Chapter 187 - Dekan's Ultimate Joy Card

According to legends, there existed a level above the "Orange Epic,” the "Red Legendary." Many people aren't even sure if such a level of card truly exists in the present world. When Dekan asked Ice Princess about it, she said she was quite certain that she couldn't make a Red Legendary card. Even a tier 1 Red Legendary card was beyond her abilities. But Dekan had the idea to give it a try this time. He wanted to see what level of card he could create when he put forth his best effort.

Neither hurried nor slow, Dekan first calmly cleared his workstation. His workstation was already covered with material calculations, production process designs, and notes written in magical script. When Cornelia visited him earlier, he was almost finished tidying up. Moreover, Dekan's card-making workshop has been upgraded with the highest-grade equipment provided by the Card Maker's Association.

After clearing the workspace to spaciousness, Dekan opened the storage cabinet. Despite being filled with various materials, the top layer held several divided trays. These were the materials that Dekan had already prepared and measured. Taking them out, Dekan applied his well-honed skills, calmly and skillfully handling the materials. Not only was he talented with a keen intellect, but he also put in efforts several times that of others, honing his basics to perfection.

The card Dekan was about to make was an equipment card. Just purchasing the materials for this card had used up most of his savings to date. The amount of materials was staggering, to the point where even the wealthy Princess Alice would be amazed and ask Dekan what he was planning to make this time.

Because Dekan had the highest level of privileges at the Norton Kingdom's branch of the Card Maker's Association, President Leyun quickly procured all the materials he needed. He even gave Dekan a tremendous price discount. That was how Dekan managed to swiftly gather all these materials.

Most of them were materials of the tier 4 epic demon category, along with the highest-quality consumables related to cursed magic. Although for an ordinary card maker, handling these materials might make their hands shake in nervousness, Dekan, in his focused state of card-making, had a heart as calm as still water. Regardless of how precious the materials were, how valuable the opportunity, or how severe the consequences of card-making failure might be, he could completely ignore it all. He wholeheartedly used his best state to create magical cards.

Unbeknownst to him, several tens of minutes had passed. Dekan had completed all the preparations.

"Talamati, are you ready?"

After double-checking that all the preparation steps were completed, Dekan called out his master's name in his mind.

"Yes, all set."

While Dekan rested each day, his master had been attempting to reverse-analyze the [Blood Pact Incantation] imprint left on Dekan.

Though unable to reverse-engineer this spell to crack it, Dekan and his master's goal was not to learn the [Blood Pact Incantation] entirely. They only needed to decipher a portion of its magical principles.

Dekan entrusted the work of analyzing this portion entirely to his master. With her knowledge, she successfully translated the deciphered results into demonic script.

Dekan closed the door of the card-making workshop and activated the barrier set up by Croix for him.

Then, he walked to the worktable, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, his pupils had completely turned into dazzling gold and a horn had appeared on his right temple.

He openly transformed into a true half-demon - Dekan Talamati.

At this moment, Dekan's body was not entirely under his control, nor was it controlled by Master Talamati. Instead, they operated in perfect harmony, working together.

This was the second time Dekan had collaborated with his master to make a magic card. Previously, they had only worked together when making [Rampant Desires.]

[Rampant Desires] was a mental spell mastered by his master and was created with Dekan's modifications.

If Dekan wanted to learn the spell from his master and then create the card himself, it would take months at the very least. It was more efficient to work together with his master directly.

However, this time was different.

Dekan wanted to attempt to touch the realm of the "Red Legendary". He knew he had almost no chance on his own.

So, once again, he requested to collaborate with his master.

After entering this state, Dekan did not hesitate. He began to mix the finely ground dark attribute magic crystal powder with the curse-specialized magic core liquid to create the ink.

Even without deliberate measurement, Dekan could effortlessly mix the perfect proportions. His hands were skilled.

Compared to aligning his own magic with the ink, the ink Dekan mixed seemed to actively cater to his magic.

Once the magical ink was blended, Dekan poured it into the magic pen. Then, he unsealed the packaged magic scroll, imprinting the prototype of the equipment he had previously made with high-tier materials onto the blank card.

Next came the most crucial step.

This was when the card maker rewrote and shaped the enchantment structure. It would evoke the materials' characteristics and truly imbue the equipment card with attributes.

This process required the full concentration of the card maker, focusing all their spirits into it.

As Dekan moved the magic pen in his hand, he and his master balanced their magic completely, melding it into every magical circuit on the card. They inscribed intricate and dense magic symbols, twisting and turning like ants on the card.

Dekan worked swiftly and skillfully, but due to the enormous amount of inscription, his progress seemed particularly slow.

With his head buried in completing this step, he seemed to lose all sense of time.

Even as the morning sun cast its light through the window, Dekan remained unaware. It was not until dawn that Dekan finally, in his absorbed state, completed the inscription.

The unfinished magic card on the worktable emitted dangerously orange arcs, seeming highly unstable and ready to explode at any moment.

Without hesitation, Dekan entered the final stage: debugging, processing, and sealing.

He connected the countless magical imprints simultaneously, forming a magical energy loop that allowed the magic card to recharge and be used again after magic depletion.

Although the card making was nearing success, Dekan's true troubles manifested here.

He had to ensure that every magic structure operated correctly upon activation and avoid conflicts with other structures. Any failure could result in the card crumbling on the spot or even exploding!

Compared to sealing the card, Dekan now looked more like a reckless bomb disposal expert!

"Dekan, if this fails, the explosion will be far beyond what you've calculated!" His master warned in Dekan's mind.

She knew that Dekan had increased the complexity of the enchantment based on practical feasibility during the manufacturing process.

Although Dekan had the safety helmet with invulnerability effect, if the collapse of the barrier triggered the destruction of his room, Dekan could still be crushed to death.

"Master, trust me!"

“...”

Dekan’s master didn't say more and began assisting Dekan with all her might in this almost life-risking final step.

Perhaps due to Dekan's intense focus, he completely failed to notice the changes in the card's surface. The changes were gradual, and it wasn't until they were completely finished that Dekan truly noticed.

That was when the intense light shone into Dekan's eyes.

In that moment of closing his eyelids, a sudden burst of light appeared.

The room was momentarily illuminated by a flash of intense light, then gradually dimmed.

"Shit, did Dekan's dorm explode?"

"He's making a card! But what on earth did he create at home?!"

The light burst from the window of room 404, the most famous dorm in the Knight College dormitory building, drew exclamations from many passing students. Even the curtains couldn't entirely block out this dazzling light.

But even for the creation of an epic card, such exaggerated effects shouldn't be happening!

Some couldn't help but wonder, could it be that a legendary red card, unheard of for many years in this world, was about to be born?!

"No, wait, Dekan made an epic card, the light earlier was orange!"

"But it's definitely not an ordinary epic card; I've seen epic cards born, they didn't have such dazzling light!"

More and more students gathered at the base of the Knight College dormitory building. Many curious onlookers were drawn to the scene. They discussed what kind of new card Dekan had created.

Inside the dorm room, Dekan sat at the worktable, covering his eyes. He had just recovered from a dizzy spell. At close range, he was nearly blinded by the magic card he had created.

He realized that when preparing to make high-quality magic cards in the future, he would need to wear his welding mask, the [Red Center Mask.]

"Phew."

Dekan finally breathed a sigh of relief. If he hadn't successfully made the card just now, the resulting explosion could have put him in serious danger.

He looked at the newly minted card floating in the air. There was no doubt that this card was still an epic, not reaching the level of "Red Legendary."

"Ha, am I still far from making a legendary card?" Dekan smiled bitterly and shook his head. In fact, Dekan already felt this was his limit.

Even if he were to make a tier 1 card and push his skills to the extreme, inscribing the most complex and dangerous structures, this would remain the extent he could achieve.

"I lack that piece of memory." His master remained silent for a moment before answering.

"But what exactly is the difference... Is it the materials? Or luck? But the materials were perfectly proportioned this time, and even luck was pushed to its limits to barely complete it." Dekan said somewhat helplessly.

This time, in the process of creation, not only did he exert all his efforts, but his master also assisted him. Yet, even with their collaboration, they couldn't create a legend.

For a moment, he couldn't find a direction for improvement.

"Do not lose heart. We will definitely find the answer. After all, look at this card, it's not just any epic."

"Mmm."

Dekan held this new card in his hand.

He looked at the card with a sense of relief. Regardless of everything else, the masterpiece he had constructed with all his learning had finally succeeded.

Moreover, although this card was epic, it was unlike any epic card Dekan had seen before. Because on the card's surface, along with the dazzling orange light, there was a faint crimson halo!

Dekan satisfactorily bound this equipment card to his soul. Then he summoned it and a tome emanating an ominous aura appeared in Dekan's hand.

It didn't seem like something that should exist in this world. Inside, it seemed to record forbidden truths.

The appearance of this book was somewhat similar to Cornelia's [Blood Detective's Book,] except this book was pitch black and heavier.

Holding the book, Dekan looked more like a judge wielding the power of life and death than a detective.

[Dekan's Gospel]

[Category: Equipment Card]

[Rarity: Redshine Epic]

[Tier: 4]

[Effect: By writing the true name, race, and gender of the target, and with the user's consciousness clearly envisioning the target's true form, the user can cast a curse on the target. The base strength of the curse depends on the user's spirit attribute. Additional mana can be consumed to strengthen the curse effect. Cooldown period: 10 minutes. Continuous or overloaded use of Dekan's Gospel will cause comprehensive damage to the user.]

[Note: A masterpiece created by Dekan in collaboration with Talamati.]

"From now on, this will be my exclusive weapon. Well, I won't let anyone see it though."

Dekan had no intention of letting anyone know about this card. Because once the effect of "Dekan's Gospel" was exposed, Dekan would face endless troubles.

This was the only magic card he needed to secretly use at home.

The initial intention behind Dekan's creation of this spell card was to slowly grind the cardinals of the Resurgence Church to death. Who would’ve expected that a bunch of idiots from the Northern Countries would jump out to help the cardinals defy fate.

Naturally, Dekan had to make the best arrangements for these folks who willingly jumped into the fray.

The principle of making this card combined all of Dekan's skills, knowledge, and the resources he could use.

First, the ancestral methods were unchangeable.

Dekan's main weapon, the [Cursed Doll,] with its curse properties, was his specialty. The new weapon was also made with demon curse principles at its core.

Furthermore, in the construction of the new weapon, he had drawn inspiration from Cornelia's [Blood Detective's Book] as the basic prototype. After all, this was the strongest weapon he had seen so far.

Also, the ancestral methods were immutable.

Dekan had too many enemies. He didn't have the time to deal with them one by one. So, Dekan had always had his master help him decipher the principles behind the [Blood Pact Incantation’s] "true name locking.”

Combining all of the above compatibility factors, this was the strongest magic card Dekan could currently create! However, due to the extreme difficulty of combining these principles, it resulted in a very high production difficulty and risk.

In the end, even though Dekan had sacrificed some of the strength in the design process to increase its compatibility, there was still no way to eliminate the potential side effects.

But as long as it was used moderately!

Dekan quickly pulled open a drawer and took out a stack of documents. He spread the documents out on the table and pulled out a page with a list of names in front of him.

"Hehehe, let's choose the first lucky winner."

The Ice Princess had given him the stack of documents back at the Tristin Magic Academy. It recorded the names of people from the Kingdoms Federation and the Empire who wanted to make trouble for Dekan.

Dekan couldn't wait and rubbed his hands together. Then, with a devilish smile, he rhythmically tapped the names on the list!

"Pick - a - lucky - one - for - today's - fun!"