Chapter 658 “Request for Subscription” Dark Demon’s duel has no defeat.
[Card Name: Magical Beast (Imaginary Sheep)]
[Type: Elemental Card]
[Level: ??]
[Race: Avian-beast Kin]
[Attribute: Ground]
[Mana: 500]
[Attack: 500]
[Defense: 500]
[Ultimate Skill: Fusion Reference]
[Fusion Reference: The Imaginary Sheep can replace one recorded fusion material that does not exceed the second tier in fusion. At this time, except for it, all other fusion materials must be genuine fusion materials.]
Crossing tiers, referring to the second tier!
This two-star [Magical Beast: Imaginary Sheep] as predicted by Dark, just by being upgraded to two stars, has already received a significant enhancement.
Using this fusion material, it can fully replace “Ditto (Baby Blue-Eye Dragon)” or “Agumon” to fuse with the “Baby Blue-Eye Dragon” itself.
Although it’s not easy to achieve in a Mana Duel due to the need for a “Fusion” card.
However, in actual combat, it can be used to swap out “Ditto” — thus allowing “Ditto” to serve a greater purpose.
Therefore, this unexpected success of “secondary refinement” can be considered a pleasant surprise.
But after this success, Dark discovered that there was a critical element missing in the “secondary refinement” of this kind of fusion material card.
The main reason he could successfully upgrade this [Magical Beast: Imaginary Sheep] from one star to two stars was by adding a “fusion factor.”
This potion formula was obtained from Senior Pandora when he was a first-year student.
But if he wanted to advance further, he would need some additional elements beyond this.
If he couldn’t find such an element, he probably wouldn’t be able to strengthen the [Magical Beast: Imaginary Sheep] to three stars.
Similarly, this applies to other fusion materials as well.
This barrier is difficult to break through.
He roughly guessed that he might need successful experience in creating “advanced fusions” to make any breakthroughs in this aspect.
The only fortunate thing is that the [Magical Beast: Goddess of Heartful Eyes] only needs two stars to elevate the reference object of “angel fusion” to the third tier.
This will be Dark’s future ace card!
…
But currently, if he could refine “Magical Beast: Fusion Sigil Creature? Light,” “Magical Beast: Fusion Sigil Creature? Dark,” and “Magical Beast: Fusion Sigil Creature? Dragon,” it would be enough to add them to the deck.
Dark holds high expectations for this.
Then came November 16th, Saturday.
He finally waited for the duel with the fourth-year senior!
Second-Year Noble Academy, Dark Demon.
—VS—
Fourth-Year, Mana Academy, Patricia Boline;
This duel had been spreading since it was confirmed on Wednesday.
Patricia Boline was quite famous in the fourth-year Mana Academy—though not entirely in a positive light.
But she was indeed very well-known.
And Dark Demon was even more famous.
Thus, many students arrived right on time to watch this duel.
Most of the small magi-tutors among the second-years were also present.
Before the two contestants stepped onto the stage, cheers of encouragement were already ringing out.
Dark did not go to the circular spectator seats but directly went to the field.
His current deck lineup didn’t change much.
Apart from adding two three-star [Magical Beasts: Eevee] and one two-star [Magical Beast: Ditto], he removed several two-star “Capital Sin Cards.”
But even with such a simple adjustment, the overall synergy of the deck greatly improved.
Senior Patricia Boline would undoubtedly be a formidable opponent, but Dark had considerable confidence in this duel.
He exchanged glances with Senior Patricia Boline on the side of the competitor platform before quickly walking up the steps to the red side platform.
However, Senior Patricia Boline was the first to step onto the platform and immediately activated the spellboard.
Then she said somewhat smugly, “How about it? Didn’t expect it, did you?”
In the audience, apart from Dark, no one else knew what her “didn’t expect” actually referred to.
But Dark smiled helplessly, “Indeed, I didn’t expect you to be a fourth-year.”
“This is where my cleverness lies.” Patricia said slightly proudly.
At the Halloween masquerade ball, pretending to be a sixth-year student reduced her troubles; at least she wasn’t targeted throughout.
Only Dark, being unique, somehow stole her resource points.
But it didn’t matter; what was lost would be reclaimed!
She said intentionally, “I heard you haven’t lost a single match since your debut?”
Dark frowned slightly and said, “It seems so, but I don’t participate in many duels, so counting these is meaningless.”
Patricia Boline smiled faintly and said, “Before issuing the challenge, I specifically collected information about you. It’s hard to believe that you’re just a second-year. Your deck’s potential limit might even be higher than mine!”
Dark’s eyebrows twitched; he hadn’t expected this senior, whom he had only met once, to speak so directly.
Patricia Boline then continued, “If we were in a real combat scenario with prior preparation, I might not be your match. But remember, this is a Mana Duel stage. Those who can utilize the rules effectively are the ultimate winners.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a commotion erupted among the spectators outside the arena.
Her supporters likely hadn’t expected her to admit her shortcomings directly in such a situation.
Moreover, many people only realized at this moment how high Dark Demon’s deck’s potential limit was, surpassing even Patricia Boline’s capabilities.
The resulting discussions spread like a hurricane, quickly erupting in the audience.
Both contestants on stage remained calm.
Dark shook his head and said, “In actual sudden encounters, there’s no time for prior preparation. While the Mana Duel rules do differ from practical combat, they mainly increase the difficulty.
“If one cannot overcome this difficulty, it’s a personal issue. I do have many shortcomings. However, that’s only now!”
“I look forward to the moment you reach perfection,” Patricia Boline said with a smile. “I hope I’ll still be qualified to stand opposite you then. So, let’s duel!”
Dark suddenly said, “Let’s duel!”
Both contestants simultaneously activated the spellboard to shuffle their cards.
The words “Standby Phase” appeared on the Mana Projection.
This duel, which started as a challenge but had no trace of hostility, began its “Standby Phase” countdown, officially starting!
Whether it was the audience inside or outside the arena, or the two contestants on the competitor platform, everyone instantly focused.
[Standby Phase] [30s]
Both contestants drew their hands simultaneously.
After drawing five cards, Dark immediately checked them.
[Magical Beast: Eevee]
[Solo Sword Sheath (Weapon Form)]
[Lion Beast]
[Gluttony III]
[Flight Spell]
“Is the performance of the three-star Eevee finally coming?”
As the thirty-second countdown ended, Dark decisively chose to summon [Magical Beast: Eevee]…
“In the name of Dark Demon, Mana Summoning — [Magical Beast: Eevee]!”
“In the name of Patricia Boline, Mana Summoning — ‘Shadow Vine Snake’!”
With the summoning light flashing,
two Mana Golems materialized in their respective summoning zones.
The three-star [Magical Beast: Eevee], apart from being slightly larger in size, looked almost identical to the one-star version.
To the average person, it was nearly impossible to distinguish the difference.
Patricia Boline clearly didn’t notice either.
The moment she summoned the “Shadow Vine Snake,” she immediately shouted, “Root yourself, Shadow Vine Snake!”
Instantly, the thick green snake reared up.
As its tail rooted into the ground, its body stretched straight and rapidly grew.
A “whoosh” sound, and it transformed from two meters long to over ten meters long.
The shadow cast by the light touched the red summoning zone.
Dark’s expression changed instantly.
Though he hadn’t seen this “Shadow Vine Snake” before, he keenly sensed its intention.
Indeed, in the next instant,
dark vine-like shadows burst out from the shadow around [Magical Beast: Eevee], like a swarm of snakes, rushing towards [Magical Beast: Eevee]…
“Mimic!”
Dark shouted suddenly.
The eyes of [Magical Beast: Eevee] immediately shone brightly, and new shadow vines shot out from the “Shadow Vine Snake’s” shadow, attempting to block them.
However, the “Shadow Vine Snake” activated too quickly.
[Magical Beast: Eevee] was instantly wrapped in a black cocoon!
…
“‘Shadow Vine Snake’s’ ultimate skill — ‘Vine Shadow Bind,’ can sever all connections between your initial Mana Golem and the outside world.”
Patricia Boline said calmly.
“You cannot sacrifice or enhance, your hand cards are useless. Now, I summon another Magic Spell Card — ‘Ghost Vine Growth’!”
“Eevee, use ‘Relay’!”
Before Dark could activate a second summon, he immediately gave the command.
The [Magical Beast: Eevee] trapped by “Vine Shadow Bind” showed a reluctant expression.
It knew Dark must have a “Capital Sin Card,” imagining evolving into a six-star Mana Golem upon appearance.
But at this moment, it could only respond to Dark’s command and activate the ultimate skill — “Relay.”
“Relay” has a limited capacity to record data.
But Dark’s hand only contained three-star and below Mana Golems.
In an instant, it transformed back into light, escaping from “Vine Shadow Bind.”
Simultaneously, a Mana Card flew out from Dark’s deck, and the Mana Golem that emerged from it appeared in the red summoning zone.
It was a brand-new [Magical Beast: Eevee]!
“In the name of Dark Demon, Mana Summoning — ‘Gluttony III’!”
Purple-blue light showered down from the sky.
The non-sentient [Magical Beast: Eevee] bathed in the light of “Gluttony III” and evolved.
The sentient [Magical Beast: Eevee] returned to the Mana Card, rejoining Dark’s hand.
This operation left the audience dazzled.
Patricia Boline’s Magic Spell Card “Ghost Vine Growth” also took full effect at this moment.
The ghostly energy condensed “Ghost Vines” continued to wrap around the evolving [Magical Beast: Eevee]…
But the “Vine Shadow Bind” released by the previous [Magical Beast: Eevee] played its role at this moment.
It bought precious time for its evolution.
The [Magical Beast: Ice Eevee], emitting a faint blue cold light, suddenly appeared!
Dark hadn’t commanded an insentient Mana Golem in a long time, but this moment felt natural to him.
He immediately shouted, “Ice Beam!”
In an instant, the “Ice Beam” sprayed from [Magical Beast: Ice Eevee] completely cleared the surrounding “Ghost Vines” and “Vine Shadows.”
Patricia Boline’s eyes showed a look of surprise.
Then she raised her hand, and after the cooldown of the regular summoning spell ended, she raised her third Mana Card.
Originally, according to sequence, this third Mana Card could follow the summoning of “Shadow Vine Snake,” but she chose to pursue [Magical Beast: Eevee] and threaten the red Mana Guidance Ball.
She didn’t expect that [Magical Beast: Eevee] would escape the binding with its special ultimate skill and special summon another [Magical Beast: Eevee]…
Patricia Boline reviewed the records; each of Dark Demon’s Mana Golems was unique, and it shouldn’t be possible for two of the same Mana Golem to exist.
But this “rule” was broken.
Dark not only summoned two [Magical Beasts: Eevee], but also evolved them into a previously unseen six-star Ice Eevee!
When Patricia Boline summoned her third Mana Card, the originally chilly weather suddenly dropped further.
Dark clouds appeared in the sky, and hailstones fell.
The “Shadow Vine Snake” and the red Mana Guidance Ball’s life barriers in the blue summoning zone were pelted with “hailstones” making “popping” sounds.
Patricia Boline suddenly noticed that the Mana Values of both the Mana Golem and the life barriers were decreasing!
Moreover, the Mana Value of the Mana Golem was dropping faster than the life barriers.
If nothing was done, the “Shadow Vine Snake” would be shattered by the “hailstones” in a few seconds.
But in the next moment,
the “Shadow Vine Snake” suddenly exploded.
A “Spirit Flower” bloomed at its tail.
Patricia Boline glanced at the obviously ice-type Mana Golem and realized things weren’t going well.
Ice weakens grass…
And she was actually a grass-specialized Magus, though she was currently using a “Ghost Grass” deck.
“First, dispel this ice-type field spell!”
“Bloom, Netherworld Flower!”
A subtle, hidden aura flashed in Patricia Boline’s eyes.
