Don't confiscate my identity as a human race

Why not seize this once-in-a-lifetime chance to step into the Ninth-order.

It wants a stable happiness!

"Indeed, I feel you've grown much stronger."

Lanci agreed.

When Cat Boss was at Eighth-order, he had magic strength comparable to a Fifth-order.

Now that he has reached Ninth-order, even among Sixth-orders, he should not be underestimated.

To leap over three orders, that's just too abnormal.

"Meow?"

Cat Boss raised its head, saw Lanci with a serious and thoughtful expression, and slowly put down Lanci and Tata.

It seemed like Lanci was thinking about something very impolite again!

Before Cat Boss could question Lanci, Talia, out of curiosity, crouched down and petted Cat Boss.

"Speaking of which, Cat Boss, now that you're Ninth-order, can't you transform into a human?"

Talia asked.

In the Old Demon World where she came from, magical beasts would naturally start transforming at Seventh-order without actively learning Transformation Magic, and the slower ones mastered this talent at Eighth-order. But Talia had never heard of a beast at Ninth-order that could not transform into a human.

"Meow meow? Does every beast at Ninth-order naturally transform?"

From what Tata said, it seemed like all of them could, except for Cat Boss.

But it really didn't feel like it had figured out any Transformation Magic.

If it really wanted to walk on two legs, it would still need to rely on Transformation Magic: Human made by Lanci.

"..."

Talia's gaze suddenly became rather pitiful.

"Tata, don't you start being rude too, meow!"

Cat Boss felt like Talia's gaze was asking it, "Have you opened it, I mean your intelligence."

"No, no way."

Talia shook her head in denial.

"No, it's not that I can't transform, it's just that there's really no need to be human. If you, Tata, try being a cat once, you'll know, meow, being a cat is truly comfortable. On the other hand, a human body is full of difficulties and it's hard to maintain balance!"

Cat Boss looked up and explained earnestly to Talia.

"Sorry, Cat Boss, I really didn't mean to mock you."

Talia stroked Cat Boss's back, comforting the little black cat.

She respected Cat Boss much more than Lanci did; she and Cat Boss had been close friends ever since she arrived in Ichrite.

It's just that she didn't take Cat Boss's words to heart.

She was accustomed to a humanoid form and didn't see any issue with it.

"The reorganization of Shadow World is almost finished; the settlement should also be completed soon."

Lanci, reading the text from the Shadow World, said to Talia.

Right now, their moods were very relaxed.

Talia stood up and waited with Lanci for the final settlement rewards of Shadow World.

"It would be great to get a Seventh-order Chimera Decree for you; that Sealing Skill is so versatile."

She said to Lanci.

In the Mirror of Tiberius, she and Lanci had seen the spells once mastered by Lankros.

The most likely rewards Lanci could get were related to the two final formidable foes he defeated, Blasphemous Lord Melogast or Third Ancestor Duke Rashar, and of course, it might also relate to Black Sun Lord Lankros whom he had portrayed.

Probably a draw from these three pools.

"That would be indeed nice."

Lanci had experienced the spell within the Mirror of Tiberius and also felt it was a universal spell.

Chimera Decree could seal a target that couldn't move or was much weaker than oneself into a chimera pillar, and the seal couldn't be broken unless the pillar was destroyed from either inside or outside.

Sometimes it could also be used for defense just before an enemy's attack landed.

These were all Lankros's techniques.

"Let's just skip Immortal Eternal Penalty; it would be a success not to get that one."

Talia had an aversion to the other Sealing Skill.

Even though it was Lankros's signature spell, its side effects were too severe.

Using Immortal Eternal Penalty would likely scare the Ancestor of the Blood Clan with the black centipede mark that would appear on one's face, but if that situation occurred, it would surely be a dire situation similar to Lankros's.

No matter what, Talia did not want Lanci to use that spell again.

If Lanci were to get it, he might actually use it.

The only consolation was, at least she could back Lanci up; in the worst case, she could turn Lanci into her Servitor before he became one of The Undead, to exist together with her forever, and when her life reached its end, she would also help her Servitor gain release.

"Please, Master, having me as a Servitor would make you check your blood pressure every day."

Lanci heard what was on Talia's mind.

He wasn't sure whether to thank her or to ask her not to think that way.

"What to do, we've muddled through for so long; I can't just let my only apprentice die like that, right?"

Talia's train of thought was interrupted, and she reflexively responded,

"No, that's not what I mean..."

Before Talia could explain any further, she noticed a new change.

[Blood Moon Bad World final node, rewards for Lanci & Talia & Yami have been anchored.]

The vibrant-hued light clusters began emerging from the void.

The first to appear, like a planet, approached Cat Boss.

"Why is this card so bright...?"

Cat Boss stared at its most dazzling pink light cluster with its mouth agape.

It had seen Pink Sacred Magic Cards before but had never laid eyes on such blinding magical brightness.

"This could possibly be a Ninth-order Magic Card, even rarer than an Eighth-order Magic Card."

Talia focused on the pink light cluster and judged.

Magic Cards of Eighth-order were rarely seen at auctions convened by the Southern Continent Card Maker Association.

Natural Magic Cards usually bear relevance to the challenged Shadow World not of the present era and contain magical principles, thus often holding more value than a synthetic card of similar quality and order.