The Dimensional Demon Realm.
Desolate and eerie, the landscape stretched as a gray wasteland littered with ruins of destroyed homes.
Fortunately, the dimensional incursion into the Card Master world had occurred near the outskirts rather than the city center. As a result, the damage to Ping City was limited, and the casualty count remained low.
The pressing issue now was the expansion of these dimensional incursions. If left unchecked, the entire city would eventually suffer devastating consequences.
In the wastelands near the outskirts, remnants of buildings lay buried under sand and dust.
A motorcycle sped through the terrain, with a girl in a red skirt seated on the back.
"Can you sense where she is?" Luo Sheng asked.
Bai Moxue pouted her delicate lips. "Hmph, always sneaking off to find other girls. You really are a hopeless flirt."
"This is just for a mission. Once it's done, I can take a half-month break," Luo Sheng explained.
"A half-month break?"
Bai Moxue's gem-like eyes lit up as if she had discovered a treasure. A soft smile unconsciously appeared on her lips, pure and radiant, like a first love blossoming under the spring sun.
Adorable.
But as Luo Sheng glanced in the rearview mirror, his scalp tingled, and an ache crept into his lower back. He quickly snapped himself out of it.
"Ahem, let's focus on the task at hand," he said, steering the conversation elsewhere.
"Alright, Darling~" Bai Moxue teased as she gently pinched his waist before vanishing into the dark shadows cast by the motorcycle.
Luo Sheng felt his whole body tense, his nerves jangling. He suddenly realized even the wolfberries in his thermos might not be enough anymore.
As Bai Moxue scouted the area, Luo Sheng extended his own spiritual energy to survey the surroundings.
Occasionally, they encountered low-level creatures. Bai Moxue's assassin-like prowess made quick work of them, leaving behind two identical cards:
[ [Wild Boar Warrior]
Level: Bronze 4-Star
Type: Beast
Skills: Boar Roar: Increases rage and boosts damage through a powerful roar.
Axe Strike: Delivers a heavy blow with a battle axe, causing severe wounds.
Fatty Body: High defense and substantial health due to a thick layer of fat.
Overview: An essential part of the boar army, known for its durability. A reliable tank choice.]
The card's quality was ordinary, with a market value of no more than 30,000 credits. Still, every bit counts, and Luo Sheng pocketed it without hesitation.
Against such low-level threats, Bai Moxue alone was sufficient to handle the situation.
After some time, Bai Moxue reappeared, returning to her seat on the bike. "I found her. There's blood at the bottom of a cliff nearby."
Luo Sheng immediately turned the motorcycle around and sped toward the location. If the target died, this mission would be a complete waste.
*Roar!*
A massive boar-headed humanoid let out an earth-shaking roar.
It stood two meters tall, donning a grayish-white iron helmet and wielding a massive axe and a round shield. Step by heavy step, it closed in on a young woman.
The woman bore numerous battle wounds, her long stockings torn to shreds, revealing fair, glistening skin marred by deep gashes. Blood flowed, dried, and cracked, only to bleed again, painting a grim picture.
Despite her injuries, she remained calm and expressionless, staring coldly at the boar-headed monster. She activated a card, [Soul Lock Nail], summoning a golden arrow that shot toward the creature's neck.
The monster reacted quickly, raising its shield. Clang! The arrow deflected harmlessly off the shield.
The boar-headed warrior laughed mockingly, each step reverberating ominously.
Just as it raised its axe to strike, flames erupted from its body, engulfing it in a fiery vortex.
The firestorm roared, crackling with an intense heat that immobilized the creature. Additional magical restraints ensnared it, leaving it unable to move.
A magical girl, armed with a fiery-red metallic gun, approached. A single shot fired, and the fire-infused bullet struck the creature's forehead, reducing it to a Bronze card:
[ [Wild Boar General]
Level: Bronze 9-Star
Type: Beast Skills:
Thick Hide: Extremely high defense and health.
Boar Charge: Charges at the enemy, dealing damage with its massive body.
Shield Guard: Reduces ranged damage with its shield.
Brute Strength: Delivers powerful blows with immense strength.
Combat Tactics: Specialized fighting techniques for sustained damage.
Boar Roar: Boosts strength and morale for all allied boar units. Boar Leadership: Increases damage for all allied boars by 9%.
Overview: "Behind me stands a legion of boars—come at us if you dare!"]
Luo Sheng picked up the card, his eyes gleaming.
"Not bad at all," he murmured.
This high-level card, with its exceptional attributes and leadership bonus, could easily fetch over 700,000 credits.
Luo Sheng already had [Shadow of War] as a tank and wasn't interested in building a boar-themed deck, but the card's value was undeniable.
He turned to the woman, now slumped against a rock, and said, "Looks like you needed some help."
She looked up, her voice cool and steady. "You're here."
"Yes, I'm here."
"You shouldn't have come…"
"But I still came."
"No, I mean you shouldn't have been late. If you'd been two minutes later, your target client might have been gone."
"…What?" Luo Sheng blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Shouldn't you be thanking me first? I did just save you."
The woman responded matter-of-factly, "You came because my family's reward was generous, wasn't it?"
"No!" Luo Sheng declared righteously. "I came out of genuine concern. After all, losing such a beautiful lady would be society's loss."
"…Fine, I'm a little moved," she admitted, lowering her head to inspect her injuries.
Her damaged outfit, revealing smooth, flawless skin and slender shoulders, made her an alluring sight.
"Like what you see?" she asked, catching him staring.
"I'm inspecting your wounds," Luo Sheng replied seriously. "This one here—large and deep—might get infected if left untreated. Allow me to assist you!"
(End of Chapter)