Chapter 814: Dark Demon is Not a Superstar 4k
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【Bliss IV】
【Solo Sword Sheath (Weapon Form)】
Claudia Meg, who managed to gather the three great primate generals within three turns, was indeed extremely lucky. However, Dark Demon also drew the most critical card, 【Bliss IV】, in the third round.
In his dilemma of choosing one of two, he once again chose the 【Andiro Beast】 evolved from the 【Black Big Ear Beast】!
Standing tall amidst the ruins, the 【Andiro Beast】 had a large physique, but its posture was slender, and its arms were comparable in length to the 【Great Ape King】’s.
Assuming a battle stance, its eyes glowed red, and an intense flow of energy surged around it, its momentum refined to the utmost.
The 【Great Ape King】’s ferocity couldn’t shake it in the slightest.
Surprisingly, both contestants summoned mana spirits with a rank as high as nine stars in just the third round!
……
“What is that? Another rabbit?”
Wit Gold, who had been discharged from the hospital for some time, sat in the audience with a gloomy expression.
He had developed a slight aversion to rabbits.
James Gardner, who had been closely observing Dark, wore a look of astonishment, momentarily unsure of how to react.
Anyone familiar with Dark’s tactics knew that the core of his strategy was a special enhancement card that could upgrade mana spirits’ ranks—recently, rumors began circulating referring to it as the 【Star Spirit Card】, a super-rare mana card capable of infusing stellar power into mana spirits, allowing them to achieve transformation.
However, before today, everyone had seen with their own eyes that Dark Demon’s 【Star Spirit Card】 could at most enhance a mana spirit to seven stars.
Although seven stars belonged to the third tier, the impression it gave was entirely different from nine stars.
Perhaps the long-drawn situation led many to forget that Dark Demon’s 【Star Spirit Card】 was also gradually upgrading.
James Gardner was clearly one of them.
However, just moments ago, Dark Demon had used a new 【Star Spirit Card】 to forcefully elevate the originally six-star 【Warrior Rabbit Beast】 to nine stars!
A nine-star mana spirit!
Even their sixth-grade students regarded nine stars as the strongest trump card.
Yet, Dark Demon had achieved this breakthrough with just a single 【Star Spirit Card】!
At present, the mana spirit reinforced to nine stars was originally a six-star mana spirit.
But could that 【Star Spirit Card】 truly raise a six-star mana spirit to nine stars?
Clearly, it was not.
James Gardner clasped his hands and supported his chin, his expression serious.
He believed that the 【Star Spirit Card】 must also be able to elevate a three-star mana spirit to nine stars!
Two mana spirit cards could summon a powerful nine-star mana spirit.
In a mana duel, this kind of advantage could drive opponents to desperation.
“Just how long has it been since the last duel? He has become even more terrifying!”
“How were those 【Star Spirit Cards】 forged? Is it merely refining stellar power?”
“That seems impossible.”
“Otherwise there would have been others achieving it before him.”
“There’s definitely something unreplicable by outsiders involved here!”
“I heard he kept many Grass Cat Plants; is the key point perhaps in the Grass Cat Plants?”
James Gardner, being an expert in potions, was highly sensitive to plants.
His thoughts began to branch out from this point.
But the duel in the arena wouldn’t pause just because of his distraction.
……
Though the 【Great Ape King】 had discarded cold weapons, it inherited the core ultimate skills of the three generals.
It also belonged to the primate general series and possessed an innate instinct for martial combat.
Claudia Meg hadn’t been able to forge a nine-star mana spirit, so the 【Great Ape King】 was the only nine-star she could summon.
Fortune had smiled upon her today, leading her to even have thoughts like “I can win,” but that notion was hastily suppressed as soon as the 【Andiro Beast】 appeared.
“Just as expected of Dark Demon!”
Claudia Meg’s eyes shone brightly as she gripped a mana card tightly in her hand and bellowed, “Great Ape King, Spirit of the Ape Soul!”
The 【Great Ape King】 suddenly took a step forward, and the ground beneath it shattered under the force of its raging power, as a spirit even larger than itself burst forth from within and attached itself to it.
The clearly inferior magic and defense of the 【Great Ape King】 were instantly bolstered.
Its already higher defense than the 【Andiro Beast】 surged even further!
In the next moment, it clenched its right fist and, propelled by its rushing body, like a rocket, it lunged toward the approaching 【Andiro Beast】!
The 【Andiro Beast】 was embroiled in battle fervor, and the energy within its body suddenly pierced through its right arm, transforming both arms into sharp 【Treasure Axes】, slashing down with 6000 points of attack toward the 【Great Ape King】!
As the two collided, it was like thunder prompting fire, the sound of steel clashing resonating endlessly.
Each punch from the 【Great Ape King】 was heavy and crushing, its fists enveloped in a special golden light that nearly turned them into steel fists, which the 【Andiro Beast】’s 【Treasure Axes】 could not split!
“Andiro Beast, Swordleaf Forest!”
The 【Andiro Beast】’s eyes narrowed, its feet suddenly twisting, its entire form transforming into a whirlwind, the blade light of its 【Treasure Axes】 shimmering as it spun and slammed into the 【Great Ape King】.
Yet, the muscles of the 【Great Ape King】 bulged, and with a hammering blow of its fist, a glow akin to iron suddenly manifested on its body; that glow rapidly expanded into a wall of iron, causing the blade light of the 【Treasure Axes】 to strike against the wall—only a few shallow scratches were made!
Dark had already witnessed this ultimate skill once before, aptly called 【I’ll Hold the Line】 from the 【Yellow-haired General】!
【I’ll Hold the Line】 had two effects: one was to bolster defense, and the other was to create an iron wall to block the enemy.
But each effect had a short duration.
Instead, the golden light wrapping the fist lasted much longer!
“Might that be the ultimate skill not used by the 【Blue-haired General】?”
Dark’s thoughts stirred as he continued watching.
Seconds later, he finally understood the source of the golden light.
It was derived from the 【Blue-haired General】’s 【Scale of Justice】, which balanced both parties’ power in close-quarters combat, rendering the 【Great Ape King】 perpetually invulnerable!
The effect of 【Scale of Justice】 surely had its limitations, but given the discrepancy in attack power between the 【Andiro Beast】 and the 【Great Ape King】, it was evidently outside those limits.
Dark’s mind raced as he swiftly pondered countermeasures.
The 【Andiro Beast】 was proficient in melee combat and would certainly not fall to disadvantage in close-quarters attacks. However, though the 【Great Ape King】 was frenzied and ferocious, its ultimate skills made it akin to a piece of taffy that couldn’t be chewed through, perfectly countering melee opponents.
The 【Andiro Beast】’s strongest ultimate skill—【Incantation Ode】—also required close-quarters combat, making it uncertain whether it could be effective.
“I can only try!”
With that thought, Dark decisively commanded, “Andiro Beast, Mental Shock!”
The 【Andiro Beast】 immediately turned its body, kicked toward the 【Great Ape King】, using the reactive force to create some distance, and then quickly landed, arms raised, gathering mental energy to unleash a wave of energy directed at the brain.
—This was its only long-range ultimate skill!
A tangible white light erupted in an instant.
The scorching white beam pierced through space, striking the center of the 【Great Ape King】’s forehead.
The 【Great Ape King】’s roar abruptly stopped!
In that moment, Dark realized his conjecture was likely to come true.
And it indeed did.
Under the gaze of thousands, after being struck by 【Mental Shock】, the 【Great Ape King】 froze in place, red, yellow, and blue lights began to burst from its body.
The enormous form of the 【Great Ape King】 incredibly started to crumble!
As the tri-colored lights burst forth like fireworks, the 【Great Ape King】 vanished from the arena.
Where the three colored lights converged, the 【Red-haired General】, 【Yellow-haired General】, and 【Blue-haired General】 were shockingly reconstituted!
“The fusion of the three colored generals has actually been undone?”
On the red side’s platform, Claudia Meg’s eyes were nearly popping out.
She had thought her 【Great Ape King】 might not be Dark’s opponent, but never imagined it could be undone in this manner!
“What kind of ultimate skill did that rabbit use? Can my generals fuse again?”
Claudia Meg glanced at her hand—just as she felt hopeless, a sudden “滴嗒” sound echoed in her ear. She jolted in surprise, instinctively drew a card, and suddenly a new 【Hundred People’s Training Ground】 was in her hand.
The summoning and fusion of the three colored generals relied on the 【Hundred People’s Training Ground】.
Claudia Meg had never tried whether the 【Great Ape King】 could be refused fusion after being forcibly dissolved.
Although there was a time limit for fusion originally, it would naturally have a cooldown after dissolution, this was the first time experiencing the forced dissolution before the fusion time limit had passed.
Thus, she couldn’t help but retain a glimmer of hope.
However, summoning the 【Hundred People’s Training Ground】 required more than just three seconds of summoning time; she needed to spend additional time injecting enough mana.
Thus, if she wanted to test this during the duel, she would have to survive the next period first.
Claudia Meg’s thinking speed was swift, and she soon reached a conclusion.
However, Dark Demon was likewise quick on the uptake.
Almost the instant the 【Great Ape King】 was dissolved, Dark commanded the 【Andiro Beast】 and 【Rex Beast】 to launch a quick attack.
Then he did not draw a card but immediately began summoning the 【Solo Sword Sheath (Weapon Form)】, preparing to control it to attack the red side’s mana ball and cleanly wrap up this duel!
The tri-colored generals after dissolution were no match for the 【Andiro Beast】 and 【Rex Beast】; unless Claudia Meg had a trump card left, the outcome of this duel was already a foregone conclusion.
Among the spectators, several had even realized the situation and began to cheer for him on the spot.
“Show mercy!”
Suddenly, Claudia Meg on the red side roared.
Dark couldn’t help but be taken aback.
The 【Andiro Beast】 and 【Rex Beast】 that had been beating down on the three generals paused their actions.
Seeing this, Claudia Meg hastily said, “I concede, I concede!”
“Beep—”
Almost the moment she announced her concession, the referee immediately blew the whistle.
“Second Year • Noble Academy • Dark Demon vs Sixth Year • Fool’s Academy • Claudia Meg.”
“Winner: Dark Demon!”
Thunderous applause rang out.
……
Although the ending of this duel was somewhat unexpected, the audience indeed witnessed something different.
They were equally welcoming of such a duel.
Dark Demon seemed to always bring surprises.
……
While the audience cheered, the contestants in the arena did not truly stop.
After conceding, Claudia Meg still summoned her second 【Hundred People’s Training Ground】.
Then she immediately issued a fusion command to the three generals—but the fusion did not succeed.
This clearly showed that once the tri-colored generals were forcibly dissolved, they could not fuse again for at least a short time.
Dark observed this and immediately discerned Claudia Meg’s intention, gaining further understanding of 【Mental Shock】’s effectiveness against it.
Claudia Meg’s general fusion seemed to closely resemble 【Fusion】; however, it did not use the 【Fusion】 mana card and was essentially a ritual magic established on the 【Hundred People’s Training Ground】.
Nevertheless, since 【Mental Shock】 was effective against it, it indicated it was a form of “quasi-evolution.”
Dark was not entirely clear on the concept of “quasi-evolution” and had not had much time to pursue understanding in the past couple of days, so this success was half anticipated and half unexpected.
“After this ends, I’ll find a way to try 【Fusion】 and see if 【Mental Shock】 can dissolve it!”
With the decision made, Dark began to gather his mana cards, preparing to recall the mana spirits from the field one by one.
Once all the mana spirits were recalled, he nodded politely to Claudia Meg and prepared to turn to step down.
“Wait!” Claudia Meg suddenly spoke again, “Wait for me below!”
Dark was momentarily puzzled.
However, given that it was an invitation from a sixth-year senior, he nodded slightly and responded, “Sure.”
Claudia Meg quickly gathered her mana cards and hurriedly walked down.
On the circular belt, Karen Newman suddenly stood up excitedly and slipped towards the entrance of the contestants’ passage.
After Dark stepped down from the contestant platform, he paused for a moment, waiting until he saw Claudia Meg before slowly proceeding, gradually distancing himself from the arena.
Claudia Meg chased up to Dark; just as she was about to reach for the two 【Flower Cards】, her face suddenly turned red, and she became shy, unable to utter a word.
Dark gently asked, “What’s wrong, Meg-senpai? Do you have any questions about what happened on the dueling field?”
“N-no… ah, yes, can we talk inside the passage?” Claudia Meg hurriedly whispered.
For some reason, she felt as if a lot of pinpricks were poking at her back, but there was clearly no one around.
……
……
【I’m so busy and tired, please give me votes.】
，面对达克的优秀，她的不安感愈发明显。
其次，达克身边的朋友们都在不断进步，几乎每个人都在朝着更好的方向发展。相较之下，她有时竟会觉得自己在原地踏步，无法追赶上他的脚步。
当然，潘多拉并没有因此而感到绝望。她明白要解决这些问题，就必须更加努力。她的心中一直燃烧着一种动力，努力超越自己，而不仅仅是为了达克。
“我一定能做到的，”她在心中默念。
与此同时，达克则心无旁骛地走在前往约定地点的路上，脑海中充满了即将送出巧克力的期待和紧张。他每天的生活都充满了学习和冒险，而这份情感在他的心中占据了越来越重要的位置。
在即将抵达目的地时，达克的心跳开始加速。他微微调整了一下肩带，握紧了手中的巧克力，心中默想着许多可能会发生的事情。
“只要勇敢走出这一步，一切都会变得美好。”他鼓励自己。
当他到达预定地点时，微微的阳光洒在大地上，空气中弥漫着清新的气息。此时，他看到潘多拉正站在那里，目光如星辰般清澈，似乎也在期待着他的到来。
“达克！”潘多拉注意到他的到来，嘴角绽放出一抹笑容。
“潘多拉，”达克回应着，心中一阵温暖。
他缓缓走上前，将提前准备好的巧克力递给她，满怀期待地说道：“这是我为你准备的情人节巧克力，希望你喜欢。”
潘多拉眼中闪烁着柔和的光芒，愉悦地接过巧克力，感受到达克的用心：“谢谢你，达克。这真是太特别了。”
达克微微一笑，看到潘多拉开心的样子，这份快乐传递到了他的心中。
“我也有份礼物要给你。”潘多拉说着，从口袋中取出一张卡片，手有些颤抖地递给他，脸上带着一丝紧张。
“这是给我的？”达克有些惊讶。
“嗯，是的。”潘多拉的声音温柔而坚定。
达克小心翼翼地接过卡片，打开后发现里面是一张手绘的图画，描绘着他们一起堆雪人的场景，还有温暖的祝福语。
“这……”达克感动不已，“我永远不会忘记这一切。”
“就像这幅画一样，无论未来我们面对什么，我希望我们可以一直在一起。”潘多拉微微低头，脸颊微红。
在这一刻，两人的心紧紧相连，时间仿佛静止。阳光洒落在他们身上，仿佛在祝福着这一段美好的情感。
“我也是。我会努力去追寻我们的未来。”达克坚定地说。
两人相视一笑，默契无比。此时，天空中的雪花似乎又开始纷纷扬扬而下，将这一切装点得如梦似幻。
达克明白，有潘多拉在身边，他的未来必将更加璀璨。他们一起跨越未知的旅途，探索这段充满魔力的情感之旅。
三人小心翼翼地走出隐匿结界，穿过密道的入口，进入了一个昏暗而神秘的通道。墙壁上布满了青苔和古老的符文，隐约透出几丝光芒，显得格外阴森。
“这条密道是谁发现的？”达克问道，心中对这条路线充满了好奇。
维特低声回答：“之前我们在图书馆查资料时，偶然发现的。老实说，这条隐秘通道似乎已经被遗忘了很久。”
“我们小心点，不要发出太大的声响。”罗伯特提醒道，紧跟在达克和维特身后。
他们缓缓前行，内心都充满了兴奋和紧张。很快，他们来到了一个岔路口，四周阴暗的环境让人难以判断方向。
“你们觉得该往哪边走？左还是右？”维特犹豫地问，目光在两条通道间徘徊。
达克思索片刻，决定：“我们去右边看看，感觉那边有点光。”
他们选择了右边的通道，随着深入，渐渐听到了隐约的低语声。好奇心驱使着他们继续前进，直到抵达一个巨大而空旷的地下大厅。
大厅的中央，矗立着一口古老的石柱，周围是几只正在忙碌的魔导精灵，显得格外忙碌。墙壁上挂着神秘的图案，似乎在讲述着过去的某个故事。
“这里是什么地方？”达克Light抬头，眼中闪烁着兴奋的光芒。
“不知道，不过看起来好像与某个仪式有关。”维特仔细观察，感觉这个地方的气氛异常不同。
就在这时，他们的目光被大厅的一侧吸引。那里有一扇巨大而华丽的门，门上雕刻着复杂的符文，散发出微微的光。
“我们去那边看看！”达克建议，兴奋不已。
三人相视一笑，朝着那扇门走去。随着靠近，符文的光芒愈发明亮，似乎在呼唤着他们的到来。
“你们说，这扇门背后会有什么呢？”罗伯特问，声音中带着一丝期待。
“无论是什么，我们都要做好准备。”达克认真道。
在他们的努力下，慢慢推开那扇沉重的门，门后是一片令人惊异的景象：五颜六色的光芒璀璨夺目，几乎让人目眩神迷。眼前约有三条通道，各自散发着不同的光辉。
“看来这个地方充满了未知，让人激动。”维特感叹道，眼中闪烁着求知的火花。
“我们要分头行动吗？”罗伯特提议，虽然心中有些犹豫，但无法抑制好奇心。
达克深吸一口气，坚定地说：“无论如何，我们都要有一个计划。如果迷路，那就得重新集合。不管发生什么，绝不孤身离开。”
于是，他们逐一选择了各自的道路，心中充满了期待与不安，向着未知的冒险迈出了坚定的步伐。
人将要争夺七张魔导卡。”
“也就是可以三分之一的可能性获得。这简直是个划算的交易。”一名学生说道。
贝蒂点头说：“既然大家都想要，那么接下来我们怎么决策呢？”
“我们可以进行抽签！公平起见，每个人都可以抽一次。”另一名学生提议。
“抽签的办法不错。”贝蒂赞同。
随即，大家纷纷开始讨论抽签的细节，确保每个人都能公平公正地参与。
这时，罗伯特也走了过来，他的神情中带着些许期待：“我能参与吗？”
“当然。”贝蒂回答道。
“不过，我有个小建议，可以用一些任务来评估参与者是否真正适合这些卡牌。成功完成就能得到卡牌。”罗伯特提议。
“这也是个好主意。”贝蒂点头同意，“或许我们可以结合抽签和任务，先通过抽签决定参与者，再赋予他们任务。”
大家纷纷赞同，随即启动了此计划。
最终，任务的内容和形式都被讨论并确认下来，所有人都对未来的机会感到兴奋。
“只要我们共同努力，就一定能获得有价值的魔导卡！”萨拉展现出灿烂的笑容，吸引了在场每个人的目光。
在这个紧张而充满挑战的时刻，众人都感受到了一种团结的力量，只有通过合作才能克服眼前的未知与风险。
Five into seven, and excluding my words, that’s fourteen into seven. The probability of choosing one out of two; we adopt the academy’s rules—decide the winner through a duel, how about it?”
“Don’t you want to?” someone asked.
Betty shook her head with a smile and said, “If it’s a duel, I’m no match for you all. So let’s do it this way. To take care of the lower-year students, we draw lots to determine the matchups and just have one decisive duel. How does that sound?”
A third-year student immediately objected, “But how can that work? If someone gets matched against a senior from the fourth year, wouldn’t that mean certain defeat?”
Betty shook her head and replied, “But if you get matched against a second-year, or even a first-year, wouldn’t that give you a high chance of winning? In a Mana Duel, luck is also part of skill. I think this is a good idea. What do you all think?”
Seeing that everyone’s reaction wasn’t very strong, Betty continued, “In that case, those who agree, stand on the left; those who disagree, stand on the right. The minority obeys the majority, alright?”
This time, there were no objections.
In the end, twelve agreed, while only two disagreed.
“It seems most seniors care about their faces,” Dark couldn’t help but smile.
Of course, he was on the side of those who had no thoughts about those seven Mana Cards.
…
…
【Tomorrow at six o’clock, I will add another chapter. I have something to do that day, so the update will be late.】
【The month is coming to an end, brothers, please cast your votes, orz!】
—
Chapter 821
Drawing lots, ensuring fairness, dueling.
Under Betty’s supervision, the Mana Card contest in the secret passage of Saint Maryann Academy officially began.
Saint Maryann Academy had not provided special education on student conduct, but as the saying goes, “One person’s behavior affects others.” Most of the professors responsible for teaching had no points of character that could be criticized, so the students were not very aggressive, and the duel process progressed relatively smoothly.
Even students who unfortunately drew high-year opponents chose to accept after doing their best.
Of course, this was also due to the uncertain credibility of the “Mana Serpent.”
Those who lost in the duels could comfort themselves by observing for a while before seeking new opportunities to join.
Among those who chose not to participate from the start, along with Betty, there were seven people.
These seven were Dark Demon, Betty Murray, Wit Gold, Stewart Fane, Anna, Angie, and a third-year senior.
Without mentioning Dark, Betty, and Wit, the reason Stewart Fane chose to forfeit was simple—he was the first to sneak attack and felt that he had already become enemies with that “wizard,” so he decisively gave up.
Anna and Angie, on the other hand, felt their identities were beneath joining such an ambiguous organization.
In fact, despite their mischievous behavior, they were very clear-headed and wouldn’t easily touch a bottom line.
As for the last third-year senior… Dark did not know the reason.
In short, six people watched, one presided over, and fourteen battled.
Among Dark’s acquaintances, the luck of the little orc Spike Leon was not bad; being a first-year student, he drew someone from the same year amidst so many people, making him the “prince of luck.”
Of course, Cecilia Doyle, who fought against him, was also lucky.
Cecilia Doyle’s academic performance was top-notch, but it seemed she hadn’t focused on dueling since entering the first year.
In contrast, Spike Leon, being of orc royalty, was born to fight and took the duel very seriously.
Thus, in their direct confrontation, Spike Leon narrowly won and obtained an “Identity Card” of the “Mana Serpent.”
Upon receiving that “Identity Card,” Spike Leon jumped for joy. If not for the many eyes around, he would have been running around in delight.
Dark quietly moved closer and seemed to hear him murmur, “Finally, I can understand math!”
Dark couldn’t help but break out in a sweat.
He had also checked that “Identity Card.”
It seemed to indeed carry a trace of the “Intelligence Deity’s” blessing, allowing the mind to become a bit more agile.
If it were completed, meaning its identity was authenticated, the effect of that “Identity Card” should also become stronger.
However, it evidently could not enter the “Wisdom Sequence,” and even the effects of “Sequence Nine” were far from satisfactory.
But even so, the students treated it as a treasure.
Especially seekers of knowledge like Sarah and Cecilia, they developed a determination to obtain it at all costs.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go as hoped; Cecilia lost in her duel and lost her qualifications.
Sarah Swati, on the other hand, faced a senior from the third year and managed to win narrowly!
Moreover, Tudor faced off against a fourth-year senior and suffered a crushing defeat after exhausting all his strength.
Then, it was Heidi Euphemia’s turn. She also defeated a third-year senior and gained her qualification.
Following her, Pistons entered, but after putting up a fight against a third-year senior, he lost.
Fourth-year Sneak Harriman drew a close friend from the same year and, afterward, decisively seized one of the qualifications.
The final match was between Robert and a fourth-year senior… it was truly a pitiful sight, indescribable.
Thus, the final seven who obtained “Identity Cards” were:
First-year Knight Academy, Spike Leon.
Second-year Mana Academy, Sarah Swati.
Second-year Mana Academy, Heidi Euphemia.
Third-year Knight Academy, Ada Sawyer.
Fourth-year Fool’s Academy, Polly Bruno.
Fourth-year Noble Academy, Sneak Harriman.
Fourth-year Knight Academy, Marshall Wyant.
…
Looking at it this way, the fourth year indeed reaped a significant harvest; aside from Sneak Harriman’s close friend being eliminated by him, everyone else emerged victorious.
The third year was unfortunately left with only one survivor.
Having watched the entire process, Dark naturally remembered their appearances and names.
Among these seven people, there were three he did not know.
But since they could appear here, they surely possessed extraordinary talents, only some of which had yet to shine.
However, such memories were merely habits accrued after his intelligence enhanced.
In reality, he believed he wouldn’t have much interaction with them.
Tonight’s show allowed him to greatly satisfy his visual appetite, witnessing seven duels, each with its own characteristics.
After that, Betty began to distribute the seven Mana Cards found in the box one by one.
Then, as a benefit for being the host, she kept the box…
Hmm, it would be good for storing decks~
…
After that, the students didn’t leave immediately.
Without the opportunity to get “Identity Cards,” those seven completed the process of completing their “Identity Cards” right in front of everyone.
The method was very simple; they quickly figured it out after acquiring them.
In simple terms, they used their bodily fluids as materials and infused mana to melt it in.
Except for Spike Leon encountering a bit of difficulty during the completion process, the others all managed to easily achieve it.
After that, each person’s half-body image appeared on the surface of their “Identity Cards,” and on the side of the “Identity Cards,” “Numbers” also appeared!
The emergence of these “Numbers” undoubtedly piqued everyone’s interest.
Due to the previous individual checks, the order of the “Identity Cards” had already been scrambled. When distributed one by one later, the “Numbers” were entirely random.
Sarah Swati was exceptionally lucky, obtaining the number “90003.”
Spike Leon had “90004.”
Then came Sneak Harriman with “90005.”
Heidi Euphemia had “90006.”
Polly Bruno was assigned “90007.”
Marshall Wyant received “90008.”
Ada Sawyer got “90009.”
…
As everyone compared, they immediately discovered the issue.
After reading, Betty said, “Everyone’s number begins with 9, from ‘90003’ to ‘90009’… but where are 1 and 2?”
“Who are ‘90001’ and ‘90002’? Could it be that someone has already joined the ‘Mana Serpent’ before us?” Sarah curiously inquired.
The crowd began to discuss, rapidly becoming filled with interest in the absent “90001” and “90002.”
Sneak Harriman confidently asserted, “Those two must understand the ‘Mana Serpent’ better than we do! If we want to know more about it, we must find them. The other students, I mean those who didn’t make it, could also get in touch with them to reapply for joining.”
“And what benefits are there to joining the ‘Mana Serpent’? Saving the world?” Stewart Fane scoffed.
Sneak Harriman shot him a glance and said, “Just having this ‘Identity Card’ is already a huge benefit. I can feel that once I fully activate it, my mental agility will increase by a notch! That’s a benefit worth gold! If this gets out, all the students in the academy would rush to join the ‘Mana Serpent.’ Besides, since our ‘Hero’s Child’ knows that wizard, shouldn’t we assume that the existence of the ‘Mana Serpent’ is tacitly acknowledged by the academy? I dare to guess, Wit Gold, you must be ‘90001,’ right?”
At this point, Sneak Harriman’s voice rose sharply, his hand holding the “Identity Card” pointing at Wit.
Wit had already confirmed various speculations through the effects of the “Identity Card,” and suddenly felt justified.
Facing Harriman’s question, he furrowed his brows and replied, “Senior, how can you accuse someone out of thin air?”
Sneak Harriman’s reasoning flowed smoothly, and he continued without hesitation, “How can it be an unfounded accusation? This is a reasonable deduction, full of logic. If you’re not ‘90001’, then provide your evidence!”
Wit was momentarily speechless, taking a long time before saying, “Evidence? Shouldn’t the proposer provide evidence first?”
Sneak Harriman let his gaze drift and said, “My reasoning counts as evidence. What’s wrong? Unconvinced? If you’re unconvinced, let’s settle this according to school rules! No need to say more; let’s duel, young man!”
“Alright, Sneak. I believe Gold isn’t ‘90001,’” one of Sneak’s friends patted his shoulder, laughing.
But when Wit shot him a grateful glance, he suddenly switched tactics, “I guess he’s ‘90002!'”
Wit’s face immediately darkened, unable to speak for a long time.
The atmosphere in the room became lively as a result.
Everyone stopped pursuing, but it was clear that in everyone’s mind, Wit had already become the “informed person” of the “Mana Serpent.”
Those who had failed to obtain “Identity Cards” this time, or were hesitant in the middle, would probably keep a close eye on him in the coming days.
Even if he wasn’t “90001” or “90002,” he might as well be “80001” or “80002,” right?
In fact, the number “9” at the beginning was very strange; normally, it should start with “0.”
So, the information revealed by this numbering was tremendous.
“Alright, everyone,” Betty clapped her hands, coming to Wit’s rescue. “As for what the truth is, we can investigate slowly once we leave the secret passage. However, I hope everyone can do one thing.”
“What is it?” someone asked.
Betty smiled, “Naturally, it’s to keep a secret. Keeping secrets can maximize our interests. To be honest, I also want to join the ‘Mana Serpent,’ so I will keep an eye on it. If competitors suddenly increase, my chances will diminish. Moreover, the ‘Mana Serpent’ might not want too much information leaked. What do you all think?”
The “Mana Serpent” was indeed a “secret organization.”
If everyone knew about the “secret organization,” it wouldn’t be a “secret organization” anymore.
Thus, after a brief discussion among the students, they quickly reached a consensus.
They each memorized each other’s appearances and remembered those few who had never revealed their looks, then they dispersed.
…
The ones who obtained “Identity Cards” quickly left, and the others followed closely behind.
Dark stayed until the end, watching Anna and Angie bounce away behind the door, then finally spoke, “I didn’t expect it would end up like this.”
Betty Murray hadn’t left at this point; she almost immediately recognized his voice and gasped, “So the third person is you!”
Aside from her, the remaining ones were just Dark, Wit, and Robert.
Robert was someone accustomed to falling, so he wouldn’t be discouraged by such a minor setback.
His earlier anxiety was indeed due to that path.
Seeing that his identity was recognized, Dark no longer concealed it, “Good evening, Senior.”
Betty looked again at Wit and Robert, then suddenly pointed at Dark and said, “I understand now! You are ‘90001,’ Wit is ‘90002,’ so you all three were in it together, yet only Robert participated in the duel! Because you two were already members of the ‘Mana Serpent!'”
Dark couldn’t help but chuckle, “Senior Betty, stop speculating randomly. I know who ‘90001’ and ‘90002’ are; if you want to know them, I could introduce you. But it really isn’t me and Wit.”
Betty was taken aback for a moment, then after a while, she asked, “Really?”
“Of course, it’s true,” Dark replied, “Thanks to you maintaining order, we could conclude successfully tonight. I think, since that wizard is still hiding somewhere, he should also reward you. Maybe when you wake up tomorrow, you’ll be ‘90010.’”
“Haha,” Betty laughed. “Don’t tease me; I might take it seriously.”
“How can that be a tease?” Dark said with a smile, “I was just… saying it casually.”
“Hmph!” Betty turned around and vented her frustration on Wit, “President, it’s up to you to keep my secret! Otherwise, don’t blame me for not keeping it safe…”
Wit turned pale and quickly said, “Let me think; I’ll figure something out.”
Betty nodded in satisfaction, “Then work hard on that. I’ll head out first.”
With that, she truly left.
Dark and the other three came in last, and they also left last.
Professor Heldred Bode did not come out to see anyone until the end.
But the next morning, Betty Murray indeed received the “Identity Card” of “90010!”
…
Let’s skip this matter.
The three of them walked out of the two rooms and back onto the selection path.
To their surprise, the “selection” effect of that path was still in play.
As they proceeded, Robert encountered several forks in the road once again, instantly filled with memories.
Before he became anxious again, Dark made a suggestion…
“Is this path really okay?” Robert asked, half of his foot in a fork, looking quite nervous.
Dark reassured him, “It’s likely safe.”
“What do you mean by likely? I need a hundred percent!” Robert mumbled.
Dark said, “Then, ruling out the possibility of danger, this path is definitely safe.”
Robert replied, “With you saying that, I feel relieved.”
Wit thought, “???”
With Robert feeling secure, he walked into that fork under their watchful eyes and never returned.
…
After seeing Robert disappear, Dark turned to Wit and said, “Let’s go.”
Wit hurriedly followed and asked, “Dark, are ‘90001’ and ‘90002’ Diana and Rose, right?”
Dark replied, “‘9’ is ‘Sequence Nine,’ so ’01’ and ’02’ must naturally be Diana and Rose. However, the blessing effect received by Sarah and the others is still relatively weak; perhaps there will be another official joining ceremony later. The professors separating ‘Sequence Nine’ out to establish the ‘Mana Serpent’ was indeed a good idea. But I didn’t expect Heldred Bode to be in charge of this.”
Wit agreed, “I really didn’t expect Professor Shylph to trust Professor Bode so much.”
Dark chuckled, “Professor Bode is the current dean of the Fool’s Academy.”
Wit slapped his forehead, “If you hadn’t mentioned that, I would have almost forgotten! I wonder what sequence Professor Bode will have after joining the ‘Wisdom Serpent.'”
Dark said lightly, “Sequence Three.”
Wit asked suspiciously, “How are you so certain?”
Dark explained, “Because anyone who joins afterward can only start from ‘Sequence Three.'”
Wit exclaimed, “Oh,” then after a moment, added, “The professors aim to popularize the ‘Mana Serpent,’ right?”
Dark frowned slightly and replied, “I wasn’t involved in this matter. But it’s unlikely to be popularized. I estimate they’ll recruit no more than forty people.”
Wit asked again, “Forty people, will each person receive a blessing from the ‘Intelligence Deity’?”
Dark replied, “Of course. Why do you ask that?”
Wit answered, “I’m just curious. You see, if forty people received blessings from the ‘Intelligence Deity’, then our academy would suddenly have forty extraordinarily smart people, greatly improving the overall level. Like the second year… not to mention Diana and Rose, Sarah Swati was already ahead of me. Now that she’s become even smarter, I might find it hard to surpass her.”
Having said that, Wit appeared a bit downcast.
Dark was puzzled, “Your blessing should be ‘Sequence Three,’ right?”
Bringing this up, Wit looked even more gloomy, “But I don’t feel any smarter.”
Dark thought for a moment and reassured him, “It’s just a bit of lingering effect. Once you adjust, the effect of the ‘Intelligence Bestowal’ will manifest. And besides, intelligence is just one aspect of strength; you can also develop your lineage… um, in short, just keep at it. Hard work pays off.”
Wit asked, “But weren’t you the one who said to balance work and rest?”
“Um…” Dark replied, “There’s a phrase called ‘waiting for labor by easing,’ you might not have heard of it.”
Wit asked, “Waiting for labor by easing… what does that mean?”
Dark explained, “It means replacing labor with ease—ease = labor. Balancing work and rest = labor-labor balancing.”
Wit was puzzled, “???”
…
Without Robert, the selection path became extremely short.
Just as Dark and Wit were deeply engaged in conversation, the exit of the secret passage appeared ahead.
The two quickened their pace, passed through the exit, and returned to the castle’s corridors.
Then, they began walking toward Lover’s Bridge as previously agreed.
The meeting time for the “Mana Serpent” was nine fifteen, and after a fierce battle, following seven duels, only about an hour and a half had passed—now it was eleven, with still an hour until the midnight curfew.
Since it was Valentine’s Day, couples gathering at Lover’s Bridge were still lingering even at eleven.
As Dark and Wit approached, they spotted Robert in the nearby shadows and quickly called out.
The three had all retracted their black cloaks by this time.
Hearing the voice, Robert perked up and hurried over.
Dark took a big step back, allowing him to embrace Wit face-to-face.
“The atmosphere of Valentine’s Day is really lively!”
…
Time flew by.
Since Valentine’s Day, the information circulating about the “Mana Serpent” in the academy had grown more numerous and mixed.
Afterward, Dark did not see anyone seeking out Diana and Rose; he only knew that Wit was frequently intercepted and taken aside to engage in this and that.
Additionally, the organizers of the “Mana Serpent” gradually shifted from the initially circulated “mysterious wizard” to “some student.”
Evidently, after the events of Valentine’s Day night, the professors realized that the premise of having “outsiders” establish hidden organizations within the academy was unreasonable.
On the contrary, if it were a student establishing it, that would make much more sense.
Moreover, according to the rumor that had circulated, Wit’s identity just happened to align with the original setting of a world’s savior.
After all, nothing is more inclined to saving the world than a “Hero!”
So, the most widespread, credible rumor now was: calamity is about to reappear; the future hero is secretly recruiting companions in order to save the world—those interested in becoming the hero’s partner, please dial “90001” immediately!
In short, it’s unclear which fool revealed the “Number,” but now everyone knows that “Mana Serpent” has a number starting with “9,” and that “Hero’s Child” Wit Gold is “90001.”
However, the number has not expanded beyond “90010.”
Life in the academy continued as it always had, seemingly only Wit Gold was affected…
As for Dark Demon, who successfully remained uninvolved, he was officially beginning what he had long anticipated under Professor Kazel’s call… the “Demon King” crafting experiment!
The “Demon King” crafting experiment was naturally aimed at refining the soul awareness of “Demon King One” and “Demon King Two” into a Mana Spirit Card named Alastair Aldridge!
The key factor in this experiment was to ensure that the soul awareness of “Demon King One” and “Demon King Two” would not be extinguished during the crafting process.
Only by allowing them to be refined into Mana Spirits while remaining “alive” could the issue of their “immortality” be more thoroughly resolved.
Before the “Demon King” crafting experiment began, the souls of “Demon King One” and “Demon King Two” were still in the hands of Professor Steven Harvey.
Professor Kazel and Sister Carrian also occasionally came to help with research. Their sole research goal was to analyze the immortality of the “Demon King.”
But so far, progress had been minimal.
And time was not on their side.
“To analyze the immortality of the ‘Demon King,’ we must first allow it to die. Only by observing its deaths and resurrections repeatedly can we collect enough data. But this is clearly impossible for us.”
At this point, Professor Kazel couldn’t help but sigh.
“We also tried using ‘Mud Nightmare Crystal’ to entice it into revealing the secret of its immortality. But the final conclusion was that once its immortality formed, it directly deleted that part of its memory, completely.”
After listening, Dark said, “After so many years with the Holy Church, we haven’t even managed to deduce anything. It’s indeed impossible for us to reach results within a few months.”
However, as he spoke, Professor Kazel added, “But the ‘Illusionary Worm’s’ characteristic of ‘Born and Perishing Daily’ is indeed related to the Demon King’s immortality. It may be the source of immortality or one of its constituent elements. Overall, this means that even if we create the ‘Demon King’ as a Mana Spirit Card, we can still continue researching immortality.”
Dark thought for a moment and said, “Not to say anything, crafting the ‘Demon King’ might enable better analysis as well. Moreover, the Mana Spirit Card will form an ultimate skill. If we are lucky enough to convert its immortality into an ultimate skill, it will also be more beneficial for our research.”
Professor Kazel paused for a moment and said, “That indeed makes sense. Such a simple reasoning had escaped me.”
Dark chuckled, “It’s just a simple oversight.”
Professor Kazel replied, “But this also depends on luck. And even if it forms an ultimate skill, it cannot guarantee we can obtain detailed information from the Mana Card. Based on my research on ultimate skill cards, it’s very difficult to restore the principles behind an ultimate skill from just one Mana Card.”
Dark said, “We’ll see when the time comes. Having two ‘Demon Kings’ means we have two chances; as long as we hit it once, that’s enough.”
Professor Kazel added, “However, the probability of hitting is one in ten thousand.”
Dark said helplessly, “That’s because the Demon King absorbed too many demonic abilities. Putting that aside, how do we proceed with crafting the Demon King? Do we recreate Aunt Brad’s experience? That doesn’t sound feasible, right? Besides, it’s not even Easter right now.”
Professor Kazel shook his head, “No need to be so complicated. Just using the standard refining method to turn the Demon King’s soul awareness into a Mana Card will do. The critical points to note are the need for high-level materials that match its level and the massive mana that needs to be spent during the melting process. Of course, both of these issues can be resolved. However, a Mana Spirit Card crafted this way may not guarantee the quality of the final product. It might even end up being just a pig harboring the soul and awareness of the Demon King.”
“Whether it’s a pig or a dog doesn’t matter much,” Dark pondered. “Rather, if that’s the case, we can use this Mana Spirit Card, can’t we?”
Professor Kazel laughed, “That’s true. If the final product still resembles the Demon King, you might never be able to use it in front of others.”
Dark also smiled, “I still want to try summoning the Demon King.”
Professor Kazel joked, “That must be very exciting, right?”
Dark said, “Well… I guess I will only know after I’ve tried it.”
Professor Kazel said, “Alright, it seems you can hardly wait.”
Dark replied, “I’ve been waiting for a long time. So, shall we begin today?”
Professor Kazel said, “Let’s start with familiarizing ourselves with the ‘Phoenix Blood Potion.’”
Dark’s heart stirred as he recited, “Phoenix Blood Potion?”
Professor Kazel nodded, “Although your mana is already quite vast, it’s still insufficient for melting the Demon King’s soul, so you must use the ‘Phoenix Blood Potion’ to obtain enough mana in a short time.”
Dark frowned, “But I remember, the ‘Phoenix Blood Potion’ lasts only three minutes, right?”
Professor Kazel replied, “Three minutes should be sufficient for the final melting step. If necessary, just drink another bottle.”
Dark asked, “Does our academy have plenty of ‘Phoenix Blood Potions’?”
Professor Kazel smiled mysteriously, “Thompson is very good at making ‘Phoenix Blood Potions.’ And there happens to be a phoenix boss in the dungeon.”
Dark understood immediately, “So, what about the potions?”
Professor Kazel said, “First, let’s head to my laboratory.”
…
The two quickly arrived at Professor Kazel’s private laboratory.
Upon entering, Dark saw a huge machine at first glance and couldn’t help but question, “What is this?”
Professor Kazel explained, “That’s the ‘Artificial Core’ manufacturing machine. It can compress massive amounts of mana to a high degree, then mixed with materials like magic crystal fragments, to create artificial cores for golems.”
Dark was astonished, “There’s such a machine!”
Professor Kazel smiled, “Golem cores are actually fragile items; their lifespan usually doesn’t exceed ten years. Moreover, high-quality cores are extremely rare. If we didn’t have this ‘Artificial Core’ manufacturing machine, the academy’s patrol golems would have long turned into scrap metal.”
Dark’s mind raced, “Professor, can I also use this machine to create cores?”
Professor Kazel replied, “I brought you here for this purpose. Since you’ll be using the ‘Phoenix Blood Potion,’ don’t let it go to waste. In three minutes, you should be able to manufacture at least three high-quality cores. Moreover, using your own mana to produce the ‘Artificial Cores’ will make crafting golems much easier.”
Dark understood, “Got it!”
Afterward, Professor Kazel immediately began teaching him how to operate the ‘Artificial Core’ manufacturing machine.
The operating method for the ‘Artificial Core’ manufacturing machine wasn’t complex, but the most complicated part was mana frequency adjustment.
Only by injecting mana according to certain patterns could he create a stable cycle during the high-compression process, ultimately producing qualified “Cores.”
This process posed a certain level of difficulty even for Dark.
He spent a long time learning how to do it and then took the ‘Phoenix Blood Potion’ from Professor Kazel to prepare for his experiment.
“I wonder what this potion tastes like?”
…
…
【I’ll add a chapter around twelve, as this month I still have eight thousand words left to clear off the reward goal. With no food, drink, or rest, I should make it, so please subscribe!】
