Abyssal Summoning

"Myriad Changes Card? What is that?" Hearing Ryan's exclamation, Jelona asked out of curiosity. She rarely saw this usually calm youth lose his composure like this, and her interest was piqued.

"The Myriad Changes Card is a wonder left behind from the era of the Netheril Empire, the pinnacle of alchemy from the previous epoch. Each card contains miraculous power, and opening one triggers incredible events." Ryan pulled himself out of his shock and explained in detail to his companions.

As far as Ryan knew, the Myriad Changes Card was the brainchild of a legendary Archmage from the era of the Arcane Empire, created on a whim.

A complete set of Myriad Changes Cards consists of 108 pieces, each possessing magical and unique powers. The trump cards, in particular, have powerful and profound effects, but they are a double-edged sword; some gain unimaginable benefits, while others encounter devastating disasters.

Of course, besides the Magic Omnipotence Cards, the Archmages also crafted two other, even more precious sets: the Arcane Cards and the Fate Cards, consisting of 72 and 36 pieces respectively.

In the various legends and biographies Ryan had read, if the Magic Omnipotence Cards could still be found in ruins and stories, the latter two existed only in rare, perilous locations. The Fate Cards, in particular, were like dragons that left no trace, hidden in the rifts of destiny, visible only to a handful of favored, lucky individuals.

"Doesn't that make them incredibly valuable?" Jelona and the others stared at the gorgeous cards in the ironwood box, their eyes gleaming as if they saw treasure and wealth beckoning to them.

"They are indeed precious; after all, they are legendary items passed down from the Arcane Empire. The only problem is that before opening a card, no one knows what its effect will be."

"Some people have been buried and crushed to death by a sudden rain of arcane gold coins the moment they opened a card, leaving all the wealth to their teammates, while others have been struck by a powerful bolt of lightning the instant they opened one."

Facing the inquisitive gazes of the three, Ryan explained the drawbacks of the cards. As a long-time victim of bad luck, Ryan absolutely loathed these games of chance!

Thinking back to the "pity system" pools of his past life and the heartbreak of failing to pull his waifu even after hundreds of attempts, Ryan's heart began to ache again. Damn these psychological scars!

"Ah, that's so dangerous. Doesn't that make the Myriad Changes Cards useless despite their looks?" The Dwarf said with disappointment, looking regretfully at the exquisite cards.

"I wouldn't say that. Some have used the Myriad Changes Cards to gain a massive boost in their professional rank, and some have even obtained new skill legacies. In the end, it all comes down to luck." Ryan immediately countered the Dwarf's claim.

"Then, Ryan, how do you plan to handle these Myriad Changes Cards?" The sharp-eyed half-elf ranger noticed the bitter tone in Ryan's voice when he mentioned luck and asked about the mage's intentions.

Ryan stared at the cards, pondering for a moment before deciding to use these three mysterious cards. In this unpredictable ancient ruin, Ryan had experienced more than once the power, terror, and deep, twisted sense of humor of his predecessor, the transmigrator. He didn't have much confidence in the trials ahead, so he was interested in trying anything that could directly increase his strength.

Take a gamble and turn a bicycle into a motorcycle; win and you're living the high life, lose and you're off to work the docks. That kind of thinking is dangerous, Ryan silently warned himself.

As a cautious mage, Ryan felt that anything relying entirely on luck was unreliable. Although his experiences in this life suggested he had finally shed his "non-chief" status and successfully smuggled himself into the "European" camp with his handsome face, Ryan's principle was that life came first and it was better to be safe than sorry.

Muttering words only he understood, Ryan directed the Dwarf and the barbarian to clear the mess, creating an empty space 20 feet in diameter.

Gold engraved with specific runes could release magical shocks, silver amulets provided specific protection against evil creatures, amethyst-inlaid magic patterns helped calm the mind, and each person held a bottle of church-blessed holy water in reserve. Ryan took various materials from his Traveler Space to engrave the magic array he had learned onto the open ground.

After a while, Jelona and the others watched the complex and delicate magic array slowly take shape on the ground, not daring to disturb the focused Ryan. The mage's aura of an academic genius, honed through familiar practice, suppressed the three adventurers into silence.

"Alright, the preparations are complete. Everyone, hold your weapons and holy water, and get ready." Having announced the completion of the major task, Ryan stood up straight and reminded his companions to prepare.

Ryan stepped into the array, casually stowing his ring and various small items into his Traveler Space. He then took out a plain white bath towel and placed it on a rack nearby. Lightly equipped, Ryan took out the first Myriad Changes Card.

Facing Ryan's actions, Jelona and the others were completely bewildered, filled with question marks. The previous steps were understandable, but what was the deal with the bath towel? Was he planning to accidentally summon an Abyss demon and then wave the towel around to invite it to play?

Facing their curious, glowing gazes, Ryan simply said "just in case" without further explanation, and the three didn't dare to ask more.

Ryan was too embarrassed to tell these three that the moment he saw the Myriad Changes Cards, he had pulled up all the system records regarding them, seeing many brilliant deeds and unlucky experiences of his predecessors.

What left the deepest impression on Ryan was: a high-level adventurer, for reasons unknown, opened a Myriad Changes Card in the city center. Fortunately, he didn't draw a disaster card like a summoned monster or a cataclysm. Unfortunately, he drew a "Master Thief" card.

That lucky yet unlucky fellow lost all his clothing, equipment, and treasures on the spot in front of everyone. The people of that city had the fortune of seeing a robust, muscular naked man sprinting through the streets and alleys, becoming a legend discussed in the streets ever since.

As for that locally famous guy, it was said that he left that heartbreaking city that very night, carrying his carriage under the stars, and moved to a new place to start a new life under an assumed name.

Ryan felt deep sympathy for such a tragic experience and suppressed the urge to laugh, observing a half-second of silence for him. However, when such an experience might happen to him, he felt a lingering fear and took meticulous precautions. Better safe than sorry—besides, he might not even need it, right?

Standing within the array, Ryan exhaled softly, gritted his teeth, and used a sharp small knife to cut a tiny slit in his fingertip, dripping a drop of blood onto the Myriad Changes Card in his hand.

The Myriad Changes Card had no front or back; both sides were the same pattern. Only blood could open the card, and before it was opened, no one knew its effect—not even a legendary master of prophecy could do anything about it.

As his blood was absorbed by the card, a faint red light flashed across it. Ryan's expression changed instantly. He threw the Magic Omnipotence Card away, stepped back out of the array, and warned his companions: "Careful! It's an Abyss summoning! Attack on my signal!"

The effects of the Magic Omnipotence Cards were unpredictable; some gained treasures and power, while others summoned disasters and calamities. Ryan was unlucky enough to encounter the latter—a summoning-type card. Red light signified the Abyss and Hell, holy white light indicated celestial beings, and five-colored light meant the summon came from the Elemental Planes.

This particular Myriad Changes Card had summoned an evil creature from the notorious lower planes of Hell and the Abyss.

A mysterious vortex appeared in the center of the card, displaying shifting images of sulfur, magma, frozen plains, and blood-red skies, finally settling on a hideous, twisted, ugly ape-like face—a "Bagula Demon."

The Magic Omnipotence Card transformed directly into a blood-red portal, and a ferocious, menacing figure appeared before them.

PS: Recommendation tickets, oh recommendation tickets, come into my arms.