The dawn raid on the Goblin King's Abode had been a resounding success, not just for the loot, but for the fundamental shift in my power. My Rare Gauntlet was now an Epic-rank artifact, forged in the violent absorption of the Crimson Lich Essence. The dark venous black of the shell, threaded with pulsing scarlet energy, was the tangible proof of my ascent.
With the Epic Gauntlet now secured, my purchasing strategy shifted again. I was no longer interested in low-level utility; I needed strategic, high-power cards that could exploit the weakness of Epic and Legendary enemies—or, more accurately, the weakness of Commander Salazar.
I returned to the specialized Rank C Market, my presence now less tolerated and more nervously observed. I bypassed the standard combat cards and focused my search on three specific, high-cost domains: Detection, Dispersion, and Contingency.
My primary weakness was facing unseen, high-speed enemies. Commander Salazar, if my past knowledge held true, specialized in silent, swift assassinations. I needed to see him coming.
I found the Specter Sight card.
Specter Sight (Epic Rank)
Essence/Type: Void/Sensory
Uses and Benefits: Temporarily filters the user's vision, allowing them to perceive residual energy signatures, hidden traps, and targets under high-level camouflage or invisibility spells. It is a massive drain on energy but provides absolute situational awareness.
I purchased the card, its high price barely making a dent in the liquid funds I had acquired from the Guild Master's vault.
I immediately absorbed the Specter Sight Essence. The void energy didn't mix with the Lich's scarlet or the Gorgon's purple; it simply nested itself, a silent, all-seeing eye within the core of my Epic Gauntlet. This was the perfect defense against assassination—preemptive awareness.
The Crimson Lich Essence provided pure, devastating Soulfire offense. But if I encountered a monster that utilized a similar elemental attack, pure brute force would fail. I needed a countermeasure to energy-based attacks.
My target was the Energy Null card.
Energy Null (Rare Rank)
Essence/Type: Entropy/Defense
Uses and Benefits: Upon activation, creates a small, highly localized field that momentarily destabilizes external magical or elemental energy, causing a fraction of the incoming energy to disperse or weaken.
While not an Epic card, its function was unique. It was the only card that could effectively counter Commander Salazar's signature move: a rapid, concentrated energy burst. The Energy Null wouldn't block the attack, but it would weaken it enough for my Polaris Ursus defense to handle the rest.
I quickly absorbed the Energy Null Essence. This became a perfect subroutine within my existing defense matrix: See the threat (Specter Sight), Weaken the energy (Energy Null), Defend with brute force (Polaris Ursus/Gorgon).
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My current escape card, Shadow Step, was excellent, but it was limited in distance. If the entire Vigan Hunter Corps was mobilized against me, I needed a way to instantaneously leave the city limits.
I acquired the Recall Shard card.
Recall Shard (Epic Rank)
Essence/Type: Chronos/Contingency
Uses and Benefits: A single-use card that requires immense energy channeling. Upon activation, it opens a temporary, instantaneous portal to a pre-set safe location up to 100 kilometers away. Highly volatile and visible, but guaranteed escape.
I didn't absorb this. This was not a power for my gauntlet; it was a pure contingency tool. I stored the Recall Shard within the secure confines of my Shadow Locket Ring. If my plan failed and my life was in danger, the price of one single, flashy escape was worth it.
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My gauntlet was now complete for the next phase. I had invested in Control, Awareness, and Contingency. I didn't buy a single Fireball or Lightning Bolt card.
The system was ready:
Offense:Crimson Lich Essence (Epic) for devastating Soulfire/Kinetic Output.
Defense:Polaris Ursus / Gorgon fusion for Brute Force/Ice Armor.
Utility/Control:Shadow Step (Movement), Silent Form (Infiltration), and Energy Null (Elemental Defense).
I left the market, a simple Rank C hunter on the surface, but with an Epic Artifact and an arsenal of strategic counter-abilities hidden beneath my jacket. The stage was set. The final confrontation with Commander Salazar and the Vigan Guild Master was imminent.