293 Dekan's Sister-Card Usage License
Royal Capital was bustling tonight, with locals and tourists gathering near Feilowen Square.
The huge square was so crowded that there wasn't a single empty space.
There is a giant screen in the square that can broadcast audio and video from a remote location.
For spectators who can't get tickets to the event, this square is also a great place to watch the game in a great atmosphere.
The final showdown of the Hero Festival is finally about to begin.
The giant screen displayed a magnificent ancient arena.
The camera panned across the area, revealing that even the buildings outside the arena were filled with security forces and members of the Royal Capital Knights Order, maintaining order around the arena.
Inside the arena, at the entrance to the artificial world, "Bishop of Pain" Dekan and Imperial Sword Saint Adair are waiting for the referees to announce the official start of the match.
This scene alone was enough to elicit cheers from many viewers.
Dekan has finally stopped avoiding battle and is ready to confront his opponent head-on!
Dekan calmly looked at the entrance to the Artificial Shadow World Initiator, without taking the opportunity to trash talk or try to demoralize his opponent.
Adair glanced at Dekan with interest, a slight, composed smile appearing on his face, and stopped paying attention to his opponent.
This is the smile of an adult looking at a child.
The host followed the broadcast camera to the two contestants and began a series of opening remarks that ignited cheers from the audience.
After building up the atmosphere, the host handed the microphone to Dekan and asked:
"Mr. Dekan! I'd like to ask the audience the question everyone's been most curious about: Are you finally ready to go all out this time? Or do you have some other off-field preparations that will bring everyone a brand new surprise?"
Dekan simply shook his head and replied:
"I will fight seriously this time. Also, I want to reiterate, I am not the Bishop of Pain! Please, audience members, restrain yourselves!"
Hearing the cheers of "Bishop of Pain--!" coming from the audience, Dekan felt a chill run down his spine.
No Hero Festival has ever been like this before.
A group of kingdom members cheered for the bishop of the Resurrection Church at the Hero Festival, shouting at the top of their lungs while laughing until tears streamed down their faces, as if they were seriously ill.
All I can say is that right now, the critics, the trolls, and the trolls are all desperately trying to stir up trouble.
The host gave an awkward laugh.
You actually know you're not the Bishop of Pain?!
Even the Resurrection Church wouldn't have done what you did in the first three events!
The host, who had been tormented by Dekan for three rounds, couldn't help but secretly gloat.
The host then handed the microphone to Dekan's opponent, the Imperial Sword Saint Adair.
"Mr. Adair, when facing the bishop of the Resurrection Church... an assassin who defeated two Mr. Dekan of the Resurrection Church, did you feel any pressure?"
The host, who had almost slipped up, felt Dekan's gaze and quickly changed his tune to cover it up.
"Oh?"
Adair smiled and looked at the host, seemingly surprised by the question.
"Are the bishops of the Resurrection Church very strong?"
Adair calmly countered with a question.
"Well."
The host seemed momentarily at a loss for words when it came to answering Adair.
The audience at the scene started shouting again.
They all wished the players would go wild before the competition.
The more aggressively you talk before a match, the more entertaining it will be after the game.
The host was about to retort Adair "Have you ever beaten a bishop?" when Adair seemed to anticipate his thoughts and spoke first:
"Our empire has never been afraid of the Resurrection Church, you know? Surely not all of you kingdoms think they're terrifying?"
The audience, who had been jeering, immediately quieted down.
They were quite surprised by the Imperial Sword Saint's taunt.
That's so pretentious!
The Imperial Sword Saint, who had been behaving very humbly in the previous matches, has finally stopped putting on an act.
He just wanted to humiliate the entire Kingdom Association.
If he wins, not only will Dekan become the Super Joker and be nailed to the pillar of shame, but the entire Kingdom Association will also be unable to hold its head high in front of the Empire whenever this Hero Festival is discussed.
"You Imperials are just putting on airs! You're nothing but a nobody in front of the bishop!"
"Teach this bastard a lesson, Bishop of Pain!"
A deafening roar, louder than ever before, echoed through the arena, leaving the announcer speechless.
At that moment, Dekan snatched the microphone from the host's hand.
"The Salon Empire is indeed very strong, but it also lost four provinces and a third of its population due to the failure of the Ninth-Order Shadow World. I think the Resurrection Church deserves a lot of credit for this, right?"
Dekan recounted the story in a methodical manner, much like a popular science history presentation.
This not only quieted the shouting audience considerably, but also slightly changed the curve of the Imperial Sword Saint's eyebrows.
The Cat Teacher in the stands was already sensing that something was wrong.
Although Dekan's words against the Imperials were harsh, something seems off.
Are you going to say something like, "It is our duty to rebuild the glory of the Resurrection Church?" right next?
However, Dekan quickly changed his tune:
"And none of our Kingdom Council foolish enough to allow the Shadow World to fail and cause a natural disaster. Whether it's the Shadow World or Artificial Shadow World, it might be your Empire's lifelong enemy, wouldn't you say?"
After speaking, he glanced at the Artificial Shadow World Initiator, seemingly casually.
Immediately, a frenzied roar erupted once again from the arena!
Dekan seemed to have no intention of trash-talking this time, and he was unusually calm during the interview, apparently just waiting for the other party's reaction.
Dekan's meaning is very clear.
I'll treat you with courtesy if you don't provoke me, but if you want to engage in verbal sparring, I won't miss the chance to mess with your mentality.
"..."
Adair recalled that Dekan had been watching the Artificial Shadow World Initiator, and a surge of anger welled up inside him.
This guy has been Taunt the Imperials from the very beginning, but he didn't even realize it himself.
But soon, Adair calmed down completely and regained her usual smile.
To deal with Dekan, you just need to stay calm and not get emotional.
He smiled and shook his head, as if he didn't care at all about Dekan's aggressive words.
"Thank you for your comments, both players! The match will begin promptly at 6:00 PM! We're now handing the camera over to the commentary booth!"
The host took the microphone from Dekan, and in just over ten seconds, he felt that Dekan had won back his favor.
As the host finished speaking, the camera stopped showing the exterior.
Instead, the three of them sat side by side in the studio.
"Okay, thank you, host! We have about five minutes left before the competition starts. We also have two special guests with us today! Let me introduce them to you..."
In the center of the screen, a middle-aged male official commentator took over the scene.
Seated to his left is Alger, the Saint Knight Captain of the Sun God Church, who is the third-place winner of this competition. He easily defeated his opponent in yesterday's third-place match and will also receive a generous reward.
Although Alger lost to Dekan, his reputation improved significantly because of the stark contrast between his performance and Dekan's.
Meanwhile, during his preparations, Alger considered Dekan and Adair as his ultimate opponents and was able to offer many professional opinions, which led to his invitation by the organizers to participate as a guest commentator.
Sitting on the other side of the official commentator was a young woman with light blue hair.
She is Ludwig, a special correspondent for the Kingdom Association.
Having been responsible for tracking and reporting on Dekan's story for a long time, she can be said to be one of the people who knows Dekan best.
Before the match began, the broadcast screen was showing pre-match announcements.
The screen continuously displays data analysis, ace cards, and close-ups of the two players in action.
The official commentators also exchanged ideas with the guest commentators and began analyzing the battle situation.
The Imperial Sword Saint's basic attribute growth potential was briefly shown just now.
Strength S, Magic Power A, Physical Strength A, Spirit B
Dekan followed closely behind.
Strength (E), Magic Power (C), Physical Strength (D), Spirit (SS)
"We can see that Adair possesses near-perfect growth attributes that every combatant dreams of, while Dekan is more like a genius administrative player."
"However, viewers familiar with the competition will know that Adair is an all-around fighter skilled in both martial arts and magic. Although his combat class is swordsman, he has demonstrated overwhelming power in all aspects in the previous matches."
"Dekan, uh..."
When it comes to match statistics, Dekan's various match statistics become very strange.
For example, the "match duration" and "damage analysis" sections both showed signs of data corruption.
However, the commentators quickly steered clear of these awkward segments and began discussing the deck composition of the Imperial Sword Saint with the guest commentators.
Compared to Dekan's few well-known Underworld cards, the Imperial Sword Saint's epic cards are relatively unfamiliar to the Kingdom's audience.
First of all, the Imperial Sword Saint didn't use any Summon Card in the previous matches.
[Chariot Chessboard]
[Category: Summon Card]
[Rarity: Orange Epic]
[Class: 7]
[Effect: Consuming mana summons a large number of Tier 7 cavalry derivatives. Additional mana consumption summons special cavalry with buffs, special-role cavalry, and commanders.]
[Note: I am the army.]
"This card can exert absolute pressure on the opponent with a single card, and it is mutually restraining with Dekan's [Cursed Soul Mask]."
"While [Cursed Soul Mask] prevents summoned creatures from being dispelled and doubles their mana cost, it can only be attached to the [Chariot Chessboard] itself. Not only can derivatives not be equipped with [Cursed Soul Mask], but their sheer number will also make them difficult for Dekan to handle."
"Of course, if Adair wants to use it to suppress Dekan, he will have to pay a huge price in mana."
Alger offered his opinion, clearly having already analyzed the key cards of these two players.
The Imperial Sword Saint hadn't used this card before because his opponents were too weak to warrant such trouble.
This card will indeed cause Dekan a lot of trouble.
Because Dekan lacks both offensive power and the ability to clear large areas of the field, he simply cannot eliminate Adair's pressure.
He had just finished speaking.
The cards that were then displayed on the screen in a rotating fashion made Alger frown.
[Indestructible Glazed Body]
[Category: Spell Card]
[Rarity: Orange Epic]
[Class: 7]
[Passive Effect: The lower your health, the more damage reduction you gain. When you receive fatal damage, you become immune to it and are fully restored to health. Cooldown: 30 days. This effect cannot stack with other card effects that provide damage reduction, immunity to fatal damage, or automatic recovery.]
[Note: Mages can also turn into tanks with this.]
This is one of the most troublesome cards for the Imperial Sword Saint, no less so than the [Super-Speed Regeneration] card from the Bishop of Frenzy.
Although each has its own merits.
However, this card is more versatile, while [Super-Speed Regeneration] is more suitable for people with a high enough stamina limit.
Next up is the Imperial Sword Saint, the third known Epic card.
[Blazing Demon Sword]
[Category: Equipment Card]
[Rarity: Orange Epic]
[Class: 8]
[Effect: Gain life steal; damage dealt is unaffected by enemy effects; life is continuously consumed while using this weapon in combat.]
[Note: Beware of wicked women -- from a deceased user of this sword.]
This is a naturally occurring epic card from the eighth-tier Shadow World, and also the true trump card of the Imperial Sword Saint.
Putting aside its powerful sustain from its life-steal attribute, the damage it deals can directly penetrate the enemy's damage reduction and invincibility effects, making it the bane of flashy tactics.
Combined with the Imperial Sword Saint's passive spell [Indestructible Glazed Body], it allows the Imperial Sword Saint to maintain a high level of damage reduction.
It can even steal life from the cavalry derivatives it creates on the [Chariot Chessboard].
Even if the Imperial Sword Saint is on the verge of death, he can instantly recover to full health by wielding this sword and unleashing an area-of-effect skill.
His invincibility was written all over his face.
One-on-one duels, and you might even get to spar with a bishop.
It's just that Adair has never fought against a bishop, so it's a conservative estimate that he possesses "quasi-bishop level strength".
After all, if he were to face the unreasonable dominance of Bishop of Ruin Evans of Ruin, or the increasingly ferocious fighting style of Bishop of Frenzy Clay of Madness, he would likely be suppressed.
"Imperial Swordsman Adair can carry a total of 80 mana cards. In my pre-match analysis, besides those few top-tier epic cards, he would also bring a deck specifically targeting the Dekan archetype."
Alger continued his analysis.
The cards that best counter Dekan include [Pain Shield], essential for Dekan's 60x pain feedback, and [Designator of Purification], which strongly controls [Captain Dekan].
Dekan's usual tactic is to first wreak havoc on his opponent's mentality, making them hate him to the point of madness.
Then, you can take advantage of [Captain Dekan's ] characteristic that the more the target hates Dekan, the longer the Taunt lasts, to establish a chain of control.
However, [Designator of Purification] can remove a specified abnormal status or control effect from the user, and the user will not be affected by that abnormal status/control effect for 10 minutes.
Furthermore, Named Spell Card share a 60-minute cooldown, which is not shared with regular Purification spells.
This card ensures that Adair will not be affected by [Captain Dekan] for 10 minutes.
A match often ends within ten minutes.
If the match lasts for one hour, the winner will be determined based on the percentage of mana remaining for both sides.
Of course, this rule was not used in this competition.
It would take two "Kings of Survival" to wear each other down for an hour to possibly win.
Given that Dekan is skilled in poison magic, and can use common [Purification] and [Forced Dispel] spells, the Imperial Sword Saint will definitely bring them along as well.
Then there are some blue and purple cards that are not suitable for Dekan but are appropriate for Adair's own system.
After Alger finished explaining, the official commentator looked at Alger and asked:
"Many viewers probably have a question: why don't these high-level powerhouses equip their cards with the maximum number of epic cards? Please let Saint Knight Captain Alger this to us."
Alger nodded and said:
"While epic cards are powerful, they also have a potential negative effect."
"That means it's difficult to untie."
"Unbinding an epic card not only requires precious materials, but also puts the unbinder into a period of weakness due to soul damage. The card will also be sealed and cannot be rebound by others."
"Therefore, players like Dekan, who have a lot of epic cards, actually have very few flexible card slots."
"That's why even if we're at rank eight, we don't carry seven or eight high-cost epic cards."
For example, both Clay and Fahim only brought three epic cards that best suited them and helped them achieve their desired team composition.
The remaining card slots are reserved for blue and purple cards that can be freely swapped and combined.
Alger, an eighth-tier combat class character with five epic cards, is quite unique.
Because he is a Paladin, he already possesses many holy spells, which allows him to appropriately reduce the flexibility of his card distribution and increase the strength of his deck.
"And considering the importance of this match, the Empire may have prepared a special epic card for Adair to counter the Dekan system well in advance. If Adair's opponent in the finals is Dekan, he will probably bind him to it before the match."
Alger analyzed.
Besides the Kali that are rotating on the screen, Adair will most likely also have hidden epics that haven't been used yet.
Its effects will undoubtedly give Dekan a major headache.
Before the match, Adair was pretty much certain that his biggest rivals were Dekan and Alger.
The Empire must have a plan, and will likely support Adair in winning the championship.
As the audience listened to the commentary, they realized that Alger actually had a certain bias towards Dekan.
It was as if he was helping Dekan analyze and unfold the situation.
Of course, even if Alger didn't analyze it, Dekan should already know.
For the sake of impartiality.
The commentators also need to analyze Dekan.
"As the official person who knows Dekan best, Miss Ludwig, I would like to hear your opinion: do you think there are any other unused epic cards in Dekan?"
The official commentator looked at Ludwig had been sitting obediently to the side, and asked.
Ludwig smiled and waved to everyone, then said:
"The chances are slim. If there are still epic cards, nearly half of Dekan's mana will be taken up by epic cards, which is a huge cost for someone who pursues tactical mobility."
Dekan's combat role is more like that of a tactician and a team command tower.
Being able to flexibly allocate your blue and purple card slots is very important.
Based on currently available information, it can be seen that the epic cards shown by Dekan include [Ruined Poet] (1 mana), [Blood Purification] (3 mana), [Blood Mimicry] (5 mana), [Batchel's Sword of Despair] (5 mana), and [Pain-Shattered Heart] (5 mana) (incorrect information), which already take up 19 of Dekan's 50 mana.
If there are also hidden epic cards, Dekan's mobility will be severely restricted, significantly impacting his role.
"But do you think there's still a possibility?"
The official commentary revealed that Ludwig had not meant to deny anything earlier.
Ludwig nodded and said:
"Yes, after reaching Tier 3, Dekan proved with his strength that he could create Orange Epic of the same tier, or even Crimson Epic. But here we find a suspicious point: Dekan has never shown any Tier 4 epic cards."
"You mean, Dekan might have a Tier 4 Epic card that he's never used?"
"Yes, that might be Dekan's trump card."
Ludwig smiled slyly, noticing that Dekan was staring at her with a deathly gaze.
Although she was analyzing it seriously.
But when Dekan heard this, he felt she was alluding to the "Dekan Gospel."
Ludwig blinked quickly and said:
"Of course, it's also possible that Dekan once crafted a Tier 4 Epic card, but it wasn't suitable for him, so he resold it!"
After the in-depth analysis, there was still some time left, so the three commentators chatted casually about their personal opinions.
While the official commentators personally believe this is a match with suspense, they have absolutely no idea how Dekan can win.
Alger agreed, believing that if Dekan didn't prepare any underhanded tactics, he would have almost no chance of defeating the Imperial Sword Saint in a one-on-one duel.
Ludwig, on the other hand, believed that Phantom Canyon itself was Dekan's advantage, Dekan possessed the class of Card Crafter, which also meant that he had the ability to kill on first sight with hidden cards.
The best example is the battle in which Dekan first showed his fangs—the entrance exam for the Havenlit Academy.
Although Dekan is not good at, or more accurately, not suited for, head-on one-on-one combat.
However, it's important to know that Dekan currently has a 100% win rate in Phantom Canyon.
Phantom Canyon, after all, can be considered part of the Shadow World.
And Dekan is undoubtedly a genius at conquering the Shadow World.
"We can see that both teams have entered Phantom Canyon! The match is about to begin!"
Accompanied by the powerful voice of the official commentator, the scene shifted to Phantom Canyon, while the commentator's voice became background noise.
In Phantom Canyon.
On the mountainside, Dekan and Adair face each other across the distance.
During this 20-second preparation period, both sides are invincible, unaffected by any effects, and unable to use Magic Card.
It also cannot be moved outside the one-meter radius limit.
The main purpose of this period is to give athletes time to observe the environment and adjust their state.
"We can see that both sides are prepared to seize the initiative and play their key Magic Card the instant the duel officially begins!"
"Adair will undoubtedly use [Pain Shield] first, otherwise he won't be able to attack Dekan at all. Even if there's only 1/4 pain in Phantom Canyon, 15 times the pain feedback is still deadly."
"Will Dekan seize the moment when Adair [Pain Shield] is active and unleash a 15x Heartache Attack on him?"
"Of course, Adair might also be betting that Dekan won't choose to use the Pain Feedback Trio at the start and instead directly unleash attack spells to go face. It's a process of mutual gamble."
The commentators have already begun analyzing the strategies employed by both sides.
As the countdown for preparation time ended, the competition officially began!
At that very moment, Adair and Dekan both pulled out a card that needed to be played first!
Unsurprisingly, Adair possessed [Pain Shield].
Since he already has a significant advantage, there's no need for him to gamble big against Dekan; a stable strategy to crush Dekan is sufficient.
Dekan also had a purple card in his hand.
Surprisingly.
Dekan didn't possess the [Crown of Thorns] and [Cursed Doll], which required almost no casting time.
Instead, it's a Spell Card with a faster casting speed than [Pain Shield].
"Dekan chose to gamble big from the start!"
"He did indeed win this round. Rather than winning the gamble, it should be considered a strategic success, because the Imperial Sword Saint would never be willing to gamble with him from the start!"
"But this Spell Card is..."
Dekan's spell was activated first.
There were no exaggerated special effects.
It was as if nothing had happened around him.
But what about Adair?
His expression was one of utter astonishment, and the [Pain Shield] on his hand actually flew off!
Adair's wrist seemed frozen and he couldn't move it!
The screen quickly displayed the authentication result for Dekan's new card.
[Card Disarm]
[Category: Spell Card]
[Grade: Purple Rare]
[Class: 5]
[Effect: Shakes the card out of the opponent's hand and paralyzes the opponent's arm for a short time.]
[Note: Inspired by Cornelia.]
It is an extension of mental magic [Mental Interference], a result of the refinement of poison magic from the special poison [Paralyzing Toxin] of the Demon Realm Prison, and also incorporates Cornelia's unique martial arts skills.
It can be said to be the culmination of Dekan's research and development after returning from the Demon Realm Prison.
Although it was accompanied by a painful memory for Dekan.
But the first thing Dekan did after experiencing fear was to confront and overcome it!
So, through repeated experiments and Cornelia's help (education).
Dekan has finally created this brand new counter card.
"What?! What card?!"
"This guy has been desperately hiding this card, hasn't he?!"
"Here's a scary story: this card might become an essential general-purpose card in duels in the future..."
"I don't want to play those Underworld duels where both sides start with Card Disarm! Can you please remove this card?!"
The audience was reminded of a legend once again.
Even before he became famous, Dekan already had the title of "deck disruptor".
Adair reacted quickly and used [Purification] without hesitation to remove the [Local Paralysis] status.
Then, as quickly as possible, he tried to pick up the [Pain Shield].
However, before he could even bend down, his vision went completely white, and he couldn't see anything at all.
Dekan's [Solar Fist] deprived the Imperial Sword Saint of his vision.
When vision returned, the Pain Shield on the ground was gone, replaced by a crater.
Meanwhile, a small brown ground squirrel was carrying this [Pain Shield] and fleeing rapidly from underground.
[Swift Mole]
[Category: Summon Card]
[Grade: Purple Rare]
[Class: 2]
[Effect: Can burrow underground; speed increased by 200% when underground.]
[Note: An essential summon for geologists.]
This is a rare card that can be purchased.
It is generally used only by academics and engineers.
However, Dekan used it here to create a card-stealing combo of [Card Disarm] + [Solar Fist] + [Swift Mole].
Adair paused for a moment, slightly stunned.
Instead of getting angry, he actually laughed.
"Your little tricks are really hard to guard against."
Adair shook his head and said that he had simply slowed down his pace and equipped himself with the [Blazing Demon Sword], seemingly not in a hurry at all.
When this demonic sword, with a golden beastly eye between its hilt and blade and wreathed in hellfire, was summoned, it seemed as if the temperature in the entire Phantom Canyon rose several degrees!
Even from a distance, Dekan could feel the scorching heat that made his skin sting.
"But this is also the tragedy of the weak. Even if I do nothing, what way can you defeat me?"
Adair brandished the [Blazing Demon Sword] in his hand, looking at Dekan with a somewhat mocking expression and asked.
He was mocking Dekan, saying that a true strongman wouldn't need such acrobatic tricks.
Even if Dekan used underhanded tactics at the start to take away one of his [Pain Shield] cards.
At this moment, Dekan is still at a significant disadvantage.
Adair knew that Dekan did not have the means to actively threaten him.
Dekan will likely rely more on counter-attacks to create winning opportunities if he wants to defeat Adair.
The difference in rank and attributes between the two sides meant that Dekan could not inflict sufficiently high damage on Adair on his own.
All he needs to do is summon the [Chariot Chessboard] and generate tokens to crush Dekan.
The summoning of the [Chariot Chessboard] seemed to take a while; orange light spots, like waves, began to gather around Adair, coalescing into a giant chessboard.
Once this giant chessboard is completed, it will be able to continuously build more and more cavalry on it!
Damage caused by summoned creatures or their derivatives will not be transmitted to the summoner.
It will only stun the summoned creature itself.
Adair didn't care that Dekan would equip the [Chariot Chessboard] with the [Cursed Soul Mask], because Adair could easily destroy the [Chariot Chessboard] itself.
"Indeed, if you just give up, I can't beat you."
Dekan sighed and gave a slight smile.
"But do you know why I'm called the Bishop of Ruin Bishop of Pain Destruction?"
Dekan took out two cards and asked with a smile.
Then, he used these two cards that didn't have any special effects.
Compared to Adair's cards with exaggerated special effects, Dekan is probably only comparable to [Ruined Poet].
Meanwhile, the attributes of the two new Dekan cards were also displayed on the spectator screens outside the arena.
[Mental Toxin]
[Category: Spell Card]
[Grade: Purple Rare]
[Class: 4]
[Effect: Casts a colorless and odorless poison within the area. The poisoned target will continuously lose mana, and the mana consumption will cause itching. The greater the mana consumption, the stronger the effect.]
[Note: Are high-level players really that great?]
This is an advanced research achievement of the [Hypnosis Gas] poison magic of Dekan, with an extremely short cooldown time, and can produce toxins as long as mana is provided.
This is also a major new achievement that Dekan and Mie collaborated on last semester.
As for Dekan, he was also equipped with a new set of protective gear, making him look like a researcher from Terror laboratory; it was his brand-new [Insulated Riot Suit].
[Super Protective Suit]
[Category: Equipment Card]
[Grade: Blue Precious]
[Class: 4]
[Effect: Provides some reduction in fire damage, grants immunity to voltages up to 50,000 volts, and is immune to all poison gases]
[Note: Upgraded version of Insulated Riot Suit.]
These were originally things kept at the bottom of a box.
They should all be brought out when dealing with the Bishop of Corruption Fahim.
As a result, Clay's improvisation disrupted the situation, Dekan was able to defeat Fahim without even using them.
Perfect.
They kept it a secret all the way here and met someone destined to experience them.
Then it was the Imperial Sword Saint Adair's turn to enjoy the treatment that should have belonged to the Corrupt Archbishop Fahim.
He just happened to walk into the line of fire.
In the stands of the arena.
"It's the same familiar feeling! This is Dekan's Phantom Canyon, Dekan's first encounter kill!"
"Goodness, after the pain subsided, the itching started?!"
"What do you mean by 'Bishop of Pain'?! What do you mean by 'Torture King'?! He doesn't deal any damage, he just wants to torture the opponent!"
Viewers who were initially worried about Dekan's poor performance were now in a difficult position.
Cheers erupted immediately.
Dekan is indeed unlikely to deal any effective damage that could threaten Adair.
But he could make Adair wish he were dead.
Because this is Dekan's principle in the Shadow World: avoid killing as much as possible, and only the living can be tormented indefinitely.
In the scene, Adair's [Chariot Chessboard] has finally been summoned.
Dekan immediately covered the [Chariot Chessboard] with the [Cursed Soul Mask], and a terrifying mask grew out of the chessboard as if it had been mutated.
Adair's expression immediately became quite interesting.
It's clear that this Imperial Sword Saint intends to endure.
He did his best to keep his movements and expression unchanged.
Because it would be very embarrassing.
He did indeed use his amazing willpower and the belief in maintaining his high-class image to endure the itching that made him wish he were dead, wanting to throw his whole body away, turn it inside out, and scratch his skin and bones raw.
But.
His skin turned red.
His flushed face showed that the Imperial Sword Saint Adair was nearing his breaking point.
He still has one [Designator of Purification] and one [Forced Dispel] available.
But he already felt it was hard for him not to hate Dekan.
The [Designator of Purification] must be reserved for [Captain Dekan].
So now the only way to remove the [Mental Toxin] is to use [Forced Dispel]!
After being detoxified, the Imperial Sword Saint's red-hot status was also removed.
But his eyes already betrayed his annoyance with Dekan.
Even though I really don't want to hate Dekan.
It has always been believed that Dekan's original opponents lacked resolve, which is why they were angered and swayed by Dekan.
Now Adair has discovered that this is not the case.
That bastard is just too despicable!
"This is what I meant by Dekan's potential for a kill on first sight as Card Crafter!"
Ludwig explained with a smug look.
The other two commentators also expressed their strong agreement.
"I'm actually a little glad now that Dekan was able to beat me that way."
Alger finally couldn't help but complain.
He didn't want to experience the treatment Adair was going through.
In the scene at this moment.
As expected, Dekan handed over the blood pressure-inducing [Captain Dekan] in an attempt to control Adair, and then used [Mental Toxin] on Adair again.
Adair, on the other hand, decisively used [Designator of Purification] to gain immunity to Taunt, and held his breath while using wind magic to dispel [Mental Toxin].
After a brief moment of thought, Adair decisively destroyed his [Chariot Chessboard].
If it were just [Cursed Soul Mask], he wouldn't be afraid of going toe-to-toe with Dekan.
However, if [Mental Toxin] is added, the [Chessboard Chariot] card will become his biggest weakness, leading to his defeat.
The second round of negotiations between the two sides has now temporarily ended.
They exchanged key cards, resulting in a stalemate.
Currently, it seems that Dekan's side has gained a slight advantage.
"If Adair wants to win, he has to go all out."
The commentators analyzed the current battle situation from the commentary booth.
The problem is that if Adair wants to directly attack Dekan with the [Blazing Demon Sword], he has to keep an eye on the 15x pain feedback.
Furthermore, Dekan possesses the [Crown of Thorns] ability to lock health.
If you attack Dekan directly, Dekan 'll most likely be fine, but Adair will be knocked unconscious.
However, the official commentators seemed to notice that both Alger and Ludwig looked serious.
Dekan should have the advantage right now.
"Actually, judging from Adair's reaction, he's not panicked at all; this doesn't seem like he's faking it."
Ludwig pondered for a moment.
"Remember what I said before the match? Adair might have a hidden epic card to counter Dekan. If Dekan can't handle it, Dekan 'll be the one killed on the first try."
Alger said in a somewhat serious tone.
They both knew that the competition was about to enter the third round.
This wave could very well determine the outcome of the battle.
On the battlefield, Adair seemed to be trying to regulate his breathing.
He looked at Dekan, sword in hand.
"You're very good, but that's where it ends."
Adair stroked his sword, unleashing a burst of black flames, his eyes filled with undisguised killing intent as he spoke.
He seemed to finally admit that he had underestimated Dekan.
Although Dekan is a fifth-rank official, he is a clerical worker.
However, it is also the most difficult special class to deal with when you first encounter it in a battle.
"It's not shameful for an eighth-ranked person to lose to a bishop."
Dekan said calmly.
Dekan also brought out [Ruined Poet], preparing for the final wave.
Both sides' main cards are basically on cooldown.
Most of the remaining cards are useless at this moment.
Whether he can replicate his victory in his first match against Professor Arnold in Phantom Canyon remains to be seen.
Adair closed in on Dekan in an instant, raising the [Blazing Demon Sword] in his hand, ready to deliver a merciless vertical slash to Dekan.
Even in a fleeting moment of 0.1 seconds, both sides will still use crucial Magic Card.
When Dekan felt that familiar chill, emanating a sense of impending death, sweep through his limbs and bones.
He knew it was time to summon his trump card, [Ruined Poet].
A burst of orange light, like a divine intervention, erupted, and the Magic Card in Dekan's left hand vanished and materialized.
Then came the black mist surging towards the ground, spreading and covering everything in all directions like a tide!
That familiar, dark shadow appeared behind Dekan!
"The vast fog is my endless, boundless sorrow..."
Off the field.
No matter where in the Kingdom Association, wherever there was a broadcast, the cheers from the audience were so loud they almost lifted the sky!
This will be a classic remake of Dekan's first battle!
However, gasps of surprise soon came from the commentary booth.
"Wrong!"
"Dekan is finished!"
The instant Dekan summoned [Ruined Poet], Adair also summoned a Summon Card hidden behind his back!
[Faith Slayer]
[Category: Summon Card]
[Rarity: Orange Epic]
[Class: 5]
[Effect: Destroys all summons of tier 3 and below upon successful summoning.]
[Note: There is no place for the weak in front of the strong!]
Like a knight of judgment, or a bloodthirsty butcher, he appeared in an instant and let out a deafening roar that made Dekan's eardrums tremble.
Instantly, the [Ruined Poet] turned to ashes with a resentful roar, and the black mist vanished with it.
Dekan, who had been so confident after summoning the [Ruined Poet], is now in a dead end!
Once a summoned creature is destroyed, it will enter a cooldown period, during which he will no longer be able to immediately summon [Ruined Poet] and will simply be doomed!
The expressions of the spectators in the stands gradually froze.
They realized that the situation had suddenly reversed.
But there was no time to change her expression.
In the Observation Hall of the Havenlit Academy, Professor Arnold looked at his student, who had become a big shot in just one year, with a solemn and tense expression.
"Dekan, the chances of successfully replicating the same trick a second time are extremely slim. You need other strategies!"
He had asked Dekan a question when Dekan first enrolled—
If they go to Phantom Canyon again for a game, how would Dekan beat him?
Dekan did not provide an answer at the time.
Or rather...
At that time, Dekan couldn't defeat Professor Arnold again after their initial encounter.
However, Arnold knew that Dekan would think about this problem seriously and find a solution.
Now, it's time for Dekan to give his answer!
Professor Arnold desperately wanted Dekan to win this game!!
This was the most speechless experience he had ever encountered in his teaching career.
He was also his proudest student!
In Phantom Canyon.
In that instant, Dekan felt that time was passing incredibly slowly.
Even if it were just 0.1 seconds later, the attack would have reached him.
But Dekan felt he was in great shape and even wanted to chat with his Master.
When your opponent pulls out such a deadly card, you need to counter it.
Dekan had no choice in the past.
But.
Dekan had already considered what to do after losing the [Ruined Poet].
This was something Dekan had prepared for when he fought the Bishop of Corruption Fahim.
However, Fahim failed to force Dekan to use that card at that time!
"Master, we've been forced into this situation, you won't blame me for using her, will you?"
"Use it."
The telepathic exchange between Dekan and his Master was completed in an instant, and a smile appeared on Dekan's lips.
He was actually holding another Magic Card in his right hand, which he had been holding behind his back.
He never used Summon Card.
It is also a core complement to his system.
This is a powerful card that will allow him to sweep away all unexpected events and secure victory!
Dekan's Magic Power was infused into it, and a dazzling orange light instantly overflowed from his palm!
Adair witnessed Dekan's struggles but remained completely unconcerned!
Summoning anything won't help!
It's unstoppable!
Adair laughed wildly.
He was already confident of victory!
The characteristics of the [Blazing Demon Sword mean that even summoned creatures with invincibility effects cannot withstand its attacks!
The air in the entire area suddenly boiled, and the scorching energy spread at an indescribable speed. In that instant, it seemed as if any matter would be ignited.
As Adair had expected, when the sword touched the new summoned creature that Dekan had conjured, the creature, before it could even materialize and be seen by the audience, was completely incinerated by the flames of the demonic sword, and the demonic sword's attack successfully struck Dekan!
A burst of dark flames erupted, accompanied by a deafening explosion.
A towering flame shot into the sky, as if even the mountain rocks would turn to ashes.
And so we waited for the smoke to dissipate.
The audience members all looked extremely distressed.
Because they knew that Dekan was destined to lose.
Adair's [Faith Slayer] directly breaks through the core of Dekan's pain feedback system. He deliberately plays along with Dekan's strategy of "instantly summoning [Ruined Poet] to achieve pain feedback" in order to defeat Dekan!
However.
The audience noticed.
The smoke hadn't cleared yet, and it seemed like I heard...
The lament of women...
It's a sound that sends chills down your spine.
It is like a mournful and moving elegy, yet also eerie, carrying the lingering charm of Ruined Poet's verses.
Dekan and Adair were both lying on the ground!
And standing there was only one summoned creature never seen before!
She was a stunning mermaid dressed in a deep blue veil, like a flower breaking through the soil in winter, or a proud wolf walking in the snow. Besides her singing voice, her eyes seemed capable of stealing one's soul in an instant.
As for what exactly happened, the identification results on the screen provided the answer before the narrator even began to speak.
That's the same Tier 4 Epic card that Dekan just used—hidden away!
[The Dirge Mermaid]
[Category: Summon Card]
[Rarity: Orange Epic]
[Class: 4]
[Effect: Increases the perception sensitivity of all targets who hear the Lament to 200%. When this summon is destroyed, it can be attached to another Summon Card and immediately resummoned, adding its base stats and first effect to the new summon.]
[Note: How come you haven't been wiped out by me yet?]
Dekan had planned for Adair to kill [Dirge Mermaid] in order to ignore the cooldown and force out the effect of [Ruined Poet]!
So, after [The Dirge Mermaid] was sent away.
What appeared was a deep blue sea fog!
And true Mourning Elegy!
[The Ruined Dirge Mermaid]
[Category: Summon Card]
[Rarity: Orange Epic]
[Class: 4]
[Effect: Disrupts the minds of all enemy creatures with a demonic lament, increasing their sensory sensitivity to 200% and multiplying their perceived pain by 1000%.]
[Note: This is a summon created by attaching the Dirge Mermaid effect to the Ruined Poet.]
The original pain feedback was 15 times stronger.
The Dirge Mermaid's sensitivity boost is 30 times greater.
The feedback was successfully relayed to the Imperial Sword Saint, Adair!
Dekan was also knocked back, rolling several times on the ground before coming to a stop and lying flat on his back.
"It really hurts..."
Dekan clutched his chest and struggled to sit up.
The Crown of Thorns sealed his life, but the fatal wound did not defeat him.
But the pain from his chest being torn apart and his sternum shattering was still lingering in his mind.
This was the second time he had experienced it.
But this time, I feel pretty good.
And Adair.
He had completely lost consciousness and was lying on the ground, unconscious!
[Champion: Dekan!]
Adair was teleported out of Phantom Canyon, and at the same time, Dekan's victory message appeared in the sky.
"Hoo... Phantom Canyon, where it begins and where it ends. Are you satisfied with this answer sheet, Professor Arnold?"
Dekan muttered to himself in a relaxed manner, a slight smile appearing on his face.
He then raised his right hand.
He gave a thumbs-up to all the viewers in the kingdom.
He doesn't need any underhanded tactics today!
He defeated the Imperial Sword Saint through his own strength!