Magic Card Era: Infinite Deck Enhancement — Chapter 178

Chapter 178: The Time for the Hunt Has Arrived!

“When you act, focus on your own safety. As for which targets to choose, you can decide on your own.”

After a few seconds of silent contemplation, Luke transmitted his final instruction through their mental link. Although he was a Magic Card Master from Cang Capital, the moment he stepped into the Heavenly Palace, everyone was reset to the exact same starting line. Even if he crossed paths with a fellow Magic Card Master from Cang Capital during the mandatory battles every two hours, he had no intention of holding back.

As for strangers from other regions? He felt absolutely zero compunction.

In Luke’s view, every single new student participating in the Trial Road was a potential enemy. Dealing with enemies naturally carried no psychological burden.

“Understood!” A wild, almost crazed smile curled the corners of Sistermon Ciel’s lips. Beyond her foundational skills in scouting anomalies and relaying intelligence, she possessed a far more lethal talent: hunting for intelligence. Or rather, eliminating obstacles to ensure that intelligence flowed without interruption.

Because of this ruthless edge, Ciel stood on a distinctly higher level of combat power and tactical awareness compared to her two younger sisters, Noir and Blanc.

With a blur of motion, Ciel advanced. Her footwork was peculiar, a phantom-like dance that allowed her to handle the terrain with terrifying speed. After just a few sharp turns and sudden accelerations, she locked onto a new trial stronghold. Channeling the power of light around her body, she bent the ambient sunlight, allowing her figure to melt perfectly into the midday glare. She slipped into the stronghold’s interior like a ghost.

The time for the hunt had arrived.

“Is this the so-called Heavenly Palace Trial Road? The one supposedly as famous as our Northern Region’s Northern Frontier? How incredibly boring.” Hu Wenyang sneered, his gaze sweeping over the stronghold’s interior with undisguised disdain. “If I hadn’t offended someone from the main family, I would have already enrolled in the Northern Frontier by now. Why else would I travel thousands of miles to this backwater East Territory Heavenly Palace?”

As a native of the Northern Region, Hu Wenyang had secured admission to the East Territory Heavenly Palace—one of the Ancient Kingdom’s Four Great Academies. Yet, to him, it was merely a forced exile. If not for the political fallout back home, his stellar college entrance examination results would have guaranteed his place in the Northern Frontier.

In his bones, he still believed the Northern Frontier reigned supreme over the other three academies.

“I heard the Heavenly Palace uses a strict credit ranking system. The higher the credits, the higher the rank, and the more resources they throw at you…” Hu Wenyang muttered, his eyes gleaming with ambition as he set his sights on his next goal. “Since that’s the case, no one is taking first place in this trial from me.”

“Once I officially enter the Heavenly Palace, I’ll let these soft East Territory Magic Card Masters know that we from the Northern Region are the absolute strongest. This academy is merely a stepping stone for my rise.” His voice grew louder, fueled by fantasies of a glorious future. “Hmph, so what if they’re the main family? Just give me a few years. I’ll make them realize that casting me out was the biggest mistake of their pathetic lives!”

Barely a few feet away from Hu Wenyang, Sistermon Ciel stood completely motionless on the elevated platform where the trial crystal rested. She listened to the boy’s arrogant monologue in absolute silence, a sharp glint of mockery flashing in her eyes.

Even at such a dangerously close distance, neither Hu Wenyang nor his Magic Card Spirit had sensed her presence. And this fool was actually fantasizing about taking first place in the Trial Road assessment? He truly had no idea how high the heavens were.

‘Why is this guy so dramatic?’Hu Wenyang’s entire villainous monologue had been transmitted perfectly through the circuit link, echoing directly in Luke’s mind.’But it seems the East Territory Heavenly Palace is really being looked down upon.’Still, this little eavesdropping session allowed Luke to witness just how terrifyingly professional Ciel’s infiltration skills were. Going in guns blazing was one way to infiltrate, but this—standing right under the enemy’s nose without making a ripple—was the pinnacle of the art.’Forget it. Act, Ciel. Grab the trial crystal here and move on to the next target.’

Although Luke suspected he might hear even more soap-opera family drama from Hu Wenyang if he waited, he simply didn’t care. The historical rivalry between the East Territory and the Northern Region, or the Heavenly Palace and the Northern Frontier, was too convoluted to bother with right now.

Regardless of Hu Wenyang’s tragic backstory, his arrogant words rubbed Luke the wrong way. Luke was, after all, a Magic Card Master from the East Territory. Since they were competitors, he definitely wasn’t going to let this guy off easy. There was just no need to waste any more time on him.

‘Understood.’

Responding silently through their mental link, Sistermon Ciel reached out and plucked the glowing trial crystal right off its pedestal. The entire extraction was completely soundless. Hu Wenyang remained entirely oblivious to the fact that his stronghold had been raided until Ciel had already slipped back out into the sunlight, vanishing without a trace.

It wasn’t until he finished slaughtering another wave of mimetic fierce beasts that Hu Wenyang instinctively glanced back toward the pedestal.

His breath caught in his throat. The trial crystal was gone.

“How is this possible? Where is my trial crystal?!” The absolute confidence that had plastered Hu Wenyang’s face just moments ago shattered into pure panic.

The trial crystal was the sole mechanism for accumulating points. Without it, even if he slaughtered every single mimetic fierce beast in the zone, he wouldn’t earn a single point. Even the foundational one hundred points would be permanently lost.

In practical terms, losing the crystal meant he was effectively eliminated from the Trial Road before it had even truly begun. If he couldn’t even guard the core mission item, how was he supposed to compete?

“Who… who exactly did this?! Don’t let me find out, or I swear I’ll make your life a living hell! Ahhh!”

While Hu Wenyang screamed into the empty air, frantically tearing his stronghold apart in search of the missing crystal, Sistermon Ciel had already locked onto her second target.

Taking perfect advantage of the chaotic crossfire as her new mark battled a horde of mimetic fierce beasts, she slipped through their blind spots, cleanly swiped the second trial crystal, and faded back into the shadows. She moved like a dancer in the dead of night—elegant, silent, and utterly deadly.

“Luke’s decisive action is truly impressive.”

High above the trial grounds, having witnessed Ciel’s flawless execution through the surveillance screens, Zhantai Mingyue allowed a rare look of surprise to cross her elegant features. “And this Magic Card Spirit of his… she is exceptionally skilled at stealth. Her timing is incredibly precise. She has stolen multiple trial crystals at point-blank range without triggering a single alarm.”

“Naturally!” Meng Ningdie lifted her chin, a deeply proud smile blooming on her face. The way she beamed, one would think the lethal Sistermon Ciel belonged to her rather than Luke.

“Why do I get the feeling you’re entirely too pleased with yourself?” Zhantai Mingyue cast a highly suspicious sideways glance at her companion. “If I hadn’t been watching the screens this whole time, I would have assumed Sistermon Ciel was your own Magic Card Spirit.”

Zhantai Mingyue couldn’t shake the feeling that Meng Ningdie’s behavior had been incredibly bizarre ever since she arrived. Whenever the topic involved Luke, the woman seemed far too invested.

‘You came here to check on your niece, didn’t you? Why are your eyes glued to Luke?! Even if you don’t actually care about the girl, at least pretend a little! If Chu Yun knew her aunt was acting like this, she would definitely cry.’