Anime Card System

Victoria Song's words were like dropping a bomb into the quiet classroom.

Liam Blake couldn't help but ask first, his voice filled with hopeful excitement. "Teacher, can all of us go?"

Victoria smiled and nodded. "Yes. This time, all twelve students in our key class will be able to enter this secret realm for practical training." She paused, then added, "Of course, it is the most basic type of secret realm."

A wave of slight disappointment went through some of the students. Russell just shook his head secretly. Simply being able to enter a secret realm at their level was an incredible privilege. How many other high school students would kill for such an opportunity? This was completely unexpected, a gift horse he had no intention of looking in the mouth.

"The training will take place in half a month," Victoria continued. "The secret realm is a mountain forest type. I expect you all to be well-prepared."

"She means that if possible, it would be best to make a vehicle-type prop card, or a rideable creature card," Nancy whispered to Russell, who was sitting beside him. As the daughter of a gold-level cardmaker, she was naturally aware of some of the finer points of realm exploration. Although a mountain forest wasn't the most complicated terrain, having a mount could still save a lot of time and trouble.

Russell glanced over at Darren, who had been silent and gloomy ever since the ranking match ended. He was sure Darren already knew this information but was too arrogant to share it. Not paying him any more attention, Russell gave Nancy a slight nod. "Thanks for the reminder."

Nancy just smiled. "You're welcome."

With the ranking test over, everyone returned to their afternoon classes. The curriculum in the key class focused mainly on card-making theory and meditation, with a few wilderness survival skills classes thrown in. The Association didn't want flowers raised in a greenhouse; they wanted cardmakers who could survive on a real battlefield.

This afternoon was a meditation class. In truth, it was more like a self-study session. Because everyone practiced the same Deep Blue Meditation Method, there wasn't much for the teacher to instruct.

With his eyes closed, Russell let out a slow, controlled breath, feeling the deep satisfaction that came with the gradual growth of his mental strength. Ever since he had transmigrated, he'd found that his progress in meditation was much faster than the original owner's had been. He didn't know if it was because this body had once housed two souls, or if he was simply gifted. He wasn't particularly interested in exploring the specific reason. It was good news, and it meant that his mental power would likely never be a bottleneck for his growth.

Time passed quickly during meditation, and in the blink of an eye, it was time for school to end.

"See you tomorrow, Russell," Nancy said with a smile as they parted ways. Russell nodded slightly. "See you tomorrow."

Watching her gradually receding back, Russell also set out on his journey home.

Not long after he arrived, there was a tapping on his window. Tap, tap, tap. He turned and saw a Metro Express delivery drone hovering outside.

"I don't remember buying anything," he muttered, opening the window with a puzzled look.

The drone chirped, and a crisp female voice came from its small speaker. "A purchase has been made for one of your listed items. Please provide the merchandise for shipment."

Russell instantly remembered. If the drone hadn't come, he would have completely forgotten that he had listed seven [Ghoul Corpse] (Green) materials for sale online. He hurried to grab the materials, handing them over to the drone. It secured them in a small compartment and flew away, quickly becoming a small white dot in the sky.

Watching it go, Russell's mind returned to Nancy's advice. He needed a mount. Including the money from the sale of the materials, he now had just over 300,000 credits in his pocket. He decided to make a simple, green-quality card for transportation.

Opening the trading website on his computer, he began to look for the materials he would need. He could, in theory, purchase bronze-level materials now, but he didn't plan on it. For one, his mental strength wasn't high enough to create a bronze card yet, and for two... it was a waste for a simple transport card.

Soon, he found what he wanted. [Sparrow] (White), [Bald Eagle] (Green), and a blank card. The three materials cost him a total of 30,000 Federation Credits.

Before long, another Metro Express drone arrived with his purchases. Sitting at his desk, Russell picked up his card-drawing pen and began to sketch on the blank card. Gradually, the image of a large, yellow-feathered eagle took shape. After the drawing was complete, he placed the three materials together on the card and enveloped them with his mental power.

The next moment, he was once again in the mysterious, dark space of creation.

[Please start compiling your story.]

[This Pidgeot is larger than its pre-evolved forms, with a wider wingspan. Its feathers are mainly brown, with a cream-colored underside. The feathers on its head form a majestic crest, red on the sides and yellow in the middle, and its fan-shaped tail feathers are also red.]

[In the Viridian Forest, a young trainer named Ash Ketchum and his partner, Pikachu, encountered this Pokémon's pre-evolved form. After a difficult battle, the Pidgeotto was captured by Ash.]

[Throughout their journey, Ash and Pidgeotto fought off Team Rocket time and again and conquered many gyms. The trainer and his Pokémon went through countless trials, eventually returning to the Viridian Forest. There, they found the local Pidgey and Pidgeotto flock being terrorized by a Fearow.]

[To protect its flock, Ash's Pidgeotto was severely injured by the Fearow. In that desperate moment, Pidgeotto evolved into Pidgeot and successfully defeated the tyrannical Fearow.]

[After this incident, Ash released Pidgeot to protect the forest, promising that he would come back for him after he finished his journey.]

With the story compiled, Russell silently waited for the judgment of the mysterious space. The next moment, he was back in his small room. A card depicting a large brown bird was floating in front of him.

"Success." Russell absorbed the card into his mind.

[Pidgeot]

Level: Black Iron

Quality: Green

Category: Creature

Skills: None

Characteristics: None

Introduction: Reunited after 24 years, let's travel together again.

Checking the card's information, Russell was not surprised. The story he had compiled was simple, and the materials were low-level. He had accepted that it would have no special abilities. He hadn't intended to make a powerful combat card, just a reliable means of transportation.

Russell summoned Pidgeot. The bird stood about 1.5 meters tall, more than large enough to carry him through the sky. However, he didn't dare to just hop on and ride it away. If he wanted to use Pidgeot for transport within the city, he would need to register it with the Cardmakers Association.

He was naturally prepared to do so. Pidgeot wasn't a combat card; it didn't matter if its existence was exposed. And besides, there was another, more important reason: he never wanted to hear the "welfare card" bus announcement again for as long as he lived. It was too soul-crushing.

After gently stroking Pidgeot's head, Russell returned the card to his mind, put on a coat, and went out to register his new steed.

(End of this chapter