Chapter 3: Is There Really Such a Trick?
"KO!"
In C-City, King's two-story mansion, king was idly playing "King of Fighters 3". He had perfectly inherited King's excellent ability—playing games.
King was unrivaled at games, having won championships in several gaming tournaments. After king inherited this ability, he would always smash his opponents when playing games like "King of Fighters 3". No matter what weak hero he chose, or what overpowered character the AI picked, he was always the winner.
"How boring!"
After winning a few more rounds, he sighed in disappointment, tossed the controller aside, and lay directly on the floor. King never had any friends before, which meant king also had no friends now. He could only lonelily play games and watch anime to pass the time.
"In my previous life, I thought having endless money and waiting to die was the best thing. I never expected that now my wish has come true, life has become incredibly dull, devoid of any passion... Why do I yearn for death?"
He stared blankly at the ceiling, his face filled with resignation. Indeed... what one cannot obtain is often the most beautiful!
Oh right, didn't he collect a two-star Card today? What was the use of the collected Cards? Could it be like in a game, where he could possess the Card characters and fully gain their abilities and power?
If that were true, he'd hit the jackpot! From now on, he'd hang out with Baldy (Saitama) every day. Dragon-level, Demon-level Mysterious Beings would be a dime a dozen, and occasionally he might even collect a God-level one. It would be incredibly blissful. Thinking about how he could transform into a formidable figure like Boros (the universal overlord) in the future, he felt a strange surge of excitement in his heart.
"Hey, System, can you explain the Card's function?"
He asked with a hopeful tone. The System, which came with him when he transmigrated, had its own intelligence and had once introduced him to the game's rules. Unfortunately, he had forgotten.
"The Cards collected by the host can be used for possession. After possession, the host will fully possess the Card's abilities. Friendly reminder: All Cards are disposable items and will disappear after use."
The System's mechanical voice briefly introduced the Card's function.
"Disposable items?" king frowned, confused, and asked, "How could a Card be a disposable... item?"
"Ding dong, friendly reminder: The correct phrasing is 'disposable item'. Please, host, do not use your lewd thoughts to speculate about a System as pure as white paper."
"Alright, disposable item." king shrugged. "So, each Card only has one chance to be used, and after it's consumed, it won't appear again?"
"The rules state as such."
"Is there no way to permanently retain the abilities of a Card character?"
king's face was full of regret. If Cards were disposable... items, then the consumption was too great. After all, like a 'seven-times-a-night man', if a battle lasts long, it's normal to consume seven or eight Cards in one battle. Moreover, it would likely lead to the awkward situation where he'd be reluctant to use those Dragon-level, God-level Cards.
"After the host uses a Card, there is a certain probability of comprehending the Card character's Skill, turning it into the host's true ability. Friendly reminder: After a Card character's Skill becomes the host's Skill, the Skill level will be reset to zero."
The System earnestly explained the game settings.
king's eyes lit up. He excitedly asked, "System, tell me, what's the probability of comprehending a Card character's Skill?"
The System coldly replied, "There are five levels of System Cards: one-star, two-star, three-star, four-star, and five-star. Among them, the success rates for comprehending a Card character's Skill are: one-star Cards have a ten percent chance, two-star Cards have a twenty percent chance, three-star Cards have a thirty percent chance, four-star Cards have a forty percent chance, and five-star Cards have a fifty percent chance. Note: The success rate is not affected by the host's inherent Luck Value."
"Such a low probability?" king was startled. "Then the two-star Bull-headed Mysterious Being Card I collected today only has a twenty percent chance of successfully comprehending a Skill?"
He scratched his head in annoyance, "Uh, what's Luck Value again? How do I know what my Luck Value is? As expected of a game System, it even has a Luck Value."
"The host can view their own attributes in the character interface!" the System replied icily.
"How infuriating!" king muttered softly.
"Open my character interface."
*Whoosh!*
A virtual interface appeared before his eyes.
Name: king
English Name: King
Level: 1
Experience Value: 0/100
Stamina: 3
Strength: 2
Speed: 3
Defense: 1
Luck Value: Hidden Attribute, cannot be viewed, cannot be changed!
Attribute Points: 0
Skill: None
Skill Points: 0
Card: Two-star Card · Bull-headed Mysterious Being
Friendly reminder: A normal person's attributes are all 5! Max value is 100! Max character level is 50!
"Uh..."
king stared blankly at his various attributes, which were simply pathetic. As expected of a shut-in with no strength to even truss a chicken. Uh, wait a minute, my Luck Value... cannot be viewed? System, are you messing with me?
He said, dissatisfied, "System, that's too much! Quickly display my Luck Value, or just tell me how much my Luck Value is?"
The System coldly replied, "Sorry, by rule settings, I cannot disclose it!"
"..."
Damn it! King is known as the man with maxed-out Luck Value. Could it be that my Luck Value is already maxed out, which is why it cannot be changed?!
king pouted, "System, is there any way to quickly improve my attributes? These chicken-like attributes are truly an eyesore. At least let me be a normal person!"
"The host using Cards will gain corresponding Experience Value for leveling up. After the host's character levels up, they will receive a certain number of Attribute Points and Skill Points. You can add Attribute Points to the attributes you want to improve. Note: The amount of Experience Value gained is influenced by the Card's star-level and the Card character."
"Experience Value? Attribute Points? Skill Points? What are these?" king's spirits lifted. "System, explain it in detail."
"The biggest innovation that differentiates this game from other games is that its leveling system does not adopt the traditional 'kill monsters to level up' approach. Instead, it innovatively introduces 'Card consumption for leveling up'. After the host collects Cards, using them will grant a certain amount of Experience Value, used to raise the character's level. Each time you level up, you can obtain a certain number of Attribute Points and Skill Points, used to improve the host's attributes and Skill levels. Friendly reminder: The host can also improve attributes through daily training and cultivation."
The System explained thoroughly.
king nodded understandingly. Simply put, there are two ways to improve abilities. First, collect Cards and level up to gain Attribute Points. Second, train and cultivate yourself, diligently improving your own attributes. At the same time, after comprehending a Skill, the Skill level resets to zero, and its power is greatly reduced. If you need to level up, you'll need Skill Points.
He narrowed his eyes. Becoming a superhuman isn't a dream. "System, I ask you, are there any restrictions on Card character possession?"
"Only one restriction: You must possess the Card!"
"Nonsense!" king rolled his eyes. He regained his interest, "Then let me possess one for free, as a demonstration."
"Sorry, this System does not provide demonstration opportunities. If the host wishes to possess, please consume a Card!"
What a stingy System, not giving an inch! king complained inwardly. He lazily said, "Didn't I collect a two-star Bull-headed Mysterious Being Card today? I'll use that Card to possess now."
"Ding, Card character possession..."
A page quickly popped up on the interface before his eyes, composed of individual grids. It was the System's built-in Card storage slots. On the storage grid, there was only a single, solitary Card — the two-star Bull-headed Mysterious Being Card!
Bull-headed Mysterious Being Card:
Background: Originally a bull from a bullfighting arena, it transformed into a Mysterious Being due to repeated teasing by bullfighters, becoming enraged. It now hates and will destroy all red objects in its sight.
Skills: 1. Passive: Stomp: Deals continuous damage to surrounding buildings.
2. Active Skill: Savage Charge: Uses its head as a weapon to charge at enemies.
Comprehensive Rating: Two-star
"Huh, it's quite similar to the abilities displayed by the Bull-headed Mysterious Being. Uh, wait a minute, Stomp causes continuous damage to surrounding buildings? And... it's a passive Skill?"
king froze, thinking inwardly, "This isn't good."
"Card character possession successful!"
"Ding, one two-star Card consumed, gained 1248 Experience Value."
"Ding, congratulations host, leveled up to 3, gained 10 Attribute Points, 2 Skill Points."
"Ding, host failed to comprehend Card character Skill."
Several mechanical System notification sounds rang out consecutively.
king instantly felt as if his entire body had been infused with some mysterious power, making him feel incredibly comfortable, with an urge to beat his chest and let out a long howl to the sky.
*Crack! Crack!*
However, before he could vent the excitement of gaining power, the floor beneath his feet suddenly cracked, and those cracks quickly spread. In a short while, his home's floor was covered in cracks, like a spiderweb.
"I... crap!"
He stared blankly at the constantly appearing cracks, his face darkening. He knew it was the Bull-headed Mysterious Being's passive Skill after possession — Stomp — currently exerting its power, which was causing his home to be continuously destroyed.
Damn it, why didn't anyone tell me that Card character possession would involve this kind of operation?
*Boom!*
A sound of collapse rang out.
"Ah!?"
king's feet found nothing but air; his home's floor completely collapsed. In an instant, his body lost its balance, and he fell directly from the second floor to the first floor. However, he felt no pain at all, because the Bull-headed Mysterious Being's Defense was also applied to him.
The Bull-headed Mysterious Being could withstand a water cannon's shell without suffering any damage. This level of fall for king was simply not worth mentioning.
"Damn it, if this continues, my home will surely completely collapse."
He climbed up, grumbling curses. "System, can I withdraw the Card or cancel the Card possession?"
"Once a Card character possesses, it cannot be stopped unless the Card's energy is depleted." The System's cold voice rang out, as if gloating.
"So when exactly will the Card's energy be depleted?"
"Theoretically, a one-star Card's energy can last for one hour, a two-star Card can last for two hours... However, if the host actively uses the Card character's Skills, it will accelerate the Card's energy consumption."
"..."
To avoid further damaging his home, king resolutely ran out onto the street in front of his door. In the middle of the night, there were no pedestrians on the street. He gritted his teeth and violently slammed his head into the ground.
Savage Charge!
(end of chapter)