Chapter 175: Lances Epic Grade Reward

Chapter 175: Lance's Epic Grade Reward

In the pitch-black liminal space, dotted only by faint starlight, the three of them each received their respective rewards. They turned their attention to the enchanted cards and items they had obtained. As unbound, ownerless items still in their sealed state, their effects could be easily determined through identification magic.

The Orange Epic grade card in Lance's hand exuded a frosty mist and was encircled by a shimmering, glazed-glass-like halo. It was clearly extraordinary.

At the center of the card, a mysterious necklace appeared to hover in and out of visibility. Its chain was formed from a fluid, intangible silver light, while the pendant was a teardrop-shaped gem of iridescent glass that shifted colors in the light. Beneath the pendant was an inscribed line of tiny, ancient characters. Although the meaning was indecipherable, the glass teardrop radiated a warm glow, resembling a radiant pearl that illuminated the darkness and banished death.

[Tear of Immortal Glass]

Category: Equipment Card

Grade: Orange (Epic)

Attribute: Augmentation/Regeneration

Tier: 4

Wearing this necklace grants damage reduction and enhancement to all attributes. This effect is enhanced with every buff and debuff affecting the user. It also grants immunity to fatal damage and restores the user to full health.

Cooldown: 30 days.

Note: This effect does not stack with other cards that provide damage reduction or immunity to fatal damage.

By the fifth night, everyone had perished. The Scion of the Sun would never view another dawn in the same way. The Wolf had given him his heart, and the Witch had given him her blood. Viscount Augustine could only feel fear as he gazed at the Scion, who had returned from hell.

Hyperion murmured in astonishment, "With this piece of equipment, Lance, you've essentially become a mage-tank. Mages of the same rank won't even be able to scratch you."

She could hardly imagine just how rock-solid a tank Lance would be if he took up a frontline role. After all, his allies could always rely on Lance's consistency when it came to drawing aggro. It was also timely, as he happened to be lacking an enchanted card that granted immunity to fatal damage.

Cards capable of negating fatal damage were exceedingly rare. They generally started at the Pink Divine grade, and couldn’t be stacked. The one Hyperion herself possessed was a masterpiece left behind by her father, Duke Michael.

As these thoughts crossed her mind, she glanced at the enchanted card in her hand.

[The Witch's Warm Companionship]

Category: Equipment Card

Grade: Pink (Divine)

Attribute: Counter

Tier: 5

Upon equipping this earring, a one-time magical shield is triggered when receiving life-threatening damage. The shield is capable of withstanding an attack of Rank 8 intensity.

Cooldown: 24 hours

The Witch has already vanished, transforming into the memory of a companion who is forever warm and gentle. Another tombstone has been added to the burden borne by the Scion of the Sun as he continues his lonely journey forward, waiting for the day when humanity sees the light once more.

Hyperion held her enchanted card up against the starlight, revealing the increasingly distinct shape of the equipment it represented. Unlike Lance's necklace, hers was an exquisite earring crafted from silvery metal that resembled starlight. Its pendant was a teardrop-shaped gem. The subtle curves and luster of the earring exuded a sense of warmth, as if it held the silent, daily prayers of an ancient witch.

All in all, it was a versatile, top tier card suitable for anyone. Although a Pink Divine card was difficult to remove once soulbound, spending the required five slots to secure such a life-saving item was absolutely worth it.

Unlike Hyperion and Lance, whose rewards were enchanted cards, Frey had received a crafting material. It was a stone meticulously sculpted by time and magic, and its surface was coated in a peculiar silvery-gray texture.

After closer inspection, they realized it was a heart. Under specific lighting, they could even see a flowing radiance within, which was a miraculous magical energy flickering inside. Merely touching it allowed one to sense a powerful, pulsating vitality. It was the embodiment of the pride and indomitable will of an absolute powerhouse.

[Heart of the Proud Wolf King]

Type: Magical Item

Grade: Epic

Attribute: Regeneration/Sealing

Tier: 1

The heart of the last prince of the werewolves. It can be used as a top tier material for Regeneration or Sealing magic.

A glimmer of hope remained for the Werewolf. The Scion of the Sun sealed him away beneath a cliff. Deprived of his heart, he had all but lost the power of the werewolves, yet bathed in the moonlight, he might one day awaken again after centuries have passed.

Frey could only look helplessly at Lance. Although this material was in no way inferior to any finished Epic grade enchanted card, it couldn’t be used directly. A card maker capable of utilizing this material would need to be at least Platinum Certified, and Lance was the only card maker he knew well and trusted.

Following the final update of information regarding the Shadow Realm dungeon, lines describing the Shadow Realm Series Challenge, which were the same ones present when Lance and Hyperion had concluded their previous challenge, appeared.

[Shadow Realm Series Challenge: Blood Moon Apocalypse. Historical coordinates anchored. (Current completion: 2/4)]

[Before concluding this series of Shadow Realm challenges, the current challengers have a higher probability of entering the third Shadow Realm challenge from the Blood Moon Apocalypse era.]

[Mission Objective: Clear the final milestone with an SSS rating.]

They didn't know what the reward for completing the final series mission would be, but it was bound to be nothing less than Epic grade.

"By the way, do the descriptions on these three rewards tell the story that this Shadow Realm dungeon is based on?" Frey glanced again at the cards and items the three of them held. To him,it looked as though the card art and descriptions formed a complete story once they were pieced together.

Hyperion sighed. "It really was a tragedy."

Had they not managed to expose the Traitors on the very first day, the latter four days and nights would have been a nightmare. Given the Traitors' strength and the powers of the vampires, the other church members would have had little hope of victory.

Even if they had ultimately won, it would have been a wretched victory that might have caused the survivors far more suffering than the dead.

While the others chatted, Lance remained silent. He stared at the Orange card in his hand, deep in thought. Looking at Frey, he finally asked, "Frey, are you down for a trade? How about this necklace for your crafting material?"

It was difficult to quantify the exact value of the Tear of Immortal Glass compared to the Heart of the Proud Wolf King. The difference was that one was already ready to be used, while the other's potential depended on the card maker's abilities and performance.

To Lance, at least, they were of equal value. As he accumulated more Orange cards, he had fewer and fewer slots available to flexibly equip others. Even among the cream of the crop Rank 8 powerhouses of the current era, few would typically soulbind an excessive number of Orange or Pink enchanted cards.

After all, everyone had to be exceptionally prudent when selecting Epic cards that were permanently bound and couldn’t be unequipped. Lance felt that committing a permanent four slot cost to a mage-tank build didn't suit him. If he ever found himself in a position where he needed to tank damage, the situation would likely already be on the verge of total collapse.

On the other hand, he could certainly make use of this Epic grade material Frey had. Furthermore, once he obtained it, he might be able to craft a Sealing attributed enchanted card that was a better fit for his own style.

At least, that was his gut feeling. When he traveled to the Northern Continent during the winter break two months later, he would definitely need to adopt a new persona. To ensure he wouldn't be recognized, he certainly couldn't casually use the two iconic Epic enchanted cards he had already displayed to the public: Poet of Boundless Love and Glorious Virtue.

The only card that had remained unused in anyone's presence was Enchanting Notes, which he had obtained previously at Purgatory Corridor Academy. It could summon the demonic spirits of Purgatory Theater. This could serve as the trump card for his new persona once he arrived in the North.

However, relying on a single control card wasn't enough. He needed another core trump card, one that could even pave the way for him to develop his second class: Sealing Master.

"No problem." Frey understood exactly what Lance meant. He was more than willing to commit to the four slots needed to permanently bind this piece of equipment.

If he obtained the Tear of Immortal Glass, Frey was confident he could best the Saintess of Destruction in a one-on-one duel, regardless of the terrain or time of day. Without hesitation, he handed the heart to Lance, and Lance passed the card to Frey in return.

"This heart..."

As Lance touched the heart that pulsed with immense power, it seemed to resonate with his own heartbeat. He felt an indescribable pull connecting it to his very soul. The only thing he knew for certain was that his affinity with it was exceptional.

He recalled how, when Talia had acquired the Hymn of Compassion, she had murmured about a soul resonance unlike anything she had ever experienced in her life. She was absolutely certain that she alone could craft that material into a masterpiece.

At the time, Lance hadn't been able to grasp the feeling she described. Now, however, he understood it.

He was even eager to get started on making an enchanted card with the Heart of the Proud Wolf King as the core material! Once he saw the academic delegation from the Kingdom of Yaloran off, he could finally settle down and begin card making.

"By the way, when we get back, the Yaloran delegation will already be at the university..."

Hyperion looked toward the exit of the liminal space with an anxious expression. She was clearly worried about being separated from the two of them. The Yaloran academic delegation included a hidden elite member of the Church of Resurrection, who could strike and kill her the moment she was left alone.

Lance shifted his gaze from the heart to Hyperion to reassure her. "When the three of us aren't at the Student Management Council headquarters, I'll summon the Poet to stay with you in your dormitory. With her by your side, it'll be no different than being with me."

After advancing to Rank 4, Lance's Spirit saw another massive boost, and attributes such as his maximum mana, mana regeneration rate, and spell resistance improved significantly. Maintaining the Poet for extended periods of time was no longer a problem.

It was fine for the three of them to be together during the day, but at night, when they parted ways, the Poet would stay with Hyperion.

He would also entrust both Glorious Virtue and Enchanting Notes to the Poet. That way, if any situation arose, the Poet and Hyperion could coordinate, effectively replicating Lance's own presence.

While it was nearly impossible for ordinary summons to use enchanted cards on their summoner's behalf, the Poet was not only highly intelligent, but also skilled in the creation and use of enchanted cards. She could use any of the cards that were soulbound to Lance, though the mana cost would still be borne by Lance himself.

Hyperion asked with concern, "But what about you?"

Lance would be vulnerable without the Poet, especially since maintaining the summon meant his mana would be constantly draining, leaving him with limited reserves.

Patting Frey on the shoulder, Lance said, "I'll be staying with Frey for the next few days."

After all, Frey lived on the first floor of the Knights' College, and his dormitory room was quite spacious.

Frey said to Lance with a smile, "Then we can play cards all night long."

With the two of them together, there wasn't a case they couldn't crack.

"In that case... I'll stay with Lana for a few days." Hyperion nodded, feeling reassured.

She actually quite enjoyed the Poet’s company. In fact, the Poet was the first girl with whom she could get along without any barriers or awkwardness. Perhaps that was because the Poet was, in fact, a demon.

"Keep an eye on her for me." Lance couldn't control the Poet the way he did ordinary summoned creatures. She had her own ideas and made her own decisions.

Once she was out of sight, he had no way of knowing what she might do. He could only communicate with her via telepathy; even when issuing instructions, he usually had to phrase them as requests.

No other summoned creature was like the Poet, where the summoner had to ask her to do something, and she would then consider whether or not to comply. That was why Lance only felt at ease if someone kept an eye on her whenever she was out of his sight.

Hyperion nodded. "I will."

When she thought about it, the idea of playing with Lana every day actually made her quite happy. The three of them chatted for a while longer before heading together toward the Void Gate that would take them back to the real world.

Frey commented, "Let's go meet the delegation from Yaloran."

Lance nodded sagely. "We must get along well with our international friends, show off the high standards of us Ikerite denizens, and give them an impression of a cosmopolitan, civilized city. The responsibility lies with us."

While chatting and laughing, the three of them bid a final farewell to their unforgettable five day trip to the ancient cliffside castle. No matter what, their wonderful campus life at Ikerite was about to begin again!