Miracle Card Shop: All My Cards Can Be Actualize-Chapter 722: The Keeper true identity

The gigantic white beam streaks toward the abomination, but it strikes an invisible shield surrounding the creature. Like a stone thrown into calm water, the shield flickers and ripples, but Daniel knows it's still intact.

He notices that the shield doesn't just resist the attack—it absorbs the power of Baltruse's blast, like a vast lake swallowing a stone.

Daniel sinks his mind into his mindscape to analyze the abomination. Under the mindscape's vision, he notices that the abomination doesn't have any enchantments he can target. This suggests that the abomination might have the same status as a "player" in terms of the game's rules.

But if that's the case, the abomination should have taken some damage, not remained completely immune. Daniel knows that the beam Baltruse unleashed earlier represents its ability to destroy one target creature. However, in the real world, the rules aren't as clear-cut as in the game, and it can't outright kill a "player."

Moreover, the same familiar nagging feeling grows stronger and stronger as he looks at the abomination. That's right—it's the same sensation he felt when he first met The Keeper.

With this realization, Daniel summons the door to the shop. But before he can act, The Keeper steps through the door to meet him instead. The abomination seems to roar, though the vacuum of space renders it silent. Still, the overwhelming aura of hunger emanating from the creature is undeniable.

The abomination charges toward Daniel. The Keeper spares it a glance, casually waving his hand. An invisible shield materializes, protecting both him and Daniel from the abomination's attack. Each time the creature swings its claws, water-like ripples appear on the shield, but no matter how hard it strikes, the shield holds firm.

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"From the look on your face, you seem to want to ask me about my connection to this… abomination," The Keeper says calmly.

Daniel nods, waiting for an explanation.

"To put it bluntly, that thing…" The Keeper points at the abomination. "Used to be my body. A long time ago, I looked like that." He speaks as if discussing the weather or what he had for breakfast.

"Are you serious?" Daniel blurts out in disbelief.

The Keeper nods.

"So… do you want your body back? Does this mean the you in front of me is just a soul?" Daniel asks, confused.

"No… I don't want it back, Mr. Emberweave. In fact, I don't think my current self would be compatible with that body, no matter how powerful it might make me," The Keeper replies.

"What do you mean?"

"Mr. Emberweave," The Keeper begins, gesturing to himself. "My current self is a combination of the Interdimensional Beast that resides within the Starry Abyss… or what mages call the Akashic Record, the source of all magic, and the soul of King Solomon the Great, the one who controlled 72 demons." He pauses. "I was supposed to be the 73rd if he had succeeded."

"What?" Daniel exclaims. He knows this legend from the books Envy had him read. King Solomon was said to be a powerful mage who enslaved 72 demons, using their power for himself. If not for Merlin, Solomon would have been the undisputed most powerful mage in history.

And now, The Keeper claims to be a fusion of Solomon's soul and that abomination's essence? Daniel begins to understand why The Keeper says his current form is incompatible with his old body.

"Moreover…" The Keeper continues. "My current self has already achieved what I wanted: freedom from eternally wandering the Starry Abyss alone. My power is limited in this form, but the sense of freedom it brings to explore the vast universe… I wouldn't trade it for anything." The Keeper glances back at the abomination.

"Besides, I don't want to become a mindless beast like that ever again," The Keeper adds.

"If so, can you tell me how to destroy this… thing?" Daniel asked.

The Keeper smiled lightly. "I can only help you neutralize its Planar Absorption shield. That shield renders all attacks useless unless they affect the fabric of reality itself. And your power—unless you can break the fabric of reality on your own—cannot neutralize this shield. This is because your power transforms all the energy within the Starry Abyss into something that can be accepted by the current reality."

The Keeper's explanation helped Daniel understand the mechanics behind the ripple surrounding the abomination. He realized it was impossible for him to harm it directly. Nodding at the Keeper, he said, "Then, you can start. I'll prepare myself and attack the moment its shield is neutralized."

"Before we begin… please be warned," the Keeper cautioned, "when you destroy that creature, someone might be able to capture its residual power. If they manage to absorb it, they will gain access to the Starry Abyss… just like you."

"Got it. I'll destroy every trace of the creature," Daniel replied firmly. He nodded and sent a mental command to the cosmic dragon beside him, preparing it for battle. At the same time, he accessed the mana vials and Chromatic Philosopher's Stones stored within his universal pocket.

The Keeper extended his hand and, with a sudden thrust, hundreds of tentacles shot out from the space surrounding him. The tentacles easily pierced through the shield protecting the abomination, which was rampaging outside the Keeper's shield. Black blood seeped from hundreds of wounds on the abomination's body, and its shield vanished completely as it withdrew its power to regenerate and heal the damage caused by the Keeper's attack.

Seizing the opportunity, Daniel channeled mana into Baltruse, his otherworldly dragon. The dragon roared as its body flared with a brilliant white light, then rushed toward the abomination. Its claws pierced the abomination's body, and its jaws clamped down on the creature's shoulder. The dragon's four wings beat powerfully as a radiant light enveloped both of them. In an instant, Baltruse dragged the abomination with it and vanished into motes of light amidst the stars.

What Baltruse had just done was activate its second ability as a card: permanently exiling the target creature.

—

'Pay half of Baltruse - The Cosmic Dragon's mana cost to exile it along with a target creature. At the start of the next turn, Baltruse - The Cosmic Dragon returns to the battlefield.'

—

After the abomination vanished, Daniel felt a sense of relief, but at the same time, the Keeper's warning kept him on edge. The idea that someone could gain access to the Akashic Record was something he couldn't ignore. He knew he had to prepare some contingencies in case something like that were to happen.

The Keeper watched as the abomination disappeared into motes of light, then turned toward Daniel and patted his shoulder.

"Now you know who I really am. If you have anything to ask, ask now. After this, I'll be taking some time off from the shop. Besides, with your current power, I don't think you'll need me to manage the shop anymore. You can just go in there and create the cards you need. Just remember not to go too crazy and break the fabric of reality," the Keeper said.

"There is one question… If I've had this power all along, why couldn't I use it before I died that night?" Daniel asked.

"There's a slight misunderstanding here, Mr. Emberweave. Even if you had died, you wouldn't have been able to use it because your Origin Element was in a sealed state. Your Origin Element is the Akashic Record, not Creation and Reality, as your wife tried to check back then." The Keeper's words reminded Daniel of the time Envy had tested him to determine his Origin Element. The Keeper continued, "The reason for this is that your Origin Element's nature goes against the balance of the fabric of reality and was never supposed to be active. That's why it was sealed. The ritual that night removed the seal from your Origin Element, which is why it's now active. This misunderstanding activated your Origin Element, and everything you've created in your life has since been integrated into the Akashic Record, where endless possibilities and the origin of magic exist."

"I see…" Daniel thought for a moment, then looked at the Keeper again. "So, is this goodbye?" he asked.

"Not forever. I just want to take a vacation. I'll come back to the shop from time to time in case you want to talk, Mr. Emberweave," the Keeper said, waving his hand in farewell. He then opened the door to the shop and vanished inside.

After the Keeper left, Daniel let out a sigh. He then made his way back to Elpis. Thanks to the propulsion system in his space suit, it didn't take long before he reached the Elpis Hangar.

At the hangar, he noticed all of his family waiting for him. Envy and Koyuki led the group, rushing to hug him, followed by the others—Greed, Michaela, Penthesilea, and finally Pride. Mordred and little Sylvana, who had now grown into a young woman of 17, were also there.

"Let's go on a vacation, shall we?" Daniel asked his family, and everyone agreed.

"That's right. Should I call you Merlin or Danny?" Envy asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Huh? What do you mean? Merlin?" Koyuki asked, looking at Daniel suspiciously.

Hearing this, Daniel couldn't help but let out a wry smile. Now he need to explain all of it. Envy do surely hold a grudge for making her wait.