The Heavenly Martial Empress Returns Chapter 333: Experimenting

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A lot of things were happening one after another. This world ended up having quite a few willing fighters and a secret that many would rather never learn if it meant provoking this series of events. Icebloom clashed against Iceblade, one of the Winter Generals who had appeared out of nowhere, killing Icebloom’s brother, Coldpincers, and calling him a traitor.

Coldpincers’ death was my fault, as I was the one who convinced them to join me in this “revolution” I was planning, which was really just about freeing them from this hellish eternal winter that had brought nothing but misery to a once-blooming world, now reduced to a couple of underground cities inhabited mostly by Red Ants. 

Icebloom’s Psychic Powers were among the most fascinating things I’d found in this world. He was indeed a unique individual, perhaps the only one of his kind to have ever developed such power. And it seemed that once he was elevated to a Frost Ant, those powers were boosted even further.

Iceblade’s swordsmanship was also incredibly sharp and top-notch. His mastery over the sword was almost supernatural, honed through years of bloodshed and battles to the death.

He swung his blade rapidly—up and down, left and right—while constantly shifting positions between the ground and air. His stance was ever-changing, and each stance amplified his techniques. They were amateur compared to what I’d mastered over thousands of years, but they were impressive, at least at the level of Sword Immortals. 

Icebloom seemed to be holding his own, but he was rapidly being pushed back and growing tired. His Psychic Power was mentally exhausting him, and his eyes and nose were constantly bleeding blue blood. He would probably pass out if this continued. 

As I watched them fight, I looked at Coldpincers’ corpse. Vulcan was by my side, and the little Baby Fire Dragon wanted to eat him as a snack, but I stopped him. Despite being a bit of a meathead, Vulcan had a good heart. Coldpincers was Icebloom’s dear brother, and letting him stay dead like this would be simply unfair. 

“I’ll revive him, but…” 

I glanced at Vulcan, who was rather hungry and beginning to lick Coldpincers’ outer shell. I quickly pushed him back gently. 

“No! Bad boy, that’s not a meal. We’ll make him your new friend—how about that?” 

“Raawr?” 

He wagged his tail curiously as I touched Coldpincers’ corpse and infused my Demonic Powers into him, rapidly elevating his existence beyond the boundaries of living beings.

Reviving him the natural way would work, and I could even empower him to the level of an Immortal, but that would feel unearned. I decided to give him another deal—one that would make him an immortal being instead.

This was an experiment too, but I was at least eighty percent sure it would work. If not, I’d revive him the normal way… if his body remained. 

“{Demonic Authority of Sloth}” 

FLUOSH! 

First, I channeled the powers I’d taken from Belphegor—his Demonic Power over the Sin of Sloth—which quickly spread everywhere, twisting reality to an extent.

Then, I applied the Ability he’d created using this Authority… or rather, the Skill I’d obtained by stealing his powers. 

“{Demonic Card Duel Mastery}: {Duel Card Creation}!” 

The power he used to create Duel Cards themselves, encasing a living or dead being into a card and making them virtually immortal—as long as their card wasn’t destroyed.

Of course, I made the cards as durable as Primordial Immortal Cultivator-level Treasures by infusing a bit of my Primordial Energies. 

FLAAASH! 

Coldpincers’ entire corpse and soul quickly gathered in the palm of my hand, twisting and transforming into a single, floating, silver-colored card. 

“It worked…!” 

Ding!

[You have successfully employed the power of the [Authority of Sloth (EX)] and the [Demonic Card Duel Mastery (S)] Skills to create the Tier 4 Duel Card: [Valiant Frost Ant Behemoth: Winter General Coldpincers]!]

[You have exchanged 200,000,000 Credits.] 

“That costs quite a lot! But I do have seven billion Credits, so I don’t care that much.” 

I shrugged, grabbing the card and summoning Coldpincers anew. His illustrated image depicted his gigantic and intimidating physique in the middle of a snow-covered mountain. 

“I summon Valiant Frost Ant Behemoth: Winter General Coldpincers in Attack Mode!” 

FLUOSH! 

The card released a bright blue light, and a giant frost ant emerged from within, glaring at his surroundings in disbelief. He had been granted a second chance. 

[Valiant Frost Ant Behemoth: (Tier 4): Winter General Coldpincers]

[LIFE POINTS: 18,000 (+20,000)]

[ATTACK POINTS: 18,000 (+20,000)]

[SPECIAL EFFECT: FROST BEHEMOTH, MARK OF THE HEAVENLY EMPRESS OF LIGHT] 

Hmm, he was quite strong. 

“W-What’s going on?!” he wondered. “I…! I’m back?!” 

“Welcome back! You’ve become a Card Monster now,” I said. “I hope you don’t mind? I’ll hold onto your Card for now to keep it safe.” 

“Card? Huh?! I feel so strong…! What is this power?! It’s not the System? Huh? Where’s the System?” He was shocked. 

It seemed he’d lost access to the System, but in exchange, he’d gained immense new power and abilities like any Card Monster. 

“Don’t sweat the details, Coldpincers. I believe someone needs your help right now,” I said, pointing into the distance. 

CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! 

Icebloom was being overwhelmed by Iceblade as the swordsman’s blade cut through his Psychic Barriers one by one, nearly reaching him. 

“Right! Icebloom!” 

Coldpincers rushed into battle, leaping into the air and descending with his full body weight and strength. A shadow loomed over the two other ants. 

“W-Wha…?! I cut you in half!” 

“Coldpincers?!” 

Iceblade was shocked, while Icebloom was overjoyed, unable to believe what his eyes were seeing. 

“I’M GONNA CRUSH YOU, ICEBLADE!” 

Coldpincers roared, slamming into Iceblade at lightning speed, hitting the ground and shattering the ice across the snowy landscape. 

BOOOM! 

“G-GRAAAGH?!” 

Iceblade vomited blue blood as he felt his body being crushed by Coldpincers’ sheer weight and strength. Icebloom rushed to join as I walked toward them slowly. 

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