226 <Spoiler>
Daniel began to read the contract carefully, scrutinizing its contents. The contract had numerous clauses, but the essence of it was that the Keeper would have a 5% authority over Daniel's power. This authority would be exclusively used to help Daniel manifest his power in the form of cards and prevent any harm to the fabric of reality. The Keeper pledged not to use this authority to obstruct or harm Daniel in any way, even if it came at the cost of the stability of the fabric of reality.
After thinking for a few minutes, Daniel decided to drop his blood below the name, accepting the contract from The Keeper.
The moment Daniel accept the contract the light shone from the contracted paper before it copy it self into two, one flew toward Daniel hand while the other flew toward The Keeper and Daniel felt like he had established some sort of connection with the Keeper, he felt that the keeper could use a very small part of the power that lies dormant within him.
"Thank you for your trust, Mr. Emberweave. Your trust will not be misplaced." The Keeper said as he politely bowed toward Daniel.
"Next… the compensation." The Keeper said, then raising his hand. The space between Daniel and The Keeper distorted a little before three God cards appeared before him.
Card Name: Ares - Ravager of the Battlefield
Illustration: A muscular man clad in black, heavy Greek armor, his helmet fully concealing his head, with only his piercing red eyes emanating from the darkness within.
Type: Unique Creature - God
Mana Cost: 2 Fire, 2 Dark, 3 Non-Element
Description:
Penetration, Mitigate 3
When 'Ares - God of War' attacks, you may pay X Non-Elemental mana or X life. 'Ares - God of War' deals damage to a target creature equal to the mana or life paid this way.
Power: 7
Toughness: 7
Flavor Text: Amidst the chaos of battle, Ares emerges as an unstoppable force, transforming the battlefield into a deadly killing field.
—
Card Name: Hermes Trismegistus - Mentor of Alchemy
Illustration: An athletic man in a white Greek robe, strolling through a garden with a fountain in the background. He wears a confident smile and carries a Caduceus Staff. Humans greet him with reverence, and he reciprocates their greetings with warmth.
Type: Unique Creature - God
Mana Cost: 1 Holy, 1 Water, 1 Fire, 4 Non-Element
Description:
Drain Life, Haste
element, "Tap" and "Sacrifice" to draw 2 cards, and "Tap" and "Sacrifice" to gain 5 life.
23:44
Pay 1 Holy, 1 Water, 1 Fire: Counter target Non-Creature, Non-Artifact spell. Create an Artifact Token named "Philosopher's Stone" with the abilities "Tap" and "Sacrifice" to gain 5 mana of the chosen element, "Tap" and "Sacrifice" to draw 2 cards, and "Tap" and "Sacrifice" to gain 5 life.
At the end of each turn, create a creature token named "Apprentice Alchemist" with the abilities "Tap: Choose one - Gain 1 mana of the element of your choosing, or deal 2 damage to a selected target, or gain 3 life."
Power: 5
Toughness: 5
Flavor Text: The creator of Alchemy and the first mentor of Alchemists. Possessing vast knowledge of alchemy and an unyielding curiosity, Hermes cared more for the knowledge he shared with humanity than for Olympus's approval.
—
Card Name: Artemis - Protector of Life
Illustration: A striking woman with light green hair, clad in animal hide armor, and armed with a bow. She stands boldly, confronting an army of God's Monsters to protect a city filled with children behind her.
Type: Unique Creature - God
Mana Cost: 1 Holy, 1 Forest, 1 Water, 4 Non-Element
Description:
First Strike, Penetration,
Creatures with a combined Power and Toughness of 5 or less gain Indestructible.
If 'Artemis - Protector of Life' defeats an opponent's creature with a combined Power and Toughness of 6 or more, creatures you control receive a Strengthen Counter.
Power: 6
Toughness: 5
Flavor Text: A determined Goddess who unwaveringly adheres to her principles, safeguarding the precious lives of human offspring without fearing the wrath of Olympus.
—
Upon seeing these cards, Daniel felt a rush of adrenaline, his desire to acquire them overwhelming. However, he managed to calm himself and turned to The Keeper, who still wore a teasing smile.
"Can I have all of them?" Daniel inquired.
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Mr. Emberweave," The Keeper politely declined, still teasing Daniel with that smile.
"Fine," Daniel conceded, deep in thought.
He recollected that he had created cards for all twelve major gods of Olympus, yet only three of them could be safely actualized. This led him to wonder, was Athena, the leader of the human rebellion against Olympus, still among the living?
Drawing from his past experiences with the cards he had actualized, he noted that their memories, attitudes, and personalities aligned flawlessly with the cards. Even the lore depicted in these cards was uncannily mirrored in the real world. Did this imply that the history of this world concerning Olympus had been altered the moment he actualized Penthesilea as the first card in this set?
Thinking about Atlanteus and Vlad, he realized that people in this world recognized them for who they truly were. Envy, one of the Hightower Grand Councilors, and Greed, a knowledgeable figure, had likely conducted thorough research and background checks on both of them, yet they hadn't disclosed anything. It was apparent that they regarded Atlanteus and Vlad as authentic.
A pressing question gnawed at his mind. Did these cards encapsulate long-forgotten history that he had inadvertently woven into his cards, or had the very fabric of reality been bent by the power of these cards when he actualized them into the world, thereby reshaping the course of history? This was indeed a profoundly thought-provoking matter.
Daniel pondered for a while before deciding to choose Hermes' card as he had already informed Greed and Ragnar that his alchemy teacher was the God of Olympus, Hermes. Besides, Hermes should be able to teach others about Alchemy, freeing up his time that he spent teaching Sloth about Alchemy too.
With this decision in mind, Daniel chose Hermes' card. It promptly dematerialized, transforming into light particles that were absorbed into his body, while the other two cards vanished simultaneously.
"From this moment, the card that you'll get from the box set will be safe to actualize since the non-safe or dangerous ones will be eliminated from the possibilities for you," the Keeper said with a smile before returning behind the counter, maintaining his role as the shopkeeper.
"Well… I don't know whether to feel glad or regret about this matter," Daniel said, torn between laughter and tears.
"Of course, you should be glad, Mr. Emberweave. Because if those powerful beings from another dimension were to catch a scent about us, there will be a lot of headaches coming your way," the Keeper consoled Daniel.
"Well… It's for the best, I think," Daniel said, consoling himself.
"Of course, It's for the best," The Keeper agreed.
After that, Daniel walked toward the summoning room and started to summon Hermes. Light particles began to appear and gathered as Daniel's Merit points dwindled, stopping at 10,000. A whopping 20,000 had just been deducted from his Merit points pool.
In the vast expanse of the great nothing, far from the underworld and any known realm, a faint spark of life and consciousness began to take shape. This spark grew and pulsed with an otherworldly energy, gradually coalescing into the divine soul and form of Hermes. It was an astonishing resurrection, defying the natural order of gods and their souls, which would typically fade into oblivion upon death.
Hermes's soul and divinity traversed the unfathomable bounds of time and space, guided by the enigmatic power that Daniel wielded. Their journey led them through the mystical tapestry of the cosmos, like a night sky adorned with an infinite sea of stars, all converging towards a singular point. At the heart of this cosmic spectacle lay the core of the world, a structure resembling roots or branches woven together by incomprehensible energies.
As the divine essence of Hermes approached this cosmic nexus, it took on a distinct and recognizable form. Suddenly, amidst the stellar panorama, Hermes materialized. He stood before Daniel, his presence radiant and his eyes filled with an eternal wisdom that spanned the ages. The once-lost god had returned, brought back to existence through the improbable powers of a mortal.
"Hello, My lord. How may I help you?" Hermes inquired, a warm smile on his lips. Although he felt deep gratitude, awe, and reverence toward the mortal standing before him, his godly identity prompted him to conceal these emotions, guarding his pride.
In that moment, a flood of knowledge about the current era surged into Hermes's being. It granted him a basic understanding of the modern world.
"Ah... Mr. Hermes. Greetings. I'm Daniel Emberweave," Daniel politely introduced himself.
Hermes nodded towards Daniel, maintaining his amicable smile. "Likewise, My lord. How may I assist you?" Hermes inquired once more.
"Well, there is one thing I need to ask for your favor, but please wait for a moment. I'll tell you about it shortly," Daniel said. He then prepared to actualize Odysseus. At the moment, he needed a strategist to help him plan various military operations and provide advice on a multitude of matters.
Chapter name: Actualize Hermes
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