Chapter 442
Enchantment Card: Charm Aura (Third Update, Ten Thousand Word Update)
The former’s effect in the game was to change red-named and yellow-named wild monsters into green-named ones, immediately reset the aggro of enemies that had already targeted oneself, and maintain it at zero for the duration, while also increasing evasion by 15%.
However, in reality, it should be similar to Emma’s “Fragrant Charm Spell.”
The effect is so potent that it needs no explanation—Bishop Mathers had personally demonstrated its effects to Eivass.
It’s just that because it’s an enchantment effect, like the Blade of Shadow, its duration is very short, and one card can normally only be used once a day. It’s impossible to use it as freely as Emma.
As for the latter, it refers to the scarlet long whip that extends from the wrists of the succubus’s hands—it’s more like a tentacle than a whip, and it has a sense of touch.
In fact, it is considered the succubus’s special weapon, equivalent to the Punisher Demon’s Thunderclap Halberd or the Night Demon’s wings.
This whip has two main effects: each attack it lands is accompanied by a charm check, and for targets that cannot be charmed, it instead continuously drains life force, steadily drawing out the opponent’s stamina and vitality.
It can also be used to attack one’s own teammates or already charmed targets, inflicting intense pain through a potent curse while simultaneously granting a special berserk state.
This is quite a powerful buff.
The effect in the game is to charm teammates, making them unable to cast spells, causing continuous health loss, and weakening their defense by 20%, while increasing their attack power, attack speed, and movement speed by 20%.
And it can stack up to three times!
At the third layer, the percentage-based health drain becomes terrifying, with one’s health bar visibly plummeting. At the same time, they become as fragile as paper, but their attacks become fearsome, like a rabid dog.
Of course, there are undoubtedly cards with greater benefits than this one. But more important than raw numbers is the fun factor…
The most enjoyable part of this is that it can charm one’s own teammates!
It’s affectionately called by players “You’ve been buffed, go in!”
Once hit by the whip two or three times, they transform into a meteor—directly crashing into the enemy formation, dealing massive damage at the cost of their lives. Because this buff effect is so outrageous, the spell card used to summon this equipment card can only enhance teammates three times.
Its drawback is that its buff is tied to the charmed state; if a skill is used to remove the charm, the buff also disappears. And in the game, players cannot tell their charmed teammates, “Hold on, let me finish buffing you.”
Once a teammate is charmed, they will immediately attack the nearest enemy like an out-of-control AI. If the opponent starts kiting, the Sin Scholar has to chase after their teammates like a grandmother feeding her grandson. Therefore, it’s not very useful in PvP.
However, in PvE dungeons, it can be used to give melee DPS classes three stacks of berserk at the appropriate time to stand and greedily deal damage and maintain health, with the Priest dispelling the debuff before the new mechanics kick in.
Eivass was previously the one responsible for dispelling controls.
An Extraordinary Weapon that can charm enemies, drain life force from them, and enhance teammates… logically, Eivass should have no hesitation.
But the problem is, not only can Eivass not use the whip—none of the people he knows can use a whip.
Another problem is, having seen the Grand Guardian’s almost tragic, beast-like state… Eivass really doesn’t want to give this to a teammate.
In the game, teammates only suffer minor health loss and defense reduction.
But here, it genuinely stripped the Grand Guardian of his rationality, turning him into a suffering, maddened beast. He was even drenched in blood, torn apart. Even with the Illuminate Spell, it’s unclear how long it would take him to recover.
It cannot be used on humans with flesh and blood, so can it be used on the Beast of Sin, who can resurrect?
Eivass feels that it’s also not suitable.
It’s simply not dignified. It’s improper.
Wielding a whip to brutally lash one’s own summoned creatures and teammates, causing them to go berserk and lose all reason—that art style feels like that of a villain.
The “Scarlet Poisonous Woman” is a truly poisonous whip, described in its mechanics as a cursed weapon that “inflicts intense pain through a potent curse.”
Therefore, Eivass ultimately chose the [Enchantment Card: Charm Aura].
Although Eivass feels that given his social skills, he probably won’t have much use for this ability.
But perhaps it could be useful someday…
With that, Eivass infused mana and loudly praised:
“I invoke Hengwo, the God of Sacred Number One, the God of Dying and Rebirth, the God of Eternal Sight and Ignorance—”
A pungent, stimulating smell, like a drunken person vomiting, surged from the card into the surroundings.
Eivass’s left hand tightened again around the Ritual Knife hanging on his chest, and his blood dripped onto the card.
—The next moment, the card face of the sacred [Strength] card gradually melted, transforming into [Lust].
The blood Eivass dripped was like sacred fine wine.
The goddess who tamed the lion got drunk and fell upon the red lion, while she held her holy grail high. The lion was also bathed in blood, gradually becoming ferocious.
Just like when the Punisher Demon was sealed before—Eivass’s internal mana was frantically drained until all of his dark attribute mana was depleted.
This even made Eivass wonder if what he was creating would no longer be “Charm Aura.”
At this moment, the permeating wine aroma spread. The succubus, trapped in a cage formed by countless overlapping hands of shadow, gradually “collapsed.”
It turned into a pool of blood, seeping through his fingers.
Not because it was crushed into meat paste by the Night Demon, but because it was melted into blood by Hengwo’s power.
That blood surged like a storm towards the card in Eivass’s hand. The blood pulp split into three streams in the air and merged into the card, causing it to vibrate intensely.
Finally, it transformed into a new, purple-gold Tarot card. It shimmered with dark gold and blood-red radiance, landing in Eivass’s hand.
[Enchantment: Charm Aura (Lust)]
[Requirement: Dark 3]
[Sustain: Dark 3 * Per Minute]
[Instant, Self, Aura, Echo]
[Effect: Grants the Caster “Charm Aura,” the effect of which is equivalent to the Succubus’s innate spell.]
An echo spell version of Charm Aura!
Eivass’s spirit was lifted.
—As expected, this was the second time a special situation had occurred.
Just like when the Punisher Demon was sealed before… if they were completely drained, the Phantom Card would directly gain a new attribute!
The Punisher Demon gained the “Recast” property, while the Succubus gained “Echo.”
With the Echo, this card meant it could be used an infinite number of times per day!
Although the mana cost was a bit daunting… summoning required three points of dark, and it consumed three points of dark every minute.
But as long as Eivass didn’t burn this card, it would be equivalent to Eivass having another regular spell with infinite uses!
The normal version of Charm Aura would definitely not have this effect. Otherwise, Eivass wouldn’t have hesitated for a moment between “Charm Aura” and “Scarlet Poisonous Woman.”
A Charm Aura that can be used at any time, and a Charm Aura that can only be activated once a day and cannot be reopened once closed, are of completely different significance!
At this moment, Lixia suddenly said to Eivass, “Are you done?”
Hearing this, Eivass turned back.
He saw that the Grand Guardian had clearly escaped the succubus’s control. His skin had returned to its normal color, and the scars had vanished. However, he was still covered in bloody wounds and extremely weak. Yet, even so, he did not fall unconscious and merely nodded at Eivass with great effort.
After the succubus was completely dissolved by Eivass, the suggestions and shackles she had left on the Grand Guardian, Gryphon, and Her Majesty Isabel also disappeared without a trace.
The essence of charm is also a form of curse. When the curser dies, the curse naturally dissipates.
—Eivass could not remove the succubus’s control, but he could directly eliminate the succubus.
Immediately after, Eivass reacted to Lixia’s meaning: “Viness, return!”
The Night Demon, which was already starting to feel uncomfortable, exploded into a cloud of gray shadow feathers upon receiving Eivass’s command, reverting to its travel form.
The black crow flew to Eivass’s shoulder, transforming back into a statue-like state to recuperate, gradually releasing the accumulated power and imposing presence.
But its imposing presence had not yet dissipated when the fully armed knights of the Arbitration Hall arrived.
They had been observing the ceremony at the Great Cathedral of the Candle Holder. The sudden blood rain had caused city-wide chaos, and their first priority was to maintain order.
Only when the situation outside the Silver and Tin Hall turned violent did they all rush back.
From the explosion within the Silver and Tin Hall to their arrival on the scene in full armor—it took less than a minute.
And what they saw was a scene that could be described as doomsday—
Avalon’s radiant and sacred glass staircase had completely collapsed and shattered. The first thing that met their eyes was Eivass standing alone amidst the broken glass steps. He was stained with blood, but his gaze was sharp and his spirit was high.
Before him lay a pool of filthy blood.
Her Majesty Isabel stood on higher ground, with Lixia holding the Avalon Scepter protecting the Queen from behind.
The young Queen stood near the Round Table in the Round Table Hall, also blood-stained. The Grand Guardian, with his flesh and blood mangled, shielded Her Majesty and was now kneeling on the ground, almost unconscious. His Gryphon Philip was also weak, huddled in a corner of the glass staircase.
What happened?
—Her Majesty was attacked?!
The Grand Guardian was so severely injured protecting Her Majesty that he was almost unconscious… did he block some explosive device?
The knights of the Arbitration Hall were struck dumb with fear.
They realized they were late—if not for the Grand Guardian’s protection, Her Majesty might have been in danger!
Although Her Majesty Isabel had not summoned them, and although Lixia was present, and although they had rushed back to the Silver and Tin Hall immediately… they were ultimately late.
This was undoubtedly their dereliction of duty.
After all, Her Majesty Isabel was almost the only royal bloodline of Avalon!
Besides Her Majesty, the Du Lac family only had her missing father and her two-year-old brother.
Her Majesty Isabel gazed down at them from her elevated position, her expression solemn, her gaze calm.
“Countess Scarlett Emma from Star Antinomy suddenly transformed into a demon. Consequently, the blood moon descended, and blood rain and curses covered the entire Glass Island.
“Countess Emma launched a direct attack on me—the Queen of Avalon, the successor of Lancelot. It was a fatal, direct attack.”
The young Queen declared calmly and authoritatively, “Lord Barton fought until he was nearly unconscious, and Lixia intercepted the most dangerous blow for me.
“Fortunately, Lord Moriarty—his fervent prayers invoked Hengwo’s divine miracle, obliterating the transformed succubus Countess Emma here; he ended that scarlet night with his will, bringing the sacred sunlight back to Avalon for the Candle-holding Ceremony.”
At this moment, Her Majesty Isabel had a hint of Eivass’s demeanor.
“—I attest that everything Her Majesty has said is true.”
Lixia also raised her scepter and declared loudly.
Just as she had previously cooperated with Eivass in front of the reporters.
Then, Lixia pointed to the pool of foul blood on the ground: “That is the remains of Countess Emma—it has been turned into a pool of foul blood by the power of Hengwo.”
The knights could naturally feel that it was true.
They were all Fourth Tier powerhouses and could vaguely sense the immense power within that pool of blood and the traces of Pillar Gods lingering in the air.
At this moment, Avalon’s blood moon illusionary night had ended. The腥風血雨 had subsided, and the waters that had turned into blood had returned to being clear. The blood that had fallen to the ground had also turned back into rainwater, as if everything had been an illusion.
The midday sun shone again within the Silver and Tin Hall, reflecting a rainbow in the rain-washed sky.
It seemed to be the Candle Holder’s affirmation—the knights of the Arbitration Hall could only imagine so.
For at this moment, that radiance shone within the hall, and countless shattered colored glass panes refracted fantastical and magnificent colors.
Eivass stood amidst the shattered glass, bathed in sacred radiance.
This young Priest, who had borrowed the power of Pillar Gods through prayer, clasped his hands together at his forehead, closed his eyes, and prayed.
No one dared to interrupt his prayer, not even to breathe loudly.
“—I praise the Candle Holder.”
Finally, Eivass spoke in a low voice, “Homage to Hengwo.
“I bear the scales of the Crown Lord, the blood of the Father of Snakes, and the blessings of the Twin Mirrors. It is with the protection of the Gods that I am able to protect Her Majesty from danger.”
He released his hands and looked at the knights, “And you…”
Eivass’s pupils still retained a crimson glow like the setting sun, and a lingering oppressive aura emanated from him—an aura even more powerful than that of Meg or Lixia.
The weak could not perceive it, only the strong could sense it.
Being stronger than Meg, it should be the residual power of Pillar Gods!
“Your incompetence nearly cost Her Majesty her life.”
The young Minister of Affairs looked at these knights and replied calmly, word by word, “Your laxity has shamed Avalon.
“—Repent, before judgment comes.”
In the terrifying silence, after a long while.
Finally, one knight knelt on one knee in guilt, bowed his head, drew his long sword, and placed it horizontally before him.
This was the chivalric etiquette of Avalon, signifying “I would not flinch even if you cut off my head with this sword.”
Following suit, knight after knight fell to their knees, laying down their swords.
They knelt as if in reverence to the Round Table Hall, as if in reverence to Her Majesty Isabel, and as if in reverence to the destroyed glass staircase.
Or perhaps, they knelt towards Eivass, who stood erect on the shattered glass staircase.
Update complete! Another 10,000-word update with three chapters!
Ah, the cat is almost dead. I’ve been writing for over nine hours, and it’s almost 5:30 in the morning again after finishing.
Also, my sleep schedule is completely messed up; it’s more like thoroughly broken. The 12 o’clock updates recently are because I finish writing late at night and schedule them for noon the next day. I’ll take a few days off to adjust my schedule after this volume ends.
Tomorrow is the finale of this volume, please vote!
If there are any typos or grammatical errors, please leave a comment first. I’ll fix them when I wake up!
