After considering his options carefully, Azrael decided to post a photograph of the ancient tome in the [Loving Family] group chat. Originally, he'd planned to approach Alice directly, but given his senior sister's reserved temperament, consulting both his teacher and other senior disciples seemed more prudent.
[Azrael: (Photo)]
[Azrael: @All members, Teacher and senior brothers and sisters, this is what I discovered in the secret realm during my recent expedition.]
[Azrael: Additionally, I'd like to learn the script used by demons in secret realms. Do you have any learning materials available?]
After sending the messages, Azrael settled back to wait for responses. Based on the situation before he'd entered the secret realm, his third senior brother Corey should be available. Whether his eldest brother and second senior sister had emerged from their assignments remained uncertain.
His phone began vibrating almost immediately.
[Corey: Little junior brother, you returned so quickly?]
[Corey: How was your first practical training class? You weren't injured in the secret realm, were you?]
[Corey: Let me examine the photograph you sent, give me a moment.]
As expected, Corey responded first with his characteristic machine-gun messaging style. Despite the rapid-fire delivery, Azrael felt no impatience. His senior brother's concern was genuine and appreciated.
[Azrael: Thank you for your concern, Third Brother. The secret realm posed no significant dangers, and I sustained no injuries.]
[Alice: Attachment.]
[Alice: Learning materials.]
While Corey composed his reply, Alice efficiently uploaded the requested files to the group. Azrael immediately downloaded the attachment, discovering comprehensive language learning materials for secret realm demon scripts.
Such linguistic study had become remarkably simple for someone of his Silver-level advancement. Language acquisition essentially involved repetitive memorization, elementary work for someone whose mental faculties had been enhanced through Lore Lore Cardian advancement.
[Azrael: Thank you, Senior Sister.]
[Corey: I reviewed your photographs quickly. The content is undeniably significant, though frankly useless to the current Empire of Aetherlight. You'd be wise not to discuss this with ordinary people.]
[Corey: Regarding specific details, you should read the text yourself after mastering the demon script. Secondhand interpretations might introduce inaccuracies.]
[Azrael: Understood. Thank you, Senior Brother.]
Azrael had deliberately shared only the first few pages rather than the complete tome. Photographing the entire volume would have required considerable effort, and these samples provided sufficient context for his inquiry.
New messages appeared in the group chat.
[Master Lucian: Recent coastal incidents have essentially concluded.]
[Master Lucian: Curiously, the Crimson Oath Society seems to have undergone a personality change recently. They haven't attempted any operations for an extended period.]
[Corey: Teacher, isn't that positive development? Do you actually hope those bastards continue causing trouble?]
Master Lucian's presence surprised Azrael slightly. Since providing Alice's contact information, his teacher hadn't communicated with him directly.
Azrael harbored suspicions about this unusual silence from the Crimson Oath Society. His instincts suggested they were waiting for him to achieve greater prominence before implementing some catastrophic scheme. Without concrete evidence, however, such theories remained speculation.
If they truly intended to wait until he reached higher positions, his enhanced strength would enable appropriate retaliation when the time came. He'd ensure the Crimson Oath Society received a thorough education in consequences.
[Azrael: Teacher, will you return to Pixar afterward?]
[Master Lucian: No, I must remain in Velkairos, but I should have time for direct instruction then.]
Since accepting Azrael as his disciple, Master Lucian had essentially adopted a hands-off approach. However, the Lore Lore Cardian experience and materials he'd provided initially, combined with the trading networks accessible through Alice, had already elevated Azrael beyond the awkward transitional period following Silver-level advancement.
Without such support, how could an ordinary practitioner have acquired three Silver-level cards in such a brief timeframe?
While termed "instruction," Master Lucian's actual teaching opportunities remained limited. Each Lore Lore Cardian ultimately forged their own path. Accepting Azrael as a disciple primarily provided protective influence during his vulnerable growth period.
At Azrael's age, navigating the treacherous politics among experienced practitioners would otherwise prove nearly impossible.
[Corey: Haven't eldest brother and second sister emerged yet?]
Azrael shared this curiosity. Since joining the group chat, he'd never encountered these two mysterious senior disciples.
[Master Lucian: They require additional time. Their assigned secret realm presents considerable challenges.]
[Master Lucian: The primary complication involves demon armies lurking near the northern borders. They're facing pressure both within the realm and from external threats.]
This revelation clarified the situation. His senior brother and second senior sister operated along the northern frontier, while the third brother likely worked in coastal regions, though his specific location remained unknown.
After monitoring the conversation for several more minutes without new developments, Azrael initiated a private chat with Alice.
[Azrael: Senior Sister, I'd like to exchange some blue-green Silver-level materials for a single purple or gold quality component.]
[Alice: Acceptable.]
Without unnecessary elaboration, Alice agreed with characteristic brevity. Her straightforward response prompted Azrael to immediately prepare for departure to her estate.
Traveling in Pride's enhanced form made the journey negligible.
The familiar Yellow Turban Warrior in its flowered apron opened the door with practiced efficiency.
"Young Master, please enter."
The undead servant escorted Azrael to the second-floor study. Due to ongoing practical training classes, Pixar University's Card Making Department faculty enjoyed relatively idle schedules. The university allocated substantial time blocks for practical exercises during curriculum planning.
Azrael's completion of his assignment in less than a week represented exceptional efficiency. The underground complex had provided ideal conditions for systematic elimination operations, the demons had nowhere to flee.
Unlike other students whose targets scattered when threatened, forcing pursuit across vast territories, Azrael's mission had been remarkably contained. This efficiency earned him several additional vacation days.
"Senior Sister, I've arrived."
After knocking respectfully, Azrael pushed open the study door. Alice sat reading while wearing elegant glasses, strands of dark hair framing her face as afternoon sunlight streamed through the window behind her.
"Please sit," Alice said softly as he entered.
Their growing familiarity had reduced her social anxiety somewhat, though her voice remained significantly quieter than normal conversation levels.
Azrael produced ten Silver-level materials of mixed blue and green quality. "Senior Sister, I'd like to exchange these for a single gold-quality component. Purple grade would also be acceptable."
Without examining his offered materials, Alice materialized a substantial stack of components. "I apologize, these represent all my available Silver-level materials. Please take them all."
Her gentle voice carried across the study while Azrael stared in amazement at the collection in her hands. A rough count suggested hundreds of Silver-level materials.
"Senior Sister, brothers should maintain clear accounts," Azrael protested respectfully. "Your willingness to facilitate this exchange already provides tremendous assistance."
He refused to exploit such generosity shamelessly. Alice's agreement to trade high-quality materials for his lower-grade specimens represented extraordinary kindness. Moreover, accepting such quantities would exceed his practical needs.
Did she imagine his mental energy was limitless?
Accepting the materials from Alice's pale hands, Azrael began examining them systematically. "Let me identify something suitable."
Among the impressive collection, purple-quality components comprised the majority, with the remainder being gold-grade specimens and several rare red-quality pieces.
Once again, Azrael recognized Alice's remarkable generosity. Perhaps this represented the benefits of master-disciple relationships, the bonds between senior and junior disciples remained exceptionally close.
After thorough examination, Azrael located exactly what he needed: Silver-level [Shadow Fiend] (Gold).
Selecting this component, he placed his exchange materials in their place and attempted to return the collection to Alice. However, she simply continued reading without acknowledging his gesture.
Understanding that his senior sister intended for him to accept the entire collection, Azrael explained helplessly, "Senior Sister, accepting so many materials at once exceeds my capabilities. Moreover, carrying such valuable resources poses security risks. Consider this arrangement temporary storage on my behalf."
Despite Alice being ten years his senior, Azrael found himself adopting a coaxing tone. After all, his senior sister treated him with such exceptional kindness.
Unfortunately, Alice maintained her selective deafness to his protests.
Left with no alternative, Azrael placed the materials on her desk. This action finally prompted a reaction, Alice's intellectual features displayed obvious anxiety as she retrieved the collection and attempted to force it upon him.
Azrael stepped backward toward the door, evading her determined efforts. "This arrangement stands. I'll take my leave now. See you at the university, Senior Sister."
Sensing Azrael's rapid departure from her estate, Alice's expression showed clear disappointment. Eventually, however, she accepted the materials back into storage.
Returning home, Azrael prepared for his next card creation project. "Should I create a creature card directly, or develop this as an equipment card?"
The Shadow Corps originated from nine generals serving under Tara. After the generals were absorbed into masks, those artifacts gained the ability to summon shadow armies.
After consideration, Azrael decided to pursue the equipment card approach.
[Please begin crafting your story.]
[In ancient times, the Shadow Demon King Tara openly ruled a surface kingdom while secretly commanding the Shadow Kingdom within the shadow plane.]
[Tara employed nine ghost generals to maintain his dominion across both realms.]
[The nine generals were: Ghost General Nijia, Claw Shadow General Lazo, Flying Shadow General Bart, Giant Shadow General Samo, Helmet Shadow General Ika, Soft Shadow General Resu, Eater Shadow General Mingta, Clamp Shadow General Kabo, and Scythe Shadow General Manny.]
[With their assistance and the Shadow Corps, Tara gradually spread his darkness across the entire planet.]
This established the background setting. While Azrael remained uncertain about creating the other generals later, advance preparation was always wise.
[But where evil flourished, justice arose to challenge it. Seven righteous heroes could no longer tolerate Tara's malevolent rule and rebelled against his authority.]
[Though General Nijia's ghost army lacked strength in direct combat, they possessed exceptional stealth capabilities and proficiency in various covert skills and domestic tasks.]
[As the essence of the shadow warriors were secondary troops summoned by the generals from shadow realms, they could freely enter and exit the Shadow Kingdom, using it as a transportation network.]
[Unfortunately, despite their diverse abilities, the nine armies fell one by one to the seven righteous heroes.]
[General Nijia suffered the same fate as his peers, sealed within a mystical mask alongside the other eight generals.]
[When a worthy holder uses the mask, it transforms into a tattoo on the wielder's left little finger.]
Azrael made a deliberate modification here. He had no desire to wear physical masks constantly. Tattoos, like those seen in the original series, offered more practical concealment. Fingers rarely attracted attention, and nine generals plus Tara would perfectly occupy all ten fingers.
[At this point, the holder gains the ability to summon ghost troops for their service.]
[When the nine generals were transformed into cards, Tara successfully resisted the seven heroes' final assault and retreated to the Shadow Kingdom with his masks.]
[Since then, the shadow demon Tara and his nine generals became the stuff of legends.]
After completing the card creation process, Azrael examined the floating result with satisfaction.
"Equipment cards prove easier to create than biological ones."
However, equipment cards of equivalent level typically provided less raw power than creature cards. Therefore, equipment cards served primarily as supplements to a Lore Lore Cardian's overall capabilities.
After carefully examining the completed card, Azrael reviewed its specifications.
[Ghost Mask·Nijia]
Rank: Silver
Quality: Gold
Category: Equipment
Skills:
[Ghost Corps]: Summon ghost corps units to serve you. The Ghost Corps maintains absolute loyalty and will never betray their summoner. [Ultimate Darkness]: Not activated. (Note: Requires simultaneous possession of Tara and all Nine Generals. Power scales with combined card levels.)
Traits:
[Shadow Kingdom]: When using this card, automatically establishes connection to the Shadow Kingdom. The holder can travel and store items through Ghost Corps assistance. (Note: Non-Shadow Kingdom entities cannot enter.)
Bonds:
Can form chain effects with card [Shadow Demon·Tara]. When holding cards such as [Claw Shadow Mask·Lazo] simultaneously, activates [Nine Generals] effect.
Reviewing the card information, Azrael exhaled with relief. "Excellent. I've finally addressed both storage and transportation problems."
Summoning [Ghost Mask·Nijia], a crimson demon mask materialized in his hands. As his consciousness focused, the mask vanished and reappeared as an identical tattoo on his left little finger.
Immediately, several figures materialized around him, beings dressed in black with gray-blue skin and glowing red eyes, all kneeling respectfully.
"Your strength is only Bronze-level?" Azrael extended his mental energy to assess the ghost soldiers' capabilities, sighing at the limitation.
"However, the quantity available for summoning appears quite substantial."
His estimation suggested he could summon dozens of ghost soldiers simultaneously if he exerted maximum effort.
Setting aside such analysis, Azrael handed his belongings to a ghost soldier who accepted them with both hands in respectful service. The warrior slowly carried his possessions into the surrounding darkness before vanishing completely.
"Impressive."
A satisfied smile crossed Azrael's features as he prepared to test the transportation capabilities. Several ghost soldiers surrounded him and drew him into the shadows.
Within moments, he materialized in shadow five kilometers away from his starting position. Nearby pedestrians startled at the sudden appearance of the ghost soldiers.
As curious onlookers approached, one ghost soldier spread his black cloak under his arms like bat wings, blocking their line of sight. The other warriors immediately surrounded Azrael and retreated into the shadows, returning him to his apartment.
"Five kilometers maximum displacement range," Azrael calculated with satisfaction. The distance limitation felt reasonable, especially since he experienced virtually no mental energy consumption. This meant the ghost soldiers could transport him continuously across vast distances through sequential jumps.
He was already contemplating purchasing a more elegant chair for transportation purposes. After all, proper presentation mattered when traveling via ghost soldier convoy.
After completing his capability testing, the ghost soldiers began spontaneously cleaning his apartment. Azrael realized his days of surviving on takeout food had finally ended.
That's right, the ghost soldiers possessed cooking abilities, an unexpected and delightful surprise.
Throughout his extensive experimentation, Azrael detected none of the corrupting mental influences depicted in the original source material. After all, no matter how powerful the card, it couldn't circumvent the fundamental rules governing the mysterious space's creations.
His next priority involved mastering the demon language materials Alice had provided. The ancient tome's secrets awaited translation, and understanding its contents might prove crucial for his future advancement.
As ghost soldiers began preparing what smelled like an excellent dinner, Azrael settled down with his language learning materials. The combination of enhanced mental capabilities and systematic study methods would make quick work of the demon script.
Soon, the ancient tome's mysteries would yield their secrets, and he'd finally understand what cosmic forces had been shaping events since his arrival in this world.
The Shadow Kingdom was now at his command, but the greatest revelations still lay ahead.