Chapter 5 - Activate!

The potential of the person is determined by the quality of cards. Johan began to obtain relevant knowledge after sleepless nights of research.

One can level up by exercising and meditation while eating monster/beast meat and monster/beast cores. But promotion to next tier needs an mystic potion that can only be created by rare materials.

After promotion, one can't level up for a certain amount of time because of the need for stabilization and digestion. It takes months or even years. Battles and physical training can speed up the digesting process.

Their energy level increase and reach a certain number to meet the requirements for promotion. Every promotion would lead to qualitative changes. Every tier would give boost on all attributes, and damage percentage.

For now, Johan couldn't feel the so-called energy on his body. After all, he was still just a regular human. He needs to eat monster meat to gain energy inside his body and the so-called mystic potion to become a Card Master!

Energy can be used as fuel for activating card's abilities. The stronger the energy the stronger the effect of ability.

Talent can determined the speed of improvement. Card gave users random abilities of the entity when equipped. Every person has 1 slot

Card can be synthesized by corresponding materials -Formula of cards can be learned after stabilizing the card. Card stabilization happened after mastering the ability and through battles. Stabilization period are long. 1 year or even 2 year.

Materials are divided like cards quality. Can upgrade the card with corresponding materials. Materials can be sought on trading markets, blackmarket and other channels Every monster would drop 1 items corresponding to their rank.

If the dungeon was cleared for the first time it was 100% drop, if it was already cleared it has 45%. Yes, there are dungeons in this World and monsters can drop cards which contains treasure or materials.

Human cards rarity: Iron, Bronze, Gold, Diamond, Platinum, Radiant and Divine...

Monster card quality: Common, Rare (1), Unique (2), Epic (3), Legendary (4), Mythical (5), Divine (6)...

Monster and Card Master Realm: Tier 9 Extraordinary, Tier 8 Superhuman, Tier 7 Flying: Tier 6 Epic... As for Tier 5 below, he couldn't get anymore information.

'My first step is to become Tier 9 Extraordinary Master Card!' Johan clenched his fist. As for what quality the card he had in his consciousness, he has no way of knowing. However, he was sure that it shouldn't be lower than Diamond because of its mere presence.

...

Morning came to Jurica City, bringing with it a renewed sense of hope and expectation. Johan woke up early, his heart pounding with excitement. He still felt the card's presence, an unyielding energy lurking just beneath his skin.

"I can do this," Johan whispered to himself, rising from his bed with a newfound determination.

His day started with meditation. He settled down on the floor, cross-legged and focused. He drew in deep breaths, his mind reaching out towards the pulse of the card within him. Yet, despite his best efforts, the connection felt flimsy, out of reach.

Johan frowned, a thread of frustration uncoiling within him. He tried again, concentrating harder this time, but it was as though the card was shrouded behind a veil he couldn't penetrate. He sighed, breaking away from the futile attempt.

His next idea was to try a more hands-on approach. He stood in the middle of the room, hands clenched at his sides, his gaze focused inwardly.

"Activate," Johan commanded. Silence followed. He tried again, raising his voice this time. "Activate!"

Yet, the room remained as quiet as before. The only sounds were the distant hum of the city and the frustrated huff from Johan.

"Why won't it work?" Johan muttered, his initial excitement fading into frustration. He threw himself on the bed, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. "Maybe it's not real. Maybe I am imagining things? No! This should be a real card just like what that Tier 7 guy used."

The frustration hung in the air, a palpable cloud that dulled the early morning light streaming in from the window. Despite the setback, Johan's determination remained. He knew he had a long journey ahead to uncover the secrets of the card.

...

Johan's next move was to consult others. He headed to the city's bustling marketplace, hoping to find some answers among its vibrant labyrinth of stalls and shops. His eyes darted across the crowd, watching as people haggled, laughed, and exchanged stories.

"How does one activate a card?" he asked a local merchant, careful to keep his voice low.

The merchant scratched his chin. "Well, lad, it's not something you can just do on a whim. It takes skill, focus, and a strong connection with the card."

But Johan already knew that. He had tried, but nothing had happened. His heart sank a little. He thanked the merchant and moved on, weaving his way through the crowd, asking similar questions, and receiving similar answers.

Disappointment gnawed at him as he made his way to the library. He had hoped for some secret knowledge, some hidden clue about his unique card. Yet all he got were generalities, things he already knew from his initial research about Card Masters.

In the library, he buried himself in books and digital databases. Hours bled into each other as he flipped through pages and scrolled through screens, looking for anything that might help. Yet, every attempt was met with more disappointment.

Despite the growing frustration, Johan's dedication didn't wane. He was tireless, flipping through one more page, reading one more article, holding onto the hope that he'd find something. But as the library's closing time approached, he had to admit defeat.

Johan left the library, the weight of disappointment heavy in his chest. Despite his day-long search, he was no closer to understanding his card than he had been in the morning.

...

The city lights of Jurica City were a blur through Johan's eyes as he walked aimlessly. The excitement of the morning had been replaced by a cloud of disappointment and frustration. His mind was a whirlpool of questions he couldn't answer, doubts he couldn't dispel.

Back at their apartment, he sat alone in the dimly lit room, staring at the shimmering card that seemed just as elusive as ever. "Why can't I understand you?" he muttered under his breath, feeling a twinge of desperation. He had hoped for something more, something extraordinary. Yet, all he had now was an unfathomable enigma and a growing sense of despair.

His brother, Miles, walked in and found him in the gloom. He didn't say anything at first, just sat down next to Johan and looked at the card with him.

"You're trying too hard," Miles said softly, breaking the silence. "You're not alone in this, remember? We're in this together."

Something about his brother's words, his unwavering belief in him, touched a chord in Johan. He looked at Miles, his heart filling with gratitude and a new sense of resolve. He wasn't alone in this. He had his brother by his side, his unwavering support.

With a deep breath, Johan stood up. He put the card away carefully, his gaze steady. The day had been long and filled with disappointment, but it was far from over. He still had a mystery to solve, a card to understand.

As he looked out of the window at the sprawling city, he knew his journey was only beginning. His resolve hardened. He would keep trying, keep pushing until he understood his card, no matter what. His journey as a potential Card Master was far from over. It had only just begun.