"You really are stubborn; fine, let me enlighten you. It’s not like I had much hope in the first place." Despite looking friendly, the Deer Demon was actually quite a brute; she was ready to act at the slightest disagreement. Brand watched on, terrified, wondering what on earth was going on between these two? And what was happening here? A giant Array under an unnamed tomb was already strange enough, wasn’t it?

He quickly stopped the Deer Demon named Yi Lian and asked, "Wait, I want to know what’s going on here?" But tragically, Yi Lian was so tall that she was a head above Brand, so when he reached out, his hand landed in an inappropriate spot. The Deer Demon paused slightly, glanced down at Brand’s hand resting awkwardly on her body, and couldn’t help but smile, "What’s this, little guy? Are you interested in my older sister here? No worries, we can privately discuss this after the fight."

"How shameless!" Otarais snorted coldly in Brand’s mind, "Brand, are you seriously considering ’discussing’ such matters with her?"

"...Discuss your sister!" Brand shouted weakly in his heart, rolling his eyes in exasperation; he then said to the Deer Demon, "Madam, it seems like we have nothing to do with you, right?"

"That was initially the case, but since you’re enemies with the Clock Monster, I’m on your side! Come, let your older sister help you defeat this blockhead; it’s been here so long its brain has rusted over!" The older sister said confidently, full of self-assurance.

What a bizarre logic, Brand felt a bit dizzy. However, he didn’t believe a word of the Banshee’s nonsense; if she truly beat others mercilessly, the Clockwork Man wouldn’t still look like he was evenly matched with her, would he? Clearly, this woman was trying to recruit him as cannon fodder to settle an old score.

Brand had seen such scenarios many times and wouldn’t easily fall for them.

"Alright," the Deer Demon realized she couldn’t persuade him, shrugged, "No matter what, this blockhead won’t let you go. We must defeat him before he’ll calm down and talk. Does that reason make sense to you, you cunning little fellow?"

This reason was somewhat acceptable. Brand turned his head and indeed saw the Clockwork Man poised to attack at any moment. He thought for a moment and replied somewhat coldly, "Yes, I can fight alongside you, but don’t expect me to trust you much."

"Quite the boastful tone, but I’ll let you have it your way, alright?" Yi Lian responded teasingly, asking curiously, "But aren’t you afraid I’ll get upset and leave you to fight alone? You can’t beat the Clock Monster alone; it’s rather formidable despite its rigidity."

Brand gave her a look. Usually, he wouldn’t say much to creatures of unknown origin, but this time he needed the assistance and felt a familiar aura coming from the Deer Demon, an aura he also sensed in the Clockwork Man – the aura of a Travel Mage.

Yet they were not Travel Mages.

Brand suspected they might be related to the legacy of the Travel Mage Trisman, which is why he patiently listened to all this nonsense.

But after thinking it over, he still replied, "Actually, it wouldn’t matter if you left; I’ve always trusted myself more, and besides, I might not necessarily be a match for it either."

"Oh?" The older sister raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly surprised, "Then I’ll wait and see."

"If the nonsense is over, let’s get started." The Clockwork Man interrupted coldly, snorting, "An ’apprentice’ wielding a sword and an undeveloped animal claiming to defeat me – it’s laughable, really. Alright, Yi Lian, let me teach this guy a lesson to show you the price of betrayal." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

As the Clockwork Man’s metallic voice dropped, it raised its bronze cane, and there was a rustling sound from beneath the ground. Several human-head-sized metallic beetles broke through the soil, but on closer inspection, Brand realized that these were not metal beetles but Metallic Mechanisms similar to beetles, equipped with three sharp claws and bodies resembling small metal spheres.

Upon their appearance, the gear-like metal orb floating above the Clockwork Man began to spin.

"Be careful," Yi Lian quietly cautioned, sounding like a neighborly older sister, "The Clock Monster’s card is called Dark Adversity, part of the Adversity Heaven card set. That orb above its head is the core card, linking the entire set through its special effect."

Brand glanced at her, suddenly asking, "Your card set is called Pure White Heaven, isn’t it?"

Yi Lian paused in astonishment, replying, "So you know."

She proudly nodded, "Exactly—"

The Deer Demon waved her hand as three cards descended with a white glow; when the light faded, a white-robed, barefooted youth holding a long horn appeared beside her. Next was a Holy Scripture floating in the air, and finally, a row of soldiers in silver-white Battle Armor holding long spears marched out from a opened Light Door.

"Radiant Trumpeter, Life Holy Scripture, Glory Guards, these are my cards." Yi Lian introduced her Summons one by one.

...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you’re welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation tickets or Monthly Tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)