[Name: Trojan Horse]
[Type: Field Card]
[Rank: Tier 2 · golden legend]
[Description: With my bones, I protect your flesh and blood]
[Effect: ① Consumes magic power to shroud the Trojan Horse within a certain range, forming a protective barrier that isolates inside and outside;]
[② For units within the field marked as allies, it provides a certain amount of magic armor based on stored energy and continuously restores vitality;]
[③ Each bone segment has a pair of slender leg-like appendages on both sides, which automatically hunt all hostile creatures within the field, absorb their magic energy, and convert it into the buff effect for allies in ②;]
[④ The field is covered with a frost effect, indiscriminately slowing down the movement and spellcasting abilities of all creatures within the field;] [Effect: It protected, but not completely. It tormented, and it tormented everyone.]
[This card is the essence of torment. Only creatures who pass the frost test can enjoy true protection.]
A frigid wind whipped through the camp, like the Ice Queen's breath brushing lightly against the skin of every soul there.
Crack—crack.
Eve Black could hear her teeth chattering uncontrollably.
In her line of sight, her fallen comrades were all staggering to their feet.
Like the walking dead.
Eve clenched her jaw, her body shaking beyond her control.
She felt her courage, her resolve, her grief... all of it, frozen solid in this icy grip.
Merlin... what kind of evil is this...?
Am I even in the world of the living anymore?
Suddenly—
"Ahhh!!!"
A scream shattered the eerie silence.
One of the goblins dropped his weapon and bolted like a lunatic!
But with a resounding thud—
He slammed headlong into an invisible barrier!
?!!
The goblin scrambled up, dazed, groping at the transparent wall encircling the camp, muttering in confusion:
"No, no... how can this be, how can this—ah!"
A razor-sharp arthropod leg stabbed through his chest from behind with a sickening thunk.
His words cut off abruptly, his eyes bulging wide!
Then—
Right before everyone's eyes—
The goblin warrior was hoisted slowly into the air, drawn inexorably toward the colossal spine arching across the sky.
"No, no! Let me go—ahhhh!!!"
The goblin thrashed wildly, red light flickering erratically from his hands, but he couldn't muster a single proper spell.
The other goblins stood petrified.
Frozen in place, none daring to lift a finger to save him!
Until, at last—
The screams dwindled to nothing.
The goblin, his magic siphoned dry, was discarded like table scraps, splattering onto the ground.
Crimson blood seeped out slowly.
The goblin leader, Kuk, stood rooted to the spot.
Staring at his lifeless subordinate, he felt ice water coursing through his veins.
Why is this happening...?
This time, their goblin horde had mobilized in full force, at tremendous cost.
This was supposed to be a battle they'd win hands down...
Lord Lanluoke...
Suddenly—
A shadow loomed over him from behind.
Kuk shuddered, whipping his head around to lock eyes with a pair of cobalt-blue orbs hovering beneath a pale veil!
It was like a mouse caught in a hawk's unblinking stare.
The profound chill and twisted delight lurking in those eyes clamped down on Kuk's heart like an iron fist.
Ethan: "Are you afraid? Terrified? Sinking into despair?"
"Do you really want to die? Hahaha~"
Ethan watched the goblin leader's face twist in utter horror, and he couldn't help but squint in delight, a rush of satisfaction washing over him.
People really ought to hit up amusement parks more often to unwind.
Releasing that pent-up stress is the key to staying chipper.
What? You ask what to do if there's no amusement park around?
Silly, just build your own!
Kuk stood frozen for two seconds, then exploded in rage!
"You damned brat! I'll cleave that smug mug of yours right in two!!!"
Kuk's eyes blazed red with fury.
He bellowed like a mad beast, hoisting his enchanted axe high and charging at Ethan!
Corpses of goblins littered the ground.
Their spilled blood stained the once-pristine white earth a vivid red.
Ethan tried to reassemble the goblin leader.
But he couldn't quite manage it.
With a regretful sigh, Ethan straightened up.
Then, he pulled out The Book of Necromancy.
He intoned the sacrificial incantation inscribed within.
The Beast Splitting Ritual commenced!
"WodE: duZHe! doU+sHi... Da! sHuai:: Bi..."
The spell was intricate and arcane.
If he hadn't activated the [Erudition] skill, which boosted his learning and comprehension speed...
Ethan never would have mastered this incantation in just a few dozen minutes.
As the otherworldly, bone-chilling chant spilled from his lips...
The ground beneath the goblin corpses grew translucent.
Like a mirror's surface.
Or perhaps, a still lake untouched by wind.
Blood and flesh sank gradually into it, devoured.
Causing this mirror-like expanse to shimmer with an ancient, glacial blue magic.
As if it were exhaling a plume of white mist.
A potent breath.
Laden with a barren, lifeless cold.
It has to work... these are premium offerings, perfectly suited to the requirements...
Surely, the goblins would want their remains to serve a purpose even after death, right?
Ethan's mind drifted.
By the time he finished the chant, fine sweat beaded on his forehead and soaked his back.
A faint sigh, barely audible, whispered near Ethan's ear.
Ephemeral.
Like a fleeting dream.
[Congratulations! You have successfully completed the ritual!]
[Your offering has greatly pleased a high-ranking entity: The Maiden in the Mirror]
[The Maiden in the Mirror awaits you]
[When you return to reality, you will be able to see her esteemed presence on any reflective surface.]
[Please do not make her wait too long]
It's done!!!
Ethan's eyes gleamed.
He slumped to the ground, gasping for breath.
He felt the magic in his body throbbing with depletion—not a drop remained, all offered up to this "Maiden in the Mirror."
Ethan mused: "I wonder what potent ancient magic she'll teach me..."
"According to Mr. Black, she can restore werewolves to human form during a full moon."
"It ought to be strong enough to stand against those specters on the path to advancement!"
Ethan's gaze sparkled, yearning to rush back to the real world immediately!
He chugged two Invigorating Draughts, catching his breath.
Once he felt a sliver of strength return to his body...
He rose, planning to summon Professor Lupin and Luna so they could head back together.
But—
As Ethan turned...
He locked eyes with Miss Eve Black, who had her wand trained on him.
"So, you're [Light]...!"
Miss Black rasped, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and wariness.
At that...
Ethan arched an eyebrow, saying nothing.
To Eve, this silence was confirmation.
"Light, Light... how did I not realize..."
She whispered to herself.
This chilling white magic brought to mind the equally macabre "Ice Sculpture Goblins" from not long ago.
Only now, it was even more horrific.
That terrifying three-headed hellhound—it seemed every attack and explosion only fueled its savagery.
Pure devastation.
The goblins, poised to slaughter everyone in the camp...
In the blink of an eye, became the slaughtered.
Blood flowing like rivers!
Eve fixed her gaze on the black-haired youth's handsome, innocuous face.
She bit her lower lip.
Of course, his target was ancient magic too.
This time, she hadn't just crossed paths with a thief.
She'd brought the boss himself right back with her.
Just then—
Eve felt a cold prickle at her waist.
Glancing over, she saw the blonde girl who'd come with "Light."
She was pressing her wand firmly into Eve's lower back.
Her face was serene, and when their eyes met, those warm, crystalline blue eyes curved into a smile.
Eve:
A few seconds later—
"Heh."
Eve let out a soft, wry chuckle.
She lowered her wand and raised her hands.
It wasn't that she was truly intimidated by a little girl.
But she knew all too well...
Against this [Light], who eclipsed ordinary wizards, she didn't stand a chance.
She met Ethan's eyes with resolve, gritting her teeth as she said:
"Spare my subordinates... whatever you want to do to me... it's up to you!"
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