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Chapter 702: Lanchi Finishes Off Kaliera (Part 2)
Chapter 702: Lanchi Finishes Off Kaliera (Part 2)
However, this time, the two worked together exceptionally well, completely immersed in their task and oblivious to their surroundings, as if time itself had come to a standstill.
This time, they didn't rely on each other or pay attention to how they could complement each other.
Instead, they each focused on their own tasks, supporting and guiding each other when needed.
It was as if they had reached the same understanding that night during the battle in the Paulson Demon World.
As the card progressed, the flow of magic within became clearer, and the spell formations began to take shape. The entire structure appeared beautiful on the surface, but it concealed deadly traps within. If it exceeded its bearing limit, it could collapse at any moment, even triggering catastrophic destruction.
"This time, it looks like we can go all the way to the end?" Lanchi said, his eyes fixed on his work but unable to hide his surprise as he spoke to Thalia.
Tonight's practice was exceptionally smooth, as if they had found each other's instruction manuals.
Moreover, Thalia was more accommodating towards him. When he encountered difficulties, she would directly control his body while allowing him to take over hers to complete simpler tasks.
In the past, they had never reached this level of cooperation.
If they continued, it might not just be a practice but actually using up Kaliera's Shadow Weave.
"Are you sure?"
Thalia didn't stop, only responding in her heart.
In the next few steps, they would begin to add Kaliera's Shadow Weave, and at that time, they must not fail.
"Strike while the iron is hot; hesitation will lead to decline, and we should continue while our state is good."
Lanchi said.
"Okay."
Thalia didn't hesitate and followed his lead.
If it were an ordinary card maker, they might have abandoned the attempt if there were signs of instability in the magic card. They would gather more data and troubleshoot to pinpoint any adjustments needed in the previous steps.
But Lanchi was a coach at heart, trusting his player.
Any missed opportunity for a miracle might never come again, and he was determined to see this card through, even if it meant facing utter ruin.
Usually, he would see signs of impending disaster, with sparks of discord flashing in the unfinished card, the entire structure teetering on the brink of collapse.
Now, with Thalia, the instability of the magic card was far less than when Lanchi worked with the Great Love Poet.
In Lanchi's opinion, their chances of success were high.
No one understood better than he when a card would explode and when it wouldn't.
Thalia listened to Lanchi and proceeded without hesitation, fine-tuning the magic circuits.
"Are you good to continue?" Thalia asked nonchalantly.
Based on her judgment, not only did Lanchi need to consume a lot of magic power during card creation, but he also had to lend her his power. If his magic power ran out, their efforts would be for naught.
"Go ahead, don't hold back," Lanchi replied, continuing to engrave the runes while muttering to himself. His expression was calm and determined, as if he had everything under control.
He would never let Thalia suffer.
Thalia fell silent at his words.
Recalling carefully, she realized that Lanchi had always been generous towards her. Even if he didn't have much money left, he would ensure she lived comfortably and had whatever she wanted to eat.
She pushed aside her thoughts and focused on the final steps, the two of them working together seamlessly, ignoring the violent energy fluctuations in the card.
Finally, accompanied by an invisible force, the space within the workshop began to distort.
Visible ripples of magical power spread outward, causing the objects in the workshop to distort one after the other.
"Oh no, this is Kaliera's most fundamental power, meow!"
Cat Boss hugged his head, curling up into a ball.
He was quite familiar with this magic power.
It didn't belong to either Lanchi or Thalia but to the formidable demon, Kaliera.
"..."
Lanchi felt that if this were ninth-tier magic, even Thalia might not be able to resist it.
He was certain he would fall under its influence and lapse into unconsciousness.
But now, he could only trust Thalia.
The guests on the other floors of the hotel seemed to hear a buzzing sound in their ears, after which they lost consciousness and fell asleep.
Lanchi and Thalia collapsed one after the other, slumping onto the table.
Even with her face on the table, Thalia persevered, trying to complete the final steps.
At this point, a tide of drowsiness washed over her, impossible to resist.
In a state between consciousness and sleep, she continued to work, not knowing if it was her will or her body that was driving her on.
At this critical juncture, neither of them could resist the illusory power emanating from Kaliera's Shadow Weave, both succumbing to its influence as their eyes slowly closed, their vision dimming.
...
Their consciousness flickered in and out.
They seemed to see flickering candlelight casting dancing shadows under the stars, the vast night sky like a still pond.
The starlight intertwined with the crimson light unique to the Inferno, creating a mesmerizing display in the dark environment.
Here seemed oddly familiar, like a place she had once seen before—
Pasqual, the Inferno City, and the Corridor of Inferno Academy.
In a spacious office on the top floor, under the high ceiling filled with a sense of history, an antique chandelier emitted a soft glow, reflecting off the deep brown wooden floor.
Opposite the marble fireplace sat a comfortable armchair and a wide, brown wooden desk, atop which lay a stack of magic books with worn, curling pages, their edges slightly raised from age.
Outside the large, wooden-framed window, the starlight of the Demon World intertwined with the lamplight, creating a shimmering tapestry of light.
Beside the square tea table by the window stood a soft, woven armchair, exuding a leisurely, retired vibe.
This room, imbued with restrictions, was not intended to harm students, but it was physically challenging to unlock or push open the door.
However.
Accompanied by a rustling noise, the envelope-shaped opening on the door slid open.
The gray cat effortlessly slipped through the opening and into the principal's office.
"..."
Upon landing, she transformed into a young Demon race girl.
Entering the principal's office was considered the highest achievement among the students. Very few dared to take on this challenge.
According to school rules, trespassing into the principal's office was a serious violation of discipline.
If discovered by a teacher, the punishment was immediate execution.
However, if a student faced a life-threatening situation and managed to escape into the principal's office, the teachers could not pursue them further, as they dared not trespass either.
Thus, if students found themselves in dire straits and had a chance to flee, they would make a dash for the principal's office.
If the principal was absent, the office served as a temporary safe house. If the principal was present, the student would collide with them directly, and the principal would personally execute the offending student, instilling the ultimate fear of death.
It took great luck, wisdom, and courage to accurately deduce whether the principal's office was a safe haven or a dangerous trap at any given time.
However, few students, like her, would dare to sneak into the principal's office purely out of curiosity.
"I knew the principal wasn't here," she muttered to herself, her voice devoid of emotion, as if mocking those overly cautious Demons.
However, the principal's office wasn't as interesting as she had imagined; it just had a swimming pool.
She wondered who the lunatic was that had built it.
Suddenly, her gaze paused at one side of the principal's office.
Then she quickly looked away.
There stood an unknown wraith, its body shrouded in black mist, with only its eyes glowing a faint green. She had almost failed to sense its presence.
Normally, any wraiths that entered the Corridor of Inferno Academy would be swiftly eliminated.
But this wraith was unique; it emitted no aura or magical energy.
It seemed as if it had been standing there for a long time, unperturbed by her arrival, like a withered old tree. It didn't seem to be waiting for anything in particular.
Thus, there could only be one explanation: this wraith was special, and even the other Demons in the school might not be able to perceive its presence.
Usually, only souls that were exceptionally powerful or had undergone aberrant changes during their lifetime, coupled with an extremely strong obsession, would transform into wraiths after death.
The principal's office should not have been accessible to wraiths, unless the school's barrier didn't repel this particular wraith, suggesting that he might have been a powerful Demon in his lifetime.
Just as she was thinking this.
["Have you seen me, little cat who sneaked in?"]
A strange, aged voice drifted into her ear.
She was slightly surprised.
Indeed, this wraith had gone unnoticed for a long time.
The shadowy wraith's face and expression were obscured by the black mist, leaving only a pair of deep green eyes visible.
"..."
The gray-haired Demon girl ignored him, pretending not to hear or see him.
This wraith was weak and fragmented, having endured a long existence, and was on the verge of dissipation. It wouldn't be difficult to subdue and turn it into a low-level familiar.
However, it might also have negative side effects.
Regardless, she had no desire to associate with this unknown entity and preferred to avoid it altogether.
["How are the Vampires doing these days?"]
The black mist wraith seemed to believe that the young Demon girl could see and hear him, and he continued to speak.
"..."
Absurd.
She thought.
The Vampires were a thing of the past, a century-old history. In this peaceful era, why would any Demon still be concerned about the Vampires? This wraith must be an old fossil scared witless by the Vampires in his lifetime.
Soon, she transformed back into a small gray cat and coldly left the principal's office.
["..."]
The black mist wraith didn't stop her, merely seeing her off with a smile, continuing to wait in the principal's office for the next Demon who might stumble upon him.
["This place, it's where it all began."]
["I, without my memories, and she, in her youth, met by chance, our fates intertwined, as we embarked on an unforgettable journey, filled with gains and losses, until—"]
["At the journey's end, I took her life with my own hands."]
["..."]
...
In the Flower City of Pariah, outside the window, the night remained dark and gloomy.
The long night had finally passed.
The patter of raindrops could be heard, and as dawn approached, the sky remained a deep gray.
Cat Boss poked his head out from his curled-up position, relieved to see that the workshop hadn't exploded.
However, the energy burst at the end had affected them all, including Kaliera's magic.
"Meow, meow, you two!"
He was a little worried about Lanchi and Thalia and saw them slumped over the table, seemingly asleep.
But they gradually began to stir, shaking their groggy heads and slowly sitting up, their fingers twitching as they searched the tabletop.
It seemed that Kaliera's magical influence had already dissipated.
"Thalia... I think I dreamed of you..."
Lanchi rubbed his head, feeling like he had seen a younger version of Thalia.
"I think I did, too..."
Thalia couldn't quite remember, but she felt like she had seen a shadowy wraith with eyes as green as Lanchi's.
They both jolted awake, immediately searching the table.
If they hadn't completed the final steps, the card would be lost.
"I'm sorry, Lanchi. I couldn't resist Kaliera's magic..."
"It's not your fault. I made all the decisions, so if anything went wrong, it's entirely my responsibility.
"Mew..."
Just as their hearts were pounding wildly, the two of them discovered, under the pages on the table, a nearly invisible magic card glowing with a faint orange-red light.
They looked at each other in delight.
"Tata, did we succeed?"
"It seems so!"
Thalia breathed a sigh of relief.
Even so, Lanchi's attitude made her confident that collaborating with this person was the right choice.
"Should we appraise it?"
Lanchi asked.
Thalia nodded nervously, reaching out and easily picking up the card that, to Cat Boss, seemed to emanate terrifying magic power.
The card shimmered before them, radiating a mesmerizing radiance as if imbued with the supreme glory of ancient gods.
[Overflowing Land of Affection]
[Type: Spell Card]
[Grade: Orange Epic]
[Attribute: Spirit/Illusion]
[Tier: 8]
[Effect: Forces all targets within range, excluding the caster, into a sleeping state, causing them to fall into inevitable dreams or their most beautiful memories, and the caster can interfere with the dream. Cooldown time: 120 seconds.]
[Note: Love is such a wondrous thing; the more you try to grasp it, the more it will make you fall, and the more you learn to let it go, the more it will overflow.]
"Whew—"
Thalia was surprised that they had managed to partially restore Kaliera's innate magic to some extent.
"Lanchi, shouldn't you wait until you're eighth-tier to use this? This magic seems more suitable for you."
She handed the card to Lanchi.
It was said that Lanchi was even better at using Kaliera's Land of Affection than Kaliera herself.
Although this [Overflowing Land of Affection] was slightly different from [Falling Land of Affection], Lanchi would definitely be able to use it.
"By the time I reach the eighth tier, the Kreese Empire might have already conquered the Southern Continent. You're bound to me just like I am, and I might not be suitable for binding more epics in the future."
Lanchi had already thought that even if he encountered another unbindable high-quality card, he might only consider one more.
He wanted to see if he could obtain the ultimate card related to Black Sun Lanculos at the end of the Blood Moon Bad World.
"If I bind this card, can I replace Kaliera when I cooperate with you?"
Thalia looked at the card and asked in confusion.
This unreasonable large-scale group crowd control had a very high upper limit.
Although Kaliera's ninth-tier original version was stronger—as long as the Falling Kaliera maintained the spell, under high-load conditions, the barrier would remain intact even if the enemy was attacked, and they wouldn't be able to break free from the dream.
However, this one wasn't bad either, as it was a low-power one-time release spell.
"It should be possible. Whether it's the demon race's innate magic, the aloof temperament, or the years of accumulation..."
Lanchi acknowledged, but before he could finish, Thalia grabbed his heart.
Being in the state of the Crazy Love Demon King had one more advantage: she could directly give Lanchi a heart-pounding warning.
"I, I mean, even if you pretend to be Kaliera, Hyberrian won't be able to tell the difference."
Lanchi quickly changed what he was saying.
"... "
Thalia thought for a moment. If Lanchi took her into the Shadow World next time, the identity she was most likely to play would be Kaliera's.
Because the Shadow World would assign the most suitable historical figure identity to the challenger, and now that she had learned the Land of Affection, the probability of this happening would skyrocket.
It seemed that even if Kaliera was replaced by her, Hyberrian wouldn't be able to tell the difference, as Kaliera's face was naturally concealed by illusion magic, and most demons couldn't see her true appearance.
At that time, they would first prevent Hyberrian from discovering the truth, and it might not be a bad idea to pretend to be Kaliera and spend some time with her?
"And this card is also very useful as a daily life magic. If you feel that Hyberrian isn't sleeping well in the future, just cast this spell on her before she goes to bed."
Lanchi remembered that this was what Kaliera used to do, but Kaliera's original [Falling Land of Affection] couldn't be used too often, as it would damage the soul. However, this [Overflowing Land of Affection] was completely natural and harmless.
"Oh."
Thalia suddenly felt that this magic was better than anything else, and she looked at the semi-transparent card in her hand with loving eyes.
"Lanchi, then I'll continue to help you make magic cards in the future. Our collaboration has found its rhythm."
She looked at Lanchi and said with a smile.
Hyberrian often had nightmares and sleep-talked, and her sleeping posture was poor.
This magic had no side effects, and it could make Hyberrian have sweet dreams every night. If it could make her sleep soundly, she wouldn't even have to worry about Hyberrian kicking off the covers in the middle of the night.
It was simply a must-have for mothers who loved their children.
...
Meanwhile, outside the hotel.
In the gloomy morning of the Flower City of Pariah, thick clouds obscured the sky, turning it into a giant black curtain that devoured the faint glow of dawn.
The air was filled with a damp chill, and raindrops fell incessantly on the cobblestone pavement, creating a monotonous dull sound.
Occasionally, a gust of icy wind would howl by, lifting the withered yellow leaves from the roadside and swirling them in the empty streets.
In the distance, the bells of the Pariah Cathedral of Our Lady rang out low and long.
After an unknown amount of time, a piercing and urgent alarm shattered the stillness, slicing through the heavy night like a sharp dagger.
The alarm rang out across the sky, reverberating through the empty streets, waking the sleeping Flower City of Pariah.
People poured out of their homes, their faces filled with panic and confusion.
Having just experienced the unrest a few days ago, the residents of the Flower City were now nervous and fragile.
Some rushed straight to the nearest temple for shelter, while others gathered in small groups on the street, whispering their speculations.
Until a military vehicle drove by on the street, and an officer in military uniform stood atop it, holding a black magic amplifier, his expression grave as his voice echoed through the city's broadcast system:
["One hour ago, our kingdom was invaded by the Kreese Empire's army! The Kingdom's Joint Congress and the Paulson government have issued an emergency total mobilization order, calling on all patriotic citizens to immediately go to the local recruitment office to sign up and join the army to defend our country and resist aggression!"]
(End of Chapter)
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