal a distorted face with white pupils and black lines like veins crawling all over it.

Lyra covered her mouth and gasped, while Ye Xiao immediately raised his staff and unleashed a fireball at her.

The explosion engulfed the two soldiers in front of them, and the surging flames swept through the narrow corridor. But as the crimson flames dissipated, the two soldiers, who had been burned to a crisp, were not completely dead. Instead, they staggered and stood up again.

Aside from the formidable defense provided by the enchanted armor of the Aslan soldiers, their demonic vitality also seems to far surpass that of ordinary humans; even ordinary magical attacks struggle to penetrate their steel-like, tough skin.

"This is bad, ordinary spells don't seem to be able to hurt them, Professor!"

Leila looked somewhat desperate.

The loud noise also drew the attention of all the demonized soldiers in the corridor to Ye Xiao.

Those pale pupils exuded an aura of madness and bloodlust. They roared like wild beasts, their twisted limbs dancing in the darkness, like a swarm of spiders emerging from a dark cave.

Ye Xiao gave a low hum, and a deep red color, symbolizing the fire element, appeared at the tip of his staff.

The next moment, a deafening explosion rang out, and what erupted from the staff was not a fireball, but a sharp rock spike trailing a flame.

The rock cone disintegrated in mid-air, splitting into countless tiny, sharp fragments that bombarded the first soldier in the line of fire, instantly turning his waist and armor to shreds.

Since the common fireballs could not penetrate the skin of these demonized soldiers, he tried to compress the release caliber of the fused magic, concentrating the explosive power of the fire magic at the tip of the staff to spray out stone cones made of earth magic.

This composite spell is designed to mimic the firing mechanism of a shotgun shell. Of course, without a barrel, the firing range is much shorter than a real shotgun shell, but it is especially effective when dealing with these tough and resilient monsters at close range.

As for this method, it was naturally inspired by the multi-talented player mages of the previous life. Back then, the world-destroying witch cultivated all sorts of strange monsters, and players were forced to come up with all sorts of black technology to fight against them.

Unexpectedly, after Ye Xiao unleashed his first combination spell, the system popped up a window, notifying him that he had learned a new mage skill, "[Blank]".

It seemed that he was still waiting to name the spell, but Ye Xiao didn't have time to think of a name for the skill right now, so he simply used the name given by the spell's creator in his previous life: "Lava Shotgun".

A lava shot shattered his waist, leaving the demonized soldier twitching on the ground with only two pieces remaining. The soldiers behind him trampled over his broken limbs and pounced on Ye Xiao.

"Bang" "Bang" "Bang"...

What greeted these soldiers was a series of blinding flames.

Ye Xiao held his magic wand as if setting off fireworks, precisely blasting the bodies of the demonized soldiers that surged in from the front and back of the corridor just as they were about to get within three or four meters of him.

In the dark corridor, flashes of fire appeared one after another. One by one, the rushing soldiers were blasted away and torn apart, their limbs and torsos littering the corners of the walls, chunks of flesh shattered by the flames scattered all over the ground, and fragments of armor rolling around in wisps of smoke.

What kind of spell is this? It's cast at close range?!

Lyra, cowering and clutching her head, stared wide-eyed. She had never seen a mage fight so savage. Yet, amidst the monstrous roars and the unsettling darkness, the explosive magic, filled with a scorching atmosphere, inexplicably possessed a wild beauty.

She had heard from other classmates that Her Highness the Crown Princess had praised this professor from out of town as a genius of elemental magic. At that time, having already come into contact with many forbidden techniques, she scoffed at this. No matter how thoroughly he studied elemental magic, which had been thoroughly developed, how could he compare to the Aslan people who were naturally compatible with all kinds of magical attributes?

But now it seems... even ordinary magic can create extraordinary effects with a rich imagination.

The last demonized soldier in the corridor had his head blown off, and Ye Xiao finally arrived at the room at the end of the corridor.

He gently pushed the door but it wouldn't budge. He then pounded on the door twice and shouted, "I'm Professor Brandon. Students inside, how are you?"

"Professor...?"

A surprised voice came from behind the door.

"Goddess above, it's Professor! Please help our Professor..."

"what!!!"

This was followed by a piercing scream.

Something seemed to have happened inside. Upon seeing this, Ye Xiao stopped waiting for the students to open the door and shouted, "All students behind the door, get out of the way!" He then used his staff to block the door, and the powerful repulsive force field that erupted instantly shattered the thick wooden planks into pieces.

The splintered wood chips scattered like flowers from a fairy's shower. Ye Xiao rushed into the dust and saw a student with a ferocious face pinning another student to the ground, opening his blood-soaked mouth like a mad dog and gnawing at the other's already mangled shoulder.

Princess Femishire and several female students were grabbing the shoulders of the crazed student, trying to pull him off the ground, but even with their combined strength, they couldn't budge the seemingly slender girl.

Many more students leaned against the wall, screaming in terror, while others had already gripped their swords but were still hesitating whether or not to slash their former classmates.

Have students already been contaminated?

"Get out of my way!!"

Upon seeing this, Ye Xiao immediately understood the situation. He raised his staff, spraying a ball of water from the tip onto the contaminated student, and then unleashed a bolt of azure lightning.

The crackling electric arcs immediately sent the soaking wet student sprawling to the ground, where he began to tremble. Other students seized the opportunity to pull the fallen student out of the water.

Ye Xiao summoned several vines and tightly bound the crazed student, then glanced at the students around him.

"How did she become like this?"

A girl pointed tremblingly to the corner of the wall, where a small, black snake, which had been dead for some time, was curled up and motionless.

This snake... could it be the kind Greta was talking about?

Ye Xiaoxin was startled. Something was wrong. It seemed that someone in Group 1 had been bitten by this snake before.

"what!!!"

The bound female cadet roared again, and black lines began to crawl across her face, somewhat similar to the situation of the demonized soldiers outside.

However, this mutation is not yet fully completed. Ye Xiao thought for a moment. It would definitely be inappropriate to use Ella's divine magic in front of so many people. But he had already tested it with Lyra before. This mutation is limited to physical mutation and has not yet reached the irreversible level of divine power pollution.

Chapter Fifty-Seven: A Reliable Professor

According to the research that Hyde's team is conducting in real time on the changes in Lyra's infected flesh, the black lines that appeared under her skin are actually extremely thin and long demonic snake cubs.

After biting someone, this black snake will bury a large number of snake eggs, invisible to the naked eye, into the victim's body. Then, it may be activated remotely through some kind of magic, invading the brain and affecting the mind of the parasitized person.

Ye Xiao could guess that only those bugs in the company could come up with such a complex and disgusting monster.

Although the brain and internal organs are damaged after the complete transformation and there is no way to recover, there should be other ways to cure it before the complete transformation, besides using Ella's divine magic.

Unfortunately, Hyde cannot yet provide Ella with a complete cure, but he has discovered a way to contain the infection. Like the Copperhead Serpent, this type of monster serpent is particularly susceptible to drastic temperature changes.

Although temperatures high enough to kill them are unbearable even for humans, a certain degree of low temperature can reduce the activity of these parasitic snakes and inhibit the spread of infection.

It has to be said that having a team working behind the scenes at all times is really convenient.

When Hyde informed Ella of this achievement, Ye Xiao naturally understood it at the same time.

"Professor... will I... will I become like that too...?"

The rescued female student, draped in a cloak, covered the bleeding wound on her shoulder, her expression filled with despair.

"No, don't be afraid."

After offering brief words of comfort, Ye Xiao immediately cast a frost spell to freeze the wounds of the injured student and the infected student who was tied up. Then he looked at the students around him and asked.

“Those of you who know elemental magic, come out and assign each of you to watch over one wounded person and this infected classmate. Cast a freeze spell every half hour.”

"Those who know nature magic and healing magic, hurry up and heal them. We don't have much time left."

"Professor, what exactly happened inside the castle?"

One of the students asked.

"It's hard to explain in a short time. You guys use magic to build an earthen wall at the entrance and guard it for now. I'll come and meet up with you after I find those male students and the other professors. Do you know where they are?"

"what??"

Upon hearing that Ye Xiao was leaving again, some timid students immediately let out a wail.

"Professor Brandon...please don't leave..."

Femishire also came over and grabbed Ye Xiao's clothes. Her clothes were torn from the pulling, and a tear welled up in the corner of her eye.

Although she had witnessed the shocking scene of a million-strong horde of zombies attacking the Royal City of Loren, she was protected in the West District at that time and only saw the hordes of living corpses outside the inner city walls from the rooftop of the embassy. She had never experienced that desperate situation firsthand.

Now, she has witnessed her classmate's blood, faced endless darkness and unknown monsters lurking in the distance, with the chilling roars of these monsters echoing in her ears, and her companions already driven mad beside her...

Not only her, but all of these young trainees were on the verge of their psychological limits.

Therefore, Ye Xiao could understand their seemingly selfish pleas, but he had too many things to consider and couldn't provide these helpless students with the perfect solution at the moment.

However, Ye Xiao was confident in ensuring their safety.

Ye Xiao left the crow to keep watch outside the window. If, by sheer bad luck, something happened before he returned, there was a mysterious black-clad dwarf who could come to the rescue. However, unless absolutely necessary, Ye Xiao hoped to avoid exposing anything that shouldn't be exposed.

Therefore, in this oppressive environment, Ye Xiao's gaze swept over the faces of several students, each clutching their clothes with pitiful expressions. He could only pat her and the other students' heads and say in as calm a tone as possible:

“Hey, you are the nobles of the empire, and you bear not only the glory and wealth of the empire, but also the honor and courage of Aslan in times of crisis.”

"I know this is not easy, but look at the other students behind you. Your strengths in talent and family background are not meant to show off your superiority, but to stand up for the weak at this moment."

“I am not an Aslan, but I have always admired the Aslan spirit, otherwise I would not have come here to become your professor.”

"Remember to make good use of the knowledge you've learned at the academy. Your teacher believes in you and that you can protect your friends. Please also believe in your teacher; I will definitely come back, okay?"

Ye Xiao didn't know if his hastily uttered words would have any encouraging effect, but he didn't have time to wait for these noble students to struggle with their thoughts. He gently pried open the trembling little hands that were clutching his clothes, then rushed out of the room without looking back.

Of course, he left Lyra in the room too. This girl should realize now what she's followed and what the consequences are. She should be well-behaved for now. If she really tries to cause trouble, the crows outside the window will see it.

After confirming the safety of the group of female students, Ye Xiao, a male student on the other side of the castle, naturally had to rescue them as well.

However, without Lyra watching over him this time, the crows circling the castle in the darkness found their way and simply teleported through the portal to the outside of the room, breaking through the window to enter.

The sudden noise startled the male students hiding in the room. They only relaxed after they saw Ye Xiao by the moonlight.

"Brandon... Professor Brandon, how did you get in through the window!?"

There were far fewer male trainees than female trainees, and Ye Xiao counted them all at a glance.

Fortunately, they did not encounter any accidents, and their emotional state was relatively stable, although they were somewhat at a loss.

"The corridor is full of monsters, so wouldn't it be easier to go through the window?"

Ye Xiao's words seemed to make some sense, but the trainees still felt that something was not quite right.

"Have you seen the other professors?"

"No...no..."

Several people shook their heads. After a short while, Robert scratched his face and said, "I remember they were all going to the tower to discuss something... After the banquet, Professor Rhodes was chatting with me when a guard called him away."

"Hiss, that's not good."

If the guards in the castle are all in trouble, then the one who went to call Professor Rhodes is obviously not coming out with good news either.

"You guys take your weapons and guard the door. Those of you who know magic, set up a defensive barrier. I'll come back and meet up with you once I find the other professors."

Once the positions of the two groups of students were determined, Ye Xiao flipped over and jumped out of the window again.

Robert was stunned by the swift and graceful movements as the man climbed through the window. He turned to look at the other students and exclaimed, "Is that really a mage? How can he fly across rooftops?"

Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Lurker

Half an hour ago.

The council hall on the top floor of the main castle tower, sealed off by a deep black barrier resembling mist, was already in complete disarray.

Broken wooden tables, overturned candlesticks, blood spreading along the mottled stone bricks, soldiers' corpses scattered on the ground, broken staffs and shattered sword blades.

Professor Rhodes and Deputy Commander Severif were lying on the ground, both badly injured, their fate unknown.

Only Van Drian, with one hand on his sword, stood protectively in front of the two, half-kneeling and panting heavily, his handsome face stained with blood, and his wide teacher's robe tattered.

He gritted his teeth and tried to stand up, but the severity of his injuries meant that he had exhausted all his strength just by raising his head.

Before them stood a languid-looking man in a black robe, seemingly idly toying with a magic gem he had ripped from Professor Rhodes' staff.

The flickering firelight illuminated the man's deep black curly hair. His listless eyes glanced at the rather unwilling Van Derian, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"Heh, Aslan... Back then he was just a bunch of bastards who worked as servants, but now he's built an empire that prides itself on magic."