Russell cleared off his desk and carefully laid out the three material cards and the blank template.
In this world, Cardmakers could forge many types of cards—Creature Cards, Equipment Cards, and more complex formats like Chain Cards and Legion Cards. But for Russell, those were distant dreams.
Today, he had a single goal: create his first Creature Card.
He closed his eyes and summoned the image from deep within his memory.
"It has to be you."
Gripping the school-issued sketch stylus, he began outlining the figure on the blank card—sharp black hair, a calm, unwavering gaze, and a strange reddish mark across the forehead.
When he finally stopped, Russell exhaled deeply. The drawing had drained more mental energy than expected.
But this was just the beginning.
He stacked the material cards beneath the template and slowly poured his mental force into the stack.
In an instant, the world vanished.
He floated alone in a quiet, starlit void.
Then a prompt echoed in the darkness:
"Begin writing your story."
Russell focused, and the tale flowed through his mind, clear as crystal:
[Yoriichi Tsugikuni, born during Japan's Warring States era. Twin brother to Michikatsu Tsugikuni.][Feared by his father for a mysterious birthmark, yet adored by his brother.][By age seven, his swordsmanship surpassed all others, and he was named heir.][But unwilling to steal his brother's destiny, Yoriichi vanished.][He lived peacefully with a kind woman, Uta, whom he married.][While helping an old man, he returned home too late—Uta and their unborn child had been slaughtered by a demon.][He sat beside their bodies for ten silent days.][Afterward, he joined the Demon Slayer Corps.][He created the original Breathing Styles—the foundation of all modern swordsmanship.][He nearly killed Muzan, the first demon, forcing him to flee in terror.][He spared Tamayo, a servant of Muzan who showed remorse.][Later, his brother Michikatsu defected and became the demon Kokushibo.][For this and other reasons, Yoriichi was exiled from the Corps.][He passed on the legacy of Sun Breathing to a friend's family.][At age eighty, Yoriichi fought his demon brother one final time—delivering a mortal blow, but dying before he could finish him.]
A pulse of silent energy followed. The story had been accepted.
Russell opened his eyes.
For a moment, shadowy shapes flickered across his vision—twisted demonic forms whispering through the veil.
Then a figure appeared, stepping between him and the dark.
A calm swordsman with flowing black hair, crimson eyes, and a glowing katana.
[Demon Hunter – Yoriichi Tsugikuni]Rank: Black IronRarity: PurpleType: Creature Card
Abilities:🩸 Crimson Blade – Channels focus into the sword's edge, devastating against demonic and shadow-type enemies, greatly reducing their regeneration.🌅 Sun Breathing – Temporarily enhances body functions to surpass human limits.🔍 Transparent World – Perceives internal movements—muscle shifts, breathing rhythms, and blood flow—for near-perfect reaction speed.
Trait:🔥 Mark of the Slayer – When activated, all physical stats increase dramatically.
Profile: A peerless swordsman forged in loss, wielding the sun itself to destroy evil.
Synergy: Deploying alongside Kokushibo (Michikatsu Tsugikuni) activates special ability: Blood-Bound Legacy.
Russell stared at the card, awestruck.
"I actually did it…"
He had forged a Purple-tier card on his first attempt.
He understood it wasn't just skill—the narrative alignment, material synergy, and perhaps a dash of transmigration luck had all played a role. But that didn't matter.
This card was real.
Russell touched the card to his forehead and infused it with mental energy.
The card shimmered and dissolved into light, embedding itself into his consciousness.
Mentally, he reached for it—and the figure answered.
A swordsman in red-and-black robes stood in his mindscape, katana at rest. Silent. Watchful. Unbreakable.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Russell picked up his phone and sent a message to his advisor:
To: Mr. WillisMessage:Sir, I made a card. Purple rarity.[Photo Attached]
At that exact moment, Mr. Willis nearly spilled his coffee.
"Purple? Is he serious?"
Even students in the Top Class at Nova Eden First High only needed a Blue-tier card to qualify. For an average student like Russell to claim Purple was nearly unthinkable.
He typed cautiously:
"Are you sure? If you fail the verification test, you lose your certification chance permanently."
"I'm sure," Russell replied. "I'll take the test first thing tomorrow."
Willis exhaled and nodded to himself.
"Alright. Come find me after morning announcements. If you pass... welcome to the Elite Track."
Russell placed the phone down and finally let the tension in his chest ease.
He turned again to Yoriichi, still quietly standing in the corner of his mind.
"This is it," he whispered. "My first step."
Then the emergency broadcast flared to life from the still-humming TV:
⚠️ ALERT: Rift Zone 'Devil's Nest' has entered critical instability.All residents near Sector 7 must evacuate to designated shelters immediately.Repeat: Critical instability in Devil's Nest. Seek shelter now.
Russell's eyes narrowed.
"Of course something had to go wrong..."
And just like that, his peaceful evening was over.