DeckMaster System Awakened

The system had provided him with a helpful breakdown earlier, and now he understood how critical it was to manage his energy reserves. Forty cards, each pulling from a shared pool of energy. His Deckmaster class wasn’t built for rapid, high-energy bursts but rather for sustained engagement. He could hold his own across long battles or strategic engagements, pulling each card into play as the situation demanded.

But as his fingers hovered over the deck, the system popped up another prompt, just as he’d started to draw:

[Would you like to set a deck summon chant? A personalized chant can be triggered even under duress to summon your deck at any moment. Recommended to be a unique phrase.]

[Would you like to assign a summon signal? Yes/No]

Jalen considered it, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. It was tempting to assign something flashy—a memorable command he could use in the heat of battle. But he decided to hold off for now. He’d come up with something later, something that felt truly his.

“Not now, system,” he murmured, his gaze steady on the deck in his soul.

[Physique Status]

Energy: 80 out of 120

The quick stats refresh settled his thoughts. He could summon the full deck three times with his current energy, perhaps more if he learned to manage the spirits and keep his tactics tight.

With his deck fully summoned 5 cards were dealt into his hand and humming with readiness, he let hnd hover over the one he felt the best resonance with. On the card it had a image of a red salamander the size of a large dog.

The flavor text read the most passionate of the lesser elementary spirits. It's is loyalty can be compared to man’s best friend. It's a lonely creature among the lesser spirits as it's power is naturally destructive leading to the other elementary spirits to avoid them.

The card coated two mana and when the cost was paid the card brightened for a moment before a small burst of magma spread revealing a cute red salamander with the biggest reflective golden eyes. The system sent another message

[The first is always special when gaining a class. ]

“Where are you going with this system?” Jalen asked while looking around the room frantically. He hadn't heard of cases from the system killing people in the tutorial the whole process had been out of the norm. From the pain to the rare the random+++ class Maybe he would have to fight the salamander and that would be a automaticate death sentence.

“ Who would want to fight something so cute, That's practically a war crime Jalen said watching in fascination as the red salamander curiously crawled around the room expecting it and when it came to the center where the podium was, it played down beside it.

The salamander lay curled beside the podium, tail flicking lazily as it seemed to study Jalen with equal parts curiosity and expectation. Its crimson scales shimmered faintly under the soft light, a contrast to the cold stone of the chamber. The System’s message still lingered in his mind—The first is always special when gaining a class. That was ominously vague, and as much as he tried to brush it off, it added a weight to this moment that he couldn’t ignore.

Watching the salamander, Jalen couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. Here was his first summon, his first real creation as a Deckmaster, and despite the deceptively small stature of this elemental spirit, he could feel the latent heat it held. Even at rest, the salamander radiated warmth, a testament to its connection to the fire element.

“Alright, buddy,” Jalen said, trying to get a feel for the bond between them. He knelt down, extending a hand toward the salamander cautiously. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

The salamander raised its head, regarding him with those gleaming golden eyes. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, as if responding to some unspoken command, it nudged its nose into his hand, the scales warm but not scalding. Jalen felt a pulse—a soft, steady connection—begin to resonate between them. The sensation was more than physical warmth; it was an impression of companionship, loyalty, and a fierce, protective instinct.

The system chimed in again with a new prompt: The first summon evolves beyond it's regular self. It gain a better degree of intelligence, strength and, can communicate more effectively them it's regular counterparts.

[First Elementary Spirit Familiarity Gained: Fire Salamander]

[Each summoned will bond to you, adapting to your presence and intentions. This bond will deepen with frequent use and practice.]

[Tutorial Task: Issue a command to your spirit. Your spirit’s actions may be influenced by your intent and the strength of your bond.]

“ What does it mean to communicate better communication, like a telephonic connection?”

“ Hi, the salamander spoke with a very soft voice, clear but obviously anxious.”

Jalen stumbled back, eyes wide with shock as the salamander’s soft, almost timid voice echoed through the room. “You… you can talk?” he asked, half-whispering, as if a louder voice would shatter this surreal moment.

The salamander shifted, looking down as though it, too, was surprised by its own ability. “Um… yes?” Its voice held a hesitant lilt, as if it was still testing the boundaries of this newfound ability. “I didn’t know I could… not until I felt that connection with you.”

Jalen tried to gather his thoughts. Here he was, expecting a simple elemental companion—something to obey his commands and maybe scorch a few enemies along the way. But now? This little creature was something more, something aware. He took a breath, grounding himself.

“Alright then,” he said, keeping his tone light but his curiosity piqued. “What’s your name?”

The salamander cocked its head, blinking those golden eyes in confusion. “Name? I don’t… I’ve never had one before.”

Jalen considered this for a moment, then gave a small smile. “How about Ember?”

The salamander’s eyes brightened, and it gave a small nod, almost as if savoring the name. “Ember,” it repeated, testing the sound. “Yes, I like that.” A spark of joy shone in its eyes as it looked up at him, its initial anxiety melting into a quiet confidence.

Jalen chuckled, still half-baffled by the turn of events. “Alright, Ember, let’s try something simple. Just a test.” He knelt down to meet the salamander’s gaze. “Ember, can you make the flames in your mouth a bit brighter, just enough to light up the room?”

Ember nodded, opening its mouth cautiously. A small, controlled flame blossomed forth, casting a soft, warm glow that filled the chamber. It wasn’t intense or wild like the fire of an ordinary salamander spirit; instead, it was steady, gentle—much like Ember’s own personality.

“Perfect,” Jalen said, nodding in approval. He could feel the warmth of the bond pulsing between them, like a thread connecting his own energy to Ember’s. It was a power he hadn’t expected, a connection that went beyond mere summoning.

Then the system chimed in again with another message:

[First Familiar Evolution Completed: Ember the Fire Salamander]

[Note: The first summon is marked by a unique bond and has evolved into a familiar. As a familiar, it will grow stronger over time, gaining new abilities as your bond deepens.]

[Conditions to Ember's next Evolution.

0/100 enemies defeated.

Summoned 0/15 times.

Jalen exhaled, a grin spreading across his face. An evolved familiar. Ember wasn’t just a spirit in his arsenal; it was a companion, one he could grow with, learn from, and maybe even rely on in the darkest of battles.

“Ember,” he said softly, placing a hand on its head. “Let’s make this a journey worth remembering.”

Ember chirped in response, the glow of its flames reflecting the excitement in its eyes.

As the glow from Ember’s flames softened, Jalen’s gaze drifted back to his deck. Five cards were dealt into his hand, each radiating its own energy, waiting to be summoned. With Ember now at his side, he felt ready to test the limits of his deck, to see how the rest of his elemental allies would shape up.

He slid his hand over the next card, feeling its faint chill through the card itself—a stark contrast to Ember’s warmth. Turning it over, he revealed a striking image: a crystalline, blue-hued serpent coiled around a shard of ice, its scales shimmering like facets of frozen water. The flavor text read: The Frost Serpent is a guardian of silence, a calm in the chaos that chills the air around it. While it lacks brute force, its control over ice is unparalleled among the lesser spirits.

“Alright, let’s see what you can do,” Jalen murmured, paying the two-mana cost. As he focused, he felt a tingling coolness spread through his fingertips, and with a soft shudder, the card activated.

A cold mist swept across the room, sending a shiver down Jalen’s spine as the Frost Serpent materialized. Its form solidified in coils of gleaming ice, its long, sleek body hovering just above the ground. Its pale blue eyes locked onto him, intelligent and observant, yet cautious.

Ember chirped softly, watching the newcomer with curious eyes, his flame dimming instinctively in response to the Frost Serpent’s chill. There was an unspoken understanding between the two spirits, as if they both sensed their shared nature, each the embodiment of opposing elements.

The system chimed, giving another update:

[New Familiar Acquired: Frost Serpent]

[Note: Unlike Ember, this spirit will require time to develop its bond. Regular summoning will improve its abilities and synchronicity with the Deckmaster.]

Jalen stepped forward, lowering himself to the Frost Serpent’s eye level, noticing its icy gaze was still fixated on him with a cautious, almost distrustful glint. “You don’t have to worry,” he said, voice calm and steady. “We’re on the same team.”

The serpent’s head tilted, as if assessing his sincerity. Slowly, it slithered forward, wrapping itself loosely around his arm, the frost from its scales biting at his skin but never quite hurting. Jalen felt a twinge of pride. This spirit might be cautious, but it was willing to trust him—at least, for now.

“Alright, Frosty,” he said, laughing softly as it flicked its tongue in a display of mild annoyance at the nickname. “Let’s give you a real test.”