Erwin had no choice but to claim the first reward. The System offered no refunds, no exchanges—not even a cooling-off period. With a mental command, he summoned the second card.
[Unifying Charm: Harmonize two or more energies using your innate talent, preventing interference and creating seamless unity.]
The instant he read it, Erwin's thoughts raced to his bloodlines. Was this tailor-made for him? The System truly delivered.
He activated it immediately. A subtle shift rippled through him, like two warring rivers suddenly flowing in tandem. His Dragon Speaker bloodline and Pendragon heritage, once clashing like rival kingdoms on the brink of war, now coexisted in fragile peace. The bloodlust that had gnawed at him—especially after a kill—faded to a distant murmur, suppressed but not erased.
Relief washed over Erwin. No more fretting over uncontrolled surges. He could level up without fear.
Next came the remaining prizes. He flipped the third card.
[Binding Resistance: Gold Talent. Gain 30% immunity to control effects like freezing, petrification, or bindings.]
It felt straight out of a game—like unbreakable defense against crowd control. Erwin pocketed it without a second thought.
The fourth card gleamed brighter.
[Spell Multiplication: Gold Talent. Channel extra magic to cast spells multiple times in succession, amplifying power. Turn single-target strikes into area effects—you deserve it!]
Erwin's imagination ignited. "Avada Kedavra!" A barrage of green lights erupting like machine-gun fire. The holidays had turned him into a one-man arsenal. Things were only getting wilder.
He moved on, eyes landing on a cluster of scroll-like cards nearby—blueprints, perhaps. One hovered forward.
[Enchanted Propulsion Design: Gold Consumable. Craft a magic-powered engine using ancient techniques. Component of the legendary gold item, Enchanted Citadel. Collect all to unlock the full blueprint. Enchanted Citadel: 1/4.]
Erwin dragged the others close and unfurled them.
[Arcane Blasting Apparatus Plan: Gold Consumable. Forge a devastating magic-fueled weapon. Component of Enchanted Citadel: 1/4.]
[Protective Ward Schematic: Gold Consumable. Erect an impenetrable magical barrier. Component of Enchanted Citadel: 1/4.]
[Levitation Enchantment Blueprint: Gold Consumable. Enable flight through enchanted propulsion. Component of Enchanted Citadel: 1/4.]
[All components collected. Fuse them?]
Erwin confirmed instantly. The cards swirled together in a vortex of color, merging into a single, radiant scroll bathed in a golden pillar of light.
[Enchanted Citadel: Transform an existing structure into a flying fortress of war. Capable of assault, defense, and aerial dominance—its might rivals ancient legends. Materials required: ...]
Erwin's pulse quickened at the description. A soaring bastion of power? But the material list stretched on like a cursed tapestry, filled with rarities most wizards had never heard of—let alone owned. Many hailed from the ancient magical world, extinct relics that no modern vault could hold. Even pooling the entire wizarding world's resources wouldn't suffice.
"Premium gold for a reason," Erwin muttered, stowing the blueprint in his enchanted ring. "Useless for now. Who knows when I'll scrape these together?"
Still, a wild notion struck him. What if he ever claimed full control of Hogwarts? Turning the castle into a mobile citadel... now that sparked envy. He pulled the scroll out again, committing the list to memory. Protagonists always struck gold eventually. Besides, a gut feeling told him this fortress would prove vital one day—unbidden, but undeniable.
With the blueprint secured, six cards remained, shrouded like veiled portraits awaiting revelation. Blind-box fever gripped him; the thrill was addictive. He beckoned the next.
[Sacrificial Effigy: Gold Consumable, 1/1 Use. Actively dispel one curse or debuff. Passively absorb a lethal strike. System rating: Essential life-saver.]
Erwin nodded approvingly. In a world of hexes and hidden daggers, this was gold—literal and figurative. He claimed it, the card dissolving into his arsenal.
Four more loomed. He pressed on, the air humming with potential. Christmas had reshaped him, arming Erwin for battles yet to come. As the cards floated nearer, he braced for whatever legendary edges awaited.
...
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