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"Does the Spirit Begging Society still have someone of your caliber in East-Haven?" Leigh-Shuo, the middle-aged man in red dragon robes, looked grave. "And I don't know you. How do you know my name?"
The arrival was naturally Russell in his Lux persona. He'd decided to intervene after careful consideration.
First, without action, Zayne would grow suspicious. This chaos erupted shortly after their meeting. Though Russell had fled via Kumoko's spatial magic when conflict began, he'd rushed back after Kai's notification.
As for Kai... Russell had ordered him to stand down, creating the illusion Kai wasn't always in East-Haven. Essential for eventually replacing the "Lux" identity seamlessly.
Second, he couldn't let the situation escalate further. But "Russell" should still be rushing back to East-Haven, so only Lord Six could act.
Third, based on Russell's observations in New Metro, Regent Jin seemed to completely disdain the Unification Sect. Might as well test the waters—could earn benefits when reporting later.
Kumoko's spatial magic proved invaluable. Russell's publicly displayed cards couldn't have returned this quickly.
As for the middle-aged man's questions, Russell silently reviewed Kumoko's shared information:
[Name: Leigh-Shuo]
[Title: Failed Ambitionist (Sect of Unification Collaborator)]
[Level: Gold]
[Holding Cards: [Progenitor of the Silent Morning • Dangun], ???]
"So card information only displays after observation." Russell felt relieved. Kumoko's appraisal worked fine. This was the red-robed figure from Leigh-Xie's previous appearance.
"Dangun?" Russell's soft murmur caught Leigh-Shuo's attention.
The middle-aged man smiled smugly. "I didn't expect Spirit Begging Society trash to know the Great Ancestor's name. I can be merciful—"
Russell's next words froze him. "Only you take fabricated myths seriously. Rushing to claim a myth as your father. Pathetic."
Lies don't hurt; truth cuts deep. Russell struck Leigh-Shuo's deepest insecurity. As Corian royalty, he knew Dangun was merely compiled from various myths for legitimacy.
Leigh-Shuo's face darkened. "Sharp tongue. In the past, lowborn like you wouldn't qualify to speak with me!"
Zayne's cold sarcasm cut from the side. "Even the Federation President wouldn't dare such words. This small foreign country proves quite arrogant."
Luther laughed appropriately.
Leigh-Shuo's face twitched violently. "You traitors! I want you dead!"
He sealed his lips. The red-robed middle-aged figure materialized beside him, attacking Russell.
Kumoko identified the card:
[Progenitor of the Silent Morning • Dangun]
Level: Gold
Quality: Red
Category: Creature
Skills:
[Sonic Domain]
[Morning Glory]
[Dynasty of Kings]
Characteristics:
[Founding Father]
[Son of the Heavenly King]
[Demigod]
Introduction: Who founded the country? The Heavenly King's grandson, Dangun.
Bonds:
With [Heavenly Emperor]: Activates [Father and Son]
With [King Geon]: Activates [Loyal Subject]
Information was sparse—just ability names. But Russell could infer their scope from titles alone.
Dazzling light erupted across the earth, ground temperature rising rapidly. But Russell refused turn-based combat.
The most effective wild fighting method... attack the cardmaker directly.
Kumoko's spatial magic whisked him from Dangun's range, then she appeared alone near Leigh-Shuo.
Leigh-Shuo's face soured. "Spatial ability..." Gold-rank cardmakers knew how disgusting uncountered spatial powers were. Without instant kills, opponents could freely enter your backyard while you watched helplessly.
"Hehe! I, the beautiful Spider Girl representing love and peace, declare you guilty, uncle!"
[Ruler • Perseverance] Derived Skill: [Conviction] activated.
Leigh-Shuo saw the white spider's terrifying hissing. Then crushing crisis flooded his heart. Pupils contracting, Dangun instantly materialized before him.
"Blocked?" Kumoko thought. "Muda muda! Uncle thinks he can block my fatal attack?! Physical Minister Charge! Corrosion Attack!"
In Leigh-Shuo's eyes, the spider's scythe-like forelegs dripped dangerous purple liquid, rushing forward. But before he could react, that heart-crushing crisis struck.
Leigh-Shuo paled instantly, groaning in pain. "Where's the attack coming from!?"
[Conviction] had struck true. By universal values, Leigh-Shuo carried countless sins. Dangun frowned, snorting coldly. Leigh-Shuo's aura stabilized while Dangun's weakened slightly.
Damage transfer.
"Uncle, you're indeed an unforgivable sinner! Little Spider enforces justice today! Damage transfer is useless!"
When Kumoko closed within dozens of meters, Dangun lifted his robes and sat back. A wooden throne materialized. Then figures in various dragon robes appeared.
[Dynasty of Kings]
Russell felt déjà vu. "What are you, Iskandar? Good grief, Ionioi Hetairoi?"
Compared to Fate/Zero's King of Conquerors, Leigh-Shuo's move was far weaker—inferior quality and quantity versus the King's Army. Still, twenty kings with generals swelled numbers past one hundred.
Russell admitted despite Leigh-Shuo's issues, his strength was real. He hadn't shown this against Leigh-Xie.
Luther and Zayne had never witnessed such scenes. Seeing escalation, Luther decided. "We can't wait. If this continues, we'll lose this entire area."
Zayne nodded, wanting to help Russell. He'd waited anxiously, but Luther's presence prevented direct action. His perception confirmed the phantoms were genuine Gold-level summons. Individually weaker, but quantity had quality. Without powerful area attacks, the spider would drown in numbers.
Unfortunately for Leigh-Shuo, Kumoko had detected his information and prepared accordingly.
"Magic Minister, I leave it to you! Hey, try my super ultimate move! Abyss Magic! Show yourself, Gate of Hell!"
A giant door adorned with hideous evil spirit statues slowly rose before Kumoko, blocking all attacks. A hidden tactic the Magic Minister had secretly prepared at battle's start. If direct killing worked, no need for trump cards. But if quick resolution proved impossible...
[Parallel Minds]... purely broken skill. Russell sighed internally. Kumoko with Parallel Minds performed multi-threaded combat operations. Physical Minister engaged melee while Magic Minister prepared spells. Neither interfered with the other.
How many personalities did she have now? Information Minister gathering intel, Physical Minister fighting, Magic Minister casting...
Unlike Russell's wonderings, Zayne grabbed Luther the moment the gate appeared. Dark blue water torrents swept them away, disregarding potential injury.
Luther steadied mid-air, turning to Zayne. "Director Zayne, you—"
Before finishing, the huge door slowly opened.
Inside: pitch-black darkness so thick nothing could dispel it, like a world-devouring maw. Massive suction attracted everything. Soil. Ruins. Debris. Including Dangun's [Dynasty of Kings] soldiers.
Everything was being swallowed.
Spirit Begging Society members behind Russell swallowed nervously, watching fearfully. Then relief—the spider was Lord Six's card.
Unification Sect members weren't so fortunate. The Hell Gate swallowed indiscriminately. Only handfuls resisted the pull. Moments later, the gate closed as if sated, slowly sinking into earth, vanishing from survivors' sight.
Only a bottomless pit remained.
And Leigh-Shuo with bloodshot eyes.
Russell wasn't surprised Leigh-Shuo survived. Dangun was Red quality like Kumoko. One move couldn't defeat him easily.
Now Leigh-Shuo breathed rapidly. Besides Dangun, three other cards flanked him. Not [Dynasty of Kings] summons. Genuine cards.
"Can't resist using other cards?" Russell's heart sank. His disadvantage: too recently promoted to Gold, far less accumulation than established veterans.
But Leigh-Shuo's next action surprised him.
"Very good. I'll remember you!" Leigh-Shuo growled through gritted teeth. "Tell me your name!"
Russell's lips curled coldly. "A stray dog doesn't deserve my name."
The words struck twice—Corian royalty living in exile, and his current ugly state. Leigh-Shuo understood perfectly; his eyes burned like flame.
But finally, he took a deep breath, suppressed his rage, snorted coldly, and... left.
Russell was surprised. "Is this old guy a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle? How can he tolerate this?"
He wasn't afraid—Kumoko's spatial magic guaranteed escape if needed.
Russell touched returning Kumoko, asking softly, "Does he have spatial abilities?"
"No spatial fluctuations detected." Kumoko shook her head, then exclaimed excitedly, "So, are you intoxicated by my powerful strength?"
Russell smiled. "Extra food when we return."
"(^o^)y! Russell Saikou!"
Ignoring frantic Kumoko, Russell ordered the Society members. "Leave first."
"Yes!" The group fled like pardoned prisoners, using various methods to escape immediately.
Russell didn't care if the Association caught them. He turned to distant Zayne and Luther.
Zayne's heart tightened seeing Lord Six's gaze. Before speaking, Luther whispered, "Let him go. We might not take him down together."
Perhaps combining full strength could defeat him. But that assumed the opponent's limits matched what was shown. If the distant youth had more cards, one of them might die today. Luther wouldn't gamble. Plus, they'd witnessed spatial ability. Rash action without certainty only invited violent retaliation.
Zayne remained silent. The youth was his immediate superior. If Luther really attacked, Zayne would simply stand aside. As for Luther dying... sorry. After joining the Spirit Begging Society, he no longer controlled his fate.
Seeing no fight forthcoming, Russell watched them coldly, hand on Kumoko's back. Next moment, man and spider vanished without trace.
As the terrifying youth departed, Luther exhaled relief. "When did such a monster join the Society in East-Haven? He gives stronger oppression than Vice President Russell."
He surveyed the transformed terrain fearfully, smiling bitterly. "The Association will bleed again. Rebuilding will take effort."
The Association had rules for sudden illegal organization damage. Construction-type cards made rebuilding quick. Free of charge—the Association compensated civilians. Standard natural disaster protocol.
But compared to natural disasters... high-level cardmakers WERE natural disasters. Gods, calamities, monsters. Various titles born from admiration or fear. Gold-rank cardmakers had crossed that threshold's edge.
"We must report to President Simon immediately. If necessary, request reinforcements." Luther sighed.
Zayne nodded silently. For him, the stronger "Lux," the better. And the strength shown today...
Could only be described as overwhelmingly powerful.
(End of Chapter)
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