Feeling the User's Will! Extraction Begins!

Fang Ran took deep breaths. Though it was unpleasant, he still did so, trying hard to adapt to the air around him.

He looked at Si Ai. Though every instinct in his body and heart rejected it, he still hoisted the now "broken-down" Si Ai onto his back, found the nearest storefront, and settled him inside.

At least afterward, I'll give him a proper burial.

Fang Ran silently looked at him, then silently walked out.

Arriving at the wrecked pedestrian street, he ran through all the information in his mind.

I can't drive. I have no means of transportation.

It was eight o'clock at night in this scenario.

One night wouldn't be long. Those people wouldn't be hiding too deeply.

They should all be C-Rank, or lower D-Rank.

Their alliance had already dissolved.

There had to be enemies among them as well.

They looked down on me, an E-Rank rookie. That was why they hadn't killed me.

I'm safe right now.

And they definitely weren't in good condition now.

There was no way they could have emerged unscathed from Si Ai's attack.

There were about eight hours until dawn.

Fang Ran silently stared at the night sky. After sorting through all the information and reaching his final conclusion, he spoke softly:

"I need power."

He raised a hand and loosely clenched it. Golden light gathered, and two Clow Cards appeared in his hand. The golden cards bore images of a slender sword wrapped in fine golden chain seals and a hot-air balloon floating among the clouds with wings.

The Magic Book suddenly appeared before Fang Ran, and the system's voice rang out at the same time!

Acquisition Attempts: 1/1

Unlock Progress: 2/52

Proceed with ability extraction?

Yes.

Fang Ran pressed the button. The lock on the Magic Book opened automatically, its pages began to turn, and in the end, only one page remained standing upright in the center.

Fang Ran was in no hurry. His gaze was calm and steady, with a faint glimmer in his eyes.

The card that appears will definitely be the one I need.

A golden card condensed once more, detached from the page, and drifted into Fang Ran's hand. He looked at the newly appeared card. It truly was what he needed most.

"But it's not enough."

Fang Ran pinched the new Clow Card between his fingers and abruptly raised his head, staring directly at the Magic Book. Without his usual joking complaints, his voice carried an indescribable feeling.

"Not enough. I need power!"

The pages that were closing suddenly halted, as though affected by Fang Ran's words.

Fang Ran remembered. He finally remembered. Three days ago, when this book had first appeared, he had heard that sentence. Ling had told him about it, and Si Ai had also revealed it to him.

The system would not give you an ability you couldn't control.

Abilities were bound to and mastered by their users!

And when this book had first appeared, the first sentence it spoke had not been accompanied by the system prompt!

In other words, the condition for unlocking new Clow Cards was—

Fang Ran recalled that first time. Though only a few days had passed, it felt distant. The words that had appeared back then echoed in both his mind and before his eyes at once!!!

"Feeling the user's will!"

"Extraction begins!"

The golden pages flipped again. Fang Ran's pupils widened slightly as he watched the Magic Book begin another extraction.

He still needed one more card.

The most crucial card, one that could overturn every disadvantage and gap before him!

The pages stopped!

A golden rectangular card detached itself!

Light gathered, and another brand-new Clow Card appeared in Fang Ran's hand!

Fang Ran slowly clenched his right hand. He suddenly looked up at the sky. At some point, Silver Severing Dragon Tooth had appeared in his right hand.

A glint of silver flashed, passing from the dragon eye through Silver Severing Dragon Tooth's entire body. Fang Ran raised it and spoke slowly:

"Magic power, activate."

In the upper-right corner of his vision, Silver Severing Dragon Tooth began interfering with the underlying data. The number 1080 displaying his Magic Value suddenly began to fluctuate!

From the ones digit to the tens digit to the hundreds digit, every number began jumping! If this had been an old-fashioned metal dial, no one would have doubted that it might spark from the friction!

At last, the Magic Value settled on a stable, brand-new number.

Magic Value—2160.

Fang Ran took a deep breath and grabbed his chest. Looking at the new power he possessed, he finally seemed unable to endure the pressure weighing on his back any longer. He bent over and shouted:

"You! None of you are getting away!!"

As though venting every ounce of suppressed emotion, the Sword Card and The Float appeared in his left hand at the same time. Fang Ran hurled them viciously at the ground!

He raised Silver Severing Dragon Tooth, then plunged downward!

Both cards activated at once. A circular wave of magical energy swirled up around Fang Ran, lifting the hem of his clothes!

His toes began to float off the ground. Fang Ran looked at Silver Severing Dragon Tooth in his hand as Dragon Wings spread open.

Magic whose power depended on the user's heart?

Then let me see just how strong my heart is right now.

The Float's power activated. Fang Ran's body rose parallel to the skyscraper, ascending into the night sky.

On the system interface Fang Ran had not opened, a value flickered continuously. At last, as though the original character could no longer contain it, it jumped once.

A brand-new letter appeared in its place.

D.

Current Participants: 8/12

The night before, 8:50 PM.

Several kilometers away, atop a trade building, a stiff-faced man rapidly dispelled his magic, descended to the floor, and leaned against the rooftop door as he panted heavily.

His expression shifted, turning ugly. Damn it! That man had tricked him!

He had actually attacked him!

After Si Ai's final enormous pillar of flame erupted, he had suffered the most direct impact as the one maintaining the Cage of Trapped Water. Si Ai was B-Rank; even if his own ability countered Si Ai's, that strike had been anything but easy to take!

Aside from the man Si Ai had pinned to the ground, the other two unlucky bastards were the best proof!

He was certain that after that attack, not one of them—who had relied on numbers and ability counters while being a full rank below Si Ai—had come through uninjured!

Everyone had sustained injuries to some degree!

And after that, everyone quickly realized it.

The alliance was over!

The greatest opportunity was now!

Everyone swiftly recognized their positions. Those who felt stronger and less injured quickly cast themselves as hunters, while the others knowingly began to flee.

The strongest B-Rank, Si Ai, was already dead.

What remained was for them to compete over the scenario's sole reward—the Night Device!

A chaotic battle had only just ended in the streets near the city center.

"Cough!!"

He braced himself against the wall and spat out another mouthful of blood. Maintaining the Cage of Trapped Water had consumed a great deal of his Magic Energy Value. He had to find a chance to recover, hide himself, and only after fully recovering would he have any chance to fight for the final victory!

Though that hope was slim.

Just then, the lights on another downtown building, which stood slightly taller than the trade building he was in, happened to rotate in his direction. Huge strips of text changed colors as they advertised products, their glow faintly illuminating the rooftop where he stood.

He frowned, somewhat disgusted by the feeling of being exposed to the light. He intended to turn and leave, hide downstairs, and restore his Magic Energy Value.

But then he suddenly discovered in terror—

He couldn't move.

It seemed that someone was standing behind him.