Chapter 604: Offering an Explosion to a Beautiful Duel (8k)
The black wall spanning across the field emitted an extremely strong aura of death.
To the extent that even the professors and senior students watching outside the arena couldn’t help but show shock on their faces.
If they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, who could have imagined that this was a magic spell cast by a second-year student?
Even Vini Scarlet was surprised and lowered her head to ask those around her.
When she learned that Sarah had joined the Archaeology Club instead of the Literature Club, she couldn’t help but sigh.
But the timing of “Life’s Mummy” unfolding was still a bit late.
After “Life’s Mummy” was forcibly taken away by the “Netherworld Soul Ring,” Dark Demon on the red side immediately performed a Sacrificial Summoning Spell!
His mastery over the Sacrificial Summoning Spell was already quite proficient, although he still hadn’t reached the three-second limit, he was very close.
“Life’s Mummy” was a three-star spirit.
【Curse Cage: Imp Beast】 was a one-star spirit.
“Using ‘Life’s Mummy’ and ‘Curse Cage: Imp Beast’ as sacrifices, I perform a Sacrificial Summoning — ‘Eevee’!”
Feeling his body about to vanish in light, the Imp Beast’s face revealed a resigned expression, as if he knew it would happen. Then, he became part of the sacrifice alongside “Life’s Mummy” for the summoning of “Eevee.”
As three beams of light converged and formed a complex sacrificial summoning array in the air, Sarah on the blue side couldn’t help but frown deeply.
“It’s actually a spell that can forcibly turn my Mana Golem into its own sacrifice?”
The murmurs among the audience outside the arena instantly increased.
Announcer Zach Wilson let out an astonished exclamation.
Amidst everyone’s attention, the incredibly cute pink Mana Golem finally leaped out from the sacrificial summoning array.
“Eevee” swayed its two ribbons, looked up at the night sky as it landed.
High above the pitch-black night sky, a full moon hung, and the pure moonlight gently fell.
It took a breath, and the moonlight gathered, making it appear ethereal.
…
“Yomimi!”
“Dream Nightmare Demon” delivered the final blow to “Skeleton Beauty Snake,” thoroughly eliminating this troublesome snake!
Without “Life’s Mummy” standing in the field, “Skeleton Beauty Snake” no longer had any hope of returning.
But hidden within “Life’s Banishment,” a silent dead spirit ball quietly appeared inside the “Death Spirit Urn.”
In the red side’s summoning area, “Eevee,” summoned inadvertently, basked in the moonlight, radiating charm.
…
At this moment, the second round was nearing its end.
Both duelists were left with only one card each in their hand, meaning all their moves were exhausted.
However, there were still two perfectly intact Mana Golems of the second tier in Dark’s field.
Sarah’s field contained only the mysterious “Life’s Banishment” and the solitary “Death Spirit Urn.”
At first glance, Dark Demon seemed to have the upper hand.
But Sarah wasn’t without counterplay options.
Just then, the second round finally came to an end.
…
“Tick… Tock…”
“Battle Phase (3)” [30s]
…
The duelists quickly drew new cards.
With the acquisition of two new Mana Cards, Sarah Swati, whose brow furrowed due to the loss of “Life’s Mummy,” finally relaxed.
What she needed most now was a Mana Golem capable of standing in the field.
If this Mana Golem also had the ability to restrict “Dream Nightmare Demon,” that would be even better!
“Dream Nightmare Demon” was an Undead type, able to freely pass through “Life’s Banishment,” posing the greatest threat.
Three seconds, a little more.
In the blue side’s summoning area, the summoning light rapidly illuminated!
…
On the red side’s platform.
Dark added two new cards to his hand.
【Moon Pendant】
【Demon Fox Beast】
Plus the remaining “Bliss III,” he had several tactical options available.
Before summoning, however, he first issued an attack command.
The excited “Dream Nightmare Demon,” after eliminating “Skeleton Beauty Snake,” immediately controlled the “Nightmare Space” to expand towards the opponent.
And itself vanished without a trace in front of everyone.
Unable to move freely in the “Nightmare Space,” “Eevee” could only slowly advance halfway.
Dark glanced at it and began to summon “Moon Pendant!”
At this moment, in the blue side’s summoning area, Sarah summoned a Mana Golem from the sky.
It was a familiar-looking black cat — but not the two-star “Sphinx Cat.”
Although this black cat was of the same breed as the “Sphinx Cat,” it had no hair, golden cat eyes, dark skin, large ears, and a long tail.
But it had two tails!
At first glance, it resembled a “Cat-Hand” from mythical creatures, yet it didn’t quite fit.
Dark saw it fall into the blue side’s summoning area and immediately felt a warning.
He had no doubt that this two-tailed black cat also possessed a mysterious ultimate skill similar to the “Sphinx Cat.”
It might even be effective against “Dream Nightmare Demon” despite crossing tiers!
“Dream Nightmare Demon” wasn’t afraid of strong attacks; no matter how powerful the opponent was, it would result in a one-for-one exchange at most.
But if the opponent used simple control restrictions, “Dream Nightmare Demon” would struggle to leverage its advantages.
Therefore, after summoning “Moon Pendant,” Dark immediately warned, “Don’t let your guard down!”
As the purple fog spread, “Dream Nightmare Demon” emerged and lunged toward “Life’s Banishment”!
“Pfft!”
However, the illusion created by “Dream Nightmare Demon” shattered upon touching the black wall.
The two-tailed cat on the other side of “Life’s Banishment” suddenly crouched and growled menacingly.
The real body of “Dream Nightmare Demon” gradually appeared.
It curiously observed the two-tailed cat, wondering how this little cat saw it.
Although cats were highly perceptive…
“It’s useless. My ‘Death Spirit Cat-Hand’ has the ability to see through ghosts.”
Sarah’s voice echoed softly, clearly directed at “Dream Nightmare Demon.”
Talking to Mana Golems?
This seemed incomprehensible to the audience in the spectator area.
But the students and teachers of Saint Maryann Academy were already accustomed to it.
Sarah was certain that “Dream Nightmare Demon” could understand her, so words that wouldn’t work on normal Mana Golems might work on “Dream Nightmare Demon”!
“Dream Nightmare Demon” indeed stopped hiding and extended its tentacles to probe “Life’s Banishment” as the purple fog spread.
Then, the tentacle squeezed out from its body and effortlessly penetrated “Life’s Banishment.”
In the next moment, its entire body passed through!
But looking left and right, it noticed that the purple fog did not follow, and immediately recalled Dark’s warning to “not let your guard down,” retreating once again.
“Nightmare Space” couldn’t penetrate “Life’s Banishment.”
But “Dream Nightmare Demon” could!
Dark on the red side’s platform caught a glimmer of insight.
“Could ‘Life’s Banishment’ be a kind of Field Spell?”
His vision couldn’t penetrate the black walls, unable to see “Death Spirit Urn” and “Death Spirit Cat-Hand.” Since “Dream Nightmare Demon” could pass through freely, he no longer hesitated.
“Dream Nightmare Demon, go in!”
…
After issuing the command, he quickly moved his lips, preparing to summon “Demon Fox Beast!”
“In the name of Dark Demon, I perform a Mana Summoning — ‘Demon Fox Beast’!”
When “Demon Fox Beast” appeared in the red side’s summoning area, “Dream Nightmare Demon” received instructions and rushed back into “Life’s Banishment.”
Then, it instantly fell silent!
On the blue side’s platform, the corners of Sarah’s mouth gradually widened, finally breaking into a smile.
“What will you do next?” She tapped the spellboard lightly, humming softly.
…
Dark clearly felt that the connection between him and “Dream Nightmare Demon” was not severed, and its state remained almost perfect.
“Then it must be under control — like being stepped on by a shadow!”
Dark pondered briefly and said, “Eevee, it’s your turn.”
“Mew!”
“Eevee,” which had already passed through the purple fog and arrived in the blue side’s half-field, raised its head and called out loudly, suddenly accelerating!
Its base speed was slightly faster than “Dream Nightmare Demon’s,” though it slowed down in the “Nightmare Space,” but not excessively so.
By the time it reached “Life’s Banishment,” “Demon Fox Beast” stood still on standby under Dark’s command.
“Eevee” raised its paw and pressed hard, being blocked as if hitting a wall.
Dark’s brain raced swiftly, and he immediately commanded, “Charm Voice!”
“Life’s Banishment” was just a wall; it couldn’t stop a fatal move transmitted through sound.
Thus, without knowing the strength of “Life’s Banishment,” “Charm Voice” was more practical than “Moon Power.”
Moreover, “Eevee” was wearing the “Moon Pendant”!
Under the effect of the additional skill of the “Moon Pendant” — “Moon Beauty,” the success rate of “Charm Voice” would increase.
And now, it was under the moonlit night, bathed in moonlight.
The “Moonlit Beauty,” its effect doubled!
The only thing to consider was whether the two-tailed black cat had any gender, whether it was male or female.
But in any case, trying it out would be very quick.
Dark tightly watched the arena below.
Eevee had already raised its head high, its eyes swirling with a gentle light that seemed almost liquid.
Then it slightly opened its lips and sang the song of enchantment.
The ultimate skill “Sound of Enchantment” was activated, and the surface of “Life Prohibition” rippled. The charm effect of “Alluring Body” was transformed and expanded in the form of sound.
Dark still couldn’t see the scene beyond the black wall.
But the “Death Cat” and “Eevee” were of similar types; at least there was no barrier in terms of “aesthetics.”
As long as the “Death Cat” was male—even if it was female—it would be hard to remain unaffected.
And once the “Death Cat” was enchanted, the “Mana Nightmare Demon” could seize the opportunity to break free!
…
“Plink!”
“Plink!”
“Battle Phase (4)” [30 seconds]
…
The third round passed very quickly.
Neither side launched any substantial confrontation; the situation on the field was mainly about advancing.
But when the turn switch sounded, both of them subconsciously drew cards without shifting their focus.
Because changes in the field were at a critical juncture.
On the blue side’s summoning area.
The “Mana Nightmare Demon,” just after passing through “Life Prohibition,” was closely watched by the golden-eyed “Death Cat.” This made its body surface covered with a layer of golden light.
That layer of light had a binding effect, and it was especially effective against undead creatures!
[Card Name: Death Cat]
[Type: Elemental Card]
[Level: ???]
[Race: Undead]
[Attribute: Dark]
[Mana: 1500]
[Attack: 1300]
[Defense: 300]
[Ultimate Skills: Soul-Piercing Eyes, Soul Binding, Second Tail’s Fate]
As the name suggests, the “Death Cat” is an undead creature formed from a dead cat.
Due to the emergence of a second tail during the transformation, it became known as “Cat-Yet.”
A “Cat-Yet” has two tails, compared to a nine-tailed “Nine Lives Cat,” which can have up to two lives.
Sarah’s “Death Cat” is like this.
Incidentally, the concept of Sarah’s “Death Cat” is derived from a “Sphinx Cat” after death.
Its attack is decent, but its defense is very low. Its high mana indicates that it is a skill-oriented golem.
Moreover, it is an orange card!
Among its three ultimate skills, “Soul-Piercing Eyes” can see through ghosts and occasionally even pierce false illusions, making it a very practical ultimate skill.
“Soul Binding,” on the other hand, is a control skill that is particularly effective against undead and ghost types.
If the target to be bound is a ghost-type undead, the effect will be even more significant!
“Soul Binding” paired with “Life Prohibition” is a perfect match.
Thus, the “Mana Nightmare Demon” is thoroughly bound in its presence!
But this cat, conceptually, is male!
…
Therefore, when the “Sound of Enchantment” echoed, the golden cat eyes of the “Death Cat” displayed a mark.
When it used “Soul Binding,” it had to keep its gaze fixed on the opponent without moving.
This is akin to the “Sphinx Cat’s” “Shadow Stepping”; once the gaze moves, the binding effect will be released.
Facing Eevee’s charm, the “Death Cat” had no resistance and immediately turned towards the direction of the sound.
Then, the “Mana Nightmare Demon” broke free instantly!
“Ao Wu!”
It angrily opened its “hands” and pounced towards the “Death Cat”!
How could a “Death Cat” with only 300 points of defense withstand the pounce of a five-star golem?
In an instant, the “Death Cat” was killed.
But it did not die completely.
“Second Tail’s Fate,” activated!
…
At the same time.
Another undead orb appeared inside the “Deadly Vessel.”
This three-star golem was also one of Sarah’s trump cards.
Although it looked fragile like a clay jar, it actually had a defense strength exceeding the three-star limit, slightly inferior to Huhu.
[Card Name: Deadly Vessel]
[Type: Elemental Card]
[Level: ???]
[Race: Undead]
[Attribute: Ghost]
[Mana: 1000]
[Attack: 0]
[Defense: 2000]
[Ultimate Skills: Spirit of the Vessel, Dead Energy Burst]
1000 points of mana, 0 points of attack, and 2000 points of defense!
The stats of the “Deadly Vessel” are reasonably balanced.
Among its two ultimate skills, “Spirit of the Vessel” allows it to gather dead orbs within the vessel.
Whenever a golem dies in combat within the range, the “Deadly Vessel” can gather a dead orb.
Each of these dead orbs is a one-star sacrifice with 0 attack and 0 defense.
The “Deadly Vessel” starts with three dead orbs and gains a fourth from the death of the “Skeleton Beauty Snake.”
Then, the first life of the “Death Cat” grants it a fifth dead orb.
It can be foreseen.
When the second life of the “Death Cat” dies, the “Deadly Vessel” will produce a sixth dead orb!
This unique effect is remarkably similar to Dark’s designed “Flame Furnace.”
But besides being sacrifices, these dead orbs serve another purpose.
They can fuel “Dead Energy Burst”!
“Dead Energy Burst” is a type of self-destruct ultimate skill.
Each dead orb increases the power of “Dead Energy Burst” by ten percent.
Six dead orbs increase the power of “Dead Energy Burst” by sixty percent!
The base power of “Dead Energy Burst” is already extremely high, and with a further sixty percent boost, it could even kill a second-tier golem directly!
However, unless absolutely necessary, Sarah would not use this ultimate skill.
…
The meowing sound of the “Death Cat” dying emitted from the opposite side of “Life Prohibition.”
The “Mana Nightmare Demon” regained its voice.
After a slight relaxation in his heart, Dark finally had the chance to check the newly drawn golem card.
He only placed twenty golem cards in his deck.
Starting with five cards, he now had fifteen left.
These fifteen golem cards could be exhausted in eight draws.
This means Dark could draw all his golem cards within nine rounds!
This fourth round was already in progress.
[Magic Beast: Eevee]
[Bliss II]
Basically, “Bliss II” exists to allow the [Magic Beast: Eevee] to升
The ultimate skill, now bathed in moonlight, doubled in power and emitted a highly dangerous energy fluctuation.
“Eevee” opened its mouth, and pure moonlight rapidly condensed into a ball within it before aiming at “Soul禁绝” and fiercely spitting it out!
“Boom!”
The beam of “Moon Power” struck “Soul禁绝” harshly.
This wall of condensed darkness finally produced intense fluctuations.
However, after “Moon Power” fully discharged for half a second, “Soul禁绝” merely became slightly thinner.
On the Blue Side’s competitor platform.
Sarah’s smile was radiant!
“Soul禁绝” could last for three minutes.
Within these three minutes, unless it was a third-tier or higher ultimate skill, it would be extremely difficult to break through.
With this three-minute buffer of six rounds, she could stably draw and summon her ace card!
“In the name of Sarah Swati, Mana Summoning — ‘Death Mummy’!”
[Card Name: Death Mummy]
[Type: Elemental Card]
[Level: ???]
[Race: Undead]
[Attribute: Dark]
[Mana: 1000]
[Attack: 100]
[Defense: 1600]
[Ultimate Skill: Feigned Death]
Another summon of a three-star Mana Spirit increased Sarah’s lineup once again.
“Death Mummy” and “Life Mummy” were both Mana Spirits that Sarah often used.
She usually ordered “Death Mummy” to swallow the Mana Guidance Ball for protection, and at critical moments, she would use it as a stable sacrifice for sacrificial summoning.
Moreover, “Death Mummy,” with its “Feigned Death” ability, had two lives like “Death Cat.”
It could provide two dead souls to the “Dead Soul Jar”!
…
After summoning “Death Mummy,” Sarah finally began her sacrificial summoning.
But her sacrificial summoning spell was not as proficient as Dark’s, requiring a longer time for incantation.
During this gap, Dark had already summoned “Bliss III”!
Bathed in the light of “Bliss III,” the “Demon Fox Beast” was evolving towards “Nine-Tailed Fox Beast.”
Dark’s mind flashed another plan but quickly discarded it.
Originally, he had thought about transforming the “Demon Fox Beast” into a “Mana Nightmare Demon” to disguise it as an “Undead” and gain the ability to pass through “Soul禁绝.”
But he had become extremely impatient with that “Soul禁绝”!
“Evolve! Nine-Tailed Fox Beast!”
The emblem of “Bliss” appeared on the forehead of the “Demon Fox Beast.”
The pink glow swirling around it made it emit a gradually more intense seductive aura.
Its body structure underwent drastic changes under the evolution light.
When the evolution light dissipated, a golden fox with nine tails appeared in the Red Side’s summoning area!
The tail ends and feet of the “Nine-Tailed Fox Beast” were burning with blue flames.
At its brow center and limbs, there were symbols of “Dao” in the form of Tai Chi patterns.
It was as if it were a divine beast guarding temples, shrines, and such places.
After its evolution, Dark immediately issued the command without hesitation: “Destroy that wall!”
Now a six-star “Nine-Tailed Fox Beast,” its nine tails suddenly stood upright, and the blue flames at their ends rapidly condensed into “Ghost Fire Balls.”
It raised its head and let out a soft cry. The nine “Ghost Fire Balls” formed a ring of fireballs under its control.
Then it swung its tail, and the rotating nine “Ghost Fire Balls” shot out towards “Soul禁绝”!
“Rumble!”
The nine “Ghost Fire Balls” exploded simultaneously, causing the black wall to wobble precariously.
“Soul禁绝” became extremely transparent.
Through the semi-transparent black wall, Dark could finally see the layout of the Blue Side’s summoning area again.
His eyes flashed, and he whispered, “Mana Nightmare Demon, prepare!”
…
The difference between sacrificial summoning and regular summoning was enormous.
As soon as Sarah started her sacrificial summoning, Dark immediately noticed.
As soon as he spoke, Sarah’s sacrificial summoning was complete.
Although the process of the sacrificial summoning was unexpected—the “Death Mummy” did not serve as a sacrifice.
Five beams of white light suddenly shot out from an ancient clay jar, converging with the white light emanating from Sarah’s Mana Spirit Card in the air.
A large sacrificial summoning array thus formed.
Sarah Swati finally summoned a second-tier Mana Spirit for the first time since the duel began!
And the “Mana Nightmare Demon” finally had a blood pack to sustain its life!
Therefore, both contestants smiled simultaneously.
…
The Mana Spirit that leaped out of the sacrificial summoning array was a wolf-headed humanoid.
However, this werewolf did not emit a bloodthirsty aura. Its fur was snow-white, its eyes gentle, and it wore a similarly snow-white ceremonial robe.
It was none other than the almost unseen wolf priest in the werewolf tribe!
[Card Name: White Wolf Priest]
[Type: Elemental Card]
[Level: ?????]
[Race: Humanoid]
[Attribute: Light]
[Mana: 2300]
[Attack: 2100]
[Defense: 1500]
[Ultimate Skill: Elemental Wolf, Reflection Heal]
The light attribute “White Wolf Priest” was an extremely unusual existence among Sarah’s Mana Spirits.
But Sarah was still a student who had recently entered her second year. She didn’t have much leeway in choosing Mana Spirits.
A five-star Mana Spirit Card was essential for increasing the deck’s upper limit.
Moreover, the stats and ultimate skills of the “White Wolf Priest” were not bad.
Its defense, just over 1500 points, could withstand almost all ordinary attacks from first-tier Mana Spirits.
The ultimate skill “Elemental Wolf” could summon two三星 Elemental Wolves.
The ultimate skill “Reflection Heal” allowed it and the summoned “Elemental Wolves” to gain the effect of “High-Speed Self-Healing.”
Whether in adventures or duels, it could be used as a frontliner.
Of course, as a blood pack.
Its 2300 Mana value could extend the “Mana Nightmare Demon’s” life by ten seconds.
…
Almost the instant the “White Wolf Priest” was summoned,
the “Mana Nightmare Demon” used its ultimate skill—”Pain Sharing”!
Then it decisively charged through “Soul禁绝”—pouncing towards the “Dead Soul Jar”!
The sacrificial summoning of the “White Wolf Priest” had already exposed the role of the “Dead Soul Jar.”
Without needing Dark to explain, the “Mana Nightmare Demon” changed its target.
Sarah’s expression changed, and she hurriedly shouted, “Protect the Dead Soul Jar!”
The “White Wolf Priest,” whose Mana value suddenly dropped by nearly half, froze in place, allowing the “Mana Nightmare Demon” to pass through.
But the “Death Mummy” with 100% proficiency instantly shot out the bandages hanging from its sides, wrapping around the “Dead Soul Jar” and pressing it into its own abdomen.
Despite the fact that “Death Mummy’s” defense was actually lower than the “Dead Soul Jar’s,” it did so.
Then, the “Death Mummy” was instantly killed by the “Mana Nightmare Demon”!
Inside the “Dead Soul Jar,” there was now one more dead soul.
…
In this process, the fourth round quietly switched.
The duel entered the fifth round.
…
The smile on Sarah’s face completely disappeared.
While drawing cards, she issued new commands. “White Wolf Priest” immediately summoned “Elemental Wolf” and released the ultimate skill “Reflection Heal.”
Its Mana value began to recover rapidly.
And it itself blocked in front of the Mana Guidance Ball.
Meanwhile, Sarah herself chanted the sacrificial summoning spell once again!
“A second-tier Mana Spirit with more than half its Mana value.”
“A first-tier Mana Spirit that cannot be sacrificed but stores two one-star sacrifices.”
“Offering these as sacrifices, Mana Summoning…”
…
“Rumble!”
The raging blue flames transformed into a dragon shape, fiercely striking “Soul禁绝.”
The black wall, which had already become transparent, became even thinner.
The “Nine-Tailed Fox Beast” raised its head and let out a long howl. The blue flames on its body condensed into a massive energy ball, and terrifying energy fluctuations spread out.
When this “Tengu” was released, the “Eevee” in front of the wall had already retreated.
The massive energy ball hit “Soul禁绝” unimpeded, exploding with a loud boom.
A blue light circle like flames instantly spread out.
An extremely terrifying mushroom cloud rose into the sky.
The deafening explosion caused the audience to exclaim.
That wall of “Soul禁绝” shattered completely in the terrifying explosion.
Behind it, the Blue Side’s summoning area was also thoroughly engulfed by the explosion’s aftermath.
But amidst the explosion, the sacrificial summoning array stubbornly flickered with light.
Sarah nervously watched everything.
The sudden shock left her uncertain whether this sacrificial summoning would succeed.
…
[Good morning, another day of failure (;′??Д??.).]
[6/???]
[But I suddenly realized that I’ve written over 180,000 words this month. That’s usually what I write in a month.]
