Chapter 254: with translation of chapter title

Fulei

Tianhuo

At the center of the exhibition, in front of the orderly rows of Magic Staff display cases, the black‑haired mage and the light‑gold long‑haired dragon girl gazed together at the brown‑haired long‑haired cat girl who was browsing the exhibit data; the former seemed slightly impatient.

Yuan Ban Lin

Yuan Ban Lin

Aisaierfulei·Youliyue·Mengbeilan

Lord. Aiermeluo ershi

Aomo

"At least twenty minutes? The structure of the Magic Staff here and the macro combination of spells are quite referential," Tianhuo said without lifting their head, swiping at the module explanation diagram on the light screen. "Rin, I might even finish my D‑grade spell thesis before you."

Saluomei Star People

Jialatelong King

Although no examination was conducted for the spellcaster aspect, Weicao, who had also taken the Terra Federation medical certification exam together with Luode Island's colleagues, blushed upon hearing that.

Mechanical Gemola

Fourth-Generation Secret Key

Jialatelong Card

Clock Tower

Jidong

One spoke Dongguo language, the other spoke Japanese, but essentially they were the same language, just different names; as for why Tosaka Rin reacted so strongly, the reactions of the surrounding mages who looked surprised also reveal the reason—their voices are too similar.

If Tianhuo continued to speak Hong English honestly, that would still be fine, but once she started speaking Jidong language, her and Tosaka Rin's voices are truly indistinguishable; even an electronic lock voice‑printed to match would pass just as easily.

Border Gate District

Eastflame

But once switched to Hong English, a Plain Yellow Banner London accent and a Jidong-style Hong English immediately show a difference.

It is large enough to overlook the previous 400% synchronous Hong gap, and also makes the two, when interacting, try to communicate in Hong English as much as possible, or when Tōsaka Rin speaks Japanese, Tianhuo can also understand.

Anyway, just don't use Japanese together.

Although the Jiemen District lies in the former Eastern realm, covering Dongyan and Jidong to the point that the Dongyan–Jidong language ratio is 7:3, this place is a Magic Staff communication exhibition.

Mages from outside the district coming from all over the federation to Jiemen District far outnumber the locals; Tianhuo speaking some blunt truths in Jidong that could easily offend the Magic School mages also counts as a certain degree of trouble avoidance.

But it also cannot be completely avoided.

At this moment, already several dozen unfriendly gazes have been cast this way.

There are locals who can understand Jidong themselves, and there are outsiders equipped with resident translation-function devices.

Meanwhile, the person involved pretended not to notice, staring at the screen; she wasn't completely unprepared for this situation, she just chose to rush.

Before someone could step forward and say, 'You have insulted the 1,200-year history of the Magic School; I demand you apologize immediately!', she first finished reading the remaining data and then immediately pulled the two people away.

But she and her companions had only just taken a few steps when they saw the lights in the distance flash twice, then immediately a piercing alarm sounded in the exhibition hall, and furthermore countless anti-impact magic arrays were instantly activated to counter the sudden shockwave light beam.

In the next second, the spread of the mutagenic barrier was also detected by the vast majority of mages.

……

Suddenly, the noise and whispering rose together; each mage took out their own magic device and Magic Staff, while Tianhuo and Weicao's gazes turned toward Tōsaka Rin.

What kind of look is that?!

The magician who reacted quickly to that obvious gaze, upon meeting their eyes, immediately became flustered.

"This is definitely not just a minor slip-up, right!"

—

"I've started to wonder if I might also be cursed."

On the other side of the exhibition hall, Aomo, who was still with the Dragon Manager, let out a sigh.

From their sufficiently peripheral viewpoint, they could see the bluish-black metal beast bowing toward the window and releasing a super shockwave; Aomo could also instantly recognize the monster's identity.

Mechanical Gomora, an artificial monster 44 meters tall and weighing tons.

The design clearly shows it's a mechanical monster made by Salome aliens using Gomora data, but the color scheme is off; saying it's a second or third generation also doesn't feel right.

Considering that the power gap between generations isn't that big, for Aomo now it's not really a formidable enemy on the level of King Galatron.

It might even be unnecessary for Aomo to act, given that a mage team of over a hundred people on site could handle it.

He still couldn't help falling into a delusion.

This is the second time I've heard an alarm in this kind of place; the previous few times there were still some clues, but this time…

"No curse, but being targeted is possible." The Dragon Manager narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing at the mechanical super shockwave that the heavy magic formation had blocked in the first round.

Although he doesn't really understand monsters, he is nevertheless quite familiar with monster cards.

"Its state isn't stable enough; it must be a one-time-use card summon."

"By the way, you probably don't know this yet. Just the day before yesterday, mass production of the fourth-generation Secret Key was completed; everyone in the chat room received ten samples, and the ones sent to you should arrive in the next couple of days."

"Merchants too? Wait, can that thing be distributed in dozens of copies?!"

First targeting the main suspect, Aomo suddenly realized an even more serious public safety issue.

When dangerous items in small-scale possession suddenly proliferate to this extent, and everyone can print Kartata Kai cards, he would call it a monster galactic brawl, or a monster battle royale—referring to large numbers of monsters being slain and turned into cards.

"Precisely speaking, it's ninety copies, already nearly a hundred," Xing Jialai said lightly, "but rather than worrying about this, we should focus on the present, right? You just said 'merchant,' correct?"

"You should know, the Galatron card is something I obtained from him." Aomo said honestly.

"He voluntarily pulled you into the chat on everyone's behalf; I thought you guys had reconciled… but never mind, given his nature it's not surprising." The magic dragon, seeming to have figured something out, reached into the void and pulled out two monster cards, causing Aomo to show a subtle expression.

Monster cards—but the card faces aren't monstrous enough; they're rather fantastical.

Huge wings, sharp long horns, keen claws, thick long tails… those were two giant dragons.

One of them had double horns and claws that closely resembled Xing Jialai's own appearance, while the other was a very familiar design—the Middle Eastern mythic primordial beast that upholds heaven and earth: Bahamut.

It belongs to and is like the Behemoth bestmatch in general, a disaster-ridden giant beast of two beasts in one body, but the Bahamut in this myth is fish-shaped, while what appears on his card is a very familiar chicken-chest dragon.

The dull-colored card and the slightly blurry map of Model Lake make him unable to tell whether it's the one holding the shattered 1.0 server in Weiyue, or the classic model's Li Chao Yue.

But the general rules... are a bit over the top.

By the way, it also let Aomo broaden his horizons.

Turns out that kind of thing can also count as a monster? Aomo realized that although he was open-minded about the definition of monsters, he still had some blind spots.

He hadn't considered that a giant dragon, which naturally existed for too long, was such a presence.

"The monster's controller wouldn't be a merchant; that guy, even if he wanted to take back the card on your person, wouldn't act so hastily, especially sending out just that thing…" Xing Jiali said, flicking his hand and throwing two cards into the midair.

The two cards instantly turned into streams of light, shattering the tempered-glass window; from midair formed a giant dragon not fully visible through the window, and the next second two intertwined, deafening roars came, which were once again dispelled by the anti-impact magic array.

At that moment, the Giant Dragon Manager continued his unfinished words: "No matter whether it's him behind the scenes, the other side is just probing…" "Are you alright?"

Aomo turned his head upon hearing that, looking at him in surprise as he slightly bowed; his whole face showed a faint pallor of weakness, and he hurriedly reached out to support him, while also being astonished that the other's prominent horns and claws had disappeared.

"No need to support me," Xing Jiali waved his hand, refusing Aomo's assistance, and explained consolingly: "Releasing the symbol of one's race and power will turn out like this. You should also consider whether to draw your own power to make a card."

"...?"

How can you still draw your own?

No…… it actually seems not impossible……

Aomo noticed that the new world's door opened this time had many aspects.

Drawing one's own racial traits and power to DIY one's own card, as a further replacement for the missing Belial Ultraman card originally mastered in the union, is also entirely feasible to consider.

As for this person's weak appearance before him……

"Using oneself to make a card, but what about merging with oneself?" he suddenly asked.

That caused Xing Jiali to stare for a moment, then he gave a rueful smile: "... That's also true; you and I are different—I don't like to act personally, so each time I use my own card I end up weakened."

Upon hearing this, Aomo also understood: "Merging with oneself carries no risk."

"Yes, I," "Manager——! You're here, Manager!"

The words were cut off by a sudden shout; an employee who obviously had some magical enhancement, moving as fast as a horse girl, ran over without paying attention to Aomo beside him, and hurriedly reported: "The new vote over at the Magic Union is just one vote away from your decision—would you like to take this opportunity to showcase the exhibition's new items and allow all exhibition guests to try them out?"

This left Xing Jiali stunned, while Aomo immediately reacted and asked: "Besides that monster outside, is there any other attack?"

The employee looked at him in surprise, but without delay answered: "... Yes, there's also a monster to the west, which some call an electronic mechanical Baltan alien."

That damn thing isn't a monster, is it?

But why are they all mechanical? Aomo frowned and immediately called out to Xing Jiali:

"I'll go over there to check; I have a few friends over there."

"I vote in favor." Xing Jiali first slapped the employee on the shoulder, then turned to look at Aomo.

"You're a guest, you don't need to get involved." He said, then flashed a relaxed smile.

This is largely because his horns reappeared on his head, and his ordinary hands were turning into claws covered in scales.

"First meet up with friends, then enjoy the exhibition's works and concept display."

Seeing his rather confident demeanor, Aomo, who wasn't really keen on always working, fell silent for a moment and also smiled.

"... Then I'll have to go find the best viewing spot with my friends."