Dekan's Final Magic Card Masterpiece

The curtain rises.

Turn on the lights.

The Devil King Tomb is like a testing ground, an operating room, and a theatrical stage.

After two weeks of renovations by Dekan, the magical instruments and facilities scattered around the Devil King Tomb have transformed it into this state.

With the help of Dekan and Ikatinos, two key figures who modified the Devil King Tomb back then, and with the assistance of Sion and Mie, they are now reversing the process of cracking the Devil King Tomb, and the progress is far greater than before.

Several figures stood in the center of the Devil King Tomb.

"Actually, if we had been able to invite both the Saintess of Light and the Saintess of Darkness to help at the Devil King Tomb back then, the efficiency might have been higher."

Dekan sighed.

"According to your last record in the Shadow World, if neither the Light and Dark Saintess were in the Holy Capital, the God of Life would probably have gone straight to kill Lunn."

Sion shrugged; she finally understood why she had been so bewitched into becoming Astrologer.

I had considered it for a long time when deciding on my direction of study in magic, and I felt that while Astrologer was an option, it might not be the best choice.

He needed the Reincarnation Gem and a dream from Goddess to solidify his resolve to become Astrologer.

Mie shook his head.

"If I hadn't heard you say that the Devil King Tomb has become like this, I would never have wanted to come here."

When they first heard that the team-building activity would take them to the Devil King Tomb, she was the only one who showed any resistance.

Mie didn't know why, but she was just terrified of the Devil King Tomb.

"And I guarantee that if Delois were to invite Milia to the Devil King Tomb as a guest, Milia might turn on him on the spot."

Mie said helplessly.

This place seemed to evoke an instinctive fear in her.

Perhaps the Saintess of Darkness was imprisoned too harshly in the Eighth Floor the Demon Realm Prison, the Devil King Tomb, back then.

The process of being rescued was quite horrifying from her perspective, enough to become a psychological trauma for the Saintess of Darkness.

The group chatted casually, like a group heading back home after a trip.

Although talking about the events of their previous life ten thousand years ago would not change anything, those of them who knew a lot about their past lives still felt quite emotional when they talked about it.

"In any case, at least we were able to get the two of you ninth-tier cultivators out of here."

In everyone's eyes, this was the biggest takeaway from their trip.

Dekan has successfully and completely taken control of the Devil King Tomb, and can extract the Demon King's Magic Power at will, supplying it to the Spatial Leap Gate.

The Demon King's Magic Power has now connected to the Spatial Leap Gate, Dekan has already activated. Both Sion and Mie can easily control the portal to take everyone back.

But before that, Dekan had one last thing to do.

That means he was able to maintain his strongest state while inside the Devil King Tomb.

Repair his signature card.

Or perhaps it should be called a recasting.

"Making cards in front of so many people made me a little nervous."

Dekan said with a calm smile.

However, judging from his expression, it was clear that he was joking.

His eyes were like a still lake, as if they held the composure that all stories had ended.

Dekan lowered his head and lightly brushed across his workbench, as if making a final check of his preparations.

Unlike in the past.

This time, there were no more material calculations or proportions, production process designs, or notes written in magical runes on his workbench.

He had already thoroughly mastered all the theories that might be used in this card-making process.

Dekan then opened the toolbox he had brought into the Devil King Tomb.

It didn't contain much material, just a few ingredients in a pre-mixed ratio.

Compared to any of Dekan's previous card production efforts, less material was used.

On this mesmerizing land of Devil King Tomb, the open-air Card-Making Workshop erected by Dekan became the sole center at this moment.

All eyes were on Dekan.

They knew why Dekan had prepared the Spatial Leap Gate to leave the Devil King Tomb in advance.

If Dekan fails, he will completely lose his ability to become a demon, at which point the Devil King Tomb might get out of control, and they will have no choice but to flee.

"Shall I begin?"

Dekan muttered to himself.

It sounded like he was talking to his friends.

Or perhaps it's something I'm saying to myself.

The next second, Dekan nodded to himself and began working.

Dekan handled the materials with a calm and skillful demeanor, displaying the technique he had honed to this day.

His demeanor was like that of a newly initiated Card Crafter, as if he were exploring something, or perhaps searching for something.

But his expression makes one wonder if he has completely surpassed Delois as a master of Magic Engineering!

Dekan is going to create Summon Card this time.

He had previously used his exceptional craftsmanship to create the Equipment Card [Dekan Gospel] and the Spell Card [Demon's Oath Across Worlds], but he had never created Summon Card of this caliber.

However, he is confident in his ability to create Summon Card.

Because his first Magic Card that could be called a masterpiece, [Ruined Poet], was Summon Card.

Over the years, in order to fulfill his promise to his Master, he has devoted all his efforts to practicing Summon Card.

This can be seen from the boxes of [Captain Dekan] that he could find in his dormitory back then.

Of the three types of cards, Dekan is most dedicated, most proficient, and most skilled in Summon Card!

Dekan's preparations were completed quickly.

"Is this all the materials you prepared? Nothing else?"

After seeing that Dekan had finished counting all the materials but hadn't produced any epic-level materials of the demon type, Master finally raised a question.

She arrived at the Devil King Tomb as soon as she woke up.

Dekan also told her that after taking control of the Devil King Tomb, he would repair her in his strongest state, so as to give her the highest possible rank.

"That's all."

During their battle with the material god Menelaus, they discovered that the Bishop of End had used ninth-tier cards as early as the eighth tier.

He must have possessed these cards long ago, and returned to the first tier after being sealed away.

Then, starting from Tier 1, he carried with him those Tier 9 cards from back then.

Therefore, if you bind a high-ranking card using a special method, even if your own rank is lower than the card's, it will only suppress the card's strength, not make it unusable.

However, this is extremely difficult to achieve.

So, even if Dekan, who has a limited ninth-tier status in the Devil King Tomb, were to upgrade his Master to a ninth-tier card, he could completely handle it!

Therefore, the Master originally thought that Dekan had prepared a lot of ninth-tier epic demon materials.

"My initial plan was to collect six epic-level demon materials using the method you taught me. With that, combined with my skills, I could at least create a sixth-tier epic Summon Card for you."

Dekan stood before the workbench, responding to his Master's questions.

The commonality among epic-level demonic materials is that they all symbolize the power of a great demon in history or otherworldly history.

This was a fact that Dekan only confirmed after he had become thoroughly familiar with the demon race step by step.

If he's willing to wait, he might even be able to collect six pieces of power related to the ninth-tier Great Demon Clan.

But he couldn't wait; he didn't know when the tenth-tier Shadow World would descend.

More importantly, he no longer needs that method.

"While you were asleep, I came up with a crazy idea, which I believe is the only correct path to victory. Will you believe me?"

Dekan's tone was neither rational nor insane.

I'll listen to you.

The Master gave a precise answer.

She knew Dekan's behavior was unreasonable, and she had never taught Dekan to make cards like that.

Using only the essential materials for card making, without any other high-level or advanced materials, they are often used to make blank cards.

Even though [Talomati] already has the foundation of a damaged epic card, after being reforged like this by Dekan, its upper limit may only be locked at Orange Epic, or even more likely it will regress.

But Talomati was more convinced.

In a magical system that has always been constructed based on practical theories, stubborn adherence to rationality will kill its potential.

The moment Dekan received Talomati's response, he began.

Without hesitation.

They began mixing the already ground, attribute-free magic crystal powder with attribute-free magic core liquid to make ink.

No measurement steps are required; every proportion is perfect.

It was as if these were memories deeply etched into his soul from two lifetimes.

Compared to the Magic Power that pulls itself in sync with the ink, the ink that Dekan mixes seems to have actively merged with his Magic Power.

After mixing the Magic Power ink, Dekan poured it into his magic pen. However, instead of inscribing and processing the Magic Creature core that serves as the prototype for the summoned creature as a typical Card Crafter would when creating Summon Card, he took out [Talomati] and began to extract its soul core as if peeling away layers of silk.

The materials obtained by breaking down [Talomati] to a certain extent can be used as the core for creating Summon Card.

Compared to using readily available Magic Creature cores, the reverse operation is obviously much more difficult.

But all of this seemed perfectly natural to Dekan, as this forbidden magic that turned him into a summoned creature was originally developed by Delois.

Dekan is also the only person in the world who has a complete understanding of this magic!

Before long, he successfully entered the most crucial step.

This refers to the Card Crafter's shaping and defining of the summon's structure and circuits.

The entire process requires the Card Crafter to be fully focused and concentrate all their energy on it.

As Dekan seamlessly integrated his Magic Power into the complex magical circuits, he inscribed intricate, interwoven runes on the cards, so fine they resembled the writhing of ants.

Dekan burned the discs quickly and skillfully, but due to the sheer volume of discs being burned, his progress appeared exceptionally slow.

He was so engrossed in completing this step that he seemed to lose all sense of time.

Creating Summon Card is far more complex than creating Spell Card and Equipment Card in this step.

It's not just about engraving circuits, but also about creating, putting materials in, and shaping them.

A pure white, ethereal figure seemed to appear on the card.

Dekan seemed to be sculpting an artificial beauty as delicate as a doll, with skin as white as snow!

"Normally, Card Crafter at this stage would start working on the prepared materials."

"If he really doesn't plan to use any extra materials, although the maximum limit will be locked, the success rate of card production will be very high."

Observing Dekan's card-making process, the friends finally raised the questions that had been on their minds from the beginning.

However, Dekan had not prepared those high-grade materials at all.

Is he really going to restore Talomati in this safest, but also most mediocre way?

However, only Croix shook her head helplessly.

It was as if he already knew the answer.

But to avoid worrying others, he kept it a secret for Dekan.

Because Dekan had only told Croix about his plans.

Furthermore, Croix's cooperation is required during card production!

"Croix, get ready!"

With Dekan's shout, the Dekan Magic Power on his body instantly began to burn like a raging fire!

Only at this moment did everyone finally see what Dekan was doing.

It was as if he was destroying himself with the Magic Power of a demon king, using it as material in the creation of the cards!

"Dekan! Are you crazy?!"

The moment Dekan heard Talomati's panicked thoughts, he immediately understood.

Dekan wasn't simply consuming his life force; he was consuming his own flesh and soul, just like when Delois sacrificed himself for her back then!

Even healing magic can't save them!

Don't worry.

As Dekan's life began to slip away rapidly, Croix's treatment also began.

In addition to the standard Croix- style healing, a special epic card, [Human Body Destruction], has been added.

The collision of the three masterpieces —the Forbidden Law Fasilier, the Bishop of Corruption Fahim, and the goddess of life Sisina —ultimately allowed Croix to master the magic that could miraculously regenerate the human body!

Responding to the Master's panic--

"There is no better material Dekan or Delois."

Despite enduring the excruciating pain of his flesh being sliced open, Dekan wore a smug smile.

"I am the strongest demon king in history, and every drop of my blood and soul is the most suitable legendary material to forge your body!"

He seemed completely oblivious to the pain, but everyone knew he hadn't blocked out his sense of pain.

He needs absolutely keen perception in card making.

However, a typical Card Crafter might make a mistake if they are affected by even the slightest thing during the card-making process, but Dekan seems completely unmoved by such pain.

"Stop, Dekan, don't do this..."

The Master's voice seemed to carry a hint of pleading, something she had never shown to Dekan before.

She dared not force Dekan to stop the card-making process, but she could no longer accept this demonic sacrificial card-making method.

"This level of pain is nothing compared to the one that defeated the God of Life; it's just like a tickle."

Dekan muttered dismissively to himself.

The prerequisite for triggering pain feedback has always been that he needs to personally experience the pain first.

He doesn't like pain, but he always understands it and is used to it.

This pain seemed to make him more lucid, allowing him to feel the flow of every bit of Magic Power more clearly.

Far away.

Some of his companions were panicked, some were worried, and others were analyzing the situation carefully.

There's always a reason why Dekan makes cards.

"Even if Croix can heal the loss of his flesh and blood, what about his lost soul..."

Mie frowned. Although she could understand Dekan's thoughts, there were forge masters in history who sacrificed themselves to feed the sword.

But even with divine healing magic, Dekan could not save him, even though he offered up his soul without reservation!

"The teacher's card-making method is correct."

Ikatinos, who had a deeper understanding of demonic magic, said firmly,

"If they fail, the teacher and the sister will perish together, but if they succeed, their souls, which are already bound together, will miraculously coexist, each possessing half of the soul..."

This is a miracle that only these twin demon lords of the demon race could achieve.

However, compared to rationality, Ikatinos understood her teacher's thoughts better.

Even with normal card-making methods, if it fails, Talomati will be permanently destroyed.

This is why Dekan never planned to repair his natal card ahead of time, even when he was most lacking in power.

Without certainty, he dared not risk destroying Talomati himself!

Even now, though Dekan may be more confident, he still faces inescapable risks.

Dekan's choice remains the same: to live and die with Talomati.

At the center of the Devil King Tomb, which gradually rose like roaring black flames.

"Dekan, stop right now! It's not too late to change the card-making method!"

The Master's anxious thoughts echoed in Dekan's heart.

"If you trust me, I'll trust you completely."

However, this was all Dekan responded to.

His unusually firm stance surprised his Master slightly.

"I've already died once, you shouldn't do this..."

The Master's emotions seemed to have weakened considerably, unable to conceal the grief in her heart.

She knew she probably couldn't win against Dekan, that stubborn guy.

But she couldn't accept receiving her brother's sacrifice again.

As if recalling her most painful memories, her usually strong voice gradually turned into a sob.

"I will never abandon you again, that's what I said."

Dekan's voice was very calm.

He seemed to recall the promise that the gray-haired, golden-eyed demon had made to Talomati in the inn on the northern border of the Holy Kingdom.

"But I broke the contract at the last minute."

Even without personally witnessing Delois's farewell to Talomati in the rain-soaked palace, Dekan could deeply feel Delois's irreparable guilt at the moment of his death and the pain Talomati endured as he went on to walk alone.

So this time, no matter what, I will stay with you until the end.

Whether in life or death.

Dekan's conviction was unwavering, as firm as the oath he had sworn in the temple.

"I will lose... Without you, even with your power, I can't win..."

Talomati seemed unable to escape the nightmare of the Demon Realm's destruction, and responded in a trembling voice.

Despite having inherited Delois's power, she still lost.

Only at the very last moment did she finally understand that the moment she lost Delois in both the Holy Kingdom and the Demon Realm, they had already lost.

And she, no matter what, can never replace Delois.

In the last cycle of reincarnation, Delois bet his life on her and was met with annihilation. She was determined not to let that fate repeat itself!

However, it was as if Dekan understood her thoughts and ideas perfectly.

He simply smiled.

"I've said it before, you'll always be my proudest little sister."

"It was only after understanding Delois's life that I became even more certain that without you, I would be unable to move an inch, and this is even more true in this life."

"Besides, it's too early to draw conclusions about whether Delois won or lost the gamble. You, who have crossed a cycle to come to my side, will undoubtedly become our trump card in defeating the Chaos God!"

"You are my final and only trump card; I'm willing to bet everything on you."

"I'm willing to risk everything for this moment. But if you don't dare to take it, I have a feeling it will all be for nothing."

"As a wager, I am prepared to accept the danger of destroying you, and also destroying myself."

That's the thought that crossed my mind.

Dekan seemed to have transformed back into the demon king on his throne, questioning his subjects before him.

"And in contrast--"

"Talomati, do you have the guts to completely annihilate me?"

Just this once.

He was not giving instructions to his sister as the Demon King or entrusting her with the throne.

Instead, he invited her to his side, to become a demon king equal to him!

"..."

After listening to Dekan's thoughts, Talomati remained silent for a long time.

Her mind and reason were making a final decision.

She wasn't afraid of dying herself, but she was afraid that Dekan would die because of her.

But the same applies to Dekan.

They had long since come to value each other's lives more than their own.

She could best understand the resolve that Dekan needed to make to bring her back to life, even at the risk of destroying her.

This is not a task that Dekan could accomplish alone.

They must be of one mind and act alone.

Then she must make a decision equal to Dekan's!

Finally.

"Then let's go, my brother, let's restore the madness that's the most basic thing about demons."

Talomati seemed to smile with relief, or perhaps this was the truest essence she had suppressed for thousands of years!

She wasn't rational; otherwise, she wouldn't have forgiven Delois at the northern border of the Holy Kingdom in the first place.

She had long wanted to usurp her brother's position!

Because from the very beginning, she envied Delois and wanted to become a demon like Delois!

How much time passed like this, under the tense gaze of everyone.

The Magic Power within the Devil King Tomb was spreading dangerously outwards from its center, appearing extremely unstable.

They could no longer make out Dekan's figure in the black smoke.

He must be currently working on connecting those countless magical inscriptions simultaneously, creating a Magic Power energy loop so that the Magic Card can be recharged and used again after their Magic Power is depleted!

The card must function correctly at activation, without conflicting with other structures. Failure to do so will result in the card's immediate destruction, or even its explosion!

The card-making process seemed to have reached its final stage.

In an instant.

The raging demon king's Magic Power, like an invisible flower bud blooming, sent everyone around him flying backward!

Even Croix, who was at the very front, could no longer provide treatment to Dekan.

Everyone could only watch from afar as Dekan's figure gradually became invisible.

At this point...

They could no longer tell whether Dekan was making cards, committing suicide, or performing a ritual!

He seemed to be using the Devil King Tomb as Altar, the Magic Power of past Demon Kings as flames, the karmic connection between two lifetimes as an anchor, and himself as a sacrifice, sparing no expense to summon a demon god who had severed ties with the past and present!