142 Integration

Under normal circumstances, if he were to lay eyes on this card—even if it had been drawn directly from the system—Joss would, 99.9999% of the time, assume the thing was absolutely nothing more than a playing card.

Even if it bore the insignia of an SR, SSR, or even a UR, the object was unquestionably just a card.

At most, it might be some sort of holographic card, gold foil card, or special commemorative edition.

Yet right now, what was written on the system interface was:

[Name: Polymerization]
[Rarity: SSR]
[Effect: After completing the full sequence of card-drawing, activation gestures, and declarations, fuse two items together. All attributes of the final product will surpass the combined total of the raw materials.]
[PS: The two fused entities can be real-world items, system items, or a combination of both.]
[PS2: However, to avoid moral, ethical, and other related issues, this card cannot be used on living beings.]
[PS3: Making you think I was going to give you something weird when I actually gave you something normal is also a form of misdirection, isn't it?]

Well, just as the final postscript suggested, Joss was currently genuinely, utterly bewildered.

This thing could actually be used!

Although it differed somewhat from the original monster fusion, it was actually much more practical for Joss.

After all, apart from a certain headache-inducing goblin, his inventory of creature cards consisted only of a few flies, mosquitoes, and toads drawn later on. Even in all his boredom, he wouldn't stoop to wasting this rare opportunity on such trash.

Still, while this unexpected windfall arrived quite abruptly, Joss felt not the slightest hesitation regarding what to do. He immediately pulled out the blade he had previously snatched from one of the Grandmaster's subordinates.

Because it was not a system item, no item description was provided, leaving Joss entirely in the dark regarding the sword's nature and origins.

However, based on his experiments during moments of leisure, the blade's abilities bore a striking resemblance to a Muramasa. Aside from granting the user formidable power, its material was exceptionally hard, sharp enough to slice through blocks of iron as easily as if they were tofu.

Although it fell far short of the genuine Muramasa's might—which could sever things directly at the atomic level—it was nonetheless an excellent weapon.

Joss suspected this was likewise forged by the legendary master swordsmith Muramasa, though naturally not on the same tier as the masterpiece bearing his own name; it was likely a practice piece crafted prior to that legendary blade.

Having personally experienced the sword's power, Joss certainly wouldn't underestimate its value. Even if it weren't a true Muramasa and merely a practice work, its destructive force approached the level of a quasi-divine artifact.

Yet this presented a new problem: Joss already possessed the greatsword Mercy, a brutal weapon virtually tailor-made for him.

While fighting styles like dual-wielding did exist in this world, no matter how one looked at it, pairing a massive sword weighing three to four hundred catties and standing one point six to seven meters long with a normal-sized samurai sword definitely did not fall into that category.

He had to admit that the appearance of the Polymerization card was truly timely. Joss had previously intended to ask Tony if these two weapons could be modified and fused together, but now it seemed that would be unnecessary.

After all, when all is said and done, blades forged by Muramasa leaned less toward technology and more toward the mystical realm; they involved souls and bizarre materials that were far from ordinary, meaning even Tony Stark might well have been unable to do anything with the sword.

With his mind made up, Joss naturally saw no reason to hesitate. He simply placed the Mercy greatsword—which he had finally grown accustomed to during this period—side by side with the samurai sword, and then drew out the Polymerization card.

"Draw! Activate Spell Card—Polymerization!"

Although no one else was around, Joss still felt a tinge of embarrassment performing the elaborate routine of a card duel. Fortunately, the motion wasn't as prolonged as the Diamond Dust Fist, and the activation succeeded in a single instant.

The card held in his palm lifted into the air, hovering above the two weapons before abruptly shattering into myriad points of light that rained down, enveloping both items and transforming them into a massive cocoon of light.

This bizarre phenomenon did not last long before the colossal light cocoon began to shrink gradually, ultimately resolving into a sphere of light roughly one point two to three meters in diameter—appearing to be right at the average size of the two weapons.

Joss wasn't worried that the newly created item would turn out inferior to the old ones. After all, deceptive as the system could be, its item descriptions had never once been wrong. Since it stated the new item would surpass both originals, the new weapon would definitely outclass them both.

The fusion process encountered no unexpected hitches. After the light sphere maintained its form for another dozen seconds or so, it dissipated to reveal the object resting within.

The appearance of the item leaned closer to the aesthetic of the Mercy greatsword—a combination of high technology and cold steel, with streamlined components interlocking to exude an innate industrial beauty.

Across a main body forged from unknown materials, currents of energy rippled. It was impossible to tell whether they were electrical currents or the power of souls, but at the very least, it looked thoroughly impressive.

Even before checking its performance metrics, the exterior alone—which simultaneously captured the sci-fi brutality of the Mercy greatsword and the elegant, archaic charm of the mystical samurai sword—was quite satisfying.

Except for one detail that left Joss profoundly dissatisfied.

"So why the hell did my two swords fuse into a shield?! Are you trolling me, you little brat?!"

Clutching the shield in his hands, Joss felt a mouthful of bitter complaints rise to his throat, stubbornly refusing to come out.

Looking at the result of the fusion, Joss was stunned on the spot. Where were his magnificent, long swords? They had been right there a moment ago—why had they turned into a shield?!

Who on earth would believe such a thing if he told them?!

Regrettably, the system offered no undo function. The shield born from the sacrifice of two weapons floated quietly before Joss, as if mocking him in silence.

"Tch... Whatever. A shield is a shield; if worst comes to worst, I'll just ask Tony to forge a brand new weapon for me."

Although feeling depressed, Joss was broad-minded enough to let it go. As long as Tony remained alive, he would never lack for equipment; at worst, he would simply be without a weapon for a short while.

As for whether a shield was actually any good, opinions would vary depending on who you asked. However, considering how many deities and demons Steve had beaten to submission using a mere round shield, Joss believed no one would dare call a shield useless.

Forcefully rationalizing the situation to himself and managing to soothe his nearly blood-spitting heart, Joss took a deep breath, lifted the brand-new shield, and carefully examined its capabilities.

"Huh...?"

Disbelieving his own eyes, Joss read through the description from start to finish once more.

"So this thing is literally designed to screw me over, isn't it?!"