Enchantment Card: Bewitching Aura (Third Update, Ten Thousand Words)

The former's effect in the game is that red and yellow-named Wild Monster turn into green-named monsters, the hatred of enemies who have already developed hatred towards you is immediately cleared to zero and remains at zero for a period of time, while increasing the evasion rate by 15%.

However, in reality, it should be Emma's kind of "Scent Bewitchment".

The effect is so strong that it needs no explanation— Bishop Mathers has personally demonstrated the effect to Iver.

However, because it's an enchantment effect, like Shadow Blade, its duration is very short, and a card can normally only be used once a day. It's impossible to use it as freely as Emma.

As for the latter, it refers to the scarlet whips that extend from the wrists of the succubus's hands—more like tentacles than whips, possessing tactile sensation.

In fact, it was considered a special weapon of the succubus, equivalent to the Thunder Strike Halberd of the Punishment Demon or the wings of the night demon.

This whip has two main effects: each of its attacks comes with a charm check, while against targets that cannot be charmed, it instead continuously drains their life force and vitality.

It can also be used to attack one's own teammates or charmed targets, inflicting intense pain with a powerful curse while also inflicting a special berserk state.

This is a fairly powerful gain.

In the game, the effect is to charm teammates, preventing them from casting spells, causing them to continuously lose health and have their defense reduced by 20%, while increasing their attack power, attack speed, and movement speed by 20%.

And it can stack up to three layers! At the third layer, the percentage-based health reduction becomes terrifying; you can see your health bar plummeting at a visible rate. At the same time, you become as fragile as a sheet of paper, but your attacks become as ferocious as a mad dog.

Of course, there are definitely cards that offer greater benefits than this one. But more important than the stats is the fun factor...

The most fun thing about this thing is that it can charm your teammates!

Players call it "You've been buffed, charge!" Once hit by the whip two or three times, you'll transform into a meteor—crashing directly into the enemy formation, dealing massive damage at the cost of your life. Because this buff is so outrageous, this equipment card, created using Spell Card, can only buff teammates three times each time.

Its drawback is that its buffs are tied to the charm state; if the charm state is removed by using a skill, the buffs will also disappear. And in the game, players can't tell their charmed teammates, "Don't go in yet, wait for me to fully buff you."

Once a teammate is charmed, the Sinner will immediately attack the nearest enemy, just like an out-of-control AI. Once the enemy starts to kite, the Great Sin Scholar has to chase after the teammate like a grandmother feeding her grandson. Therefore, it is not very useful in PVP.

However, in PVE dungeons, this can be used to stack three layers of Berserk at the right time for melee DPS classes to stand still, greedily deal damage, and then have the priest remove the control before the new mechanism comes into play.

Iver was the one in charge of de-controlling before.

A Extraordinary Weapon that can charm enemies, drain their life force, and enhance teammates... Logically speaking, Iver should have no reason to hesitate.

The problem is, it's not just Iver doesn't know how to use a whip—nobody he knows knows how to use a whip.

Another problem was that after seeing the Grand Guardian's almost pathetic, beast-like appearance... Iver really didn't want to give it to his teammates.

In the game, teammates are merely affected by bleeding and reduced defense.

But it had truly robbed the Grand Guardian of his reason, turning him into a agonizing and maddened beast. He was now covered in blood, shattered and broken. Even with the Illumination Spell, it was unknown how long it would take him to recover.

But if it can't be used on humans with flesh and blood, can it be used on the Great Sin Beast that he can resurrect? Iver thought it wouldn't work either.

This is really not dignified. This is inappropriate.

Wielding a whip to lash out at his summoned creatures and teammates, driving them into a frenzy and irrationality—this art style feels like that of a villain.

The "Scarlet Vixen" is a real poison whip, described as a cursed weapon that "causes intense pain through a potent curse."

In the end, Iver chose the [Enchantment Card: Bewitching Aura].

Although Iver felt that with his interpersonal skills, he probably wouldn't need to use this ability much.

But who knows when we might need it...

Then, Iver infused his magic, and at the same time, he loudly praised, "I beseech the Constant Self, the god of oneness of Sacred Number, the god of death and rebirth, the god who has long seen the darkness—"

A pungent, nauseating smell, like that of a drunkard vomiting, wafted from the card and spread outwards.

Iver gripped the Ritual Knife hanging in front of his chest tightly with his left hand again, and blood dripped onto the card.

—The next moment, the face of the sacred [Power] card gradually melted away, transforming into [Lust].

The blood that dripped from Iver was like sacred wine.

The goddess who tamed the lion got drunk and collapsed on the red lion, while she held aloft the Holy Grail. The lion, bathed in blood, gradually became ferocious.

Just like when the Punishment Demon was sealed before—the mana in Iver's body was frantically drained until all the Dark Attribute Mana in Iver's body was drained.

This even made Iver somewhat worried that what he created might no longer be "Bewitching Aura".

At that moment, the pervasive smell of alcohol spread. The succubus, trapped in a cage bound by countless overlapping shadowy hands, gradually "collapsed."

It turned into a pool of blood, seeping out from between its fingers.

It wasn't that it was crushed into mincemeat by the Night Demon, but rather that it was melted into blood by the power of the Constant Self.

The blood flew towards the card in Iver's hand like a storm. The blood plasma split into three streams in the air, entering the card and causing it to vibrate violently.

Finally, it transformed into a brand new Tarot Card, golden and purple. Shimmering with dark gold and blood-red light, it fell into Iver's hand.

[Enchantment: Bewitching Aura (Lust)]

[Required: Dark 3]

[Maintain: Dark 3*per minute]

[Immediate, Self, Insight, Echo]

[Effect: Grants the caster "Bewitching Aura," an effect equivalent to a succubus's innate spell.]

Echoing spell version of Bewitching Aura! Iver's spirits lifted.

—Sure enough, this is the second time such an unusual situation has occurred.

Just like sealing the Punishment Demon before... if you completely drain the opponent, the Phantom Demon Card will gain a new attribute! The Punishment Demon gains a "Repetition" attribute, while the Succubus gains an "Echo".

The fact that this card has been activated means that it can be used an unlimited number of times within a day!

Although the mana cost is a bit scary... Summoning requires three points of Darkness, and it consumes three points of Darkness every minute.

But as long as Iver doesn't burn this card, it's as if Iver has gained another regular spell with unlimited uses!

The normal version of Bewitching Aura definitely doesn't have this effect. Otherwise, Iver wouldn't have hesitated for even a moment between "Bewitching Aura" and "Scarlet Vixen".

The allure of the Bewitching Aura that can be used at any time is completely different from the Bewitching Aura that can only be activated once a day and cannot be activated again once it is turned off! At this moment, Ligeia suddenly said to Iver, "Are you done?"

Upon hearing this, Iver turned around.

The Grand Guardian had clearly broken free from the succubus's control. His skin had returned to its normal color, and the scars had vanished without a trace, though he was now covered in blood and incredibly weak. Even so, he did not faint, but rather nodded weakly to Iver.

After the succubus was completely dissolved by Iver, all the hints and shackles she had left on the Grand Guardian, the Griffin, and Isabel also disappeared without a trace.

The essence of allure is also a curse. When the one who casts the curse dies, the curse is naturally lifted.

—Iver cannot break free from the succubus's control, but he can eliminate the succubus directly.

Immediately, Iver realized what Ligeia meant. "Viennes, come back!"

The Night Demon, who was already feeling unwell, immediately exploded into a cloud of gray shadow feathers after receiving Iver's order, and returned to its travel form.

The black raven flew to Iver's shoulder, once again transforming into a sculpted state to conserve its energy and gradually release the power and pressure accumulated within it.

But before its oppressive aura had dissipated, the fully armed Knights of the Arbitration Hall had already arrived.

They were all at the Candle Holder Cathedral watching the ceremony. The sudden rain of blood caused chaos throughout the city, and their first priority was to restore order.

They didn't rush back until the weather Silver and Tin Palace changed dramatically.

From the moment the explosion rang out Silver and Tin Palace until they arrived at the scene fully armed—less than a minute had passed.

What they witnessed was a scene that could only be described as apocalyptic—

The magnificent, sacred Glass Staircase of Avalon had completely collapsed and shattered. The first thing that caught the eye was Iver standing alone amidst the broken Glass Staircase. He was covered in blood, but his eyes were sharp and his spirits were high.

Before him lay a pool of filthy blood.

Her Majesty Isabel stood on a high place, with Ligeia holding the Avalon Scepter behind the Queen.

The young Queen stood near the round table in the Round Table Hall, her body stained with blood. The Grand Guardian, a bloodied and mangled figure, stood in front of Isabel, kneeling on the ground, almost unconscious. His griffin, Philip, was also weak, huddled in a corner of the Glass Staircase.

What happened?! His Majesty has been attacked?! The Grand Guardian was seriously injured and almost lost consciousness while protecting His Majesty... Did he block some kind of explosive? The knights of the Arbitration Hall fell silent.

They realized they were too late—if it weren't for the protection of the Grand Guardian, His Majesty might have been in danger! Although Isabel hadn't summoned them, although Ligeia was there, and although they rushed back to the Silver and Tin Palace immediately... they were still too late.

This is undoubtedly a dereliction of duty on their part.

It's important to know that Isabel is practically the only remaining member of the royal bloodline in Avalon!

Besides Isabel, the only other Du Lac Family are her missing father and her two-year-old brother.

Isabel watched them from above, her expression serious and her gaze calm.

"Countess Scarlett Emma, from the planet Antimony, suddenly transformed into a demon. Thus, Blood Night descended, and blood rain and curses covered the entire Glass Island."

"Countess Emma launched a direct attack on me— Queen of Avalon, heir to Lancelot. It was a direct attack that could have been fatal."

The young Queen declared calmly and majestically, "Lord Barton fought until he was nearly unconscious, Ligeia dealt me the most dangerous blow."

"Fortunately, Moriarty, Knight was there—his devout prayers invoked the Divine Miracle of Constant Self, which annihilated Count Emma, who had transformed into a succubus; he ended the Crimson Night with his own will, and restored the sacred sunlight to the Avalon Candle Holder Festival."

At this moment, Isabel even had a bit of Iver's air about her.

"I can attest that everything Your Majesty has said is true."

Ligeia also raised her scepter and proclaimed loudly.

Just like when she and Iver acted together in front of reporters.

Then, Ligeia pointed to the pool of blood on the ground. "That is the remains of Count Emma —it has been turned into a pool of blood by the power of the Constant Self."

The knights could naturally sense that this was true.

They were all Fourth Level powerhouses, and they could vaguely sense the immense power within that pool of filthy blood, as well as the lingering traces of the Pillar God in the air.

At this moment, the Blood Moon Night in Avalon had ended. The bloody storm had subsided, the clear water that had turned into blood had returned to clear water, and the blood that had fallen to the ground had turned back into rain, as if it had all been an illusion.

The midday sun shone once again into the interior of the Silver and Tin Palace, refracting a rainbow in the post-rain sky.

That seemed to be an affirmation from the candle keeper—that was all the knights in the Arbitration Hall could imagine.

At this very moment, the light shone into the hall, and countless shattered stained glass windows refracted fantastic and magnificent colors.

Iver stood amidst the shattered glass, his body reflecting a divine light.

The young pastor, who had borrowed the power of the Pillar God through prayer, was holding his hands together in front of his forehead and praying with his eyes closed.

No one dared to interrupt his prayer, not even a whisper.

"—I praise the candle keeper."

Finally, Iver spoke in a deep voice, "Honor the Constant Self."

"I am blessed with the scales of the Crowned Lord, the blood of the Serpent Father, and the Twin Mirrors. It is thanks to the protection of the gods that Your Majesty was able to escape danger."

He released his grip and looked at the knights. "And you..."

Iver's pupils still retained a brilliant crimson like the setting sun, and he still carried waves of lingering pressure—a pressure even stronger than that of Meg and Ligeia.

The weak cannot perceive it at all; only the strong can sense it.

To be stronger Meg, one must be a remnant of the Pillar God's power! "Your incompetence nearly cost His Majesty his life."

The young Minister of Everything looked at the knights and calmly replied, word by word, "Your laxity has brought shame upon Avalon."

"—Repent before judgment comes."

A long time passed in that terrifying silence.

Finally, one knight knelt down on one knee, head bowed, and drew his longsword, placing it horizontally in front of him.

This is the knightly etiquette of Avalon, meaning "I will not flinch even if you cut off my head with this sword."

Immediately afterwards, one knight after another knight knelt down and laid down their swords.

They seemed to be kneeling before the Round Table Hall, before Isabel, and before the destroyed Glass Staircase.

Or perhaps, kneel before Iver, who stands atop the destroyed Glass Staircase.

Update complete! Another 10,000 words in three chapters!

Ugh, I'm exhausted. I've been writing for over nine hours, and it's already 5:30 AM when I finish...

By the way, actually, the cat's sleep schedule isn't adjusted at all; in fact, it's completely messed up. These recent midnight updates are because the cat finishes writing in the middle of the night and then updates on a schedule until noon the next day. After finishing this volume, the cat will take a few days off to adjust its sleep schedule.

Tomorrow is the final chapter of this volume, so please vote! If you find any typos or grammatical errors, please leave a message first, and I'll correct them when I wake up!