Chapter 645 “Request for Subscription” Dark Demon Sees Snake in the Fog (10k)
The evening session was in full swing.
As the competition progressed, the audience became increasingly excited.
Dark was intently watching the senior students’ duels when Tudor suddenly asked, “Dark, should I help you find out who your opponent is?”
Dark smiled elegantly and replied, “There was once a duelist who said that the joy of dueling lies in the unknown. Although I don’t fully agree, I do think there’s some truth to it.”
Tudor blinked and said, “Enjoying the fun is indeed very important.”
But Dark then added, “Of course, I only feel this way because the ‘Golden Cup’ doesn’t matter much in terms of winning or losing.”
However, Tudor did not agree: “No, Dark. Why not set your sights higher? I mean, reaching the top eight or even becoming the champion? Winning the ‘Golden Cup’ as a second-year student would be exhilarating! That must be unprecedented, right?”
Dark couldn’t help but laugh: “That’s impossible. Forget Pandora, even Winnie’s level is beyond me.”
Tudor thought seriously for a moment and said, “Pandora might not be within reach, but Winnie could be possible.”
Dark shook his head with a smile: “If I were to win, it would definitely be due to my luck. And Winnie would have to be unlucky.”
After pondering for a while, Tudor also laughed.
They didn’t pay too much attention to their conversation.
Just before the sixth duel began, Dark received a prompt from the Dueling Club.
He waved to his classmates and bent down to leave his seat, entering the competitors’ passage.
His opponent this time was a fourth-year senior. Given that he had already gotten used to the activities during the masquerade ball, he felt mostly excitement without any other feelings.
Fourth-year students had more research on Directed Formulation compared to third-years.
Most of the top fourth-year students had mastered the techniques of Directed Formulation, greatly aiding their strategic planning.
Their studies on magic cards and item cards also far surpassed those of lower-year students.
The only fourth-year top student Dark had truly faced on the duel stage was Angus Jeffrey, who was still a fourth-year at the time.
Although Angus Jeffrey possessed talent and resources, he clearly lacked effort.
He couldn’t represent the peak performance of fourth-year students.
True top-tier fourth-year students mastered Directed Formulation by third year and established a complete system early in their fourth year, continuously improving and mastering more complex techniques.
At this point, they could also specialize in crafting powerful Mana Guidance Cards specifically for dueling.
The fourth-year senior Dark was about to face was essentially one of these students.
Even if he was stronger than Angus Jeffrey, it would be quite normal.
In fact, Dark hoped he would be even stronger!
—
From the passage entrance, Dark arrived at another entrance leading to the duel arena.
He encountered a staff member waiting there, a cute third-year senior with an apple-shaped face.
He nodded slightly to her and prepared to wait until the fifth match ended before taking the stage.
But the senior suddenly produced a “Deoxys” card from behind her back.
It was a simulated duel card, and she looked at him with bright eyes, eagerly asking, “Junior Demon, my roommate wants me to get her a signed card!”
Dark: “…”
After a brief silence, Dark smiled normally and said, “Of course, no problem.”
He quickly signed the card.
If the senior wished, Deoxys could sign it personally.
This wasn’t a troublesome task.
“I really envy you…”
As Dark finished signing, a sour voice came from behind him.
Without turning around, he knew it was Snake Hariman coming over.
Snake Hariman was a slender, tall senior from the Noble Academy, dressed in the standard uniform of the fourth-year noble class. His face was slightly long but not unattractive.
Despite it being the first close encounter, something about Snake felt oddly familiar to Dark.
He curiously asked, “Senior Hariman, have we met before?”
Snake Hariman played with his small snake familiar, smiling, “Of course, we often bump into each other in the tower’s common room, don’t we?”
Dark glanced at the white snake and stopped questioning further.
Snake Hariman leaned closer and said, “I watched your duel against Else Kevin. I never expected Else to summon an eighth-star Mana Spirit and still lose to you.”
Dark responded, “Senior Kevin? He probably just recently mastered the ‘Mechanical Core,’ lacking additional reinforcement methods. With the ‘Mechanical Core,’ he can delve deeper into dungeons and continuously improve. Next time, he might become my match.”
Snake Hariman shook his head and said, “His ‘Ancient Machinery’ deck has limited versatility. Without finding related resources in the dungeon or groundbreaking research, he won’t advance further. Unless he decisively abandons his existing ‘Ancient Machinery’ deck and switches to a better path.”
Dark slightly shook his head, declining to comment.
Snake Hariman immediately changed the subject, “Your deck composition seems quite chaotic, with various Mana Spirits. While you may win now with your deck’s strength, eventually you’ll hit a limit. You should consider building a coherent system.”
Dark smiled and said, “Actually, I’m working on it, but mastering Directed Formulation isn’t easy. Any tips, senior?”
Snake Hariman chuckled, “Directed Formulation? There’s no real shortcut; it’s mainly about reading books. Extensive knowledge makes the path smoother.”
“I understand.” Dark nodded, finding humor in Snake Hariman’s correct yet cliché advice.
“Alright, it’s time for you to take the stage. We can talk more after,” the round-faced senior urged.
Dark and Snake Hariman walked out of the passage together and soon reached the edge of the duel arena, separating to opposite sides.
Dark remained on the red side, while Snake Hariman took the blue side.
After stepping onto the competitors’ platform, Dark waved to Yarvarte and others in the spectator area before walking to the spellboard and activating his deck.
His expression grew serious during this process.
Snake Hariman’s previous remarks hinted at a slight underestimation of Else Kevin.
However, his assessment of Else Kevin was accurate.
Else Kevin’s current deck was built around “Ancient Machinery,” but this path was challenging.
He was unlikely to obtain a second “Mechanical Core.”
Resources and knowledge related to “Ancient Machinery” were also limited.
To continue on this path, he would need to rely solely on himself.
In essence, Else Kevin’s situation mirrored Dark’s own.
Dark’s current deck was undoubtedly centered around “Capital Sin.”
To progress, he could only rely on his own exploration and research.
Unlike Else Kevin, who still had the option to change paths, Dark was committed to his chosen route.
—
“Both contestants prepare quickly.”
The referee’s whistle sounded.
Dark and Snake Hariman didn’t say anything after stepping onto the platform.
Both were fully focused on preparation.
Meanwhile, the announcer, Jessica Gardner, gave a brief introduction.
As if warming up, the audience’s applause filled the arena.
Amidst the applause, the duel entered its standby phase, with a countdown projection appearing above the field.
The contestants silently drew their starting hands!
Dark had become increasingly interested in dueling, learning that many duelists took great care in their card-drawing techniques.
For example, there were “Prayer Drawing Method,” “Orchid Finger Drawing Method,” “Left Hand Technique Right Hand Draw,” “Three Fast Two Slow Drawing Method”…
Regardless, the effectiveness of these methods was uncertain, but they certainly added flair.
Dark simply drew five cards normally from the top of his deck and placed them in his left hand to examine them.
[Huhu]
[Fairy Puppet]
[Trash Slime]
[Bliss III]
[Primordial Dragon Egg]
“One item card, one magic card, three Mana Spirit cards.”
Dark glanced at his hand and found no immediate synergies.
Even with “Bliss III,” there was no matching Mana Spirit.
But saying his luck was bad wasn’t entirely true.
“Huhu” was a three-star powerhouse.
“Fairy Puppet” could ensure survival.
“Primordial Dragon Egg” was a powerful opening Mana Spirit card!
At this point, there were two main strategies.
One was the simplest: directly summon “Primordial Dragon Egg.”
The other considered whether the opponent had a method to instantly destroy the dragon egg or a trap card, so “Huhu” would be sent out first as a probe.
Dark slightly frowned and chose the first method, summoning directly!
Thirty seconds were almost up.
On the blue side, Snake Hariman revealed a slightly sinister smile.
When the thirty-second countdown ended, both players began summoning simultaneously!
“In the name of Dark Demon, Mana Summoning—‘Primordial Dragon Egg’!”
“In the name of Snake Hariman, Mana Summoning—‘Misty Snake Cage’!”
Three seconds later.
Two differently colored summoning lights illuminated both summoning zones.
On the red side, a large white dragon egg materialized quickly. Unlike usual, Dark did not place his starting Mana Spirit in front of the Mana Guidance Ball but chose to place it behind!
—
“Using the Mana Guidance Ball to protect the Mana Spirit?”
Announcer Jessica Gardner couldn’t help but show a strange expression.
This choice was uncommon.
But considering the Mana Guidance Ball Life Barrier had 8000 mana points, it could indeed protect critical Mana Spirits from being instantly destroyed by remote attacks?
With this in mind, Jessica turned her gaze to the blue side’s summoning zone.
If Snake Hariman couldn’t handle the initial summoning, he would likely be in trouble immediately.
—
But Snake Hariman showed no signs of tension; he even smiled.
Indeed, Dark Demon’s typical starting summon needed activation. Although the activation time was very quick.
, but this time was enough for me… to complete the start!
In the Blue Side Summoning Area.
Snake Hariman’s “Fog Snake Cage” was also summoned!
That was a bamboo cage about one meter high in the shape of a gourd, with two protrusions shaped like spouts on each side of the snake cage. White smoke was rapidly escaping from the two spouts.
But it was not a Golem; it was an item!
Snake Harris chose to summon an item at the beginning!
The white smoke coming out of the spouts of the “Fog Snake Cage” was spreading at an extremely fast speed.
Three to four seconds were more than enough for the smoke to fill the entire Blue Side zone!
And three seconds later, Snake Hariman would begin his second summon!
…
The first round of summons is always the fastest and most frequent.
When the shell of the “Primordial Dragon Egg” cracked open, both sides of the contestants started their second round of summoning almost simultaneously.
Dark confirmed that the “Primordial Dragon Egg” would not be attacked, then chose to summon “Huhu.”
This was a very simple decision.
Defend with “Huhu,” then let the hatched “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” initiate the attack.
If the opponent did not have the corresponding countermeasures, the first round would be enough to declare the opponent’s death sentence.
But of course, Snake Hariman would not lack countermeasures.
The smoke that still rapidly rushed towards the Red Side after filling the Blue Side was proof.
The smoke was nearly three meters high, completely enveloping the Blue Side’s Mana Guidance Ball and “Fog Snake Cage,” making them impossible to see.
This situation was clearly not what the audience wanted to see.
After all, no one wants to imagine the battle inside a cloud of white fog.
As a contestant, Dark also had to consider whether the smoke contained poison?
Ordinary toxins were fine, but paralyzing and hypnotic poisons… these were far more deadly.
“Baby Blue-Eye Dragon, Light Hall!”
After summoning “Huhu,” Dark immediately gave the command.
The “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” that originally flew out directly after hatching stopped abruptly and stood still.
Then it brought its hands together, praying like a maiden.
Gradually, light attribute energy gathered above its head and then soared up, bursting open.
With the falling light feathers, a “Light Hall” rapidly spread out from where it stood.
But to Dark’s surprise, the “Light Hall” did not conflict with the smoke in the arena.
Yes, it penetrated the smoke unobstructed and continued to expand across the entire dueling field!
And the smoke was completely unaffected by the “Light Hall,” rolling toward the Red Side.
“Roar—”
The “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” raised its head and roared, flapping its wings violently to create a strong wind just before being swallowed by the smoke.
But these smokes were obviously special; only the smoke within a few meters around it was blown away.
By the time it regained its senses, it could not see anything in front, back, left, or right.
On the Red Side platform, Dark couldn’t help but narrow his eyes.
He wasn’t without ways to resolve the current predicament.
Opening the “Eye of Truth” directly, though it couldn’t “see through” things, it could “clearly see” the positions of the Mana Guidance Ball and “Fog Snake Cage” in the smoke.
However, in the internal duels of Saint Maryann Academy, students generally refrained from using such external means.
And if he didn’t use the “Eye of Truth,” he could only rely on the predetermined strategy of “transferring the battlefield!”
Lift the Mana Guidance Ball into the air.
Then let the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” fly as well!
The simplest and most direct strategy.
Dark chose neither.
He stretched out his hand and pulled the Red Side Mana Guidance Ball to the platform height to prevent any potential ambushes hiding in the fog.
During his second summon, Snake Hariman clearly summoned a Golem.
But due to the smoke obscuring his view, he couldn’t make out the form of the Golem.
And the Golem seemed to have been instructed beforehand, moving silently.
After pulling the Red Side Mana Guidance Ball into the air, Dark decided to trust the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon”!
“Go, fight with your own sense of smell!”
“Sense of smell” has two meanings:
① The feeling produced when distinguishing odors with the nose.
② The ability to discern things by intuition.
The former uses the nose, while the latter relies on perception.
With eyes and ears unable to detect the enemy, the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” sharp sense of smell will penetrate the mist!
Upon receiving Dark’s instruction, the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” quickly calmed down.
It narrowed its eyes and rapidly sniffed the air, catching the unique scent in the smoke.
Suddenly, a fishy odor entered its nostrils!
The “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” took a step forward, shaking off the surrounding smoke and grabbing at the mist with its claw.
“Ssssss!” Suddenly, a blurry snake shadow appeared in the smoke. The “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” felt its forearm pierced by fangs, losing mana continuously!
Its eyes suddenly flashed with ferocity, and with its bitten right arm, it grabbed the cold, smooth snake body, realizing instantly that it was a snake!
With a burst of power, the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” pulled the snake out of the smoke!
Red-eyed, white-scaled, arm-thick.
Although this white snake could pierce the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon’s” dragon scale defense, its strength was limited—there was clearly some mystery involved.
After pulling the white snake out of the smoke, the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” extended another hand and grabbed the snake’s tail, ready to tear it apart!
But during the forceful pull, the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” suddenly raised an eyebrow, sensing malice directed at itself!
That feeling was intangible, and the “sense of smell” produced by the nose failed to function.
But relying on “perceptual sense of smell” alerted it to the danger immediately.
Yet the opponent’s attack was too swift.
Before the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” could react, a transparent snake emerged from the smoke and bit its throat!
“Pfft!”
Those incredibly sharp fangs easily pierced through the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon’s” dragon scales without any other means.
The “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” tried to repeat its previous tactic, but saw the transparent snake reveal its true form after it struck with its palm!
It was a white python!
“Mana Spirit?”
Dark suddenly recalled the person and Golem he encountered during the Masquerade.
In a daze, he finally remembered the source of the familiar feeling!
“It’s him!”
Snake Hariman was none other than the “Ghost Gentleman” who had followed and stolen 5% of his credits!
And the one biting the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon’s” neck was the “Mana Spirit” assisting in its concealment!
[Card Name: Mana Spirit]
[Type: Elemental Card]
[Level: ????]
[Race: Reptile]
[Attribute: Light]
[Mana: 2400]
[Attack: 2700]
[Defense: 2100]
[Ultimate Skills: Secret Lair, Stealth Snake, Feathered Form]
Six-star Golem — “Mana Spirit”!
With passive ultimate skill “Stealth Snake,” it can remain in stealth mode when not under attack.
Escape ultimate skill “Secret Lair,” which can spray white smoke to hide and gain one-time instant teleportation.
Enhancement ultimate skill “Feathered Form,” which creates light wings, strengthening its attack and defense.
Dark had seen all three ultimate skills!
This “Mana Spirit” is highly practical, fully protecting the Magus, and is very suitable for practical combat.
In duels…
It seems less suitable for high-level duels.
Because it only has the “Feathered Form” ultimate skill to boost attributes.
And its original stats aren’t particularly outstanding among six-star Golems.
But the ability to use “Fog Snake Cage” for special summons is a crucial point.
Another key is, how many Golems can Snake Hariman summon with “Fog Snake Cage”?
And the small white snake pulled out by the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon”—how did it come to be?
While thinking quickly, Dark ordered the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” to activate “Dragon’s Inverted Scale” against the “Mana Spirit” biting it!
“Roar!”
The “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” roared fiercely, its eyes turning blood-red. Its inverted scale shattered, putting it into a chaotic berserk state!
The “Mana Spirit’s” body was forcibly stretched, and the two clawed hands gripped the snake body tightly, sharp claws piercing into the flesh, blood flowing.
Seeing the “Mana Spirit” in crisis, Snake Hariman calmly issued the command: “Secret Lair!”
“Oooh—”
The “Mana Spirit” let out a baby-like cry, a shrill scream piercing the ear, unbearable to hear.
White smoke poured out of its mouth, merging with the surrounding smoke.
Then the “Mana Spirit” suddenly disappeared, escaping the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon’s” berserk attack!
The “Mana Spirit” that escaped via instant teleportation did not use “Feathered Form,” which would expose its location. Instead, it continued to move in the smoke, with passive skill “Stealth Snake” taking effect, returning it to stealth mode.
“How will you target enemies in a berserk state with your ‘Baby Blue-Eye Dragon’?”
Snake Hariman’s voice amplified through the amplification device reached Dark’s ears.
Dark looked up at him and smiled, “Why doesn’t your ‘Mana Spirit’ spread its wings?”
Without using “Feathered Form,” the “Mana Spirit” naturally cannot pose a threat to the aerial Mana Guidance Ball.
Both sides were evenly matched at this moment.
But Snake Hariman sneered slightly and drew the third Mana Guidance Card, shouting, “By the name of Snake Hariman, Mana Summoning—’Wall of Fog’!”
A summoning light immediately fell into the summoning area.
But when the light faded, there was no sound.
The “Wall of Fog” merged silently into the smoke.
Only the continuous roars of the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” echoed in the arena.
…
“Battle Phase (2)” [30s]
Both contestants reached for their cards at the same time.
At this moment, besides the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon,” there was also “Huhu” on the Red Side field.
But Snake Hariman did not instruct the “Mana Spirit” to attack “Huhu” to prevent the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” from detecting the target.
He was waiting for the right moment!
He was very clear that after transforming into a dragon egg, the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” had another stronger form!
If he could keep the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” in a chaotic berserk state, he could seal the “Dragon Egg Conversion” ultimate skill, effectively sealing the stronger form!
And with the acquisition of two new Mana Guidance Cards, he felt he had seized the opportunity!
…
At the same time.
Dark…
Kek had already set his eyes on the two newly acquired Mana Guidance Cards.
【Demon Fox Beast】
【Moon Goddess Stone】
Facing an opponent who could summon a six-star Mana Spirit in the first round, he actually felt a sense of pressure.
Among his Mana Spirits were quite a number of one-star Mana Spirits.
Even after evolving with “Capital Sin III,” these Mana Spirits could only evolve into four-star Mana Spirits, making it difficult for them to compete against those exceeding two stars.
To change this, there was a method—secondary refinement!
If a one-star Mana Spirit was strengthened to a three-star level, the evolution form obtained through “Capital Sin III” would naturally rise accordingly.
“Perhaps I should take some time to carefully study this…”
After this thought flashed through Dark’s mind, he immediately drew the Mana Guidance Card for the “Demon Fox Beast” and urgently shouted, “By the name of Dark Demon, Mana Summoning — ‘Demon Fox Beast’!”
Originally, the battlefield filled with smoke was not suitable for summoning Mana Spirits that couldn’t fly.
However, the “Demon Fox Beast” was an exception.
As the figure of the “Demon Fox Beast” appeared in the summoning area of the Red Side, Dark decisively ordered, “Transform into a dragon, Demon Fox Beast!”
The “Demon Fox Beast” leaped out from the smoke.
When its body reached three meters high, it immediately saw the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” venting its anger in the center of the field.
Then, its fingertips quickly condensed a green leaf.
“Ultimate Skill — ‘Fox Leaf Wedge’!”
When it landed again, people outside the arena saw the smoke crazily swirling, then being pushed away by the dragon’s roar, three meters away.
A second “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” appeared in the smoke that was pushed away!
The “Demon Fox Beast” transformed into a “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon,” perfectly replicating the race, attributes, and attack and defense of the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon,” but its mana and ultimate skills remained unchanged.
Changes in attributes could weaken certain ultimate skills.
But increased attack and defense values could enhance the power of some ultimate skills.
For the “Demon Fox Beast,” the power of “Fox Leaf Wedge” decreased, while the power of “Twin Vine Fist” and “Fox Flash Strike” increased.
The latter two were more inclined towards combat skills and were affected more by attack power.
Maintaining absolute rationality, the “Demon Fox Beast” took off immediately after successfully evolving, hovering in the air to observe the situation.
Then, he saw a thick snake, as thick as a barrel, materialize from the summoning array in the Red Side summoning area!
Snake Hariman used the “Sacrificial Summoning Spell”!
Where did his sacrifices come from?
Firstly, a six-star “Mana Spirit.”
Secondly, a one-star “Fog Snake.”
“Fog Snake Cage” could produce one-star “Fog Snakes” every fifteen seconds until it exhausted its internal mana reserves.
Snake Hariman’s “Fog Snake Cage” had a maximum mana capacity of 3000. Each production of a one-star “Fog Snake” consumed 300 mana, and each auxiliary special summon required (star rating × 100) mana.
“Fog Snakes” possessed the ultimate skill “Fog Fang,” which could ignore physical defenses and deal damage, though not significantly.
Apart from the first “Fog Snake” torn apart by the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon,” another “Fog Snake” was produced by the “Fog Snake Cage” in the first round at the 20-second mark!
One one-star “Fog Snake” plus one six-star “Mana Spirit.” The seven-star Mana Spirit — “Ash Python” — was now ready as a sacrifice!
This “Ash Python,” with a waist as thick as a barrel and a length of nearly ten meters, though only one star higher than the “Mana Spirit,” had vastly different strengths!
[Card Name: Ash Python]
[Type: Elemental Card]
[Level: ????]
[Race: Reptile]
[Attribute: Normal/Ground]
[Mana: 2800]
[Attack: 3500]
[Defense: 2900]
[Ultimate Skills: Ash Curse, Five-Directional Dust Armor, Swallow Clouds]
“Armor Up!”
When the ash-white “Ash Python” was summoned, Snake Hariman immediately commanded.
The already massive “Ash Python” reared its head and roared, gathering ground-type energy around its body, forming layers of armor, increasing its size noticeably!
Its defense also greatly improved under the effect of the “Five-Directional Dust Armor.”
“Roar!”
The “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” discovered the “Ash Python” and immediately charged forward.
Under the effect of “Dragon’s Inverted Scale,” the dragon claws received a 50% to 100% attack boost, tearing through the dust armor of the “Ash Python”!
Snake Hariman couldn’t help but show astonishment.
The increase in attack power the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” gained after its berserk state was truly shocking.
He originally thought that the “Ash Python” clad in “Five-Directional Dust Armor” would be immune to the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon’s” attacks.
In that case, he would just ignore it and directly attack Dark’s Mana Guidance Ball!
The essence of a Mana Duel was “Tower Defense”; breaking the life barrier of the Mana Guidance Ball would secure victory.
As a professional Duelist, he wouldn’t be fixated on defeating the opponent’s Mana Spirits.
But all of this was contingent on the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” not being able to harm the “Ash Python”!
Seeing that a single claw from the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” reduced the “Ash Python’s” mana to just over a thousand points, Snake Hariman hurriedly shouted, “Swallow Clouds!”
The next second, the “Ash Python” lowered its head in pain and took a deep breath.
The smoke covering the entire battlefield was completely sucked in!
And at this moment, the spectators finally let out their breaths.
With the smoke completely absorbed, the battlefield was once again exposed.
The Blue Side’s Mana Guidance Ball and “Fog Snake Cage” were protected by the “fog wall.”
A newly born “Fog Snake” crawled out of the cage opening of the “Fog Snake Cage.”
The two openings of the “Fog Snake Cage” continued to emit smoke, albeit very thin.
In the Blue Side summoning area, “Huhu” had curled up into a ball, and only now peeked out, looking around.
In the sky above.
The “Demon Fox Beast” transformed into a “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon,” pouncing forward with a “Fox Flash Strike” towards the “Ash Python,” but after failing to attack, it retreated.
Without the boost of “Dragon’s Inverted Scale,” the “Demon Fox Beast” indeed couldn’t break through the “Ash Python’s” defenses.
While consuming the smoke, the “Ash Python” swung its tail, sending the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” flying.
Then it immediately opened its mouth, spewing out… clouds!
The smoke absorbed and expelled by it gained more unique properties, allowing it to float in the air without dispersing!
During this inhalation and exhalation, the “Ash Python’s” mana was fully restored.
It flicked its tail, leaping into the clouds, moving like a swimming dragon toward the Red Side Mana Guidance Ball.
A hundred-meter distance was merely a small leap for the “Ash Python” over ten meters long.
It even just crossed the halfway line before opening its mouth, launching its ultimate skill — “Ash Curse” — at the Mana Guidance Ball!
“Huuu—”
Thin dust spewed from its mouth.
Clearly, it didn’t touch the Mana Guidance Ball.
But on the life barrier of the Red Side Mana Guidance Ball, a “curse” formed from ashes appeared!
Snake Hariman regained his composure and, pointing at Dark with three fingers, lightly smiled, “Thirty seconds, you have thirty seconds left.”
Though Dark hadn’t seen this “Ash Curse,” he immediately understood its meaning.
Thirty seconds later, the “Ash Curse” planted on the life barrier would explode!
After thirty seconds of accumulation, this “Ash Curse” might have the power to instantly shatter the life barrier!
What Snake Hariman referred to was the thirty-second countdown to death!
At this moment.
The countdown for “Battle Phase (2)” was exactly ten seconds away!
In other words.
This duel would decide the winner in “Battle Phase (3)” at the 10-second mark!
Under the analysis of Announcer Jessica Gardner, the entire spectator area instantly erupted.
This thirty-second countdown to death instantly stirred up the audience’s nervousness.
Whether supporting Dark Demon or Snake Hariman, everyone couldn’t help but silently count down in their hearts.
As the first group started shouting, more than half of the audience began calling out the thirty-second countdown!
The previously slow-paced battlefield became tense in an instant.
Dark’s eyes suddenly narrowed!
A hint of killing intent inadvertently burst forth!
But with the activation of the “Technique of the Shadow God,” he entered an extreme state of calm within two seconds.
The situation he faced was no longer just “unfavorable.”
With “two” “Baby Blue-Eye Dragons” and “Huhu” on the field, he could easily hold out until the next round.
As the remaining cards in his deck decreased, the probability of drawing necessary Mana Guidance Cards would increase.
Even if he didn’t draw them, with “Bliss III” and “Fairy Puppet,” he could still hold out for another one or two rounds.
As long as he could drag the rounds out, his chances of winning would increase.
But Snake Hariman’s “Ash Curse” cut off this possibility!
He only had one more chance to draw a card!
And his current hand was:
[Fairy Puppet]
[Trash Slime]
[Bliss III]
[Moon Goddess Stone]
“Demon Fox Beast!” Dark shouted loudly.
The “Demon Fox Beast” clearly realized the severity of the current situation.
Transparent aura flowed around its body, and “Twin Vine Fist” was charging up.
“Break the fog wall!”
Just as Dark had anticipated, the “Demon Fox Beast” vibrated its dragon wings, crossing dozens of meters in an instant, and in a flash, delivered eight punches to the “fog wall”!
Almost half a second later, the “fog wall” vanished!
The “Fog Snake” that emerged from the “Fog Snake Cage” bit at its toes, but it stomped both to death.
Then, it wrapped itself in leaves formed by sorcery, ignoring the snake cage and rushing straight for the Mana Guidance Ball!
There were two ways to escape the predicament of death.
One was to destroy the life barrier of the Blue Side Mana Guidance Ball within thirty seconds.
The other was to kill the “Ash Python” within thirty seconds!
Usually, killing the caster would break the curse.
But there were exceptions.
Therefore, the second method was only a fallback when the first method was impossible.
But Snake Hariman clearly anticipated his actions.
He pointed and laughed, pulling the Blue Side Mana Guidance Ball into the air.
The “Ash Python” coiled itself protectively around the Mana Guidance Ball!
Then, it watched the chaotic “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” warily, ready to send it flying at any moment!
“Tick!”
In this situation.
The thirty-second countdown of the second round ended.
The thirty-second countdown of the third round began.
Only twenty seconds remained until the explosion of the “Ash Curse”!
