Iya Continent: Card God

The sea, which had been turbulent and teeming with sea monsters and bloody battles just moments before, was now calm and still. Floating on the surface was a colossal squid, hundreds of meters long. Its head had been clearly ripped open with a massive hole.

On its floating body, Linta joyfully met its friend, the merman.

"Guala guala, galalala...!" The little fishman quacked and gesticulated wildly as he spoke.

Linta, of course, couldn't understand a single word. But that didn't stop her. Linta listened attentively, sensing the sincerity of the other person's emotions.

Meanwhile, Shadi and Neino arrived at the scene. With Neino's unrestricted teleportation magic, the two arrived easily.

"What's going on?" Xia Di glanced around and asked directly.

His perception, in terms of both distance and sharpness, was far inferior to Linta's. After all, such strengths are generally most prominent among warriors engaged in hand-to-hand combat.

"Do you know each other?" Neino asked, looking down at the cheerful little fish-man.

“Yes, this is my friend, quack quack!” Linta introduced happily.

Xia Di raised an eyebrow. "You really do know everything..."

Then, Xia Di realized something and said, "My friend, if I'm not mistaken, he can command the sea monsters and fish in this area, right? According to your previous plan, with the help of my magic, he will be a great asset."

Linta's cheerful expression froze instantly, replaced by a solemn look.

Linta understood Xiadi's meaning, and also understood the role Guagaga could play if he participated in the war. But this was war. He couldn't demand that his friend fight and help. It was up to him to choose…

However, Linta knew very well...

"Quack!" Quack seemed to understand Xia Di's words; there was a time when he needed help. He didn't ask what it was about. He only knew that it concerned Lin Ta, and that he could help him! So, he would do it without hesitation!

Linta looked down at Guagaga with a helpless expression, knowing full well that he would agree.

"Don't rush to agree. Let me explain what happened," Linta said, then told him the details, the seriousness of the matter, and even the consequences. But none of this changed anything.

"Croak!"

Guagua, still excited, agreed.

“Sigh…” Linta sighed.

Afterwards, the group returned to the rocky island where Carrotte was and informed him that they had gained another member of their fighting force.

Grandma Carrot seemed to have drawn inspiration from the merfolk's assistance and immediately suggested, "Our reinforcements are not limited to this. There are many similar forces in the Bantu territory, and we can request assistance from the races of those magic forests. They have always been favored by the Delos Magic Society, and it is time for them to repay the favor."

Xia Di nodded. "That's right. If the Empire annexes Bantu, things might not be so easy for them in the future."

Linta suddenly realized something and hesitated.

The orcs of the Bigon Great Forest, and his friend Pinecone of the bear-men—their homeland. Not long ago, he had sought their help. But it was only a small favor. This time was different. This time, he would face the continent's strongest army on the front lines. Death was inevitable.

“I know the Bigon Forest. I might be able to plead with them for help. But right now, the entire Bantu is under Fernandin’s sway, and he’ll notice me if I take even one step in,” Linta said.

At this moment, Linta took the initiative to make the suggestion.

Linta realized they had to fight. This was their homeland, their place of rest and survival. Once the Empire fell, Bantu would lose all protection and face endless suffering. The magic of the past had protected them, allowing them to thrive and multiply, preventing adventurers and magic users from hunting in forbidden territory. But the Empire would not do that. The Empire valued the strong over the weak, meaning the Bigon Forest, now deprived of its protection, would be attacked and hunted by countless greedy individuals.

"How do you know everyone?" Xia Di glared at Lin Ta and said.

"Gula! Gula!" Guaga suddenly exclaimed excitedly.

Linta understood his meaning and explained to everyone, "Gua Gaga knows him too, he can go and request Bigon Great Forest to fight." Then, Linta looked at Neino, "This will have to be entrusted to you, Neino."

"Oh, um!" Neino paused for a moment, then immediately understood Linta's meaning. Linta clearly wanted him to teleport the little fishman there.

Grandma Carrotte sighed, "It's all out of necessity."

Xia Di stared intently and said in a deep voice, "There is no way out."

Linta's eyes gleamed with determination, and a voice in his heart kept telling him that he had to win!

……

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

On the Batu Plain, a massive cavalry charge, trampling the sea beneath their feet.

Another unique world, the world in the mirror.

“It’s a pity that this world can’t hold too many people, otherwise I could have trapped your entire army here,” Linta murmured.

Lieutenant General Mabrur looked grim and warily surveyed the strange world that had drawn him into Linta.

He understood that the enemy intended to defeat him here, and then create chaos in the command of the army outside.

"Ha, if you think that way, you're being too naive. The Empire's army is seasoned in countless battles and invincible. Losing a commander is nothing to worry about. Soon, a brave general will step forward and take over command!"

"Besides, I've never been the commander-in-chief. The General is! The General has always been here!"

Mabrur said firmly, "This is to thwart Linta's plans."

Linta nodded calmly, "I know."

"But while you're away, we should be able to reduce your forces considerably, right?"

Mabru's pupils dilated instantly, and his calloused hands gripping the spear tightened even more.

That's right. The sudden loss of the Imperial Army will definitely have some impact, and these impacts will be the enemy's opportunity. The enemy will take advantage of this opportunity to frantically kill Imperial Army soldiers and reduce their strength.

When the Imperial Army's forces are insufficient, even if the main force reaches the Remnant Mountains and faces the main force of the Magic Army head-on, it will find itself in a difficult situation to break through.

"So, I'll kill you! Get out of here!" Mabru said no more, pulled on the reins, and his warhorse charged forward with a neigh.

The surging, fierce magical battle force was closing in on Linta.

"Aha!"

This lieutenant general, whose fighting prowess was inferior to that of the empire's top general, launched a full-scale attack. His extraordinary spear, "Military Soul," wielded an awe-inspiring and domineering weapon. In any other small country, he would be considered the pinnacle, the strongest in his nation.

However, he was merely a lieutenant general in the most powerful empire. He was facing Linta, an even greater force.

"It's full of flaws."

Linta spoke very directly, his figure moving swiftly and easily dodging the attack and staying out of sight.

Moreover, Linta leaped up behind him, catching him off guard and leaving him no time to react.

"Cards, Jack of Diamonds, Sword!"

The bright, sharp blade gleamed; the longsword was in hand, its aura overwhelming.

"Fuck!"

With a single swing of his sword, sword energy rained down on the lieutenant general like a shower of flowers.

Immediately following was the clash of metal, a dazzling display of silver light.

"when!!!"

Lin Ta landed a certain distance away and clicked his tongue slightly.

His attack was blocked, completely blocked by the opponent's armor.

Armor that even a king-level attack cannot penetrate, the Nameless Armor, an epic-grade low-level item.