My Card Girl's Infinite Evolution

I don't know why it's a pure-love minotaur, but "Pure Love Minotaur" was likely meant as a playful or ironic descriptor rather than a literal one.

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"Ghost Domain?"

Luo Sheng recalled the small extradimensional world that had invaded Donghua Min Alley.

He picked up his phone and realized he had inadvertently blocked a message from the academy when he muted his device earlier.

[Dear student, the Card Alliance has managed the Ghost Domain and now controls the area. The academy has obtained entry passes. Cardmasters who wish to participate may proceed at their discretion. Please note: exercise caution and act within your limits. The academy is not responsible for injuries or fatalities.]

The Card Alliance had provided the academy with a practical resource to enhance Pingcheng's cardmaster proficiency.

In Pingcheng, high school card masters who fail to enter a card academy often end up finding local work or joining the Guard or Security Bureau. Even those who graduate from card academies frequently return to serve in high-ranking positions, bolstering Pingcheng's elite defenses.

The high turnover of cardmasters added urgency. A single extradimensional invasion in the Ghost Domain had caused significant civilian casualties and claimed the lives of at least a dozen cardmasters. Pingcheng's Card Alliance needed to quickly address this shortage.

The academy encouraged students to participate to maintain its reputation, student quality, and resource allocations from the alliance. Moreover, failed extradimensional invasions often turned defeated entities into card resources, benefiting both the alliance and the academy.

Luo Sheng inspected his cards: two bronze four-star combat character cards and a bronze six-star defensive mech card. Confident, he headed out.

Just as he reached the ground floor, he saw Qin Jianjia wearing a helmet, looking incredibly cool as she rode a retro American cruiser motorcycle. She revved it to full power.

*Vroom vroom vroom...*

The roaring engine echoed across the entire Royal Marquis Garden as blue fire arcs shot from the exhaust. In the blink of an eye, her figure disappeared into the distance—an effect only achievable through a card.

"A motorcycle and a beauty..."

Luo Sheng envied her ride. Unable to afford such luxuries, he resorted to taking a taxi.

The Ghost Domain, located in Donghua Min Alley, was marked as a high-risk zone on electronic maps. Such areas were off-limits to ordinary citizens or card apprentices and accessible only to cardmasters.

No one could predict when a monster might appear to hunt humans.

The once-dominant Longcheng had been obliterated in an extradimensional invasion. The entire city was massacred, with no survivors among card masters or civilians. Even the city's card pools were destroyed, resulting in the loss of nearly a million cards—a catastrophe that shocked the Card Alliance and other cities.

The taxi stopped at the edge of a medium-risk area, refusing to go further. From there, cardmasters had to proceed on foot.

Fortunately, becoming a cardmaster enhanced Luo Sheng's physical capabilities. He could even hold his own against a bronze two-star card in combat, so running wasn't an issue.

The streets around him were desolate, with occasional dried bloodstains hinting at the horrors of that fateful night.

A few Card masters who arrived began murmuring:

"The scene that night was brutal. Civilians who couldn't escape were slaughtered. Although officials reported around a hundred casualties, the real number was far higher."

"I heard a silver-level cardmaster died, too. I'm getting chills just thinking about it." Another cardmaster rubbed his arms nervously.

Some hesitated, debating whether to proceed.

Unconcerned with these groups, Luo Sheng approached an entry checkpoint manned by Guard Bureau officers and a black-haired woman in uniform.

The woman smiled professionally as Luo Sheng approached. "Honored cardmaster, would you like to purchase accident insurance before entering the Ghost Domain?" She handed him a contract filled with dense text and explained further:

"This extradimensional accident insurance provides effective coverage for you and your family. For just 50,000 yuan, in case of fatality, your designated family member will receive quadruple compensation. Even severe injuries are covered at 70% reimbursement."

Luo Sheng stared at her in disbelief. Selling insurance here? The mastermind behind this must be a business genius. The more dangerous the area, the higher the demand for insurance.

But Luo Sheng couldn't afford it, nor did he have any family. Buying it would just be money down the drain.

A middle-aged man approached. "You've only recently become a cardmaster. Your strength is insufficient. I don't recommend entering. If you insist, it's best to buy insurance."

"Instructor Su Tianchen?"

Luo Sheng turned to see his academy's dean, now overseeing student entry into the Ghost Domain.

Su Tianchen nodded slightly, ready to persuade him further. However, Luo Sheng smiled awkwardly and said, "Teacher, I'm an orphan. No matter whom I designate, it's a loss."

Su Tianchen was momentarily stunned, then sighed. "It's extremely dangerous inside. No one can guarantee your safety. If you're in danger, call for help from nearby cardmasters, but don't count on them being free to assist. Are you sure?"

Luo Sheng nodded firmly. "I still want to go and gain some experience."

Expressionless, Su Tianchen returned to his seat, scanned Luo Sheng's cardmaster ID, and recorded his entry.

As Luo Sheng passed, Su Tianchen added, "Next time, bring a girlfriend. That way, you'll have someone to compensate."

"But what if she kills me for the money?"

"..." Su Tianchen was taken aback but quickly recovered. "I have a daughter who's still single."

"Teacher, goodbye!"

Luo Sheng ran off like the wind, vanishing in moments. Su Tianchen could only shake his head in exasperation.

Luo Sheng entered the contaminated Ghost Domain. A surge of extradimensional energy enveloped him, causing discomfort. His spirit jade pulsated, signaling the danger.

Summoning Acoley and Alice to guard him, Luo Sheng donned his upgraded mech suit, feeling a bit safer. The surroundings resembled a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Despite it being near noon, the sun was nowhere to be seen, replaced by an endless night.

Turning on the mech's lighting system, he illuminated the path and continued forward. Just as he took his first step:

"Fireball!"

Acoley hurled a fireball to the left, striking a streetlight 10 meters away. A black shadow emerged, letting out a loud cry:

"Moo~!"

Luo Sheng now saw it clearly: a pitch-black minotaur holding a chain and hook, glaring furiously at him. Despite Ekoli's attack, its focus remained fixed on Luo Sheng.

The hook shot out with a whistling sound, trailing its long chain.

Luo Sheng's spirit jade blared warnings. He instinctively retreated, narrowly dodging the hook, which scraped against his mech and sent sparks flying before embedding in a brick wall.

Boom!

The hook smashed the wall into pieces. The force was akin to a wrecking ball.

"That was close! I thought I was done for. These extradimensional creatures are incredibly strong," Luo Sheng muttered, patting his chest.

Fighting these creatures was far deadlier than hunting low-level criminals in the Wasteland Punk Mechanical World. Here, one mistake could be fatal.

"Moo!"

The 'pure love warrior' minotaur roared angrily. Its hook stuck in the wall, pulling the chain taut. Alice seized the moment, sprinting along the chain like a tightrope toward the beast.

The minotaur didn't sit idly by. Drawing a trident-like weapon from its waist, it swung at Alice. But its plan failed.

Acoley supported from behind, unleashing a barrage of small fireballs that pelted the minotaur, sending sparks flying. Before Alice could land her attack, the creature transformed into a card and fell to the ground.

It was vulnerable to Acoley's fire magic.

Luo Sheng picked up the card: a bronze three-star [Minotaur Warden].

(To be continued)