Thought Acceleration (Adversity Heaven VIII), 22 Light/Dark; [Boundary]; Effect: Whenever any player casts a spell, the holder draws three cards from their library top. Before Thought Acceleration takes effect next time, players will shuffle back excess cards over eight into their library. ’The battlefield advantage is to seize the initiative.’

As soon as this Boundary card was played, a glow flickered across Brand’s eyelids, and two cards materialized under layers of light and shadow on his retina, one grey and one white: the grey one was the Holy Sword, and the white one was the War Steed. Only two cards appeared because Brand knew his library only contained these two cards, a fifty-fifty chance, just like left and right, always a half chance of being right.

He gently drew that card out.

This was the first card he acquired when he arrived in this world. The Holy Sword represents a knight’s steadfast faith, unyielding and unbending, a gleaming sword blade flashing in the heart. This sword has witnessed his journey, leading Ridenburg’s refugees to break through encirclements, fulfill the vow, seize the Territory, fight bloodily, and walk the promised path, with the goal always ahead, thus the sword never returning to its sheath.

Now Brand’s index and middle fingers lightly rest on the card, as if a knight were polishing his sword under the lamp, the blade cold as ice, shining with a chilling glow.

He lays the card flat, then announces: "Attach." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Lady Yilin."

Accompanied by Brand’s words, it was like dazzling flames ignited across the deep starry sky, specks of golden light lit up one by one on the Wind Spirit Spider Swarm—but gazing upwards, it seemed as though witnessing a civilization stepping into darkness, leaving behind a canvas flickering with patchy firelight on the profound Earth, woven firelight interweaving the future of civilization.

"How many cards of Anrud’s Holy Ring are there?" Brand asked.

"It’s truly beautiful," the older sister lifted her head, genuinely admiring, her eyes as beautiful as the starry sky, especially when smiling. "Anrud’s Holy Ring, in the Adversity Heaven deck, there are a total of four cards. I have two, the Clock Monster also has two." The Deer Demon sister seemed to know why Brand asked, and gave a detailed answer.

"Shut up, how dare you reveal the master’s deck information to outsiders! Yi Lian, your actions are betraying the master’s expectations, you disappoint me greatly!" The Clockwork Man coldly interrupted her.

The Deer Demon Sister raised her head proudly, wordlessly staring at the Clockwork Man, using the brightest gleam in her eyes to express her stance—the Clock Monster, you, do not represent the master’s opinion; Adversity Heaven has slept too long, now it needs an inheritor, not eternal sleep in this dark underground.

The confrontation lasted only an instant, they had been unable to persuade each other for thousands of years, and today was no different.

Yet from Yi Lian’s brief dialogue, Brand had already obtained the information he needed. Communicating with smart people is effortless, for the first time he somewhat agreed with this notion. His heart calm, with a flash of delight, the long-awaited opportunity was close at hand. The Clockwork Man had two Anrud’s Holy Rings, but one was used during his counter-assassination, and the other—currently in his hand.

Although he didn’t know how this card attached to the Crystalized Person Leder, Brand only needed to know this outcome, which was enough. The Holy Sword ignited, targeting the Nightmare Furnace Construct summoned by the Clockwork Man, aiming to eliminate the Gear Ball floating above the opponent’s head, but before that, Brand was cautious enough to probe.

Even knowing the Clockwork Man no longer had Anrud’s Holy Ring spell, Brand didn’t mind being extra careful. There are two ways to gamble, one is to rush forward like a gambler who lost everything, the other is to meticulously weave a large net, gradually tightening its mouth.

He wielded the Earth Sword single-handedly, pressing it into the ground, watching the brilliant flames cascade down from mid-air, one after another, golden streams hanging onto the Dome. Along the beams of light, spreading is the fire burning the ground, the Nightmare Furnace Creatures’ metal shells emitting sizzling sounds, the Constructed Life’s defense extremely terrifying, a single beam couldn’t melt its exterior, but with two, three, and even more concentrated golden sharp swords, these monsters could only scream as they turned into molten iron.