The Amber Sword

Andrea offered to summon her underlings to the battlefield, but Brendel rejected the idea after some thought. Low-leveled underlings had no place in fights of this scale.

The rejected vampiress clicked her tongue in annoyance. Seeing that Brendel was still resisting, the Pendulum Golem threw out another card, summoning a four-armed female mage with metallic-grey skin and a tall frame. She was at least two heads taller than the average person, boasting a long and slender neck. Her head was completely bald, allowing the protruding nerves on her scalp to be seen by all. Her face and shoulders were also decorated with strange patterns.

Brendel was wondering if this was the Ekronian Spellweaver. Before he could complete the thought, the Ekronian Spellweaver, with a staff in one hand, started weaving mysterious runes, and invisible bindings wrapped around Brendel.

However, before the bindings could activate properly, it disappeared without a trace. Brendel couldn’t help but laugh out loud. You idiot! Didn’t you know that spells below ten circles are ineffective against me! However, the Pendulum Golem threw out another card before Brendel could stop laughing.

“Death Sentinels!”

Another gate of blinding light appeared, and out came ten more black-armored soldiers. Not only that, every creature that had been defeated was replaced by another Death Sentinel. Soon, there were even more Death Sentinels than before.

“Shit! They just keep coming!” Brendel was frustrated at the Golem’s seemingly endless hand of cards. Normally, it was the player who had plethoras of tactics and methods to deal with the Boss, but today he was the one being toyed with.

Brendel activated his Planeswalker system, preparing to pull out a card as his final struggle.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from within the darkness, “You Pendulum monster, when did this become your territory? What gives you the right to act so high and mighty?” Brendel turned to the voice and saw a Spear of Light pierce through the darkness, hitting a Death Sentinel square in the chest. The Spear seemed to be specially made to attack Dark creatures, as divine flames scorched the Death Sentinel’s body, reducing him to a pile of smoldering ash.

What’s going on?

Momentarily stunned, Brendel saw a tall and slender lady walk into the light, a warm glow emanating from her body. To be more precise, only her top half was human, her lower half was that of a white doe. Normally, hybrid creatures such as these were known as demons in the game. The doe demoness wore a white feather ornament on her crown and wielded a Spear of Light in her hand. Her bust was covered by a sash, showing off her lithe hips. Her lips were pursed, and the ghost of a smile could be faintly detected. Her golden hair cascaded down her shoulders, giving her the appeal of a goddess.

The doe demoness was constantly emitting a soft glow, chasing away the shadows within the room. She walked to Brendel’s side, like she was his comrade, and said, “Pendulum monster, isn’t he a Planeswalker? How dare you treat our guest this rudely?”

The sudden twist of events left Brendel and Orthylss shocked, only Andrea seemed undisturbed by the circumstances. The Pendulum Golem obviously knew who the newcomer was. His facial expression twitched slightly. “Hmph. Ina, I don’t mind that you’re always butting heads with me. But even in front of an outsider, you want to show me your traitorous back?”

After hearing that, the doe demoness Ina doubled over with laughter. “What traitor? You make it sound so serious. When our master enforced the ban, he merely said that normal people are not allowed to enter. But this handsome young man obviously has the right qualifications. Pendulum monster, do you really want our Master’s legacy to be forgotten?”

Brendel felt that there was a deeper meaning to the word “legacy” for the people in this world. Even the Pendulum Golem paused to think seriously for a moment. In the end, he shook his head, “As long as our master does not give his permission, no is no.”

The golem started preparing for its next move.

“So narrow-minded. Fine, I’ll beat you into submission. After all, I didn’t think you would agree anyway.” Even though the demoness looked friendly, she actually enjoyed violence. She would use the slightest excuse to start a fight. Brendel was worried by the two’s exchange of words. What is wrong with these two people? What is happening? Brendel thought that it was strange enough that there was an array so big under a nameless tomb.

He hurriedly grabbed Ina and said, “Wait a second! What is going on here?” Unfortunately for Brendel, due to Ina’s height, his hand ended up at an inappropriate spot on her body. Ina was taken aback by Brendel’s actions. She stared at his awkwardly positioned hand and smiled, “What’s wrong, young man? Interested in me? Let’s discuss this matter somewhere private after I’m done here.”

“You shameless bastard!” Orthylss’s voice echoed in Brendel’s head. “Wait... Brendel, could it be that you’re actually going to ‘discuss’ with her?”

“Of course not!” Brendel yelled back and rolled his eyes at her. He said to the doe demoness, “This lady, I don’t think we are acquainted yet?”

“So that was the problem. It’s fine since you are that Pendulum Golem’s enemy, which means I’m on your side. Allow this sister to help you to defeat this wooden brain. It’s been here for so long that it has already rusted!” Ina said confidently.

What exactly is going on?! Brendel’s head was spinning at the sudden turn of events. However, he doubted the demoness’s boasting. If she were really able to beat the Golem up whenever she liked, why would she look so cautious? This lady was obviously trying to use Brendel to get back at the Pendulum Golem.

Brendel had seen this a lot of times, so he would not be tricked so easily.

“Fine.” Seeing that she could not convince him, she shrugged, “No matter what, the wooden brain won’t let you go. If we join forces to subdue him, only then will he be willing to converse with you. Can you accept this reason? You sly little fellow?”

That’s reasonable. Brendel saw that the Pendulum Golem was preparing to attack. He replied coolly, “Fine, I’ll fight by your side, but don’t expect me to trust you just yet.”

“That’s some big talk, but I’ll go along with your wishes,” Ina chuckled in reply. She couldn’t resist one more question, “Aren’t you afraid that I’d get mad and walk away? This metalhead might have a rusted brain, but he is still a formidable opponent you cannot hope to defeat.”

Brendel glanced at her. Normally, he would not try to converse with creatures whose backgrounds are unknown. However, he really needed the help right now, and he could detect a familiar aura about the demoness as well as the Golem. It was the aura of a Planeswalker.

But he was sure neither of them were Planeswalkers.

Brendel suspected that both of them were ties to Planeswalker Kelsie and his legacy, so he was willing to put up with this chatter for now.

He thought for a moment before replying, “Even if you leave, I’ll still be fine. After all, I have the most faith in myself, plus I don’t think that I’m not a match for that Pendulum Golem.”

“Oh?” Ina raised an eyebrow in surprise. “I suppose I shall see for myself.”

“If you’re done with the bullshit, then start your attacks,” the Pendulum Golem interrupted them. It snickered coldly, “An ‘apprentice’ who uses a sword and an immature creature claim that they can beat me, what a joke. Ina, once I’m done dealing with this fellow, I’ll let you know the price of betrayal.”

Once the Golem’s deep metallic voice faded, it raised its brass staff, and the ground started trembling. A beetle with a metal carapace broke through the ground’s surface. A closer look from Brendel confirmed that it was actually a beetle-shaped automaton. It was a ball of metal with three pairs of claws attached to it.

Once the automatons appeared, the cog above the Pendulum Golem started spinning.

“Be careful,” Ina warned Brendel as a friendly neighbor would. “The card it is casting is from the deck known as Adversity of Darkness. That thing above his head is the core of the deck. Using its special ability, it can link all the other cards in the deck.”

Brendel took a look at her. “Your’s is Paradise of Purity, isn’t it?”

Ina was slightly taken aback. “So you do know? Indeed it is,” She nodded proudly.

She raised her hand and waved. Three shining cards descended from the skies. Once the white light disappeared, a white-robed, barefooted teen holding a trumpet appeared by her side. On her other side was a pure white grimoire floating in midair. Lastly, a soldier covered in white armor stepped out of the gate wielding a spear in its hands.

“Glorious Trumpeter, Grimoire of Life, Glorious Sentinels. These are my cards,” Ina pointed at each of her summonses, introducing them to Brendel.