Chapter 2130: Chapter 2130

"The only thing we know for sure is that it's cheating," Miss Silf said, trying to sort through her thoughts again.

"We can't report it, but if it's breaking the rules without immediate consequences, then perhaps we can too..."

Jenkins was taken aback by this line of thinking, but upon reflection, it made sense.

"We don't know how it's manipulating the game, and the only way we can influence things is by me sending you messages in your dreams. I could send you a vast amount of knowledge, but I'm not sure every piece of information would form a card. And if I do it too often, I'm certain our opponent will hit you with some negative effect like 'Mental Damage'."

Without a guarantee of getting a game-changing card, Jenkins was hesitant to try sending another dream message.

"There is another way," Jenkins mused, latching onto a fleeting inspiration. "When we forged that sword earlier, wasn't that our own interference in the game? We just didn't realize its value at the time."

"If I had understood its potential then, I would have coated the blade in my blood first. We can't influence the cards, we can't change the cards... so, can we make them? Yes, I have an idea. Making doesn't necessarily mean creating, it can also mean... substituting."

The elven lady didn't understand. Jenkins simply shook his head.

"What idea was that?"

It was clear the elf hadn't followed his train of thought, but that didn't stop her good mood from returning.

"Well, as long as you're confident, that's what matters. If we only have to deal with the Human Blight, we'll still need to gather all three symbols. I imagine the people outside will be our allies in this."

She trusted Jenkins completely. Since he was no longer worried about the card game, she put the matter out of her mind entirely.

The game continued into its ninth year. The four events of the year were [Rampant Sickness], [Undead Revival], [The Laughing Crows], and [The Great Earthquake].

[Rampant Sickness] meant both kings were suddenly struck by a severe illness. [Undead Revival] and [The Laughing Crows] were an undead incident and an aberrant creature incident, respectively, while [The Great Earthquake] was a massive natural disaster.

By working together, they resolved all four events perfectly. While they gained nothing from it, at least the situation didn't worsen.

As for the year's red unexpected events, there were two instances of [Steam] and one of [Frenzied Tree]. The latter involved the emergence of another mutated plant in their kingdom. Unlike the insidious [Flower of Evil], the [Frenzied Tree] was brutally straightforward, attacking any creature it could reach.

It was a single, colossal creature, yet its sprawling root system could affect the entire kingdom.

Jenkins didn't take any unexpected actions this time. The two of them managed with the few cards left in their decks. Their platinum influence, [High Noble], manifested once again. After playing their limited [Personal Might] cards and the magic sword, the event was resolved, earning them a brand-new item: [Heart of the Frenzied Tree].

Influenced by his earlier idea, Jenkins repeatedly stressed during the card's formation that his blood had dripped onto the tree during the fight. It actually worked. The name of the resulting card changed to [Heart of the Frenzied Elvenwood].

Additionally, [High Noble] played its part, allowing the elven lady to hear the "revelation" for a third time. This time, the woman's voice explained the purpose of the symbols. Once all three were collected, they had to be played according to the rules of this Mysterious Realm. The method was to play the card and declare it a sacrifice.

The symbols were not objects but cards, which fit the theme of this Mysterious Realm. Furthermore, by following the realm's rules, no ritual would be necessary; the game itself would handle the process. This proved that whoever was helping Jenkins knew the specific details of this Mysterious Realm, which was astonishing.

"That's the second symbol."

A weary Jenkins placed the tree and wind cards together, then glanced at the sword, which had three uses remaining.

"Unfortunately, this sword won't work. We still need one more."

"If that one won't work, maybe we can use this."

The elf pointed to the floating platinum influence card representing her pure-blood elven identity. Jenkins immediately shook his head.

"Absolutely not. The three symbols are clearly meant for a summoning sacrifice. Sacrificing that card would almost certainly affect you directly."

"But if it truly comes to that, I am more than willing to sacrifice myself."

The pointy-eared elf looked at Jenkins with utmost seriousness.

"Fate has been kind to me. I had already reached the end of my life in that Mysterious Realm, yet you saved me. Perhaps the reason I didn't die in that Shadow Castle was because I still needed to use my life to help you."

"I have never needed to rely on the lives of others to find my way forward."

But the elven lady's gaze was anything but playful.

"You must understand the mission you now carry. I don't actually care whether human civilization survives, but I must ensure the World Tree is safe."

In the dozens of hours he had known her, she had never shown such a forceful attitude.

"You don't think I'm the kind of female elf who needs to depend on a man to survive, do you? I have my own thoughts and my own methods. So, in the coming tenth year, if we fail to find the third symbol, please do not hesitate. In the final round, use my bloodline as a symbol."

"We don't necessarily need outside help."

"World Tree, this is my own decision. You have no right to interfere."

Her mind was made up, giving Jenkins no room to object. And so, the tenth year officially began.

Due to all the preceding incidents, by the tenth year, the elven lady had almost no cards left. Jenkins, on the other hand, still had a thick stack, but most of them were [Steam]-related cards he was reluctant to use, along with the less effective [Maintain Stability] cards he'd learned from the princess.

Beyond those, he had few truly effective cards remaining. Everything depended on what events they would face next. He had a way to win, but it would only work on the very last turn.

Thirty-seventh turn. Event: [The Frantic Red Moon]. It was resolved with one [Maintain Stability], one [Astrology], one [Basic Mystic Knowledge], and one [Personal Might]. After the turn, an unexpected event occurred: [Steam].

Thirty-eighth turn. Event: [Southern Invasion]. The magic sword was used twice. At the same time, the [Steam Kingdom] influence activated on its own, ending the event and significantly reducing the probability of similar events recurring. After the turn, an unexpected event occurred: [Unexpected Inspiration], which was directly absorbed by [Steam Kingdom].

Thirty-ninth turn. Event: [Spice of Despair]. A mysterious merchant arrived in the kingdom, peddling a magical potion that could fill the desperate populace with joy. The event was not resolved. The hidden danger, [The Human Blight - Early Outbreak], vanished. The next turn would feature two black event cards, with the second guaranteed to be [The Human Blight Outbreak]. After the turn, no unexpected event occurred.

Before the fortieth turn began, Jenkins reached out and grasped the elven lady's hand, feeling how cold it had become with tension. He wasn't making an ill-timed advance; he was sending his spirit into her body, bringing her completely under his control.

The suppression from his high-elf bloodline and his identity as the World Tree Seedling instantly rendered Miss Silf immobile.

"I'm not the kind of person who doesn't know what's important, but it's not yet time for your sacrifice." This update ıs available on novel fire.net

He released her hand, watching her remain frozen in place. He had bound her spirit—a simple application of spiritual power, but one Jenkins rarely used, as he typically preferred to eliminate his enemies outright.

"So, please watch me now. If all goes well, we'll be heading to the next Mysterious Realm in a few minutes."

He cast his gaze down at his deck, then pressed both hands over it, pinning the top card beneath them.

"No matter what event comes up in the fortieth turn, I will play this card."

He looked at the living statue, the host of the Mysterious Realm. Normally, it was best to avoid looking directly at such things, but at this point, Jenkins knew exactly what he had to do.

"Let's begin the final round."

The living statue nodded, drew an event card, and tossed it into the center of the table without even looking at it, announcing:

"[End of the Epoch]."

Then, the [Steam Kingdom] influence card hovering over the table automatically absorbed the card. The living statue continued its proclamation:

"Having absorbed sufficient power and thus reached the brink of transformation, the great event [End of the Epoch] has arrived. In this turn, under the spiral of fate, a creation that should not exist will be born. The two monarchs, in their final convergence, have created a miracle—"

Every [Steam]-related card in Jenkins's deck flew out of his control and merged with the [Steam Kingdom]. He simply watched, making no move to stop the flurry of cards.

"Miracle Creation: [Great Wisdom]."

The influence card pulsed with an indescribable, multicolored light. Within that eerie, blinding glow, the power of machinery and steam began to manifest. This wasn't power descending from outside the realm; it was the Difference Engine's power hidden within the living statue's body. Once it fully formed, the kingdom would fall, and Jenkins's side would be eliminated.

In other words, the living statue, as the host, was printing a card.

Seeing this, Jenkins let out a long sigh and lifted his hands from the crucial card.

If his opponent was going to print a card, then so could he. Psychography was too crude; he wouldn't stoop to that level. He was going to play a card that was already made.

The card revealed beneath his hands was slightly smaller than the game's cards, and its design was completely different.

Jenkins spoke the card's name:

"All-Seeing Card—The World."