Azrael's previous cards hadn't been particularly well-suited for creating chain combinations.
Before Lily, the only person who had ever suggested the existence of chain cards to him was Zoro.
However, Zoro's weapons possessed relatively few special abilities, and crafting them didn't seem particularly worthwhile. If he ever needed to create a weapon specifically for Zoro, he'd have far more suitable options available, such as the legendary Murakumoga and the divine Tenseiga.
While contemplating his next strategic moves, he equipped himself with the [Silver Arm].
In the original story, Bedivere had been missing his right arm, so Azrael had initially wondered whether using the Silver Arm would require amputating his own right arm first. While losing a right arm wasn't particularly concerning given his current remarkable recovery abilities, it would still prove somewhat cumbersome in daily activities.
Fortunately, the Silver Arm didn't require such a drastic and painful measure.
A gleaming silver gauntlet materialized gracefully around Azrael's right arm, bestowing upon it a soft, otherworldly ethereal glow.
"If I don't actively activate it, the transformation won't be noticeable to observers," Azrael mused to himself, whispering the Silver Arm's sacred release phrase, "Hold the sword tightly, Silver Arm."
As Azrael carefully chanted the ancient incantation, his right arm suddenly blazed with absolutely dazzling light. A magnificent holy sword, formed from concentrated golden energy, appeared firmly within his grasp.
"The physical enhancement is quite significant, and this way, we don't have to worry about Lily being left completely without a weapon after firing her powerful Caliburn."
"Most importantly, this is merely me using it casually. If Lily herself were wielding it properly, the enhancement would be exponentially greater."
Feeling the steady, manageable drain on his mental power reserves, Azrael was extremely satisfied with the Silver Arm's impressive performance. He carefully dispersed the phantasmal holy sword, and the Silver Arm seamlessly returned to its ordinary, unassuming appearance.
"More importantly, the advancement and development of the Silver Arm will indeed significantly impact Lily's subsequent evolutionary transformations."
Azrael had previously studied comprehensive information about chain cards in the detailed Lore Cardian guidelines that Lucian had thoughtfully provided him.
"So, wouldn't Lily eventually need the legendary Holy Lance, Rhongomyniad, to successfully advance to the Lion King form?"
Azrael rubbed his temples with a slight, persistent headache building. The Holy Lance's profound influence on the Lion King transformation was absolutely undeniable. It was far more accurate to say that Artoria's complete transformation into the Lion King was primarily due to the Holy Lance's gradually corrupting influence over time.
However, the Holy Lance itself wasn't remotely weak either. After all, it was the very spear that anchored the world itself to reality. Azrael strongly suspected it was at least a formidable Master-level artifact of incredible power.
Creating such an item would definitely be worth the substantial investment required.
Actually, the renowned Holy Sword Excalibur wasn't any weaker than the Holy Lance, but it required both the sword itself and its mystical scabbard. Avalon was probably also a Master-level item of equal importance.
And Artoria had tragically lost the precious scabbard long ago in battle.
Therefore, a Knight King wielding only the sword could realistically only be ranked Emerald-tier at best.
As he pondered these complex considerations, Azrael suddenly remembered another important card he was planning to create after successfully reaching Gold rank.
Sousuke Aizen.
After all, Aizen's final, most powerful form was completely inseparable from the mysterious Hogyoku. If he seriously planned to advance Aizen to the highest possible level, the Hogyoku would almost certainly also be absolutely necessary.
"But these particular cards are still too far away for me to worry about right now."
Azrael sighed deeply, gathering his scattered thoughts and leading both Lily and Fubuki toward the spacious courtyard.
Equipping the [Silver Arm] carefully on Lily, he said with anticipation, "Let's properly test its actual power."
Since Azrael now comfortably lived in the small private manor, he could safely test the [Silver Arm's] true combat effectiveness without concerns.
Observing the dramatic boost the [Silver Arm] provided to Lily, Azrael couldn't help but be genuinely surprised. "The Holy Sword's enhancement is remarkably dramatic."
"And it's significantly reduced my overall mental energy consumption as well."
He clearly perceived that Lily's physical strength, after the complete release of her magical power and the strengthening provided by the Holy Sword, was already ranking among the very top of the silver-tier category.
Excluding any special supernatural abilities, in pure melee combat situations, she seemed readily capable of rivaling virtually any silver-tier card.
Azrael hadn't experienced that impressive level of power when he had tried it out earlier himself.
"As expected, the chain card's effect on overall power levels is quite significant indeed."
Just like in various mythological versions, if Li Jing didn't possess his magical pagoda, he'd probably have been defeated by Nezha. Li Jing was clearly a great Tang Dynasty general historically, but somehow he became Nezha's father in the popular legends.
Lily, standing nearby attentively, clenched her right hand with genuine curiosity. The silver arm armor had completely replaced her original sleeve armor, but it didn't seem to hinder her natural movement at all.
Rather, she felt a deep sense of familiarity with the mystical gauntlet.
However, as a child still in her developmental youth, having not yet broken the binding Oath of the Golden Sword to obtain the legendary Sword of Victory, she didn't yet realize the gauntlet's true nature was actually the holy sword she would later wield with mastery.
A brilliant golden blade materialized smoothly in Lily's small hand.
"It feels remarkably like Caliburn," Lily thought with wonder.
Then she nodded respectfully to the tall, dark green-haired beauty standing beside her.
The next moment, invisible telekinetic force began to swirl powerfully in Azrael's peaceful back garden.
Lily took a deep, steadying breath. "Flash of the Silver Arm!"
A brilliant golden torrent suddenly erupted violently from the sword in her hand, sweeping forward with absolutely tremendous force.
Fortunately, Fubuki was exceptionally well prepared, skillfully using her telekinesis to carefully contain the golden beam within a very small, controlled area.
After two or three measured breaths, the golden beam gradually dissipated harmlessly into the air, leaving only a single dark furrow to bear witness to its devastating destructive power.
Azrael, watching silently from the safe sidelines, said analytically, "It's probably at the peak of Silver-tier capability."
"The energy consumption isn't excessively high, and there's no need to charge it beforehand, making it much easier to unleash in combat."
Azrael was genuinely pleased with the comprehensive test results. After all, the [Silver Arm] was specifically created to give Lily more regular, reliable combat capabilities, since Lily already possessed the incredibly powerful skill [Caliburn].
He glanced at the slightly dimmed lightsaber in Lily's small hand. "And even after using [Flash of the Silver Arm], it can maintain its blade's solid shape."
This genuinely surprised Azrael, as he had naturally assumed that overheating would render [Hold the Sword Tightly, Silver Arm] completely ineffective.
"It's just that the Holy Sword's enhanced effects are significantly reduced when overheated from overuse."
"So, it's definitely best not to use [Flash of the Silver Arm] unless the tactical opportunity is particularly favorable."
Azrael shook his head thoughtfully, not intending to interfere with Lily's natural tactical timing decisions.
Lily possessed the valuable skill [Intuition] and naturally knew precisely when to use her various skills effectively.
He couldn't really act like a micromanaging commander and tell Lily to move exactly five meters to the left or adjust her specific positioning constantly.
A full week flew by in a flash.
Nothing particularly major had happened since Azrael's successful return from Velkairos, allowing him some precious time for peaceful contemplation and planning.
It was Friday evening again, and several key members of the Pixar War Club had gathered together at the club building.
Chisaki had previously informed them that the school administration had arranged a secret realm training session specifically for them, and today was the designated day to assemble.
It would be absolutely ideal if they could attend their regular academic classes without missing any important academic work.
"During this challenging training session, your first priority is to protect yourselves properly. Don't risk your life in this secret realm just for the sake of this practice exercise."
Before departing, Chisaki addressed the assembled group with rare, genuine seriousness, despite his usual nonchalant demeanor.
Azrael and the others nodded in complete agreement, naturally understanding the gravity of the dangerous situation.
After all, this secret realm training session was merely a practice exercise, not some completely unexplored secret realm they needed to pioneer themselves.
"Let's go," Chisaki said, seeing that they understood his important point, and he reverted to his usual sardonic manner.
The light infantry transport vehicle headed directly toward the outskirts of Pixar.
Azrael sat comfortably in the back seat with his arms folded and his eyes closed. Oliver sat beside him, completely engrossed in something on his phone.
Behind them, Choi-Gyu looked at Azrael with a hint of resentment, but his immense power kept her from voicing any complaints aloud.
Jea-Min stared blankly at the passing scenery outside the window.
Sun-Myun glanced at Choi-Gyu, then at Oliver, then, with a gloomy expression, stared at Chisaki's noticeably receding hairline.
The van soon arrived at a heavily restricted military base.
Chisaki exited the vehicle promptly, bowing respectfully as he handed several official documents to the stern guards at the checkpoint.
The guards carefully examined the documents thoroughly, verified their authenticity with sophisticated scanning instruments, and then permitted Azrael and his group entry into the secure base.
"This secret realm appeared after the last dimensional incursion," Chisaki explained to the others from inside the vehicle.
"But don't worry unnecessarily, the powerful demons within have been completely eliminated. It should be opened to Dongda University as a practical training realm very soon."
Naturally, practical training secret realms weren't limited exclusively to Pixar University. While the frequency of secret realm appearances had increased significantly recently, there weren't many suitable for students to use as practical training grounds.
Given the sheer number of higher education institutions in Pixar, there was naturally fierce competition for access.
Therefore, each of Pixar's universities needed to take turns scheduling time to enter the secret training realm. Azrael's arrival at the start of this semester, right after he enrolled, was pure luck.
"By the way, this secret realm is called the Eye of Infinity. The demonic powers are primarily related to ocular abilities. Be careful once you enter."
Arriving at the entrance, Chisaki whispered the crucial information he'd finally gathered to Azrael and the others.
"Understood completely, thank you, Teacher Chisaki," the students responded solemnly.
This important mission required the five of them to work together cooperatively, and the relevant information and detailed maps had been distributed to their communication devices upon entering the base.
Chisaki watched the five students enter the secret realm, a hint of worry rising in his heart. "I hope everything goes smoothly."
"But with Azrael here, nothing should go seriously wrong."
Chisaki naturally had some knowledge of Azrael's highly defensive capabilities. He assumed that if something truly dangerous happened in this secret realm, protecting himself would be assured.
Of course, it would be even better if he could also protect the other students effectively.
Naturally, he wouldn't force Azrael to do so, which was why he didn't even mention it explicitly.
"Forget it, why am I overthinking this so much?"
Chisaki then felt slightly amused at his own paranoid thoughts. The secret realm the school had selected for Azrael and the others had been carefully evaluated by experts.
It wasn't particularly dangerous, but it offered a certain level of pressure, perfect for their final preparation before the national competition.
It would be even better if the materials and points gained from this expedition could be used to craft new cards.
In the pitch-black sky above, a blood-red moon cast a crimson glow toward the earth below.
Azrael and the other four, momentarily disoriented, beheld a scene completely different from that of the Blue Planet.
Fortunately, an outpost had already been established at the entrance, and the mental power of dozens of Lore Cardians enabled the five students to realize that this was merely a captured secret realm.
"This is truly magnificent!" Oliver exclaimed enthusiastically, gazing at the ominous sky.
Azrael, likewise, quietly gazed at the blood-red moon hanging high in the night sky.
"Is this really safe?" Sun-Myun asked hesitantly, swallowing nervously.
It was no wonder he said that; the giant pupil in the center of the blood moon was truly terrifying.
Hearing this, Azrael said calmly, "That thing should have been dealt with already."
Oliver nodded in complete agreement.
After all, anyone with normal vision could see a massive crack running through the entire pupil.
"Let's go. It's time to head to the mission location," Azrael's voice brought the four of them back to reality. "Use my vehicle card."
With that command, several ghostly soldiers appeared before them, carrying five identical chairs.
Azrael had naturally prepared these in advance, as he had no idea what the others' vehicle cards looked like. It would be better for them all to move through the Shadow Kingdom together. This would prevent anyone from being left behind and having to wait for the others.
Seeing Azrael's preparedness, Oliver and the others agreed readily.
A pitch-black shadow engulfed the group, rapidly advancing toward their mission destination.
Azrael and his four companions were tasked with annihilating the demons in Area C-3 of the [Eye of Infinity]. The demons gathered in this area were reportedly preparing to attack the entrance to the secret realm.
During their journey, Oliver and his three companions watched with fascination as they moved in and out of the darkness. This was their first time experiencing this method of transportation.
Just then, Sun-Myun asked with a puzzled expression, "Azrael, aren't you afraid of running into demons?"
Azrael didn't think much of the question, believing it to be legitimate. He explained, "Don't worry. I always have my Shadowkhans scout ahead before each movement."
Azrael wouldn't allow his soldiers to move freely in an unfamiliar secret realm without proper reconnaissance.
He would only move once he was certain there was no immediate danger.
"Speaking of which, don't you think this secret realm is a little suspicious?"
Azrael waved his phone at the four.
Oliver and the others had also reviewed the secret realm information, but didn't notice anything particularly concerning. They were immediately puzzled. "What did you find?"
"The information we were given mentioned that the demons in this secret realm can gain greater power by upgrading their eyes."
"Have you ever considered that their eyes might be transferable?"
As someone familiar with various fictional universes, Azrael was naturally aware of the various ocular abilities in a series like Naruto.
The key issue was that those eyes could be easily transplanted without any significant side effects.
He worried that the demons in this secret realm might operate under similar principles. If they could only upgrade their own eyes, that would be manageable, but if they could also transplant them, they would be in serious trouble.
A moment later, the group fell silent.
After a pause, Azrael's smile broke the tense atmosphere. "Perhaps I'm overthinking it. If they really had such a method, they would have used it long ago when fighting high-level Lore Cardians."
The other four were startled at first, then breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Indeed, if the demons in this secret realm truly possessed such capabilities, they would have employed them long ago, and they wouldn't have been defeated so thoroughly.
"Is scaring people fun?" Sun-Myun muttered with some dissatisfaction.
Oliver glanced at him sharply; he had heard the comment clearly.
He didn't think Azrael was trying to frighten anyone. After all, considering unknown demonic abilities was necessary vigilance.
With Azrael's enhanced hearing, he naturally heard Sun-Myun's complaint, but at present, the other party was just prone to grumbling, and he wasn't likely to take action against him over such a trivial matter.
Just like elephants never concern themselves with the gossip of ants.
But if Sun-Myun really made him feel disgusted in the future, he would also ask Chisaki to replace him.
Wasn't it just politics? Azrael would make everyone understand the consequences.
After all, the Pixar University Battle Club wouldn't be significantly affected without Sun-Myun, but if Azrael were gone, this year's national competition could be written off entirely.
Azrael had that level of confidence in his abilities.