Did You Think This Was Normal?
Just now, the space twisted unnaturally, and the purplish-black embers that had not yet been completely Annihilation seemed to be summoned by an invisible force, flowing backward from all directions and quickly outlining a blurry human figure.
Immediately afterwards, an even more intense purple flame, of the same origin as the previous [Demon Doppelganger], ignited from within the outline with a "whoosh," rising fiercely from the inside out!
Amidst the flames, the Iron Guard's tattered "body" was visibly regenerating. Even more remarkable was that the large amount of purplish-black energy streams and countless shattered card phantoms that had originally dissipated from the [Demon Doppelganger]'s demise now seemed to have found their home, transforming into a surging torrent that frantically poured into the Iron Guard's New Life body.
With each wisp of energy and each fragment of a card incorporated, the flames around him surged, and his aura became even more profound and complex.
Su Luo stood and watched, trying to sense the rules of the Dreamscape, but gained nothing.
The entire process lasted about half a minute. When the last card phantom disappeared into the Iron Guard's chest, the purple flames gradually Convergence, no longer Berserk outwards, but instead transformed into a stable halo attached to the surface of the armor.
Iron Guard's body had noticeably swelled, becoming even more robust and tall. Standing there, he bore a striking resemblance to the [Demon Doppelganger] from before.
"Now I remember how I climbed to the next floor!"
Iron Guard's first words made Su Luo relax slightly.
He thought the BOSS had a second Resurrection phase, and his current condition wasn't good.
"So that's how it is! When I successfully defeat the 'Mirror Image' on the first floor, I can inherit some of its accumulated power and cards, and then use that as a foundation to continue climbing to higher floors! This is... the correct path to the top of the tower, to take revenge on the true Devil!"
No, do you think this is normal?
Su Luo inexplicably felt like complaining.
At this moment, the Iron Guard had acquired a large number of cards, and his memories had also recovered considerably, making his emotions more complex. Su Luo decided to test him.
"The cards represent your former power... and since you can use the Demon Doppelganger cards directly, does that mean you once possessed Devil power?"
Iron Guard paused, feeling that what Su Luo said made a strange sense, "What you said... actually seems to make sense... Why do I possess the power of Devil?"
Su Luo glanced at the hundreds of cards in the Iron Guard's hand, who was deep in thought, shook her head, and turned away.
He realized that this guy wasn't human at all, and probably not Devil either; in any case, he seemed strange to Su Luo.
Approach the box.
The treasure chest had no lock and opened silently and automatically when he approached. However, the chest was completely empty—no new cards, no Relics, not even gold coins.
Su Luo seemed to sense something and looked at her initial Relic —the [Source Essence Circulator], where the words [Upgradeable] lit up.
Su Luo currently possesses twenty-seven Source Essence, twenty of which were obtained from the death of her [Demon Doppelganger].
Consciousness connects with it, and three clear information paths emerge:
[Upgradeable]
[Direction 1: Open Source]
At the start of each battle, you gain 10 Source Essence, and the Source Essence gained from defeating enemies increases accordingly.
[Direction Two: High-Efficiency Conversion]
One point of Source Essence can be converted into fifteen points of health / five points of temporary strength / five points of temporary agility / thirty points of armor / three points of energy... or two points of Source Essence can be converted into six points of maximum health / two points of permanent strength / two points of permanent agility / five points of initial armor per round...
[Direction 3: Lossless Reversal]
Ten points of health/two points of energy can be converted into one point of Source Essence.
These are all very good, especially direction two, which directly increased the strength by more than half.
However, Su Luo's gaze swept over these tempting options, but her heart remained completely unmoved.
Because these are all options provided by the rules of Dreamscape.
Although all of this is like a game, you can't treat everything like a game. Just look at the Iron Guard's ghostly appearance as he possesses the BOSS, and you can guess that something is wrong with this [Eternal Night Court].
We need to reclaim our power...
Su Luo tossed the [Source Essence Circulator] in her hand.
This Relic is Essence a reflection of his main cultivation method, [Source Essence Circulation Technique], under the rules of the Dreamscape; it is a "legitimate interface" for him to maintain a connection with his own power.
He did not choose any of the three preset paths.
Instead, he closed his eyes, immersing his entire being in the Relic, and channeling his will and understanding in reverse along the extremely thin but never completely severed "connection" between the Relic and his own power.
And, extensive experience in Dreamscape editing, skillfully circumventing the strange rules of Dreamscape...
Time passed in silence.
Iron Guard had recovered from his initial confusion and did not disturb the contemplative Scholar. He simply silently took stock of his newly acquired massive deck, trying to find clues about his origins from the familiar card patterns and memories.
After a very long time, Iron Guard finally waited for Su Luo to finish.
"The time you were AFK was enough for me to challenge the Tower five times."
Iron Guard was very sincere.
Su Luo snapped out of her deep thoughts, gently shaking her head as she adjusted to the more stable connection between the enhanced Relic and her own power.
He glanced at the Iron Guard, nodded, and said succinctly:
"Walk."
The two walked one after the other to the second floor of the Tower.
Su Luo's initial Relic's initial effect remained unchanged, except for one additional effect:
[Source Essence Return: Now, you can transfer Source Essence to ■■]
After darkness, the two arrived at a completely different place.
The scene behind the door was completely different from the rough corridor on the ground floor.
They seemed to have been instantly thrown into a vast, Dreamscape, and strange city.
Beneath my feet lies a street paved with an unknown material, stretching in all directions and disappearing into the distance.
The streets are lined with buildings that completely subvert conventional architecture: there are inverted spires, their tips plunging deep into the "sky" above, which is also made of buildings; there are spherical houses that float like giant colorful bubbles; and there are bizarre apartments that twist like living trees, with glowing fruits hanging from their branches...
These buildings, with their diverse styles, are pieced together haphazardly, yet strangely create a unique, chaotic, and dilapidated beauty. Light and shadow intertwine in the city, with countless tiny points of light weaving between the buildings, as if unseen inhabitants are still active, but apart from Su Luo and Iron Guard, there are no other living beings in sight.
"The Tower is said to have four main phases, or 'realms'," Iron Guard's voice rang out, tinged with a hint of recollection and certainty. "We've already passed the first phase—the bottom of the tower, and now we're in the second phase—the city. The rules here are even more... bizarre, and the monsters' forms and abilities are more diverse."
Su Luo squinted, not responding; his attention was completely drawn to the "depth" of this Dreamscape.