...
The cards hovered in front of Cassian like tiny pieces of destiny, each one pulsing with its own distinct energy. Eleven in total, arranged in a mesmerizing display of power, their colors shifted and flickered like embers in the dark.
Damn, their designs are so cool… I wonder what they do.
The red cards glowed with an intense rage and feeling of destruction, tiny sparks dancing around their edges. The white ones shimmered with a serene brilliance, exuding a sense of peace and order, their power steady and unwavering like the quiet rhythm of a well-kept world. And then there was the colorless one, an eerie absence of light that somehow stood out more than the rest, whispering secrets he couldn't yet understand. Cassian felt something deep inside him stir—a long-buried childhood excitement mixed with raw, unrestrained awe. This was it. This was the moment God know how many times he had dreamed of. The moment when he finally gained powers.
But under these circumstances… I would give up everything just to have Mom back…
Taking a deep breath, he shook his head focusing on the cards.
Okay, okay, Cassy, calm down; Just like how Dr. Kevin taught deep breaths and close those emotions... I need to focus on present...Fuuu
That's better I guess... Let's see what we have got here first…
He rubbed his palms together before reaching out toward one of the red cards first. The instant his fingertips brushed against it, the other ten cards vanished, leaving only the one in his grasp.
"Wait—what?" Cassian's heart nearly jumped out of his chest as he spun around, frantically looking for where the others had gone. Before panic could fully sink in, a glowing notification appeared before his eyes.
[DING! THE REST OF THE CARDS CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH WILL AND ARE STORED IN YOUR SOULKEEP. TO SEE THEM PHYSICALLY, YOU NEED TO SUMMON YOUR SOULKEEP OR CHECK THEIR NAMES AND SUMMARIES IN THE SYSTEM PANEL]
Cassian let out a slow breath, hand over his chest. "Right, okay. No need to freak out," he muttered, his grip tightening on the single remaining card.
Now that he had a chance to inspect it up close, he noticed how different it felt from a regular playing card. It was larger, with a cool, metallic texture. The edges were lined with a deep crimson glow. The back of the card was etched with an intricate infinity symbol, formed entirely out of golden sand, shifting as if the grains were still falling through an invisible hourglass. His grip tightened as he turned it over to the front.
At the top, written in burning script, was the name—Varhana, the Molten Realm.
Beneath it, a circular emblem of flickering flames was embossed, and even just holding the card made his fingers feel warmer. But the real jaw-dropper was the artwork.
It depicted a volcanic landscape, the earth splitting apart as rivers of molten magma surged down jagged slopes. The sky was thick with ash, a storm of fire and destruction raging across the world. And then Cassian noticed it. The magma was moving. Not like an illusion, not like a simple glowing effect—the molten rivers were actually shifting, flowing down the volcano, reshaping the terrain in real-time.
That's indeed cool… Damn
A shiver ran down his spine, excitement and disbelief blurring together in his chest. His eyes drifted down to the text beneath the image.
___________________________________________
Varhana, the Molten Realm[ 火 ]
___________________________________________
Attunement: Destruction
[COMMON]
___________________________________________
❂ "Where earth meets flame, chaos is born.
Varhana's molten heart never rests,
forever reshaping the world in its wake."
— Chronicles of the Unbound Realms
❂ "Ash and fury are the breath of Varhana.
Those who attune to it wield devastation."
___________________________________________
Cassian read it twice, then frowned. "Wait… that's just lore? No description of how to actually use it?"
His fingers tightened around the edges. "Does it activate when I hold it? Do I need to chant something? Or—"
Without thinking, he bent the card slightly, testing its flexibility.
[DING! ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⏃ WARNS YOU NOT TO DO THAT YET…]
"Huh?" Cassian barely had time to process the warning before the card pulsed with heat—then vanished. Right into his chest.
Cassian's breath hitched, his muscles seizing as an intense wave of pain slammed into him. Sweat poured down his forehead as he gasped, his hands clawing at his chest.
[DING! ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⏃ GRABS THEIR POPCORN]
"Arghh—!"
Cassian crumpled onto the floor, rolling onto his side as he writhed in agony. His heartbeat pounded like war drums in his ears, each pulse sending shockwaves of molten fire through his veins. It felt as if lava was consuming him from the inside out. He barely managed to suck in a ragged breath; his fingers dug into the ground.
What the fuck is happening? Argggh!
Minutes stretched into eternity. Gritting his teeth, he endured. Gradually, the heat in his chest cooled, the flames subsiding to a dull warmth. His breaths came in slow, uneven gasps as he wiped the sweat from his brow. His fingers trembled as he pushed himself up, slumping back onto the sofa. Every muscle in his body ached, but he was alive.
That was brutal… Holy hell, that hurt.
As if waiting for him to regain his composure, a new set of notifications appeared.
[DING! YOU HAVE ABSORBED AN ATTUNEMENT CARD FOR THE FIRST TIME! BONUS REWARDED]
[DING! STATS INCREASED AND UPDATED]
Cassian exhaled sharply, still feeling the remnants of the pain buzzing in his nerves. "Okay… what the hell was that? Did I mess something up…?"
He didn't have to wait long for an answer.
[DING! ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⏃ ENJOYED THE SHOW. THEY SIGH, OH HOW GOOD WERE THE DAYS WHEN THEY WERE ALSO NEW TO THE MYSTERIES…]
[DING! ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⏃ ADVISES YOU TO CHECK YOUR STATUS]
Cassian let out a sharp, exhausted laugh, wiping his face with the sleeve of his borrowed uniform.
"You're having way too much fun with this," he muttered, shaking his head. Despite the irritation, his curiosity burned brighter. Whatever had just happened—it had changed something.
"Fine," he muttered, rolling his shoulders and straightening his posture. "Let's see what's different."
Taking a steady breath, he called it forth.
"Status."
The translucent screen materialized before him once again, but this time, something was different. The text shifted; numbers and symbols rearranged themselves before settling into place.
And the numbers have changed.
WELCOME TIMEBOUND, CASSIAN CAINE
A Story Nearing Its End: [07: 16: 18: 47]
Age: 17 years
Ascension: 0th
Origin Card: LOCKED
Current Level: Trial of Worth
Life Crystal State: LOCKED
[STATS]
❂ CREATION: 0th Star [0/10]
❂ DESTRUCTION: 0th Star [2/10]
Substats:
Strength → 3 » 5 (+1 +1)
Modifiers:
Power → 2% increase
❂ KNOWLEDGE: 0th Star [0/10]
❂ SACRIFICE: 0th Star [0/10]
❂ VOID: 0th Star [0/10]
Remark: A stupid hooman, cannon fodder who now at least has average strength.
Cassian ran a hand through his hair, staring at the numbers.
"Huh. So now I've got 2/10 in the Destruction stat... so that's what absorbing an Attunement card does." His mind clicked the pieces together as he muttered, "So absorbing Attunement cards increases my core five stats."
His eyes shifted to the newly appeared Strength substat, which had risen by two points.
"I started with 3, and now it's 5." He clenched his fist, feeling the newfound power coursing through his limbs. "And there's this 2% increase in power… so if that's a modifier, does that mean I can exert 2% more force? or does my damage have a 2% bonus?"
Curious, Cassian rolled his shoulders, feeling lighter and stronger. He cracked his neck, then bent his knees and placed his hands beneath the sofa. With a deep breath, he lifted.
"heuppp!"
The sofa rose effortlessly. "Whoa, damn, this is easy."
His muscles strained slightly, but it wasn't difficult. The weight—probably around 40-50 kg—felt like lifting a heavy backpack rather than a cumbersome piece of furniture. Cassian grinned, lowering the sofa back into place before flopping onto it, his mind racing.
"Okay… this is real. I'm getting stronger," he muttered. "If Destruction increases strength and power, then Knowledge must increase intelligence or mental capacity. Creation could boost vitality, constitution... or maybe it's related to crafting or summoning."
His fingers tapped against the grimoire in thought.
"But Void and Sacrifice…" His eyes darkened. "I have no idea what those do."
Leaning back against the sofa, he exhaled sharply, staring at the ceiling. "Now the important part—should I absorb the other Attunement cards?"
He brought his grimoire forward, running a hand over its surface. His Soulkeep had slots for Attunement cards, meaning it could be equipped rather than absorbed.
Let's check everything first… I don't wanna mess up anything.
Before he could decide, another notification blinked into existence.
[DING! ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⏃ ADVISES YOU TO OBSERVE AND CHECK YOUR SOULKEEP THOROUGHLY, LEST YOU MAKE A BLUNDER AND END THIS RUN THEY HAVE BEEN ENJOYING]
Cassian's lips twitched. "Run? Blunder? Haa… you sure know how to make things sound ominous. Feels like I'm in a sim and people are watching… was that how Truman felt… hmmm, this is more psychological," he muttered, shaking his head.
"Alright, fine. The system said my cards are stored in my Soulkeep, so let's check that first."
Closing his eyes, Cassian made the infinite symbol, tracing it in the air with his finger. The moment the symbol was complete, his Soulkeep materialized. The ancient, glowing book hovered above his hand, its golden runes flickering along the cover.
"Man, I love this feeling," he admitted, watching as the book pulsed with life. "The summon animation is really damn cool."
Taking a deep breath, he refocused.
Task 1: Check all the cards first.
Task 2: No bending of any cards this time.
Task 3: Figure out how to equip them.
Task 4: Use them and be cool.
His grimoire opened, revealing its familiar three-panel page layout. The two side panels had slots for cards, while the central panel featured a five-pointed star, each point containing a diamond-shaped slot.
Cassian frowned, trying to flip through the pages physically. Nothing happened.
"Right. Thought power," he muttered. He willed his Soulkeep to display his current cards. Immediately, a set of glowing cards hovered above the book, organized neatly into three rows—red, white, and faint gold.
His eyes went to the red cards first—the Destruction Cards.
There were three. The first was another Attunement Card: Destruction—similar to the one he had just absorbed. The other two were Sorcery-type Run Cards, or so the system called them.
The name Lightning Bolt flashed at the top. Cassian held it up, examining the single Destruction symbol in the top right corner. The artwork was stunning—a red lightning bolt cracking through a snowy landscape, the power within the image almost tangible.
___________________________________________
Lightning Bolt [ 火 ]
___________________________________________
RUN CARD [DESTRUCTION SORCERY]
[UNCOMMON] [25/25]
___________________________________________
❂ A lightning bolt strikes fast and [true],
dealing [4] DMG to the target.
❂ "The Heavens thundered, calling down
its rage as the lightning crackled everywhere."
___________________________________________
Cassian felt his heartbeat quicken. "I have lightning magic now? Awesome, and the other one is," he whispered, his excitement barely contained. He reached for the second card—Expedite.
It had an image of a blurred figure sprinting forward, lightning coursing around it.
___________________________________________
Expedite [ 火 ]
___________________________________________
RUN CARD [DESTRUCTION SORCERY]
[UNCOMMON] [25/25]
___________________________________________
❂ Target gains [Haste] and enhanced senses
for [120 seconds] per cast.
❂ "I run, for whatever happens, I will not stop.
I will be faster than them..."
___________________________________________
"Speed boost and lightning attacks? I should assume before any usage that lightning magic has to be fast… With increased speed and possibly strength from the haste boost, I could evade attacks or retreat if the situation seems dire." Cassian exhaled sharply, barely containing his excitement.
"These have charges, though," he noted. "So I guess Run Cards aren't infinite. Probably why they aren't considered Deck Cards."
He thought back to his card pulls. "Wait. Didn't I get a Deck Card? It was a white card, I think."
Cassian's eyes flicked from the red cards to the row of white cards floating before him. If Destruction had been raw power, radiating heat, and dominance, then these cards felt… different. Softer, yet not weaker. Like the steady warmth of the sun compared to the violent blaze of an explosion. His fingers hovered over the first white card, then gently plucked it from the air. The moment it touched his skin, a soothing sensation washed over him—like stepping into a cool breeze after standing in the scorching sun for too long.
He turned it over.
The edges were pure white, smooth yet firm, almost like polished ivory. The infinity symbol was still etched into the back, its golden sands shifting in slow, rhythmic waves.
The title Vahana, the Peaceful Plains, glowed at the top in soft, golden script. To the right, a small circular emblem sat—a sun radiating a faint, calming warmth. Below it, the image of an endless green plain stretched across the card, rolling hills covered in flowers and dandelions swaying under a gentle wind. The artwork wasn't still—the grass moved, the flowers danced, and if he focused hard enough, he swore he could hear the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds.
A faint scent of wildflowers tickled his nose, the sensation so real that it made him inhale deeply.
"Whoa…" Cassian whispered, closing his eyes as he let the feeling wash over him.
For a moment, he wasn't in this ruined world. He was standing in the middle of those fields, the wind cool against his skin, the scent of fresh earth and morning dew filling his lungs. The warmth of the sun settled on his shoulders—not burning, just gentle, comforting… safe.
He didn't want to leave.
His grip on the card tightened. And then—his mother's face flashed through his mind.
Cassian's eyes snapped open, his breath hitching. The peaceful feeling shattered, replaced by the cold, ugly weight of reality pressing down on his chest. His hand trembled as he carefully returned the card to his Soulkeep, his jaw clenched.
"This thing…" he thought, swallowing hard. "It could become a drug."
The kind of comfort people would never want to leave. A perfect escape for those who didn't want to face reality. And that terrified him. Exhaling sharply, he shook his head, pushing away the lingering temptation.
___________________________________________
Vahana, the Peaceful Plains[ 日 ]
___________________________________________
Attunement: Creation
[COMMON]
___________________________________________
❂ Every Hero's journey end here, the place of
eternal rest
___________________________________________
"No. I can't lose myself in that. Not now."
Cassian rubbed his hands together to shake off the lingering unease before reaching for the next two white cards. His eyes immediately locked onto the first one.
HEAL
The image was simple—a pair of glowing hands, light pooling around them like liquid gold. But the moment he held the card, he felt a rush of warmth through his veins, a sense of restoration and renewal.
___________________________________________
HEAL [ 日 ]
___________________________________________
RUN CARD [CREATION INCANTATION]
[UNCOMMON] [25/25]
___________________________________________
❂ Heal the target for [5] Vitality Regen.
❂ "It is the Eldest One will that heals us all"
—Thomar, Eldest One Priest
___________________________________________
A huge grin spread across his face.
"Hell yeah!" He let out a joyful squeak, while his inner gamer celebrated with a fist pump of excitement. "Healing magic? No wait, it's called an incantation; regardless, this is a godsend! I don't even care, even if the healing is mild; just having this is awesome."
Excitedly, he grabbed the next card, his eyes scanning the name.
ROCK GOLEM
A picture of a hulking stone beast, standing like an immovable guardian, glowed on the card's surface. Jagged rocks formed its body, cracks along its limbs glowing faintly like molten veins pulsing beneath the surface.
___________________________________________
ROCK GOLEM[ 日 ]
___________________________________________
RUN CARD [CREATION SUMMON] [30p/03p]
[UNCOMMON] [10/10]
___________________________________________
❂ Summons a Rock Golem which acts on his
master's will.
❂ "The result of a long gone Era, the Golem still longs
for his master's command"
___________________________________________
Cassian's heart pounded as he read the effects.
"Wait. Wait. Wait. I can summon a golem? Like, my own freaking stone tank? There is no mention of how big it's gonna be. I can tell it's a big chunky boi." He grinned like a madman, barely holding back the urge to jump around in excitement.
"Hmmm, also I think the [30p/03p] might be counters like how much damage the summon can take, basically its HP and how much damage it deals… if I go by MTG logic… Still, without any test, it's difficult to say for sure."
Cassian really felt excited as his eyes locked onto the final white card, the one that could be a Game Changer—his only Deck Card; his gut told him this one was special. He had a feeling Deck cards were difficult to get. His fingers trembled as he pulled it forward, focusing intently on the name.
A KNIGHT'S SQUIRE
The moment he read it, a strange realization hit him. He felt… perplexed. Not because of the card itself, but because of the name.
"Knight's Squire… Does that mean this is… a class card? There is a profession written on the card…"
___________________________________________
A KNIGHT'S SQUIRE[ 日 ]
___________________________________________
DECK CARD [PROFESSION]
[COMMON]
___________________________________________
❂ Allows for an inexperienced beginner to view
and feel things from the eyes and heart of a
knight squire.
❂ "To walk in a squire's boots is to carry the weight
of honor, even before one lifts a sword."
___________________________________________
His breath quickened, his thoughts spiraling for a brief moment. The card's description was frustratingly vague, yet each word hinted at its purpose. Still, there were no charges—was that why it wasn't classified as a Run card? He knew Deck cards were rare, damn near impossible to come by. But something about the terminology—Deck cards, Run cards—felt off, unnatural to him. How many times has that bored entity with a name I can neither read nor speak watched him comment on his run? Was he trapped in some kind of simulation, forced to clear a scenario—or the story, as the system called it?
Does this mean there are other class cards? Different paths I could take? What if I pulled something like "Archmage" or "Shadow Assassin" later? What if—
Cassian shook his head, forcing himself to focus.
"Okay, Cassy," he muttered, grounding himself. "I'll test all the cards soon enough. For now, let's see what these golden ones are."
Carefully, Cassian placed all the white cards back into his Soulkeep, then reached for the final row.
Three golden cards floated before him—Exile, Silence, Angel's Embrace.
His fingers brushed against the first card, EXILE; it had a golden border with an image of a creature dissolving into golden dust, slowly fading away.
Cassian frowned.
"This one feels... weird. All the previous cards had a clear symbol and affinity, likely to represent their nature. This one has them too, but they're so faint I can barely sense anything. I suppose Instant cards have no cast time… but how does exiling a summon even help me? Unless, at some point, I'll run into others who can use cards as well."
___________________________________________
EXILE
___________________________________________
INSTANT [SORCERY]
___________________________________________
❂ Exiles a target [summon] from the battlefield.
__________________________________________
His brows furrowed as he scanned the description. His lips pressed into a thin line. "Okay… so it's a counter card? Exile a target summon."
"This would only be useful if I'm facing someone else who can summon things… which means at some point, I'm going to run into other people who have cards." A chill ran down his spine at the realization.
Still lost in thought, he reached out and checked the second Instant card—Silence. The image showed a person with their mouth sewn shut. Their eyes were wide with desperation as they tried to speak.
___________________________________________
SILENCE
___________________________________________
INSTANT [SORCERY]
___________________________________________
❂ Suppresses the use of all Sorceries and
Incantations for [60 seconds].
___________________________________________
Cassian's eyebrows lifted.
"Another potential PvP card?" He read further. "Suppress all Sorceries and Incantations for 1 minute… That's actually broken in the right hands."
He couldn't help but grin, imagining some poor bastard trying to cast spells only to get locked out completely when a chill ran down his spine as he had a thought about what if his opponent used this card… He doesn't have a countermeasure for this card.
"Yeah. I'll be fucked if that happens… I need a reliable weapon, preferably a sword or a spear; I'm sure that would synergize well with the Profession card that I have."
Cassian's breath hitched as he checked the final instant card—ANGEL'S EMBRACE. It had an image of a beautiful golden-haired angel, her wings outstretched, reaching for a dying figure below.
"This feels rare and something good," he murmured, reading the description carefully. His eyes widened, and an impossible grin formed.
___________________________________________
ANGEL'S EMBRACE
____________________________________________
INSTANT [INCANTATION]
____________________________________________
❂ One of the few epics passed down from the age
of gods and monsters—provides auto full recovery
of the user from a near-death state.
❂ Additional [Angel's Grace] will be on you
providing [Invincibility] for 5 seconds.
This effect also extends to your summons.
____________________________________________
"Holy hell… this is essentially a second chance… Goddamn, this is bonkers."
5 seconds of invincibility and Summons also receive the effects.
"This… is insane… it is genuinely insane." For the first time, Cassian felt like he had an actual safety net. Carefully, he placed the card back into his Soulkeep, not daring to test it yet. Leaning back onto the sofa, he exhaled, letting everything sink in.
When a new notification flickered into existence.
[DING! ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⏃ SAYS THEY GOT JUST THE IDEA FOR ENTERTAINMENT]
A cold chill crawled down Cassian's spine, every instinct screaming that things were about to take a turn for the worse.
…