The morning after the battle, Johan sat down to inspect the card that had transformed the course of the night. He drew it forth from his consciousness, marveling at how it shimmered in the non-existent light of his mind. 'It's almost like an RPG game,' he thought to himself as he took in the information displayed.
The card was marked as 'Rare', its corners gleaming with a subtle radiance. 'Rare, huh?' Johan mused, 'Well, that's an understatement.' Right beneath the quality was the realm of the monster, stating 'Tier 9 Extraordinary'. A wave of incredulity washed over him. 'Tier 9... And it's on my side.'
Below, a brief description of the ghoul was inscribed, providing an overview of its predatory prowess and unique Kagune abilities. There was something about seeing the creature's capabilities penned down that made it seem even more surreal. 'Such power... it's like a dream.'
Then came the skill category, revealing three distinct skills – two passive and one active. 'Common quality cards only have one skill,' Johan recalled, 'So this... this is exceptional.' The first passive skill was 'Rapid Regeneration', enabling the ghoul to heal from injuries at a faster rate. The second was 'Enhanced Physical Abilities', granting it superior strength, speed, and reflexes. 'Rapid Regeneration and Enhanced Physical Abilities... those certainly came in handy during the fight.'
Finally, the active skill, 'Kagune Manifestation', was the ability that allowed the ghoul to generate and manipulate its Kagune. Johan could still see the deadly appendages tearing through the ranks of the Humanoid Bats, their destructive power beyond imagination. 'This...This is no ordinary monster.'
Studying the card, Johan realized the potential of this system. The ghoul was not just a beast; it was an ally, a weapon, a guardian. And with it, he had a chance.
Looking at the ghoul's card again, Johan remembered something else. 'Right, I can extract one skill randomly from each of my summoned monsters.' The thought of acquiring a new ability was exciting, albeit a little daunting.
Following the instructions from the card, he focused his consciousness on the ghoul's card and commanded, 'Extract skill.' His vision blurred, and when it cleared, a new card floated before him, shimmering in a surreal glow. He glanced at the card and nearly fell out of his chair in surprise. 'Kagune Manifestation! I got the active skill!'
Johan felt an indescribable joy surge through him. The active skill was the ghoul's most potent ability, its primary weapon. It gave him not just the ability to summon a ghoul, but to wield its Kagune, an ability he'd only witnessed from afar until now.
He noticed that the ghoul's card had dimmed slightly. 'Extracting the skill seems to have consumed the energy of the ghoul a little temporarily?' he observed, 'I need to be careful with this in the future.'
In the quiet aftermath, Johan leaned back, his mind whirling with thoughts. 'Is this my reward for becoming a Traveler? Or did the Altar bestow me with this card?' The only clue he has was the fact that the card description said that the system was the fusion of his soul, his predecessor soul and the power of the altar - this system was beyond anything he could have imagined.
'With this card, I stand a chance. I can pass the Master Card Assessment.' The test that loomed in his future seemed less terrifying now. 'I might not just survive... I could actually thrive in this world.'
Yet beneath the excitement and hope, there was a whisper of fear. 'Power comes with a price,' he mused, 'What will this cost me? And will it be enough to keep my brother safe?'
The brief reprieve from the battle was just that—brief. Thousands of dots appeared again in the sky in the morning, twice as many as before. The humanoid bats descended on them again like a storm cloud, dark and overwhelming. The air filled with a renewed sense of dread. 'So it isn't over... not yet,' Johan thought, grimly.
As the wave of bats swooped down, his ghoul sprang into action. It moved like an acrobat in the air, striking down the bats with unexpected, peculiar angles. It maneuvered with ease, the odd angles and maneuvers of its Kagune making it a swift and deadly predator.
Watching his ghoul in action, Johan noticed something. Every time the ghoul struck down a bat, he felt a warm surge of energy. It was a strange, tingling sensation, invigorating him, heightening his reflexes, and strengthening his body. 'Is this... power transfer?' he wondered, the revelation dawning on him.
Simultaneously, a battery symbol with nine empty bars appeared in his consciousness. 'Is this... my level progression?' Each kill the ghoul made sent a small fraction of energy into the first bar, though it barely made a dent. 'This... this must be how I advance to tier 9 extraordinary... I have to fill up these bars.'
Just then, the system chimed in, explaining that he could only receive 25% of the total energy from each monster his ghoul killed. 'So, it's not going to be as easy as I thought,' Johan mused, his gaze never leaving the swarm of bats above. 'But it's something... a small step towards becoming stronger.'
Empowered by the new strength coursing through his veins, Johan gripped his AK-47 tighter. The energy from the ghoul's kills surged within him, reinvigorating his fatigued body. 'Let's do this,' he mentally steeled himself, the corners of his mouth curling up into a determined grimace.
He dashed forward, his fast-reflexes making him a blur. His ghoul fought beside him, its Kagune slashing through the air, tearing through the bats with deadly precision. It was a whirlwind of destruction, its movements fluid and unerring.
'Now, it's my turn...' Johan thought, a Kagune sprouting from his back, just like his ghoul. He could feel its weight, the alien sensation of a new appendage. He swung it awkwardly, missing his first bat. He grumbled, 'Damn, it's not as easy as it looks...'
Despite the initial clumsiness, he refused to back down. He swung again, adjusting his grip. He started to get the hang of it—awkward swings turned into purposeful strikes. A bat descended upon him, but with a swift motion, he cut it in half. It was a clean, lethal strike.
His use of Kagune was no longer awkward but lethal, as lethal as the ghoul's. A flurry of movements, a dance of death—he stood his ground. With every bat he struck down, he felt the surge of warmth, a reminder of the increasing power within him.
He heard gasps from the surrounding defenders, their eyes widened in awe and shock at his transformation. He didn't pay them any attention. His focus was solely on the battle, the swarm of bats, and the energy filling him up bit by bit.
'Although I'm still far from filling one bar, it's an improvement,' Johan mused as he fought. His mind was clear, focused. Despite the chaos around him, he felt an odd sense of calm. 'I can do this... I must do this. For them... for everyone.' His newfound resolve resonated within him, pushing him to fight harder.
His ghoul continued its onslaught, their combined efforts pushing back the wave of bats. Yes, they were making a difference—a significant one.
'Just keep fighting... just keep pushing,' he told himself as he met the next wave of bats head-on. His Kagune gleamed under the moonlight.