Chapter 257: 257 Mechanical Angel Power!_1
Sa Ang rested for only three days before he started practicing with the Mechanical Angel card. He was out of time. His brother’s next payment was due in two days. If he hadn’t lost the last match, he would have had the money. Time was ticking.
When he returned to the Underground Arena, the staff member responsible for allocating matches gave him a strange look. "Sa Ang, you’ve recovered so quickly and want to continue fighting? Are you sure?"
Sa Ang nodded. "I’m sure."
He had eaten well and rested well these past few days. Coupled with a nutrition injection, his spirits were higher than someone who had rested for a week prior.
The staff member, seeing no apparent issues, sneered, "I think you’re really throwing your life away. What card are you bringing this time?"
"Mechanical Angel."
An unfamiliar name. The staff member paused. "Who made it?"
"A Card Maker from the Sixth Division named Helena."
The moment the staff member heard it was a Card Maker from the Sixth Division, surprise showed in their eyes. "You actually got a sponsorship?"
Spirit Card Masters had indeed approached Sa Ang in the last few days, and the staff had heard some rumors, but they hadn’t expected it to be true. Since this card was so unfamiliar, it certainly wasn’t a new card recently released on the market. It was clearly a new card that Card Maker was sponsoring Sa Ang with.
"Just this one?"
Sa Ang nodded. "Just this one."
One card was enough.
The staff entered Sa Ang’s information into the computer and received the matching details. "Your match is in two hours, against Nikola."
Sa Ang’s eyes narrowed slightly. Nikola was a popular contestant at the Underground Arena over the last month. He also received sponsorship from other Spirit Card Masters and was very strong. This seemed like a bad time for Sa Ang to face him.
There was a gleeful look in the staff member’s eyes. "Good luck, Sa Ang."
Sa Ang just nodded.
It was fine. He believed in the strength of the Mechanical Angel. Although he hadn’t used it in an official battle yet, he could sense this card was no ordinary B-Rank Card.
Two hours later, his match with Nikola began.
Compared to Sa Ang’s slight, chick-like build, most Spirit Card Masters competing here were very tall. Nikola, in particular, had an appearance even more intimidating than Robbie’s. However, his strength was slightly less than Robbie’s. Even so, facing Sa Ang, Nikola couldn’t suppress his disdainful attitude.
After all, Sa Ang had lost to Robbie just three days ago. He had miraculously survived and now dared to compete again, clearly seeking death. Even if he had a Card Maker’s sponsorship, it also implied that the Card Maker lacked an eye for talent.
BOOM—
Nikola summoned his card: a huge bear Card Spirit. Among B-Rank cards, it was outstanding. It was another creation from a renowned Card Maker of the Sixth Division, named Blade Bear.
Its snowy-white body, resembling a polar bear, exuded an aura of dominance from the icy wastelands. The large cleaver it wielded added an incongruous touch of cruelty. Just by the name, one could tell it was an extremely violent attack card. Even as a Card Spirit, its movements made the ground tremble. The thrill of a B-Level match could only be truly appreciated live in the arena.
As Blade Bear made its entrance, the entire audience cheered.
Nikola looked down on Sa Ang with contempt.
Sa Ang focused his mind and summoned the Mechanical Angel as well.
SWOOSH—
The moment the Mechanical Angel appeared, the audience in the arena gasped. Even Nikola’s pupils shrank.
Mechanical Angel?!
It was common knowledge that any card associated with ’angel’ possessed an absurd level of strength, yet this card before them was merely B-Level. It held a shield in one hand and a blade in the other. When it beat its massive mechanical wings to take flight, one could almost feel the undeniable killing power beneath its silvery, ice-cold exterior.
Nikola suddenly had a bad premonition.
"Damn, what’s this card called?!"
"An angel, and it’s even a mechanical one—this is going to kill me!"
"A Card Maker from Xi Zhou?"
"Mechanical-style Angel Cards are pretty rare, right? Didn’t the Card Makers from Xi Zhou say that cards with an angelic form are extremely difficult to make?"
"So cool! Even if I lose, I want this card!"
The matches at the Underground Arena were also live-streamed on special online platforms. Not only the live audience but also the viewers watching through screens held their breath. A barrage of messages flooded in, inquiring who the Card Maker of the Mechanical Angel card was and where to purchase it.
The Mechanical Angel’s appearance was a refreshing sight. When the match began, Nikola felt somewhat unsettled and annoyed. A single card had stolen all his thunder—and from a loser, no less. The very same Spirit Card Master who had lost his match just three days ago!
It was just a B-Rank card. He wanted to see just how tough it was and if it could withstand the explosive output of his renowned Blade Bear card.
BANG—
Blade Bear’s attacks were domineering and fierce, its cleaver hacking repeatedly at the Mechanical Angel. Even though the Mechanical Angel could fly, the venue had a height limit, so Blade Bear, by leveraging its jumps, could easily reach and strike the Mechanical Angel.
CLANG—
CLANG—
CLANG!
Blade Bear’s cleaver smashed against the Mechanical Angel’s shield, continuously emitting sounds that set one’s teeth on edge. Sa Ang controlled the Mechanical Angel to meet the cleaver head-on instead of dodging. This was because the Mechanical Angel was a retaliation-type card; it didn’t rely on its own blade for offense. It deviated from typical physical attack cards, bearing Wen Jiang’s distinctive touch. Its power was concentrated in its shield. As long as it avoided destruction, it could absorb maximum damage in a short period. The shield would accumulate this energy and then transfer it to its greatsword for a counterattack. An unsuspecting opponent could even be killed by this sudden counterattack.
"Worthless! Can you only dodge?" Nikola’s Blade Bear launched a relentless, airtight assault.
Physical attacks of this nature were brutal, offering no respite. Yet Sa Ang steadfastly met each blow with the shield, remaining calm and focused on his maneuvers despite Nikola’s taunts. This was what the Spirit Card Master expected of him. If he lost this match, she would likely be completely disappointed.
His opportunity would be gone.
Sa Ang didn’t know if Wen Jiang was in attendance, but if she were, she would witness this outcome firsthand.
CLANG—
After dozens of swings, Nikola was finally showing signs of exhaustion. Truthfully, Sa Ang was also struggling; he was near his limit. The impacts of the cleaver felt as if they were striking his own head, causing a splitting headache. If Nikola managed a few more swings, Sa Ang doubted he’d have the strength left to counterattack.
But just then, Nikola paused to catch his breath, and Blade Bear’s movements halted with him.
This was his chance.
In that fleeting moment, as Nikola gasped for breath, Sa Ang seized his chance. Sweat streamed down his face as he gritted his teeth and transferred the shield’s stored energy.
—SWOOSH—
The Mechanical Angel spread its wings, soared into mid-air, and brought its mechanical broadsword crashing down fiercely upon Blade Bear.
BOOM!
Instantly, the Blade Bear Card Spirit disintegrated.
Nikola, unable to dodge in time, spat out a mouthful of blood as his Card Spirit disintegrated.