News of the battle between Most and Bota quickly spread throughout the school. The entire match was collected by numerous teachers and turned into teaching material. The technique known as "Link" soon became a heated topic, attracting the attention of countless commoner students.
Most commoner students could only awaken White Cards, and compared with Most, they were not actually much stronger. To advance far on the path of a Card Master, talent alone was not enough. It also required vast wealth and resources. Those from common backgrounds would certainly be unable to reach level 10 before the university entrance examinations. Because of that, if both sides possessed only one card, the one who mastered the "Link" technique would have a much higher chance of victory and could secure better examination scores.
Inside the spacious principal's office at Moonlight, the recording of Most's battle was projected clearly on the screen of an extremely sophisticated device. Sitting in front of it were a man and a woman. The woman was Most's homeroom teacher, while the man was an elderly figure with flowing white beard and an incredibly kind and gentle face.
"It is indeed the 'Link' technique. Judging from the way that skeleton fights, the synchronization level must be extremely high. I never expected that the awakening event had only taken place a week ago, yet this child has already grasped such an advanced technique."
"Yes, Principal. Not only has Most mastered the 'Link' technique with remarkable synchronization, he himself is clearly a formidable close combat fighter."
The old principal nodded slowly. When a Card Master reached level 50, they would surpass the limits of ordinary humans and enter the realm of superhumans. At that stage, those who possessed refined personal combat techniques could achieve combat power not inferior to summoned monsters. Within the Card Master world there were indeed a few such individuals. Although their cards were not particularly powerful, their personal combat ability was terrifying.
"Perhaps this is not a bad path after all."
The old man leaned back in his chair and sighed. He knew a little about Most's circumstances. His parents had died when he was very young, leaving him to survive alone while enduring ridicule and contempt from countless people around him. The old principal had always tried to provide a bit of assistance, but naturally he did not dare to involve himself too deeply. The incident concerning Most's parents in the past was not simple. It was connected to several powerful forces deeply rooted within the Alliance.
Deep in his heart, the old man had actually hoped that Most would remain an ordinary child. Graduate from some intermediate academy, obtain a certificate, find a stable job, and live peacefully until old age. It seemed he had underestimated the depth of Most's hatred. Looking carefully at the combat technique displayed on the screen, that was not something an ordinary child could comprehend.
Clenching his teeth, the old man suddenly thought of a bold decision. It could also be considered the last time he would help Most.
"Retrieve the recording of this battle and send it to Grandmaster Renes. He will certainly be very interested in a disciple with such extraordinary talent."
…
The black flames within Sol's eye sockets once again burned away the useless White Cards that Most no longer needed. The enhancement points were finally sufficient. Most excitedly manipulated the sparkling crystals, like grains of dust, merging them into the Destiny Card floating within the space of his consciousness.
One point. Two points. Three points.
When the third point merged in, the White Card seemed to reach some kind of limit. It burst with intense white light, then slowly began to transform into green. Most's Destiny Card had truly evolved.
Outside, Sol grew larger once again. From a skeleton standing one meter twenty tall, it had now reached nearly one meter forty. Strange black patterns appeared across its bones, spreading everywhere like tiny serpents crawling across its body. The rusty sword and rotten wooden shield it once carried had been replaced by a pair of sharp, gleaming iron blades.
Sol stood firmly in the room like a mighty warrior. A chilling and murderous aura radiated from its body. Even though it was currently only at the Green rank, Most firmly believed that it was no weaker than any ordinary Blue Card.
Destiny Card: Skeleton Warrior Sol
Ability 1: Apocalypse Flame
Decompose inactive cards into enhancement essence. (Limit of cards that can be disassembled: Green rank.)
Next evolution progress: (0 out of 100 enhancement points). (0 out of 10 Green Essences.)
Ability 2: Sol's Memory
Monsters defeated by Sol can be transformed into Consumable Cards. (Consumable cards are limited to Green rank.)
Skill: Heavy Strike
Heavy Strike: an attack empowered by Memo that deals twice the damage of a normal strike.
"The skill isn't that impressive."
Most frowned. Sol's evolved skill was not nearly as extraordinary as he had imagined. However, looking from another angle, Sol's other abilities had also been upgraded significantly. The conversion limit had changed from White rank to Green rank. Now Most could even disassemble Green Cards.
"What the hell is Green Essence?"
Most suddenly noticed a new term appearing in the card's information. Green Essence seemed to be closely related to disassembling Green rank cards. He took out the two Green Cards he possessed, Goblin and Wind Wolf.
Without hesitation, the boy threw the Goblin card toward Sol. Among all Green Cards, Goblin was not considered particularly valuable.
"Hiss."
Black flames burst violently from Sol's eye sockets and quickly engulfed the green card, burning it completely. The fire swallowed the faint glow of the card and reduced it to ten tiny points of light that merged into Most's body.
"Strange. Why are they all enhancement points? Where is the Green Essence?"
Most was surprised. It seemed Green Essence could not be obtained simply by disassembling any Green Card. The card probably had to meet some specific condition.
After thinking for a long time, Most gritted his teeth and threw the remaining Green Card toward Sol. Although that card was a legacy left behind by his parents, if he wanted to find a stronger path, he had no choice but to take the risk.
"Hiss."
The flames gradually covered the Wind Wolf card. Most stared intensely at the entire process, his eyes bloodshot like those of a gambling addict.
Tiny white sparks flickered into existence.
One. Two. Three…
When the tenth spark appeared, the Wind Wolf card had still not been completely destroyed. A small fragment remained, still burning within the flames.
Time slowly passed.
The card was finally reduced to ashes, and within the black flames a dazzling green spark appeared, far brighter than the other white lights.
"Just as I thought."
The difference between the Goblin card and the Wind Wolf card lay in their element. Wind Wolf possessed the wind element. Because of that, it could produce Green Essence.
However, his excitement did not last long before he was forced to face a cruel reality.
"Damn it. Where am I supposed to find so much Green Essence? The Wind Wolf card itself is already extremely rare."
Star City was only a small city located on the outer edge of human territory. The strongest person there was merely a C rank Card Master. Even a single Green Card could be sold for an astronomical price, not to mention a special elemental Green Card.
While Most was still stunned, the Green Essence drifted along with the enhancement points and merged into his body. However, there was one crucial difference. Unlike enhancement points, the Green Essence seemed capable of being directly absorbed by his body.
"What is happening? My body feels like it has some instinctive craving for Green Essence."
Without hesitation, Most immediately absorbed the Green Essence.
Boom.
An indescribable wave of pleasure flooded every inch of his body. His skin radiated scorching heat while his muscles and bones trembled violently. Layers of thick black impurities began to seep out from his pores, releasing a foul stench.
"That stinks."
Most rushed straight into the bathroom and washed away the filth that his body had expelled.
After finishing his shower, the boy froze when he saw his reflection in the mirror.
Smooth pale skin.
Bright, spirited eyes.
Firm muscles shaped with perfect definition.
Even the scars from the bullying he had suffered in the past had completely vanished.
Most clenched his fists and felt an immense surge of strength flowing through his body.
"This… is me? I can't believe it."
From a skinny child, Most had transformed into a strikingly handsome young man.
Yet the greatest change was not merely his appearance.
It was his aura.
Most was no longer the weak and insecure boy he once was. Now he had become someone filled with ambition, someone who carried unwavering confidence in the boundless future ahead.
"The championship of the upcoming trial will definitely belong to me".